《Three Little Troublemakers Turned the World Upside Down After My Divorce》 Chapter 1 divorce ¡°let¡¯s get a divorce!¡± shen ning returned from the hospital to find li zhenting stepping out of the bathroom. he was dressed in a navy blue bathrobe, loosely tied with a belt, a few strands of hair falling on his forehead, giving him a slightly lazy look. beneath the robe, his well-defined chest, tight waist, and handsome features were flawless. ¡°divorce?¡± shen ning¡¯s mind went blank with a loud bang. she had never thought of getting a divorce in the three years of her marriage with li zhenting. during these three years, she wholeheartedly took care of him, loving him as much as she could, and managed the li family impeccably¡­ ¡°no, i won¡¯t divorce.¡± she stubbornly blurted out, her face turning pale. li zhenting fell silent and his tone softened slightly. ¡°you can ask for any conditions you want, as long as i can fulfill them, i will agree. but don¡¯t push it too far and be excessively greedy!¡± a touch of sadness appeared in the corner of shen ning¡¯s lips! recently, she heard that shen mei had returned to the country! ¡°why? is it because of shen mei?¡± she pursed her lips, raising her small face the size of a palm, asking unwillingly. li zhenting¡¯s handsome features suddenly turned cold and sinister, as he raised his hand and firmly gripped her chin. ¡°shen ning, my affairs are not for you to manage. remember your identity. in my eyes, you¡¯re just a maid. i have never loved you.¡± several blue marks immediately appeared on shen ning¡¯s chin, causing pain like a dislocation. but instead of loosening his grip, the man¡¯s fingers holding her chin tightened. she winced in pain, her lips turning purple, her heart feeling as if it was being whipped, bleeding profusely. at that moment, li zhenting¡¯s phone suddenly rang. his icy gaze lowered, and he released his grip on shen ning¡¯s chin, a rare tenderness flashing across his face as he answered the call. ¡°yeah, don¡¯t move, lie down obediently. i¡¯ll be there right away.¡± he quickly gave instructions and hung up the phone, striding toward the dressing room. soon, he emerged wearing a suit, briskly adjusting his tie. ¡°zhenting, i have something to say.¡± seeing her husband about to leave, shen ning woke up abruptly, holding back her heartache as she hurriedly caught up, tightly grabbing li zhenting¡¯s arm. today, the doctor told her that her mother, shao meiqi, had reached the late stage of uremia and they urgently needed to find a matching kidney! she had come back to discuss her mother¡¯s condition with li zhenting. after all, in the imperial capital, he was still her husband and her only reliance. ¡°whatever you have to say, wait until i come back!¡± impatiently, li zhenting forcefully shook off her hand, directly pushing her away. this woman must be up to some tricks again! how annoying! he walked out like a gust of wind, leaving shen ning lying on the ground. when she struggled to get up, li zhenting had already disappeared. she collapsed to the ground, tears uncontrollably streaming down her face. ¡­ outside the presidential suite of the saint heaven hotel. shen ning¡¯s face was pale, yet her gaze was resolute. li zhenting had been inside with his beloved woman, shen mei, for three full days and nights. she received a phone call from the doctor: her mother had already fainted. in the imperial capital, li zhenting¡¯s power and status were unmatched. besides him, she couldn¡¯t think of anyone else capable of quickly finding a matching kidney. for her mother¡¯s illness, she had to come and beg him, even if it meant kneeling down. she raised her hand, took the room key, and was about to swipe it. suddenly, the door opened. a strong and powerful hand reached out and forcefully grabbed her arm, pulling her inside. in the next moment, she was forcefully pressed against the wall. the man¡¯s robust and scorching body pressed down on her, his head lowered, and his hot lips accurately sealed hers. his large hands tore at her dress, his words filled with desire, ¡°give yourself to me.¡± after saying that, he eagerly scooped her up horizontally and rushed towards the soft bed. Chapter 2 she never got his heart shen ning was instantly stunned. before she could react, she was already laid down on the oversized soft bed¡­ the familiar scent of lavender gently drifted towards her nose, and the man was none other than li zhenting! her heart raced to her throat! for so many years, he had always been indifferent to her. what happened today? the man¡¯s scorching palm began tearing at her dress¡­ his rose-colored lips forcefully sealed hers¡­ shen ning¡¯s mind buzzed. no, li zhenting must have mistaken her for shen mei! otherwise, why would he want her? she had loved this man for ten years, but she had never obtained his heart. the heat from the man¡¯s palm engulfed her, and she started to lose herself in confusion! li zhenting, don¡¯t blame me. this is something you brought upon yourself¡­ we¡¯ve been married for so many years, and you have always owed me a wedding night! suddenly, she reached back and embraced the man¡¯s neck, kissing him back¡­ li zhenting woke up to a bright day. sitting up, he looked around, his thin lips tightly pressed together, his face turning pale. last night, he had been drugged after a business dinner! he couldn¡¯t control himself and ended up sleeping with a woman! who was this woman? he looked down at himself¡­ remembering the intense events of last night¡­ his heart stirred. at that moment, the shower door opened. a tall and beautiful woman walked out. ¡°mei mei.¡± he trembled. ¡°zhenting, you¡¯re awake.¡± shen mei looked at him with a hint of embarrassment, glanced at his body, and shyly smiled. she walked over and snuggled up beside him. li zhenting¡¯s dark eyes became deep and solemn. ¡°mei mei, was it you last night?¡± his magnetic voice carried a hint of apology and inquiry. shen mei¡¯s face had already turned as red as a vibrant rose as she gently nodded! she buried her face in his embrace. ¡°zhenting, last night, you kept calling my name¡­¡± ¡°mei mei, i¡¯m sorry. i will take responsibility for you.¡± li zhenting paused, his voice deep and resolute as he raised his hand and embraced shen mei tightly, speaking with determination. *** in the hospital. when shen ning received the call and rushed over, the doctor had already issued a critical condition notice. trembling, she held the critical condition notice in her hands, her legs weakened, and she knelt down straight. last night, after waking up from a near-unconscious state, she didn¡¯t have the courage to face li zhenting! she couldn¡¯t imagine the fury and thunderous rage he would unleash when he woke up and found that the woman he slept with was not shen mei, but her. she quietly left! now it was already bright outside, he should have woken up by now! with trembling fingers, she picked up her phone and dialed li zhenting¡¯s number¡­ * the presidential suite. li zhenting was showering in the bathroom. when the phone rang, shen mei was right beside it. her face instantly turned pale, and a cold, sinister light flashed in her eyes. shen ning, you wicked woman, dare to call even after sleeping with my man! she quickly picked up the phone, hung up the call, deleted the call log, and then set shen ning¡¯s number to reject calls before turning off the phone. ¡­ shen ning repeatedly dialed li zhenting¡¯s number at the hospital, but there was no answer, either someone picked it up or it was turned off. consumed by anger and anxiety, she finally blacked out and fainted. ¡­ one week later. by the dark and gloomy seaside. shen ning held her mother¡¯s ashes, her face ashen, her gaze empty. her mother was gone! li zhenting, how heartless you are! so cruel and heartless! since that night, she hadn¡¯t seen him again. it was said that he spent every day with shen mei. a cold and mocking smile appeared on shen ning¡¯s lips! li zhenting, from now on, i won¡¯t beg you anymore, and i won¡¯t be foolish enough to live for you! i will make you regret losing me! she took a deep breath, completely unaware of a pair of sinister, cold, and malicious eyes behind her. she just held onto her mother¡¯s ashes tightly and resolutely turned around to leave. suddenly, a force pushed violently against her. ¡°ah!¡± she screamed, losing her balance, and fell into the sea. a wave crashed. she was swept into the depths of the sea. ¡­ Chapter 3 eunion six years later. at the exit of the capital high-speed railway station! a young woman wearing a lace sun hat and a simple moon-white dress, with a slender figure and fair skin, walked gracefully. the woman exuded an elegant and noble aura, with an otherworldly charm. she was shen ning. behind her, on her left and right, followed a pair of adorable toddlers. the boy toddler wore french jeans and a white shirt, with striking features, delicate fair skin that seemed like it could be pinched, and a white sun hat tilted on his head. with one hand in his pocket, he walked with a cool and confident swagger. the girl toddler had thick black hair, big sparkling eyes that radiated liveliness, and when she smiled, two dimples appeared, tempting people to give her a kiss. the trio immediately captured the attention and admiration of passersby. ¡°hello, uncles and aunties! i¡¯m coco, and i¡¯m xiao xiao.¡± the two little ones greeted everyone with cheerful smiles as they walked, exuding a star-like quality. shen ning furrowed her brow. ever since their birth, this pair of toddlers had always been attention-grabbers, always becoming the center of attention wherever they went. it was as if they had inherited certain innate qualities from someone, making it impossible to remain inconspicuous. six years ago. after being pushed into the sea, a wave brought her back to the beach, and eventually the people her grandmother had sent came to rescue her. but what she never expected was that on that very night, she became pregnant! and it was triplets! ten months later. at the capital maternity and child health care center, she successfully gave birth to coco and xiao xiao. then, her stomach started to ache again, and she unexpectedly gave birth to another baby. unfortunately, that baby died shortly after birth. to leave this heart-wrenching city and ensure the smooth growth of her children, she took them and left the capital for the united states. now, her grandmother, who was already 85 years old, fell seriously ill and hoped to see them one last time. her grandmother was the only elder in the world who cared about her. in a rush, she brought the children back. suddenly. her eyes widened. if she hadn¡¯t seen it with her own eyes, she would never have believed what she was seeing. not far ahead. a man in a suit, tall and robust, was walking towards her. even though six years had passed, with just one glance, she still recognized him: li zhenting! the man had a cold and composed face, exuding elegance and nobility from head to toe. with one hand in his pocket, long legs straight and tall, he carried a powerful aura. in the six years they hadn¡¯t seen each other, he had become even more handsome and free-spirited. every move and gesture carried the charm of a mature man. shen ning¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and her breath became unsteady! what kind of misfortune was this! to avoid attracting too much attention with her two beautiful toddlers, she purposely got off the plane in city b first and then took the remaining high-speed train to the capital. she had thought the high-speed railway station would be more ordinary, but she didn¡¯t expect to encounter li zhenting right after getting off the train! ¡°coco.¡± her heart trembled, her face paled, and she immediately reached out to pull her son beside her. her son coco had the exact same face as li zhenting. if he was discovered by li zhenting today, with his shrewd and scheming nature, he would quickly figure everything out. the li family was a top-tier aristocratic family, and their descendants could never be left outside. when the time came, he would undoubtedly come and fight her for custody of their son. coco was her everything; she couldn¡¯t lose him. however, it was already too late. the little coco beside her also had one hand in his pocket, walking with his small short legs, heading towards li zhenting. father and son walked towards each other like this, even their walking posture was exactly the same! indeed, they were truly biological, without any doubt! this unique and cool style was hard to disguise. in an instant, all color drained from shen ning¡¯s face. Chapter 4 that was close! li zhenting was walking when his icy gaze suddenly caught sight of an adorable little figure approaching him with a cool and confident demeanor, reminiscent of his own style. a trace of doubt flickered in his eyes as he prepared to take a closer look. ¡°daddy!¡± at that moment, a pretty little girl of about five years old, dressed in a pink princess dress, called out to him in a sweet and childish voice. she ran towards him, opening her arms with small, graceful steps. ¡°lanlan.¡± his eyes were immediately drawn to lanlan. a rare tenderness appeared on his cold face as he walked toward her, opening his arms. ¡°daddy, i missed you so much! did you miss me?¡± lanlan flew into li zhenting¡¯s embrace, hugging his neck and planting kisses on his face. ¡­ shen ning breathed a sigh of relief. that was close! she quickly moved her hand to the side, pulling little coco away and gently rubbing his head, pressing down the sun hat to cover half of his face. they were safe, for now. however, her heart surged like a turbulent wave, filled with turmoil. the affectionate embrace between li zhenting and the little girl, with his face radiating gentleness, was too piercing for her eyes, causing them to ache. the image of her mother¡¯s swollen and pale face, filled with helplessness and sorrow in her final moments, flashed through her mind all at once. she clenched her fists, consumed by hatred. ¡°zhenting.¡± at that moment, a gentle female voice came from behind. shen ning slightly turned her head and saw shen mei approaching li zhenting, dressed in a sexy sleeveless shirt and a dark green long skirt. she gazed at him affectionately. ¡°mummy!¡± the little girl sweetly called out to her. ¡°hmm.¡± shen mei smiled and playfully ruffled her hair. so, li zhenting had come to pick up his wife and daughter! such a loving family of three! bastards! shen ning¡¯s eyes burned crimson, filled with anger. that night six years ago, in the moment when she was forcefully pushed into the sea, her panicked eyes caught a glimpse of a devilish and malicious face, along with a pair of venomous eyes. even if she died three times, she would never forget that face. shen mei! this wicked and shameless woman! her heart was rotten to the core, yet she still lived such a glamorous life. why hadn¡¯t the heavens struck her down with thunder? ¡°mummy your highness, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡± just as shen ning was infuriated and on the verge of losing control, wanting to rush forward and kill that despicable woman, coco tugged at her hand from the side. his innocent face was filled with concern. shen ning instantly regained her senses! a chill ran down her spine! how could she be so impulsive? she wasn¡¯t alone anymore; she had her adorable little toddlers with her! in these six years, whenever she felt anger and pain, she thought about seeking revenge countless times. but every time she saw this pair of adorable little toddlers, the hatred in her heart would gradually dissipate. after all, she had been reborn, she had come back to life, and her heart had long since died. she would never have an ounce of love for this heartless scumbag. forget the past, focus on earning money, and raising her children properly. that was the most important thing. she quickly turned around, holding one child in each hand, and walked briskly ahead. ¡°lanlan, let¡¯s go home.¡± on the other side, li zhenting turned with little lanlan in his arms and walked towards the exit of the high-speed railway station. just as he turned around, a beautiful figure flashed by in front of him. li zhenting¡¯s body trembled. that woman¡¯s figure looked familiar, very much like her! ¡°zhenting, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡± shen mei held li zhenting¡¯s arm, puzzled. li zhenting snapped back to reality, and when he looked ahead again, there was no trace of the woman. ¡°it¡¯s nothing.¡± he replied faintly, pulling his arm out of shen mei¡¯s embrace and heading towards his rolls-royce with lanlan. Chapter 5 he definitely bullied mommy!_1 ¡°mummy your highness, are you upset because of that handsome uncle?¡± shen ning had just brought coco and xiaoxiao to stand under a giant billboard. xiaoxiao, with her wide eyes, observed her mother¡¯s pale face, and in her innocent voice, expressed concern. earlier, her mother had been trembling and her eyes turned red when she looked at that handsome uncle! how painful and heartbreaking it must have been! shen ning felt a bit embarrassed. she had forgotten that her daughter possessed an extraordinary gift¡ªshe could read minds from a young age and understand the inner thoughts of others. just now, her daughter had read her innermost thoughts! ¡°xiaoxiao, we mustn¡¯t casually speculate about other people¡¯s thoughts. it¡¯s impolite,¡± shen ning gently rubbed xiaoxiao¡¯s little head, trying to maintain a serious expression as she delivered a gentle admonishment. ¡°i¡¯m sorry, your majesty mother. xiaoxiao won¡¯t do it again next time.¡± xiaoxiao immediately pecked her own little head, offering a sincere apology. she felt genuinely concerned because her mother had been so sad. ¡°mother, please don¡¯t be angry. i love you,¡± xiaoxiao held her mother¡¯s hand and showered her with affectionate kisses. shen ning¡¯s heart instantly warmed, and all the negative emotions dissipated. in her tumultuous and painful life, she had also gained something. at least, heaven had blessed her with a pair of adorable little toddlers. she immediately made up her mind to leave this troublesome place and stay far away from that despicable man and wicked woman, right after seeing her grandmother. she believed that evildoers would receive their just retribution! ¡°how could mother bear to be angry with her precious babies? mother loves you both the most,¡± she lowered her head and showered xiaoxiao¡¯s rosy little cheek with kisses, her voice filled with affection. ¡°mother, coco baby wants kisses too,¡± coco, feeling a bit jealous, approached with his cool and adorable face, smiling. ¡°alright, mother will give coco baby kisses too.¡± shen ning couldn¡¯t help but laugh at coco¡¯s cute expression. she hugged him tightly and planted a big kiss on his little face. then, she stood up and affectionately said, ¡°coco, xiaoxiao, let¡¯s go. grandma is waiting for us.¡± ¡°okay!¡± the two little ones happily replied in unison. in the backseat of the taxi, coco and xiaoxiao sat side by side, their innocent and adorable faces lacking smiles. ¡°brother, mommy really hates that handsome uncle. she despises him and is worried that he will try to take you away,¡± xiaoxiao¡¯s lips approached coco¡¯s ear as she quietly shared what she had gleaned from mommy¡¯s thoughts. in her beautiful eyes, there was confusion and unease. ¡°what about the ugly woman?¡± coco inquired about the woman next to li zhenting. based on his intuition, mommy became even more pained and hateful when she saw her. xiaoxiao looked puzzled and shook her head. just now, she had been closely observing li zhenting. he was really handsome, just like coco. she had become a little infatuated. as for the ugly woman next to him, she hadn¡¯t even spared her a glance! ¡°you silly goose,¡± coco gently tapped her head. coco was so clever. just now, he had playfully acted cute, asking for kisses from mommy, all to cheer her up because she was so sad. xiaoxiao scratched her head, realizing her own foolishness. ¡°xiaoxiao, let me tell you, that handsome uncle is our daddy,¡± coco whispered in xiaoxiao¡¯s ear. xiaoxiao¡¯s eyes widened in surprise, and after a moment, she tapped her own little head. ¡°yes, since he looks so much like you, he can¡¯t be your son. he must be our daddy. but he definitely mistreated mommy. he¡¯s a bad daddy.¡± ¡°mm.¡± coco sniffled and nodded, his little fist clenched tightly. hmph, anyone who dares to mistreat my queen mother, i will deal with them, even if it¡¯s daddy! don¡¯t think that children can¡¯t defeat adults. in my eyes, even the baddest adults are cowards! Chapter 6 astard in front of a grand and luxurious villa, ¡°wow, such adorable little grandchildren!¡± as soon as the two little ones stepped out of the car, jun meizhen, leaning on her cane, came forward to greet them. upon seeing these lovable little beings, tears of joy welled up in her eyes, and she couldn¡¯t help but exclaim with delight. shen ning looked at her grandmother, feeling somewhat bewildered. wasn¡¯t she supposed to be bedridden and seriously ill? what¡¯s going on¡­ ¡°my dear grandma, hello! we love you so much.¡± coco and xiaoxiao ran over, wiggling their little bottoms, and respectfully bowed to jun meizhen. their sweet and innocent voices greeted her, while their chubby hands formed a heart-shaped gesture, which was absolutely adorable. ¡°that¡¯s wonderful, my little darlings! grandma loves you too.¡± jun meizhen was instantly won over by their cuteness, and her smile widened uncontrollably. ¡°come on, let¡¯s go inside.¡± inside the living room, shen ning¡¯s two uncles and aunts were seated on the sofa! ¡°who are you?¡± they casually asked upon seeing the young woman before them, casually dressed yet stunningly beautiful. her mere presence seemed to illuminate the entire room. their curiosity got the better of them, prompting them to speak. ¡°uncle, aunt, i am shen ning.¡± ¡°you¡¯re the illegitimate child our eldest sister gave birth to. weren¡¯t you supposed to be dead?¡± big aunt¡¯s expression changed, and she abruptly stood up. tension instantly filled the air. ¡°what are you saying?¡± jun meizhen followed suit, joining them with a serious expression. ¡°ningning never died. six years ago, after giving birth to her children, she went to the united states for further studies.¡± ¡°heh, just like her mother, cheated by a man and bearing an illegitimate child.¡± second aunt wu lili had been fixated on shen ning since she entered, her eyes filled with cold hostility. her words grew sharper and more sarcastic. ¡°enough!¡± jun meizhen trembled with anger, her cane striking the floor with a resounding thud. shen ning¡¯s eyes flashed with a cold gleam. they could humiliate her, but insulting her mother was absolutely intolerable! ¡°second aunt, no matter what, my mother was legally married. unlike certain individuals who climb to power through affairs and flaunt their arrogance. the heavens bring rain upon the wicked, so be wary of the consequences.¡± shen ning retaliated without mercy. wu lili¡¯s face turned ashen. she was twenty-five years younger than her husband, shao wenbo. back then, he had been enthralled by her youthful beauty, coercing his wife into a divorce. this scandal had a significant impact on the business world and remained a profound humiliation for her. but she never expected to be publicly humiliated by shen ning like this. the anger within her boiled, and she stood up, ready to create a scene. ¡°hmph, you ugly witch.¡± coco¡¯s little face had turned bright red from anger. these relatives dared to bully his mommy right in front of him. it was unacceptable. he quickly jumped in front of his mommy, shielding her behind him, and sternly shouted at wu lili, ¡°don¡¯t you dare bully my mother, or i¡¯ll knock you down.¡± hearing this, wu lili¡¯s anger surged, almost fuming. this little guy actually called her an ugly witch! what a nest of bastards! she hadn¡¯t even had a chance to settle the score with them yet! and now these brats dared to come and provoke her. she recalled how her eldest sister shao meiqi, disregarding the family¡¯s objections, severed all ties with the shao family and eloped with a comedian. she became pregnant before marriage, which became a disgrace for the entire shao family. it even caused their stocks to plummet, nearly leading to bankruptcy. she couldn¡¯t fathom how they had the audacity to come back now! but at that moment, before she could erupt in anger, xiaoxiao bounced over, crossed her arms, leaned against the back of the chair, puffed up her cheeks, and made a silly face at wu lili. with a loud voice, she said, ¡°ugly witch, you just want to seize grandma¡¯s seaside villa and give it as a present to that gigglo with the surname wen. how shameless!¡± as soon as xiaoxiao¡¯s words echoed, the living room exploded. shao wenbo¡¯s face turned grim, and he stood up abruptly, his gaze filled with ferocity and suspicion directed at his own wife. Chapter 7 scumbag! wu lili was stunned. how could this little four or five-year-old girl know her inner thoughts? this was an absolute secret! for a moment, she took several steps back, avoiding shao wenbo¡¯s eyes out of guilt. shao wenbo grabbed her and dragged her to the side, and they began arguing. ¡°and you, deliberately not buying imported medicine for grandma, hoping she would die soon so you can inherit the shao family¡¯s wealth. am i wrong?¡± xiaoxiao pointed her finger at shao wenqing and his wife, her brows furrowed, and her face full of disdain and contempt. the couple¡¯s faces immediately turned pale! goodness, was this still a four or five-year-old girl? how did she even know about this? today, jun meizhen had called her sons and daughters-in-law to come home, and they were all being cautious. jun meizhen had been seriously ill recently, and the shao family¡¯s assets were in her hands. they all speculated that she was planning to distribute the inheritance. so they rushed here anxiously. but they never expected the first person they would see would be shen ning, accompanied by her two children. six years ago, jun meizhen secretly gave shao meiqi a large sum of money as her dowry, almost emptying the shao corporation. this time, they would never allow it to happen again. ¡°sigh, adults are so hypocritical.¡± coco looked at the ugly faces of the adults and sighed with a mournful tone. jun meizhen¡¯s hand trembled on her cane. originally, she still held a glimmer of hope, hoping to arrange things for shen ning and her two daughters before her death, so that her daughter could rest in peace. but now it seemed impossible! shen ning¡¯s icy gaze carried a mocking and disdainful smirk. these so-called relatives, she had only seen them once in her life. back then, when her mother fell seriously ill and had nowhere to turn, she never thought of them. and now, there was even less reason to. she had come here only to see her grandmother one last time. six years ago, her grandmother secretly saved her, bought a burial plot for her mother¡¯s ashes, and gave her the courage to survive in the darkest of times. over the years, her grandmother would often call her from the united states, urging her to focus on her studies. she was grateful to her grandmother. ¡°uncle, aunt, rest assured, i came back just to see grandma. we¡¯ll leave soon. as for the shao family¡¯s assets, i won¡¯t take a single cent.¡± she spoke coldly, then turned around and shouted loudly: ¡°coco.¡± ¡°here, your highness.¡± ¡°xiaoxiao.¡± ¡°here, your highness.¡± ¡°let¡¯s go.¡± shen ning smiled faintly and extended her hand to the two adorable little ones. the two little ones immediately ran over, each holding one of their mommy¡¯s hands, their little bottoms wiggling. the trio walked proudly, heads held high, as they made their way outside. ¡°ningning, wait.¡± jun meizhen, leaning on her cane, trembled as she caught up to them. ¡°grandma.¡± shen ning hurriedly went to support her. ¡°ningning, i¡¯m sorry. grandma couldn¡¯t protect you.¡± jun meizhen held her hand, tears streaming down her face, and took out a black file bag, handing it to shen ning. ¡­ before nightfall. shen ning finally settled down in an apartment with coco and xiaoxiao, preparing to fly back to the united states in three days. as soon as they settled in, coco went into the study and opened the laptop he had brought with him. today, at grandma¡¯s house, those people called them illegitimate children! at the train station, he saw that scumbag father with another woman and child. those relatives treated them poorly, and he wasn¡¯t angry about that. but the scumbag father abandoned mommy and them! that made him very angry! before this, he had never thought that mommy could be so pitiful, unloved by her uncles and father. he was a man now, and it was his duty to protect her! after a while, the laptop screen displayed a face that looked exactly like his: li zhenting, the ceo of li corporation, the richest man in the capital¡­ hmph, causing chaos and abandoning in the end, what a scumbag! coco stared at the handsome face, muttered a curse with resentment, and a mischievous smile appeared on his face. Chapter 8 her mother¡¯s cause of death in the bedroom. shen ning clutched a photo of her late mother, her fingers tightly grasping the bedsheet. her knuckles turned white as her eyes burned with a fiery, blood-red light. earlier that day, her grandmother had handed her a black file bag before departing. and just now, she had opened that file bag. inside, she discovered a document, her mother¡¯s life¡¯s work¡ªthe exclusive formula for the guqi perfume¡ªalong with a photo of her mother in her prime. as she read through the document, anger coursed through her, causing her body to tremble with agony. she learned that her grandmother had been secretly investigating the circumstances surrounding her mother¡¯s death all these years. now, all signs pointed toward shen mei and her mother as the culprits. her grandmother was aging, with limited time left. she had no choice but to entrust everything to shen ning. restlessly, she rose to her feet and grabbed a wine glass, filling it to the brim. she raised her head and emptied the wine into her mouth, forcefully placing the wine glass back on the table. over the years, whenever she felt pain and anguish, she would seek solace in a glass of wine to numb her torment. but tonight, it was clear that one glass would not suffice! shen mei, no matter how you hurt me, i could endure it. but i will never let you be the cause of my mother¡¯s death! she downed another glass of wine, her hand gripping the bed railing tightly, her cold, blood-red eyes consumed by shadows. when she was ten years old, her father, shen deshun, had stubbornly brought shen mei and her daughter home, against shao meiqi¡¯s objections. five years later, upon returning home from school, she witnessed her mother leap from the building, blood splattering her body. since that day, her mother had been bedridden until she succumbed to end-stage renal disease. the guqi perfume shop, her mother¡¯s legacy, had been usurped by shen mei and her daughter. shen mei¡¯s poor management had brought the shop to the brink of collapse, relying solely on the financial support of li zhenting¡­ initially, she had contemplated relinquishing everything for the sake of her children, but now it seemed impossible! she closed her blood-red eyes and whispered: li zhenting, it¡¯s in your best interest if my mother¡¯s death has no connection to you. otherwise, i will never spare you! after a moment, she took a deep breath, opened her phone, and signed an electronic invitation before sending it to an email address. ¡­ the following day. li corporation. a man impeccably dressed in a tailored suit sat with composed poise, engaged in a multinational corporation video conference. suddenly, the screen displaying the first-quarter sales data turned pitch black, replaced by a towering ultraman performing acrobatic feats, dominating the screen. ultraman expelled bubbles, each bearing the words ¡°scumbag¡± and ¡°scumbag¡±! li zhenting¡¯s eyes blazed with icy fury as his once composed face darkened ominously. ¡°what is happening?¡± he demanded sharply. ¡°mr. li, something¡¯s wrong. our computer system has been attacked by hackers.¡± hackers? li zhenteng seethed with anger. the fact that the computer system of a multinational corporation could be so easily infiltrated by hackers was unacceptable! ¡°find out immediately, conduct a thorough investigation, or else everyone will be fired,¡± he barked in anger. suddenly, his phone rang urgently. he answered the call. ¡°young master, something terrible has happened. you must come back immediately. young master has run away from home,¡± the butler trembled as he spoke, his voice filled with anxiety. li zhenting¡¯s face paled. he swiftly ended the call and rushed back home¡­ li¡¯s manor. inside the dressing room, shen mei donned an elegant and fashionable dress while meticulously painting her nails. she hummed a tune as she meticulously shaped her eyebrows. ¡°miss shen,¡± butler luo hurriedly entered the room. shen mei shot him a cold glance. ¡°madam,¡± butler luo quickly corrected himself, his voice fraught with worry. ¡°something¡¯s amiss. young master has disappeared. he has run away from home.¡± shen mei adjusted the mirror before her, lowered her head, and resumed her meticulous brow shaping, nonchalantly remarking, ¡°what¡¯s the big deal? it¡¯s just another ordinary day. everyone¡¯s overreacting.¡± Chapter 9 the identical little guy (1) ¡°¡­ ¡± mr. luo, the housekeeper, stood there with his mouth agape. after all, little master ding ding was her biological son! as a mother, shouldn¡¯t she be very worried? six years ago, she became pregnant with the young master¡¯s twins. however, lady li wanqing strongly opposed her entering the household. later, when the children were born, lady li reluctantly allowed her to stay under the pretense of taking care of them, solely because ding ding had the same face as the young master. and so, she stayed for six years. shen mei¡¯s current status was still just li zhenting¡¯s live-in girlfriend on paper. however, she had always considered herself as the young madam of the li¡¯s manor. what puzzled mr. luo was that, logically, shen mei came into the picture because of ding ding and should have taken pride in him. after all, he would play a significant role in the li family¡¯s inheritance. but over these six years, she had shown indifference towards ding ding, sometimes even bordering on coldness. on the other hand, she showered lan lan with great affection. footsteps could be heard outside. soon, li zhenting¡¯s tall and robust figure entered the room. cold light flickered in his sharp, ink-black eyes, exuding an aura of chilling dominance. the temperature in the entire bedroom seemed to drop instantly. ¡°zhenting.¡± shen mei¡¯s face changed, and she immediately put down her eyebrow pencil, rubbing her eyes. she threw herself into his arms like a delicate butterfly and spoke in a coquettish voice, ¡°you¡¯re finally back. ding ding is missing.¡± ¡°what exactly happened?¡± li zhenting forcefully pushed her away, his eyes filled with a cold and intense glare. shen mei looked at him pitifully, stuttering, ¡°zhenting, ding ding and lan lan had an argument. lan lan accidentally hit ding ding, and he got angry and ran off. children often throw tantrums; he might be playing somewhere.¡± ¡°are you sure?¡± li zhenting¡¯s eyes grew even colder, his voice turning icy as he asked. ¡°¡­ ¡± shen mei felt somewhat guilty. today, lan lan did indeed slap ding ding. ¡°sir, we have already searched the entire mansion,¡± mr. luo cautiously spoke from the side. ¡°have lan lan go to the study for a timeout. i¡¯ll deal with it when i come back,¡± li zhenting issued a cold order, then turned and strode out. shen mei bit her lip. however, when facing li zhenting, she still felt fear. she personally escorted lan lan to the study, but instead of making her stand, she let her sit. aode arcade center. just as coco reached the entrance, suddenly, another child came running towards him and collided with him. ¡°hey, who are you?¡± coco touched his sore nose and unhappily exclaimed. there was no response from the other person. he looked up. holy moly, his eyes widened. oh my, it was someone who looked exactly like him. had he time-traveled? had he entered an anime? ¡°who are you?¡± he stared at ding ding with wide eyes, asking in amazement. ding ding had an expressionless face, coldly looking at him without uttering a word. hmm, this person seemed icy cold from head to toe. could he be a real person? after a moment of bewilderment, coco extended his little finger and pinched ding ding¡¯s small nose. hmm, the nose was soft and fleshy, and it radiated warmth. he was indeed a real person! he looked exactly like him, how amazing! he scratched his little head. ¡°who are you? how come you look so much like me?¡± ding ding finally opened his thin lips and spoke coldly, his expression filled with arrogance. uh, what an attitude? coco felt slightly displeased. after all, he was the one who had run over and collided with him! but the clever little coco had already figured out what was going on. this arrogant and icy person in front of him must be his real brother! heh heh, brothers wouldn¡¯t mind such things. ¡°ding ding.¡± just then, from behind them, a deep and magnetic voice resonated. ding ding¡¯s face turned pale! oh no, father had caught up so quickly! he had just managed to escape and didn¡¯t want to go back to that cold and eerie manor. suddenly, he gave coco a gentle push towards li zhenting¡¯s direction and swiftly ran into the arcade. Chapter 10 watch how i deal with you! ¡°kid, who allowed you to run away from home? it¡¯s dangerous, you know?¡± coco hadn¡¯t quite understood what was happening when a strong hand grabbed his little arm. li zhenting¡¯s eyes gleamed with authority as he spoke with a serious tone. coco lifted his head and took a sharp breath! indeed, he was the handsome uncle he had encountered at the high-speed rail station yesterday! his scumbag father! his clever eyes blinked. got it! fight fire with fire! suddenly, he leaned into the man¡¯s arms and pretended to be asleep! hmph, he dared to bully his mommy and then abandon her. scumbag! watch how i deal with you! a plan had formed in his little head! li zhenting looked down and saw his son obediently nestled in his embrace. coco¡¯s long eyelashes occasionally trembled, adding an indescribable cuteness to his innocent face. the corner of li zhenting¡¯s lips curved slightly. kid, afraid of punishment, huh? he didn¡¯t expose him at that moment. he tightened his grip on coco¡¯s arm and carried him towards the luxurious car. coco was lifted off the ground by li zhenting, his powerful arms securely holding him, and his robust chest radiating warmth. the little one momentarily felt dazed! this was the first time he had been carried by his father! his father¡¯s embrace was firm and comfortable. he had never experienced this sense of security before; it was completely different from when mommy held him. so, this is what it feels like to have a father! the luxury car headed towards the li family castle. they arrived shortly after. coco discreetly opened his curious eyes and stole glances outside through the gap between li zhenting¡¯s arms. oh my goodness, is this a palace? how grand and luxurious it is! his eyes widened as the car passed by. he felt like he was indulging in a visual feast. the castle was surrounded by lush trees, adorned with dazzling lights. magnificent villas, exuding opulence and grandeur, stood in an intricate arrangement, resembling a kingdom from a fairy tale. even when the nanny led him out of the shower after bathing, he still stood there, lost in a dreamlike state. li zhenting approached after finishing his shower and saw his son standing there in a dazed manner, his small figure appearing particularly lonely. his heart sank. ¡°son, come here. father wants to have a proper talk with you tonight.¡± he gently tousled coco¡¯s hair and spoke in a warm tone. coco finally snapped out of it and looked at the noble man before him. he was dressed in a dark blue bathrobe, emanating an aura of authority and mystery. his tall and lean figure seemed even more noble and aloof under the palace chandelier, as if he were unattainable. but at this moment, his eyes and brows exuded kindness and warmth, creating a desire in coco to get closer to him. coco¡¯s thoughts wavered, and he scratched his little head, secretly reproaching himself: coco, weren¡¯t you here to seek revenge for mommy? how did you develop a favorable impression of this scumbag father? this was absolutely unacceptable! he had hurt mommy, and mommy was furious with him. if mommy was angry, he had to be angry too! ¡°scumbag!¡± he blurted out suddenly. li zhenting was momentarily taken aback and quickly asked, ¡°coco, what did you say?¡± ¡°nothing, i didn¡¯t say anything.¡± coco, being clever, immediately sensed the chill coming from his scumbag father and slyly shook his head. li zhenting paused for a moment and sighed. his son called him a scumbag, and he wasn¡¯t deaf, so he heard it. this child held a deep grudge against him! it was probably because of shen mei, his mother. shen mei had been living in the li family for six years now. during these six years, he hadn¡¯t given her a formal status. the outside world speculated and occasionally mocked her for being an unwed mother living in a man¡¯s house. the pressure must have been immense, not to mention the fact that she had been forced on him after being drugged¡­ perhaps that was the reason for shen mei¡¯s inconsistent behavior towards coco! actually, he didn¡¯t want it to be this way! but he couldn¡¯t settle for just any marriage! since shen ning¡¯s death, shen mei hadn¡¯t left a good impression on him. he had already experienced a failed marriage, so he became more cautious about marriage. however, for the sake of his son, he couldn¡¯t continue dragging this on. Chapter 11 do you keep your word? ¡°kid, would you like daddy to marry mommy?¡± li zhenting leaned down slightly and asked in a friendly tone. marry mommy? coco was momentarily taken aback, his eyes widening in surprise. did this scumbag of a father¡¯s desire to marry mommy imply that, despite his wrongdoings, he didn¡¯t deserve to be damned to death? if he could marry mommy, they would become a family, and coco would finally have a father, just like other kids. wouldn¡¯t that be wonderful? you see, mommy had a tough time in united states, juggling her studies, work, and taking care of him and his little sister all on her own. it was incredibly challenging. and on top of that, this father had money, not to mention his striking good looks. he was undoubtedly a perfect match for mommy! if this father genuinely married mommy, mommy wouldn¡¯t despise him as much anymore! a loving family¡­ wouldn¡¯t that be fantastic! his dark eyes sparkled with a radiant light. ¡°if you marry mommy, will she get to eat well, dress well, and live here with us? will you treat her kindly, right?¡± coco blinked his large eyes, his earnestness evident. ¡°of course.¡± ¡°that¡¯s great! can i trust your words?¡± he asked, still a bit skeptical, his voice filled with innocence. ¡°absolutely. daddy always keeps his promises. don¡¯t worry, i¡¯ll marry your mommy right away.¡± li zhenting¡¯s lips curled into a faint smile as he gently patted coco¡¯s little head. ¡°okay, daddy. it¡¯s getting late. i¡¯ll go to sleep now,¡± coco replied, fully content. he nodded and let out a big yawn before climbing onto the soft bed with his little legs. this bed was so large and comfortable. with his head tilted back, his limbs sprawled in the air, coco quickly drifted off to sleep as soon as his head touched the soft pillow. li zhenting looked at coco¡¯s adorable little face, with its delicate features and innocent expression. his thin lips curved up slightly. the next day, at the guqi gucxi perfume store. as soon as shen ning stepped inside, her chest tightened, and a sharp pang of pain pierced her heart. this high-end perfume store, a culmination of her mother¡¯s lifelong efforts, was now suffering from a declining reputation and teetering on the edge of closure. standing in the corridor, she lifted her gaze towards the president¡¯s office. her fingers toyed with a strand of hair near her temple, while a cold and mocking smile curled on her lips. li zhenting, you heartless and unfaithful scoundrel, you never expected me to return alive, did you? i hope seeing me won¡¯t scare you to death! she pursed her lips tightly and marched confidently towards the president¡¯s office. inside the office of the president. an elegant and noble man sat on an italian leather sofa, a cigar held between his fingers. the heavy ink landscape painting on the folding screen added depth to his enigmatic and refined features, emanating an air of magnificence and mystery. he exuded a powerful presence from head to toe. shen ning entered the room with graceful and confident strides. ¡°you¡­ why is it you? aren¡¯t you supposed to be dead?¡± li zhenting¡¯s face turned pale, the cigar slipping from his hand as he hastily stood up. ¡°well, mr. li, what kind of words are those? is it common to declare someone dead upon first seeing them?¡± shen ning retorted with a scornful tone, her words sharp. ¡°you wanted me dead so badly, didn¡¯t you? weren¡¯t you expecting never to see me alive again?¡± li zhenting¡¯s handsome face went through several changes, his eyes filled with uncertainty. but being seasoned in the face of adversity, he quickly regained his composure. indeed, how could someone like shen ning contemplate suicide? he had almost fallen for it back then¡­ ¡°tell me, what brings you here?¡± he slid his hands into his pockets, his gaze turning cold, his voice distant. shen ning sneered coldly, her lips curled into a sardonic smile. ¡°how strange. your company invited me here to discuss cooperation, yet the welcome i¡¯ve received seems rather lackluster. it appears there¡¯s no sincerity. well, i¡¯ll be on my way then.¡± with that, she turned around and walked away. Chapter 12 confrontation! li zhenting was once again taken aback. invited her? ¡°wait,¡± he exclaimed before shen ning could leave the president¡¯s office, quickly realizing the situation. ¡°are you miss daisy?¡± he asked loudly, his sharpness coming through. shen ning paused, her fingers tightly clutching the pendant on her handbag. ¡°and if i am?¡± she replied calmly, turning gracefully and teasingly waving an invitation card between her fingers. li zhenting¡¯s pale complexion changed once again, his deep gaze cold and inscrutable as he observed her. after six years, this woman had become a stranger to him. the meek and timid woman who used to tremble in his presence, afraid to speak up, was nowhere to be found. now she stood before him, vibrant and flamboyant, like a rose covered in thorns. she was even more beautiful and poised than before¡­ indeed, he had invited the renowned international fragrance expert, miss daisy, to discuss cooperation with the guqi perfume company. otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have arrived so early. shen mei was the owner of guqi perfume company, but it was clear that she wasn¡¯t skilled in managing the company. since taking over, the company had incurred losses year after year. if it weren¡¯t for the sake of her two children, li zhenting wouldn¡¯t have bothered with it at all. despite the wealth of the li corporation, as a shrewd businessman, he didn¡¯t want to be a fool pouring billions of dollars into a bottomless pit. therefore, he decided to take matters into his own hands and hired an international expert in hopes of turning the situation around. however¡­ he never expected that this expert would turn out to be shen ning, his ex-wife who had attempted suicide six years ago. ¡°what is your motive?¡± he almost assumed that shen ning had come here to intentionally cause trouble. with a stern face, he scoffed disdainfully. ¡°motive?¡± shen ning sneered coldly, her voice dripping with contempt. ¡°i simply want to expand and strengthen guqi perfume, to restore its former glory.¡± ¡°do you have such good intentions?¡± ¡°why else would i come?¡± shen ning¡¯s voice suddenly rose several degrees, sharp and piercing. ¡°could it be that i¡¯m attracted to your handsome appearance, mr. li, and came here to seduce you? do you really think that being handsome makes every woman want to throw themselves at you? how arrogant!¡± the secretary happened to enter with tea and witnessed the scene, her face turning pale with shock. my goodness, who is this woman? she dares to speak to mr. li in such a manner. mind you, even their boss, shen mei, lowers her voice and trembles in front of mr. li. she¡¯s truly fearless. and she¡¯s wrong, isn¡¯t she? mr. li is the richest man in the city, young, handsome, and wealthy. there must be countless women wanting to climb into his bed. it¡¯s true that any woman would want to throw themselves at him. a cold aura emanated from li zhenting, his entire being exuding an oppressive force. in the capital city, she was the first woman to dare to be so audacious in front of him! his brooding gaze locked onto this woman who showed no signs of fear. shen ning¡¯s almond-shaped eyes remained cold and indifferent, devoid of any trace of fear. the two of them stood in an icy standoff. deep inside, shen ning felt a faint ache. until now, li zhenting had no idea that the guqi perfume company was established by her mother, shao meiqi. in his eyes, it was merely a company given to shen mei by her father, shen deshun. the perfume formula left by her grandmother was the result of her mother¡¯s lifelong efforts and her deep longing for love. unfortunately, it was all in vain. ¡°alright, miss shen, since you are so talented, let¡¯s have a proper discussion,¡± li zhenting suddenly curved his thin lips, a shift from his usual arrogance. he took the initiative to break the impasse. he felt a flicker of interest and wanted to see what this woman, whom he hadn¡¯t seen for years, was truly capable of. she dared to make such bold claims in front of him. playing the game of an eagle capturing a chick, a performance he excelled at! after all, she was just a woman, and moreover, she was his former wife whom he once looked down upon! he calmly took a seat on the sofa once again. shen ning, composed and unruffled, walked over and sat opposite him. Chapter 13 just be mrs. li at home ¡°if you want to collaborate with me, you must give 50% of the company¡¯s shares to me,¡± shen ning stated boldly as soon as she took her seat. li zhenting squinted his icy gaze. ¡°why?¡± ¡°because of my true abilities,¡± shen ning replied with a faint smile. ¡°i possess the exclusive formula for guqi perfume, and as an internationally renowned fragrance expert, innovation is my specialty. i believe mr. li has already conducted market research. the decline of guqi perfume is a result of lacking an authentic formula and innovation. customers can no longer find the original essence and it fails to satisfy their inner desires. unless we abandon it, there is no solution.¡± li zhenting¡¯s interest was piqued, and a glimmer of intrigue appeared in his eyes. indeed, he had thoroughly researched the market, leading him to invest heavily in hiring an international expert. every word shen ning spoke made perfect sense. ¡°if mr. li disagrees, then our collaboration is off the table,¡± shen ning declared impatiently, swiftly standing up. ¡°but let me make it clear, if i leave, i will find another opportunity, and guqi perfume will cease to exist. despite mr. li¡¯s wealth, the failure to protect his own wife¡¯s company will be a significant blow to his reputation.¡± after exposing his vulnerabilities, she turned and made her way to the exit. li zhenting greatly valued his reputation. shen mei was his wife, and if guqi perfume failed, he would be subject to ridicule. ¡°alright, i agree,¡± he responded. indeed, just as shen ning was about to leave the premises, li zhenting¡¯s magnetic voice resonated through the air. shen ning breathed a sigh of relief, her eyes gleaming with a cold, calculating light. reclaiming the shares of guqi perfume was only one aspect; uncovering the truth behind her mother¡¯s death was her ultimate goal. if she left now, she would have no starting point. he could harm her, but allowing him to get away with her mother¡¯s death was out of the question! ¡°i disagree,¡± shen ning stated firmly. just as shen ning and li zhenting were negotiating and had just finished signing the agreement, the sound of rapid footsteps in high heels echoed at the entrance. shortly after, shen mei stormed into the room, visibly agitated and furious. at that moment, the atmosphere around shen mei turned dark and gloomy. she had been awakened by a phone call from wu lili, who angrily informed her that shen ning had returned with two illegitimate children. wu lili, shen mei¡¯s classmate and close friend, had always aspired to marry into a wealthy family but ended up with an elderly man. shen ning¡¯s second uncle, shao wenbo, was patiently waiting for his share of the inheritance to indulge in a relationship with a younger man. shen mei, on the other hand, had set her sights on becoming mrs. li. she had just received a tip from a reliable source and rushed over in a hurry. the president¡¯s office. shen ning lifted her head slightly, her expression composed and calm. shen mei¡¯s once beautiful face had twisted and contorted, her eyes filled with a malicious gleam. but soon¡­ she saw li zhenting seated on the sofa, exuding an aura of power and sternness. shen mei¡¯s heart sank, and she lowered her head, assuming a pitiful and helpless demeanor. ¡°zhenting, guqi perfume was a company my father gifted to me. i cannot give away the shares,¡± she pleaded as she approached li zhenting, gripping his arm and shedding tears. li zhenting raised his gaze, glancing at shen ning across from him. his slender, pale fingers gently caressed shen mei¡¯s face as he spoke with warmth, ¡°don¡¯t worry, you will remain the company¡¯s director. since managing the company isn¡¯t your forte, you can focus on being mrs. li and enjoy your time at home.¡± mrs. li? shen mei¡¯s tear-streaked face froze for a moment, and then realization dawned upon her. a radiant joy blossomed on her enchanting countenance. was li zhenting going to marry her? this was fantastic! she had waited for this moment for so long. her eyes sparkled with excitement. Chapter 14 how dare you beat my woman?_1 shen ning sat rigidly, her teeth grinding together. stay calm. she had to stay calm! once again, those shameless couple were flaunting their affection right in front of her! the heartlessness and cruelty li zhenting had shown her six years ago became even more vivid in this moment! the image of that wicked woman pushing her into the sea exploded in her mind like a bomb. she tightened her fists, the veins on the back of her hand standing out. suddenly, the phone erupted in the air. li zhenting glanced at his phone, his face darkening, and he quickly stood up and rushed outside. ¡°shen ning, what do you want?¡± shen mei¡¯s face immediately turned pale as she stood up, her eyes filled with a menacing glare. ¡°i warn you, don¡¯t even think about plotting anything. i will never give you the shares of guqi perfume.¡± she raised her hand and aimed to strike shen ning¡¯s face. shen ning was on the verge of collapsing! caught off guard, she was struck hard across the face by shen mei¡¯s slap, causing an intense burning sensation. a flash of menace appeared in her eyes, and she abruptly stood up, grabbing shen mei¡¯s hair and preparing to deliver a retaliatory slap. ¡°ah!¡± shen mei let out a scream, her vision blurred by the blow. she stumbled and fell to her knees, bearing five distinct finger marks on her face¡­ *** in the corridor. ¡°what did you say? lanlan and dingding are fighting again?¡± li zhenting¡¯s face turned grim. last night, when he entered the study, lanlan was already fast asleep on the couch, so he refrained from reprimanding her. but now, she was bullying dingding again. ¡°you stop them for now. shen mei and i will be right back,¡± li zhenting ordered in a deep voice before hanging up the phone. just as he put his phone down, a scream echoed from the president¡¯s office. his expression darkened, and he quickly made his way towards the office. inside the president¡¯s office. after catching her breath, shen mei refused to accept the situation. never before in her life had someone dared to strike her in such a manner. filled with rage, she lunged at shen ning with malicious intent. shen ning smirked coldly, deftly evading her attack. she firmly grasped shen mei¡¯s arm and raised her hand, preparing to deliver another forceful slap. however¡­ before she could strike, a strong and powerful hand caught hold of her arm. ¡°enough! how dare you lay a hand on my woman?¡± li zhenting restrained her arm, his tone filled with anger. this woman had really crossed the line. not only did she dare to strike someone in front of him, but she had also struck his woman! shen ning raised her gaze, meeting li zhenting¡¯s chilling eyes. his gaze was so sinister, like a bloodied dagger. for a moment, she shrank back, once again feeling the sense of submissiveness and fear that she had always displayed in front of him. however¡­ she quickly straightened her posture, her lips curving into a cold and merciless smile. this man¡¯s eyes were completely blind! just now, it was clear that shen mei had struck her first. she had merely acted in self-defense. but she couldn¡¯t be bothered to explain. he never believed her six years ago, let alone now! ¡°mr. li, please let go of me. make sure to keep a close eye on your woman. otherwise, if she dares to provoke me again, i will retaliate every time i see her.¡± she spoke coldly. li zhenting¡¯s face turned ashen, but his mind was preoccupied with lanlan and dingding. with no intention of getting entangled with shen ning, he forcefully let go of her arm and sternly warned, ¡°shen ning, i advise you to behave and stop playing tricks. otherwise, i will make it impossible for you to stay in the captial.¡± having said that, he gently held shen mei¡¯s hand and walked out. shen mei felt triumphant, casting a spiteful glance at shen ning. with tears in her eyes, she clung to li zhenting¡¯s arm, following closely by his side. the two of them walked away intimately, seamlessly merging into one. shen ning watched their loving figures tremble uncontrollably. disgusting! those despicable lovebirds! just wait, this is only the beginning! i will make you both pay back everything you¡¯ve done to me and my mother, twofold. Chapter 15 you offended me today li manor. in the bedroom. lanlan was wearing a beautiful dress, tossing one toy after another like a fairy scattering her treasures. soon, the toys were scattered all over the floor. with each toss, she would twirl happily, holding up her skirt. coco was infuriated and angrily asked, ¡°why are you doing this?¡± lanlan blinked her big eyes and arrogantly replied, ¡°because i like it.¡± coco laughed in anger, ¡°just because you like it, you think you can do whatever you want? do you think you¡¯re an empress? no, even an empress wouldn¡¯t behave like this. let me tell you, you¡¯ve crossed the line today, and the consequences will be severe, do you understand?¡± lanlan twirled her skirt again, not caring at all, and giggled, ¡°oh well, if i¡¯ve crossed the line, so be it. what can you do to me?¡± in the past, she was the one bullying dingding, and dingding could do nothing but be cold towards her. moreover, her mommy always protected her. coco¡¯s face turned red as he gritted his teeth. he finally understood the cunning nature of this little troublemaker. yesterday, he called xiaoxiao and asked her to bring dingding back from the arcade center. from xiaoxiao, he learned that dingding had been bullied by a girl named lanlan and left home after being slapped by her in anger. hmph, little troublemaker! i¡¯m not dingding. let¡¯s see how long you can be arrogant! ¡°lanlan, i command you to pick up all the toys and put them away,¡± coco ordered lanlan, starting to count, ¡°one, two, three¡­¡± lanlan shrugged, looking at him with disdain, ¡°what¡¯s the point? wait until mommy comes back, you¡¯re in big trouble.¡± but before she could finish her sentence, coco rushed towards her like a ghost and pushed her onto the bed, raising his chubby hand to spank her bottom, ¡°i¡¯ll teach you a lesson for bullying others and making a mess with my toys. let¡¯s see if you dare to do it again.¡± ¡°ouch! it hurts!¡± lanlan cried loudly, grabbing at her bottom, struggling to catch her breath. the butler and servants outside were in a panic. ¡°what¡¯s going on? get the spare key to open the door!¡± soon, the calm and imposing voice of li zhenting echoed from outside. coco was taken aback. uh-oh, his deadbeat dad was back! he quickly thought of a plan, rolled over on the floor, and started crying loudly. the door opened, and li zhenting strode in, his tall figure exuding a chilling aura. in the bedroom. toys were scattered everywhere, and two little treasures, one lying on the bed gasping for breath and the other rolling on the floor, crying incessantly. li zhenting¡¯s face tensed as he walked over, grabbing lanlan and questioning her, ¡°lanlan, i didn¡¯t scold you last night, yet you still went too far, bullying dingding again. do you think i won¡¯t discipline you?¡± lanlan opened her mouth, angry and anxious, her little face turning purple. only heaven knew how unjust she felt. although she had started the trouble this time, she hadn¡¯t gained any advantage. instead, she got a spanking. but her dad was too terrifying at the moment. she didn¡¯t dare say a word. ¡°zhenting, don¡¯t scare the child. she doesn¡¯t know any better¡­¡± shen mei hurriedly ran over, hugged lanlan in her arms, and lanlan immediately cried loudly in her embrace. ¡°you, be quiet.¡± li zhenting¡¯s eyes were cold as he sternly warned shen mei, ¡°don¡¯t think i don¡¯t know what happened yesterday. lanlan slapped dingding.¡± shen mei opened her mouth but dared not speak. she certainly understood her daughter¡¯s willfulness. by now, coco had been picked up by the servants. he wiped his tears and, with a childish voice, approached li zhenting, tugging at his large hand and pleaded, ¡°daddy, she¡¯s just a child. just scold her a little. she¡¯ll change in the future.¡± li zhenting looked at dingding¡¯s pitiful and sensible appearance, sighed, and picked him up. he said to shen mei, ¡°today, lanlan will stand in the corner for an hour. you need to educate her properly. if this kind of thing happens again, the punishment won¡¯t be so light.¡± after speaking, he carried coco and walked towards the study. Chapter 16 my conscience hurts a little (1) ¡°mommy, i¡¯m so angry. both you and daddy have offended me. when you grow old, you can rely on ding ding instead. i won¡¯t take care of you anymore. i¡¯m so heartbroken,¡± lan lan expressed her frustration but couldn¡¯t find the right words. she could only sob and threaten as she cried in shen mei¡¯s embrace. at this moment, the servants and staff, including shen mei herself, believed that lan lan was bullying ding ding. nobody paid attention to the little girl¡¯s cries. shen mei¡¯s gaze was fixed on the departing figure of li zhenting as he held ding ding affectionately. her eyes filled with a bitter chill. it was clear that li zhenting favored ding ding¡­ shen ning¡¯s face flashed in her mind¡­ if li zhen ting discovered the true parent-child relationship between shen ning and ding ding, she would be plunged into an abyss of endless suffering, with no hope of redemption! shen ning, you despicable woman, why did you have to come back? li zhenting is finally about to marry me, and i won¡¯t let you ruin it! don¡¯t blame me for being heartless when the time comes! she clenched her fists. meanwhile, coco, being held by his father, had a wide grin on his face. yes! this time, he had emerged victorious! lan lan had lost completely! hmph! as a man, if he couldn¡¯t even handle a woman, how could he protect his dearest mommy? the night grew darker. coco had taken a long nap during the day and was full of energy at night. with determined steps, he planned to sneak into ding ding¡¯s playroom to play with toys. as he passed by a study, he suddenly heard voices coming from inside. ¡°mr. li, the company¡¯s computer system still hasn¡¯t been repaired. the hacker is cunning and well-hidden,¡± said yang guo, the chief engineer of the computer department, with a mournful face, trembling as he reported his work. having dealt with computers for so many years, this was the first time he had encountered such a peculiar situation. despite leading all the computer engineers in a day-long search, they couldn¡¯t locate the source of the problem. it was a grave matter! he had no choice but to report the situation truthfully to li zhenting. li zhenting¡¯s expression turned grim, and he asked in a low voice, ¡°where is the hacker¡¯s ip address?¡± ¡°mr. li, according to the trace, the ip is from the united states, making it difficult to crack,¡± yang guo replied with a trembling voice. li zhen ting¡¯s eyebrows furrowed, his face darkened. by the window, coco perked up his ears, carefully eavesdropping on the conversation. the words ¡°computer system¡± and ¡°hacker¡± made him instinctively pat his head. uh-oh. he had forgotten to unlock his mean father¡¯s company¡¯s computer system because he was too engrossed in playing with toys. it had been two days and one night already. he wondered how much money the company had lost. he touched his chest and felt a pang of guilt. although his mean father had mistreated mommy, he had agreed to marry her yesterday! and he had been nice to him! at least he protected him today! if he really married mommy, they would be a family. family members should love and support each other. he pondered for a moment and came up with an idea. ¡°cough, cough.¡± after yang guo left, the little guy walked into the study with his hands behind his back, clearing his throat. li zhenting, busy with his work, looked up and was surprised to see his son still awake. he immediately frowned, ¡°it¡¯s so late, why aren¡¯t you asleep yet?¡± ¡°daddy, is something wrong with your company?¡± coco smiled mischievously, deliberately asking a question he already knew the answer to. ¡°there is a bit of trouble, but it doesn¡¯t concern you. go to sleep quickly,¡± li zhenting replied without lifting his head. ¡°daddy, can i borrow your computer?¡± coco asked. ¡°for what?¡± ¡°the kindergarten teacher assigned me a task. i need to use the computer,¡± he replied smoothly, even though he was telling a lie. ¡°go ahead, but be quick,¡± li zhenting agreed, focusing on organizing his documents. coco immediately climbed onto the computer chair with joy in his little steps. after a while, he clapped his hands and climbed down, saying in a childish voice, ¡°okay, daddy, i¡¯m going to bed now.¡± ¡°alright, don¡¯t kick off the blankets,¡± li zhenting watched the cute figure of his son and kindly gave him instructions. for some reason, he felt particularly fond of this son. six years ago, shen mei gave birth to a son and a daughter for him: ding ding and lan lan. ding ding had a reserved and aloof personality, resembling him not only in appearance but also in temperament. lan lan was beautiful and sweet, cute and well-behaved. privately, he always felt that his son was closer to him and gave more attention to him. Chapter 17 does she want to turn the heavens upside down? ¡°mr. li, that¡¯s great news! the computer system is working again.¡± just moments after coco left, li zhenting¡¯s phone rang urgently. he answered it, and yang guo¡¯s voice came through with excitement. li zhenting paused for a moment, then replied in a deep voice, ¡°good, you can all take a rest now. you¡¯ve worked hard.¡± after hanging up the phone, li zhenting felt a wave of relief wash over him. he poured himself a glass of water and drank it slowly. however, he couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that something was off. the computer system had been a complete mess just a while ago, so how did it suddenly get fixed in an instant? he looked up at the computer screen, and suddenly, ding ding¡¯s small figure flashed in his mind¡­ could it be¡­ him? ding ding had always shown exceptional talent and a keen interest in computer systems. to nurture his passion, li zhenting had hired top computer experts from around the world to train him since he was only two years old. he stood up abruptly, realizing that this mischievous little rascal might be causing all the trouble. perhaps, fueled by resentment over his mother¡¯s situation, ding ding was deliberately seeking revenge. thinking about the somersaulting ultraman and the words ¡°jerk¡± displayed on the screen, li zhenting became even more convinced of his suspicion. last night, after li zhenting promised to marry shen ning, ding ding took the initiative to fix the computer, which had made him happy. that kid! he had been deceived! a slight smile formed on li zhenting¡¯s lips. his son was more capable than he had anticipated! this situation was giving him quite a headache. early in the morning, shen ning arrived at blue sky kindergarten. coco and xiao xiao were now five years old and couldn¡¯t return to the united states, so it was necessary for them to start attending kindergarten in the local area as soon as possible. however, the tuition fees at blue sky kindergarten were quite steep. for each child, the annual tuition fee amounted to seventy to eighty thousand, not including meal expenses, as well as rent and utilities. the financial burden weighed heavily on her. during her years in the united states, she had worked tirelessly at odd jobs just to make ends meet. now, in the capital, everything was just beginning. nevertheless, she didn¡¯t hesitate and immediately enrolled coco and xiao xiao. at present, she owned a 50% stake in guqi perfume shop! as long as she led the company back on track, the business would soon regain its former glory, and there would be ample opportunity to earn money. the thought of money ignited a spark in her eyes, rejuvenating her spirit. she turned and headed toward guqi perfume shop. however, as soon as she stepped out of the elevator, she came face to face with that despicable li zhenting. he walked towards her from the other end of the corridor, dressed in a finely tailored suit, exuding an air of talent and attractiveness. a thin layer of frost covered his handsome face, and his eyes bore a dark and inscrutable gaze. shen ning only hesitated for a moment before striding forward as if nothing had happened, not even sparing him a glance. this heartless and unscrupulous man was not worthy of her acknowledgment. it would be a waste of her breath even to greet him. her words held some nutritional value, unlike the remnants of this contemptible man. li zhenting furrowed his brow. this woman exuded a strong hostility early in the morning, projecting an unwelcoming aura. he began to suspect that she might be plotting something! inexplicably, the image of her submissive and obedient appearance flashed through his mind, and his gaze grew deeper. she had indeed changed! inside the rolls-royce limousine parked downstairs. li zhenting lit a cigar, took a deep drag, and exhaled. his handsome face looked desolate, and his gaze carried a profound intensity. six years ago, shen ning¡¯s suicide attempt by jumping into the sea had truly shocked him. during that time, the company had several crucial clients, and he worked tirelessly, often spending nights in the hotel¡¯s presidential suite. after completing his work, he received the news of her death. he rushed to the seaside, facing the boundless ocean, and stood there in a daze. he didn¡¯t love her, but he had never wished for her death! in the six years since shen ning¡¯s ¡°death,¡± li zhenting¡¯s life had not been easy either. his grandmother and his birth mother, li wanqing, both had a fondness for shen ning. as a result, his family saw him as indirectly responsible for shen ning¡¯s death, and he faced constant criticism from them. he took a deep puff of the cigar, his gaze shifting to the distant blue sky and white clouds. a young girl¡¯s figure flickered in his mind, and his heart inexplicably ached. when he was seventeen, someone had pushed him off a cliff on a hillside. during the fall, sharp branches pierced his eyes, causing him to lose consciousness. it was a girl who saved him! during that time, with his eyes covered in thick bandages, lying in a hospital room engulfed in darkness, feeling despondent, it was that girl who stayed by his side and took care of him. the girl¡¯s laughter was crisp, her demeanor optimistic and cheerful. she possessed profound knowledge and shared his interests. although he couldn¡¯t see her face, he was deeply drawn to her character and intellect. he fell completely in love with her, vowing to marry no one else in his lifetime. later, his grandmother found him and took him away in the middle of the night. but he never had the chance to see her face. it was only later, through various sources, that he discovered the girl was none other than shen mei¡­ Chapter 18 hit shen mei in front of him again in the guqi perfume warehouse. ¡°these and all of these¡­ get rid of them all,¡± shen ning headed straight for the company¡¯s warehouse as soon as she arrived at guqi. after taking a sniff of the flamboyant array of perfumes in front of her, she discarded them aside and instructed her secretary. the secretary wore a troubled expression and remained motionless. ¡°what¡¯s the matter?¡± shen ning furrowed her brow. ¡°miss shen, president shen specifically instructed us to sell these perfumes. the company has already prepared the marketing plans,¡± the secretary hesitated for a moment before reluctantly revealing the truth. shen ning¡¯s gaze turned cold, and she raised an eyebrow. ¡°these perfumes contain phthalates, which produce harmful residues during the synthesis process. they are below standard and should never be brought to market. selling them would be highly irresponsible to our customers and would only tarnish the company¡¯s reputation.¡± ¡°who said they¡¯re below standard?¡± just as she finished speaking, shen mei walked in wearing high heels, her face adorned with a contemptuous smile. ¡°shen ning, do you even understand perfumes? do you know anything about running a business? phthalates actually help water and fragrance blend better, creating a more uniform and stable composition. surely you¡¯re not suggesting that you don¡¯t even grasp this concept?¡± in reality, it was common in the industry to include a certain amount of phthalates. it was merely a matter of quantity to maximize profits. as for the residue, it meant nothing in the eyes of a merchant. shen ning crossed her arms in front of her chest and stared at her, a cold smile on her face. ¡°no wonder guqi has suffered such a rapid decline in just a few years. not only is the formula inadequate, but the company¡¯s integrity has also come into question. chasing profits at any cost, moral compromise¡ªthis strays far from guqi¡¯s original purpose. if this continues, shutting down and going bankrupt is imminent.¡± ¡°you wretch, how dare you curse my company with bankruptcy,¡± shen mei exploded in anger, grabbing a bottle of liquid from the table and splashing it toward shen ning¡¯s face. the strong odor of phthalates permeated the air. shen ning¡¯s face changed color. she swiftly dodged, moving aside just in time. the liquid splashed onto the boxes behind her with a resounding ¡°splash,¡± instantly turning the yellow cartons white. shen ning seethed with anger. she never expected shen mei to be so malicious, trying to disfigure with the corrosive properties of phthalates. ¡°shen mei, you wicked woman. i won¡¯t let you get away with this today.¡± shen ning shouted angrily as she charged toward shen mei. shen mei had long been afraid and panicked, turning around to run. but in her eight-centimeter heels, she could only take a few steps before shen ning caught up to her from behind, grabbing hold of her hair. ¡°sister, please don¡¯t hit me¡­ help!¡± shen mei, having suffered before, trembled in fear, her face turning pale as she cried out for help. ¡°you wicked woman, you never change. you¡¯re so malicious.¡± shen ning raised her hand and delivered a sharp slap to shen mei¡¯s face, the sound reverberating in the room. li zhenting had just stepped out of the elevator and witnessed the scene. ¡°shen ning, who gave you the audacity to assault someone in front of me repeatedly?¡± he bellowed angrily, emanating a chilling aura, his gaze filled with a deadly intensity. had this woman gone mad? hitting shen mei again in his presence¡ªwasn¡¯t this a deliberate act of causing trouble? ¡°zhenting, please save me. sister hits me every time she sees me,¡± shen mei heard li zhenting¡¯s voice and felt a sense of relief in her heart. she immediately covered her face and crawled over, sobbing as she sought refuge in li zhenting¡¯s embrace. li zhenting¡¯s gaze sharpened as he held shen mei, and he sternly addressed shen ning. ¡°shen ning, believe me when i say i will make sure you are expelled from the capital immediately.¡± Chapter 19 president li¡¯s eyes will always be blind ¡°believe? of course, i believe,¡± shen ning crossed her arms, mocking him. ¡°president li has a firm and ruthless approach, wielding great power and displaying a cold indifference. i have firsthand experience of it. however, president li, is it your usual practice to pass judgment without seeking the reasons behind it?¡± ¡°what do you mean?¡± he asked. ¡°what do i mean?¡± shen ning raised an eyebrow. ¡°i can¡¯t quite tell if president li is intentionally feigning ignorance or genuinely clueless. let me ask you this: before i struck her, did you know what she had done to me?¡± li zhen ting fell silent and abruptly pushed shen mei away, his intense gaze scrutinizing her. shen mei panicked and immediately began tearfully explaining, ¡°zhenting, early this morning, she instructed the secretary to destroy all the perfumes in the warehouse that i had already planned to sell. i got angry and said a few things to her, and she came after me, hitting me.¡± she depicted herself as pitiable, tears streaming down her face, appearing thoroughly miserable. li zhenting¡¯s piercing gaze narrowed, gleaming with a cold light. ¡°president li, you¡¯d better ask secretary li first. she was present the entire time,¡± shen ning interjected with a cold tone. secretary li, who had been standing dumbfounded on the side, was terrified by the scene. confronted with li zhenting¡¯s icy gaze, she trembled in fear. ¡°speak,¡± li zhen ting demanded in a low voice. secretary li opened her mouth to speak, but as she raised her eyes, she saw shen mei giving her a stern warning look, causing her to break out in a cold sweat. recently, there had been rumors in the company about li zhenting intending to marry general manager shen. how could she offend the future mrs. li? moreover, she had long been shen mei¡¯s confidante. ¡°president li, what miss shen said is true,¡± secretary li cleared her throat and replied in a low voice. li zhenting¡¯s face turned fearsome. ¡°zhen ting, please send my sister away. six years ago, you divorced her, and she has held a grudge ever since. it¡¯s evident that she has returned for revenge, targeting me at every turn. it¡¯s either insults or physical violence. if you don¡¯t drive her away soon, she will kill me.¡± ¡°furthermore, i¡¯ve sent someone to the united states to investigate. miss daisy is the only daughter of wealthy overseas chinese businessman lin zhen chun, while my sister is just a destitute refugee. there have been sightings of her begging on the streets. she¡¯s clearly an imposter, assuming the identity of someone else¡¯s wealthy daughter. don¡¯t let her deceive you.¡± shen mei¡¯s half-exposed chest almost clung to li zhen ting¡¯s arm as she pitifully voiced her complaint. the icy glimmer in li zhen ting¡¯s gaze grew more intense. in fact, he had dispatched people to investigate shen ning¡¯s life over the past six years. however, there was no record or information available about shen ning whatsoever. it was a complete blank. on the other hand, daisy miss was indeed lin zhen chun¡¯s daughter, a globally renowned perfume expert. as for whether miss daisy was actually shen ning, they bore some resemblance in the photos, but that was the extent of it. everything else required further confirmation. moreover, shen ning and miss daisy hailed from drastically different backgrounds. it was inconceivable that they could be the same person! ¡°shen ning, if you¡¯re intentionally causing trouble, i advise you to leave immediately. considering our past as a married couple, i will let you go. however, if you persist in causing disruptions, i can have you sent to jail within minutes. don¡¯t forget, this is the imperial capital, my territory, not the united states. with a single word from me, you won¡¯t be able to stay here,¡± li zhenting¡¯s voice was low, but his intimidation was profound. shen ning listened with a derisive smile. ¡°president li¡¯s eyes will forever remain blind. guess you didn¡¯t managed to treat your injured eyes.¡± li zhen ting¡¯s body trembled, and he immediately blurted out, ¡°what do you mean by that?¡± ¡°no meaning,¡± shen ning replied icily. ¡°president li, our collaboration has become too difficult to continue. please find someone more suitable. i can¡¯t endure it any longer.¡± she turned and walked away. suddenly, li zhenting rushed forward and forcefully grabbed her arm, pressing her against the wall. shen ning felt a sharp pain in her back, causing her face to contort. she glared at him with fury in her eyes. Chapter 20 are you afraid? ¡°shen ning, do you think i¡¯m someone you can come and go as you please?¡± ¡°and what do you want, then? to kill me?¡± shen ning retorted angrily. ¡°let me tell you, i¡¯ve already died once. i¡¯m not afraid of scum like you.¡± she accused them vehemently. ¡°you have no sense of right and wrong, you let emotions cloud your judgment, and you¡¯re beyond redemption. even if we continue to collaborate, it will only lead us down a dead-end path.¡± she felt an overwhelming sense of sadness! she couldn¡¯t fathom how she had once fallen for this man and loved him to her very core. it was as if she had been blind! li zhenting was momentarily taken aback! he had received treatment for his injured eyes, but only shen mei, who had taken care of him back then, knew about it. his grandfather had secretly dealt with the person who had pushed him, sending them to the police for punishment. the incident of his eye injury had been kept under wraps. the reasons for this were twofold. firstly, he had been groomed as the heir since childhood and didn¡¯t want to tarnish his image. secondly, family secrets should not be exposed to the public. the one who had pushed him was his own second uncle, and his grandfather didn¡¯t want outsiders to witness the ugly internal strife within the li family, as it would also tarnish the company¡¯s reputation. therefore¡­ shen ning¡¯s unintentional remark had struck a deep chord within li zhenting¡¯s heart. he stared intently at her face, not missing any subtle expression. however, shen ning¡¯s face remained impassive, as cold as ice. he took a deep breath, calming his emotions. ¡°shen ning, don¡¯t act like a resentful woman, as if i¡¯m bullying you. let me tell you, li zhenting has always believed in evidence and doesn¡¯t blindly trust any party. if the evidence shows you¡¯re at fault, you must bear the consequences.¡± ¡°evidence?¡± shen ning sneered. ¡°so, you only rely on evidence?¡± ¡°of course.¡± ¡°fine, then i¡¯ll show you the evidence right now.¡± shen ning suppressed her anger. in truth, she no longer cared about the truth. at this moment, she just wanted to slap him hard and see what this despicable man would say after seeing the evidence. she turned and walked towards the warehouse. over the years, she had developed a habit of being cautious in everything she did. the warehouse was a critical area, and it undoubtedly had surveillance cameras! earlier that morning, she had specifically checked the surveillance footage. to her surprise, she found that several large crates had completely blocked the view of the cameras. the occurrence of such a situation in the warehouse made her realize that it was targeted at her. someone had tampered with it in advance, intending to cause trouble and tarnish her reputation. she immediately moved the crates aside. therefore, all the surveillance footage would undoubtedly be clear and visible. with confidence, she walked inside. li zhenting hesitated for a moment but was about to follow. ¡°zhenting, don¡¯t let her deceive you. she¡¯s cunning,¡± shen mei anxiously warned, grabbing li zhen ting¡¯s arm. shen ning turned back and sneered, ¡°shen mei, are you scared now?¡± ¡°what am i afraid of? do you think the perfumes in the warehouse can magically turn white into black?¡± shen mei couldn¡¯t fathom what evidence shen ning could possibly present and spoke up defiantly. shen ning scoffed, ¡°perfumes can¡¯t see, but surveillance cameras can. whoever is lying will be exposed once we check the footage.¡± shen mei secretly breathed a sigh of relief. so, this wicked woman just wanted to check the surveillance footage. little did she know that the footage had already been tampered with. she felt reassured. ¡°go ahead and check. i¡¯m not afraid of anything,¡± shen mei declared with determination, linking her arm with li zhenting¡¯s and walking in confidently. ten minutes later. the three of them emerged from the warehouse, and shen mei¡¯s face was pale and dejected. Chapter 21 can you say something? ¡°president li, how is it? the truth is already in front of you, right?¡± shen ning¡¯s eyes flashed with a sarcastic smile, her expression cold and her voice sharp. li zhenting¡¯s face darkened, and his thin lips curved into a cold and stern arc as he gave a command in a deep voice, ¡°immediately dismiss secretary li.¡± ¡°alright.¡± shen mei¡¯s arrogance vanished completely at this moment, and she nodded in agreement as if she herself were secretary li, as if she had committed a crime. ¡°hahaha¡­¡± shen ning couldn¡¯t help but burst into laughter. ¡°mr. li, your way of handling things is indeed unique. throughout this whole incident, secretary li had very little to do with it, yet you choose to dismiss her. is that fairness and justice?¡± ¡°she concealed and failed to report, her actions were malicious. ¡°hmph,¡± shen ning sneered repeatedly. ¡°even if she concealed and failed to report, it was to protect our beloved ms shen. her loyalty is commendable. such a mistake should be reprimanded, not deserving of dismissal. tsk tsk, mr. li, your biased protection is simply laughable.¡± ¡°what do you want, then?¡± li zhenting suddenly wore a wicked smile on his lips. shen ning sneered. so you want to protect shen mei? i won¡¯t allow it! ¡°mr. li,¡± shen ning raised her eyebrows, her tone unwavering. ¡°just now, you saw it for yourself. shen mei was the one who first splashed my face with phthalate, clearly intending to ruin my appearance. this behavior is despicable. i want to send her to the police station to face the consequences.¡± ¡°no, zhenting, i had no idea it was phthalate in the bottle. she said she wanted to destroy the perfume i had worked hard to develop, and that it was going bad. i acted out of impatience and splashed the perfume on her face unintentionally. it was not intentional,¡± shen mei panicked, tears streaming down her face as she held li zhenting¡¯s hand, explaining herself. shen ning laughed disdainfully. ¡°no matter how you defend yourself, you can¡¯t wash away the guilt in your heart. in the face of evidence, your excuses are useless.¡± ¡°but you also slapped her,¡± li zhenting avoided the topic, speaking in a calm tone. ¡°haha.¡± shen ning laughed in anger once again. ¡°mr. li, you¡¯re pretending to be ignorant while understanding everything. you¡¯re quite calculating. if you like, i can splash the same liquid on her face right now and let her slap me in return. then we¡¯ll be even. how about that?¡± after saying that, she actually went back inside to fetch the bottle of dimethyl phthalate. ¡°zhenting, i really didn¡¯t mean it. you have to believe me,¡± shen mei pleaded anxiously. if the liquid were to be splashed on her face, it would instantly ruin her appearance. without her beautiful face, how could she become mrs. li? she trembled with fear! li zhenting tightly pursed his thin lips, and a cold and dignified aura pressed down, lowering the air pressure around him. as an experienced and battle-hardened businessman, he could see through all the twists and turns. ¡°mr. li, can we do it or not? say something,¡± shen ning waved the bottle of liquid in her hand, her cold gaze like a knife. ¡°she is your sister,¡± li zhen ting finally spoke slowly. ¡°sister?¡± shen ning wanted to burst into laughter. ¡°her? don¡¯t tarnish the word ¡®sister¡¯ like that.¡± she caused her mother¡¯s death, stole her husband, and pushed her into the sea. could this woman still be considered a sister? if the evidence were solid, she would send her to jail without hesitation, not allowing her to live another day! li zhenting was deeply disturbed by the anger he saw in shen ning¡¯s eyes. what kind of anger was it? despair, sadness, pain, numbness¡ªso intense that it made his heart twitch! ¡°li zhenting, honestly¡­ if you don¡¯t take action against shen mei today, our cooperation ends here. you figure it out. and i will still take the evidence to the police station,¡± shen ning fiercely uttered her threat. li zhenting fell silent for a moment and suddenly said, ¡°alright, i promise you.¡± Chapter 22 i must take revenge ¡°zhenting,¡± shen mei let out a piercing scream, her face turning pale, her expression dazed, and her eyes filled with near-despair. the surveillance footage today undeniably proved her deception¡ªshe had slapped li zhenting, causing him to lose face. she knew his temperament all too well. there was no room for compromise in his eyes. she had grossly underestimated shen ning¡¯s cunning. now, she had completely transformed, no longer the weak and easily manipulated woman she used to be. ¡°zhen ting, you must believe me¡­ i didn¡¯t mean to¡­¡± with tears streaming down her face, she held onto his arm, pleading desperately. li zhen ting furrowed his brow and coldly withdrew his hand. ¡°shen mei, you were undeniably in the wrong today. as an adult, you must take responsibility for your actions. you¡¯ll have to find a way to seek shen ning¡¯s forgiveness,¡± he stated icily. shen mei took a step back. ¡°get lost.¡± suddenly, li zhenting¡¯s voice grew low and stern. in that moment, he had never despised shen mei more! shen mei hesitated for a moment, then suddenly realized what was happening, and hurriedly turned to flee. ¡°shen mei, don¡¯t go. this matter isn¡¯t over yet,¡± shen ning grew anxious and a cold glimmer flashed in her eyes as she attempted to chase after her. but her arm was caught by li zhenting. ¡°li zhenting, you scoundrel!¡± shen ning shouted in anger. that despicable man had let shen mei escape! li zhenting smirked, lifting her chin with one hand, his icy gaze locking onto her face as he spoke lightly, ¡°rest assured, i will ensure fairness and justice for you. however, before that, i need to ascertain whether your actions were reasonable and lawful. after all, in my eyes, you are shen ning, not miss daisy. who knows if you are impersonating miss daisy? furthermore, is your perfume formula effective? will it succeed? are you deceiving me? at this moment, i am in the dark, so how can i guarantee fairness and justice for you?¡± ¡°what proof do you require?¡± shen ning asked angrily. ¡°naturally, it will be tested in the market. if you can genuinely make guqi perfume popular again and restore its past glory, regardless of whether you are miss daisy or not, i will acknowledge you.¡± ¡°fine,¡± shen ning gritted her teeth and coldly agreed, ¡°but mr. li, if i can make guqi successful, will i have full authority to deal with shen mei?¡± li zhenting¡¯s gaze deepened as he looked down upon her. ¡°how about it?¡± shen ning relentlessly pressed on. ¡°of course, i promise you. she has committed a wrongdoing and deserves punishment,¡± he nodded. this woman, once gentle and kind, seemingly vulnerable to anyone¡¯s mistreatment, had turned out to be cunning and scheming. ¡°remember, i will definitely take revenge for this,¡± shen ning uttered her threat before turning and walking away. today, when shen mei splashed phthalate on her face, although there was surveillance footage as evidence, shen mei still controls over guqi. she would quickly destroy the evidence. even if shen ning had taken photos as evidence on her phone, they were not firsthand evidence. moreover, having just joined the company, she had no one to testify on her behalf. therefore, even if she brought the case to the police station, she wouldn¡¯t face severe consequences given shen mei¡¯s cunning defense. however, with li zhenting¡¯s support, seeking revenge on shen mei would be much more satisfying. after a brief calculation, shen ning had a plan in mind. li zhenting stared at her departing figure, his eyebrows deeply furrowed. he had already chosen to believe her regarding today¡¯s incident. but now, guqi perfume was at a critical juncture, and a transformative step was necessary. if, at this time, shen ning and shen mei, the two shareholders, engaged in a conflict or even brought the matter to the police station, it would not only undermine internal cohesion but also greatly tarnish guqi¡¯s reputation, hindering the company¡¯s future development. this was also why he chosen to protect shen mei. furthermore, shen ning exuded an overwhelming resentment. what had she experienced over the years? why did she relentlessly target shen mei, pushing her to the brink of destruction? Chapter 23 don¡¯t kiss my mommy zhengsheng apartment. ¡°ding ding, mommy is beautiful and gentle. don¡¯t try to kiss her when you see her, okay?¡± xiaoxiao sat across from ding ding, very serious and proudly giving him instructions. ding ding snorted coldly! what was this all about? he had no interest in kissing other women, not even his own mommy, shen mei, whom he tried to avoid at all costs. ¡°hey, don¡¯t disrespect my mommy. my mommy is her highness the empress,¡± xiaoxiao immediately grasped his thoughts, widening her eyes and scolded him discontentedly. ¡°empress? why not call her wu zetian! nonsense.¡± ding ding gave her a disdainful look and continued to lower his head, playing with his tablet. ¡°ding ding, you¡¯re so rude.¡± ding ding¡¯s attitude truly angered xiaoxiao. she shouted in dissatisfaction. ¡°come on, that¡¯s your mommy, not mine. i have no interest in other people¡¯s mommies or any women, including you,¡± ding ding impatiently spoke up, standing up and moving to the side. xiaoxiao became furious upon hearing this! a few days ago, coco had told xiaoxiao that he will infiltrating shen mei¡¯s side under the identity of ding ding, preparing to seek revenge for mommy. mommy must not find out about this. although ding ding was her biological brother or younger brother, this guy was unsociable and had a strange personality. there were certain things she couldn¡¯t let him know for now! for example, that they were siblings, and her mommy was his mommy, and so on! moreover, since bringing him home the night before, mommy had been coming home early in the morning and late at night. by the time she returned, they were already asleep, and when she left, they hadn¡¯t yet woken up. ding ding had yet to meet mommy! ¡°coco, xiaoxiao, i¡¯m back.¡± just then, the door suddenly opened, and shen ning walked in with a bag of fruits, smiling warmly. ¡°mommy!¡± xiaoxiao immediately cheered, running up to shen ning and handing her slippers. she then held shen ning¡¯s hand and gently guided her to sit on the sofa. she eagerly brought a glass of water and climbed onto the sofa, happily massaging shen ning¡¯s neck and giving her a backrub. shen ning took a sip of water, and all the fatigue and hardships of the day disappeared. ¡°coco, come here. mommy bought your favorite fruits. wash them and eat,¡± shen ning said, puzzled when she noticed coco sitting there, playing with his phone, and not coming over to be close to her as usual. usually, when she came home from work, this pair of siblings would joyfully welcome her, one massaging her back, the other massaging her legs, being attentive and considerate. these were the moments when the family was happiest and most content. but today¡­ coco didn¡¯t even glance at her and sat there playing games alone, exuding an indescribable coldness and aloofness. an image of a man who looked exactly like coco inexplicably flashed in shen ning¡¯s mind. today, she had been locked in a battle of wits with this man for quite some time. she tilted her head and looked at her son, sighing. coco was becoming more and more like li zhenting. even the cold and unsympathetic aura he emitted was exactly the same. her heart sank. if coco appeared before li zhenting or in front of the media, their parent-child relationship would undoubtedly be exposed. once li zhenting, that living king of hades, knew he had another son, he would definitely do everything to come and take coco away¡­ and shen mei. coco must never appear before that wicked woman; otherwise, it would be extremely dangerous. ¡°i don¡¯t want to.¡± ding ding answered coldly without even glancing at her. shen ning was taken aback. what was wrong with this kid today? Chapter 24 mommy, were you hit?_1 ¡°coco, xiaoxiao, it¡¯s time to rest. i¡¯ll take you to kindergarten the day after tomorrow,¡± shen ning suggested with a smile, thinking that perhaps the children weren¡¯t in a good mood being at home. ¡°do we get to go to kindergarten?¡± ding ding raised his head, showing interest. ¡°which kindergarten is it?¡± he currently attended the blue whale noble kindergarten. but he didn¡¯t enjoy it there at all! ¡°it¡¯s blue sky kindergarten,¡± shen ning replied, smiling. it was clear that her son was excited about going to school. ding ding¡¯s eyes lit up. blue sky kindergarten was his favorite. not bad! ¡°mummy, what happened to your face?¡± suddenly, xiaoxiao¡¯s tender little fingers touched shen ning¡¯s face, and she exclaimed in surprise. there were five finger marks on mummy¡¯s face, as if she had been slapped. xiaoxiao¡¯s large almond-shaped eyes immediately welled up with tears. shen ning was taken aback. for the past two nights, she had deliberately returned home late, afraid that the children would notice. she couldn¡¯t even recall the countless hardships and struggles she had faced as a single mother with two children in the united states. every time, these two little ones would worry about her. over time, they had become highly sensitive, and she had to bear the misfortunes alone, shielding them from the harsh realities. she thought that her facial injury had healed today, and everything was fine, but the observant xiaoxiao had still noticed it. ¡°mummy, did someone hurt you?¡± xiaoxiao sniffled, her voice tinged with sadness. shen ning immediately turned her face away. ¡°xiaoxiao, nothing happened. mummy is strong, and no one would dare to hurt mummy,¡± she reassured, mustering a smile. she lifted xiaoxiao into her arms and planted a kiss on her little cheek. ¡°no, mummy, you¡¯re lying to me.¡± xiaoxiao turned around, determined to touch mummy¡¯s face and see for herself. shen ning had to explain, ¡°why would mummy lie to you? yesterday, i had a slight allergic reaction after eating shrimp, but it¡¯s already gone now.¡± ¡°i see.¡± a hint of doubt flickered in xiaoxiao¡¯s beautiful eyes as she nodded obediently, trying to understand. ¡°mummy, if anyone dares to bully you, coco and i won¡¯t let them get away with it.¡± ¡°thank you, xiaoxiao, coco.¡± shen ning¡¯s heart warmed. ¡°alright, it¡¯s getting late. mummy still has to work overtime. you two should go to sleep.¡± she led coco and xiaoxiao to the shower. after a while, the children finished bathing and went to their bedroom to sleep on their own. shen ning retreated to the study and immersed herself in formulating perfume recipes throughout the night. li zhenting wanted her to prove the success of the perfume. not only did she have to recreate her mother¡¯s original formula, but she also had to develop several new variations based on it, aiming for a resounding success. she picked up the black file bag given to her by her grandmother from the desk and retrieved her mother¡¯s perfume formula. suddenly¡­ a card slipped out and fell onto the table. she was momentarily stunned. quickly, she picked it up and examined it. it was a vip bank card from guibin bank. her name was written on it. she froze for a moment, then searched through the black bag. sure enough¡­ she soon found a note. as she read it, tears welled up in her eyes. the note was a message left by her grandmother, jun meizhen: ¡°ningning, this will be grandma is able to help you. i¡¯ve left my savings for you, all stored on the bank card. though it¡¯s only ten million, i hope it can provide some relief during your time of need. i hope you can take good care of the two children and find a man who loves you, so you can lead a joyful and fulfilled life. the password is your mother¡¯s birthday. i hope you can elevate guqi perfume shop to new heights as soon as possible and seek justice for your mother. keep going, grandma believes in you.¡± Chapter 25 for the first time, i had a good sleep_1 ¡°grandma.¡± she touched the bank card with her fingers, overcome with emotion. those years in the united states were truly difficult for her. she had to complete her studies while raising two children. during the day, she either washed dishes in a restaurant or worked as a salesperson in a supermarket, and at night, she buried herself in her studies. just thinking back now filled her with bitterness. returning to the country meant starting from scratch and facing numerous challenges. in this world, only grandma could offer her a little bit of love! she wiped away her tears and carefully put the bank card away. she couldn¡¯t accept grandma¡¯s money. with grandma¡¯s current health condition, how could she possibly take her money? her mother couldn¡¯t perform any filial duties, and her uncles and aunts were even more unreliable. as she thought about her uncles and aunts, a chill swept over her. she cautiously tucked the bank card away, deciding to visit grandma and return it after this busy period. for now, she needed to quickly expand and strengthen guqi perfume, fulfilling her mother¡¯s wish and relieving the urgent situation in her life. she lowered her head and began earnestly formulating the recipes, striving to expedite the creation of perfume formulas. as the night grew deeper, a thunderstorm suddenly raged outside, with lightning and thunder. shen ning yawned and finally stood up, heading towards the bedroom to sleep. the apartment was small, consisting of only one bedroom and one living room. she walked towards the sole bedroom. ¡°daddy, daddy.¡± as soon as she approached the bedroom, she heard crying. shen ning was startled and bent down to take a look. both coco and xiaoxiao were fast asleep. xiaoxiao had a sweet smile on her face, looking incredibly cute and soft. but coco was different. although he was asleep, his tender face was scrunched up, his little mouth pouting, and he was crying out in his dreams. his small fingers tightly gripped the blanket, as if afraid of something. shen ning¡¯s heart tightened. ¡°coco, coco.¡± she immediately placed her hand on ding ding¡¯s forehead, gently caressing it, while her other hand lightly patted his chest. ¡°daddy, scared, i¡¯m scared.¡± ding ding¡¯s little mouth opened and closed, his eyes tightly shut. shen ning¡¯s heart ached as she gently stroked the little one¡¯s face, filled with a bittersweet feeling. this child was calling for daddy in his dreams! but where was his daddy? in her mind, the image of li zhenting¡¯s proud and indifferent face flashed by, sending a chill down her spine. she climbed onto the bed and tightly embraced coco in her arms. the child longed for his daddy, but that daddy was never yours. he already had his own child and another woman! that malicious woman! she couldn¡¯t tolerate you all! she looked down at the cool expression on the child¡¯s face, a mix of fear and a maturity beyond his years, and her heart ached. holding coco, she fell asleep. that night, ding ding spent the entire night in shen ning¡¯s embrace. shen ning comforted him from time to time, surrounding him with her profound motherly love. it was the first time ding ding had a peaceful sleep. as dawn broke, shen ning got up from bed. today, she had to gather all the perfume masters from guqi and hold a meeting to start the research and development work in advance. she first cooked porridge in the rice cooker and steamed the xiaolongbao she bought yesterday. she boiled a few eggs as well. after completing these tasks, as she was about to leave the kitchen, she looked up and was startled. there, at the kitchen doorway¡­ coco stood in his pajamas, looking spirited with a bright gleam in his two pitch-black eyes, staring at her. Chapter 26 etribution came too quickly!_1 ¡°coco, why are you up so early?¡± shen ning immediately approached, bending down with a warm smile as she inquired. ding ding lowered his head, feeling a bit shy. what should he do? he was starting to develop feelings for xiaoxiao¡¯s mommy! xiaoxiao¡¯s mommy was truly beautiful and gentle. it was the first time he had experienced the goodness of a woman. the maternal love she bestowed upon him made him feel cherished. he realized how fragrant, soft, and comfortable it was to be in mommy¡¯s embrace. last night, he slept peacefully. in the past, he would often wake up in the middle of the night, feeling afraid¡ªafraid of the dark and afraid of monsters. but last night, when he woke up, he found himself sleeping in the comforting arms of xiaoxiao¡¯s mommy. mommy held him and comforted him, and he felt no fear. in fact, he fell back asleep peacefully. as he gazed into shen ning¡¯s gentle smile, he couldn¡¯t help but recall the face of shen mei, causing his gaze to darken. ah, if his own mommy could be as gentle and wonderful as her. ¡°coco, what¡¯s the matter?¡± shen ning caressed his face. ¡°are you hungry?¡± ¡°no,¡± ding ding shook his head, mustering up his courage, he asked, ¡°can i give you a kiss?¡± shen ning was taken aback but soon burst into laughter. this little guy must have had a bad dream! ¡°of course, you can,¡± she said, immediately lifting ding ding and placing him on the sofa, on her lap. with a slight squint, she warmly said, ¡°come, give mommy a kiss.¡± ding ding closed his eyes, pouted his small red lips, and cupped mommy¡¯s face with both hands. he gently planted a kiss on her forehead and then tried to climb down. ¡°haha.¡± shen ning was overjoyed. seizing the opportunity, she tightly embraced ding ding and showered him with several more kisses, burying her face in his embrace to bring him joy. ding ding burst into laughter, experiencing genuine happiness for the first time. after enjoying their affectionate moment for a while, shen ning finally released ding ding. she gently stroked his head, soothing him, and guided him back to the bedroom to sleep. then, she hurriedly picked up her bag and headed to work. early in the morning, as shen ning arrived at the company¡¯s entrance by bus, she noticed a crowd gathered there. among them, a man was loudly shouting: ¡°summon your boss! your perfume is toxic. i had an allergic reaction after using it last night and nearly died. you must compensate me.¡± ¡°what a disgrace! a well-established brand like yours resorting to such deceitful practices. i will sue you.¡± ¡­ the man grew increasingly agitated as he continued his tirade. he raised his foot to kick the glass door. with a crash, the glass shattered, scattering shards onto the ground, prompting screams from the onlookers. shen ning¡¯s face turned pale. indeed, karma struck swiftly! retribution came too quickly! filled with worry, she was about to intervene when she looked up and saw shen mei hiding inside, peering out. witnessing the man¡¯s escalating behavior, shen mei quickly retreated further into the building. shen ning shook her head, preparing to step forward and intervene. suddenly, the roar of an engine filled the air. the crowd turned their heads. there, parked before them, was a luxurious rolls-royce. li zhenting! the most distinguished and prominent man in the entire capital city! he had arrived so early, sitting in his opulent car. the noisy crowd fell into silence. no one knew what would happen next. they all held their breath, enveloped in an icy hush. the man turned around and spotted li zhenting¡¯s luxury vehicle. instead of being intimidated, he grew even more excited. ¡°mr. li, i never expected a wealthy tycoon like you to engage in such reprehensible actions. let me tell you, don¡¯t assume that i fear you just because you have money and power. if you don¡¯t provide me with a satisfactory response today, i¡¯ll take you down with me. i fear no consequences.¡± he spread his arms, blocking the path of the luxury car, and continued his relentless verbal assault. Chapter 27 no different from a devil! li zhenting¡¯s gaze was as sharp as an eagle, his eyes devoid of any warmth. slowly, he retrieved his phone and tapped on it a few times. in no time, the car window rolled down, and he sternly commanded, ¡°get lost. if there are indeed issues with our company¡¯s products, take legal measures and consult our legal department. we will handle it fairly and reasonably.¡± but this man had come with the intention of taking advantage. he had heard about the exorbitant compensation li zhenting had paid to a customer due to perfume quality issues. now, as a destitute man, he wanted to seize an opportunity. instead of leaving, he crossed his arms and prepared to continue his obstinacy. a flash of coldness flickered in li zhenting¡¯s eyes. suddenly, he stomped on the accelerator. the car roared fiercely as it charged straight towards the man. the man stood there petrified, dumbfounded. ¡°quick, move aside!¡± shen ning¡¯s heart pounded as she rushed forward and forcefully pushed the man. the man was sent flying and fell to the ground, far away. li zhenting¡¯s luxury car raced past, narrowly missing him. once he regained his senses, the man turned pale and began wailing. one can only imagine that if shen ning hadn¡¯t given him a push, he would likely be lying on the ground, bleeding profusely, on his way to meet the king of hell. shen ning stood there, her body chilled as if all her blood had turned cold. it was the first time she had witnessed li zhenting¡¯s ruthless and ferocious nature. he was no different from a devil! thoughts of her mother¡¯s death sent a shiver down her spine. what wouldn¡¯t this cold-blooded and cruel man dare to do? inside the car. li zhenting¡¯s falcon-like gaze glanced indifferently at her, his eyes emitting an icy aura that seemed to freeze the air into solid ice. he pressed the accelerator, turned the steering wheel to the left, and swiftly headed towards the underground parking lot. the man no longer dared to cause trouble and scurried away. the crowd¡¯s faces paled, and they silently dispersed. shen ning stood there in a daze, her body trembling with cold. she entered the lobby and stepped into the elevator. moments later, the elevator doors opened. she looked up and found herself face to face with a strikingly handsome man. li zhenting stared at her with a gloomy expression. ¡°ah!¡± shen ning was startled and instinctively took several steps back. glancing up, she realized that in her absent-minded state, she had entered the president¡¯s exclusive elevator. well, she was now a partial owner of the company, so it wasn¡¯t entirely inappropriate for her to take the president¡¯s elevator. however, she absolutely did not want to share an elevator ride with this devil. as she contemplated making a swift escape, li zhenting had already stepped forward and pressed the button for the eighth floor. the elevator doors closed slowly. she bit her lip and held her breath, deliberately retreating several steps to maintain as much distance as possible. li zhenting¡¯s face tightened, and a chilling aura emanated from him, creating an oppressive atmosphere within the confined space. ¡°mr. li,¡± after a while, shen ning took the initiative to speak. as a partial owner of the company, she believed she couldn¡¯t turn a blind eye to the situation. something needed to be rectified because guqi was her mother¡¯s life¡¯s work! ¡°hmm.¡± ¡°you can¡¯t treat our customers like this,¡± she said firmly. ¡°when a customer has an allergic reaction to our perfume, it indicates a problem with the product¡¯s quality. we should treat our customers with respect, make necessary improvements, and establish a positive brand image.¡± li zhenting sneered coldly, ¡°na?ve and softhearted.¡± shen ning argued logically, ¡°doing business requires winning people over with integrity, not relying on violence. guqi cannot afford to be so ruthless. continuing like this will only alienate people.¡± Chapter 28 li zhenting, you devil!_1 li zhenting¡¯s dangerous narrowed gaze fixated on her. ¡°do you know who he is? did he really have an allergic reaction to guqi¡¯s perfume?¡± shen ning was momentarily stunned. most of guqi¡¯s customer base consisted of affluent women from high society, and while they also offered high-end men¡¯s fragrances, this man didn¡¯t seem like the type to use guqi¡¯s perfume. moreover, his attire didn¡¯t suggest wealth either. ¡°but that doesn¡¯t prove he¡¯s a bad person,¡± shen ning retorted, refusing to accept it. ¡°even if you accidentally caused harm to him today, it would be the end for guqi. no matter how influential or capable you are, the law won¡¯t show mercy.¡± li zhenting shot her a cold glance, uninterested in engaging in further conversation. this man had a criminal record and was essentially here to extort. he had caused trouble several times before, but this time, he went even further, even smashing the company¡¯s front gate. daring to be defiant in front of li zhenting was akin to courting death! if li zhenting didn¡¯t scare him well enough today, he would make sure guqi faced anarchy in the future! of course¡­ li zhenting¡¯s driving skills had reached an extraordinary level. even if shen ning hadn¡¯t pushed that man, he would have narrowly missed him by a fist¡¯s distance, scaring him half to death. however, he had no intention of explaining that to the self-righteous woman. ¡°mr. li¡­¡± shen ning persistently tried to say something. by that time, the elevator had reached the eighth floor. li zhenting furrowed his brow. this woman was truly exasperating! as the elevator doors opened, he confidently stepped out. suddenly, a mysterious smile curled at the corners of his lips as he raised his hand and forcefully pressed the elevator button. just as shen ning was about to follow him out¡­ the elevator doors rapidly closed, nearly crushing her body. she let out a scream and recoiled in fear. in an instant¡­ all the lights in the elevator went out, plunging them into darkness. before she could fully comprehend the situation, the elevator plummeted downward as if in free fall. ¡°ah!¡± her face turned pale, and she screamed, crouching down, hands covering her head, trembling all over. it wasn¡¯t until she heard a loud ¡°thud¡± that shook the entire elevator, followed by a swift upward jolt, that she realized what had happened. shen ning was tossed to the ground, hitting her head on the elevator door, and stars danced before her eyes. fortunately, at that moment, the elevator doors opened. her face was deathly pale as if she had seen a ghost, and she crawled out on all fours, trembling with fear. li zhenting stood in front of the surveillance monitor in the ceo¡¯s office, observing the woman¡¯s panicked scramble, crawling on all fours. a faint smile curved his lips. so, she also experiences fear! this woman always exuded an intimidating aura. if he didn¡¯t humble her a little, she would genuinely believe she could conquer everything! shen ning, still trembling, finally confirmed her escape from the terrifying elevator. she remained crouched on the floor, gasping for air, beads of cold sweat covering her forehead. devil, li zhenting, you devil! shen ning stood up, teeth clenched, her face flushed with anger, fists tightly balled. she had witnessed li zhenting, that despicable scoundrel, purposefully adding an extra press to the elevator button, inadvertently triggering something that caused the elevator to malfunction. he clearly intended to harm her! he was truly no different from shen mei! she would never dare to take an elevator again and angrily ascended the stairs. however, when she reached the eighth floor, panting heavily, she saw li zhenting calmly seated on the sofa in her office, his expression indifferent, as if nothing had happened. shen ning stormed in with a dark expression, slamming the keys on the desk, ready to unleash her fury. a chilling glimmer flickered in li zhenting¡¯s icy gaze. she froze in place. there was nothing this man wouldn¡¯t do. until her vengeance was fulfilled, it was best to keep a low profile, provoke him less. she didn¡¯t care if she lost her life, but she had two little darlings waiting for her to care for, and she need to revenge for her mother¡­ she stood there expressionless, staring straight at this devil. Chapter 29 i promise you li zhenting reclined leisurely, crossing his legs, and lit a cigar. with elegance, he took a puff, his magnetic voice resonating beautifully: ¡°now, report your work plan.¡± a work plan? shen ning struggled to shift gears. ¡°what? don¡¯t have one?¡± ¡°i do.¡± shen ning snapped back to attention. so, li zhenting had come to guqi early in the morning to hear her work plan. it must be said that he was highly competent in his work, personally involved, and left no room for sloppiness. she pursed her lips and immediately presented her upcoming work plan, concluding with: ¡°mr. li, there¡¯s something i need your assistance with. i¡¯m planning a grand tea party for the affluent ladies of city¡¯s upper class.¡± li zhenting had been listening intently all along, and when he heard the last part, his gaze remained fixed on her. ¡°well? can it be done?¡± shen ning anxiously asked, watching him intently. li zhenting nodded slightly. ¡°alright, i agree.¡± ¡°thank you, mr. li.¡± a forced smile finally graced shen ning¡¯s face as she expressed her insincere gratitude. only by leveraging his connections could she invite the wealthy women from the imperial capital¡¯s upper class, and they were the true consumers of guqi¡¯s products. her mother had always emphasized the importance of targeting the right consumer group and tailoring the approach accordingly! li zhenting cast a meaningful glance at her, stood up, and with his tall stature, walked toward the exit. as he turned around, shen ning¡¯s forced smile vanished, and her eyes turned into sharp daggers, yearning to pierce his heart from behind. li zhenting turned around. shen ning¡¯s face froze, preserving a peculiar expression. li zhenting¡¯s rose-colored lips curved into a pleasing arc, and he casually said, ¡°focus on your work. if you perform well, i will reward you. in my company, talent is valued, and those who possess it are given opportunities.¡± after speaking, he turned and strode away with purpose. hmph! shen ning let out a disdainful snort. talent is valued? spare me the lies. does shen mei possess any talent? you seemed happy giving her opportunities. downstairs. ¡°zhenting.¡± li zhenting had just descended the stairs when shen mei, exuding her enchanting allure, hurriedly caught up. li zhenting looked at her, furrowing his brow. ¡°why did you come to the company?¡± ¡°i¡­ i¡¯m worried about shen ning¡­ i just feel that she has ulterior motives.¡± shen mei expressed her concerns. ¡°remember, in the future, focus on taking care of ding ding and lan lan at home, help them with their studies. there¡¯s no need for you to come to the company for now. keep your distance from shen ning.¡± li zhenting gave a stern instruction, then checked his watch and strode toward his luxury car. moments later, he drove off in his car, leaving a trail of dust behind. shen mei stomped her foot in frustration. if she wasn¡¯t allowed to come to the company, it would provide the perfect opportunity for that wretched shen ning to seduce her fianc¨¦. she wouldn¡¯t stand for it! thinking of shen ning, her eyes welled up with tears. after all these years, she understood li zhenting well. he had changed. no longer did he detest shen ning upon seeing her. now, he even seemed to admire her. just like today, he wouldn¡¯t have come if it weren¡¯t for shen ning. it was evident he came for her! this was a very bad sign! she gritted her teeth. you wicked woman, how dare you return and ruin my plans. i won¡¯t let you succeed! i will make you suffer even more than last time! li manor. ¡°brother.¡± coco answered the call from xiaoxiao¡¯s wristwatch phone, and xiaoxiao¡¯s tender and rosy face immediately appeared on the screen. ¡°xiaoxiao.¡± coco smiled warmly. ¡°brother, mommy was beaten by someone. please come back quickly.¡± xiaoxiao¡¯s voice carried a sob, and her face was filled with worry. Chapter 30 you must talk to me coco¡¯s face immediately turned pale. ¡°mommy was beaten? what happened? please explain it clearly.¡± ¡°brother, last night when mommy came back, i saw finger marks on her face while i was giving her a massage. it was clear that she had been hit, but mommy denied it and insisted it was an allergic reaction to shrimp. but it was obviously from being hit,¡± xiaoxiao pouted, her eyes welling up with tears. coco¡¯s face flushed with anger. ¡°tell me, who hit mommy? this is despicable.¡± ¡°it seems to be someone named shen mei,¡± xiaoxiao struggled to convey shen ning¡¯s thoughts at the time. ¡°shen mei?¡± coco clenched his fists. wasn¡¯t she lan lan¡¯s mother? he had been living in this house for three days now, and the servants had mentioned that name several times. however¡­ he hadn¡¯t actually spoken to her yet. every time he saw her, she didn¡¯t even spare him a glance, so cold and distant. coco couldn¡¯t be bothered to deal with her. but he felt sorry for ding ding! after all, he was now ding ding, and shen mei was supposed to be ding ding¡¯s biological mother. but it seemed like she didn¡¯t care about ding ding at all. no wonder ding ding didn¡¯t like staying in this house. it was too cold and heartless. ah, he couldn¡¯t imagine how ding ding had grown up in such an environment. coco thought of his own mommy, shen ning. she would inquire about his and xiaoxiao¡¯s daily lives, find time to be with them, always considerate of them, afraid they would go hungry or feel cold. it was truly heartwarming. his mommy was amazing, and he would never allow anyone to bully her. ¡°xiaoxiao, don¡¯t worry. i¡¯ll come back right away.¡± coco hurriedly reassured her. but before he could finish speaking, the door was pushed open. he looked up. there, lan lan walked in wearing a beautiful princess dress, her hands behind her back. ¡°okay, brother, i¡¯ll be waiting for you. i miss you so much.¡± xiaoxiao couldn¡¯t see what was happening on coco¡¯s side and spoke in a sweet, childish voice through the phone. lan lan immediately heard xiaoxiao¡¯s voice and rushed over to snatch coco¡¯s wristwatch phone, warily asking, ¡°ding ding, who are you talking to?¡± coco raised his hand to dodge and immediately turned off the device. but in the end, lan lan still saw the beautiful little girl on the screen of the wristwatch phone and became displeased. ¡°it¡¯s none of your business.¡± coco adjusted the phone back into position and asked disapprovingly, ¡°who told you to come into my room without knocking?¡± ¡°who is she?¡± lan lan didn¡¯t answer, but pointed to the phone and asked about the girl inside. ¡°i¡¯m not telling you.¡± coco replied coldly and warned, ¡°don¡¯t come into my room without knocking from now on.¡± ¡°i want to come in. i want to come in. tell me quickly, who is she?¡± lan lan kept pestering, trying to pry for answers. ¡°such a nuisance.¡± coco grew impatient, gave her a disdainful look, then lowered his head to play with an ultraman toy, ignoring her. ¡°ding ding, i command you not to play with ultraman. you have to talk to me.¡± lan lan bossily demanded. ¡°annoying. extremely annoying.¡± coco glared at her, picked up ultraman, and ran out. lan lan stood there pouting, her eyes teary and full of resentment. coco intentionally flew the ultraman toy above his head as he ran and played, and before he knew it, he had run out of the villa¡¯s front yard. but when he stood at the front of the villa and looked, he was dumbfounded. the mansion was like a kingdom, with a large area. it would be difficult to run out of here. so how was he going to go home? ¡°ding ding, do i look pretty in this dress?¡± just as he was pondering, lan lan suddenly ran over again, this time wearing a barbie bubble-sleeved dress and twirling the skirt in front of him with her hands behind her back, asking coquettishly. Chapter 31 he doesn¡¯t want to be a son of a turtle anymore ¡°ugly as hell,¡± coco remarked without even sparing a glance, his words dripping with disdain. this little drama queen was truly vexing! pretty? more like a monster from a nightmare! ¡°ding ding, you¡¯re doing it on purpose,¡± lan lan seethed with anger, stomping her foot. ¡°do you even know where my dress comes from? mommy said it¡¯s what saudi princesses wear. how dare you say my dress isn¡¯t gorgeous? i¡¯m going to tell mommy.¡± ¡°ah-choo!¡± coco suddenly sniffed and let out a loud sneeze. the spray of saliva landed all over lan lan. lan lan wiped her face with her hand, her lips pouting, and then burst into tears. oh, women were such troublesome creatures. coco felt a sense of frustration mounting within him. ¡°lan lan, what¡¯s going on?¡± just then, a luxury car pulled up. the door swung open, and shen mei emerged, her chanel handbag in hand, swaying her hips as she stepped out. ¡°mummy!¡± at the sight of shen mei, lan lan rushed toward her as if she had spotted a savior, burying her face in her mother¡¯s embrace and sobbing uncontrollably. ¡°my little darling, what¡¯s the matter? why are you crying?¡± shen mei lifted lan lan into her arms, her voice filled with concern. ¡°mummy.¡± lan lan sobbed softly, pointing a trembling finger at coco and trying to explain through her tears, ¡°mummy¡­ ding ding¡­bullied me.¡± coco wore a look of complete disdain. he hadn¡¯t bullied her at all; it was all her own doing. who did he offend by simply playing with ultraman? who decreed that he must entertain her and praise her dress? truly, ugly girl always causes trouble! coco¡¯s gaze turned cold as he glanced at shen mei. in that instant, an unsettling feeling washed over him. this woman¡ªher face heavily adorned with makeup, eyes smudged like a panda¡ªexuded an icy and fierce aura, reminiscent of a malevolent witch. a world of difference compared to his own mommy, as if one resided in heaven while the other dwelled in hell. at that moment, shen mei followed lan lan¡¯s finger and caught sight of coco¡¯s face. in the depths of her mind, shen ning¡¯s image briefly flickered, sending a chill down her spine. just recently, she had suffered humiliation at the hands of shen ning in the office, and now she found out that her son was bullying shen ning¡¯s daughter in their own home! this was simply inconceivable! ¡°ding ding, why did you bully lan lan? she¡¯s your sister, don¡¯t you know you should treat her kindly?¡± shen mei strode purposefully toward coco, towering over him by several heads, her tone filled with authority. coco instinctively took a step back, a trace of fear creeping into his heart. but he quickly straightened his posture. this woman had hurt his mommy, and he wouldn¡¯t let her get away with it! ¡°i didn¡¯t bully her. lan lan lacks any sense of shame and insisted on playing with me,¡± coco retorted loudly, fixing a glare of anger upon shen mei. shen mei erupted in fury. how dare this little brat speak to her like that! ¡°you little brat! stand here and face the sun as punishment. you won¡¯t be allowed to eat until i say so,¡± she declared without hesitation, promptly seizing coco¡¯s ear and dragging him out into the sunlight. coco winced as he felt a sharp pain in his ear. ¡°you wretched old witch, let go of me!¡± coco, never the one to back down, became further incensed upon recalling the harm shen mei had caused his mother. he swiftly launched a flurry of punches and strikes, landing several direct hits. finally, he delivered a kick to shen mei¡¯s knee, causing her to stumble and fall face-first onto the ground, as if she were a dog who had taken a tumble. realizing the trouble he had stirred up, coco snorted, ¡°see you, la la,¡± and turned to make his escape. he no longer wanted to play the role of a grieved son; let anyone who wanted it have it! at the zhengsheng apartment¡­ ¡°xiaoxiao, why is everything boiled?¡± coco surveyed the dishes spread across the table¡ªboiled potatoes, boiled sweet potatoes, boiled eggs, boiled cabbage¡ªand even plain, colorless boiled noodles. his expression revealed a deep sense of distaste. Chapter 32 give her a surprise ¡°what should we do then? i only know how to boil water,¡± xiaoxiao shrugged, her large eyes filled with helplessness. she really couldn¡¯t cook! and ding ding was even worse, he couldn¡¯t even recognize a potato! ¡°you fool,¡± coco patted her head. ¡°from now on, learn from your brother. otherwise, when you grow up, you won¡¯t be able to find a husband.¡± ¡°okay, big brother,¡± xiaoxiao looked at him with admiration, her smile beaming. meanwhile, ding ding sat on the sofa, his head lowered in silence. coco¡¯s return meant that he had to go back to that home. but he didn¡¯t want to go back. in these few days, he had searched online and learned that he and coco were biological siblings, and shen ning was his actual mother. he had only spent a few days with his biological mother, and he didn¡¯t want to leave her. ¡°brother,¡± coco walked over and patted ding ding¡¯s shoulder. ¡°we¡¯re all family. if you have any troubles, talk to me. i¡¯ll help you.¡± coco consoled ding ding like a wise little adult. having stayed at the li manor for three days, he understood ding ding¡¯s current feelings and sympathized with him. a child without a mother was like a rootless plant, but ding ding¡¯s situation was even more complicated. not only did he lack a mother, but he also had a wicked stepmother. there were no words to describe it. after a moment of silence, ding ding nodded. later, coco turned on the computer. the three little heads crowded together. ¡°she¡¯s so ugly, that ugly witch,¡± xiaoxiao commented as she looked at the pictures of shen mei posing on the computer, sticking out her tongue in disgust. ¡°she¡¯s so cruel and never cares about ding ding,¡± coco nodded. ¡°she¡¯s the one who hit our mommy. but i kind of got revenge for mommy.¡± coco recounted his experiences, and even ding ding looked at him with admiration, nodding in agreement. the three little heads leaned in closer, huddled together, and spent quite some time discussing. finally, coco entered shen ning¡¯s phone number into the computer. after a while, a location tracker on the computer revealed an address. coco smiled. it was the address where mommy worked now. this afternoon, he would go and pick mommy up from work, giving her a surprise. in the living room of the shen family¡­ ¡°mom, what should i do? that wicked woman, shen ning, has returned,¡± shen mei collapsed onto the sofa as soon as she arrived home, tears streaming down her face, pounding the sofa as she wailed loudly. ¡°oh, my precious daughter, what happened? tell mom, which wicked woman has returned?¡± lan feiyun rushed over, comforting her beloved daughter and gently stroking her head, her heart filled with concern. ¡°mom, shen ning has returned.¡± ¡°shen ning?¡± lan feiyun looked at her in disbelief. ¡°didn¡¯t she die from childbirth six years ago at the hospital?¡± ¡°no, she didn¡¯t die at all. we were all deceived by that nurse.¡± shen mei wept, tears flowing as she gritted her teeth. ¡°not only is she alive and well, but she has also become a renowned perfumer in the united states. as soon as she returned to guqi, she seized half of the company¡¯s shares. now zhenting trusts her a lot. mom, what should i do?¡± lan feiyun stood there, her eyes wide with shock, unable to find the words to respond. ¡°what are you afraid of? zhenting has promised to marry you, and besides, you have ding ding and lan lan. shen ning is all alone. surely zhenting wouldn¡¯t abandon you and choose her over you?¡± after a moment, she comforted shen mei with confidence. thank goodness they had kept ding ding back then. it prevented the li family from suspecting shen mei. shen mei straightened up. ¡°mom, what i¡¯m most afraid of now is shen ning¡¯s relationship with ding ding. if zheng zhenting finds out, i¡¯m done for. and you know, lan lan isn¡¯t zheng zhenting¡¯s child.¡± she spoke with trembling fear. lan feiyun¡¯s face darkened with concern. Chapter 33 you¡¯re still alive! ¡°meimei, i¡¯m not criticising you but uyou¡¯ve been by zhenting¡¯s side for six years and still haven¡¯t been able to give birth to a single child. whose fault is that? if you had a child, you and zhenting would have your own flesh and blood. even if shen ning comes back and discovers that secret, zhenting wouldn¡¯t mistreat you because of the child. but why is your belly so uncooperative?¡± lan feiyun frowned, lecturing her daughter. shen mei¡¯s tears welled up again as she stomped her feet. ¡°mom, do you think i don¡¯t want to? but in these six years, zhenting has never touched me. how am i supposed to have a child by myself?¡± ¡°ah¡­¡± lan feiyun¡¯s eyes widened. she had never imagined the situation between her daughter and zheng zhenting was like this! no wonder he had been hesitant to marry her daughter! shen mei cried even more miserably and sorrowfully. ¡°crying, crying, all you know is how to cry. are you a dead person? even if zhenting isn¡¯t interested in you, he¡¯s still a man. can¡¯t you think of a way? as the saying goes, when a man pursues a woman, it¡¯s like crossing a mountain. but when a woman pursues a man, it¡¯s like a veil separating them. as long as a woman has some wits, knows how to please a man, what man can resist? it¡¯s just your own foolishness.¡± lan feiyun sat down beside shen mei, exhaling in frustration, and whispered lowly. ah, why was her daughter so foolish? she never listened to her! in the largest spice market in the city¡­ shen ning lowered her head as she meticulously searched for an essential ingredient in the spices: peru balsam. ¡°boss, do you have any peru balsam from north america?¡± ¡°no.¡± ¡­ after asking several shops in a row, she received the same response each time. shen ning¡¯s mood soured. several formulas in guqi¡¯s perfumes required this balsam, and it had to be sourced from north america. yet, she couldn¡¯t find it in the largest spice market in the city. it was unbelievable! although peru balsam was precious, it wasn¡¯t rare in north america. any reputable large spice shop would have it. but now, none of them did! her brows furrowed tightly. ¡°sorry, i¡¯m sorry.¡± lost in her thoughts, she suddenly bumped into a solid chest. she quickly apologized. ¡°ningning, is that you?¡± to her surprise, a voice filled with delight came from the person she bumped into. ¡°you¡¯re really alive.¡± she looked up and there stood a young man in a royal blue suit, radiating elegance and sophistication. his eyes were sharp and lively, expressing his joy. jing chenxi! she was stunned for a moment, then turned to walk away. ¡°ningning, don¡¯t go.¡± jing chenxi grabbed her, his expression filled with concern, and asked, ¡°where are you now? i¡¯ve been searching for you for so many years.¡± shen ning shook her head, feeling a pang of sorrow. if she had admired li zhenting so much in her past life, then jing chenxi¡¯s admiration for her was equally intense. she had followed in li zhenting¡¯s footsteps, with her heart and eyes fixated on him. even if she married him and endured his humiliation, she would gladly accept it. and jing chenxi¡¯s pursuit of her had almost reached a level of madness, constantly besieging her. unfortunately, she was blinded by her own ignorance, not giving him even a glimmer of hope. she felt guilty towards him to the point where she no longer wanted to see him. ¡°ningning, since we¡¯ve encountered each other, let¡¯s go to that caf¨¦ over there.¡± jing chenxi requested cautiously, still as humble and considerate as before, evoking sympathy. after a moment of silence, shen ning nodded. finally, they sat down in an upscale caf¨¦. jing chenxi came from a prestigious family, with generations involved in the spice business before branching into real estate. to meet him here, shen ning felt it must be a serendipitous coincidence. after all, this was the largest market for raw spice materials in the entire city, closely connected to his family¡¯s business. Chapter 34 she didn¡¯t dare to hope for it ¡°ningning, you¡¯re still as gentle and beautiful as ever,¡± jing chenxi elegantly stirred his coffee with his fingers, a faint hint of melancholy in his eyes as he spoke in a warm tone, ¡°can you tell me where you¡¯ve been all these years?¡± shen ning smiled lightly, ¡°mr. jing, you¡¯ve achieved great success in these years, basking in the spring breeze. i can¡¯t compare myself to you.¡± just now, she had searched on baidu and found that jing chenxi had become one of the wealthiest business tycoons in the city, with influence rivaling that of li zhenting. with such an illustrious background and formidable strength, she believed she had no qualifications to be involved with him, especially considering she was already a mother to two children. she only wanted to seek revenge for her mother and then leave this place with her children, living a quiet life of modest means. as for other matters, such as love, she had long stopped daring to hope for it. ¡°mr. jing, i came here solely to find peru balsam. i have some matters to attend to at the company, so i¡¯ll take my leave.¡± after only a brief moment of sitting, she hastily bid farewell and departed. jing chenxi watched her retreating figure, his gaze filled with depth and desolation. half-past five in the afternoon. coco, dressed in a white shirt, jeans, and a beret, carrying a small bag, and gliding on his super cool rollerblades, set off. today, he was going to pick up mommy from work. it had been several days since he last saw her. he missed mommy so much! as he made his way, his feet seemed to skate on the wind and fire, drawing admiring glances from many passersby. half an hour later. coco stood in the corridor of guqi¡¯s office. oh no, he arrived late. many of the offices were already empty. but where was mommy¡¯s office? he scratched his head, regretting not contacting mommy earlier. when he took out his phone watch to call mommy, he discovered her phone was turned off! ¡°little friend, who are you looking for?¡± the receptionist was tidying up, preparing to lock the doors for closing time when she suddenly looked up and saw a four or five-year-old cutie standing in the corridor. the little cutie wore a white shirt and jeans, had fair and clean skin, and big sparkling eyes that were especially endearing. he instantly captivated her. coco turned his head and flashed the receptionist an angelic smile, sweetly saying, ¡°beautiful miss, i¡¯m looking for¡­ looking for shen¡­ mei.¡± originally, he wanted to say he was looking for shen ning, but he was clever and had an idea. mommy had been beaten by shen mei, indicating that shen mei had more power than mommy. he wanted to use shen mei to find out about mommy¡¯s situation here. sure enough, as soon as shen mei was mentioned, the receptionist¡¯s eyes widened, and she immediately walked over, her face filled with surprise. ¡°you, are you the young master of the li family? you¡¯re ms shen¡¯s son?¡± her eyes were brimming with disbelief. the little one in front of her looked exactly like li zhenting, as if they were carbon copies. he must be the son shen mei had for li zhenting. he was simply too handsome! mr li must have married shen mei because she had given birth to such a cute and beautiful son. what man could bear to have his own son without a mother? she believed she had stumbled upon an unprecedented opportunity, and the more she thought about it, the more excited she became. but coco pouted, furrowing his brows. this receptionist was going a bit too far, always staring at his face with a foolish expression. although he was handsome, he didn¡¯t think he could attract such a mature lady like her. ¡°young master, your mommy isn¡¯t in the company right now. she didn¡¯t come to work today.¡± she bent down with a smiling face, showing great attentiveness. Chapter 35 my heart hurts when he¡¯s missing ¡°is there someone named shen ning here?¡± coco¡¯s expression was both cute and adorable as he sweetly inquired. he already knew that shen mei wasn¡¯t at the company anymore. after all, he had just knocked her down earlier today. asking about her was just a way to confuse and mislead. ¡°oh, you mean miss shen? she went out to procure spices and hasn¡¯t returned to the company yet.¡± the receptionist¡¯s heart melted at his cuteness, and she immediately smiled and responded. shen ning and shen mei were sisters, so asking about her aunt was a safe bet. coco¡¯s fair face is as smooth as eggshell, and the receptionist had an itching desire to reach out and touch his little cheek. but as she lifted her hand, coco tiptoed and zoomed away on his rollerblades as if he were flying. ¡°hey, young master¡­¡± she waved her hand, wanting to remind him to be safe, but the adorable little skater disappeared from her sight like a spaceship. she patted her forehead, thinking, ¡°oh my god, today is just too lucky. i actually saw li zhenting and shen mei¡¯s son, the young master of the li family. not only does he have extraordinary looks, but he¡¯s also clever and cute.¡± with a smile on her face, she opened her phone¡¯s photo album. during their conversation just now, she managed to successfully take a sneaky photo. most of the company¡¯s employees had never seen the son of the richest man in the city, li zhenting. with this photo, she would receive waves of envy! she happily hummed a tune and picked up her bag, preparing to leave work. but just a few steps away¡­ the front desk phone suddenly rang. she rose on her tiptoes and answered the call. ¡°mr. li¡­ li zhenting.¡± soon, a stern and icy voice came from the other end. her face changed color, and she was terrified to the core. the phone call was actually from li zhenting. ¡°mr. li, i, i did see him. the young master was here, but he just left.¡± the receptionist stuttered as she recounted what happened when coco had come earlier. li zhenting hung up the phone, his face darkened. shen mei stood nearby, afraid to make a sound. ¡°zhenting, i¡¯m sorry. i shouldn¡¯t have punished the child. but ding ding is also my son, and i feel pain when he¡¯s gone.¡± shen mei¡¯s tears flowed as she lifted her long skirt, revealing the bruises on her knees. ¡°look, my knees were kicked by him. it¡¯s unheard of for a son to hit his mother. i disciplined him for his own good.¡± li zhenting¡¯s gaze grew somber. did ding ding really hit shen mei? he couldn¡¯t believe it. although ding ding had never been particularly close to shen mei since he was young, he was still afraid of her and would never dare to strike her. but the bruises on shen mei¡¯s knees were undeniably real. it seemed that he would have to find the child first and then understand the situation. he turned and strode away. shen mei watched li zhenting¡¯s hurried and heavy figure, snorting coldly. she knew he cared about their son. but when had he ever cared about her? guqi square. ¡°mommy, where are you?¡± after searching the area and not finding mommy, coco felt deflated and returned to call shen ning on his phone watch. this time, the call finally connected. ¡°coco, what¡¯s wrong? mommy is currently in the southern district, inspecting spices. i¡¯ll be back soon. wait for mommy at home, okay?¡± shen ning¡¯s lips curved into a smile as she responded gently. ¡°but mommy, i¡¯m currently at guqi square. i wanted to surprise you by picking you up from work, but i can¡¯t find you.¡± keke spoke with a disappointed expression. ¡­ shen ning¡¯s eyes welled up with tears. this child¡­ she gave him some instructions and immediately hung up the phone, rushing back. at guqi square. coco tiptoed, gliding on his rollerblades, and began performing fancy tricks in the square. his tiny body soared forward, then leaned back, and in a smooth motion, twirled around gracefully. his poses were stylish and cool, causing several young girls nearby to scream with excitement, and many adults smiled as they watched him. just as he was basking in his triumph, an extended lincoln limousine drove by and parked on the side of the road. Chapter 36 could it be that she knows ding ding?_1 the car door opened, and li zhenting¡¯s tall figure stepped out of the vehicle. what a brat! he actually ran away from home to play here! he doesn¡¯t even want to go back! li zhenting walked briskly toward him. coco spun around and was almost scared out of his wits. li zhenting, his deadbeat dad, had actually found him here. he was going to be caught and taken back to the li manor! no, he didn¡¯t want to go back! with a swift flick of his feet, coco glided forward. but he hadn¡¯t gone far when he saw shen ning getting out of another car not far ahead. he was dumbfounded. what should he do? if his dad saw him with mommy, it would be troublesome! mommy definitely didn¡¯t want dad to know about his and xiao xiao¡¯s existence. he tapped his little brain and decided to slide into the guqi building. ¡°coco.¡± shen ning saw her son¡¯s agile figure as soon as she got out of the car. she called out, but he slid into the building, so she smiled and quickly followed him. li zhenting was coming toward ding ding when he suddenly froze. over there, shen ning was also walking toward ding ding. what was going on? what was she doing? did she know ding ding? his eyelid twitched, and he slowed his pace. by now, ding ding had already entered the building. li zhenting hesitated for a moment, then quickly caught up and stood at the entrance, peering inside. with one glance, his face instantly darkened, and his gaze turned icy. he saw shen ning holding ding ding¡¯s hand, talking to him, and occasionally patting his head. they seemed very familiar with each other. she had her back turned to him, and the building was crowded, so he couldn¡¯t see her face or hear what they were saying. his eyes narrowed dangerously. shen ning, how do you know my son? if you dare to do anything bad to my son, i won¡¯t let you off. coco¡¯s little brain was in a whirl. at the entrance. deadbeat dad stood there, his eyes fixed on mommy, looking as if he wanted to devour her alive. he couldn¡¯t let dad suspect or harm mommy! ¡°mommy, please wait for me. i have something to do at the internet cafe.¡± he had a brilliant idea and slid toward the nearby internet cafe. shen ning wanted to call him, but he had already disappeared. she smiled and shook her head. whenever he saw computers or internet cafes, this child couldn¡¯t move another step. li zhenting¡¯s dark gaze remained fixed on this side, ready to go inside and find shen ning. suddenly¡­ a childish voice came from the rooftop, ¡°dad!¡± he looked up and saw ding ding¡¯s little face appearing at the window above, smiling brightly. ¡°kid, come down quickly, or i¡¯ll spank your butt.¡± he spoke sternly, his face stern. ¡°okay, i¡¯m coming.¡± coco replied and with a flick of his feet, glided toward the opposite exit. in just a few seconds, li zhenting saw ding ding¡¯s tiny body skillfully slide to the other exit and stand there motionless. li zhenting waved to him. but that kid remained still, as if waiting for him. helpless, he glanced at shen ning in the lobby and reluctantly walked in the opposite direction. coco smiled, revealing his two small front teeth. yes! he had finally lured his deadbeat dad over! but he wasn¡¯t willing to go back to the li manor with li zhenting just like that. with a flick of his feet, he glided even faster, aiming to leave him behind. ¡°kid, stop right there!¡± li zhenting shouted angrily. but coco glided even faster. li zhenting seemed to have anticipated his escape and pressed a button on his car key. suddenly, the extended luxury car started, blocking his exit with its long body. Chapter 37 did any bad people bully you?_1 ¡°daddy, i miss you so much.¡± seeing no way out, coco¡¯s eyes lit up, and he immediately opened his arms and rushed towards li zhenting, affectionately calling out to him. li zhenting couldn¡¯t help but smile as he looked at the adorable expression on the little boy¡¯s face. he opened his arms and embraced him. ¡°you naughty boy, why did you run away here?¡± he furrowed his brow and asked. ¡°daddy, mommy hit me. she doesn¡¯t love me at all. it hurts so much.¡± coco pouted, tears welling up as he complained, appearing utterly miserable. li zhenting¡¯s heart softened inexplicably. he lifted coco and walked towards the lincoln car, giving him a command as they walked, ¡°son, be brave like a man. stop crying and let¡¯s go home first.¡± ¡°but daddy, i¡¯m not a grown man, i¡¯m just a little boy.¡± coco pouted, refusing to admit it. li zhenting smiled and tousled his little head. coco rested his round face on li zhenting¡¯s shoulder, wiping his tears and runny nose on his shoulder, while his eyes glanced over at the internet cafe. mommy, sorry i didn¡¯t mean to. please go home quickly. i¡¯ll pick you up after work next time! inside the lincoln car. as soon as li zhenting started the car, coco climbed onto the backseat. ¡°ding ding, where are you?¡± he leaned on the backseat and called ding ding. what should he do? he had been caught by li zhenting and was being taken back to the li manor. he didn¡¯t want to go back there at all! ¡°internet cafe.¡± ding ding stared fixedly at the game console, giving a brief response. upon hearing this, coco slapped his forehead. no wonder ding ding hadn¡¯t gone home yet. deadbeat dad probably thought he had run away again and came looking for him. ¡°hurry, mommy is at guqi plaza. i¡¯ve been caught by dad and brought back to the li manor. she¡¯ll be worried if she can¡¯t find me.¡± coco immediately shared this unfortunate news with ding ding. ¡°oh, okay.¡± ding ding¡¯s eyes lit up. he hung up the phone and ran downstairs. in fact, after coco returned, ding ding had to go back to the li manor first. but he didn¡¯t want to go back to that cold mansion, so he went to an internet cafe in guqi plaza to play games instead. in reality, ding ding had witnessed the scene where coco was caught by li zhenting. he had also seen shen ning waiting outside. yes! he could be with his mommy highness again! ¡°mommy.¡± he ran up to shen ning, grabbing her hand. shen ning lowered her head and smiled. ¡°coco, can we go home now?¡± ¡°yes.¡± ding ding nodded eagerly. ¡°then let¡¯s go. xiao xiao is waiting for us at home.¡± shen ning held ding ding¡¯s hand, and the mother and son walked home, talking and laughing along the way. after hanging up the phone, coco lay back on the sofa in the rv, hands cradling the back of his head, feeling troubled. what should he do? he was going to see that ugly witch again. would she punish him? but luckily, after spending these few days together, he confirmed that daddy was his biological father and that he wasn¡¯t too bad to him! a little while later, the lincoln rv stopped in front of the villa. ¡°ding ding, where did you go? mommy was so worried about you.¡± as soon as the car stopped at the li mansion, shen mei limped over, opened the door, and hugged coco, sobbing with tears and snot. coco was stunned! what was going on? how could the ugly witch be so nice to him! look at this, she completely looked like a loving mother to her son! ¡°ding ding, quickly tell mommy if anyone bullied you. you know, mommy was so worried about you. she couldn¡¯t eat.¡± shen mei carried keke, attentively checking him as if afraid that someone had bullied her own son. she wiped her tears from time to time. Chapter 38 would you like her?_1 coco blinked his large eyes. in the morning, this unpleasant witch had been harsh with him, but now¡­ could he have misunderstood her? ¡°let¡¯s have dinner first.¡± li zhenting took ding ding from shen mei¡¯s hands and cradled him in his arms, speaking calmly. coco rested his head on daddy¡¯s shoulder as the servants approached, addressing him as ¡°young master¡± and ¡°little young master.¡± shen mei followed behind, showering him with exceptional tenderness, even more so than lan lan. being just a child, coco felt a bit confused. after dinner, coco took a bath and returned to the kid¡¯s room. li zhenting pushed the door open and walked in. ¡°son, why did you go to guqi plaza?¡± his expression turned serious. today, he personally witnessed shen ning talking to ding ding as if they knew each other. this made him extremely cautious, and he needed to understand the situation. he was concerned that shen ning, seeking revenge, had secretly targeted ding ding! that would be too dangerous! coco¡¯s eyes darted around, and he spoke in a childish voice, ¡°daddy, i was indeed angry and ran away after mommy hit me. but later, i realized i was wrong and wanted to apologize to mommy. so, i went to guqi plaza where mommy works.¡± ¡°mmm.¡± li zhenting nodded, finding this explanation acceptable. ¡°what did that woman say to you? do you know her?¡± li zhenting continued his questioning. coco blinked his eyes innocently, pretending not to understand, and asked, ¡°which woman? who are you talking about?¡± li zhenting¡¯s gaze darkened slightly. ¡°before you ran into the internet cafe, a woman spoke to you. who was she? why did she talk to you? what did she say?¡± ¡°oh, that woman. i don¡¯t know her, but she somewhat resembles mommy, and she is gentle and beautiful. i really liked her, so i called her ¡®auntie.¡¯ she smiled at me and asked where the adults were and why i was alone. daddy said that children shouldn¡¯t talk to strangers, so i was afraid daddy would be angry, and i ran away.¡± ¡°oh.¡± li zhenting suddenly understood. it seemed that shen ning didn¡¯t know ding ding; it was merely a coincidental encounter! ¡°son, you mustn¡¯t wander around like that in the future. it¡¯s dangerous outside.¡± li zhenting¡¯s face turned stern. children¡¯s worlds were too innocent; they didn¡¯t understand the complexities of society. ¡°if something happens, you should call daddy, understand?¡± ¡°i understand.¡± coco nodded, smiling mischievously. then, he tentatively asked, ¡°daddy, that auntie today was really gentle and beautiful. do you like her?¡± li zhenting was taken aback and immediately furrowed his brow. ¡°son, what nonsense are you talking about?¡± coco pouted. he wasn¡¯t talking nonsense. daddy had promised to marry my mommy. she¡¯s my mommy. ¡°ding ding, a true man should be responsible and able to handle consequences. he should be able to forgive. running away and avoiding problems all the time isn¡¯t the way. today, mommy was angry and hit you. i have already reprimanded her, but you are her son, and sons shouldn¡¯t hit their mothers. do you understand?¡± he truly had a headache. this child kept running from home. he acted like a coward running away from problems. could there be something wrong with his upbringing? his genes were exceptional, and his son¡¯s genes would be even better. ¡°i understand.¡± coco pouted. he would never hit his mommy, who was beautiful and gentle. it was only that annoying ugly witch he wanted to teach a lesson! ¡°alright, it¡¯s time to sleep. it¡¯s getting late.¡± li zhenting glanced at his watch, carried coco to bed, covered him with a blanket, and turned off the lights before leaving. in truth, ding ding was lively and cheerful, albeit mischievous. he was quite adorable, and li zhenting liked him a lot. recently, ding ding had improved significantly compared to before¡ªmore enthusiastic, lively, and interested in everything. he was much happier than his previous cold and indifferent self. li zhenting was pleased. after leaving the room, he turned and headed towards lan lan¡¯s bedroom. Chapter 39 daddy will never abandon you in the pink princess room. ¡°little barbie, be obedient. mommy will put some lipstick on you, so you can look pretty.¡± lan lan stood on the bed, propping herself up with a pink pillow, applying makeup to a more than one-meter-tall snow white. although snow white was taller than her by half a head, she insisted on being its mother and wanted to make it look beautiful. li zhenting pushed open the door and entered slowly. ¡°daddy!¡± lan lan turned her head and upon seeing li zhenting, a hint of nervousness and fear flashed in her smart little eyes. but soon, two shallow dimples appeared on her round face, and she ran toward him with open arms. li zhenting couldn¡¯t help but soften his stern expression and embraced her. ¡°daddy, i love you so much.¡± lan lan kissed li zhenting¡¯s face repeatedly. ¡°i¡¯m a good girl, very sensible. do you like lan lan?¡± she had a way of clinging to him whenever she made a mistake. surprisingly, it worked every time, allowing her to escape punishment. this had made her bolder and more outrageous in her behavior. and she always came up with various ways to torment ding ding. this time¡­ li zhenting had no intention of letting her off the hook. ding ding had already run away from home twice. the situation was very serious. ¡°lan lan, stand properly. daddy has something to say to you.¡± li zhenting placed lan lan on the bed and ordered her to stand still, his tone serious. lan lan stood there, trembling with fear. her eyes, resembling black grapes, shimmered with tears. her expression was both timid and adorable. li zhenting¡¯s face turned stern. ¡°lan lan, why do you always bully ding ding? he is your brother, and you should respect and care for him, understand?¡± lan lan sniffled and nodded, tears streaming down her face. ¡°daddy, i love my brother, and i won¡¯t bully him. but he ignores me and even calls me ugly.¡± li zhenting¡¯s gaze hardened. ¡°lan lan, you are you, and he is he. if he doesn¡¯t pay attention to you, that¡¯s his right. you have no right to force him to do anything. everyone is an individual with their own choices and preferences. he can choose not to pay attention to you as long as he doesn¡¯t harm you. it¡¯s not his fault. but if you keep pestering him and forcing him to do things he doesn¡¯t like, that¡¯s your mistake, understand?¡± lan lan looked at li zhenting¡¯s serious face and nodded, speaking in a cute and soft voice, ¡°daddy, i was wrong.¡± ¡°tomorrow, you will apologize to ding ding, and from now on, you are not allowed to force him to do anything. do you understand?¡± li zhenting¡¯s tone became strict. ¡°okay.¡± lan lan pouted and nodded, tears still flowing. ¡°daddy, if you don¡¯t love me anymore, will you abandon me?¡± for some reason, despite her young age, she was particularly afraid that li zhenting wouldn¡¯t love her anymore or want her. after being criticized by li zhenting for her mistakes, she always asked this question cautiously. her delicate and adorable appearance always melted li zhenting¡¯s heart. he felt that his parenting had failed. both children¡ªone seemed to have autism, locking himself in his own little world and avoiding communication with others. he even ran away from home. although ding ding had improved a lot now, there was still a strange feeling, making him feel somewhat unreal. the other child was willful, domineering, and yet sensitive and fragile. considering his excellent genes, how could he have children like this? ¡°lan lan, as long as you correct your mistakes, daddy will always love you. you will always be my good daughter, my caring little cotton jacket. daddy will never abandon you.¡± he gently stroked her small face, wiping away her tears, and spoke in a gentle tone. Chapter 40 i¡¯ll marry you as fast as i can ¡°daddy, you¡¯re so good, i love you so much.¡± lan lan pounced into li zhenting¡¯s arms, acting spoiled. she really liked her daddy, even more than mommy. daddy was handsome, kind, and caring. she loved him so much! li zhenting smiled faintly and kissed her forehead. ¡°go to sleep now, it¡¯s getting late, and you have to go to kindergarten tomorrow.¡± ¡°daddy, i want you to tell me the story of snow white.¡± lan lan obediently tucked herself into the blanket, holding li zhenting¡¯s hand, her voice soft and sweet as if it could melt. li zhenting smiled slightly. ¡°okay, close your eyes, and i¡¯ll read you the story.¡± ¡­ that night, a crescent moon shone through the study room window. li zhenting sat at his desk, correcting documents. he felt inexplicably restless, and images of shen ning¡¯s face flashed through his mind. lost in thought, he suddenly heard the door open. ¡°zhenting.¡± shen mei swayed her waist and walked in with light steps, speaking in a gentle tone. ¡°yeah.¡± li zhenting¡¯s eyes remained fixed on the computer screen as he responded with a nonchalant tone. ¡°zhenting, i¡¯m sorry for being so harsh to ding ding today. but i was in a bad mood at that time. please forgive me. i didn¡¯t mean to.¡± shen mei lowered her head, standing docilely next to li zhenting, looking fragile and gentle. she had just finished showering, and a faint scent of orange blossoms emanated from her body, the kind that li zhenting liked. li zhenting took a sniff and looked up, his face turning a shade of red. the woman beside him was wearing a nearly transparent gown, with nothing underneath. every inch of her was on full display! he was, after all, a passionate man, and his ears turned red. he quickly straightened up. ¡°zhenting, you can rest assured that i will treat ding ding well from now on. after all, he is my own son, and i expect him to support me in my old age.¡± shen mei suddenly sat down on his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck, pressing her body against his, and acting spoiled. ¡°don¡¯t be angry with me, okay?¡± li zhenting¡¯s breath hitched as he reached out to remove her hand from his wrist. but this time, shen mei seemed determined. she tightly entwined her hands around his neck, her soft body pressed against his sturdy chest, and she softly gasped, ¡°zhenting, i love you. don¡¯t you want me? we¡¯ve known each other for six years, and i¡¯ve already given birth to our lovely children. you even planned to marry me. why don¡¯t you want me? am i not good enough? not gentle enough? did i do something wrong? please tell me, so i can change.¡± her body lightly brushed against his thigh, and her red lips were about to touch li zhenting¡¯s lips. ¡°shen mei, don¡¯t do this.¡± li zhenting suddenly pushed her away, startled by the image of shen ning¡¯s proud and radiant face that flashed in his mind. he stood up. shen mei¡¯s back hit the desk, causing her pain. but what hurt her even more was that li zhenting had rejected her advances. ¡°zhenting, why? don¡¯t you like me? don¡¯t you want to marry me anymore?¡± she felt extremely wronged, her eyes glistening with tears. li zhenting fell silent for a moment before speaking gently, ¡°meimei, as long as you are patient with ding ding, take good care of the children, and live a stable life, i will marry you as soon as possible. i will give you the status and wealth you desire.¡± shen mei blinked her tear-filled eyes, maintaining a poker face. but inside, she felt a secret delight. indeed, what her mother said was true. men couldn¡¯t resist temptation. however, she didn¡¯t want to give up just yet. she not only wanted his power but also wanted him as a person. after all, she had loved him for so many years. ¡°zhenting, since we are about to get married, can¡¯t we be intimate like all other couples in the world? why don¡¯t you want me?¡± she once again threw herself into his arms, tears streaming down, her fingers caressing his well-defined abdominal muscles and trailing downward. Chapter 41 - Chapter 41: Daddy Is Going to Marry Shen Mei! chapter 41: daddy is going to marry shen mei! translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation li zhenting grabbed her fingers and frowned.¡±mei mei, 1 want to save our best night for our wedding night. go and rest first. i still have some things to deal with.¡± he turned sideways and strode out. shen mei¡¯s lips curled up slightly as she watched the man leave. although li zhenting didn¡¯t want her this time, she could clearly feel his nervousness and hesitation. hmph, i¡¯m sexy, passionate, and alluring. any man would be attracted to me. 1 refuse to believe he¡¯s not interested in me! she was convinced that once li zhentian slept with her, their relationship would become unbreakable. even if shen ning wanted to cause trouble, she wouldn¡¯t be able to. at that moment, her phone suddenly rang. she answered the call. ¡°president shen, we have collected all the peruvian balsam in the market.¡±a man¡¯s low voice came from the phone. ¡°good, well done.¡± a faint smirk crossed shen mei¡¯s face. these days, she had learned that shen ning was searching everywhere for peruvian balsam. she immediately instructed her trusted subordinates to buy up all the peruvian balsam in the market. she couldn¡¯t let shen ning succeed! not only did she want to take back guqi, but she also wanted to chase shen ning out of the capital forever. only then could she keep her position as mrs. li forever. the next day. the next day. li manor. ding ding had a displeased expression. today, at the kindergarten, while he was running to the restroom with his pants belt held in both hands and legs together to relieve himself, teacher wang suddenly rushed over and inexplicably took him back to the blue whale kindergarten. as a result, after school, he could only be brought back to li manor. he ran to the backyard, annoyed, intending to call coco. ¡°hey, young master is really going to marry shen mei. her ego is going to skyrocket now, and we won¡¯t have any good days ahead.¡± ¡°indeed, madam was initially against it, but there¡¯s no way around it. young master has made up his mind this time.¡± ¡°it¡¯s just that young master ding ding is so pitiful. shen mei isn¡¯t kind to him at all. she acts one way in front of young master and differently behind his back.¡± ding ding held the phone and was stunned. is daddy going to marry shen mei? but that day, coco clearly said that daddy was going to marry his biological mother, shen ning. what was going on? ¡°ding ding.¡± he stood there foolishly, and lan lan ran over from behind, holding up a zhongwei ice cream, ¡°here, this is for you, strawberry-flavored. it¡¯s really delicious.¡± ding ding turned around with a dark expression, not taking the ice cream and just staring at her, ¡°dad is going to marry your mommy?¡± ¡°yes.¡± lan lan nodded with a smile, ¡°that¡¯s great, dad and mommy are finally getting married. we¡¯ll all be a family, right?¡± ¡°you¡¯ve got to be kidding me. i¡¯m not part of this.¡± ding ding replied grumpily, ¡°mommy isn¡¯t mine; she¡¯s yours.¡± lan lan blinked her big eyes in confusion, ¡°my mommy is your mommy too. aren¡¯t you happy that dad and mommy are getting married?¡± ¡°who¡¯d be happy?¡± ding ding retorted stiffly before running to his own bedroom. ¡°hey, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡± lan lan couldn¡¯t figure it out, watching his retreating figure, she pouted, ¡°such a weirdo.¡± this time she didn¡¯t tease him; she was just trying to be nice by giving him ice cream. after all, he liked it too. yet, he reacted like this, showing no gratitude at all. he¡¯s really no fun! shaking her head, lan lan decided to ignore him and went to play on the swing. with joy permeating the villa, dad was going to marry mommy, and she was over the moon! Chapter 42 - Chapter 42: You’re the Wild Woman! chapter 42: you¡¯re the wild woman! translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation zhengsheng apartments. after returning home from school, coco and xiaoxiao immediately began tidying up their toys and cleaning the house. today, coco happened to accompany xiaoxiao home purely by chance. the reason was that coco had gone to blue sky kindergarten to find xiaoxiao, and absent-minded teacher wang had mistakenly taken ding ding and brought him back to blue whale kindergarten. and so, his true identity as coco was restored. ¡°beep.¡± just as the two little fellows were busy, the doorbell rang. ¡°yeah, maybe mommy is back. mommy said that she would be back early today.¡±xiao xiao immediately threw away the rag and ran to open the door happily. however, just as the door opened. bam! a force surged in from outside the door. xiaoxiao was pushed and fell to the ground. coco looked up and his face changed. he saw a young woman burst in, looking fierce. after a moment of daze, he remembered. wasn¡¯t this none other than aunt wu lili, who had been unfriendly to them at great grandma¡¯s house last time? ¡°xiaoxiao.¡± he rushed over to help xiaoxiao up, and then roared at wu lili, ¡°ugly witch, who let you come to our house? you¡¯re not welcome here. leave.¡± xiaoxiao was pushed and hit the back of her head on the ground. stars appeared before her eyes. pouting, she held coco¡¯s hand tightly, her eyes brimming with tears of grievance. coco gently touched the back of her head and protectively embraced her, feeling her pain. ¡°shen ning, you wicked woman, come out now and return our shao family¡¯s money.¡± wu lili stormed in and searched everywhere for shen ning. when she couldn¡¯t find her, she began cursing loudly. ¡°don¡¯t curse my mommy.¡± coco¡¯s face turned red with anger, and he clenched his fists. if xiaoxiao hadn¡¯t been hurt and upset, he might have actually confronted her. ¡°little bastards, where¡¯s your mommy?¡± wu lili finally noticed the two rascals and barked harshly, recalling the incident when xiaoxiao had exposed her last time. ¡°we¡¯re not bastards, you¡¯re the wild woman.¡± xiaoxiao¡¯s tears streamed down as she shouted loudly, her voice filled with indignation. coco was never one to be trifled with! how dare this woman boldly come to their house and bully their family? she was detestable! seeing xiaoxiao feeling a bit better, he helped her to a chair, brought a coat hanger from the balcony, placed it in her hand, and advised, ¡°xiaoxiao, don¡¯t be afraid. if she tries to hurt you, use this to defend yourself.¡± ¡°okay.¡± xiaoxiao sniffled and clenched the coat hanger, glaring angrily at wu lili. ¡°bad woman, get out of here immediately.¡± coco turned sideways, assuming a defensive stance, and shook his fist at wu lili, quite composed and calm. wu lili sneered at him. ¡°little bastard, stand still. if you cause trouble, i¡¯ll spank your butt.¡± she then ran to the bedroom desk, searching through drawers and cabinets for something. coco was furious. who gave this wicked woman the right to ransack their home? full of anger, he charged forward and leaped, kicking her in the buttocks. wu lili was pushed back several steps, her anger flaring up! this little brat was asking for trouble! she coldly smiled, her viciousness evident, as she advanced toward coco. today, she was not shen mei who was wearing high heels. she was wearing sports shoes. it was obvious that she was here to cause trouble. though coco was agile and strong, he was still just a five-year-old child! she wasn¡¯t afraid of a little kid! grabbing a large coat hanger from the desk, she menacingly swung it toward coco. seeing the situation was dire, coco immediately darted into the living room. ¡°don¡¯t hurt my brother!¡± xiaoxiao saw her brother being chased out and, with newfound courage, stood up, grabbed the coat hanger, and swung it at wu lili. wu lili was hit and forced to step back several paces.. Chapter 43 - Chapter 43: Beating Her Child Is Taking Her Life chapter 43: beating her child is taking her life translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°little bastard, you¡¯re despicable.¡± she charged forward and grabbed the clothes fork, pulling it abruptly. although she lacked strength, she managed to snatch the fork away. with a swing, she aimed at the two little rascals. ¡°xiaoxiao, be careful.¡± coco immediately stepped forward and shielded xiaoxiao behind her. wu lili swung the clothes fork and struck him hard. ¡°brother!¡± xiaoxiao cried out in fear. despite the searing pain from his shoulder to his arm, coco ignored it and shouted at wu lili, ¡°wicked witch, i¡¯ll report you for child abuse, and you¡¯ll go to jail.¡± ¡°wow, little brat, you know quite a bit. too bad, you three probably don¡¯t have what it takes to bring charges against me.¡± wu lili sneered coldly, raising the clothes fork again, poised to strike coco. suddenly, the door swung open from the outside. shen ning walked in with a bag of fresh vegetables. ¡°stop!¡± as soon as she entered, she saw wu lili raising the clothes fork to strike coco¡¯s head. her heart nearly leaped out of her chest in terror, and her anger surged like a bursting dam. with a fierce shout, she charged forward, snatching the clothes fork and striking back at wu lili. she could tolerate being hit herself, but hitting her child was crossing a line. she¡¯d rather die than let anyone bully her child even a little! the clothes fork struck wu lili harshly! who cared if she was her second aunt? if she hit her child, she would be her enemy for generations! ¡°shen ning, you wretched woman! didn¡¯t you say you wouldn¡¯t take a single cent from the shao family? take out the money your grandmother gave you, or else, i won¡¯t let this go.¡± after taking several blows herself, wu lili finally seized the moment and aggressively snatched back the clothes fork. the two of them struggled against each other, and she cursed fiercely at shen ning. shen ning hesitated, realizing the reason behind wu lili¡¯s turmoil. it seemed she was after the golden card her grandmother had secretly given her¡ªa million dollars. she hadn¡¯t even planned to keep that million; she was about to return it to her grandmother when the time was right. ¡°i told you, i won¡¯t take a single cent from the shao family. but since you hit my child, 1 won¡¯t spare you.¡± shen ning, like an enraged lioness, was ready to tear the woman apart. how could she bring herself to harm such a gentle and cute little family? ¡°you won¡¯t take it? that sounds nice.¡± wu lili sneered, ¡°during your time in the u.s., your grandmother sent you money every month. at first, 1 didn¡¯t know who she was sending it to, but i realized it when you returned to the capital. however, after discovering this secret, i intercepted all the money on its way to you.¡± shen ning was stunned. so her grandmother had been sending her money every month while she was in the u.s. the first two years, she had indeed received the money. but afterward, she hadn¡¯t received anything, and she had worked hard outside to support herself. she never knew who had sent her that money during those two years. it was her grandmother! ¡°shen ning, you¡¯re raising a wild man¡¯s child. why should the shao family take the blame? it¡¯s only right for me to claim the money. there¡¯s nothing wrong with it.¡± wu lili asserted righteously, her tone aggressive and forceful. shen ning¡¯s heart ached, her eyes burning like hot coals. she lowered her head, paused, and then spoke coldly, ¡°fine, wait here. i¡¯ll get it for you.¡± dropping the clothes fork, she went to the study and retrieved the black document bag her grandmother had given her. from inside, she took out the gold card and walked back toward wu lili. ¡°here, this is the gold card my grandmother gave me. there¡¯s a million on it. i never used it. i intended to return it to her. but now that you¡¯ve come for it, take it. this incident with my child, i¡¯ll let it slide. from now on, we¡¯re done. no more ties between us.¡± she tossed the bank card to wu lili, speaking with icy detachment. ¡°the pin is written on the back of the card.¡± wu lili quickly caught the glittering gold card, her eyes gleaming as she caressed it.. Chapter 44 - Chapter 44: Identical Face chapter 44: identical face translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°ugly witch, get lost! if you dare come here again, i¡¯ll make sure you¡¯re rolling on the ground in pain.¡± coco placed his hands on his hips and roared at her angrily. wu lili glanced disdainfully at the simple living room, sneering with contempt: ¡°don¡¯t worry, as long as you don¡¯t go to our shao group to ask for money in the future, 1 won¡¯t come to such a damn place even if you beat me to death.¡± her gaze fell upon coco¡¯s immature and delicate little face. this kid did indeed possess some courage, not only facing danger without fear but also protecting his sister. what a shame, though, being born into such poverty. she was about to leave. but then, her face revealed a look of astonishment. wait a minute. coco¡¯s face looked so familiar! where had she seen it before? right, him! li zhenteng, the richest man in the capital! this kid¡¯s face was identical to li zhenteng¡¯s handsome face! last time, she had been completely focused on shen ning and hadn¡¯t paid any attention to coco¡¯s appearance. now, glancing casually, she realized that coco¡¯s face was an exact replica of li zhenteng, the capital¡¯s richest man. could it be that shen ning, these kids¡¯ father, was li zhenteng? the thought left her wide-eyed in shock. ¡°get lost.¡± shen ning, noticing her scrutinizing coco¡¯s face, felt a shiver down her spine. did this wicked woman figure something out? she immediately opened the door and shouted angrily at her. ¡°get lost, ugly witch!¡± both coco and xiaoxiao shouted in unison. wu lili had no choice but to turn around and leave. as she walked away, she looked back a few times, even turning to glance at coco before reaching the doorway. shutting the door forcefully, shen ning ensured it was tightly closed. as wu lili walked downstairs, she kept thinking about coco¡¯s face, her suspicions growing stronger. if shen ning¡¯s children were indeed li zhenteng¡¯s¡­ then this woman was extremely lucky! ¡°coco, let mommy see. where did that bad woman hurt you?¡± once wu lili had left, shen ning rushed to embrace both her children in the living room and asked with concern. ¡°mommy, that bad woman hit my brother¡¯s shoulder.¡± xiaoxiao, teary-eyed and heartbroken, pointed at coco¡¯s shoulder as she sobbed. ¡°quick, let mommy see.¡± shen ning was anxious to check their injuries and began to remove their clothes. soon enough, a long bruise appeared on xiaoxiao¡¯s tender skin, extending from her shoulder down to her right arm. ¡°coco, my child, i¡¯m sorry. mommy couldn¡¯t protect you.¡± shen ning gently touched the bruise on his delicate skin, her tears flowing uncontrollably as she held coco and wept bitterly. she felt utterly powerless, unable to even protect her own children. she felt guilty and remorseful, deeply sorry for failing her children. ¡°mommy, it doesn¡¯t hurt. please don¡¯t be sad.¡± coco wiped away shen ning¡¯s tears and comforted her in a mature and understanding manner. shen ning¡¯s sadness deepened, and she cried miserably, unable to control her emotions any longer. xiaoxiao joined in the crying too. the room was filled with a heavy atmosphere. coco¡¯s eyes were also red, but he didn¡¯t shed any tears. he straightened his back and stood, holding his mommy and little sister in his arms. * the night grew darker. with red-rimmed eyes, shen ning sat in the study lost in thought. the scheduled tea gathering with li zhenteng was just a week away. as the deadline drew nearer, she was fully dedicated to developing the perfume. however, a pressing issue loomed before her: she couldn¡¯t find peruvian balsam anywhere in the capital. this ingredient was an essential component of the ancient fragrance formula, but it was nowhere to be found. she sat there blankly, opening her wallet. inside was a stack of us dollars. she took them out and counted: one, two¡­ twenty. this was all she had left: two thousand dollars. if gu qi couldn¡¯t create a new perfume variety this month, she would be destitute¡­ and coco and xiaoxiao would have to drop out of school. she couldn¡¯t bear to imagine such a consequence.. Chapter 45 - Chapter 45: Once again, reverted to that same demeanor. chapter 45: once again, reverted to that same demeanor. translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation the next day, li zhenting was in his office handling documents. suddenly, the phone rang. he picked it up. ¡°master, the kindergarten teacher called. she said young master ding ding¡¯s headache has recurred, and he hasn¡¯t had breakfast yet. i¡¯ve already brought him home.¡± butler luo¡¯s face was filled with concern as he spoke. li zhenting put down his pen and swiftly walked out. li manor. ding ding sat on the sofa, flipping through a comic book, his small fingers turning the pages one by one with intense focus. ¡°ding ding, what¡¯s wrong? do you have a headache?¡± li zhenting hurried in with concern. ding ding didn¡¯t lift his head, didn¡¯t even spare him a glance, and continued flipping through the comic book. li zhenting placed his hand on ding ding¡¯s forehead. thankfully, it was cool, indicating no fever. ding ding suddenly stood up, shaking off li zhenting¡¯s hand, and ran towards his room. with a loud thud, he slammed the door shut. li zhenting was taken aback. he suddenly felt uneasy and irritated! why did this brat revert to his previous demeanor! just a few days ago, he had been so cheerful, not only interacting with him but also calling him ¡°daddy.¡± he even heard ding ding¡¯s first-ever, adorable expression of affection: ¡°daddy, 1 miss you, i love you so much.¡± at that time, he was in a great mood, thinking that ding ding¡¯s condition had improved. ¡°master, when young master ding ding came back, he sat on the sofa and read comics. teacher wang from the kindergarten said he hasn¡¯t had any breakfast yet. it¡¯s nearly eleven now, and he¡¯s famished. what should we do?¡± butler luo was full of worries. li zhenting¡¯s face darkened. he took the bowl of congee from butler luo and headed towards the bedroom. ¡°ding ding, open the door.¡± he stood outside the bedroom door and commanded. there was no response from inside. ¡°bring the master key and open the door.¡± after shouting three times without any response, li zhenting grew impatient and instructed butler luo. butler luo promptly brought the master key. the door opened. li zhenting walked in to take a look. ding ding was holding a tablet, engrossed in something. as soon as li zhenting entered, he deftly tapped a few times with his little finger and swiftly entered a gaming interface. annoyed, he exclaimed, ¡°daddy, who gave you permission to enter my room without asking?¡± li zhenting was annoyed. ¡°kid, i¡¯m your guardian, and i have the right to enter your room. now tell me, is your headache still bothering you?¡± ¡°none of your business.¡± ding ding¡¯s tone was icy. ¡°why don¡¯t you go ask lan lan and her mommy? they know better how to please you.¡± with a huff, he turned his head away. li zhenting was taken aback! what nonsense was this brat spouting? what did he mean by lan lan and her mommy? wasn¡¯t shen mei his mommy too! it seemed that this brat was truly unwell; he couldn¡¯t even distinguish his mommies! this kind of behavior worried li zhenting the most. he never opened up his heart, keeping himself locked in a tiny world. he couldn¡¯t even break through to it himself. a while ago, he had enlisted a top-notch psychologist for ding ding, and he had visibly changed¡­ but now¡­ ¡°ding ding, you weren¡¯t like this a few days ago.¡± li zhenting bent down, speaking patiently. ¡°i thought you were in great spirits those days.¡± just a few days ago, ding ding had been lively and cheerful. even when he argued with lan lan, lay on the ground in a tantrum, or even fought with shen mei when feeling wronged, he considered it normal. his cute and affectionate behavior melted li zhenting¡¯s heart. after all, that was the genuine nature a child should possess. but within the span of a few days, he had changed completely! ¡°i¡¯ve always been like this. it¡¯s not like you only found out today,¡± ding ding rolled his eyes at him and lay down on the bed. ¡°kid, get up. daddy will take you to the hospital to see doctor robert.¡± li zhenting scooped a spoonful of the fragrant porridge and urged, ¡°get up and have some porridge first.¡± ¡°no, i don¡¯t have a headache. 1 don¡¯t want to go to the hospital, and 1 don¡¯t want porridge either.¡± ding ding hated going to the hospital, and in truth, he hadn¡¯t had a headache today. he had been enjoying his time with his birth mommy for the past few days, but being inexplicably taken home by teacher wang and hearing about li zhenting¡¯s marriage to shen mei had made him unhappy, leading to his current mood.. Chapter 46 - Chapter 46: It’s Actually Him! chapter 46: it¡¯s actually him! translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°no, when you¡¯re sick, you have to go to the hospital.¡± li zhenting¡¯s tone was stern. he wished his son could be as lively and cheerful as he was a few days ago, smart and adorable. ding ding impatiently got up, ¡°no, i won¡¯t go. are you annoying or what? please, just don¡¯t bother me anymore.¡± he waved his hand and headed outside, his expression dreadful and his body exuding an air of hostility. he truly looked like li zhenting when he was angry! li zhenting was irritated to the core and chased after him. just as he reached the front garden, he saw li wanqing entering with bags in her arms. ¡°wow, my little grandson.¡± as soon as li wanqing saw the cool and cute ding ding, her eyes immediately turned into slits as she smiled with great affection. opening her arms wide, she said, ¡°come over here, let grandma see if you¡¯ve gained any weight.¡± ¡°grandma.¡± ding ding rushed into her embrace and called out in a childish voice. ¡°all.¡± li wanqing¡¯s heart melted as she held her little grandson, unable to get enough of looking at him from all sides. finally, she kissed his rosy cheek and said, ¡°my little grandson, i missed you so much.¡± ¡°grandma, i don¡¯t want to go to the hospital.¡± ding ding immediately complained to li wanqing. ¡°go to the hospital for what?¡± li wanqing¡¯s smile instantly disappeared, and she looked at li zhenting. ¡°the child is fine. why do you want to take him to the hospital?¡± ¡°mom.¡± li zhenting was quite helpless. ¡°ding ding¡¯s headache has recurred. if we don¡¯t see a doctor, the condition will worsen¡­¡± ¡°nonsense, ding ding just doesn¡¯t want to go to kindergarten. how can a child have headaches and brain problems? 1 see he¡¯s perfectly fine. there¡¯s no need to go to the hospital. i¡¯ll be staying here temporarily this time, and i¡¯ll personally take care of him from now on.¡± before he could finish, li wanqing interrupted him, not giving him a chance to speak. she took ding ding¡¯s small hand and walked into the house. li zhenting could only shrug helplessly and let it go. a villa with a blue-tiled roof stood before them, exuding an ancient charm. ¡°secretary li, are you sure it¡¯s here?¡± shen ning looked at the villa and inquired to confirm. ¡°absolutely, not only is it here, but it¡¯s also the most authentic.¡± secretary li nodded with certainty. shen ning¡¯s eyes brightened. in the past couple of days, she had been at her wit¡¯s end trying to find peruvian balsam. regardless of the circumstances, as long as there was a glimmer of hope, she was willing to give it a try. ever since secretary li had nearly lost her job after helping shen mei create a false testimony, her loyalty had completely shifted towards shen ning. compared to shen mei¡¯s hypocrisy and selfishness, shen ning¡¯s generosity, kindness, and meticulous expertise in perfumes had won her over. before becoming a secretary, she had been the manager of the marketing department, so she had a relatively good understanding of the market. ¡°alright, let¡¯s go in.¡± shen ning rang the doorbell. what she hadn¡¯t expected was that after she introduced herself, the security guard inside not only let them in but also warmly escorted them to an elegantly antique office. shen ning was inwardly puzzled. with her level of fame, it shouldn¡¯t have been necessary for a security guard to be so attentive. as she was pondering this, the office door opened automatically. she looked up and her eyes widened. in the spacious, exquisite, and pristine office, a young man sat behind a solemn black desk, correcting documents. his face was serene, his demeanor graceful, and he exuded an extraordinary handsomeness. jing chenxi! shen ning was instantly stunned. she never could have imagined that the place secretary li had introduced her to was none other than the jing corporation. right, she should have thought of it. in the vast capital city, besides him, who else could have the most authentic peruvian balsam? ¡°ning ning, please have a seat.¡± as jing chenxi saw her, he stood up immediately and warmly invited her to sit on the sofa. ¡°mr. jing, i¡¯m sorry, i never thought i would end up coming to your place.¡± at this point, with no other options, shen ning could only smile wryly as she entered. given the circumstances, she had no choice but to enter. she really didn¡¯t want to come find him, nor did she want to have any more interaction with him. ¡°ning ning, i¡¯m genuinely glad you found your way here.¡± jing chenxi greeted her and set a cup of dahongpao tea in front of her, his face full of remorse. peruvian balsam was indeed precious, but it was available in the market. he hadn¡¯t expected that she would be searching so hard for it. shen ning smiled bitterly, ¡°i never expected it either. in the vast capital city, i can¡¯t even find peruvian balsam..¡± Chapter 47 - Chapter 47: As Long as You’re Good, I’m Worried chapter 47: as long as you¡¯re good, i¡¯m worried translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°rest assured, i have the authentic and best quality. you can choose freely.¡± jing chenxi immediately smiled and reassured her. shen ning fell silent for a moment before saying, ¡°mr. jing, i can offer a high price to buy from you.¡± implicitly, she hoped to alleviate his emotions with money. jing chenxi¡¯s eyes dimmed slightly, fully understanding her intentions. he sighed in resignation and nodded. ¡°then, mr. jing, can you show me the peruvian balsam?¡± shen ning had no intention of sitting down and having tea; she stood up immediately. ¡°of course.¡± jing chenxi didn¡¯t say much; he just led her towards a warehouse at the back. a little while later, shen ning was filled with excitement. she had finally found the fragrance she needed. it was impossible not to be grateful. with these ingredients, she now had the confidence for the tea gathering next friday. jing chenxi was considerate. he not only provided her with a substantial amount of raw materials but also many semi-finished products, allowing shen ning to focus on blending. ¡°ning ning, where have you been these years?¡± after carefully wrapping the peruvian balsam himself, he handed it to shen ning and couldn¡¯t help but ask. shen ning avoided his gaze and replied calmly, ¡°i went to the united states, worked and studied there for a few years.¡± jing chenxi¡¯s eyes held a hint of pain, and he spoke regretfully, ¡°six years ago, when i heard the news of your death, i was heartbroken. 1 used to go to the beach every day, hoping for a miracle, but 1 never believed that you had truly died.¡± shen ning looked down at her toes without saying a word. ¡°ning ning, are you facing financial difficulties now?¡± after a moment, he cautiously asked. ¡°no, i¡¯m not struggling.¡± shen ning lifted her head. ¡°i now own fifty percent of gu qi¡¯s shares and am an internationally renowned perfumer. i¡¯m living quite well.¡± ¡°that¡¯s good.¡± jing chenxi nodded. ¡°as long as you¡¯re well, i¡¯m at ease.¡± ¡°thank you.¡± shen ning turned and walked towards the exit. ¡°mr. jing, i¡¯ll take my leave now.¡± ¡°ning ning.¡± jing chenxi caught up with her. ¡°how did you get here?¡± ¡°i came with a colleague.¡± as they stepped outside, secretary li was waiting for her. she noticed the balsam in shen ning¡¯s hands, and her eyes lit up. shen ning immediately bid farewell to jing chenxi and left with secretary li. ¡°president shen, 1 didn¡¯t expect you to know mr. jing. this is great news. we don¡¯t have to worry about raw materials for gu qi¡¯s perfumes anymore.¡± as soon as they left, secretary li playfully joked. in the perfume industry, raw materials were vital. with this backing, gu qi would undoubtedly have a bright future. ¡°what nonsense are you thinking? you still have to rely on yourself for everything.¡± shen ning corrected her firmly. ¡°president shen, have you known mr. jing for a long time? were you childhood friends or something like that?¡± secretary li¡¯s interest clearly extended beyond this matter. she suppressed a smile and tried to gather more information. shen ning shook her head, ¡°no, it¡¯s not like that. my mother used to be a perfumer and had dealings with the jing family. that¡¯s how 1 got to know him early on.¡± ¡°oh.¡± secretary li didn¡¯t seem to completely believe her and cleared her throat, speaking earnestly, ¡°president shen, mr. jing is considered a ¡®golden son-in-law¡¯ in the hearts of many women in the capital. i can see that his gaze towards you is different. he definitely has an interest in you. you should seize this opportunity. not only is jing chenxi from a wealthy family, but he¡¯s also truly handsome!¡± as she spoke, envy was evident in her eyes. shen ning couldn¡¯t help but laugh. ¡°so, do you want to date him? should i introduce you?¡± ¡°no, how could he be interested in me?¡± secretary li was frightened and dared not tease anymore. they chatted and laughed as they returned to the company. once back at the office, shen ning closed the door and began to work busily. with the raw materials at hand, these tasks were not difficult for her. by the time she finished work, she had already successfully blended several new variations of her fragrances. feeling joyful, she planned to pick up coco and xiaoxiao from blue sky kindergarten herself and buy them some delicious treats on the way to nourish them.. Chapter 48 - Chapter 48: Where’s Your Husband? chapter 48: where¡¯s your husband? translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°ning ning.¡± as she descended the stairs and stood by the street ready to call a cab, a bentley rv drove up suddenly, and she was stunned as she saw it. it was actually jing chenxi! ¡°ning ning, let me give you a ride home.¡± jing chenxi opened the car door, gracefully stepped out, and gazed at her with bright eyes. shen ning snapped back to reality and immediately shook her head, smiling as she declined, ¡°no need, thank you. i have to pickup two kids from kindergarten now.¡± ¡°two kids?¡± jing chenxi¡¯s eyes dimmed, surprised as he asked, ¡°you have two children?¡± ¡°yes, i have a pair of twins, they¡¯re already five years old.¡± shen ning spoke frankly. jing chenxi fell silent for a moment and then chuckled, ¡°perfect, let me take you to pick them up.¡± ¡°no, children are sensitive to strangers. it¡¯s really not necessary. thanks for the spices today. let me treat you to a meal another day.¡± shen ning shook her head, smiling, and hailed a taxi. ¡°ning ning, where¡¯s your husband?¡± jing chenxi suddenly grabbed her wrist and asked. he truly didn¡¯t expect that she had gotten married and had children over these years! shen ning¡¯s breath caught, and the image of li zhenting¡¯s despicable face flashed through her mind. she blurted out, ¡°he¡¯s dead.¡± a taxi arrived just then. shen ning pulled her wrist free from jing chenxi¡¯s grip and got into the cab. the taxi sped away. jing chenxi stood there in a daze, then a mysterious smile curled his lips. he turned around and got back into his car. the car followed the taxi. in another luxurious car parked under a tree by the street, li zhenting¡¯s sinister eyes had been fixed on them. he happened to pass by guchi on his way home from li corporation today and wanted to see how shen ning was doing these days. the invitation for the tea gathering had already been sent out, and he didn¡¯t want any embarrassing incidents. but unexpectedly¡­ as soon as he arrived at guchi¡¯s entrance, he saw shen ning laughing and chatting intimately with jing chenxi. they were close, and the sight made his face twist in disdain. so, this woman had managed to latch onto jing chenxi. no wonder she was so self-assured. in the industry, who didn¡¯t know that jing chenxi¡¯s company was engaged in the production of spices? he also had significant connections in the perfume field. a trace of derision flashed in his eyes. he had actually believed she possessed extraordinary abilities, but she was merely relying on a man. he turned the car around and drove towards li mansion. outside blue sky kindergarten. ¡°coco, xiaoxiao.¡± shen ning stood by the entrance and waved as coco and xiaoxiao walked out holding hands. ¡°mommy!¡± the two little ones immediately spotted shen ning, and their faces lit up with joy as they ran towards her in unison. ¡°coco, xiaoxiao.¡± shen ning bent down, opened her arms, and embraced the adorable pair of her children, showering their little cheeks with kisses. ¡°mommy, mommy, 1 love you so much.¡± xiaoxiao was so excited that her words were a jumble. she clung to shen ning¡¯s neck, enthusiastically declaring her affection. shen ning¡¯s heart brimmed with maternal love from every corner. the expression of happiness on her face was evident, and every cell in her body radiated joy. after sharing a tender moment with the children, she stood up, holding one of their hands on each side. the family of three walked happily towards the kindergarten¡¯s exit. in the bentley luxury car by the side of the street, jing chenxi sat in the driver¡¯s seat, staring at them without blinking. his sharp gaze fell upon coco¡¯s face, a face that was identical to li zhenting¡¯s. without a doubt. the father of this pair of children was li zhenting! in this world, no one could understand shen ning better than him. she would only have children with li zhenting, the man she loved. apart from him, she wouldn¡¯t have children for any other man, just as he had imagined! a trace of pain flickered in his eyes. ning ning, i¡¯ve missed you once, and this time, 1 will never miss you again.. Chapter 49 - Chapter 49: You’ve Been Tricked By The Adults chapter 49: you¡¯ve been tricked by the adults translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°what did you say? dad is going to marry that ugly witch, shen mei?¡± after dinner, coco, xiaoxiao, and ding ding finally connected through video. the three little heads gathered together, and ding ding sadly delivered this incredibly heavy news to them. ¡°it¡¯s impossible!¡± coco¡¯s immediate reaction was disbelief. ¡°dad personally told me that he¡¯s going to marry our mommy and have her move into li mansion to enjoy good food and clothes.¡± ¡°alas, poor coco, you¡¯ve been fooled by the adults.¡± ding ding sighed, ¡°grandma even asked me for my opinion today.¡± ¡°all.¡± coco was stunned, but after confirming the truth, his face turned red with anger, and he shouted, ¡°despicable dad, you even lied to kids! 1 won¡¯t spare you.¡± he was about to rush outside. ¡°brother.¡± xiaoxiao immediately grabbed him, pouted, and her eyes welled up with tears. ¡°it¡¯s very dangerous to go out so late. besides, if mommy finds out about this, she¡¯ll be really angry.¡± coco was momentarily stunned, and he slumped back onto the bed. ¡°no, ding ding, tomorrow let¡¯s switch identities. i¡¯ll go settle the score with that despicable dad.¡± after a while, he sat up, turned his eyes to ding ding, and said. ¡°okay.¡± ding ding readily agreed. he couldn¡¯t wait to be back by mommy¡¯s side. although he was a little reluctant to part with grandma, he couldn¡¯t bear to be separated from mommy. ¡°brother, i want to go with you this time.¡± after hanging up the phone, xiaoxiao stood up, puffed out her chest, and demanded resolutely, ¡°but you¡¯re just a kid. you can¡¯t fight that ugly witch on your own. let me go. 1 can read minds and help you.¡± coco¡¯s heart stirred, and after thinking for a moment, he nodded. ¡°alright, but not now. once 1 figure things out, i¡¯ll take you in. in any case, we mustn¡¯t let that despicable dad marry the ugly witch.¡± ¡°yes, brother and sister united, invincible in the world.¡± xiaoxiao flashed a confident smile, reaching out her little hand towards him. coco extended his hand and they sealed their pledge with a handshake, full of confidence. early in the morning, shen ning personally escorted coco and xiaoxiao to blue sky kindergarten. she watched their small figures enter the classroom before turning around reluctantly. just as she turned, she hurriedly ran to the bus stop. she had to be at the office by 8:00 sharp. however¡­ when she arrived at the bus stop, she just missed the bus. with no other choice, she patiently waited for the next one. but unfortunately, there were many buses today. it was a struggle to get on a bus, and halfway through the journey, a logistics truck crashed into a traffic barrier, causing a major traffic jam. as a result¡­ when shen ning clocked in at the office, she was twenty minutes late. she thought that as a shareholder and someone responsible for the company¡¯s daily affairs, there shouldn¡¯t be any major issues. but she was wrong. when she pushed open the office door, a face full of frost and a chilling aura appeared before her. she shivered in fright, almost stumbling. ¡°shen ning, you¡¯re actually late?¡± li zhenting stared at her expressionlessly. ¡°as the head of the company, shouldn¡¯t you set a good example? your blatant lateness, is there anything left to say?¡± shen ning opened her mouth, looking at the man before her who was exuding an overwhelming sense of superiority and righteousness, and for a moment, she was at a loss for words.. Chapter 50 - Chapter 50: You Can’t Bully Girls chapter 50: you can¡¯t bully girls translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°no.¡± a moment later, shen ning shook her head. it was her bad luck that she, who was usually punctual, was late today. it felt as though he had foreseen it with his calculations. ¡°then you¡¯ll be fined according to company regulations,¡± li zhenting¡¯s tone turned icy, devoid of any leniency. shen ning paused, instinctively patting her pocket. a slight ingratiating smile appeared on her face as she asked, ¡°mr. li, how much will be deducted?¡± ¡°five thousand.¡± holy cow! shen ning almost jumped up. you might as well rob me! considering her pitiful amount of dollars, deducting another five thousand yuan would make covering coco and xiaoxiao¡¯s tuition fees next month a problem! just as she was about to offer an explanation, she lifted her gaze and saw that li zhenting¡¯s face, usually cold, had turned as frosty as a frozen ice shard. ah, forget it. she suppressed her inner anger. no matter what, the tea gathering was about to start. if she could succeed in one fell swoop, her financial issue would naturally be resolved. five thousand yuan wouldn¡¯t be a big deal. besides, she was in the wrong to begin with. ¡°fine, i¡¯m willing to accept the punishment,¡± she said in a low voice. li zhenting gave her a cold glance and inquired in a detached tone, ¡°how¡¯s the perfume blending coming along? the tea gathering starts on friday.¡± ¡°i know.¡± suddenly, shen ning gained confidence and lifted her head. ¡°rest assured, 1¡¯11 surely present a satisfactory answer.¡± ¡°is that so?¡± li zhenting¡¯s gaze turned dark and mocking as he remarked, ¡°it seems you have someone helping you from behind, given your confidence.¡± shen ning was taken aback. why did that sound sarcastic? whatever, she didn¡¯t care. ¡°mr. li, please remember, if 1 succeed, you can¡¯t go back on your promise,¡± she solemnly reminded him. with a cold expression, li zhenting grunted noncommittally, then turned and walked outside. shen ning¡¯s money had been deducted, hurting her badly. as soon as he left, she slammed the door shut with a loud ¡°bang¡± and headed to the lab to blend the perfume. she had to succeed! he wanted to protect shen mei? it wouldn¡¯t be that easy! in the afternoon, li zhenting was in the middle of a multinational executive video conference when his phone suddenly rang. he picked it up and was surprised to see it was a call from ding ding. ding ding never called him during working hours. he quickly answered, ¡°ding ding, is something the matter?¡± on the other end, as soon as ding ding heard li zhenting¡¯s voice, he was itching with anger. ¡°scumbag, not only do you deceive women, but you also deceive children. you have no class!¡± he cursed in his mind and then put on a smile on his round little face, speaking in a sweet voice, ¡°daddy, 1 want to bring a little friend from kindergarten to our house.¡± li zhenting was taken aback, and then a smile appeared on his face. this little guy had never said he wanted to bring a friend home before. this was definitely a good sign! thinking about how cold he had been to him yesterday and how he took the initiative to call him today, not to mention wanting to bring a friend home, it was still a pretty good performance. ¡°sure, if you bring her over, you need to treat her well and not neglect her,¡± li zhenting replied gently. ¡°tell daddy first, is your friend a boy or a girl?¡± ¡°she¡¯s a girl, a very pretty and gentle little girl.¡± coco smiled, revealing his two rows of tiny white teeth. ¡°oh, a little girl. okay, treat her well, don¡¯t bully her,¡± li zhenting¡¯s lips curled slightly. bully her? coco¡¯s heart burned with indignation upon hearing that. who¡¯s bullying girls? you¡¯re the one bullying girls! and now you¡¯re lecturing me? without hesitation, he hung up with a loud ¡°click.¡± on the other end, li zhenting was stunned.. what a little rascal, he¡¯s acting like this again! Chapter 51 - Chapter 51: Will You Abandon Mommy and Me in the Future? chapter 51: will you abandon mommy and me in the future? translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation as soon as coco hung up the phone, he happily waved to the little figure standing over there. xiaoxiao ran over joyfully. they held hands and climbed into the luxurious li family car parked nearby. ¡°wow, big brother, this car is so beautiful,¡± xiaoxiao exclaimed as she looked around the car in wonder. ¡°what¡¯s this compared to the li manor? that place is truly stunning, like something out of a fairytale kingdom,¡± coco said casually. ¡°when we get there, i¡¯ll take you to explore and have fun.¡± ¡°really?¡± xiaoxiao¡¯s eyes were filled with astonishment. ¡°so, dad is really wealthy.¡± ¡°he certainly is,¡± coco said, getting up and opening a treasure chest with a variety of snacks that made xiaoxiao¡¯s eyes widen in amazement. he expertly selected several delicious treats and handed them to xiaoxiao. suddenly, a subtle sensitivity emerged in her gaze as she looked at him and softly said, ¡°big brother, will you and mom still want me in the future?¡± coco was taken aback, and he gently patted her little head with his chubby hands. an unhappy expression crossed his face as he said, ¡°xiao xiao, why do you think such things? how could i ever not want you and mom?¡± ¡°then promise me that no matter what happens, you won¡¯t leave me and mom,¡± xiao xiao implored earnestly, holding coco¡¯s hand with a serious expression. ¡°okay, i promise,¡± coco readily agreed. ah, this little sister was wonderful in everyway, just a bit lacking in confidence and sensitivity, probably due to growing up without a father. he held her hand tightly, as if trying to instill confidence in her. xiao xiao smiled sweetly. as the car pulled up at the li manor, coco led xiao on a sightseeing tour. ¡°the mansion is truly beautiful,¡± xiao xiao said, her face filled with awe as she gazed at the majestic and elegant building. ¡°however, no matter how beautiful it is, i still don¡¯t want to live here. i prefer being with mom,¡± coco nodded slightly. the warmest and happiest place was wherever mom was. ¡°that¡¯s true,¡± xiao xiao agreed, her expression serious. ¡°but dad belongs to us. we need to find a way to get rid of that wicked stepmother and help mom win back our dad.¡± ¡°yes, indeed. we must do our best,¡± coco¡¯s expression grew serious as well. he was contemplating that if their dad turned out to be truly despicable, they might have to abandon him altogether! in the living room, li wanqing sat on the sofa reading a newspaper. coco walked in, holding xiao xiao¡¯s hand. ¡°hello, grandma,¡± the two children ran over and greeted her with sweet voices, both bowing politely. ¡°oh, my little grandchildren are back from school,¡± li wanqing immediately put down the newspaper and smiled kindly. she looked at xiao xiao and waved to her enthusiastically, asking, ¡°you¡¯re xiao xiao, ding ding¡¯s friend, right?¡± ¡°yes,¡± xiao xiao smiled warmly. ¡°grandma, you look so young and elegant. if ding ding hadn¡¯t told me you¡¯re his grandma, 1 might have mistaken you for his aunt.¡± xiao xiao had already discerned li wanqing¡¯s sentiments. she loved compliments and being praised for looking young, so she quickly played to that. however, she genuinely felt that li wanqing was youthful and refined. despite being in her fifties, she appeared to be in her thirties or forties. xiao xiao wanted to express her admiration from the heart. ¡°really?¡± li wanqing couldn¡¯t stop smiling now. she reached out and lifted xiao xiao¡¯s soft and gentle body, placing her on her lap and giving her a gentle kiss on her forehead. the little girl leaned against her softly. for some reason, she felt a natural sense of familiarity.. Chapter 52 - Chapter 52: He Was the One Who Proposed to Me chapter 52: he was the one who proposed to me translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation coco immediately climbed onto the sofa, sticking out his little behind as he stood behind li wanqing, playfully patting her back. li wanqing felt a moment of daze. she had always longed for such an adorable pair of grandchildren to gather around her, enjoying the joy of family. in this moment, it seemed like her wish had come true. the current ding ding was cheerful, lively, and likable. it turned out he wasn¡¯t as reserved as she thought, and he enjoyed interacting with other children. she decided that she should encourage xiao xiao to interact more with ding ding in the future. master bedroom on the second floor. shen mei was radiant, her eyes shining brightly and her eyebrows dancing. today, li zhenting took her to the temple to pray and consulted with the monks about an auspicious wedding date. he also took her to see wedding dresses. her dream of becoming mrs. li was finally within reach! li zhenting had mentioned that they would get married at the end of the year after their engagement, and he was planning a lavish and grand wedding for her. these days, she had been diligently pleasing li wanqing, and she had even changed her attitude towards ding ding from impatience to motherly care. she had finally endured to this day! suddenly, her phone rang. she glanced down and saw that it was a call from wu lili. a disdainful and mocking smile curled at her lips. this wu lili, at only twenty-two, had married a middle-aged man. the shao family¡¯s status had declined, and it could barely be considered a prestigious family. however, compared to the li family, they were worlds apart, not even on the same level. nevertheless, even though she looked down on wu lili, she wouldn¡¯t refuse to interact with her. after all, in wu lili¡¯s company, she always felt superior, which she found gratifying. ¡°hello,¡± she answered the call, her tone light and airy. she wanted to use this opportunity to share her good news about li zhenting¡¯s proposal and flaunt her identity as his fiancee. ¡°mei mei, it¡¯s me, lili,¡± wu lili¡¯s tone was still placating, but there was a hint of something different and eerie. shen mei furrowed her brows slightly and asked with a condescending tone, ¡°lili, is there something you need?¡± ¡°mei mei, are you still living at the li residence?¡± wu lili asked in a hushed voice from the other end. ¡°of course, i¡¯m at home,¡± shen mei¡¯s fingers toyed with the large diamond ring on her hand. she intentionally complained, ¡°ah, i¡¯m so exhausted today. i went with zhenting to the temple to choose an auspicious wedding date, then we went to ding sheng to see wedding dresses. i¡¯m really worn out. if you have something to say, please get to the point.¡± ding sheng was a wedding dress store exclusively catering to the elite, and the upper echelons of society in the capital always chose their dresses from there. shen mei¡¯s tone carried a clear sense of flaunting and arrogance. on the other end, wu lili hesitated for a moment before jealously asking, ¡°has li zhenting finally agreed to marry you?¡± ¡°what do you mean ¡®finally agreed to marry me¡¯? can¡¯t you speak properly? let me tell you, he proposed to me on his own initiative. i was still considering whether to marry him or not,¡± shen mei retorted, full of arrogance and displeasure. whether to marry or not? who was she trying to fool? back then, even jumping off a building hadn¡¯t earned her a place in the li family. she had only managed to enter thanks to ding ding. during these years in the li family, she hadn¡¯t achieved anything significant. a woman who had a child out of wedlock and stayed in a man¡¯s house magazines and media ridiculed her constantly. yet here she was, showing off in front of her. it was truly laughable. however, li zhenting was finally going to marry her. that alone was enough to make wu lili envious, jealous, and resentful. the li family was no ordinary prestigious family; it was among the top echelons of the elite. with li zhenting¡¯s youth, handsomeness, and being the sole heir to the li family, no matter which aspect you considered, any woman would envy and strive to attach themselves to him. she was truly fortunate! ¡°oh, congratulations then,¡± wu lili¡¯s tone was laced with a sour note. ¡°oh well, there¡¯s nothing much to congratulate,¡± shen mei replied lightly. ¡°i¡¯ll send you an invitation when the time comes. you can come and witness this spectacle.¡± ¡°sure, sure,¡± wu lili smiled. although she had known shen mei for a long time, she had never had the chance to visit the li manor. it was said to be like a wealthy kingdom, adorned with gold and gems everywhere. if she had a chance to see it, that would be great. ¡°alright, i won¡¯t keep you. we have some guests at home today, so i¡¯m busy. goodbye.¡± shen mei had flaunted enough and didn¡¯t wait for wu lili to respond. she hung up arrogantly. ¡°¡­¡± wu lili was about to speak again, but all she heard was the beeping sound of a disconnected call. holding her phone, she pondered with a contemplative gaze. today, she had intended to call shen mei and inform her about shen ning¡¯s two illegitimate children, especially the little boy who looked exactly like li zhenting. it was highly likely that the child was li zhenting¡¯s. however, shen mei¡¯s haughty attitude and indifference made her change her mind. humph, shen mei, who are you to be so arrogant in front of me! let me tell you, if shen ning¡¯s two illegitimate children are indeed li zhenting¡¯s, then the consequences¡­ she couldn¡¯t help but smile maliciously, a sense of vindictive satisfaction welling up within her. she would watch from a distance, biding her time to play her cards at the right moment, seeking the greatest benefit! Chapter 53 - Chapter 53: Please Pay Attention to Your Image chapter 53: please pay attention to your image translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation as the end of the workday approached, shen ning was tidying up her desk when suddenly, there was a knock on the door, causing her to look up. a young flower girl stood at the door, holding a delicate and vibrant bouquet of roses. ¡°beautiful miss, this bouquet of flowers is from a very elegant gentleman,¡± the flower girl was extremely polite, offering a warm smile as she walked in and handed the flowers to shen ning. after a courteous bow, she turned and left. ¡°hey¡­¡± shen ning was about to say something when the flower girl disappeared from sight. who sent these flowers? shen ning looked puzzledly at the fragrant roses and found a small, exquisite card attached to the bottom. ¡°ning ning, flowers for a beautiful lady. wishing your mood to be as fragrant and beautiful as these flowers.¡± signature: jing chenxi! it was actually him! shen ning was momentarily stunned and couldn¡¯t help but smile wryly. he hadn¡¯t changed a bit! the rose petals were fresh, their pink hue still vivid. she brought them to her nose and took a deep breath, inhaling the sweet fragrance that filled the office air. she closed her eyes and was about to set the flowers aside when suddenly¡­ ¡°not bad, receiving flowers even at work,¡± she jumped in surprise and opened her eyes to find li zhenting had entered the room at some point. ¡°mr. li, is there something you need?¡± she managed to squeeze out a faint smile, trying to maintain her composure. li zhenting¡¯s sensual lips curled into a cold, mocking arc, and he glanced indifferently at the bouquet. his voice was icy, ¡°i¡¯m here for a spot check.¡± ¡°a spot check?¡± shen ning was a little bewildered. ¡°you arrived late this morning. i want to see if you¡¯ll leave work early,¡± his words were sharp, ¡°based on what 1 see now, you¡¯ve received flowers before the end of your workday. if i hadn¡¯t come to check, you might have used work hours for a date. my company has strict rules and does not tolerate such misuse of work hours.¡± shen ning was left speechless! this guy¡­ had issues! ¡°mr. li, it¡¯s already half-past five,¡± she pointed to her wristwatch. ¡°who told you that you can leave at half-past five?¡± li zhenting¡¯s face darkened, and he simply sat down on the sofa, crossing his legs. ¡°a superior is coming to inspect the work, and you think you can leave early without accompanying them? do you not understand the rules?¡± ¡°¡­¡± shen ning was at a loss for words. this scumbag had deliberately come over for a ¡°work inspection¡± at the end of the day; it was clear he was looking for trouble. ¡°all right, mr. li, may 1 ask which aspect of my work you¡¯d like to inspect? 1 will certainly cooperate fully,¡± she pursed her lips and also took a seat in her office chair, looking directly at him. ¡°first, get rid of those flowers. they make the office stuffy,¡± he wrinkled his brows, looking disgustedly at the bouquet. shen ning¡¯s anger flared up inside her. what does he mean by ¡°stuffy¡±? they clearly smell wonderful! but he was the financial backer behind gu qi, and the tea party was about to convene. ¡°very well,¡± she responded and stood up, picking up the bouquet of roses, and with a ¡°whoosh,¡± she tossed it into the trash can. she then turned to look at him coldly. ¡°shen ning, i am officially warning you as your superior. please pay attention to your image and do not let your behavior affect the company¡¯s reputation,¡± his voice was stern, his thin lips pressed tightly, and his face was as cold as ice. shen ning was dumbfounded. this man¡­ actually came here over her image? this was strange. she dressed in a proper work attire every day, plain and simple. compared to shen mei¡¯s opulence and heavy makeup, she was relatively modest in appearance. she couldn¡¯t understand how her image could be considered inappropriate! ¡°mr. li, could you please clarify? i don¡¯t understand,¡± she said. ¡°do you really not understand?¡± ¡°hmph.¡± li zhenting let out a cold snort and took out a specially crafted large-screen phone. he tapped on it, bringing up an image and placed it in front of her eyes.. Chapter 54 - Chapter 54: Do You Deserve Respect? chapter 54: do you deserve respect? translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation she looked at it and was stunned. on her phone screen, jing chenxi was holding her arm, gazing at her with deep affection. she too was looking at him, her entire face adorned with a smile so captivating it could take a life. li zhenting spoke sternly, ¡°the jing group has always been an industry trendsetter. your open flirtation with jing chenxi, especially in public, if captured by the media, will not bode well for gu qi.¡± shen ning felt her anger surge. when jing chenxi had come to see her yesterday and offered to escort her home, they had merely exchanged a few words. what was the big deal? how could it affect gu qi? ¡°mr. li, you seem to be meddling a bit too much. even if something were going on between mr. jing and me, it¡¯s a private matter. are you perhaps jealous?¡± she deliberately raised her lips in a cold smile. li zhenting¡¯s eyes turned dark instantly, and a scornful, disdainful smile curled on his lips. ¡°you¡¯re nothing more than a pair of shoes i discarded. jealous? shen ning, your thick-skinned face is thicker than a city wall.¡± damn, he just called her a pair of shoes! shen ning was furious, and she raised her palm to slap him. but before her palm could reach him, li zhenting effortlessly caught it. ¡°shen ning, let me make this clear. i¡¯m doing this for gu qi. jing chenxi is engaged. his fiancee is miss jiang xinyun from the prestigious beijing ship king family. the two families are currently discussing their marriage. your open association with jing chenxi is seen as interfering in someone else¡¯s marriage, you¡¯re a third party! if such a scandal were to break out, it would not only affect the jing group but also implicate gu qi. while the jing group can withstand it, gu qi can¡¯t. moreover, you¡¯re currently working on a new product, and if it¡¯s embargoed, no one will be able to save you.¡± shen ning was stunned, her face turning pale. she had no knowledge of jing chenxi having an engaged status. she never even considered getting involved with him. she wondered which unscrupulous media outlet had captured the incident. ¡°there is nothing between us,¡± she said softly. ¡°humph.¡± li zhenting let out a cold snort, released her hand, and looked at her pale face. he sneered, ¡°as long as you know. don¡¯t entertain the illusion that you can achieve success by relying on a man.¡± this time, shen ning turned purple with anger. this man was blatantly insulting her, suggesting that she had used men to climb up the ladder. for heaven¡¯s sake, when did she ever have such thoughts? ¡°li zhenting, don¡¯t judge others by your own despicable standards. please learn to respect me,¡± she said, her face flushed with anger. li zhenting sneered, ¡°do you even deserve respect?¡± enraged, shen ning picked up a book from her desk and threw it at him. li zhenting tilted his head, dodging the book, and grabbed her arm again. shen ning lost her balance, and her light body fell toward him. her chest collided with the man¡¯s sturdy chest, and a familiar scent reached her nostrils. for a moment, her mind went blank. li zhenting found himself with the softness of her body pressed against him, and his hand involuntarily wrapped around her waist. in that instant, a feeling of deja vu surged within him, and memories from that night six years ago flooded his mind. the woman back then seemed to be of a similar height, her body just as delicate, and even her scent was somewhat reminiscent¡­ could it be¡­ ¡°get away.¡± just as he was lost in thought, shen ning came to her senses, pushed him away abruptly, and ran out. ¡°stop.¡± li zhenting grabbed her arm again and scrutinized her from head to toe. their heights were similar, and their builds too¡­. Chapter 55 - Chapter 55: How Could It Have Been Her That Night?!_i chapter 55: how could it have been her that night?!_i translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°mr. li, are you trying to take advantage of me like this?¡± shen ning looked at his hand gripping her arm and mocked him with a smile. li zhenting released her arm. no, it couldn¡¯t be her! how could that night possibly have been her?! shen mei had already given birth to a pair of children for him. he couldn¡¯t possibly doubt that night from six years ago¡­ it was simply unbelievable. ¡°even if you took the initiative to climb into my bed, 1 still wouldn¡¯t be interested. i¡¯d find it dirty,¡± he sneered with a touch of disgust. from his briefcase, he pulled out a stack of documents and tossed them to her. ¡°compile these data tonight, and hand them over to me tomorrow morning,¡± he instructed before turning and walking away. shen ning took the documents and opened them, finding densely packed numbers spanning over ten pages, containing various reports from the company for the past six months. shouldn¡¯t these data be handled by the finance department or the secretary? why was the manager doing it, and especially at the end of the workday? thinking about coco and xiaoxiao waiting for her at home to make dinner, she angrily slammed the reports on her desk and cursed, ¡°bastard!¡± but despite her frustration, she dared not neglect li zhenting¡¯s instructions. otherwise, the upcoming tea party would be problematic. after taking a few deep breaths, she sat down and ordered takeout for coco and xiaoxiao, then began working diligently. downstairs, as soon as li zhenting stepped outside, he noticed a rolls-royce parked under a large tree by the street. jing chenxi, dressed elegantly in a suit, was standing next to the car. it was quite obvious that he was waiting for shen ning to finish work. li zhenting¡¯s lips curled into a cold smile as he strode towards his own luxury car. li manor. ¡°xiaoxiao, here, have this.¡± coco and xiaoxiao sat side by side on the sofa. coco held up a piece of fresh fruit and handed it to xiaoxiao. he picked up a large piece of red grape and put it to xiaoxiao¡¯s lips, considerately offering it. ¡°thank you.¡± xiaoxiao opened her mouth, and coco gently fed her the grape. ¡°so delicious,¡± xiaoxiao said with a happy smile after chewing on it. ¡°have one more.¡± coco gave her another one. perhaps because he was feeding her a bit hurriedly, xiaoxiao suddenly choked and coughed a few times. ¡°quick, drink some water.¡± coco was worried and patted her back gently, handing her a glass of water. xiaoxiao took a few sips of water before her coughing subsided. upstairs, lanlan, dressed in a red dress with a pearl flower headband, descended the stairs with small, cautious steps. she had been watching them closely for a while. she had grown up with ding ding and had never seen him so caring and considerate toward any other child. xiaoxiao was definitely the first! it made her heart ache! ¡°hmph.¡± she walked up to coco and xiaoxiao, her eyes fixed on them for quite some time. as soon as coco heard her voice, he knew she had arrived but didn¡¯t even glance in her direction. ¡°hello,¡± xiaoxiao greeted her politely. ¡°who are you? who let you come to our house?¡± lanlan¡¯s eyes focused on xiaoxiao¡¯s face, her jealousy evident as she asked without any friendliness. ¡°xiaoxiao, just ignore her. she¡¯s lanlan, the little troublemaker who bullies ding ding. she¡¯s quite annoying,¡± coco whispered to xiaoxiao. seeing lanlan¡¯s hostile gaze, xiaoxiao furrowed her brows. this little troublemaker was indeed quite annoying. she didn¡¯t pay any attention to lanlan and instead picked up a cupcake from the table, scooping a small spoonful and offering it to coco with a smiling face. ¡°brother, have this. it¡¯s really delicious.¡± coco opened his mouth. xiaoxiao immediately fed him the cupcake. the two of them were close. lanlan was furious, staring at them with wide eyes, her little fists clenched. at that moment, footsteps could be heard at the front door.. Chapter 56 - Chapter 56: It’s Fine If You Don’t Want Scumbag Daddyl i chapter 56: it¡¯s fine if you don¡¯t want scumbag daddyl i translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°daddy.¡± lanlan turned around and saw li zhenting, holding a briefcase, dressed in a suit, striding into the room. she immediately shouted excitedly, opened her arms wide, and wiggled her little butt as she ran towards him. ¡°daddy!¡± lanlan shouted again. ¡°i¡¯ve missed you! have you missed me?¡± daddy¡¯s embrace made lanlan feel safe and content. all the anger she had felt towards coco and xiaoxiao just moments ago disappeared, and her face lit up with a radiant smile. ¡°lanlan, daddy missed you too,¡± li zhenting replied with a gentle smile. he kissed her on the forehead and carried her towards the sofa. xiaoxiao had keen ears and had already turned her head to see this scene. she stared at the tall and imposing man with an air of authority, thinking in her heart that her daddy was indeed very handsome. it was no wonder that the ugly witch wanted to marry him. she couldn¡¯t bring herself to hate him either. but¡­ lanlan was his daughter. seeing how much he loved her, it was clear he wouldn¡¯t like her. however, she had mommy, and that was enough. she didn¡¯t need her deadbeat dad! and he bullied mommy and wanted to marry that ugly witch. xiaoxiao was filled with anger just thinking about it. li zhenting raised his eyes and noticed xiaoxiao sitting on the sofa. the little girl with the dark grape-like eyes was staring at him. her small face was delicate and pretty, with clear features that indicated she had the potential to become a beauty. he was a bit surprised. the girl¡¯s eyes seemed strangely familiar, like he had seen them somewhere before. even more surprising was the hint of inexplicable hostility and indifference in her bright, black eyes. ¡°is your name xiaoxiao?¡± he was momentarily taken aback but quickly smiled and initiated the conversation. ding ding had mentioned that he was bringing a female classmate home today. it must be her! ¡°hmph.¡± xiaoxiao coldly snorted and didn¡¯t say a word. instead, she turned her back to him. li zhenting was taken aback, then raised an eyebrow. this little girl seemed to have quite the personality. he turned to ding ding and instructed, ¡°ding ding, you should take good care of your classmate.¡± ¡°hmph,¡± coco suddenly changed from his cheerful demeanor to a sulking tone. he also turned his head away, ignoring him. ¡°young man, you should be more polite.¡± li zhenting furrowed his brow. when ding ding had called him this afternoon to say he was bringing a classmate home, he hadn¡¯t expected this kind of attitude. ¡°daddy,¡± coco pouted and said petulantly. li zhenting¡¯s expression softened a bit. ¡°daddy, brother is treating his female classmate very well. he even fed her food,¡± lanlan, who was in his arms, said with a sour tone, full of jealousy. ¡°oh, that¡¯s good,¡± li zhenting said, slightly surprised. he hadn¡¯t expected ding ding to be so caring and considerate. ¡°zhenting.¡± at this moment, a young, sexy woman with an apron, wavy curls, and heavy makeup walked out of the kitchen. she called out sweetly and walked towards li zhenting with a flirtatious smile. ¡°today, ding ding invited a female classmate over, and i personally cooked a few dishes. later, you can all taste them and see how good my cooking is.¡± li zhenting replied warmly, seeming quite satisfied with her performance. ¡°zhenting, if you don¡¯t like my cooking later, please don¡¯t say anything. i¡¯ll learn and improve. you have to encourage me,¡± she said coquettishly, holding his large hand and gazing at him lovingly. xiaoxiao¡¯s eyes landed on her. so this ugly witch looked even uglier up close, and she seemed like a witch too. she couldn¡¯t understand what dad saw in her. compared to mommy, she was nowhere near as good. dad¡¯s taste was really strange. it seemed like there was a need to teach him about normal aesthetics. she disdainfully pursed her lips.. Chapter 57 - Chapter 57:I Hate Her Even More chapter 57:i hate her even more translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation shen mei raised her eyes and suddenly noticed xiaoxiao scrutinizing her. she curved her lips and was about to greet her with a fake smile. however, xiaoxiao turned her head away, pretending not to have seen her. shen mei frowned. this little girl was dressed plainly, clearly from a modest background, and she had never liked her from the beginning. what was even stranger was the look of hostility and unfriendliness in the girl¡¯s eyes whenever she looked at her. it made shen mei very unhappy. with each passing moment, her dislike for this little girl grew stronger. it seemed that she couldn¡¯t let ding ding bring her home in the future. ¡°madam, young master, miss shen, it¡¯s time for dinner,¡± butler luo approached them and invited them to the dining table. ¡°alright, let¡¯s eat,¡± coco immediately held xiaoxiao¡¯s hand and happily ran towards the dining table. they climbed onto their seats and sat closely together. lanlan, with a displeased look on her face, glanced at xiaoxiao. ¡°xiaoxiao, come, try this,¡± coco turned the plate and served a big crab into xiaoxiao¡¯s bowl. xiaoxiao looked at the red crab shell and shook her head, saying, ¡°i can¡¯t crack it.¡± ¡°it¡¯s okay, i¡¯ll help you,¡± coco replied and started to load xiaoxiao¡¯s bowl with various dishes, including crayfish and cumin spare ribs, all of which he had instructed the kitchen to prepare. he picked up small tongs and carefully worked on the crab meat, placing each piece into xiaoxiao¡¯s mouth. he didn¡¯t eat any himself. li wanqing was extremely surprised. ding ding cared for xiaoxiao so much! she had never seen ding ding like this before, being so attentive to someone else. it seemed like this child was full of compassion. who said he was cold and heartless? now, she could rest easy! lanlan pushed around her food with her chopsticks, showing no interest in eating. she occasionally watched coco and xiaoxiao being close, pouting her lips. ¡°why don¡¯t you ever feed me, brother?¡± she asked, displeased. coco didn¡¯t even look at her and replied, ¡°she¡¯s a guest.¡± ¡°what kind of guest is she? she looks so shabby. from now on, you¡¯re not allowed to bring her home anymore,¡± lanlan said angrily. xiaoxiao¡¯s arrival had completely stolen her limelight, and she didn¡¯t want to see her. she issued her declaration with an authoritative tone. li zhenting frowned. ¡°lanlan, xiaoxiao is ding ding¡¯s classmate, and it¡¯s normal to invite classmates over. you¡¯re the host, so you should be polite to guests.¡± li zhenting was quite dissatisfied with lanlan¡¯s domineering attitude. her possessiveness was too strong, and she always wanted to be the center of attention, insisting on getting everything she liked. this trait reminded him a bit of shen mei, which he disliked the most. lanlan was criticized by her father, and her haughty demeanor lessened. her eyes turned red. meanwhile, shen mei, wearing an apron, was serving dishes to li wanqing at the dining table. she was busy flattering her mother-in-law and trying to please li zhenting, feeling joyful in her efforts. however, when she heard li zhenting scolding lanlan, her smile disappeared. she looked displeased as she glanced at xiaoxiao, her dislike for her growing stronger. ¡°lanlan, come here to mommy,¡± she gestured for lanlan to come over, then sat next to li zhenting. lanlan immediately ran into her mother¡¯s arms. but even as children, they naturally preferred to play with kids their own age. on the other side, coco and xiaoxiao were getting along so well, and she was left all alone. she was still very unhappy about it. in the past few days at the kindergarten, coco hadn¡¯t paid her any attention at all. after class, he would always run to the fence and engage in some sort of flirting with xiaoxiao. she couldn¡¯t stand it anymore. little did she know that he would boldly bring xiaoxiao into their home. it seemed that dad supported them. and she remembered now that last time, when she ran into ding ding¡¯s room, he was talking to a little girl, and she recognized that it was xiaoxiao. she pouted, her eyes filled with jealousy.. Chapter 58 - Chapter 58: She Hates Me chapter 58: she hates me translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°xiaoxiao, in the future, come over to our house to play with ding ding more often. grandma really likes you,¡± li wanqing adored this sweet-talking little girl and smiled warmly as she advised xiaoxiao. upon hearing this, coco was delighted. his face lit up with a smile, and he eagerly responded, ¡°thank you, grandma. don¡¯t worry, i¡¯ll bring her over to our house frequently.¡± ¡°alright, alright,¡± li wanqing agreed with a smile. as long as it made her grandson happy, she wouldn¡¯t mind if xiaoxiao stayed at their house every day. however, shen mei¡¯s face turned dark. she didn¡¯t like xiaoxiao at all, and the fact that she wanted her to come over frequently would only cause trouble for her and lanlan. before she could express her thoughts, she heard xiaoxiao loudly say, ¡°grandma, auntie doesn¡¯t want me to come here; she dislikes me.¡± as she spoke, xiaoxiao pointed her finger directly at shen mei. everyone was taken aback and turned their gaze to shen mei. shen mei was also shocked. how did this detestable little girl manage to voice her thoughts out loud? ¡°xiaoxiao, auntie would never dislike you coming to play. of course, you¡¯re very welcome, and you can come over anytime you want,¡± shen mei flashed a forced smile, immediately trying to smooth things over. deep down, she harbored even stronger resentment towards xiaoxiao. of course, she had no idea that xiaoxiao had already read her intentions. she thought xiaoxiao was just randomly guessing. ¡°that¡¯s right, xiaoxiao. if you like it here, you can come and play with me often. we¡¯ll be happy to have you,¡± li zhenting also chimed in with a smile. children are known for their innocence, after all. ¡°really? then 1¡¯11 come over often with my brother,¡± xiaoxiao said with a crescent-shaped smile, glaring triumphantly at shen mei with her big eyes. shen mei was furious. as she locked eyes with xiaoxiao, she suddenly felt a shiver down her spine. wait a minute. this little girl¡¯s big eyes were strangely similar to someone else¡¯s! she froze, and in her mind, she saw the face of shen ning. her face turned pale, and she dropped her chopsticks. ¡°i¡¯m sorry, i¡¯m sorry,¡± she panicked as she tried to pick up her chopsticks. by the time she had picked them up, her heart was still racing. but xiaoxiao had already turned her head to speak quietly with ding ding, and from that angle, there was no trace of shen ning¡¯s resemblance. shen mei breathed a sigh of relief. after dinner, it had already turned dark outside. li zhenting looked at xiaoxiao and said, ¡°xiaoxiao, where do you live? uncle can take you home if you¡¯d like.¡± ¡°no,¡± xiaoxiao hadn¡¯t answered yet, but coco spoke up first, ¡°today, xiaoxiao will stay with me. she won¡¯t be going home.¡± li zhenting furrowed his brows slightly. ¡°ding ding, if xiaoxiao stays with us, we need her parents¡¯ permission. they might be worried.¡± ¡°her parents already know and agreed to let her stay,¡± coco replied as if he were her parent. li zhenting gave him a stern look. this kid liked xiaoxiao so much that he didn¡¯t care about anything else, but he was an adult and had a responsibility to take xiaoxiao home. any parent would be worried if their child went missing. ¡°xiaoxiao, do you have your mom and dad¡¯s phone numbers? 1 can call them, and if they agree, you can stay,¡± he said with a smile. xiaoxiao hesitated for a moment and looked at coco. coco gave her a reassuring nod. she shook her head and said, ¡°i don¡¯t remember.¡± ¡°do you at least know where your home is?¡± li zhenting asked, somewhat amused. after all, she was only five years old; he couldn¡¯t expect her to remember a long string of phone numbers. xiaoxiao still didn¡¯t say anything. li zhenting, seeing that xiaoxiao didn¡¯t even know where her home was, decided that it wouldn¡¯t be right to keep her without her parents¡¯ permission. he took out his phone and said, ¡°alright, let me call teacher wang.¡± seeing this, xiaoxiao had no choice but to say, ¡°my home is at zhengsheng apartments.¡± teacher wang had no idea who she was, and if li zhenting found out that she wasn¡¯t attending blue whale kindergarten, he might not allow her to interact with coco in the future. she didn¡¯t want that! Chapter 59 - Chapter 59: Her Mommy Is Gentle and Beautiful chapter 59: her mommy is gentle and beautiful translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation zhengsheng apartment? li zhenting immediately opened the baidu map app. fortunately, it wasn¡¯t too far from here. he smiled faintly, saying, ¡°alright, xiaoxiao, let me take you home first. if you like it here, you can come back tomorrow. if you want to stay here tomorrow, just have your dad or mom give me a call. ding ding knows my phone number.¡± he headed to the study to get his car keys. xiaoxiao looked at coco. coco said helplessly, ¡°you go back for now, and 1¡¯11 bring you here again tomorrow.¡± ¡°okay,¡± xiaoxiao nodded. after a while, li zhenting came over. coco insisted on taking xiaoxiao home, mentioning that he had been to xiaoxiao¡¯s house many times before. li zhenting didn¡¯t object either. the two kids held hands as they walked out. zhengsheng apartment. li zhenting finally parked the car. coco held xiaoxiao¡¯s hand and got out of the car. ¡°daddy, you wait here. 1¡¯11 take xiaoxiao home,¡± coco said firmly to li zhenting. li zhenting couldn¡¯t help but worry, ¡°do you know where her house is?¡± ¡°of course, i¡¯ve been here several times. her mommy is very warm and gentle,¡± coco said with a mischievous smile. li zhenting was taken aback by this. why did this kid only think other people¡¯s moms were good? ¡°wait, i¡¯ll go with you,¡± he still wasn¡¯t at ease. it was essential to make sure the child was handed over to their parents, or else something might go wrong. besides, he couldn¡¯t be sure if xiaoxiao really lived there. he opened the car door and followed them. ¡°uncle, goodbye, good night,¡± but as soon as he got out of the car, xiaoxiao greeted him, and the two kids held hands and happily skipped a short distance along the garden path of pebbles. he had no choice but to walk briskly to catch up. ¡°xiaoxiao, your useless dad followed us. we mustn¡¯t let him know which apartment mommy lives in; otherwise, everything will be exposed, and ding ding is still at home,¡± coco whispered. this was the reason he insisted on escorting xiaoxiao home. mommy never wanted daddy to know they lived here, and, more importantly, they still hadn¡¯t settled their score; they had to be cautious! ¡°alright, let¡¯s go in the opposite direction,¡± xiaoxiao nodded. the two kids ran towards another building. soon, they were in the elevator. when li zhenting followed, he saw that the elevator had already gone up to the eighth floor, but when he arrived on the eighth floor, he couldn¡¯t find ding ding and xiaoxiao. just as he felt strange, ¡°daddy.¡± ding ding appeared out of nowhere, holding a bag. ¡°where did you go? what about xiaoxiao?¡± li zhenting asked immediately. ¡°she went home, i already took her inside,¡± coco answered casually and ran towards the elevator. ¡°is xiaoxiao really home? are her parents there?¡± li zhenting was still very worried. ¡°of course, they¡¯re home,¡± coco replied with a flat expression as he entered the elevator. li zhenting still felt that something was off, ¡°then take me to see if xiaoxiao is really home.¡± ¡°i won¡¯t go. she¡¯s already asleep,¡± coco handed him the bag, ¡°this is from xiaoxiao¡¯s mommy.¡± li zhenting took it and saw that there were not only two comic books inside but also a box of sweets that looked very exquisite, almost like they were handmade. now he could finally relax and drove away with coco. ¡°daddy, are you going to marry shen mei?¡± as soon as the car stopped at the li family manor, coco suddenly asked loudly. li zhenting¡¯s handsome face instantly turned dark. this kid was becoming more and more unruly, actually calling his mom¡¯s name.. Chapter 60 - Chapter 60:I Want You to Cancel the Wedding chapter 60:i want you to cancel the wedding translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°yes, is there something wrong?¡± he was exuding a chilling aura. as they say, give a child an inch, and they¡¯ll take a mile. not seeing consequences for three days, they can become quite bold. ¡°i don¡¯t want you to marry her!¡± coco¡¯s emotions flared up, and he shouted loudly. li zhenting felt extremely angry. last time, because he hadn¡¯t married his mommy, he had left home and even damaged the company¡¯s computer system. this time, after finally making up his mind to marry his mommy, he was saying such things. it was simply nonsense! ¡°didn¡¯t you agree last time?¡± he suppressed his anger and asked in a stern voice. last time? coco was momentarily stunned, and suddenly, he understood. apparently, the mommy he was talking about and the mommy in his words were not the same person at all. he was talking about his birth mother, shen ning, while the mommy he referred to was ding ding¡¯s mommy, shen mei. they had gotten it all mixed up! coco was filled with regret. he had caused all this trouble! how could he be so careless? no matter when, he never wanted daddy to marry that ugly witch, shen mei. ¡°the mommy i¡¯m talking about is not shen mei,¡± he immediately corrected loudly. li zhenting¡¯s face darkened when he heard this. ¡°are you crazy, kid? can¡¯t even recognize your own mommy. mommy is mommy; she can¡¯t be someone else.¡± ¡°my mommy is not that ugly witch, shen mei. 1 don¡¯t want you to marry her. i want you to cancel the wedding,¡± coco commanded forcefully. this time, li zhenting was so angry that his heart, liver, and lungs hurt. this kid had no respect for his mommy, even calling her an ugly witch. moreover, they had already set a wedding date, and he was unwilling? what was he thinking? originally, he didn¡¯t want to marry in the first place, but now that things were set, he couldn¡¯t just change his mind! ¡°kid, if you dare to speak out of line again, be careful, i¡¯ll spank you,¡± he angrily threatened. coco didn¡¯t back down from his intimidation. with his neck stiff and his face red, he retorted, ¡°if you marry her, i won¡¯t share your last name anymore. i won¡¯t be your son.¡± this made li zhenting so furious that he felt smoke coming out of his head. what kind of child opposed his father marrying his mother? seeing him like this, he was probably sick again, and it didn¡¯t seem minor. he opened the car door, lifted coco by the arm, and headed towards the study. ¡°let go of me, you scum, you heartless man. you abandoned me after causing chaos. i hate you,¡± coco was suspended in the air, flailing his arms and legs. tonight, li zhenting was definitely not going to be gentle with him, but he wasn¡¯t afraid at all. he was determined to stand his ground. if daddy married shen mei, he couldn¡¯t accept it. he still wanted to have a mommy and a daddy. with a determination to win, he was prepared to fight to the end. ¡°you brat, you¡¯re getting out of control,¡± li zhenting was exasperated by coco¡¯s insults. this kid was becoming more audacious by the day. ¡°zhenting, what¡¯s going on with you?¡± shen mei saw li zhenting storming in with a furious coco and felt secretly delighted. coco was always his soft spot, and she had never seen him so angry. she followed and pretended to inquire sympathetically. li zhenting was shrouded in a chilling aura, his face stern, as he went upstairs. ¡°zhenting, the child is still young. although he can be challenging to understand at times, don¡¯t stoop to his level. please, let him go,¡± shen mei followed, grabbing li zhenting¡¯s hand and pleading earnestly. coco became even angrier listening to this. what nonsense was this ugly witch saying? when had he ever displayed behavior that was challenging to understand? she was just adding fuel to the fire. ¡°ugly witch, shut up!¡± coco shouted in anger. li zhenting¡¯s anger flared even more. this kid had completely crossed the line. he was even insulting his mommy. he raised his hand and gave him a couple of smacks on his bottom.. Chapter 61 - Chapter 61: Who Broke Into My Office Last Night?_i chapter 61: who broke into my office last night?_i translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation coco opened his mouth wide and let out a loud scream. with li wanqing present, the louder he screamed, the better. sure enough, in no time, li wanqing rushed over and intercepted him, giving li zhenting a good scolding. li zhenting was completely helpless! coco had let off some steam. the next day. li zhenting woke up early, in a bad mood, and skipped breakfast, heading straight to the company. unexpectedly. as he pushed open the office door, he saw shen ning, who had dark circles under her eyes and looked haggard. he was taken aback. ¡°mr. li, here are the data you requested for me to organize, and it¡¯s all ready,¡± shen ning handed a stack of data directly to him when she saw him. he took it and glanced at the neatly arranged numbers. it was evident she had put in a lot of effort. ¡°you didn¡¯t come home last night?¡± he asked in surprise, looking her over. ¡°i dare not fail to complete the task you assigned,¡± shen ning replied, her voice polite despite the anger simmering within. the volume of data from the previous night had been extensive. she had to connect three computers together to slowly complete the task. however, as she was finishing, she was horrified. seeing it was truly a shock. in the first half of the year, gu qi had actually suffered losses of several million! that night, her thoughts raced in all directions. it could be said that without li zhenting¡¯s backing, gu qi would have ceased to exist long ago. currently, launching new products and capturing the market was imperative for gu qi. thanks to these data, shen ning had gained a clear understanding of her own situation. to save gu qi, she couldn¡¯t afford to offend li zhenting for at least the next year or so! li zhenting picked up the data report without really looking at it and stuffed it into his briefcase. he then headed out of the office. it wasn¡¯t until he pushed open the office door and saw shen ning with dark circles under her eyes that he realized he had come to the wrong place. originally, he was supposed to go to li group, but he had absentmindedly ended up at gu qi. li zhenting rushed to li group for an important meeting. as he entered the intelligent access control area after exiting the elevator, his face suddenly changed. inside the office, it was a mess. books, folders, pens, and papers were scattered all over the place, and the computers were in disarray. ¡°someone!¡± he immediately shouted angrily. secretary manager song hurriedly entered the room. ¡°mr. li, who entered my office last night?¡± li zhenting¡¯s eyes turned red, and his voice was filled with anger. secretary manager song stammered, ¡°mr. li, no one entered. your office is fully automated, and apart from you using facial recognition, no one else can enter.¡± ¡°nonsense! do you mean to say 1 made this mess myself?¡± li zhenting pointed at the scattered papers and pens angrily. this time, secretary manager song couldn¡¯t find any words to reply. if it wasn¡¯t mr. li himself who made a mess in the ceo¡¯s office, then who else could it be? but it didn¡¯t seem like something mr. li would do. for a while, she was perplexed. li zhenting¡¯s eyes radiated a destructive glint as he picked up the intercom phone on his desk and dialed a number. soon, leng xie rushed in. ¡°mr. li.¡± leng xie was shocked when he saw the chaotic office. mr. li, who had always been neat and tidy, had turned his office into a mess. ¡°what¡¯s going on? have you found out?¡± li zhenting¡¯s eyes glared. leng xie looked at him, hesitating. ¡°speak.¡± ¡°mr. li, the corridors and entrances and exits of the building have been tampered with. the surveillance cameras are all destroyed,¡± leng xie replied. ¡°this is unacceptable,¡± li zhenting fumed. ¡°call the police immediately and investigate thoroughly. we must bring those responsible to justice.¡± however, leng xie stood still. li zhenting¡¯s anger flared. ¡°mr. li, please remain calm,¡± leng xie advised cautiously, reminding him, ¡°the ceo¡¯s office can only be accessed using facial recognition. no one else has the ability to enter.¡± li zhenting suddenly understood something and took a few steps back, sitting down in his office chair. ¡°ding ding, you little scoundrel,¡± he gritted his teeth.. Chapter 62 - Chapter 62: His Condition Is Already Very Serious chapter 62: his condition is already very serious translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation leng xie lowered his head and scratched it. ah, these two, father and son, were naturally incompatible. no matter how much mr. li cared for and looked after ding ding, he always found a way to infuriate him. ¡°you can go now,¡± mr. li said, waving his hand with a stern face. leng xie cautiously retreated. half an hour later. li zhenting and dr. robert sat facing each other on the sofa. li zhenting carefully recounted ding ding¡¯s recent words and behavior to dr. robert. dr. robert furrowed his brows tightly. ¡°in theory, while ding ding does display some symptoms of autism, it shouldn¡¯t be as pronounced as this. it¡¯s really not supposed to be like this.¡± ¡°so, i suspect he may have developed schizophrenia, and the condition seems to be quite severe,¡± li zhenting expressed his deep concern. last night, he had been sleepless, replaying ding ding¡¯s recent behavior in his mind, making detailed comparisons. he had arrived at a terrifying conclusion: ding ding might already have schizophrenia. a five-year-old child¡¯s behavior and speech should not vary so drastically! children never hide their problems; they wear them on their faces. there was only one possible explanation: his condition had become very serious. seeing the scene in his office this morning had only strengthened his suspicions, prompting him to call dr. robert immediately. ¡°well, mr. li, i suggest i observe ding ding at li castle for a few days and then prescribe the appropriate treatment. if it turns out he really has this condition, we must treat it as soon as possible, or it will become a major issue,¡± dr. robert suggested after careful consideration. li zhenting nodded slightly, giving his consent. at quitting time. shen ning returned home feeling exhausted. she hadn¡¯t slept all night, her head was spinning, and she had worked all day. physically and mentally drained, she felt like she was coming down with a cold. however, when she returned home, she discovered that only coco was at home. ¡°coco, where¡¯s xiaoxiao?¡± shen ning asked softly. ding ding was engrossed in playing a game, leading his troops in a fierce battle. he was riding a horse, killing countless enemies, and was highly regarded. ¡°xiaoxiao went to a classmate¡¯s house to play. she¡¯ll be back in the evening,¡± ding ding replied without lifting his head. shen ning furrowed her brows. when had coco become so obsessed with playing games and lost his manners? generally, he was quite sensible at home, helping with housework, taking care of his little sister, and not allowing her to go out alone. the two siblings had always been inseparable. moreover, he didn¡¯t run to greet her as he usually did when she came home. coco had changed! it wasn¡¯t just her imagination! although she had been busy with work lately and hadn¡¯t had the energy to pay much attention to the children¡¯s behavior, as a mother, she could sense their changes without deliberately observing. ¡°coco, why are you so obsessed with playing games now?¡± shen ning walked over and asked with a serious expression. ¡°what have i told you, my dear?¡± ding ding was a bit puzzled, staring at shen ning blankly. he really didn¡¯t know what mommy usually said to coco! ¡°coco, the blue light from the phone screen can be harmful to your eyes. you can play a bit, but don¡¯t get addicted. do you understand?¡± shen ning continued in a stern tone. ding ding understood what she meant and pouted, looking unhappy. he didn¡¯t like being told what to do by others. usually, at li manor, he spent his days isolated in his room, passing the time with his phone. he had become accustomed to it and didn¡¯t want to change. shen ning was shocked to see her son¡¯s thoughts laid bare before her! she hadn¡¯t expected coco to change so drastically in just a few days.. Chapter 63 - Chapter 63: Mommy Has Always Seen Good in You chapter 63: mommy has always seen good in you translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°coco, mommy doesn¡¯t mean you can¡¯t play with your phone, but there has to be a limit. you can¡¯t play day and night like this,¡± shen ning said, bending down to hold ding ding¡¯s hand as they walked towards the bedroom. she picked up a mirror from the dressing table. ¡°take a good look at yourself. your eye circles are all red. if this continues, your eyesight will be seriously damaged. you¡¯re still so young; what will you do in the future?¡± at this point, ding ding seemed a bit scared and asked, ¡°mommy, will i go blind?¡± ¡°well, even if you don¡¯t go blind, your vision will be severely damaged, and you won¡¯t be able to see things clearly,¡± shen ning intentionally emphasized the consequences a bit more. ¡°think about it. how painful it would be when you can¡¯t see anything. there are many wonderful things in this world that we need to discover and appreciate.¡± ding ding fell silent, lowering his head. ¡°coco, mommy takes care of you and educates you for your own good. you are mommy¡¯s greatest pride, the most obedient child. mommy hopes you become even more outstanding.¡± shen ning gently stroked his head and spoke softly, ¡°you are a very smart and talented child. your future is limitless, but the condition is that you must correct your flaws and study hard, understand?¡± ding ding raised his little face and asked, ¡°mommy, am 1 outstanding?¡± ¡°of course,¡± shen ning nodded affirmatively. ¡°mommy has always been proud of you. you are mommy¡¯s precious baby, and mommy loves you so much. mommy worries every day that you may not eat well, sleep well, or that others may bully you. mommy is afraid you won¡¯t improve or pick up bad habits. everything mommy does is for you and xiaoxiao to have a better life.¡± ding ding¡¯s eyes turned red, and he said, ¡°mommy, i¡¯m sorry. it was my fault. from now on, i¡¯ll listen to you.¡± ¡°good,¡± shen ning smiled with relief. her child¡¯s sensitivity and lack of confidence tugged at her heartstrings. she knelt down in front of him and kissed his forehead. ¡°you are mommy¡¯s best child, and mommy has always believed in you.¡± ¡°mommy,¡± ding ding hugged mommy¡¯s neck and nuzzled into her warm embrace. he decided to be a good child that mommy liked from now on! shen ning hugged him tightly, caressed his head, and her deep motherly love filled ding ding¡¯s face with a happy smile. afterwards, ding ding really put down his phone and helped shen ning with various chores around the house. when mommy was tidying up the living room toys, he would assist clumsily. even though he was awkward, mommy would praise him continuously, which boosted his confidence and made him more cheerful and talkative. ¡°mommy, big brother,¡± a while later, the living room door opened, and xiaoxiao came bouncing in with a small blue backpack on her back. ¡°xiaoxiao, where did you go?¡± shen ning checked the time. while it wasn¡¯t too late to come home, she still wanted to know where her children were. ¡°mommy, 1 went to play at a classmate¡¯s house,¡± xiaoxiao happily replied. ¡°oh, did the classmate¡¯s adults agree? you can¡¯t cause trouble when you go to someone else¡¯s house,¡± shen ning didn¡¯t oppose her children¡¯s normal interactions but had to consider the feelings of the other parents. ¡°don¡¯t worry, mommy. they agreed, and my classmate¡¯s grandma is so kind. she always makes the best food for me,¡± xiaoxiao praised li wanqing with endless admiration. shen ning smiled faintly. ¡°did you say thank you? also, try not to go to other people¡¯s houses for meals in the future; it might disturb them.¡± ¡°of course, thank you, mommy. i¡¯ll try not to trouble other people¡¯s houses,¡± xiaoxiao replied, put down her backpack, and suddenly stared at shen ning¡¯s face, asking nervously, ¡°mommy, are you not feeling well? your complexion looks bad.¡± ¡°it¡¯s nothing, 1 just didn¡¯t sleep well last night,¡± shen ning immediately turned her face away, not wanting her children to worry about her. ¡°mommy, drink a glass of hot water quickly,¡± xiaoxiao brought a glass of hot water. ¡°thank you,¡± shen ning took the glass and pretended that the hot water was scalding to avoid alarming her children about her appearance. she blew on it while walking to the balcony. the night was slightly chilly, with sparkling lights. she suddenly froze. downstairs, in the dimly lit night, there was a tall figure briskly walking towards the exit of the community. the man was wearing a silver-gray, perfectly tailored suit, exuding a suave and domineering aura. from afar, his imposing and noble figure was evident. it was li zhenting! Chapter 64 - Chapter 64: Hug Me chapter 64: hug me translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation shen ning¡¯s eyelid twitched violently. how could he have come to zhengsheng apartments, this commoner¡¯s residence? with his status, he couldn¡¯t possibly be here. it must have been a mistake. she rubbed her eyes and looked again, but the man¡¯s figure had disappeared. shen ning was dumbfounded, and suddenly felt irritated. what time was it? she shouldn¡¯t be harboring any fantasies about this scoundrel, to the point of having hallucinations! shen ning, can¡¯t you be more sensible? this heartless and unscrupulous man has hurt you deeply. why would you even think of him? you should cast him into the deepest pits of hell, never to return! she turned around coldly and took the children to bed. the next day. shen ning was delayed a few minutes preparing breakfast for keke and xiaoxiao, making her leave home later than usual. worried that li zhenting might suddenly check on her again, she began to run as soon as she left home. finally, she managed to catch the bus, panting heavily. standing on the bus, she suddenly felt a cramp in her stomach and a warm sensation trickling down. oh no, her period had come! she had a habit of suffering from menstrual cramps since childhood. probably due to catching a chill after being pushed into the sea by that malicious woman six years ago, the cramps had become increasingly severe. at its worst, her stomach would convulse intensely, and her whole body would turn ice-cold. after finally getting off the bus, she squatted by the roadside, clutching her stomach, and cold sweat started to bead on her forehead. it seemed impossible to go to work at the company now. what should she do? after some consideration, she sent li zhenting a message: ¡°mr. li, 1 have a little issue and need to take a two-hour leave. please approve.¡± after sending the message, she didn¡¯t receive a response for a long time, and her stomach was getting more painful. she didn¡¯t care anymore. whatever he wanted to do, let him do it! she hailed a taxi and headed to the nearby hospital. vip examination room at the hospital. ¡°zhenting, it¡¯s really miserable to have my period. my stomach hurts so much,¡± shen mei lay on the hospital bed, her face pale. she delicately stroked her stomach with her fingernails coated in nail polish. she looked delicate and helpless. li zhenting held her hand. her hand was quite cold. he plugged in a hot water bag and handed it to her, saying gently, ¡°holding this will make you feel better.¡± ¡°thank you.¡± shen mei¡¯s pale fingers accepted the hot water bag and placed it on her stomach. she looked at him with a charming smile and made a soft request, ¡°zhenting, can you touch my stomach? it¡¯s so cold. the palm of your hand is very warm, and it feels comfortable. it won¡¯t hurt anymore.¡± li zhenting frowned slightly at her words, hesitated for a moment, but eventually placed his palm on her stomach. shen mei took the opportunity to embrace his sturdy waist with both hands. ¡°zhenting, hold me. it will make me feel more comfortable,¡± shen mei clung tightly to the man, speaking tenderly. li zhenting¡¯s body trembled, and he instinctively wanted to push her away. however, he immediately thought of something and decided to pick her up instead. shen mei buried her face in his warm chest, pressed tightly against him, and listened to his strong heartbeat. she closed her eyes slightly. in fact, li zhenting¡¯s special favor towards her was due to something that had happened many years ago. that day, li zhenting suddenly came to her house to investigate the whereabouts of a girl. shen mei happened to overhear his inner thoughts and learned that deep down, li zhenting had a girl he cared about. li¡¯s family was the wealthiest in the capital, and shen mei was thrilled. she came up with a plan and replaced that girl, becoming li zhenting¡¯s lover. from then on, she was pampered by li zhenting for so many years. although li zhenting was later forced to marry shen ning, he had never touched shen mei since. however, after shen ning¡¯s ¡°death,¡± li zhenting gradually distanced himself from her and was unwilling to bring her back home. if it weren¡¯t for ding ding and lan lan, she would never have seen the reunion they were about to have. next door, in the infusion room. shen ning was lying on a chair, cold sweat dripping from her forehead, and her consciousness was beginning to blur¡­ this time, her menstrual cramps were worse than any before, all because of a night of poor sleep.. Chapter 65 - Chapter 65: Meeting Face to Face chapter 65: meeting face to face translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°miss, miss,¡± a nurse noticed something was wrong and urgently called out. shen ning whimpered, glanced at her, but didn¡¯t answer, and slumped back down. the nurse took her phone from her hand and dialed a phone number. in less than a quarter of an hour. ¡°ningning, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡± jing chenxi appeared in front of her. after the iv was administered, shen ning had improved a lot, and her mind was gradually clearing. she looked at jing chenxi, who had a worried expression, and asked in confusion, ¡°mr. jing, why are you here?¡± jing chenxi held her hand, and it felt cold! he immediately took off his suit jacket and draped it over her shoulders, scolding gently, ¡°if you weren¡¯t feeling well, you should have told me and i would have arranged a hospital bed with the hospital leaders. you¡¯re such a silly girl. you¡¯re a mother of two, and you still don¡¯t know how to take care of yourself.¡± shen ning remembered. the nurse must have dialed the number of the person she had been in contact with the most recently¡­ she didn¡¯t have many friends, so jing chenxi naturally became her first choice. ¡°mr. jing, i¡¯m sorry for the trouble,¡± shen ning apologized softly. ¡°i¡¯m really fine. i just need to take some medicine after the injection. the doctor said it¡¯s due to cold in the womb.¡± ¡°even if you¡¯re in this much pain, it¡¯s still considered nothing? what qualifies as something, then?¡± jing chenxi asked with concern. ¡°no, i¡¯ll go and arrange the admission procedures. you can stay in the hospital for a few days.¡± ¡°no.¡± shen ning became anxious and grabbed his hand, pleading, ¡°mr. jing, i¡¯m really fine. i have to get back to work. please don¡¯t worry about me.¡± her eyes were filled with anxiety and concern. if she didn¡¯t get back to work, that devil li zhenting would eat her alive. besides, the tea party on friday was about to start, and she couldn¡¯t afford to miss it. jing chenxi couldn¡¯t bear to go against her wishes, so he reluctantly agreed. after a while, when the iv was finished, shen ning felt much better and stood up. jing chenxi saw that she was walking lightly and shook his head. he supported her with his strong hand. they walked towards the exit. just as they reached the elevator, they ran into li zhenting, who was helping shen mei out of the elevator. the four of them met face to face. almost the moment li zhenting saw shen ning, his face darkened, and his icy eyes turned frosty. ¡°oh, sister is here too,¡± shen mei didn¡¯t mind this time. she looked at shen ning, then at jing chenxi, a playful smile on her lips. ¡°mr. jing, it seems you haven¡¯t forgotten my sister. you¡¯re such a good man. my sister is so lucky.¡± after saying that, she glanced at li zhenting secretly. at this moment, he wore a dark and gloomy expression. ¡°mr. li,¡± jing chenxi didn¡¯t even spare shen mei a glance. he just looked at li zhenting and greeted politely. li zhenting pursed his lips and said coldly, ¡°mr. jing, it seems your company is doing well, and you have plenty of leisure time.¡± jing chenxi raised an eyebrow and clenched his lips, refraining from responding with any harsh words. ¡°mr. li, i¡¯ve already sent you a leave request,¡± shen ning, who never dreamed she would encounter li zhenting here, warned him first as she saw his expression turn sour. when a person is down on their luck, even drinking water can get stuck in their teeth. she had been having a string of bad luck recently. it seemed she needed to find some time to visit a temple and pray! li zhenting sneered, ¡°leave request? i didn¡¯t receive it.¡± shen ning¡¯s heart skipped a beat. this man¡¯s tone was not friendly at all.. it seemed he was going to make things difficult for her again! Chapter 66 - Chapter 66: Shameless chapter 66: shameless translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°mr li, i have some evidence here that i can show you.¡± shen ning immediately took out her phone and pulled up a text message, placing it in front of him. li zhen ting glanced at it casually. ¡°a text message? in this day and age, who still looks at text messages? why didn¡¯t you send me a wechat message? it seems like you¡¯re intentionally not applying for leave; you must be treated as absent from work.¡± absent from work? shen ning was so infuriated that her stomach ached again. ¡°mr. li, i no longer have your wechat contact since my mother¡¯s death six years ago.¡± in fact, she had deleted his wechat as soon as her mother passed away. she had never even considered adding him back in her life, and even if she did, he might not accept her request. ¡°no, you can add me. if you don¡¯t add me, it¡¯s your fault.¡± li zhenting was domineering and unreasonable. shen ning clenched her teeth. ¡°mr. li, even if i add you, will you accept? besides, i don¡¯t want to add you for work-related matters; there¡¯s no need!¡± li zhenting sneered, ¡°you¡¯re overthinking it. an enterprise wechat account is for work purposes. nowadays, which company doesn¡¯t use enterprise wechat accounts? don¡¯t think i¡¯m asking you to add my personal wechat; you¡¯re not worthy.¡± he glanced coldly at jing chenxi, mocking, ¡°i find you dirty.¡± ¡°you¡­¡± shen ning was so furious that her blood rushed to her head. but he seemed to be right. most companies now use enterprise wechat accounts, and she had been in the united states for six years. she was still getting used to the work culture here. at this moment, jing chenxi, who had been standing by, couldn¡¯t tolerate it anymore. with a furrowed brow, he spoke firmly, ¡°mr. li, why make things difficult for a woman like this? after all, ning ning was your ex-wife two years ago. be a bit more decent. today, she came to the hospital because she wasn¡¯t feeling well. 1 can vouch for that. moreover, no company would stipulate that employees can¡¯t go to the hospital when they¡¯re sick.¡± li zhenting¡¯s handsome face tensed, and he coldly said, ¡°mr. jing, are you sure you can be a witness for gu qi¡¯s employees? based on what? just because you¡¯re the president of jing group? don¡¯t think that having a high position gives you the right to boss people around on my turf. let me tell you, you¡¯re nothing here. furthermore, you¡¯re getting close to a divorced woman. aren¡¯t you afraid of what miss jiang xinyun, the daughter of the ship king, will think when she finds out? 1 suggest you mind your own business.¡± jing chenxi turned red and then pale after li zhenting¡¯s words. he was rendered speechless. shen ning gently pressed her red lips and spoke directly, ¡°mr. li, if you want to treat me as absent from work, go ahead. you can deduct as much money as you want. you¡¯ve said it yourself; i¡¯m just an employee. making a fuss about such a trivial matter in the hospital will only lower your reputation.¡± she considered herself unlucky but just wanted to leave as soon as possible. if she were caught by the media with malicious intent, it wouldn¡¯t be good for anyone. however, thinking of keke and xiaoxiao¡¯s tuition next month, she clenched her fists. ¡°oh, you¡¯re quite impressive.¡± li zhenting¡¯s narrowed eyes seemed to mock her. ¡°you don¡¯t care about these small sums when someone else is footing the bill, right? it seems like you¡¯re selling yourself at a high price. but don¡¯t forget my warning.¡± a few days ago, someone had seen her working part-time at a bar to earn money. she had become so extravagant so quickly, it must be thanks to jing chenxi. li zhenting laughed mockingly. shen ning¡¯s teeth gnashed, and she thought, ¡°this man is going too far! not only did he insult me, but he also indirectly insulted jing chenxi. disgusting!¡± ¡°oh, mr. li,¡± she suddenly smiled at him, her finger pointing upward, ¡°take a look at what¡¯s up there.¡± li zhenting didn¡¯t react at first and looked up. there was nothing on the ceiling. ¡°what¡¯s up there?¡± shen ning chuckled and replied, ¡°there are four words up there: shameless as they come.¡± just then, the elevator door opened, and she pulled jing chenxi into it. by the time li zhenting realized what had happened, the elevator had already descended. his eyes turned cold instantly, and his face turned as dark as a pot.. Chapter 67 - Chapter 67: Because She’s Not My Mommy chapter 67: because she¡¯s not my mommy translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°zhen, don¡¯t be angry. when you¡¯re angry, it hurts my heart. this kind of despicable person isn¡¯t worth your anger.¡± shen mei¡¯s fingers gently caressed the man¡¯s chest, her demeanor alluring and affectionate. li zhenting continued to support her as they walked towards the hospital room, his face still dark. ¡°zhen, actually, i think jing chenxi and my sister are quite compatible. six years ago, even before your divorce, he was already getting close to my sister¡­¡± shen mei spoke seemingly casually, but jealousy brewed within her. back then, her goal was clear: if she couldn¡¯t marry li zhenting, she had to marry jing chenxi. before meeting li zhenting, she had even attempted to seduce jing chenxi. unfortunately, he hadn¡¯t spared her a glance. now, if jing chenxi could win over shen ning, she thought it wouldn¡¯t be a bad thing. she knew that the jing family would never accept shen ning, at most, she¡¯d become a secret lover. ¡°stop.¡± her words were abruptly cut off by li zhenting¡¯s stern shout. shen mei stared at him in fear. ¡°meimei, go rest in the hospital room. i¡¯m leaving.¡± li zhenting released her hand and turned away. shen mei watched his infuriated back and a smile curled at her lips. the more li zhenting humiliated shen ning, the happier she became. it seemed that shen ning¡¯s influence on li zhenting wasn¡¯t as significant as she had imagined. she could relax a bit. shen ning, you insist on coming back to endure this abuse. let¡¯s see how long you can hold out! shortly after, a young man hurried over. ¡°ms. shen, this was found in shen ning¡¯s office. according to surveillance footage, she mixed this into her perfume.¡± the man handed her a small black bag. she took it, opened it, and found a small bottle of black liquid inside. when she uncorked it, a strong moldy odor nearly made her vomit. she quickly sealed it shut. ¡°all right, i understand.¡± shen iviei put the item into her bag. ¡°peruvian resin isn¡¯t available in the market right now, is it?¡± ¡°that¡¯s correct, there won¡¯t be any for at least a week.¡± the man smirked. shen mei smiled and handed him a bank card. the man took it and promptly left. li manor. ¡°ding ding, this is your favorite braised pig¡¯s feet. would you like to have a small bite?¡± li wanqing held a bowl in front of coco, tempting him. ¡°i won¡¯t eat.¡± little coco pouted, very stubborn. ¡°oh, my dear grandson, what am i going to do with you? it¡¯s almost afternoon, and you haven¡¯t eaten anything. are you trying to starve your grandma?¡± li wanqing sighed with a look of distress. ¡°grandma, if you make daddy not marry shen mei, i¡¯ll eat. otherwise, 1¡¯11 just starve.¡± little coco¡¯s face turned red as he spoke stubbornly. this was his second big move, refusing to go to kindergarten and staying at home to pressure them. li wanqing was li zhenting¡¯s mother, and usually, sons would listen to their mothers. he wanted li wanqing to pressure li zhenting into canceling the wedding with shen mei. this time, even li wanqing was puzzled. although ding ding wasn¡¯t very close to shen mei, after all, she was his birth mother. in this world, which biological child didn¡¯t want their parents to be together? ¡°ding ding, can you tell grandma why you don¡¯t want daddy to marry your mommy?¡± she had lived for so many years, but she still couldn¡¯t understand this. ¡°because she¡¯s bad.¡± coco thought for a moment before replying. ¡°then can you tell grandma what bad things she¡¯s done to make you hate her so much?¡± now coco couldn¡¯t answer. he hadn¡¯t actually witnessed shen mei doing anything particularly bad. she had slapped him and shen ning, but those actions didn¡¯t seem bad enough to warrant such hatred. ¡°is it because she hit you last time?¡± li wanqing chuckled. which parent didn¡¯t discipline their children? these days, shen mei had also been caring for him, which li wanqing had noticed. ¡°no, it¡¯s because she¡¯s not my mommy.¡± coco couldn¡¯t make up a reasonable explanation and blurted it out in frustration.. Chapter 68 - Chapter 68: Treating Him As A Patient chapter 68: treating him as a patient translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°nonsense.¡± li wanqing hesitated for a moment but hadn¡¯t replied when li zhenting entered with dr. robert. the boy had been talking nonsense, and li zhenting¡¯s face was grim. coco looked up and saw li zhenting enter with a foreign man, and his face turned pale with fear. ¡°zhenting, please speak softly.¡± even though li wanqing knew that ding ding was speaking nonsense, she saw her grandson¡¯s pale face and whispered to li zhenting. ¡°mom, look at this.¡± li zhenting helplessly spoke, ¡°he¡¯s even denying his own mommy.¡± ¡°hello, ding ding.¡± at this point, robert greeted li wanqing and then smiled warmly as he greeted ding ding in faltering chinese. coco, seeing this foreigner who smiled like a big butt, wondered what he was here for. then he heard li zhenting say, ¡°ding ding, you should get along well with dr. robert today. tell him if you¡¯re unhappy about anything; he¡¯ll help you.¡± doctor? this foreigner was actually a doctor! coco¡¯s face turned white again. it turned out that his lousy dad had brought a doctor home. they were treating him like a patient. ¡°i¡¯m not sick.¡± he immediately objected loudly. li zhenting shook his head. every time, ding ding refused to admit that he was sick, but look at him now. ¡°grandma, i don¡¯t want to see the doctor. let him go.¡± this time, coco was genuinely scared. he didn¡¯t want injections or medication. he had only had one shot and taken medicine once in his life, and he remembered how unpleasant it was. he rushed into li wanqing¡¯s arms, crying loudly. li wanqing felt sorry for her grandson and said repeatedly, ¡°alright, we won¡¯t see the doctor, we won¡¯t see the doctor. grandma will take you to eat something.¡± she gave li zhenting a meaningful look and left with coco. robert was lost in thought. in theory, he was ding ding¡¯s doctor, and they had played games and chatted several times. however, this time, ding ding seemed to not recognize him at all, which was indeed strange. ¡°robert, did you see that? is he getting worse?¡± li zhenting asked with a serious face. robert pondered for a moment. ¡°children are unpredictable. they are constantly growing, so we can¡¯t say for sure how sick he is. let¡¯s observe for a couple of days before making a judgment.¡± li zhenting nodded. finally, coco obediently started eating. if he didn¡¯t eat soon, that foreigner would give him injections and medicine. clever coco ate while saying happy things to make li wanqing happy. she was delighted but also contemplating something. her grandmother was kind and loving, so she probably wasn¡¯t a bad person. should she tell her the truth? ah, this situation was so complicated! it gave her a headache. in the study. ¡°zhenting, can you postpone marrying shen mei?¡± li wanqing sat facing li zhenting and brought up the topic solemnly. ¡°mom, marriage is not child¡¯s play. i¡¯ve already promised shen mei,¡± li zhenting said helplessly. ¡°the kids have grown up, and shen mei has been living in our house for six years. she deserves a status.¡± ¡°but ding ding doesn¡¯t agree.¡± li wanqing sighed. she had always opposed li zhenting marrying shen mei in the past. it wasn¡¯t that she had any prejudice against shen mei, but she really couldn¡¯t accept her as a person. she always felt that she was cunning, scheming, and insincere, a woman of two faces. marrying such a woman wouldn¡¯t be a good thing. she had only one son and hoped he could be happy. but this time, li zhenting was determined to marry her. originally, for the sake of her two grandchildren, she had accepted shen mei. however, she didn¡¯t expect¡­ ding ding would be so opposed. she had to reconsider.. Chapter 69 - Chapter 69:I Don’t Need Your Care chapter 69:i don¡¯t need your care translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°mom, before i married shen mei, i did consult ding ding¡¯s opinion. he was very happy back then. don¡¯t let a child deceive you. this can only mean that his condition is getting worse, unrelated to me marrying shen mei. you should still cooperate with dr. robert to have him checked. if things continue like this, it will only get worse,¡± li zhenting stood up, his face dark. li wanqing also felt heavy-hearted. friday. saint heaven grand hotel. the long-anticipated tea party was finally about to begin. early in the morning, shen ning went to the grand meeting room to set up the venue. tonight¡¯s attendees were all wealthy wives and young ladies from the upper echelons of the capital city. these people were originally gu qi¡¯s target consumers. however, due to the declining quality of gu qi products in recent years, she gradually lost their favor. this time, she was determined to win their favor back. so, she put in all her efforts, hoping for a comeback. meanwhile, at the li manor. ¡°what did you say? the tea party at saint heaven grand hotel tonight is hosted by shen ning?¡± shen mei sat on the sofa with her phone, her face turning pale. it was said that this tea party had invited all the wealthy wives, young mistresses, and ladies of the capital city. however, she hadn¡¯t received an invitation. she was wondering about it when she found out it was hosted by that wretched woman. no wonder! ¡°yes, miss shen, this tea party is organized by mr. li himself, with the purpose of promoting the new perfume by shen ning.¡± ¡°damn it! why are you telling me now?¡± shen mei was furious. ¡°miss shen, we just found out too. it seems shen ning intentionally hid it.¡± shen mei angrily threw her phone. ¡°grandma, i¡¯m back!¡± in the living room, coco bounced in with a little backpack on his back. but as soon as he entered, he saw shen mei sitting on the sofa with a gloomy face, instantly feeling a sense of foreboding! since dr. robert had arrived, he had obediently gone to kindergarten because li wanqing was there. dr. robert hadn¡¯t made any diagnosis about his condition, nor had he forced him to take injections or medication. now, with li wanqing gone, the little guy felt a bit uneasy. shen mei¡¯s cold gaze fell on ding ding. in these days, what she had heard the most was ding ding¡¯s opposition to her marrying li zhenting! and she heard that li wanqing was persuading li zhenting to cancel their wedding because of ding ding¡¯s opposition. she was infuriated. she never expected a five-year-old child, whom she had raised herself, to hinder her major event. shen ning was really her nemesis! not only did she steal her limelight everywhere, but even her own son was going against her! ¡°ding ding, come here,¡± she called to him. ¡°no, i want to find grandma.¡± coco saw that she was avoiding him like the plague and refused to come over. he just snorted and turned his head away. shen mei¡¯s eyes flashed with a cold light. why would ding ding suddenly oppose her marriage to li zhenting? before, ding ding had been reclusive, cold, and indifferent to her, but he had never shown such intense hostility. at most, he would lock himself in his room to play games and not bother with her affairs. but now, he was interfering in her private matters! it was really strange! could it be because of shen ning¡¯s return? shen ning already knew that ding ding was her son and had met him, was she secretly instructing him? this thought flashed in her mind, sending chills down her spine! ¡°stop looking for her; your grandmother is going to attend a tea party tonight and has gone to the beauty salon. she entrusted you to me to take care of,¡± she walked towards coco. ¡°no, i don¡¯t need you to take care of me. i can take care of myself,¡± coco loudly refused and walked to his room. shen mei rushed forward and grabbed him.. Chapter 70 - Chapter 70: Why Are You Doing This? chapter 70: why are you doing this? translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°grandma says you have to drink water when you come back and have some dessert, or you can¡¯t go back to your room.¡± shen mei forcefully grabbed his arm and seated him at the dining table. coco immediately felt pain in his shoulder! at this moment, butler luo brought in some desserts and snacks. in the past, coco would happily eat these treats, but today he had no appetite at all. ¡°butler luo, i¡¯ll take care of things here. you can go check the flower beds in the backyard, tidy them up a bit. young master mentioned it yesterday, saying that there will be a party at home in a while,¡± shen mei instructed butler luo as he walked by. butler luo acknowledged and left. ¡°ding ding, let me ask you, have you met any other women recently? for example, someone around mommy¡¯s age?¡± shen mei asked tentatively. coco looked up at her with her bright red lips and shook his head. ¡°i heard you don¡¯t like it when daddy and mommy get married. what¡¯s the reason?¡± she continued. ¡°mommy raised you, and yet you don¡¯t want daddy and mommy to be together. don¡¯t you want a family?¡± coco finally understood. so, this ugly witch was wary of him because of this. he deliberately scooped up a spoonful of cake and put it in his mouth, smashed it down, and suddenly stood up with a pained expression. ¡°i¡¯m thirsty; i want water.¡± he wanted to take this opportunity to slip away; otherwise, he had no idea what this ugly witch might do! ¡°sit down, i¡¯ll pour it for you.¡± but shen mei had no intention of letting him go. she pushed him down hard and turned to get a glass of water from the water dispenser. ¡°here, drink up.¡± she placed the glass of water by coco¡¯s mouth. coco didn¡¯t know it was hot water and reluctantly opened his mouth to take a sip. ¡°air.¡± in an instant, he was scalded and screamed, sticking out his tongue, spitting out all the hot water, which happened to land on his own feet, causing his feet to shake and jump. shen mei sneered. but before her smirk could fade, coco, who had bounced up, accidentally collided with the glass of water in her hand. her face turned pale. she hadn¡¯t reacted yet. the agile coco raised his hand and pushed the hot water heavily, splashing it all over her. the scalding hot water spilled onto her hands and feet. ¡°ah!¡± shen mei was scalded and screamed repeatedly. the backs of her hands and the tops of her feet, with red nail polish, turned red instantly. the water bottle fell to the ground, and she was in agony. at that moment, li zhenting walked in through the front door with a briefcase. shen mei had sharp eyes and immediately saw him. she covered her feet in pain, sat on the ground, and whimpered. ¡°what happened?¡± li zhenting¡¯s face changed as he hurried over. ¡°zhenting, i was taking care of ding ding and giving him afternoon tea. he wanted water, so i poured him a glass. i didn¡¯t expect that he would splash the hot water on my hands and feet.¡± shen mei¡¯s eyes were filled with tears, and she answered softly with a grievance. li zhenting furrowed his brows and looked at coco. ¡°ding ding, why did you do this?¡± ding ding¡¯s increasing hostility towards shen mei had become more and more evident during this period. it gave him a headache, and the nature of this matter was becoming quite serious. coco looked at li zhenting, who unquestioningly believed her words, with indignation. his tongue was both painful and numb, and he shed tears of distress as he turned away. ¡°forget it, he¡¯s just a child. it should have been an accident. it¡¯s my fault for not taking care of him,¡± shen mei said hypocritically. coco became even more angry when she said this. she had completely shifted the blame onto him.. an adult could be so calculating towards a child; it was shameless! Chapter 71 - Chapter 71: You’re Not A Stepmother chapter 71: you¡¯re not a stepmother translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°daddy, it was her who poured hot water into my mouth willingly,¡± coco immediately exposed her conspiracy, sticking out his tongue. ¡°my tongue is burnt, and it hurts so much.¡± coco cried sadly. li zhenting was greatly shocked and quickly examined him. sure enough, coco¡¯s tongue was slightly red. for a moment, he couldn¡¯t determine who was right or wrong. but seeing his child injured, he felt distressed. he picked coco up. ¡°my foot is burnt too.¡± coco pointed at his foot, speaking in a pitiful voice. he was wearing small slippers, and his tender little feet were visibly red. li zhenting¡¯s eyes darkened. he placed coco on the sofa and fetched the first aid kit to carefully apply ointment to the little guy. shen mei sat beside him, watching him tend to his son with mixed feelings. in reality, her burn was much worse than coco¡¯s, but his eyes were always focused on the child. after a while, ding ding¡¯s ointment was applied. ¡°alright, ding ding, daddy will take you back to your room to rest. 1 need to go out soon,¡± li zhenting said as he prepared to take coco back to his room. ¡°no, daddy, i want to go find grandma.¡± coco panicked when he heard that daddy was going out. he didn¡¯t want to stay at home with the wicked stepmother shen mei. he immediately started shouting. ¡°no, grandma has something to do today, you can¡¯t go.¡± today, li zhenting arranged for li wanqing to receive some important guests at the tea party. naturally, ding ding couldn¡¯t go with him. ¡°then 1¡¯11 go to xiao xiao¡¯s house.¡± when coco went to kindergarten today, xiao xiao told him that mommy would be working late tonight, so he could go and play with xiao xiao and ding ding. li zhenting heard this and didn¡¯t say anything. it was almost six o¡¯clock, and it would be too troublesome to go there. ¡°daddy, i want to go to xiao xiao¡¯s house.¡± coco began to throw a tantrum, sitting on the ground and crying non-stop. li zhenting had a headache. ¡°will xiao xiao¡¯s mommy agree?¡± ¡°she will.¡± coco was very certain. ¡°then ask xiao xiao¡¯s mommy to give me a call.¡± helpless, li zhenting had to say this. ¡°okay.¡± unexpectedly, coco agreed immediately and took out his phone watch to send a message to xiao xiao. ¡°zhenting, why wasn¡¯t i informed about the tea party tonight? am 1 not qualified to attend? gu qi should also have my share, right?¡± shen mei brought up her concerns and looked pitifully at li zhenting. li zhenting responded calmly, ¡°just relax and stay at home as mrs. li. don¡¯t interfere with gu qi¡¯s affairs for now; i have my own arrangements.¡± ¡°but as you can see, ding ding¡¯s animosity towards me is growing. you have to think about me. i¡¯m feeling so miserable,¡± she said, tears welling up in her eyes. ¡°don¡¯t worry, i¡¯ll work on ding ding¡¯s mindset. you¡¯re not his stepmother; he will eventually accept you,¡± li zhenting reassured her, while also finding ding ding¡¯s attitude problematic. but today, ding ding¡¯s tongue was burnt, and his foot was burnt as well. although shen mei also got burnt, she was an adult, and with adults around, a child should not get burnt. regardless of the reason, shen mei had an undeniable responsibility. ¡°at the same time, you should reflect on yourself more and think about why the child doesn¡¯t like you and is unwilling to accept you. there must be many areas where you haven¡¯t done well enough,¡± li zhenting criticized without holding back. shen mei¡¯s face darkened. at this moment, li zhenting¡¯s phone beeped. he received a message from xiao xiao, who was imitating shen ning: ¡°ding ding¡¯s guardian, let ding ding come over and play with xiao xiao. xiao xiao really likes him, and i¡¯m very welcoming to have ding ding come to our house.¡± li zhenting sighed and had no words to say. he could only carry coco and leave. shen mei watched the father and son walk away in the distance, her eyes flashing with a cold light. after a while, she went upstairs to tidy up and dress herself up, then called the driver. despite the pain in her feet, she hurried to the st. heaven grand hotel. how could she possibly miss such a lively tea party! Chapter 72 - Chapter 72:I Won’t Let Go Again chapter 72:i won¡¯t let go again translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation st. heaven grand hotel. shen ning was busy in the conference room. the tea party was about to start in just an hour. suddenly, at the entrance, a refined and gentle man walked in. li secretary, who was nearby, widened her eyes. jing chenxi! he actually came! ¡°ning ning.¡± jing chenxi walked up to shen ning, standing beside her with a smile. ¡°ning, how come you¡¯re here?¡± shen ning was surprised when she saw him. after all, today¡¯s tea party only invited women from the capital, and men weren¡¯t invited. jing chenxi just smiled faintly, not answering her question. instead, he looked her up and down, his brows slightly furrowed. ¡°ning ning, are you wearing this?¡± he asked. ¡°yes, is there something wrong with this?¡± shen ning looked down at her outfit. although it wasn¡¯t glamorous, it was clean and appropriate. jing chenxi shook his head. ¡°ning ning, everyone attending tonight is from high society, wealthy wives, and young ladies. they usually pay great attention to their appearance. at the very least, you should put on some makeup and wear something more exquisite. it¡¯s a sign of respect for them, and it will make it easier for them to accept your products.¡± shen ning thought what he said made sense. but now, the tea party was about to start, and she had no place to put on makeup. moreover, her financial resources didn¡¯t allow for such extravagance. feeling helpless, jing chenxi made a gesture outside. instantly, three or four men and women came in carrying bags. they were dressed in matching outfits and had tasteful light makeup applied, clearly professional makeup artists. ¡°immediately take miss shen to the dressing room to change into a gown and do her makeup. be quick,¡± jing chenxi ordered. ¡°yes.¡± they replied and took shen ning away. shen ning wanted to say something, but she had no choice. she was already taken to the dressing room and seated in front of the dressing table. they immediately got to work. forty minutes later, shen ning stood in front of the makeup mirror. ¡°ah, miss shen, you look so beautiful,¡± the makeup artists exclaimed with admiration. shen ning looked at herself in the mirror. she was wearing a slim-fitting evening gown that exuded elegance. the fabric of the dress was delicate, with patterns that resembled scattered fluorescent lights, vivid and lifelike. the velvet at the hem of the skirt added an air of luxury, blending modern fashion elements perfectly. she looked stunning and radiant. her hair was held in place by a silver hairpin, cascading gracefully down her back. her slender and fair neck was both sexy and pure, exuding a special beauty and a touch of nobility. it seemed that jing chenxi knew her well! the evening gown he had chosen for her perfectly complemented her figure and temperament! such a noble and beautiful evening gown, other than the night she had worn when she married li zhenting six years ago, she hadn¡¯t worn anything like it since. she usually dressed like an ordinary girl next door. however, the shao family had a prominent social status in the past, and when shao meiqi was alive, she had groomed gu qi into a refined lady. they frequently attended high-society events, so shen ning had plenty of exposure to such occasions when she was a child. now, she turned gracefully and confidently towards the door. just as she reached the side entrance of the conference hall, she saw jing chenxi waiting there. as soon as she appeared, his gaze fell on her, and in an instant, his deep and profound eyes were filled with amazement! shen ning was truly beautiful, and her beauty was pure, straightforward, and exuded an air of untouched nobility. it was not something ordinary women could compare to. this kind of woman had entered his dreams many years ago, becoming his most beautiful dream, but one that was always out of reach. he had once desperately pursued her, following her every step, but for some reason, he had only drifted further away from her. until now, she stood before him so elegantly and peacefully, so real. he was excited beyond words. he thought that from now on, in his life, he must strive to grasp what he wanted and never let go.. Chapter 73 - Chapter 73: When Did She Become So Fashionably Beautiful? chapter 73: when did she become so fashionably beautiful? translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°ningning, you look absolutely stunning,¡± jing chenxi approached, his admiration sincere from the heart. ¡°thank you, mr. jing,¡± shen ning pursed her lips and offered a gentle smile. ¡°i wish you great success tonight, may all your endeavors be accomplished,¡± he extended his warmest wishes. ¡°thank you, 1 believe your kind words will bring me luck,¡± shen ning replied with a charming smile before heading into the venue. the vast venue was designed like a series of islands, with over a dozen tables adorned with fragrant perfume-packaged souvenirs and fresh flower arrangements. the atmosphere in the venue was cozy and romantic, permeated with a sweet fragrance, perfectly suiting women¡¯s pursuit of romantic love. there were only twenty minutes left before the conference began. as shen ning reached the entrance, a luxury car pulled up. the baggage handler quickly opened the car door. a middle-aged lady emerged from the car, gracefully carrying her evening gown¡¯s train. the moment shen ning laid eyes on her, she hesitated and immediately felt the urge to turn and run. li wanqing, her former mother-in-law, had unexpectedly arrived! she hadn¡¯t invited her from what she remembered! ¡°you¡­ shen ning?¡± li wanqing looked up and saw shen ning standing at the entrance, wearing a beautiful and elegant evening gown. her eyes widened in shock, and it took her a while to regain her composure. she was overcome with emotion, and her words tumbled out incoherently. ¡°¡­auntie, hello,¡± shen ning could only put on a brave face, offering a polite greeting and a smile. ¡°shen ning, it¡¯s really you?¡± li wanqing rushed up and grabbed her hand, her eyes moist. ¡°you¡¯re really alive.¡± she looked shen ning up and down, murmuring to herself, ¡°not bad, you look much better than before. that¡¯s good, that¡¯s good. now, i feel relieved.¡± she wiped away the tears at the corner of her eyes and sighed with emotion. a pang of bitterness welled up in shen ning¡¯s heart. her former mother-in-law had treated her relatively well. at least, she hadn¡¯t been as difficult to serve as other wealthy mothers-in-law. during those years, when li zhenting had neglected her, li wanqing had also advised her son, but the problem was that he simply didn¡¯t love her. ¡°auntie, i¡¯m fine. please come in,¡± shen ning held li wanqing¡¯s hand and led her inside. ¡°oh, by the way, tonight, i have a task assigned by zhenting. 1 have to entertain those old women, so i can¡¯t sit idly inside,¡± li wanqing remembered her task after a few steps and immediately pulled shen ning towards the entrance. ¡°come, let¡¯s greet the distinguished guests together. i have more experience than you when it comes to dealing with them.¡± ¡°thank you for that, auntie,¡± shen ning felt touched. ¡°don¡¯t thank me. our mother-daughter affairs don¡¯t require any thanks. besides, all of this is arranged by zhenting¡­¡± she smiled warmly. but just as she was speaking, she suddenly stopped! her son had arranged this tea party, which meant he had known that shen ning was coming back a long time ago. in other words, he had specially arranged this for shen ning? as this thought crossed her mind, she felt a surge of joy. could it be that her son was¡­ as she was still contemplating this, a luxury car pulled up at the entrance. the car door opened, and li zhenting¡¯s tall figure emerged. her eyes lit up, and she immediately waved to li zhenting. ¡°zhenting, over here.¡± li zhenting stood still, raised his gaze. stunned. at the entrance, his mother was standing there with a big smile on her face. by her side stood a gracefully beautiful woman, dressed in an exquisite evening gown, exuding a calm and gentle aura. she had a faint smile on her face, and her temperament was like an orchid. wasn¡¯t that shen ning! when did she become so stylish and beautiful! in fact, just by dressing like this, she seemed like a different person. her overall image had improved significantly. compared to the simple girl-next-door she used to be, she was now miles ahead. with this appearance, she would undoubtedly outshine all the young heiresses attending tonight¡¯s event. he couldn¡¯t help but reveal an unconcealable sense of amazement in his eyes.. Chapter 74 - Chapter 74:I Never Loved Her chapter 74:i never loved her translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°zhenting, come over here,¡± li wanqing, holding shen ning¡¯s hand, greeted li zhenting once more. li zhenting pursed his lips and walked over, his cold gaze landing on shen ning¡¯s face. the moment shen ning saw him, her smile froze. ¡°auntie, the guests are about to enter. please receive them here. i¡¯ll go check over there,¡± shen ning immediately withdrew her hand from li wanqing¡¯s and nodded faintly at li zhenting, then walked away in the opposite direction. li zhenting¡¯s gaze followed her figure, inscrutable and deep. li wanqing punched him lightly and said with a smile, ¡°you rascal, not bad. ningning has returned, and you didn¡¯t even tell me. you¡¯ve prepared such a lively tea party for her, and you even kept it a secret from your own mother.¡± li zhenting withdrew his gaze, saying lightly, ¡°mom, you¡¯re thinking too much. this tea party is just for the promotion of gu qi¡¯s perfume, not for anyone.¡± ¡°you¡­¡± li wanqing¡¯s smile disappeared from her face. this child was still the same. ¡°mom, shen mei has already given birth to a pair of children for me. please don¡¯t think too much about it,¡± li zhenting clearly understood his mother¡¯s thoughts. he continued calmly, ¡°you should know i¡¯ve never loved her.¡± after saying that, he turned and left. brat! li wanqing was not pleased and felt somewhat disappointed. in her son¡¯s eyes and heart, there was only shen mei. she didn¡¯t understand what was so special about that woman that had captivated him so completely. every time she thought of shen mei, it made her feel uneasy. but her son loved her, so what could she do? just then, a series of luxury cars arrived. feeling guilty towards shen ning in her heart, she wanted to help make this tea party a success, so she went up to greet them. ¡°madam wan, hello. welcome to the tea party. please follow this way.¡± ¡°madam li, greetings. welcome to the tea party. please follow me.¡± meanwhile, shen ning also began welcoming the pampered young ladies from the capital. ¡°are you shen ning?¡± twenty minutes later, most of the ladies had already arrived, and shen ning was waiting at the entrance for the few who were fashionably late. the moon tonight was exceptionally round, casting silver light like a plate. at the entrance of the hall, a young lady in her mid-twenties, accompanied by a maid, was slowly approaching. the young lady was dressed in a pure white mid-length dress adorned with silver pearls. her long hair was elegantly tied up, and her crystal high heels accentuated her slender, fair legs. in the moonlight, her skin looked as flawless as snow, and she appeared pure and refreshing, born with natural beauty. shen ning was momentarily stunned, as she did not recognize her. however, the young lady seemed to know her name. ¡°yes, i am,¡± she replied with a slight smile and polite manners. unfortunately, her secretary had taken away the guest list, and she couldn¡¯t recall the young lady¡¯s name. she guided her slightly awkwardly and said, ¡°miss, please come with me.¡± she led her into the hall. ¡°miss shen, you truly have a natural beauty. you¡¯re so beautiful,¡± the young lady walked beside shen ning, maintaining a polite smile and generously praising her. ¡°oh, not at all. you¡¯re too modest. you have a natural beauty and elegance that i can¡¯t compare to. i¡¯m only one-third as beautiful as you,¡± shen ning replied modestly. fortunately, at this moment, secretary li approached them. ¡°miss jiang, hello. please have a seat over here,¡± she gestured towards a central guest chair, then led her away, rescuing shen ning from the awkward situation. shen ning halted her steps and heaved a sigh of relief. at this moment, miss jiang, with a smile that seemed to carry a deeper meaning, turned around and nodded to shen ning. shen ning felt something was odd, but with her task for the night ahead, she didn¡¯t have time to dwell on these trivial matters. she turned and walked back towards the entrance.. Chapter 75 - Chapter 75: A Shameless Person chapter 75: a shameless person translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation this time, as shen ning arrived at the entrance, she hadn¡¯t even settled in yet. suddenly, a flashy woman approached her head-on. upon closer inspection, it turned out to be wu lili! shen ning¡¯s expression immediately darkened. how could she be here? she could never forgive a woman who had harmed her son, no matter who she was! therefore, she did not go forward to greet her but watched her coldly. however, wu lili did not recognize her. she cautiously approached with a smiling face and said, ¡°miss beautiful host, i¡¯m here to attend the banquet. can you please find me a seat?¡± ¡°what¡¯s your name?¡± shen ning asked, mocking her deliberately. ¡°i am the young lady of the shao family. i¡¯d like to attend gu qi¡¯s perfume tea party. i¡¯ve always loved gu qi¡¯s perfume, and i¡¯ll definitely support it in the future,¡± she said with a sycophantic smile, speaking softly. seeing her in this state, shen ning felt a pang of heartache. a woman like her, using the shao family¡¯s name to step on the high and step on the low, trying to make connections at an event like this to satisfy her vanity, was a disgrace to her grandmother. ¡°i¡¯m sorry, we didn¡¯t invite you,¡± she refused sternly, hoping to preserve some dignity for the shao family and remind her that she was not invited to this event. an uninvited person had no right to enter, and even if she managed to sneak in, she would only humiliate herself! she hoped that she would come to her senses and leave immediately. but ever since wu lili heard that this tea party was hosted by li zhenting, she had been determined to come and make herself known, to meet some of the wealthy ladies and socialites in the capital. it would satisfy her vanity. after all, the people who could host a tea party like this at li zhenting¡¯s invitation were undoubtedly top-tier socialites and genuinely wealthy. this was such a great opportunity, and she didn¡¯t want to miss it. ¡°miss beauty, i¡¯m a good friend of mrs. shen mei, the wife of li corporation¡¯s mr. li. she invited me to attend. i didn¡¯t come randomly,¡± wu lili said when shen ning refused to let her in. to her surprise, shen ning sneered, ¡°who is shen mei? i¡¯m sorry, but she was not invited here.¡± ¡°you¡­¡± wu lili was taken aback. even shen mei couldn¡¯t help? who was this woman? when she carefully looked at her and met shen ning¡¯s cold eyes, she hesitated, and her face changed. ¡°you, you¡¯re shen ning.¡± shen ning coldly replied, ¡°yes, it¡¯s me. what¡¯s the problem?¡± wu lili stared at her up and down for a long time before sneering, ¡°tsk tsk, 1 can¡¯t believe you¡¯ve completely changed in just a few days. you¡¯re really good at climbing. i can¡¯t lose to you. it seems you¡¯ve set your sights on li zhenting again. you¡¯re really shameless. but let me tell you, even if you get close to him, you won¡¯t be able to flaunt yourself in front of me. let me remind you, li zhenting and shen mei are getting married soon. you¡¯re nothing. be careful that someone takes care of you when the time comes. pah!¡± she spat out these words, then pushed shen ning abruptly and walked into the venue arrogantly. if a destitute and downcast shen ning could attend this tea party, why couldn¡¯t she? shen ning was pushed back a few steps and almost fell. ¡°ms. shen, are you alright?¡± secretary li rushed over in time, holding shen ning and frowning at wu lili. ¡°who is this woman? she has no manners. did we really invite someone like her?¡± shen ning looked at her and said coldly, ¡°she¡¯s just an audacious person.¡± ¡°shall i have security throw her out? if she dares to cause trouble at an event like this, we don¡¯t want her,¡± secretary li said indignantly, about to call security. ¡°forget it. no need,¡± shen ning held her back with a shake of her head. tonight¡¯s main task was product promotion. a woman like wu lili, once she made up her mind to sneak in, would not leave easily. if they used force, she would definitely cause a scene. this event could not afford such disruptions, especially since many media reporters were present tonight. secretary li had to give up. she watched wu lili swagger in and sneered, ¡°she¡¯d better behave tonight. otherwise, 1 won¡¯t spare her.¡± this woman obviously had a thick skin. shen ning was right. if they forced her out, she would likely create a big fuss. tonight, they could not afford to lose! Chapter 76 - Chapter 76: Original Love chapter 76: original love translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation the tea party officially began. shen ning first arranged for the emcee to conduct a few small games to liven up the atmosphere. the new air circulation system was activated, replacing the indoor air with fresh air. shen ning walked slowly onto the stage. her assistant brought several display racks. the display racks held rows of perfume bottles and promotional brochures. she stood on the stage, the spotlight shining on her, elegant, stylish, and beautiful, like a blooming lily. her assistant handed her a page-turning pen. she took it and began to introduce gu qi¡¯s perfumes comprehensively on the led screen with a smile. in the middle of her presentation, she spent five minutes telling a love story. the story was about her mother, shao meiqi, who had painstakingly created perfumes for love and married shen deshun. some people in the audience choked up. the story of the shao family¡¯s young lady marrying a comedian from back in the 60s and 70s was almost universally known. alongside this story was the rise of the perfume king gu qi, and at that time, gu qi¡¯s perfumes had become a must-have for these wealthy ladies. the audience fell silent. shen ning picked up the first perfume that would be promoted tonight, shao meiqi¡¯s first masterpiece. ¡°ladies and gentlemen, do you still remember the green leaf fragrance from the 60s and 70s? this is gu qi¡¯s first perfume, and it¡¯s a classic. it¡¯s called ¡®original love,¡¯ an old formula with a new variation, full of feminine characteristics, and it brings back beautiful memories of youth.¡± shen ning spoke slowly, unveiling the bottle. the steam machine evaporated the perfume, and the new air system slowly spread the fresh and enchanting fragrance to every corner of the conference center. ¡°all, it¡¯s this one! it¡¯s this one!¡± suddenly, someone in the crowd excitedly screamed. a wealthy lady rushed towards the stage and, as soon as she reached it, snatched the perfume from shen ning¡¯s hand. she shouted in excitement, ¡°i¡¯ve been looking for this for so many years.¡± she covered her face and cried. ¡°for all these years, i couldn¡¯t sleep at night, unable to find it. i thought i¡¯d never find it again. but unexpectedly, here it is. it¡¯s wonderful, truly wonderful.¡± she cradled it in her hands, closing her eyes in ecstasy. ¡°yes, this scent, it¡¯s my youth, my love.¡± another wealthy lady with an ample bosom and generous curves stood up, and she too ran toward shen ning. as soon as she reached her, she embraced shen ning, tears in the corners of her eyes, her emotions even more excited. ¡°back then, when i was heartbroken, it was with this perfume that i got through it. the first time i met him, i was wearing this perfume.¡± she kissed shen ning¡¯s cheek as she spoke. when this plump lady hugged shen ning, shen ning took several steps back, almost falling to the ground. the audience was getting emotional: ¡°original love, the best dream of my life. since it disappeared, i could only seek its feeling in my dreams. today, i finally see it back in the world. i¡¯m so happy.¡± ¡°really good, my favorite is back. from now on, i have my favorite again. i always thought something was wrong with gu qi¡¯s products, getting worse day by day, always making fancy things. 1 had sworn not to buy it anymore, but now, it seems i¡¯m going to start loving it wholeheartedly again.¡± shen ning was surrounded by this group of wealthy ladies. they surrounded her like they were protecting their queen, praising her. li zhenting sat dignifiedly in the front row on the right side, exuding an air of nobility and majesty, with sharp and profound eyes. from the moment he entered, he spotted jing chenxi, who was sitting on the left side. his gaze was fixed on shen ning on the stage, completely absorbed. his face showed a fanatic expression as if nothing else around him existed. even when jiang xinyun entered, he didn¡¯t notice. in an instant, his face darkened, and his lips curved into a cold arc. he exuded a powerful chill, and those wealthy ladies and young ladies who had been fascinated by him could only sneak a glance at the most prestigious and elegant man in the entire capital without daring to approach him.. Chapter 77 - Chapter 77:I Won’t Let You Succeed chapter 77:i won¡¯t let you succeed translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation shen ning felt a bit stunned for a moment. she knew her mother¡¯s unique perfumes were popular. when original love was first introduced, it sold out quickly, becoming a sensation in the capital and setting a record for the top-selling perfume. however, she hadn¡¯t expected it to be so beloved by the wealthy ladies. it had become an essential part of their lives, something they couldn¡¯t do without. a confident smile gradually spread across her face, believing that gu qi¡¯s future development was promising. she looked over to the man sitting on the right side of the conference center. coincidentally, li zhenting¡¯s gaze also met hers. their eyes met in the air. shen ning saw the man¡¯s clear and inscrutable gaze, showing no discernible emotion. she bit her lip, suddenly sensing a dazzling light from her left, someone who was also watching her. she turned her head. jing chenxi was smiling at her, his eyes sparkling like stars. now she understood that this was how a man¡¯s gaze shone the brightest for a woman. he gave her a thumbs-up and nodded approvingly. shen ning responded with a knowing smile, her cheeks blushing. li zhenting¡¯s eyes turned icy, and his expression darkened. shen ning lowered her head and picked up the second most fashionable perfume: forbidden love. this perfume was fresh and captivating, evoking romantic feelings, with floral notes that were perfect for couples in love. naturally. as soon as this perfume was released through the humidifiers, it immediately caused the entire audience to scream. among the wealthy wives present, many had experienced their husbands¡¯ infidelity, and this perfume reminded them of their sweet first loves and passionate romances. their emotions surged once again, and they all rushed towards shen ning. fortunately, shen ning had prepared a lot of sample bottles. it wasn¡¯t until each person received a small bottle that they returned to their seats, satisfied. next up was shen ning¡¯s original creation: sinful love no.i. this perfume, innovatively developed by shen ning based on the existing formula, was already a sensation in the united states. unexpectedly, as soon as it was presented, the entire room erupted in excitement. this time, it was the wealthy young ladies¡¯ turn to scream. after all, this perfume represented fashion and was only available in the united states. they had long admired and envied it! shen ning generously distributed a small bottle to each person. they were instantly moved to tears, treasuring it as if it were a precious gem. in the observation deck upstairs. shen mei¡¯s eyes turned bloodshot, her face ashen, and her hands clenched into fists. she watched the crazy wealthy ladies and young ladies below, her face flushed with jealousy. there was no need to say it; gu qi¡¯s perfumes would surely become a sensation in the capital, eclipsing its past glory. shen ning would undoubtedly become a well-known figure, enjoying boundless success. this was the last thing she wanted to see. in fact, she had arrived earlier tonight, but because li zhenting didn¡¯t allow her to appear here, she could only hide in the observation deck upstairs and secretly observe. originally, she didn¡¯t think shen ning could be this successful, but now, seeing it with her own eyes, it had exceeded her imagination! this woman¡¯s potential was immense. if¡­ her face grew darker, and she reached into her bag and took out a small black bottle, clenching it tightly, her eyes gleaming with a cold light. shen ning, whether you can succeed or not, it will be up to me to decide! i won¡¯t let you have your way! she slowly walked downstairs. ¡°dear guests, thank you for attending gu qi¡¯s tea party, and we sincerely appreciate your strong support for gu qi perfumes. now, 1 solemnly announce that this tea party has come to a successful conclusion.¡± an hour later, amid enthusiastic cheers, the hostess announced the end of the tea party. the audience erupted in warm applause. tears of excitement welled up in shen ning¡¯s eyes, and she joined in the applause.. Chapter 78 - Chapter 78: Put Her to Death chapter 78: put her to death translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°wait.¡± just as the wealthy ladies and young heiresses were getting up, fully satisfied and ready to leave, a woman¡¯s voice suddenly rang out from behind. everyone turned to look. they saw a stylishly dressed woman walking over. shen ning raised her eyes and saw shen mei striding towards her, exuding an air of arrogance. shen ning¡¯s lips curled into a cold smile. it seemed the troublemaker had arrived! ¡°shen ning, first, congratulations on the perfect success of your tea party. however, over these past few days, 1 have received some different opinions. many are from the company¡¯s long-term employees, and some are from our former clients. these opinions all concern gu qi perfumes. as half-owner of gu qi, 1 have a responsibility and an obligation to clarify these issues. you don¡¯t mind if i address these concerns in front of the public, do you?¡± shen mei smiled gracefully, carrying herself with particular elegance, her voice soft and gentle. those who didn¡¯t know the inside story would have thought she was genuinely concerned about the company¡¯s development and the future of the perfumes. even the wealthy ladies thought she had come to boost gu qi perfumes. only shen ning understood. she was here to sabotage, to make her lose face. if there was anyone here who wished for her not to succeed, it was undoubtedly her half-sister right in front of her! of course, she wasn¡¯t afraid. in the perfume industry, if there were no problems, that was what she feared the most. having problems was a good thing. however, she cast her gaze towards the man sitting on the far right, and a chill ran down her spine. this was the tea party he had organized for her, and he had promised her that shen mei wouldn¡¯t be allowed to attend. the tea party had already been very successful, but he had broken his promise and allowed his fiancee to come and disrupt her event. a disdainful smile played on her lips. ¡°no problem at all. please, go ahead. the formula for gu qi perfumes has always been transparent, and the quality is safe and reliable. it can withstand any questioning or scrutiny,¡± she answered confidently and loudly. ¡°very well, then i¡¯ll begin.¡± shen mei nodded, smiled slightly, and took the microphone from the host. the first few questions raised were quite normal and had indeed been discussed by company employees. shen ning answered each of them. at this point, the wealthy ladies, assuming these were just internal company matters, started getting up to leave. however, at that moment, shen mei changed the direction of her questions, suddenly asking in a loud voice, ¡°shen ning, today 1 received a report that alleges you added toxic substances to gu qi perfumes. not only do they have an unpleasant smell, but they also contain addictive components that stimulate the mind.¡± with these words, the entire venue erupted in shock, and everyone turned to look at shen ning, their faces filled with astonishment and anger. shen ning felt a sweet, metallic taste rising in her throat, and her vision went dark for a moment. she was instantly trembling with anger. as co-owner of gu qi, she had publicly raised such a terrifying issue about the perfume at a promotional event. this was an attempt to destroy her and her perfumes entirely! the level of malice was truly horrifying! ¡°miss shen, is what she said true? does the perfume really contain toxic substances?¡± ¡°miss shen, does the perfume really contain the ingredients of a date-rape drug?¡± ¡°miss shen, this is so frightening. why would you deceive us like this?¡± ¡°miss shen, please give us a straight answer to this question. if you cannot provide strong evidence, we will sue you and expose you to the media, making it impossible for you to continue living in the capital.¡± a barrage of questioning voices overwhelmed her. if she had been so adored just a while ago, now she was thoroughly despised by them.. Chapter 79 - Chapter 79: Do You Have Evidence? chapter 79: do you have evidence? translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation shen ning¡¯s cold, stern gaze locked onto shen mei, her body trembling slightly with indignation. shen mei stood there with an air of delicacy, watching as shen ning was treated with disdain by these wealthy ladies. inside, she was ecstatic but wore a facade of sorrow and concern, even casting sympathetic glances at shen ning, feigning anger at the situation. ¡°sister, i¡¯m sorry. i know that bringing this up could harm your reputation, but gu qi is a big brand, and we can¡¯t afford any deception. 1 had no choice but to expose this issue. if it were reported later, it would be better to address it openly now and make the necessary corrections. don¡¯t you agree?¡± she had a caring and worried expression, as if shen ning had really included harmful ingredients. before shen ning could respond, someone suddenly jumped in, saying, ¡°madam li, you don¡¯t need to worry about anything. shen ning is just a scheming woman who came back to deliberately interfere with your fiance. you don¡¯t need to sympathize with her. she¡¯s done something bad, so quickly take her to the police station.¡± shen ning glanced and saw that it was wu lili! wu lili had been hiding in the crowd, and when she saw shen ning being praised by the wealthy ladies, she had also taken advantage of the situation to grab some perfume samples. now, seeing shen mei come out to deal with shen ning, she was thrilled and immediately seized the opportunity to be the first to accuse shen ning. shen ning didn¡¯t spare a glance for this clown and simply picked up a wireless microphone, calmly asking shen mei, ¡°shen mei, you claim that i¡¯ve added poison to the perfume 1 developed. may i ask if you have any evidence? the gu qi original brand didn¡¯t establish itself overnight. the original love series has already undergone market testing. as for the new varieties i¡¯ve developed, some of them are already on the market in the united states and are currently highly sought after. it¡¯s widely known that the testing standards in the united states are very strict. if there were really poison in the perfumes, could they pass their quality checks?¡± with this statement, the crowd seemed to sober up a bit, and they fell silent. wu lili also shrunk back into the crowd. ¡°yes, shen mei, do you have any evidence?¡± ¡°words should be backed by evidence. if you¡¯re making baseless accusations, we will take legal action against you.¡± the women¡¯s attention immediately turned towards shen mei! shen ning had already become their idol, and if shen mei couldn¡¯t provide evidence and was found to be deliberately slandering shen ning, they wouldn¡¯t just stand idly by. shen mei raised her eyebrows, blinked with innocent eyes, and confidently replied, ¡°rest assured, if i don¡¯t have evidence, i wouldn¡¯t dare to bring it up here.¡± ¡°then show it.¡± ¡°yes, show it quickly.¡± the crowd urged her on. shen mei hesitated for a moment, seemingly reluctant to reveal it. she cast a glance at the motionless li zhenting sitting below, as though she couldn¡¯t bear to do it, and turned her innocent, affectionate eyes towards him. li zhenting sat there like a statue, unchanging, like an immovable mountain. shen mei couldn¡¯t discern his emotions, unsure whether he would be angry with her for disrupting the situation. however, since he hadn¡¯t stopped her so far, her courage grew. as long as she could tarnish shen ning¡¯s reputation, she had nothing to fear. she slowly brought out the black liquid she had been tightly holding in her hand all along, faced the crowd, and said loudly, ¡°ladies and gentlemen, you see, it¡¯s this. gu qi employees found this in shen ning¡¯s office and handed it to me. they witnessed her adding this poisonous liquid to gu qi¡¯s perfumes, and almost every variety has it. this liquid has an incredibly foul odor, and its toxicity is very high. if you don¡¯t believe me, you can come up and smell it.¡± she held up the small black bottle for everyone to see. the women in the audience stared at the black bottle in her hand, their faces turning pale. dear heavens, shen ning had actually mixed a poisonous liquid into the perfumes! it was terrifying! Chapter 80 - Chapter 80: Acting chapter 80: acting translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°i¡¯ll give it a sniff.¡± just as the crowd was filled with doubt and uncertainty, wu lili stepped forward from the midst of the people and walked briskly towards shen mei. shen mei looked at her, inwardly amused. this kind of occasion would certainly involve her, just as she had anticipated. perfect, she could use her! she exchanged a meaningful glance with wu lili. wu lili understood and flashed a smile back at her, taking the black liquid bottle from her hand. she uncapped it and brought it to her nostrils to take a whiff. ¡°oh, it¡¯s terrible! this stuff mixed into perfume is simply disgusting. she¡¯s truly an unscrupulous businesswoman, deceiving consumers,¡± wu lili exclaimed with exaggerated disgust, making a nauseated expression. ¡°ladies and gentlemen, you¡¯ve all been deceived by shen ning. while she was in the united states, she was just making a living with odd jobs, not a perfume expert as she claims. she even swindled money from our shao family recently.¡± as these words emerged, the whole crowd erupted again. shen mei acted surprised as she looked at wu lili. ¡°miss wu, you mustn¡¯t tarnish my sister¡¯s reputation. she¡¯s not that kind of person. although she mixed this poisonous liquid into the perfumes, i believe she had a reason and didn¡¯t do it intentionally.¡± ¡°ai, mrs. li, you¡¯re too kind and naive. gu qi was originally a gift from your father to you, and your fiance is her ex-husband. of course, she¡¯s unhappy about it. her return this time is clearly to snatch gu qi and cling to your fiance. yet, you¡¯re here naively defending her. it¡¯s really pitiful. please send her to the police station quickly. this woman is not to be trifled with,¡± wu lili argued righteously, her face displaying integrity. shen mei intentionally looked weak and helplessly glanced at li zhenting sitting below, biting her lip in apparent distress. the implication was clear: see, even shen ning¡¯s aunt is saying this about her. i¡¯m not making any baseless accusations. can¡¯t you, for my sake, help me get rid of her? however, li zhenting remained as unmoved as a mountain, showing no emotion whatsoever. at this moment, wu lili handed the liquid bottle to shen mei and secretly raised one finger as a signal. it was their secret code, meaning one million. shen mei understood and took it, nodding in agreement. the women in the audience were filled with anger. it was clear that they had been manipulated by these two! shen ning looked on coldly at the two nauseating women putting on a performance, her gaze landing on the black liquid bottle¡ªit was what she used to contain formaldehyde! she had always kept it on her office desk. apparently, there was a mole who had infiltrated her office and stolen it. a sardonic smile played on her lips. ¡°shen ning, how do you explain this?¡± wu lili asked with satisfaction, looking towards shen ning. everyone¡¯s eyes were now fixed on her. shen ning¡¯s eyes flashed with a hint of mockery as she replied casually, ¡°ladies and gentlemen, this black bottle contains formaldehyde. indeed, i use it for perfume formulation. however, according to national regulations, formaldehyde can be used as an ingredient in perfume. if you don¡¯t believe me, you can look up the information online.¡± ¡°but sister, besides formaldehyde, there¡¯s also formalin, which is toxic to the human body,¡± shen mei immediately followed up. ¡°before coming here, i had it tested by a testing agency.¡± ¡°all, formalin? my goodness, there¡¯s actually something like that in here? that¡¯s what¡¯s used to preserve corpses!¡± the wealthy ladies in the audience paled and exclaimed in shock. ¡°this is truly despicable. i suggest we give her a good beating and then call the police.¡± wu lili took advantage of the situation to loudly incite the crowd.. Chapter 81 - Chapter 81:I Didn’t Lie to Everyone chapter 81:i didn¡¯t lie to everyone translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°it¡¯s impossible for there to be formaldehyde; i know my own perfume formulations the best,¡± shen ning passionately defended herself. however, under the joint accusations of shen mei and wu lili, it was evident that all those women now believed them. their favorability towards shen ning had plummeted. yet, they didn¡¯t swarm around shen ning as they did during the promotion because there was still one of beijing¡¯s most prestigious men present¡ªli zhen ting! he had remained silent all along, sitting there like an imposing deity, exerting an overwhelming presence that prevented anyone from daring to trouble shen ning. after all, he had convened this tea gathering, and they had all come here on his account. naturally, no one would dare to ruin his event. offending him might jeopardize their husbands¡¯ businesses, making it difficult for them to continue in beijing. however, wu lili was different. she hadn¡¯t been among the invited guests, and she had attached herself to shen mei, who was about to marry li zhenting. so, she counted on shen mei. thus, she had nothing to fear. ¡°shen ning, don¡¯t bother defending yourself anymore. even if they spare you today, 1 won¡¯t. your behavior is just too despicable,¡± wu lili came forward and gave shen ning a hard shove. shen ning stumbled backward. suddenly, a robust arm reached out from behind to steady her. ¡°who do you think you are? dare pushing someone in public?¡± jing chenxi, one arm around shen ning, pointed at wu lili with stern anger in his voice. his eyes flashed with determination, exuding an imposing aura. wu lili was startled when she saw him. she had been so focused on li zhenting that she hadn¡¯t noticed him since he arrived. from the looks of it, he was quite friendly with shen ning. she didn¡¯t dare to confront jing chenxi head-on. after all, shao¡¯s group relied on investments from jing¡¯s group for several of its businesses. she shrank back, becoming noticeably shorter. her face bore a fawning smile as she said, ¡°mr. jing, hello.¡± ¡°get lost,¡± jing chenxi didn¡¯t give her an ounce of face, not even basic courtesy between a man and a woman. he bellowed angrily in front of everyone. wu lili¡¯s face turned ashen, as jing¡¯s group¡¯s young master jing, known for his gentle and elegant demeanor, was currently shouting at her. he showed no mercy at all. she slinked away. ¡°everyone, the testing team will arrive shortly. please be patient. regardless of the situation, we need to rely on evidence. if there are doubts today, let¡¯s uncover the truth. if it turns out that gu qi perfumes are indeed toxic, we won¡¯t condone it. however, if they are proven safe, i hope everyone will continue to have faith in gu qi and in the new formula developed by shen ning. of course, if anyone dares to intentionally disrupt this gathering and spread rumors, please help ensure they are held accountable for their unethical behavior,¡± jing chenxi took the wireless microphone from shen ning and spoke clearly and loudly. the venue immediately stabilized. everyone sat down quietly again. shen mei¡¯s face turned pale. following that, jing chenxi enlarged shen ning¡¯s perfume expert qualification certificate and a series of awards on the led screen. the women in the audience watched attentively, their faces filled with admiration. not long after, several market quality inspection personnel wearing white uniforms entered. under their professional testing methods, the results were out in just ten minutes. the inspection team announced the results: the black liquid bottle that shen mei had brought indeed contained formaldehyde, and it also had formalin components. however, the original love perfume and shen ning¡¯s newly developed series of products all tested negative. in other words, shen ning hadn¡¯t deceived anyone. the results were crystal clear. the whole venue erupted in enthusiastic applause, and they began to cheer.. Chapter 82 - Chapter 82:I Must Take Revenge chapter 82:i must take revenge translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°mr. li, please hold on a moment.¡± shen ning watched as li zhenting, who had risen without saying a word, attempted to leave. she immediately called out to him. this despicable man was planning to escape after seeing her succeed. he intended to protect shen mei, but that was unacceptable! li zhenting paused in his steps. ¡°mr. li, please come over here. there are some matters we need to resolve,¡± shen ning¡¯s bright eyes sparkled with a mischievous smile. he had promised her that if the tea gathering was successful, he would allow her to handle shen mei. she couldn¡¯t let him pretend nothing had happened and simply walk away. li zhenting slowly turned around, his stoic figure now facing shen ning. her delicate frame was immediately overshadowed by his tall and robust presence. he stood at an impressive 1.88 meters, exuding an air of dignity and regality. he regarded shen ning with an imperious gaze, his body emitting a chilling aura. shen ning couldn¡¯t help but feel a little nervous. this man was like a demon, and she knew it all too well. nevertheless, she stood tall, her lips slightly pursed, and asked directly, ¡°mr. li, may i inquire if tonight¡¯s tea gathering was a success?¡± li zhenting¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, and he looked at jing chenxi, who was standing nearby, before uttering coldly, ¡°if you wish to think so, then consider it a success.¡± ¡°then, let me ask the individuals present. after all, gaining the approval of everyone is persuasive.¡± despite the reluctant affirmation, shen ning smiled coldly and turned to the audience. ¡°success! a resounding success!¡± even before she could ask, a wave of enthusiastic applause erupted from the audience. all the women clapped and chorused together. ¡°thank you, everyone.¡± shen ning smiled faintly, turned around, and lifted her small face. she spoke seriously, ¡°mr. li, tonight i have succeeded. you won¡¯t forget the promise you made to me, will you?¡± li zhenting¡¯s gaze remained deep, and he remained silent. shen mei, realizing that things weren¡¯t looking good, tried to sneak away. ¡°shen mei, please stop.¡± shen ning kept a watchful eye on her and immediately spoke sternly when she turned to leave. shen mei¡¯s face turned pale. ¡°zhenting, i¡¯m sorry. as a shareholder of the company, when an employee raised concerns to me, i considered the company¡¯s best interests and felt obligated to address the matter. please believe me.¡± she approached li zhenting and tugged at his sleeve, her big watery eyes brimming with glistening tears. li zhenting¡¯s face remained stiff, devoid of any warmth. ¡°shen mei, are you truly acting in the company¡¯s best interests? please examine your conscience.¡± shen ning¡¯s gaze turned icy. ¡°let me ask you this: during the time 1 was developing perfumes, the entire market couldn¡¯t obtain any peruvian balsam. later, through my investigation, i found that a man with the last name lan monopolized the entire market with the intention of preventing me from acquiring it. if it weren¡¯t for mr. jing¡¯s assistance, tonight¡¯s tea gathering wouldn¡¯t have been possible. i want to ask you, is this matter related to you?¡± ¡°i¡­ i don¡¯t know. 1 don¡¯t know anyone named lan,¡± shen mei¡¯s eyes darted around nervously as she spoke. ¡°but that mr. lan is undoubtedly your cousin.¡± shen ning sneered. shen mei was momentarily speechless. she hadn¡¯t expected shen ning to be so thorough in her investigation. shen ning continued to fix her piercing gaze on shen mei, whose eyes were avoiding hers. ¡°shen mei, you instructed someone to steal the small black bottle containing ethanol from my office and maliciously added formaldehyde to it, attempting to frame and destroy me during this tea gathering. these actions were witnessed by everyone here,¡± shen ning¡¯s tone grew increasingly severe. shen mei¡¯s face turned even paler. ¡°mr. li, last time, shen mei splashed a highly corrosive liquid on my face, attempting to ruin my appearance. 1 had stated that i must seek revenge, and you had agreed. so, may i ask: can i now deal with shen mei?¡± shen ning once again turned her gaze to li zhenting.. Chapter 83 - Chapter 83:I Never Break My Promise chapter 83:i never break my promise translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°god, this shen mei is so vicious.¡± ¡°no wonder she came here to mess things up tonight. it turns out that she has already done so many bad things.¡± when shen ning exposed shen mei¡¯s crimes, everyone below the stage heard it clearly and they started to talk about it. ¡°what do you want?¡± li zhenting asked. ¡°it¡¯s very simple. either 1 pour the phosphorous dimmer on shen mei¡¯s face, or 1 send shen mei to the police station.¡±shen ning was very decisive and concise. ¡°yes, send her to the police station and put her in jail.¡± ¡°splash it back at her. you can¡¯t let people bully you like this.¡± the group of women below the stage echoed. li zhenting¡¯s lips moved, but he did not say anything. ¡°why, mr li can¡¯t bear to part with it?¡± she sneered. sending his fiancee to the police station would make him lose face, but she wanted to expose shen mei in public and make him suffer. who knew. li zhenting¡¯s shrewd eyes flashed, and a hint of a smile flashed across his eyes. he said in a low and magnetic voice, ¡°don¡¯t worry, i never go back on my word.¡± shen ning was stunned. did he agree? ¡°zhenting.¡± at this moment, shen mei, who was standing at the side, exclaimed. she had never believed that li zhenting would agree to let shen ning send her to the police station or splash water on her face, but now he actually agreed. ¡°zhenting, don¡¯t. i don¡¯t want to go to the police station. i don¡¯t want to be disfigured. we¡¯re getting married soon. you don¡¯t want me to become ugly or go to jail, right?¡±she panicked. she grabbed li zhenting¡¯s arm and shook it, begging,¡± please save me for ding ding and lan lan¡¯s sake.¡± the names of the two children made li zhenting¡¯s body tremble. his slender fingers pushed her hands away one by one, pursed his rose-colored lips, and said indifferently,¡±you begged the wrong person. she¡¯s the one who wants revenge on you now.¡± ¡°all, sister, please forgive me. i was wrong.¡±shen mei was immediately awakened and ran to shen ning without any backbone. she lowered her head and apologized to her,¡± please let me go for my father¡¯s sake.¡± father? at the mention of this word, shen ning felt a suffocating feeling in her chest. a cold glint flashed in her eyes as she clenched her fists. did she have a father? all these years, when had he ever given her any fatherly love? ¡°ning-ning.¡± at this moment, a woman¡¯s voice was heard. her eyes were bloodshot as she turned around. a middle-aged woman in an expensive evening gown was calling her nickname affectionately as she walked quickly toward her. ¡°ningning, your dad and i have been looking for you. it¡¯s great that you¡¯ve returned to gu qi.¡±lan feiyun held shen ning¡¯s hand as soon as she walked over. she smiled and said intimately,¡± go home tomorrow. your dad misses you a lot. we¡¯ll have a family reunion dinner tomorrow.¡±¡± ha! this woman was really good at acting. her acting skills could win the oscars. shen ning pulled her hand away in disgust and sneered in her heart. it seemed that lan feiyun had come for her daughter. how shameless! she knew everything that shen mei had done like the back of her hand, but what right did she have to plead with her? ¡°no need. i still have something to do tomorrow.¡± she answered coldly. she picked up the tissue on the display shelf and wiped the hand that she had held before throwing it into the trash can. her face was full of disgust.¡± dirty.¡±¡± the smile on lan feiyun¡¯s face froze, but she still said in a good tone,¡±ningning, 1 know meimei did something wrong to you, but she¡¯s your sister after all. you can¡¯t wash your dirty linen in public.¡± shen ning smiled disdainfully and looked at li zhenting. the man¡¯s handsome face was cold, and his black eyes flashed with a strange dark light.. Chapter 84 - Chapter 84: Perfect Ending chapter 84: perfect ending translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°alright, i¡¯ll spare her, but you must agree to my two conditions,¡± shen ning deliberately smiled and relented. ¡°sure, name your conditions. i¡¯ll agree to anything i can do,¡± lan feiyun¡¯s eyes brightened, and she immediately tried to please shen ning. shen ning relaxed her grip on her hand. this was what she wanted! she knew better than anyone that with li zhenting by shen mei¡¯s side, it was impossible for her to actually harm shen mei or send her to the police station tonight. moreover, even if she did end up there, the charges were minor, and li zhenting could bail her out anytime. she had her own purpose and plan! her mission was to avenge her mother! ¡°first, shen mei must completely give up guqi, and 1 want to reclaim all of guqi¡¯s shares. you both will never set foot in guqi again. second, the white house that belonged to my mother before she passed away, which was her dowry, i want it back. if you can agree to these two conditions, then i¡¯ll agree to spare her,¡± shen ning spoke slowly and deliberately. only by reclaiming guqi and that white house could she search for clues about her mother¡¯s cause of death in those two places. besides, that white villa originally belonged to her mother, it was her dowry. why should it be occupied by a homewrecker and her daughter? reclaiming it was also a way to honor her mother¡¯s memory. shen mei listened in shock. she didn¡¯t want to give up on these two conditions. ¡°no, i can¡¯t agree to that. sister, can you propose different conditions? maybe something related to money?¡± shen mei asked with a mournful expression. ¡°no,¡± shen ning¡¯s voice was resolute. ¡°these two conditions are my final offer. if you don¡¯t agree, i¡¯ll call the police right now.¡± she picked up her phone, ready to dial lio. ¡°it¡¯s just an old house and half of the shares of a company that hasn¡¯t shown any promise yet. what¡¯s there to be so attached to? besides, these things originally belonged to shen ning. giving them back to her isn¡¯t unreasonable. you¡¯re about to become mrs. li, and compared to that status, these things really don¡¯t amount to much,¡± jing chenxi ¡®kindly¡¯ advised from the sidelines. ¡°fine, 1 agree,¡± lan feiyun finally gritted her teeth and accepted. as long as her daughter was with her, what did these things matter? moreover, after becoming mrs. li, she would have plenty of opportunities to take them back. she decided to agree first. ¡°okay, since you both have agreed, i¡¯d like all the women present to be witnesses. 1¡¯11 draft the agreement contract for you to sign immediately,¡± shen ning nodded to secretary li, who immediately went to the makeup room behind the scenes. shortly after, she came out with an agreement, and she forced lan feiyun and her daughter to sign it on the spot. in fact, shen ning had drafted this document long ago. reclaiming all of guqi¡¯s shares was just her second step. the outcome of tonight¡¯s events was within her expectations. li zhenting remained silent and, with a faint glance at shen ning, turned and left. ¡°zhenting!¡± shen mei called out and tried to catch up. however, li zhenting¡¯s pace was swift, and in just a moment, he walked toward an exit. shen mei couldn¡¯t keep up and was tripped by a foot suddenly extended by a wealthy woman, falling embarrassingly. fortunately, lan feiyun rushed over to help her up. the mother and daughter duo left in disgrace. exit at the rear of the saint heaven hotel. wu lili, holding her purse, sneaked quietly towards the exit. shen mei and her mother¡¯s miserable defeat frightened her, and she dared not linger any longer, fearing that shen ning might come after her. she took the opportunity to slip out through the back door. but just a few steps away, she heard a woman shouting loudly, ¡°stop right there..¡± Chapter 85 - Chapter 85: The Person You Should Send Off Isn’t Me, It’s Miss Jiang chapter 85: the person you should send off isn¡¯t me, it¡¯s miss jiang translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation wu lili was so frightened that her legs went weak, but she didn¡¯t dare to look back. she just ran forward. however, the footsteps behind her were getting closer. soon, a hand grabbed her arm. she turned around. ¡°you wretch, how dare you barge into the event and cause trouble? i won¡¯t spare you.¡± a resounding slap landed on her face, and secretary li scolded angrily. with such an important tea party, she dared to lead the disruption. not punishing her would be unfair to shen ning! originally, secretary li had something else to attend to, and she wouldn¡¯t have had the chance to deal with her. if she had left earlier, she wouldn¡¯t have been slapped. but she had greedily indulged in the desserts, even having three bowls, which gave secretary li the time to punish her. ¡°ah!¡± wu lili screamed in pain, her vision turning black as she covered her face. ¡°let me tell you, if you dare to cause trouble again next time, 1 will definitely send you to the police station. if you don¡¯t believe me, try it.¡± secretary li kicked her again and shouted angrily, ¡°get lost.¡± wu lili, ignoring the pain, took off her high heels and ran away as fast as she could. secretary li clapped her hands and turned to leave. the night was dark, and the moonlight poured down. shen ning, carrying her bag, walked briskly towards the exit. it was already late, and coco and xiaoxiao were probably fast asleep by now. tonight, she had finally succeeded, and the company was about to enter regular production, which would make her even busier. thinking that she hadn¡¯t spent quality time with her children for several days, she felt guilty. just as she was about to reach the roadside to hail a taxi. suddenly, a soft voice reached her ears. ¡°chenxi, my dad wants you to come to our house for dinner tomorrow.¡± shen ning unintentionally glanced over. not far away, under a potted pine tree, a young couple stood there. the girl was wearing a pure white mid-length dress, with a graceful figure and a charming aura. the man was tall, wearing a sharp royal blue suit, exuding elegance and drawing attention. wasn¡¯t that jing chenxi? ¡°sorry, i have something to do tomorrow,¡± jing chenxi¡¯s voice was indifferent and perfunctory. ¡°well, when are you free then?¡± jiang xinyun¡¯s voice carried a mix of grievances and hope. ¡°xiaoyun, it¡¯s getting late. you should go back to your uncle and aunt¡¯s place. 1¡¯11 call you when i have time.¡± jing chenxi raised his head and, upon seeing shen ning not far ahead, his eyes lit up. he said to jiang xinyun, ¡°ningning.¡± shen ning snapped out of her thoughts and hurriedly walked away. ¡°ningning.¡± jing chenxi ran a few steps to catch up to her and blocked her path. ¡°congratulations on the success of tonight¡¯s tea party.¡± ¡°thank you,¡± shen ning replied politely with a smile. ¡°ningning, let me give you a ride home,¡± jing chenxi held her hand and headed towards his luxury car. ¡°no need,¡± shen ning withdrew her hand from his grasp and said calmly, ¡°mr. jing, i think you should be giving a ride to miss jiang instead of me.¡± it wasn¡¯t until this moment that she remembered. that beautiful and serene woman who greeted her was none other than jiang xinyun, the daughter of ship king whom li zhenteng had warned her about before. she was also jing chenxi¡¯s fiancee. how could she take someone else¡¯s love? moreover, she had never considered anything beyond friendship with jing chenxi. jing chenxi¡¯s face darkened as he said, ¡°ningning, i¡¯ve been wanting to explain the situation between me and miss jiang to you these past few days¡­¡± ¡°no need, mr. jing. you don¡¯t have to explain anything to me. after all, we are the best of friends,¡± shen ning immediately interrupted him, smiling politely. ¡°miss jiang is very talented and beautiful. congratulations on finding such a wonderful girlfriend. please, take her home. girls can¡¯t withstand being neglected.¡± she walked towards the street, waving to him, and said, ¡°mr. jing, i¡¯m heading home to take care of my children. thank you for your help tonight.¡± coincidentally, a taxi pulled up. she raised her hand to stop it and got in.. Chapter 86 - Chapter 86: If You Don’t Lose, Who Will? chapter 86: if you don¡¯t lose, who will? translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation jing chenxi stood there in a daze, watching the departing car, his face filled with loneliness and helplessness. he had always wanted to explain to her, to make her understand that he loved her, and he was willing to give up anything for her. but she never gave him a chance. a little while later, jiang xinyun walked up to him. out of a sense of responsibility, he had escorted her home. zhengsheng apartments. ding ding and coco were playing rock-paper-scissors. ¡°rock, paper, scissors.¡± the two kids each showed their choice. ¡°yeah, i won!¡± coco excitedly wiggled two fingers, shouting with joy. ¡°this is my second win, ding ding, you lost, better go back to the li family¡¯s manor.¡± it turned out that the three little ones were having a great time together. coco didn¡¯t want to go back to the li family¡¯s manor while playing, and naturally, ding ding didn¡¯t want to either. there was no other way. the two kids had to rely on rock-paper-scissors to determine the winner. ¡°alright.¡± ding ding reluctantly agreed after losing twice, with a bitter expression. ¡°brother, go back first. i¡¯ll take your place in a few days. if there¡¯s anything, remember to tell me and xiao xiao.¡± coco patted ding ding¡¯s face, comforting him like a little adult. ¡°by the way, be careful of that ugly witch, shen mei, lately i¡¯ve noticed her acting a bit abnormal. you should be cautious.¡± ¡°yes, i will. and you, keep your promise and come to replace me as soon as possible.¡± ding ding earnestly reminded him. ¡°don¡¯t worry, i will.¡± coco replied with a mischievous smile. ding ding reluctantly left. he hadn¡¯t been gone for long when the sound of the door being pushed open echoed in the living room. ¡°yeah, mommy¡¯s back!¡± the two kids immediately jumped up and rushed to the living room. ¡°you guys aren¡¯t asleep yet?¡± shen ning looked at the lively and energetic kids, quite surprised. ¡°your majesty, please change your shoes.¡± ¡°your majesty, please have some water.¡± the two little ones brought her slippers and a glass of water, smiling and acting as if they were welcoming a queen returning to her palace, full of ceremonial gestures. shen ning looked at the cheerful and lively coco, and for a moment, she was lost in thought. this was the coco she had in mind, her son. in the past few days, something seemed off, and she had worried unnecessarily. a smile gradually appeared on shen ning¡¯s face. the tea party tonight had been a success, and she had reclaimed the villa from gu qi and her mother. she was truly happy. she turned around and hugged the two little ones, taking turns to kiss them. the two kids giggled. a happy family of three. of course, shortly after, shen ning scolded the two little ones. they had stayed up quite late tonight, which was not good for their health. soon, the two little ones obediently went to bed. on the contrary, the atmosphere in the shen family wasn¡¯t as pleasant. shen mei sat on the couch, looking miserable, constantly wiping away her tears, looking utterly pitiful. ¡°you, you¡¯re just too foolish. you actually handed yourself over to shen ning as a pawn in a situation like this. how did i end up with such a foolish daughter?¡± lan feiyun lamented. tonight, mother and daughter not only lost their wealth to shen ning but also lost all face. lan feiyun had never been so embarrassed in her entire life. it was a complete disaster. ¡°mom, it¡¯s not my fault. how could i have known that jing chenxi would be there? if it weren¡¯t for him, shen ning would have definitely lost.¡± shen mei sobbed. lan feiyun was so angry that she stomped her foot. ¡°i see you¡¯ve reached the pinnacle of stupidity. if you wanted to do something like this, you should have discussed it with me first. didn¡¯t you think that she meiqi, who specializes in perfumes, would have given shen ning some secret formula? you, a non-professional, insisted on competing with a professional. how could you not lose?¡± shen mei fell silent after hearing her mother¡¯s words.. Chapter 87 - Chapter 87: A Good Show Is About to Begin chapter 87: a good show is about to begin translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°mom, that woman is incredibly cunning. even someone like jing chenxi is willing to work for her. what should we do?¡± shen mei was both anxious and distressed, tears streaming down her face. lan feiyun¡¯s face was gloomy as she paced back and forth in the living room. suddenly, the doorbell rang. with a stern expression, lan feiyun opened the door. ¡°auntie, hello,¡± wu lili appeared at the doorstep. ¡°lili, it¡¯s late. do you need something?¡± lan feiyun was quite surprised. wu lili smiled, ¡°yes, auntie, 1 do have an urgent matter to discuss with mei mei.¡± ¡°oh, then come in.¡± lan feiyun let her in. as soon as wu lili entered, she saw shen mei in the living room, her eyes swollen and red from crying. she inwardly sneered. this mother-daughter pair usually held themselves in high regard, but now they were being dealt a blow by shen ning. it served them right! ¡°mei mei, don¡¯t lose heart, don¡¯t let that vile woman shen ning defeat you,¡± she sat down and pretended to console. ¡°lili, i won¡¯t give you that one million. look at how miserable i am now, and you still want money?¡± shen mei immediately assumed she had come to ask for the one million and responded coldly. wu lili raised an eyebrow and smiled, ¡°mei mei, you¡¯ve got it all wrong. i¡¯m here to help you.¡± ¡°just you?¡± ¡°it seems you¡¯re ungrateful. fine, i¡¯ll leave then.¡± she pretended to be angry and stood up to leave. lan feiyun, feeling helpless, looked at her with a confident smile. she saw an opportunity in wu lili¡¯s self-assured demeanor and reached out to stop her. she smiled warmly, ¡°lili, mei mei is in a bad mood. don¡¯t argue with her.¡± ¡°auntie, you¡¯re always reasonable,¡± wu lili sat back down. once seated, she leaned closer and spoke in a hushed, mysterious tone, ¡°auntie, 1 have some top-secret information to share with you, but you¡¯ll have to give me a little something. you should know that i¡¯m facing financial difficulties right now. last month, my useless husband¡¯s investment failed again¡­ i¡¯m really in a bind.¡± wu lili intentionally looked troubled. in reality, she believed the perfect opportunity had arrived. lan feiyun and her daughter were currently in dire straits, and they were sure to act desperately. ¡°what secret?¡± lan feiyun¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°auntie, 1 can guarantee that if you use this information wisely, shen ning will immediately fall in line. defeating her will just be a matter of time,¡± wu lili was extremely confident, ¡°but¡­¡± she didn¡¯t finish her sentence. lan feiyun understood and immediately got up to go to the study to write a check. ¡°mom, don¡¯t let her deceive you. all she cares about is money,¡± shen mei followed her, not hiding her displeasure. ¡°mei mei, people who love money are the easiest to manipulate,¡± lan feiyun patted her shoulder, returned with a check for twenty million. wu lili took the check, her eyes sparkling. ¡°auntie, let me tell you, shen ning has two children, and one of them is a boy named coco, about five years old, and he looks exactly like li zhenting,¡± she spoke each word deliberately. ¡°what?¡± it was like a bomb had been thrown into the living room. both lan feiyun and shen mei jumped up. wu lili proceeded to embellish the story with every detail she had witnessed that day. lan feiyun and shen mei listened in shock. wu lili left with the check, satisfied with herself. li zhenting and coco were like two peas in a pod. if they didn¡¯t act quickly and reap the benefits from shen mei, as soon as coco appeared in the public eye, their secret wouldn¡¯t remain a secret for long. that was why she had rushed over tonight, seizing the opportune moment. lan feiyun and her daughter had malicious hearts. upon learning that shen ning had another child, especially li zhenting¡¯s child¡­ they wouldn¡¯t let it go easily. hehe, the show was about to begin! she laughed heartily while holding the check.. Chapter 88 - Chapter 88: After All, You Are the Mother of His Two Children chapter 88: after all, you are the mother of his two children translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation in the living room of the shen residence, shen mei was in a panic, feeling like her world was falling apart. so far, li zhenting had been good to her, solely because of these two children. but now, shen ning had returned with another child. she couldn¡¯t believe it¡ªshe had unexpectedly conceived twins that night! ¡°mom, what should we do?¡± her face turned pale, and her words were incoherent. ¡°don¡¯t panic, stay calm. we¡¯ve been deceived by that nurse,¡± lan feiyun gritted her teeth. ¡°you must become mrs. li.¡± ¡°but if li zhenting finds out that ding ding is shen ning¡¯s child, and she¡¯s also given birth to another child for him, do you think i still have a chance?¡± just tonight, li zhenting had watched her being mistreated and had left so indifferently. would he still marry her? ¡°of course, he will,¡± lan feiyun spoke coldly. ¡°if what wu lili said is true, li zhenting currently doesn¡¯t know that shen ning has given birth to twins for him. and shen ning probably doesn¡¯t want him to know. otherwise, after all this time, li zhenting would have already found out. so, from now on, we need to focus on these two children and make the most of them.¡± her eyes gleamed with malicious intent. shen mei nodded. ¡°as long as the children are yours, li zhenting won¡¯t just abandon you. otherwise, tonight, he wouldn¡¯t have called me to rush to the tea party to help you,¡± lan feiyun smiled. shen mei asked in surprise, ¡°mom, li zhenting called you to the tea party?¡± ¡°otherwise?¡± lan feiyun smirked. ¡°would shen ning invite me to her tea party? clearly, li zhenting asked me to go, to help you. he doesn¡¯t want anything bad to happen to you, after all, you are the mother of his two children.¡± shen mei blinked and a smile spread across her face. ¡°furthermore, you need to get pregnant with li zhenting¡¯s child as soon as possible. once you¡¯re pregnant, everything will be easier. from now on, just focus on raising the children in the li family¡¯s castle and taking care of li zhenting. leave the rest to me,¡± lan feiyun schemed. finally, shen mei went home with a sense of relief. early the next morning, shen ning sat in her office, feeling uneasy and restless. awhile later, the private detective, lei bojun, walked in. ¡°ms. shen, it¡¯s been over a decade since your mother¡¯s suicide incident. investigating it will be quite challenging, so it might take some time. please be patient,¡± lei bojun said solemnly. he had reviewed the information shen ning had sent over last night. shen ning nodded, ¡°1 understand it¡¯s difficult. otherwise, i wouldn¡¯t have hired a renowned detective like you. do your best, and if you need my cooperation, don¡¯t hesitate to reach out. my mother spent a lot of time at gu qi and that white villa, so i believe that investigating these two places will yield results. later on, i¡¯ll provide you with some evidence and information.¡± ¡°yes, i will do my best,¡± lei bojun nodded. shen ning first advanced two months¡¯ worth of salary from the company¡¯s finances to lei bojun as a deposit. the remaining payment would be made after he obtained the evidence. once lei bojun left, the financial manager, wan zhengping, entered the office. ¡°ms. shen, i have something to report,¡± wan zhengping said as soon as he entered. ¡°what is it?¡± ¡°currently, the company¡¯s balance is only around two million. you need to have mr. li transfer funds into the company as soon as possible.¡± shen ning¡¯s heart sank. she immediately asked, ¡°what do you mean?¡± wan zhengping cleared his throat, ¡°ms. shen, you should know that the company incurred a loss of over fifty million in the first half of the year. in january, mr. li transferred six million from the li group into gu qi¡¯s account. our monthly expenses are quite substantial, and with the development of the new product this month, the expenses have only increased. the profitability cycle of the new product is not that fast. therefore, you need to have mr. li transfer funds into the company.¡± ¡°how much more is needed?¡± shen ning¡¯s voice trembled.. Chapter 89 - Chapter 89: President Li, Is There Something You Need Me For? chapter 89: president li, is there something you need me for? translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°based on last year, we¡¯d need at least fifty million. even if we turn a profit two months from now, we¡¯d still require thirty million.¡± ¡°in the past, didn¡¯t gu qi¡¯s funds automatically come in?¡± shen ning¡¯s fingers clenched a lead pencil, her fingernails turning white. wan zhengping¡¯s expression grew more serious. ¡°back when shen mei was in charge, mr. li would typically transfer a sum in january for the first half of the year and another in july for the second half. it was all automated. however, this month is already july, and it¡¯s been two weeks, but the funds haven¡¯t arrived. he might have forgotten. maybe you should give him a call to remind him.¡± ¡°alright, 1 understand,¡± shen ning spoke with difficulty. ¡°you can go now.¡± wan zhengping left the office. shen ning leaned over her desk, unable to lift herself. her body had grown weak, and a chill seemed to emanate from every part of her. even her mind felt like it was twitching. she had forgotten about this matter entirely. she had indeed regained gu qi, but it was just an empty shell. no matter how great her sales strategy was or how successful her perfume formula was, without money, it was all just empty words. gu qi was now hers. would li zhenting continue to send money as he used to? images of li zhenting¡¯s inscrutable gaze and icy demeanor from last night¡¯s tea party flashed through her mind. she felt herself trembling even more. shen mei was his fiancee and the mother of his two children. he wouldn¡¯t just stand by and do nothing. but what about her? she was nothing. why should he transfer the funds? her face turned pale. li group. li zhenting sat in a black armchair, dressed in a well-fitted black suit that exuded an air of nobility and sophistication, yet remained cool and elegant. ¡°mr. li,¡± leng xue walked in. ¡°leng xue, investigate her again,¡± he handed him a black and white photograph that had yellowed with age. leng xue took the photo and looked at it in surprise. ¡°mr. li, isn¡¯t this an old photo of miss shen mei when she was fifteen? why do you want to investigate this again?¡± li zhenting¡¯s thin lips tightened, and his sharp eyes gleamed with a hint of brilliance as he gazed at leng xue. leng xue shivered and quickly said, ¡°alright.¡± he turned and left. li zhenting picked up a cigar and placed it in his mouth, using his long fingers to light it. he took a deep drag, exhaling a long plume of smoke. the doorbell rang. ¡°come in,¡± he said tersely. the door opened, and shen ning walked in. she was dressed in a fitted short office suit that accentuated her graceful figure. her short skirt revealed her long and shapely legs, encased in nude-colored sheer stockings. she wore a pair of black pointed high heels, tied her hair into a ponytail, and had an elegant, quiet demeanor. ¡°mr. li, did you need something?¡± shen ning stood before li zhenting, her head lowered, and her tone cautious. she hadn¡¯t expected that, just as she was contemplating whether to approach li zhenting to borrow some money and repay it once the perfume started making a profit next month, his secretary would call her, instructing her to come to the li group immediately. she thought it must be about the funds because gu qi had never had any business dealings with li group other than money. ¡°mr. li,¡± she tried again softly. however, after a long silence, there was still no response. she couldn¡¯t help but straighten her posture slightly and raise her gaze. with this slight movement, she noticed that li zhenting¡¯s gaze was fixed on her chest, and there was a dark gleam in his eyes. ugh! she pursed her lips! if there was no incoming fund within a week, gu qi would go bankrupt. although his current gaze was a bit unsettling, she still managed to put on a charming smile to appease him.. Chapter 90 - Chapter 90: What Does This Have To Do With Me? chapter 90: what does this have to do with me? translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°are you dressed like this to seduce me?¡± li zhenting took another puff of his cigar, his eyes narrowing slightly, and a cold arc forming at the corner of his lips. shen ning hesitated for a moment, something was off. she quickly lowered her head. instantly, she felt extremely embarrassed! she noticed that two buttons on her work uniform had inexplicably come undone, revealing the snow-white skin and slender neck beneath. it was unclear whether it was due to nervousness or some other reason. she immediately covered her chest with both hands, hurriedly left the room to fasten the buttons properly, and then returned. ¡°mr. li, i¡¯m sorry. i didn¡¯t mean to. 1 can swear.¡± she explained anxiously, but it seemed that the more she explained, the more suspicious it sounded. she had to stand properly, fearing that those piercing eyes might discover something amiss on her body. ¡°yeah, it¡¯s something like that.¡± fortunately, li zhenting didn¡¯t dwell on this matter. he slowly spoke, extinguishing his cigar in the ashtray and then lifting his gaze to look at her. from a drawer, he took out a red notebook and placed it in front of her. ¡°take a good look at this.¡± shen ning looked at the crimson notebook and instantly had a bad feeling. a grown man using a red notebook, combined with his enigmatic and eerie demeanor, meant trouble. eight or nine times out of ten, he was going to make things difficult for her! she cautiously picked up the red notebook and examined it. upon closer inspection, she almost spat out blood! it turned out to be an account book, listing the financial transactions between gu qi and li group over the years! she widened her eyes and stared at him. ¡°mr. li, may i ask what this means?¡± li zhenting gazed at her coldly, pursing his thin lips. ¡°over the past few years, li group has provided nearly three hundred million in funding to gu qi.¡± ¡°so what? how is it my concern? you may have given all that money, but it¡¯s for your woman.¡± ¡°no,¡± li zhenting shook his finger, ¡°originally, gu qi was founded by your mother. however, if it weren¡¯t for my capital support over the years, it would have gone bankrupt long ago. so, i ask you, can you still reclaim the ownership of gu qi now?¡± ¡°¡­,¡± shen ning was at a loss for words. it seemed that his words made some sense! but wasn¡¯t he the one who voluntarily acted as shen mei¡¯s savior, all for the sake of his own pleasure in bed? what did it have to do with her? ¡°mr. li, your logic doesn¡¯t make sense,¡± shen ning shook her head. ¡°this is like you building a house for a woman, but the foundation of the house belongs to someone else. in the end, the house is taken back by the rightful owner. do you think 1 should claim the construction cost of the house?¡± ¡°of course not.¡± shen ning immediately disagreed. ¡°because the foundation of that house originally belonged to someone else. if your woman used improper means to take it and now it¡¯s rightfully returned to the original owner, it¡¯s only fair. as for you, if you willingly played the role of the ¡®victim,¡¯ then it¡¯s your own fault. you reap what you sow. who told you to indulge in lust? if you want to sleep with a woman, you shouldn¡¯t be afraid to spend money.¡± ¡°no, what does sleeping with women have to do with this?¡± li zhenting was somewhat puzzled. in fact, over the years, apart from that night six years ago, he hadn¡¯t slept with shen mei at all! Chapter 91 - Chapter 91: Pulling You to Die Together chapter 91: pulling you to die together translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°but the fact is, all of this is due to your sleeping around. if you have the guts, don¡¯t sleep around. if you do, then don¡¯t be afraid to spend money. a woman s body is her capital; do you think you can freeload on it? you men are all the same. you want to sleep with women but don¡¯t want to invest. where in the world does such a good deal exist?¡± shen ning criticized fiercely. li zhenting¡¯s face turned dark. it was supposed to be a discussion about the company¡¯s debt, but it had turned into a conversation about his sexual escapades. it felt like they were treating him like a pervert. ¡°didn¡¯t you sell yourself for a high price?¡± he smirked coldly. ¡°you¡­¡¯¡¯ shen ning was stunned, realizing what he meant, and her anger flared. ¡°rest assured, jingshi group in the capital is one of the top companies. this amount of money means nothing to jing chenxi. he¡¯ll help you,¡± li zhenting continued, a wicked smile forming as he got to the point. shen ning finally understood his intention. he wanted jing chenxi to cover the three billion! unbelievable! ¡°mr. li, i want to reiterate that there¡¯s nothing between me and jing chenxi; we¡¯re just friends,¡± she blushed in embarrassment. ¡°alright, when a man helps you like this, even the most discerning person can see it. do you think i¡¯m a fool? men understand men the best. no one would help a woman for no reason. you don¡¯t need to explain further. you must repay the three billion, or we ll meet in court,¡± li zhenting sneered. shen ning was so angry that her vision blurred. she couldn¡¯t even produce three million, let alone three billion. and her children needed money every day! thinking about her children, her eyes welled up with tears. if it weren¡¯t for that night six years ago, she wouldn¡¯t have ended up in such a miserable situation now! and now, this despicable man not only wanted to bankrupt her but also burden her with such a huge debt! ¡°li zhenting, you bastard, scum of the earth, how about you go die!¡± she couldn¡¯t take it anymore, so she slammed the table and stood up, pointing at him while shouting angrily. ¡°you¡­,¡± li zhenting was furious. ¡°get out.¡± ¡°li zhenting, let me tell you, even if i die today, i¡¯ll drag you down with me. 1 have nothing left anyway.¡± her anger had made her lose her rationality. she suddenly rushed forward, grabbed his tie, and pulled out a sharp knife from her pocket, pressing it against his neck, demanding, ¡°tell me, do you still want me to repay the money?¡± li zhenting couldn¡¯t believe that she was carrying a weapon with her. was she deliberately trying to murder him? ¡°shen ning, do you know what you¡¯re doing?¡± he remained calm and asked coldly. ¡°this is murder, you know? you¡¯ll go to jail.¡± ¡°let me go to jail then! you despicable scumbag, you¡¯ve pushed me to the point where 1 have no way out. well, then i¡¯ll take you down with me,¡± shen ning choked with emotion. furious, she grabbed his tie and threatened him with the knife. but in her anger, she used too much force, her feet slipped, and she fell backward. li zhenting was pulled down by her and fell into her embrace. his lips instantly met her red lips.. Chapter 92 - Chapter 92: How Dare You Murder Me! chapter 92: how dare you murder me! translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation shen ning¡¯s eyes widened in shock, and li zhenting was equally taken aback. the woman¡¯s soft, yielding body beneath him, the vulnerability that allowed him to indulge his desires, and the familiar sense of tenderness all resembled that fateful night six years ago, a night marked by his excessive roughness¡­ ¡°get away,¡± shen ning exclaimed, throwing punches and desperately pushing him. however, the man, gazing at the woman¡¯s plump, crimson lips, suddenly pressed down forcefully. their lips collided, and he kissed her passionately, even biting down. a tingling sensation surged through shen ning, her head buzzing, momentarily rendering her foolish. she felt him deepen the kiss. ¡°ah, sorry, i¡¯m so sorry.¡± office manager fang zhimei entered, holding a stack of documents, and had intended to get li zhenting¡¯s signature. however, she noticed that the ceo¡¯s office door was open and without hesitation, she walked in. the scene before her petrified her. li zhenting, who had never been close to a woman, was now in his office, forcing a woman to the ground and passionately kissing her. it was an extraordinary sight. letting out a scream, she immediately apologized and fled, avoiding eye contact with them. ¡°get lost, you despicable scumbag, taking advantage of me.¡± shen ning¡¯s face turned crimson, her heart pounding so loudly that it seemed it would burst from her chest. she used all her strength to push li zhenting away, scrambled to her feet, and fled. in the corridor, many employees stood there, eyes wide with shock. who was this woman, and why had she rushed out of the ceo¡¯s office in such disarray? they exchanged bewildered glances but couldn¡¯t find words to describe the situation. shen ning, who had never visited the ceo¡¯s office when she was still li¡¯s wife and had never attended any banquets with li zhenting, was unfamiliar to everyone. she panicked and hurried into the elevator. looking at herself in the elevator mirror, she saw her disheveled clothes, flushed cheeks, and heaving bosom. oh my god! what had she come here for? how had she ended up in this situation? she felt so ashamed that she couldn¡¯t face herself. when the elevator doors opened, she rushed out in a panic. in the ceo¡¯s office, li zhenting slowly got up, biting his lip. her lips still carried a sweet fragrance. he walked over to the bathroom mirror and tilted his head. there was a small cut on his neck, and when he touched it, blood oozed out. that damn woman dared to try to kill him! did she want to die? he was infuriated. shen ning, you better not let me catch you next time, or you¡¯re finished. at guqi¡¯s reception area. ¡°wow, this must be mr. li¡¯s son, what a handsome and delicate little guy! his face, eyebrows, and nose are exactly like mr. li¡¯s.¡± shen ning had just entered the company and saw that li xiaomin, who had returned from her annual leave, was surrounded by several colleagues. they were all peering at her phone and exclaiming in amazement. shen ning was suddenly stunned. ¡°what are you talking about?¡± she approached them and asked. the female colleagues looked up and immediately rushed back to their own offices, as if they had seen a ghost. ¡°ms. shen,¡± li xiaomin looked at her in panic and put her phone away. ¡°show me.¡± shen ning reached out for her phone, and the words ¡®exactly like¡¯ she had just heard made her eyelids twitch nervously. li xiaomin reluctantly handed the phone to shen ning. shen ning took a look and saw a beautiful and delicate little face on her phone. it was coco! she was shocked and broke out in a cold sweat. ¡°what¡¯s going on?¡± she asked sternly. li xiaomin, frightened, explained what had happened. shen ning felt as if lightning had struck her and immediately ran outside. at zhengsheng apartments. ¡°brother, do you think my gold ingot looks good?¡± xiao xiao held out a piece of dough shaped like a gold ingot and eagerly showed it to coco. ¡°um, not bad, you¡¯re improving.¡± coco patted the dough. today, he was preparing to make dumplings for his mom.. Chapter 93 - Chapter 93: You’re Too Much of a hindrance! chapter 93: you¡¯re too much of a hindrance! translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°mommy, if you eat this golden ingot, you¡¯ll have lots of money and won¡¯t have to worry anymore,¡± little xiao xiao earnestly declared, cradling the golden ingot with utmost reverence. before coco could respond, the door unexpectedly swung open, and shen ning rushed in, panting heavily. ¡°coco.¡± the moment she entered, she embraced him tightly, holding him as though she feared he might slip away. ¡°mommy?¡± coco looked puzzled. ¡°coco, please tell mommy quickly, have you met a man named li zhenting recently?¡± shen ning held coco tightly, trembling all over. coco¡¯s face paled. oh no, he thought, mommy has probably found out about him and ding ding! what should he do? ¡°come on, do you know him?¡± with no response from coco, she grew increasingly anxious, lowering her head to look at her son¡¯s small face. coco opened his mouth¡­ shen ning seemed to grasp the situation. her face darkened, her body grew icy, and her hand holding coco started to shake. at the li manor. ding ding sat on the couch, engrossed in flipping through a comic book. mommy had told him not to spend too much time on his phone, as it wasn¡¯t good for his eyes. so, after a while on his phone, he had turned to his comic book. shen mei approached him. ¡°ding ding.¡± she called out. ¡°yeah.¡± ding ding didn¡¯t lift his head, simply responding with a nonchalant ¡°yeah.¡± shen mei stood in front of him, scrutinizing his small face. it looked exactly like li zhenting¡¯s¡ªso delicate and strikingly handsome. her eyes filled with coldness, and she clenched her fingers tightly. then she turned and walked toward the water dispenser. a while later, she took ding ding¡¯s water glass and relaxed her grip on it, revealing a packet of white powder on the palm of her hand. ding ding, it¡¯s not my fault. it¡¯s yours for being so troublesome! you actually opposed my marriage to your dad, so i¡¯ll ensure you become foolish! ¡°mommy.¡± she had just picked up the hot water and was about to add the medicine when, suddenly, lan lan ran over from behind. startled, shen mei trembled, and the medicine powder spilled onto the floor. ¡°lan lan, why are you so jumpy?¡± shen mei scolded her without patience, hurriedly wiping away the spilled powder with a tissue. lan lan stood there, looking bewildered. she had only called out ¡°mommy.¡± what was there to be so surprised about? mommy¡¯s temper had been growing stranger lately, and she seemed to get angry with her for no reason. as night fell, the sky glittered with little stars. near the walls of the li manor. shen ning stood by a small door, anxiously peering inside, her face filled with worry and heartache. ¡°mommy, ding ding is so pitiful. that wicked witch ignores him and even hits him. she scalded him with boiling water. i don¡¯t know how he managed to grow up like this.¡± ¡°ding ding is introverted and doesn¡¯t talk much. their home is so cold, only his grandmother is nice to him.¡± ¡°mommy, ding ding isn¡¯t sick; he just doesn¡¯t want to talk. but daddy wants to treat him.¡± coco¡¯s words echoed in her ears. she felt so heartbroken that she couldn¡¯t breathe. it turned out that the last child born six years ago hadn¡¯t died but had been stolen through some scheme. she didn¡¯t know the details, but she understood one thing: ding ding must be her child. otherwise, there was no way he could look exactly like coco. even children understood such matters, so how could she not? initially, she was excited because she had gained another son. but the subsequent heartache left her in agony. her son had grown up by the side of that malicious woman. how could such a little child have survived? throughout the afternoon, she had been shedding tears continuously. what made her even more sorrowful was that ding ding had lived by her side for many days, and she hadn¡¯t noticed it because she was busy with work. she had even scolded him for playing with his phone too much. she felt guilty and wished she could fly to ding ding¡¯s side, hug him tightly, and give him plenty of kisses.. Chapter 94 - Chapter 94: I’m a Little Reluctant to Leave This Place chapter 94: i¡¯m a little reluctant to leave this place translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation shen ning had made up her mind that she had to find a way to sneak in tonight to see ding ding; otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t be at ease. she had once been the mistress of the li manor for a few years, so she was quite familiar with the place. there was a small door on the north side of the castle that led to the backyard, and from there, it was easy to reach ding ding¡¯s room. however, the small door was now locked. she glanced around, realizing that the only way to open it from the inside was to climb over the wall. without hesitation, she rolled up her sleeves and started climbing¡­ a rolls-royce pulled up. ¡°zhenting, look, isn¡¯t that my sister? why is she climbing over the wall there?¡± inside the car, shen mei pointed towards a figure on the wall with surprise. in fact, she had spotted shen ning from quite a distance away. li zhenting raised his gaze and instantly narrowed his eyes. this woman had come to his doorstep in the dead of night, attempting to climb over the wall. this was the same woman who had brought a knife to his office earlier in the day, nearly killing him. now, she was back to climb over his wall. what on earth was she up to? his eyes grew sharp, and his fingers tightened on the steering wheel. was she out of her mind? normally, he entered directly through the main gate, but tonight, due to a dinner engagement to the north, he had come down from the highway on that side. he hadn¡¯t expected to come across this scene. ¡°you go ahead and drive in. get some rest; tomorrow, we¡¯ll take ding ding and lan lan out to play,¡± li zhenting handed the car keys to shen mei and walked towards shen ning. shen mei, sitting in the driver¡¯s seat, watched the woman struggling to climb up. she couldn¡¯t help but curl her lips in a cold smile. a woman climbing over the wall in the dead of night had only one possible reason: she was looking for the person most important to her. clearly, it wasn¡¯t li zhenting! even if she wanted to find him, she didn¡¯t have to climb over the li manor walls; she could go to the li corporation. there was only one possibility. it had to be ding ding. it seemed highly likely that she had already found out that ding ding was her son. her eyes sparkled with a chilling light. however, shen mei knew she wouldn¡¯t dare reveal the truth! as long as she spoke the truth, li zhenting would undoubtedly fight for custody of coco. he would never allow his twin sons to be left in the outside world. she chuckled coldly, pressed the gas pedal, and drove away. ¡°what are you doing here?¡± shen ning was gripping an iron wire, climbing upward when suddenly, a cold voice sounded from behind her. startled, she shuddered, her foot slipped, and she was about to fall when, in desperation, she reached out her right hand towards the wall. instead of saving her from the fall, her hand came into contact with a row of sharp glass shards on the wall. ¡°ah!¡± she cried out in pain, letting go of her hand, and her body began to plummet. li zhenting watched the woman in exasperation. seeing that she was about to fall, he couldn¡¯t bear it any longer and reached out to grab her arm, pulling her to the ground. shen ning looked at her injured right hand, the glass shards piercing her palm, causing intense pain and making her break out in a cold sweat. blood began to ooze out. ¡°tell me, what are you doing here? why did you climb over the wall in the middle of the night?¡± li zhenting glared at her, questioning her like a king. shen ning hung her head and remained silent. li zhenting suddenly lifted her by one arm. ¡°you won¡¯t speak, huh? then i¡¯ll take you to the police station. let¡¯s see if you¡¯ll reveal your purpose there.¡± he lifted her and started walking. ¡°no, please, mr. li, i beg you. i just wanted to visit the li manor. after ail, i spent two years here. i¡­ i have some attachment to this place,¡± shen ning forced out the words, her face twisted in pain. in reality, she had no sentimental attachment to this place, which was devoid of human warmth and teeming with sinister forces. li zhenting couldn¡¯t help but smirk. ¡°shen ning, 1 do believe you in this matter.¡± after all, she had been unwilling to divorce him before.. Chapter 95 - Chapter 95: Let Me Accompany You Tonight chapter 95: let me accompany you tonight translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°but unfortunately, you won¡¯t be able to stay here anymore. get lost; it¡¯s useless for you to look around. this place doesn¡¯t belong to you/1 he said arrogantly. shen ning sneered. if it weren¡¯t for her son, she wouldn¡¯t have come to this eerie place. however, she reached out and grabbed his arm, pleading bitterly, ¡°mr. li, please let me go in tonight to have a look? just one quick look, and then i¡¯ll leave.¡± ¡°no.¡± ¡°mr. li, i just want to take a look, nothing sinister,¡± shen ning¡¯s palm had smeared blood onto li zhenting¡¯s pristine white shirt. the night wind carried a hint of the metallic scent as she looked up at him with a seductive smile. li zhenting squinted, his face darkening. ¡°you attempted to murder me this morning with a knife, and now you¡¯re climbing over the walls to my house. do you really think 1 can¡¯t handle you right under my nose?¡± he suddenly felt restless, not understanding how he got entangled with this woman. seeing the blood on her palm still flowing outward, he abruptly grabbed her arm, lifting her up, and headed inside with brisk steps. ¡°you can go find a family doctor to bandage yourself up. don¡¯t let me see you again,¡± he dumped her at the door of the infirmary and walked away toward the house. ¡°zhenting, where¡¯s sister? did she leave?¡± shen mei approached him, asking gently. she suddenly noticed the bloodstains on his sleeve and exclaimed, ¡°zhenting, are you hurt? quickly, let me get the first aid kit.¡± ¡°no need. you can go rest; i¡¯m fine,¡± li zhenting replied calmly as he headed to the bathroom. shen mei followed him, full of tenderness. ¡°zhenting, i¡¯ve already filled the bathtub with water, and your clothes are on the towel rack.¡± ¡°good, thank you.¡± li zhenting entered the bathroom and closed the door behind him. shen mei stood there, and her face was bathed in tears. li zhenting had grown increasingly distant from her, especially since shen ning¡¯s return. she had placed all her resentment on shen ning. ¡°daddy, i want money.¡± as soon as li zhenting finished his shower and stepped out, he saw ding ding, wearing a handsome and cute pair of pajamas, standing at the doorway of his study. ding ding spoke in a childish voice, demanding money. ¡°how much do you want?¡± li zhenting smiled, taking his phone and inquiring. ¡°i want one million,¡± ding ding blurted out without thinking. li zhenting was taken aback. ¡°why does a five-year-old child like you need so much money?¡± ¡°i don¡¯t care; i want money,¡± ding ding yelled. ¡°if you¡¯ve set your heart on something, i¡¯ll buy it for you.¡± li zhenting thought ding ding wanted some toys or treats and immediately asked. ¡°no, i just want money.¡± unwavering in his determination, ding ding¡¯s attitude remained resolute. ¡°no, a child can¡¯t have that much money,¡± li zhenting said sternly. although the li family was one of the wealthiest in the world, they did not lead lavish lives. especially when it came to the children¡¯s upbringing, they prioritized frugality and moderation. how could a five-year-old child carry so much money? humph, you¡¯re so stingy 1¡å ding ding was not pleased and turned to leave.. Chapter 96 - Chapter 96: Tears Flowing Down Her Face chapter 96: tears flowing down her face translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation li zhenting watched his little figure, a slight smile playing on his lips. ¡°ding ding, if you see anything you want to buy, add it to the cart and send it to daddy. daddy will buy it for you.¡± ¡°i don¡¯t want your stinky money,¡± ding ding ran back to his room in frustration, slamming the door shut and dragging a chair over. on top of a bookshelf was a piggy bank. he had to muster all his strength to get it down. this was his new year¡¯s gift money! he circled around the piggy bank several times; it was quite big, and the only way to get the money out was to break it open. ding ding was reluctant to break this ceramic piggy bank with its big belly and round face. it was bought in a small town in italy, and the porcelain was exceptionally white with a delicate texture. especially the round, rosy cheeks that gave it a smiling expression. whenever he looked at it, he felt a soothing sense of comfort. this ceramic piece had accompanied him through several years of his childhood. he gently caressed its head with his chubby hand, tears streaming down his face. ¡°piggy, 1 have to break you, or xiao xiao and coco won¡¯t have money for school. mommy works so hard; she struggles to raise them all on her own.¡± during their time at the zhengsheng apartment, he had seen mommy worrying about money many times. she often worked late into the night and only had a cold, hard bun for breakfast the next day. he wanted to do something for that family! li manor, the butler¡¯s office. ¡°housekeeper luo,¡± shen ning smiled as she walked in. ¡°you¡­ young¡­ young madam,¡± housekeeper luo looked up at shen ning with widened eyes. ¡°you¡¯re alive?¡± ¡°yes,¡± shen ning nodded with a smile, taking a seat across from him. housekeeper luo suddenly burst into tears of joy. ¡°that¡¯s wonderful, as long as you¡¯re okay.¡± ¡°indeed, indeed,¡± housekeeper luo mumbled, excitedly talking to himself. ¡°housekeeper luo, i¡¯d like to ask about ding ding¡¯s situation in the li manor,¡± shen ning asked straightforwardly, her face filled with concern. housekeeper luo was taken aback. why was she inquiring about ding ding¡¯s situation? ding ding was the son of her romantic rival, shen mei, and the young master. did she¡­ his heart sank. shen ning noticed his thoughts and decided to confide in him, seeking his assistance. ¡°what? ding ding, the young master, is your child?¡± after she roughly explained the situation to housekeeper luo, his eyes widened in astonishment. ¡°shh, keep your voice down,¡± shen ning raised her index finger and her eyes reddened. ¡°so, i¡¯m very worried about his upbringing and feel guilty for not being a good mother. i can¡¯t provide him with the love he deserves. i want to understand his situation.¡± ¡°no wonder, no wonder,¡± housekeeper luo mumbled, emotionally stirred. ¡°i always wondered why she could be so indifferent to ding ding. she puts on one act in front of the young master and another behind his back. she completely disregards the child. now 1 understand.¡± as he spoke, he wiped his tears with a tissue and shared some details about ding ding with shen ning. listening intently, tears welled up in shen ning¡¯s eyes. coco¡¯s situation was quite similar, further strengthening her determination. ¡°housekeeper luo, please help me. i want to take care of the child personally for a while,¡± she pleaded tearfully. she had made up her mind while the family doctor was bandaging her hand. it was impossible to sneak into the heavily guarded li manor, so she had to find a way to take care of ding ding openly. therefore, she needed housekeeper luo¡¯s assistance.. Chapter 97 - Chapter 97:I Just Want To Take Care Of Him Secretly For A Period Of Time chapter 97:i just want to take care of him secretly for a period of time translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°madam, now that the old madam is back, you can tell her about this situation. she will definitely help you,¡± housekeeper luo suggested. ¡°no,¡± shen ning¡¯s face revealed a hint of hesitation as she shook her head. she hadn¡¯t told housekeeper luo about her past, about giving birth to triplets and having coco and xiao xiao. these two children were her life, and she couldn¡¯t bear to lose them! she could only respond this way, ¡°housekeeper luo, i¡¯m currently unemployed, and my living conditions are not good. ding ding is the young master of the li family, and he will have a better future here. so, 1 don¡¯t want anyone else to know about this. 1 just want to secretly take care of him for a while. once he improves, i¡¯ll leave. that¡¯s the real reason i came to see you. please help me keep this secret.¡± ¡°you¡¯re really sacrificing a lot for this,¡± housekeeper luo understood and nodded. he sighed, ¡°you are truly a great mother, and ding ding is fortunate to have a mother like you. alright, 1 will suggest to the young master tomorrow if we can hire a family psychologist for young master. you can try to apply for the position.¡± ¡°thank you,¡± shen ning smiled gratefully. housekeeper luo looked concerned, ¡°however, that woman, shen mei, is malicious. please be careful¡­¡± shen ning replied with a faint smile, ¡°rest assured, although she¡¯s malicious, her intelligence isn¡¯t as sharp as her malice. 1 have a way to deal with her.¡± at least in the past few encounters, she had been defeated by shen mei. housekeeper luo nodded, ¡°don¡¯t worry; 1 will also help you secretly.¡± shen ning thanked him and left. the night was hazy. she stood under a tree, gazing up at the bedroom upstairs. the study¡¯s light was still on, indicating that li zhenting was still working late. as for the adjacent bedroom, the windows and doors were tightly closed, shrouded in darkness. it seemed that ding ding had already fallen asleep. it was too late; she couldn¡¯t disturb the child¡¯s sleep. she believed that she would soon be able to be with him openly. she turned and quietly left. early the next morning. blue whale kindergarten entrance. after shen ning dropped coco and xiao xiao off at the blue sky kindergarten, she lurked near the blue whale kindergarten entrance. ding ding would be coming to school soon, and she wanted to seize the opportunity to talk to him. a while later, a rolls-royce pulled up. the car door opened, and li zhenting and shen mei got out, one on each side. behind them, lan lan and ding ding got out of the car one after the other. li zhenting held ding ding¡¯s little hand, and at this moment, lan lan ran up and stuck herself to him, forcefully inserting her little hand into his left hand, exuding a sense of happiness. li zhenting smiled and held one child¡¯s hand in each hand, leading them towards the kindergarten gate. shen mei, in high heels, followed closely, holding ding ding¡¯s hand. the family of four walked side by side towards the kindergarten gate. ¡°wow, did you see that? that¡¯s shen mei, the future mrs. li. she¡¯s so beautiful.¡± ¡°yeah, she has a great figure and so much charisma.¡± ¡°and those two kids, they¡¯re so beautiful and cute. shen mei really knows how to raise children. it¡¯s no wonder mr. li is marrying her. anyone would be unwilling to let these two children grow up without a mother.¡± ¡°what a happy family of four, with both talent and looks.¡± the people around them all gazed at the family of four with admiration, praising them. shen ning watched ding ding, who looked exactly like coco, and her heart ached as if it had been cut by a knife. her son was living with that woman, and she couldn¡¯t fathom how his young mind was growing under such circumstances. it was no wonder he had become introverted and cold. but in the current situation, she was helpless. after all, shen mei had also given birth to lan lan for li zhenting. it was clear that li zhenting cherished lan lan very much. as for ding ding, she couldn¡¯t take him away, and she couldn¡¯t compete with li zhenting. her hand rested on her chest, her face turning pale. all she could do was secretly provide ding ding with some motherly love.. Chapter 98 - Chapter 98: What Mommy Said Must Be Right chapter 98: what mommy said must be right translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°mommy, mommy.¡± just as shen ning was in pain, the little guy¡¯s voice suddenly called out to her. shocked, she looked up and realized that she had been outside for a long time. all the parents had left and she was the only one left. at this moment, ding ding noticed her and ran towards her happily. ¡°ding ding.¡± shen ning couldn¡¯t contain her joy and waved at him through the railing. ¡°mommy.¡± the little guy quickly ran over and stretched out his chubby little hand to her. shen ning held his soft little hand with tears in her eyes.¡±ding ding, mommy is so happy to see you.¡± ¡°mommy, did you recognize me as ding ding?¡± ding ding blinked its big eyes and asked curiously when it heard her calling him ding ding. ¡°yes, you¡¯re ding ding, not coco. you¡¯re my dear son.¡± shen ning smiled as tears streamed down her face.¡± ¡°mommy, 1 love you so much.¡± ding ding smiled and shouted happily. his tone was exactly the same as xiao xiao¡¯s. ¡°mommy loves you too.¡± she reached out her hands and caressed his small round face. she smiled, but her tears flowed uncontrollably. ¡°mommy, don¡¯t cry. i¡¯ve already brought the money. i asked butler luo to pay coco and xiaoxiao¡¯s school fees at the academic office. i told uncle luo that coco and xiaoxiao are children from a difficult family and need help, so he helped me pay. don¡¯t work too hard in the future.¡± ding ding withdrew his small hand and took out a large wad of money from his pocket. he handed it to shen ning and said in a childish voice, ¡°don¡¯t worry. this is my red pocket money. it¡¯s not from daddy.¡± shen ning held the money in her hand as tears gushed out like a broken dam. ding ding saw that and thought that the money was too little. he quickly whispered into her ear, ¡°mommy, don¡¯t worry. daddy has plenty of money. i¡¯ll think of a way to steal all his money for you.¡± h ii shen ning opened her mouth, unable to say anything. ¡°ding ding, ding ding, it¡¯s time for class, hurry back to the classroom.¡¯at this moment, the kindergarten teacher called out. ¡°mommy, i¡¯m going to class.¡± ding ding turned around and left. shen ning grabbed his little arm and said anxiously, ¡°ding ding, i will work hard to become your psychological tutor. when the time comes, you must fight for mommy, understand? this way, mommy can be with you. also, when you see mommy in the future, you have to call me auntie. you can¡¯t let anyone know that i¡¯m your biological mommy, including your daddy and grandma. do you understand?¡± ding ding nodded in bafflement, but he knew that what his mommy said must be right. this way, he could be with his mommy every day. ¡°ding ding, mommy can make money. this is your money. keep it for yourself.¡±shen ning stuffed the money back into his hands. however, ding ding stuffed all the money out, then turned around and ran towards the teacher. shen ning held a thick wad of money with both hands. separated by the railing, her clothes were wet with tears. in the ceo¡¯s office of the li corporation. li zhenting sat in front of the computer and looked through the resume page by page. he was hiring a psychology tutor for ding ding. the recruitment notice had only been posted on the talent market for a few hours, and he had already received hundreds of application letters. it was related to his son¡¯s mental health, so he attached great importance to it. of course, he would personally screen them one by one. just as he was looking through the resumes seriously. the doorbell suddenly rang. ¡°enter.¡± he was staring at the computer without looking up. after a while, the door opened automatically. shen ning, who was wearing a work dress and had no makeup on, slowly walked in with an envelope in her hand.. Chapter 99 - Chapter 99: Is She Crazy? chapter 99: is she crazy? translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation li zhenting¡¯s eyes remained glued to the computer screen, his expression intensely focused. ¡°mr. li,¡± shen ning gently uttered as she stood by his desk. li zhenting was in the midst of reviewing a resume. it belonged to a twenty-two-year-old girl named luo lili, a graduate of the esteemed american institution, texas great university, renowned for psychology. her work history also included a stint at one of the united states¡¯ most prestigious psychological organizations. judging from the resume alone, she appeared to be a highly suitable candidate for ding ding. so deeply engrossed in his reading, he hadn¡¯t responded even after shen ning had called out twice. ¡°mr. li,¡± shen ning had to raise her voice slightly. this time, li zhenting finally looked up, his gaze shifting from the screen. in a heartbeat, he straightened up, his face turning a shade akin to encountering a ghost. after a moment of shock, he lashed out angrily, ¡°why are you here again?¡± he followed with a sneer, ¡°are you here to repay the money?¡± ¡°no,¡± shen ning replied, her brows furrowing slightly as she shook her head. ¡°even if you trampled on me and drained every drop of my blood, i still couldn¡¯t repay that much money.¡± ¡°then what brings you here?¡± li zhenting questioned, his brows furrowing, and a trace of disdain flashing in his eyes. ¡°mr. li, 1 heard that you are recruiting a psychological expert, and i¡¯d like to give it a try,¡± shen ning said earnestly, her lips pressed together. li zhenting was momentarily stunned before bursting into laughter, as though he had heard the most incredulous international joke. he regarded shen ning with an incredulous look, ¡°shen ning, are you so bored with life that you¡¯ve come to try out for the position of a psychologist for my son? do you truly believe you have that kind of standing?¡± this woman had caused him trouble, and now she wanted to involve his son. was she out of her mind? what made her think he would even consider her? it was preposterous! however, shen ning remained composed. she raised her head and spoke calmly, ¡°mr. li, 1 understand that 1 may not hold much significance in your eyes. but i do possess certain strengths. while i may not be the best, 1 believe 1 am the most suitable for your son. please trust me.¡± after li zhenting regained his composure, he sneered, ¡°shen ning, do you have nothing better to do? leave immediately. if you persist in disrupting my work, i¡¯ll blacklist you, and you¡¯ll never set foot in li corporation again.¡± his handsome face exuded arrogance. it appeared that the front desk receptionist had grown lax, allowing a woman to easily enter his ceo office. unacceptable! as he was about to pick up the internal phone to voice his complaint, shen ning, still composed, remarked, ¡°mr. li, it doesn¡¯t matter if you look down on me. however, 1 must remind you that since you posted the job opening, 1 have the right to interview for the position. you cannot obstruct or insult me. furthermore, 1 want to reiterate that should 1 become your son¡¯s family teacher, my services will come at a cost, and that cost won¡¯t be insignificant. that¡¯s all 1 have to say. the resume is right here; you can examine it at your leisure. 1¡¯11 take my leave now.¡± she placed the resume on li zhenting¡¯s desk, offered him a flirtatious smile, and confidently exited the room. li zhenting burst into laughter again, though this time, it was laughter borne of irritation. regret, high fees¡­ these words struck him as utterly amusing. could this woman truly be serious? had she eaten something peculiar last night to display such audacious confidence before him? on what basis did she assume he would select her as his son¡¯s family teacher? just because of her minor cleverness? today, he had truly broadened his horizons. it was hard to believe there were such brazen women in the world. however, he understood. women who consistently feigned indifference in his presence, as though they cared not for fame or fortune, were deliberately vying for his attention, all with the aim of getting close to him! he knew these superficial women all too well! the more they acted in this manner, the more repulsed he felt, and the less inclined he was to entertain them! without even glancing at shen ning¡¯s resume, he tore it in half, released a derisive laugh, and discarded it into the trash can.. Chapter 100 - Chapter 100: She Was Not Gentle chapter 100: she was not gentle translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation as soon as shen ning returned to guqi, she noticed a refined and elegant man seated in her office. li secretary had already prepared tea for him. ¡°mr. jing, you¡­ you came by today,¡± shen ning began hesitantly, offering a faint smile. jing chenxi, with his charming and observant eyes, replied, ¡°ning ning, 1 had some business nearby and thought i¡¯d drop by to see you.¡± ¡°oh, thank you,¡± shen ning responded. she took a seat across from him, resting her hands on her knees. jing chenxi gazed at her with shining eyes. she felt somewhat uneasy, avoiding his gaze. ¡°ning ning, is the company facing any difficulties?¡± jing chenxi asked, suddenly concerned and considerate. shen ning was taken aback, shaking her head. ¡°it¡¯s manageable.¡± ¡°ning ning, 1 hope you can consider me a friend. if there¡¯s anything bothering you, as long as i can help, i¡¯ll do my best,¡± jing chenxi spoke after a brief silence. behind guqi was the capital of li zhenting, and now that shen ning had taken back all the shares, considering li zhenting¡¯s current attitude towards her, he might not be willing to continue investing. jing chenxi was well aware of this. ¡°okay, i will,¡± shen ning replied. she was still hesitant to seek his assistance regarding the company¡¯s finances. she had a plan in mind; if she couldn¡¯t raise the necessary funds, she was prepared to mortgage part of the company for some cash flow. as soon as the perfume hit the market, the capital would quickly return. she didn¡¯t want to owe anyone any favors, including li zhenting. that day, when li zhenting demanded three billion from her as compensation, she had understood that, as a woman, she had to be independent and self-reliant, not dependent on any man! in the afternoon, li zhenting returned home early. upon entering the living room, he saw ding ding sitting on a small stool in the lounge, an easel set up in front of him, and a paintbrush in hand. ¡°ding ding, how about i find a family psychologist for you?¡± he crouched down next to him and asked. ding ding¡¯s eyes lit up. this morning, mommy had mentioned getting him a family psychologist, so she must be coming to be with him. ¡°okay,¡± ding ding replied, a rare smile lighting up his face as he turned to him, revealing a row of small, pearly white teeth. ding ding seldom smiled, but when he did, his bright, sparkling eyes shone like celestial bodies, his little face warm and incredibly adorable. li zhenting¡¯s heart warmed in response. while finding a family therapist for ding ding had been his idea, he still wanted to know his son¡¯s opinion. after all, only when his son accepted it would it be easier to achieve the desired results. ¡°so, what kind of therapist would you like? a male or a female? young or older?¡± li zhenting asked, smiling as he probed. ding ding didn¡¯t hesitate. he answered naturally, ¡°1 want a female therapist, someone pretty and gentle.¡± li zhenting chuckled at his response, as it aligned perfectly with his own thoughts. it seemed that the girl named loli was definitely to his son¡¯s liking. li zhenting took out his phone and placed a photo of loli in front of ding ding, asking affectionately, ¡°son, how about her? she seems to fit your requirements perfectly.¡± he thought his son would happily nod and say yes. however, he didn¡¯t expect ding ding¡¯s immediate reaction upon seeing loli¡¯s photo. he shook his head vigorously, almost like a drumbeat. ¡°no, i don¡¯t want her.¡± li zhenting¡¯s smile froze on his face. he had chosen her specifically for ding ding, and it had taken him at least an hour of his precious time. ¡°why not? she seems to match your requirements,¡± he asked, perplexed. ¡°no, i don¡¯t want her. she¡¯s not gentle,¡± ding ding replied emotionlessly. ¡°then, what kind of gentleness do you want?¡± li zhenting¡¯s head started to ache. ¡°like this,¡± ding ding suddenly pointed to the painting on his easel. li zhenting raised his gaze and finally noticed that ding ding had already painted a woman on his easel. as he examined it closely, his face darkened instantly. the woman on the easel unmistakably resembled shen ning! Chapter 101 - Chapter 101:I Only Want Her chapter 101:i only want her translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°ding ding, is the woman on this canvas your mommy?¡± li zhenting contemplated for a moment before asking. since shen mei and shen ning were half-sisters and shared some resemblance, it would have made sense if ding ding had depicted their mother. ¡°no, she¡¯s not,¡± ding ding immediately denied. ¡°then who is she?¡± li zhenting¡¯s expression darkened once again. ¡°she¡¯s an aunt, a very beautiful and gentle aunt. 1 want only her,¡± ding ding replied without hesitation. li zhenting¡¯s heart sank suddenly. ¡°do you know her?¡± he asked immediately. as ding ding began to speak, he noticed his father¡¯s intense gaze, as if trying to trap him with his words. the clever little boy dropped his coloring pen, stood up, and shouted, ¡°1 don¡¯t know her.¡± then, he rushed over to the sofa where li wanqing was reading a newspaper. climbing onto her, he wrapped his arms around her neck and, with a sweet, childlike tone, he said, ¡°grandma, 1 don¡¯t want any other child psychologist, i only want her.¡± ¡°okay, okay.¡± the chubby little boy¡¯s body clung to her, and he smelled sweet like milk. li wanqing set aside the newspaper and immediately embraced her own grandson, agreeing repeatedly. at this moment, li zhenting already had a foreboding sense that something was not right. ¡°zhenting, isn¡¯t a child psychologist just someone who plays with children and talks to them? let the child choose for himself. only when he likes the teacher will he be willing to accept their guidance. that¡¯s how you get into a child¡¯s heart. what does a man like you know?¡± scolded li wanqing, her tone full of reproach. zhenting was left speechless. ¡°you men, if you don¡¯t understand children, then don¡¯t interfere so much. this matter must be decided by the child,¡± li wanqing sternly ordered. ¡°yay, that¡¯s great!¡± ding ding clapped his hands in delight. zhenting had a face full of frustration. ¡°daddy!¡± at that moment, lanlan descended the stairs, wearing a pretty dress and little high-heeled shoes, bounding down towards zhenting. she opened her arms and lunged at zhenting. zhenting watched her almost trip down the stairs several times and was so scared that he bent over and picked her up. ¡°daddy.¡± lanlan wrapped her little arms around zhenting¡¯s neck and planted a kiss on his face. she smiled and said, ¡°mommy said daddy is taking me and ding ding out to play today, and we¡¯ll have dinner together, right?¡± ¡°right.¡± zhenting smiled and nodded. the reason he had come home so early was also because he had planned to take the children out to play today. however, to his surprise, ding ding, who was sitting on li wanqing¡¯s lap, shouted loudly, ¡°1 don¡¯t want to go, 1 want to stay with grandma!¡± he held onto li wanqing¡¯s arm with a look of disdain for them. ¡°ding ding.¡± at that moment, shen mei, dressed in a fashionable and alluring one-shoulder dress, stepped out of the elevator. the instant she appeared, she overheard ding ding¡¯s words and approached with a radiant smile on her face, speaking warmly. ¡°today, daddy has taken special time to take you and lanlan out for some fun. if you don¡¯t go, you¡¯d be missing out on daddy¡¯s heartfelt gesture. we¡¯re starting with a trip to the aquarium to see the dolphins. both you and lanlan can interact with them, take photos, and then we¡¯ll head to yide resort for some delicious seafood barbecue. many other kids are enjoying themselves on the beach there.¡± li wanqing gently caressed ding ding¡¯s cheek, her words filled with affection. ¡°ding ding, come along. it¡¯ll be wonderful to spend time with daddy and mommy. staying at home can get quite dull.¡± ding ding reluctantly gave in. ¡°yay, that¡¯s fantastic, ding ding! let¡¯s hold hands, share our love, and promise not to argue, alright?¡± lanlan wriggled out of zhenting¡¯s embrace, rushed over to ding ding, and held his hand, speaking in a playful manner. her words brought smiles to everyone¡¯s faces. after a little while, the family of four walked outside hand in hand.. Chapter 102 - Chapter 102: Chapter 102-Encounter on a Narrow Road chapter 102: chapter 102-encounter on a narrow road translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation in the zhengsheng apartment, coco and xiaoxiao were enthusiastically kneading dough and beating eggs. today marked mommy¡¯s birthday, and they were determined to create a homemade birthday cake to surprise her. ¡°hey, 1 wonder how dingding is doing. 1 miss him so much,¡± xiaoxiao commented as she mixed flour. her cherubic face was dusted with flour, and her big, expressive eyes blinked. ¡°yeah, i miss him too, along with grandma. 1 even miss that tiny bit of our unreliable daddy,¡± coco sighed, setting aside the egg she had been holding. ever since the day shen ning discovered the secret of coco and dingding swapping identities, she had strictly prohibited coco from sneaking into the li manor. it was deemed far too risky. li zhenting had already grown suspicious of dingding, even taking him to see a doctor, which wasn¡¯t ideal for dingding. moreover, it wasn¡¯t in coco¡¯s best interest either. what if shen mei found out? besides, secretly, she preferred to keep coco¡¯s existence hidden from li zhenting. so for now, coco and xiaoxiao could only remain at home day in and day out. a little while later, the phone started to ring. coco immediately rushed over to answer it. it was shen ning on the other end. she informed them that she would be dining out with someone tonight and told them to have dinner at home, finish their homework, and go to bed early without waiting for her. coco grew anxious. today was mommy¡¯s birthday, and they were in the middle of making a birthday cake for her. how could they not wait for her? he wanted to say more, but it seemed that shen ning was in a hurry and quite busy. she quickly spoke a few sentences and hung up the phone. coco put the phone down, and the two little ones slumped onto the sofa. they really wanted to play with dingding and spend time with daddy and mommy! as nightfall arrived, a gentle sea breeze began to waft through the air. at yide resort. shen ning had rushed here right after finishing work, feeling a bit flustered. this place was renowned in the capital for its seafood buffet and barbecue, featuring the freshest catches straight from the sea. tables were arranged on the beach, and the place was bustling with patrons. at the most luxurious table, flickering candles and alternating neon lights created a dreamy and enchanting ambiance. seated there was jing chenxi, his long legs elegantly crossed, exuding an air of grace and nobility. ¡°sorry for being late,¡± shen ning approached with a hint of apology in her expression. tonight, she was treating him to dinner as a gesture of gratitude for his assistance during this period. however, she had been held up at work, and she felt a tad embarrassed about it. ¡°no worries, ning ning. please, have a seat,¡± jing chenxi smiled warmly at her. she appeared surprisingly neat, without any jewelry. ¡°have you placed your order? let me take care of that for you,¡± shen ning said as she put down her bag and got down to business. at the entrance, a luxury car pulled in. ¡°mummy, i want grilled oysters and big lobsters,¡± lanlan exclaimed with joy as she hopped out of the car, taking in the sparkling beach scene. ¡°sure, you can order whatever you like, but remember, young ladies should be elegant and not shout,¡± shen mei admonished while holding her hand. ¡°okay,¡± lanlan fell silent and reached for dingding¡¯s hand. dingding was not pleased and pulled his hand away. however, lanlan didn¡¯t care and firmly grabbed his hand, holding it tightly. li zhenting parked the car and walked over, leading them toward the most luxurious table in the center. he had reserved this table in the morning. meanwhile, shen ning and jing chenxi had just returned from the beach with a bounty of fresh seafood. as they approached the table, shen ning¡¯s face suddenly changed.. Chapter 103 - Chapter 103: As Long as I’m Happy chapter 103: as long as i¡¯m happy translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation she noticed a family of four occupying the adjacent table, and her gaze immediately fixated on the tall and graceful figure of li zhenting. walking behind him, shen mei led lanlan and dingding, all with radiant expressions, toward their table. she was left in awe. heavens, it seemed that destiny had a way of showing up everywhere! even during a simple meal, amidst this vast expanse of beach with hundreds of tables, they had coincidentally ended up side by side, becoming neighboring diners. it was unbelievably serendipitous! however, upon further contemplation, she realized there was nothing particularly peculiar about it. she had invited jing chenxi to dinner and selected the finest table to match his stature. likewise, li zhenting, the wealthiest man in the entire capital, had surely chosen the best spot as well. consequently, the probability of their paths crossing tonight was easily around ninety percent! what she hadn¡¯t anticipated, though, was that they would both be dining here tonight. her gaze fixed on dingding¡¯s face. in return, dingding was looking right at her. their eyes met. dingding¡¯s clear eyes held a smile. shen ning was overwhelmed with a blend of surprise and joy, her eyes growing slightly teary as she gazed at him. dingding pulled his hand free from lanlan¡¯s grasp and was about to run towards mommy. but shen ning signaled to him with her eyes, and he paused, remembering her morning instructions. he reluctantly suppressed his impulse. ¡°oh, sister, you¡¯re here too,¡± shen mei noticed shen ning and warmly approached to greet her. ¡°yes,¡± shen ning replied with a casual ¡°yes.¡± at that moment, li zhenting also spotted shen ning and jing chenxi. he was momentarily taken aback, his face tensing up. this woman just wouldn¡¯t disappear, would she? encountering her here of all places, and to make things even more awkward, they had ended up as neighboring diners. was she doing this intentionally? ¡°mr. li,¡± jing chenxi stood up and extended his hand to li zhenting, initiating the greeting. after briefly shaking hands with jing chenxi, li zhenting withdrew his hand and replied with a smirk, ¡°mr. jing really has a taste for elegance, choosing such a lively place for a private rendezvous. are you seeking others¡¯ blessings or just trying to make people envious?¡± his words carried a clear tone of sarcasm, apparent to most people. however, jing chenxi ignored the sarcasm and simply smiled,¡± ningning invited me tonight, and i selected this place.¡± she invited him! li zhenting¡¯s eyes flashed with a hint of disdain. he cast a cold, mocking glance at shen ning. shen ning was also looking in his direction. their eyes met briefly, and li zhenting¡¯s gaze showed a trace of disgust before he quickly averted his eyes. shen ning also withdrew her gaze and calmly took her seat. at first, she had felt a bit uneasy, but seeing the disdainful look in li zhenting¡¯s eyes had an unexpected calming effect on her. ¡°you don¡¯t like me being here? well, that¡¯s your issue. this place doesn¡¯t belong to you alone. if you can be here, so can 1. besides, 1 arrived first. if it makes you unhappy, then so be it. my happiness matters more.¡± she smiled and struck up a conversation with jing chenxi. if it weren¡¯t for dingding¡¯s presence, she would have been even more carefree and indifferent. ¡°daddy, it¡¯s her, it¡¯s this lady. 1 want her to be my therapist,¡± dingding suddenly had a bad feeling when he saw mommy dining with a strange man. he glanced at daddy, who had a dark and surly expression, and immediately ran over to point at shen ning earnestly. this time, li zhenting was furious. sure enough, this kid wanted shen ning. ¡°no, she¡¯s not a therapist at all,¡± he categorically refused. ¡°but 1 want her. i¡¯ll only study well and make progress if she becomes my therapist. 1 won¡¯t listen to anyone else,¡± dingding protested vehemently, his attitude resolute. now, li zhenting was even more infuriated.. Chapter 104 - Chapter 104: Touched to the Point of Crying chapter 104: touched to the point of crying translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°what do you understand, kid? she¡¯s not a real therapist. she¡¯ll only teach you bad things,¡± li zhenting glanced at shen ning, who was helping jing chenxi with his food, and spoke with disdain and contempt. ¡°no, she¡¯s beautiful and gentle. only she will teach me sincerely. besides, i don¡¯t want anyone else but her,¡± dingding was angry, sitting sulking in his chair. li zhenting was not in the mood to compromise this time. what did a five-year-old know? shen ning, with her ever-changing nature and tricks, would do nothing but lead his son astray. what else could she possibly teach him? he would never agree. meanwhile, shen mei had been watching the show with glee on the sidelines. but when she saw dingding insist on having shen ning as his family therapist, she couldn¡¯t contain her frustration. clearly, dingding wasn¡¯t her biological child, that¡¯s why he never grew close to her. these past few days, li wanqing had been staying at home, and dingding clung to her whenever he returned. shen mei couldn¡¯t find a good opportunity to intervene. plus, lanlan stuck to dingding every day as well. she was having a hard time making a decision. li zhenting hadn¡¯t said he wouldn¡¯t marry her anymore. if, by any chance, something happened to dingding, she would be sabotaging herself. ¡°zhenting, it seems like tonight jing chenxi is going to propose to my sister. oh, what a night it is! the stars are sparkling, the sea breeze is blowing ¨C it¡¯s truly a beautiful evening,¡± shen mei said after a while, watching a flower girl approaching shen ning with a large basket of vibrant roses. she strolled over to li zhenting, smiled, and continued. ¡°propose?¡± li zhenting¡¯s ears perked up, and he glanced at shen ning. he saw a flower girl carrying a large basket of roses approaching her. at this moment, on the sandy beach, with the setting sun casting a warm glow over the sea, it was indeed a breathtaking sight. li zhenting¡¯s expression darkened briefly, and he felt a surge of anger inside him. however, he quickly sneered, squinting his eyes as he forcefully suppressed his anger. she was just a woman he didn¡¯t want. if someone wanted to propose to her, why should he care? did he really need to get angry over this? but¡­ if she intended to harm his son, he wouldn¡¯t stand by and do nothing. his son was still young, and he had to protect him. by now, the flower girl had delivered the large basket of roses to shen ning. the fresh roses still glistened with dew, clearly air-shipped from the other hemisphere. when the sea breeze blew, the fragrance of the roses filled the air, and nearby guests couldn¡¯t help but turn their attention to them. at this moment, shen ning felt very uneasy. the moment she saw the roses, she had an impulse to escape. she hadn¡¯t expected jing chenxi to pull this on her again. in truth, she had simply wanted to find a suitable place to treat him to a meal as a token of her appreciation, without any ulterior motives. but it was evident that jing chenxi had different plans. ¡°ning ning, happy birthday,¡± jing chenxi said, picking up the most beautiful rose from the basket and presenting it to her with deep affection. ¡°happy birthday?¡± shen ning sat up straight, taken aback. was today her birthday? she was momentarily stunned but then suddenly remembered that today was indeed her birthday, her twenty-fourth birthday! ¡°thank you, thank you,¡± she said, her eyes welling up with tears as she accepted the rose and expressed her gratitude repeatedly. he only wanted to wish her a happy birthday! she was deeply moved. for so many years, since her mother had become paralyzed, no one had remembered her birthday or celebrated it for her. but jing chenxi not only remembered her birthday but was the first to celebrate it for her. how could she not be touched? the waiter promptly brought out a birthday cake. it was a nine-tiered cake, quite large! ¡°ning ning, your birthday must be happy and joyful,¡± jing chenxi stood up, walked over to her, bent down, and kissed her on the forehead affectionately. ¡°thank you,¡± shen ning sat there, stunned, unable to find words other than to express her gratitude. ¡°kiss her, kiss her!¡± suddenly, someone on the beach started chanting. a handsome couple together on the beach could only be lovers, right? those couples deeply in love were taking the opportunity to flaunt their romance, shouting loudly. the beach erupted in cheers.. Chapter 105 - Chapter 105: Is She Really the Best for Ding Ding? chapter 105: is she really the best for ding ding? translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°no!¡± shen ning exclaimed, her anxiety pushing her to stand up and take several steps back. she looked at jing chenxi with a plea for help. in response, jing chenxi gave her a reassuring smile. ¡°don¡¯t worry, i won¡¯t.¡± shen ning finally breathed a sigh of relief, feeling more at ease. she had considered leaving abruptly, but it was her treat, and she didn¡¯t want to be impolite. ¡°everyone, please settle down. she¡¯s my sister,¡± jing chenxi gestured to the crowd, encouraging them to quiet down. gradually, the crowd hushed, and shen ning returned to her seat. ¡°happy birthday,¡± it turned out it was mummy¡¯s birthday today, and as shen ning sat down, dingding couldn¡¯t contain his excitement. he rushed over, his voice sweet and tender as he wished her. ¡°thank you,¡± shen ning replied, her eyes moistening as she looked at her son¡¯s innocent face. she hadn¡¯t expected to spend this birthday with him. she glanced at jing chenxi, who understood everything as he gazed at dingding¡¯s face and nodded in agreement. ¡°can i call you mommy?¡± dingding asked in a hushed tone, leaning close to shen ning¡¯s ear. ¡°for now, you can, but only once. after that, you can¡¯t call me that in front of others,¡± shen ning whispered back, not wanting to show too much affection in front of everyone. ¡°okay, then 1¡¯11 whisper it just this once. mommy, happy birthday!¡± dingding whispered with a bright smile, planting a kiss on her cheek. shen ning returned the gesture by hugging and kissing him. ¡°i want to play there too,¡± lanlan watched dingding and shen ning interact so affectionately, feeling envious. she let go of her inhibitions and ran over. ¡°auntie, happy birthday to you!¡± children are innocent by nature. lanlan came over to shen ning, her eyes filled with a smile as she congratulated her. ¡°thank you, lanlan,¡± shen ning immediately smiled and thanked her, giving her small hand a gentle squeeze. ¡°auntie, dingding really likes you, and i like you too,¡± lanlan blinked her big eyes and said whatever came to her mind. ¡°thank you, lanlan, and dingding. auntie likes both of you too.¡± shen ning looked at the little girl with delicate features, lively eyes, and an overall air of privilege. although her behavior could be a bit bossy, she was still clever and adorable. shen ning smiled and continued, ¡°in the future, you and dingding should respect each other, get along well, and not argue. you¡¯re siblings, and you should help each other and progress together, understand?¡± she had heard from coco that lanlan often bullied dingding. but lanlan was just a child, growing up in that environment, so she couldn¡¯t blame her. therefore, she took this opportunity to teach her. lanlan nodded in agreement. at that moment, the lights on the dining table all went out. it was time for shen ning to make a wish. shen ning closed her eyes, made her wish, blew out the candles, and began cutting the cake. the cake was simply too large, and there was no way they could finish it all. shen ning wanted to cut it and share it with the neighboring guests. dingding and lanlan, the two little ones, enthusiastically helped distribute the cake to the guests. every time an adult thanked them and praised their good behavior, their faces lit up with happiness. this was the first time dingding and lanlan had learned to share something good with others, and the praise from the adults made them especially excited. sitting to the side, li zhenting had his arms crossed and his eyes half-closed, watching the happy interaction between his two children and shen ning. the intimacy and naturalness of it all surprised him. what kind of charm did shen ning possess that could captivate his two children to the point of leaving their biological mother behind? could it be that she was the most suitable for dingding? thoughts of the scene in guqi square, where shen ning talked to dingding that day, flashed through his mind. the way they interacted seemed so familiar, as if they had known each other for a long time. his face darkened.. could it be that shen ning had set her sights on dingding a long time ago, wanting to use him for some purpose? Chapter 106 - Chapter 106: Even His Five-Year-Old Son Was Seduced chapter 106: even his five-year-old son was seduced translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°zhenting, it seems like mr. jing is really good to my sister. he must love her a lot,¡± shen mei looked at jing chenxi, deliberately showing envy on her face. throughout the entire evening, jing chenxi had devoted himself entirely to shen ning. he was busy attending to her every need, cutting the cake together with her, wiping her sweat, and fetching things for her ¨C his care was evident. li zhenting¡¯s eyes grew dark like a deep abyss, his eyebrows slightly furrowed. he casually asked, ¡°what about your sister? does she love him?¡± ¡°i think she must love him. otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t come out for dinner, especially in a place like this. look around; every table has couples. it¡¯s quite obvious. besides, a man as outstanding and wealthy as mr. jing, which woman wouldn¡¯t love him?¡± shen mei thought for a moment and carefully crafted her response. li zhenting¡¯s face darkened even more, an inexplicable anger simmering in his chest. this woman was truly despicable. it was one thing to seduce adult men, but to target his five-year-old son as well ¨C what kind of person was she to do such a thing? yide resort¡¯s parking lot. ¡°mr. jing, thank you for your warm hospitality tonight, and thank you for celebrating my birthday,¡± jing chenxi and shen ning stood at the exit. shen ning sincerely expressed her gratitude. originally, they had agreed that she would pay for dinner tonight, but jing chenxi insisted on covering the bill. she had intended to stand her ground, but financial constraints and the fact that jing chenxi had custom-made the cake and flowers for her, which undoubtedly incurred significant expenses, made her realize that she couldn¡¯t afford it for now. ¡°as long as you¡¯re happy, it¡¯s all worth it,¡± jing chenxi smiled. shen ning checked her watch. ¡°mr. jing, let¡¯s end it here tonight. i¡¯ll be on my way.¡± she didn¡¯t want to spend too much time alone with him in one place, fearing it might cause unnecessary trouble. after all, he had a fiancee. she thought that in the future, she should try to avoid meeting him whenever possible. as li zhenting had mentioned, he was not an ordinary man, and being seen with him frequently could easily lead to rumors, which wouldn¡¯t be a good thing. she turned to leave. ¡°ning ning.¡± jing chenxi had a bit of red wine tonight. he reached out and held shen ning¡¯s hand, smiling. ¡°don¡¯t go just yet. 1 have something to give you.¡± he took out an exquisite jewelry box from his bag and handed it to her, saying, ¡°this is my birthday gift for you. open it and take a look.¡± shen ning was startled when she saw the jewelry box. it was obviously quite valuable. her smile vanished, and she immediately shook her head. ¡°no, mr. jing, i can¡¯t accept this. you¡¯ve already been very generous tonight, and i can¡¯t take more from you.¡± she firmly returned the jewelry box to his hand and turned to leave. she couldn¡¯t linger here any longer; otherwise, it might lead to further misunderstandings. ¡°ning ning.¡± however, as she began to walk away, jing chenxi reached out and grabbed her arm from behind. he spoke sincerely, ¡°can¡¯t you give me a chance? i love you.¡± shen ning stood there, stunned. ¡°no, mr. jing, you¡¯ve had too much to drink, and you¡¯re acting too hastily. please go back. i need to get home to take care of my child,¡± she said, gently removing his hand from her arm. ¡°ning ning, i¡¯m not acting hastily. i¡¯ve been waiting for you all these years,¡± jing chenxi¡¯s eyes were slightly warm, filled with a painful longing. ¡°for so many years, you haven¡¯t given me a chance at all?¡± shen ning pressed her lips together and replied earnestly, ¡°mr. jing, you are a noble and wealthy scion of the jing family, while i am just an ordinary divorced woman who has a child. it¡¯s not fair to you, and i¡¯m not worthy of your love. miss jiang xinyun is the one who is most suitable for you. you should go find her..¡± Chapter 107 - Chapter 107: He Actually Followed Me Here! chapter 107: he actually followed me here! translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°no, i know best who is most suitable for me, and i¡¯ve never loved her. the woman 1 love has always been you,¡± jing chenxi declared passionately. ¡°now that we¡¯re both single, free from any commitments, this is an opportunity fate has given us. ning ning, please don¡¯t reject me so hastily. take some time to think it over. in the years ahead, i¡¯ll make every effort to ensure your happiness, as if you were a queen. trust me, i have the capability and the confidence.¡± shen ning stood there, stunned. any woman would have been deeply moved by such a heartfelt confession from an exceptional man. but she couldn¡¯t. ¡°mr. jing, it¡¯s been so many years. if we could have been together, we would have by now. it¡¯s just not possible between us. please let go.¡± she quickly and resolutely declined, her face displaying her determination, then turned and hurried away. jing chenxi watched her retreating figure in a daze, his eyes filled with a painful, concealed turmoil. what had he done wrong? why was she always unwilling to entrust her heart to him? in the darkness, li zhenting stood beside his luxury car, observing the commotion between the man and woman in the distance. his eyes gleamed with a sinister coldness. after a while, he saw shen ning rush outside, extinguishing her cigarette and then getting into a taxi. li zhenting crushed his cigarette butt, turned, and got into his own car. if this woman hadn¡¯t set her sights on his son, he would have let her go. the three billion dollars were never meant to be repaid by her. after all, when they divorced six years ago, she left with almost nothing, and he had always wanted to compensate her. moreover, the three billion dollars had nothing to do with her. that day, he had deliberately provoked her, but even he couldn¡¯t explain why he did it. but now, she was trying to interfere with his son. when dingding saw her today, the intimacy between them made him feel uneasy. he had to find out what she was up to. after a while, shen ning hailed a taxi and got in. he followed closely behind. half an hour later, the taxi came to a halt in front of an apartment building. he glanced up; it was zhengsheng apartments! for some inexplicable reason, the apartment seemed oddly familiar, as if he had seen it somewhere before. his thoughts were interrupted when shen ning got out of the cab and paid the fare. he promptly parked his car by the roadside and followed her. shen ning entered the apartment, casting a quick glance at her home, shrouded in darkness. it appeared that her two little darlings were already fast asleep. she couldn¡¯t help but smile; her heart warmed at the thought. with a light step, she made her way towards her home. suddenly, it seemed like there were footsteps behind her. she turned and was taken aback. a man¡¯s figure was approaching from not far away, and even in the dim light, she could distinguish him with just one glance. it was li zhenting! this was bad. how had this man tracked her here? what did he want? in an instant, she felt her body break into a cold sweat, every nerve in her body tensed. meanwhile, li zhenting had entered the complex, scanning the limited greenery before him. it suddenly struck him that he had indeed been here before. it was when he had escorted xiaoxiao home. unbelievably, shen ning lived in the same apartment complex as xiaoxiao. this was something he hadn¡¯t anticipated. as he was momentarily lost in thought, shen ning spotted him. he decided to approach her with brisk strides. ¡°what are you doing here?¡± shen ning stared at him with wariness in her eyes. seeing her tense demeanor, li zhenting couldn¡¯t help but smile slyly. ¡°i¡¯ve obviously been tracking you.¡± ¡°tracking me?¡± shen ning scoffed. ¡°i¡¯m penniless and powerless. there¡¯s nothing about me that should interest a wealthy tycoon like you..¡± Chapter 108 - Chapter 108: Not Good, Mommy Is in Danger! chapter 108: not good, mommy is in danger! translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°is that so, shen ning.¡± li zhenting took a few steps closer, his gaze locked onto her. the wicked smile on his face gradually faded, and his voice turned icy. ¡°i¡¯m asking you, what¡¯s your true purpose behind going to such lengths to become my son¡¯s therapist?¡± purpose? ¡°you¡¯re overthinking it,¡± shen ning scoffed. ¡°i just want to take care of a child. of course, i need money right now, and who doesn¡¯t know that mr. li has plenty of it and pays well.¡± li zhenting bent slightly, his eyes coldly fixated on shen ning. ¡°i don¡¯t buy it,¡± he said, ¡°as the mistress of jing chenxi, how much money could you possibly want? is it worth coming to me for such a petty sum?¡± shen ning¡¯s anger flared. this man¡¯s words were too sharp and hurting! ¡°mr. li, it seems sparing your life that day was too kind,¡± she retorted. ¡°the fact that you¡¯re stalking a woman in the dead of night speaks volumes about the darkness and perverseness in your heart. i¡¯m genuinely curious how li group earned its capital. could it be from selling yourself and leeching off wealthy women to get rich?¡± with a hint of mockery, she finished speaking and turned to leave. ¡°shen ning.¡± li zhenting gritted his teeth, then suddenly reached out, grabbing her arm and pinning her against a large tree. he spoke with anger in his voice, ¡°i advise you not to play those tricks in front of me. 1 won¡¯t allow you to harm my son.¡± ¡°is that so?¡± shen ning smiled casually. ¡°do as you wish. however, as long as there are jobs that pay, i¡¯ll actively pursue them.¡± a sinister smile crept onto li zhenting¡¯s face. shen ning toyed with a strand of hair near her ear and offered a sly smile, locking eyes with him. ¡°mr. li, if you¡¯ve got the means, then stop me from earning this money. but if not, i¡¯m determined to do so. oh, and speaking of your son, he really likes me, and i¡¯ve grown fond of him too. despite being his father, you have no right to interfere with us, do you? my advice is to steer clear of these late-night activities of tracking women. if your son were to find out, it might tarnish your image as a great father.¡± li zhenting seethed in silence. shen ning chuckled lightly, lifting her shoulders in a nonchalant shrug. li zhenting clenched his fists. as shen ning turned to leave, he once again pressed her against a towering tree trunk. this time, due to his excessive force, he accidentally tore off two buttons from her shoulder, revealing her slender, fair neck¡­ in the dim moonlight, the woman¡¯s immaculate, graceful neck was tantalizingly visible, her skin as pure as snow, her features irresistibly seductive, and her lips plump¡­ a long-forgotten surge of desire stirred within li zhenting¡¯s heart, and he swallowed hard, lowering his head abruptly. shen ning paled in shock. it appeared that this man would require her to make a bold move once again! her fingers delved into her pocket. downstairs at the apartment building, coco and xiaoxiao hid behind the flowerbed, peeking in their direction. after finishing making the cake and having dinner, the two little ones had been waiting at home for shen ning to return. today was mommy¡¯s birthday, and they wanted to surprise her, so they couldn¡¯t fall asleep. they turned off the lights and lay on the balcony, counting the stars while waiting for mommy. when they finally saw mommy¡¯s figure approaching, they were delighted. they rushed inside, lit the candles on the cake, and planned to sing the birthday song for her as a big surprise. but after waiting for a while, they didn¡¯t see mommy coming in. they felt puzzled. they went back to the balcony to check, and to their dismay, mommy had been stopped by a man. the two little ones were now very anxious. mommy was in danger! coco immediately grabbed a clothes hanger, and xiaoxiao picked up a wooden stick and followed closely behind.. Chapter 109 - Chapter 109: My Son Beaten Up chapter 109: my son beaten up translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation the two little ones got out of the elevator and lurked beside the flowerbed, peering their little heads out. and as they peered¡­ they happened to see li zhenting, for some unknown reason, pressing mommy against a big tree and lowering his head as if he wanted to bite her. ¡°oh no, the bad guy is bullying mommy.¡± xiaoxiao was extremely angry, picking up a stone from the flowerbed. but coco, with his sharp eyes, took the stone from xiaoxiao¡¯s hand. ¡°xiaoxiao, you stay here and don¡¯t move. 1¡¯11 go help mommy.¡± he gently placed xiaoxiao by the flowerbed, put down the clothes hanger, and, drawing from his experience of fighting with wu lili last time, knew that the clothes hanger might be used against him by adults. so, he sneaked forward, hiding behind a tree, ready to use his advantage in throwing lead balls to pick up the stone and hurl it viciously towards li zhenting¡¯s back. ¡°ouch.¡± li zhenting¡¯s mind was momentarily hazy, his head was burning hot, and he suddenly lowered his head and kissed shen ning¡¯s lips. shen ning hadn¡¯t expected such a scene to happen again, and for a moment, her brain went blank. it wasn¡¯t until a stone struck li zhenting¡¯s back, causing him to cry out in pain, that shen ning snapped back to reality. she quickly gave him a forceful shove, then hurriedly ran towards the apartment. but just as she reached the entrance, she suddenly remembered that this devil was still behind her. she couldn¡¯t let him know about coco and xiaoxiao¡¯s presence. so, she urgently turned and ran towards another entrance. li zhenting was pushed back several steps and almost fell to the ground. he steadied himself and reached for his back. just now, it should have been a stone that struck his back, and it still throbbed with pain. who did this? he turned around, looking around alertly, and then bent down. sure enough, there was a stone lying under his feet. he was furious. this was unbelievable ¨C someone had dared to attack him. was there no justice left in this world? he was about to go and hold someone accountable. but then he thought about it. it was late at night, and he had sneaked into someone else¡¯s residential area. moreover, he had just impulsively kissed shen ning. who could he turn to for justice in this situation? he had to accept his bad luck. he glanced in the direction shen ning had fled, gave it some thought, and then turned to leave. coco hid beneath a big tree, and when li zhenting turned around, his eyes widened in shock. oh no, he messed up big time! he had actually thrown a stone at his own dad! what should he do now? his dad might be a bit bad sometimes, but a son hitting his own father didn¡¯t seem right. for a moment, he scratched his head, not knowing what to do. fortunately, li zhenting just hesitated briefly and then left. ¡°big brother,¡± xiaoxiao called softly from the side. ¡°coming,¡± coco replied. he watched his dad leaving with reluctance, wanting him to stay and hold him. his dad¡¯s strong arms felt comforting when he hugged him. but he remembered his mom¡¯s advice and reluctantly walked back home. ¡°big brother, mommy went to the neighboring building. hurry, let¡¯s go and prepare a surprise for mommy,¡± xiaoxiao said, holding his hand and running. coco quickly regained his spirits. after all, he had a gentle and beautiful mommy; that was already pretty good. ¡°all right.¡± the two little ones ran towards the elevator. shen ning stood in the neighboring hallway, looking through the window, and saw that li zhenting had already left the residential compound and started his car. she finally breathed a sigh of relief. soon, his car drove away. shen ning leaned against the wall, her face flushed. she hurriedly fastened the buttons on her clothes; two buttons had been torn off. with her clothes tidied, she walked towards her home. ¡°happy birthday, happy birthday¡­¡± just as shen ning unlocked her door, the living room, shrouded in darkness, echoed with a birthday song. it was playing from coco¡¯s phone, accompanied by the sweet voices of the two little ones. she was utterly surprised.. Chapter 110 - Chapter 110: Ding Ding Forced the Abdication chapter 110: ding ding forced the abdication translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°mommy, happy birthday.¡± coco and xiaoxiao ran up to her, each grabbing one of her hands. ¡°coco, xiaoxiao,¡± shen ning choked back her emotions. ¡°mommy, we made a birthday cake for you. quick, make a wish,¡± xiaoxiao said, her head held high and a joyful smile on her face. ¡°mommy, we added honey to the birthday cake. it¡¯s really sweet,¡± coco nodded, taking off her bag and handing it to her. ¡°thank you, my dear children,¡± shen ning bent down to embrace the two little ones, planting a loving kiss on each of their little faces. she couldn¡¯t help feeling guilty; if it weren¡¯t for her, they wouldn¡¯t be up so late. she took their tiny hands and led them to the dining table. the candlelight flickered like stars and moons in the night sky, dispelling the darkness and warming her heart. ¡°mommy, make a wish quickly,¡± xiaoxiao exclaimed excitedly, clapping her hands. coco chimed in, ¡°mommy, make the most beautiful wish.¡± ¡°alright,¡± shen ning sat down at the dining table, closed her eyes, and clenched her fists under her chin. after a moment, she opened her eyes and blew out the candles. coco switched on the lights. ¡°mommy has made her wish. come on, let¡¯s eat the cake,¡± shen ning, with red eyes, began to cut the cake. because it was so late, the children had little appetite and only managed to eat a small portion before heading off to bed. that night, shen ning slept with her children, experiencing a series of strange and vivid dreams. most of these dreams were about dingding, who kept calling out for mommy, breaking her heart. over the next three days, dingding began to force him to give in. each day, he insisted that li zhenting invite shen ning to their home as his therapist. li zhenting, of course, was unwilling and played the role of a deaf man, completely ignoring him. dingding grew angry and decided not to eat on the third day. li wanqing was alarmed this time and began to take the matter seriously. it was a saturday. li zhenting had gone to work early at the company, while shen mei had made plans to go shopping with her wealthy friends. li wanqing personally prepared a warm breakfast for dingding, including a bowl of porridge and some side dishes. she went upstairs to wake him up. however, despite calling out to him several times, there was no response. she grew increasingly anxious. over the past few days, dingding had not been eating well, and he seemed upset. his usual laughter had disappeared. ¡°dingding, dingding,¡± she called repeatedly, but still received no reply. worried, she instructed the butler, mr. luo, to fetch the master key and open his bedroom door. as soon as she entered the room, she saw dingding still sleeping in bed. normally, he would have been awake by now, either playing on his phone, reading comics, or engrossed in computer programming. she rushed to his side. at a glance, she felt tears welling up. dingding had his eyes tightly closed, and his face was burning with fever. she placed her hand on his forehead. it was scorching hot! ¡°dingding!¡± she shouted, panic-stricken. she turned to mr. luo and said, ¡°quick, call the family doctor. something¡¯s wrong with the child.¡± mr. luo hurried downstairs to make the call. ¡°dingding, dingding,¡± li wanqing held him close, her voice filled with worry. dingding opened his eyes weakly and said, ¡°grandma, my head hurts so much.¡± ¡°my dearest!¡± li wanqing¡¯s tears flowed uncontrollably. ¡°grandma has called the doctor, and you¡¯ll feel better soon. just endure it a little longer.¡± she picked up the intercom phone and instructed the household staff to bring an ice pack for his forehead and warm water for a sponge bath. after a while, the family doctor arrived. following a thorough examination, the doctor diagnosed dingding with a mild cold due to catching a chill, and there didn¡¯t appear to be any major issues. he prescribed some medication, which li wanqing promptly administered to dingding. after taking the medicine, dingding drifted off to sleep. li wanqing sat by his side, wiping away her tears, her face etched with worry. throughout dingding¡¯s upbringing, she had always felt like something was missing in his life, but she couldn¡¯t quite put her finger on it. now, seeing him lying there weakly, her heart was heavy with sadness.. Chapter 111 - Chapter 111: How Annoying chapter 111: how annoying translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°mommy, mommy.¡± as li wanqing felt overwhelmed, suddenly, she heard dingding mumbling in his sleep. she leaned in closer and indeed heard dingding calling out ¡°mommy¡± in his dream. her face turned cold. right, where was shen mei? her child was in such a state of illness, and she, as his mother, was nowhere to be found! a surge of anger welled up from deep within her. this woman spent her days either shopping or playing mahjong, never putting any effort into their child! li wanqing¡¯s face grew darker by the moment. in the afternoon, shen mei returned home, brimming with excitement and carrying bags of shopping. today, she had gone shopping with the young mistress of the li family. they had competed in shopping, and of course, shen mei had emerged victorious, snatching away all the bags and clothes the other woman had her eye on, infuriating her. shen mei was in high spirits, humming a tune as she entered the living room. however, to her surprise, li wanqing stood there with a stern expression, glaring at her intensely. she suddenly felt anxious. ¡°aunt¡­¡± she began, trying to sound conciliatory. ¡°shen mei, your son is seriously ill, and you have the heart to go shopping? is this how a mother should act?¡± li wanqing scolded sharply. shen mei was momentarily stunned and asked, ¡°aunt, are you saying dingding is sick?¡± ¡°who else could it be?¡± dingding was ill! after a brief moment of shock, shen mei inexplicably felt a surge of joy in her heart. however, she wouldn¡¯t dare to show it in front of li wanqing. ¡°then, 1¡¯11 go check on him.¡± she immediately set her things down and rushed upstairs, her face filled with concern. li wanqing watched her hurried figure and shook her head. this woman showed no care for her own son; she genuinely disliked her. li wanqing thought that her former daughter-in-law, shen ning, was much better. she was modest and responsible. she couldn¡¯t fathom how her son fell in love with this woman. if not for her son and grandson, she would have chased her away long ago. ¡°dingding, how did you get sick? are you feeling any better?¡± shen mei walked into dingding¡¯s room, looking at his pale face and feigned concern. dingding hadn¡¯t eaten anything the entire day and lay listlessly on the bed, clearly unwell. ¡°mommy, i need to use the bathroom. can you help me get up?¡± he looked at shen mei, pouting, his face filled with discomfort. his stomach was acting up again, and he had already had several bouts of diarrhea today. ¡°okay.¡± shen mei responded and bent down to help him up. but a child couldn¡¯t control diarrhea, and as soon as dingding stood up, there was a sudden gush, and everything ended up in his pants, still watery. it created a mess, even splashing onto shen mei¡¯s lovely dress. ¡°yuck, it¡¯s so smelly.¡± shen mei immediately held her nose with her hand, her eyes filled with disgust. she scolded, ¡°couldn¡¯t you have made it to the toilet? it¡¯s all over me now, and this dress was expensive. you¡¯ve ruined it.¡± dingding looked sad, pouting, ¡°i couldn¡¯t help it.¡± ¡°really annoying.¡± shen mei muttered in disgust. ¡°you stay here; i¡¯m going downstairs to call the maid.¡± with that, she hurriedly left the room, leaving the child all alone. dingding stood there, eyes welling up with tears. but just as shen mei turned away, she looked up to find li zhenting standing at the doorway, his face dark and his gaze piercing. she was dumbfounded. when did li zhenting arrive, and why hadn¡¯t she heard his footsteps at all? ¡°zhenting¡­¡± her legs went weak, and she stammered. li zhenting¡¯s sharp eyes cast a cold, harsh glance at her as he swiftly walked over to dingding¡¯s side. his strong arms lifted the child into his embrace.. Chapter 112 - Chapter 112:I Didn’t Do It on Purpose chapter 112:i didn¡¯t do it on purpose translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°daddy, my tummy hurts,¡± ding ding cried the moment he saw him, his eyes welling up with tears. ¡°ding ding, don¡¯t be scared. after taking the medicine, your tummy won¡¯t hurt anymore. it¡¯s okay, everyone gets a tummy ache sometimes. daddy had them when he was little too. daddy will help you clean up.¡± li zhenting carried him towards the bathroom, not minding at all when some of the mess soaked through the child¡¯s pants and onto his own clothes. shen mei¡¯s face was a mix of shock and confusion as she stood there. but she quickly snapped back to reality, hurried to the bathroom, and said to li zhenting, ¡°zhenting, let me do it. 1¡¯11 help clean up ding ding.¡± ¡°no need,¡± li zhenting replied, his face dark and his body exuding an ominous chill. shen mei stood there, stunned. she watched in astonishment as li zhenting, his eyes wide open, deftly removed ding ding¡¯s pants and used the handheld showerhead to clean his buttocks and thighs. during this process, ding ding experienced two more episodes of diarrhea, yet li zhenting paid no heed to the mess. he patiently reassured the child each time and continued washing until ding ding was entirely clean, displaying exceptional patience. only at this moment did she realize that li zhenting, this man, had been looking after his son for quite some time, demonstrating great patience throughout. a man worth at least trillions of dollars, who also happened to be a ceo, was tending to his child¡¯s needs with such skill. this, she thought, embodied the essence of a true man! she suddenly felt a pang of shame and found herself admiring this man even more. however, her heart also harbored an added layer of resentment towards shen ning. ¡°zhenting, i¡¯m sorry,¡± li zhenting changed ding ding into clean pajamas, removed his own soiled clothes, and carried ding ding to his bedroom, with shen mei following closely, offering anxious apologies. it was his sense of responsibility towards his child that led him to accept her. she understood this, intensifying her anxiety. li zhenting¡¯s face grew terrifyingly stern. ¡°zhenting, i didn¡¯t mean to. it¡¯s just that i¡¯ve never done this type of work from childhood to adulthood, and i didn¡¯t know what to do. besides, 1 assumed we had nannies at home¡­¡± she explained as she followed him. li zhenting suddenly halted and coldly stated, ¡°go to the study and wait for me.¡± shen mei¡¯s face turned pale. ¡°alright.¡± li zhenting carried ding ding into his bedroom and, with a decisive movement, closed the door behind him. ¡°ding ding, daddy¡¯s here with your medicine. once you take it, you¡¯ll feel better,¡± he placed the child on his own bed and then turned to fetch the medicine. after a moment, ding ding had taken the medicine and lay down. li zhenting held the child¡¯s little hand tightly, reclining beside him. just as he was beginning to relax, he suddenly noticed ding ding clutching a tablet computer tightly to his chest, as if afraid to lose it. his eyes were tightly shut, and his pale lips lacked any color. li zhenting furrowed his brow. the tablet computer emitted radiation, which wasn¡¯t good for the child¡¯s health. moreover, how could he sleep while holding it like that? he gently reached out and discreetly took the tablet from ding ding¡¯s grasp. but as soon as he did, he was left momentarily stunned. on the tablet¡¯s screen was a beautiful woman, dressed in a light-colored dress, standing beneath a magnolia tree, her face adorned with a faint smile, her eyes bright and sparkling. wasn¡¯t that shen ning? for a split second, he was so shocked he nearly jumped up, almost dropping the tablet. how did ding ding have a photo of shen ning? when did he take it? he couldn¡¯t believe how attached ding ding was to shen ning. what on earth had that woman done to captivate his child like this? he sat there in a daze.. Chapter 113 - Chapter 113: You Will Regret It Sooner or Later chapter 113: you will regret it sooner or later translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°daddy, i want to see this aunt. i want her to be with me,¡± ding ding suddenly opened his eyes, his eyes red, and he pouted as he pleaded, ¡°please, please bring her here. 1 just want her to take care of me.¡± as ding ding spoke, tears welled up in his eyes once again. li zhenting was left dumbfounded, unable to find words. during dinner, li wanqing brought a bowl of rice soup and a light egg custard. the child hadn¡¯t eaten anything all day, and she was deeply concerned. it was crucial to get some nourishment into him to give him the strength to fight the illness. she quietly pushed open the bedroom door. ding ding was already asleep. she gently touched the child¡¯s forehead; he still had a slight fever. but what worried her more was whether he might have another fever during the night. she bent down slightly and placed the bowl of rice soup and the egg custard on the bedside table. she sat down, intending to wait for him to wake up. however, as soon as she sat down, she noticed a tablet computer on the bed, almost about to fall off. she quickly reached out to catch it, inadvertently turning on the screen. she saw a photo of shen ning displayed prominently on the screen and sat there in a daze. how did ding ding have a photo of shen ning? shen ning and shen mei were sisters, so it made sense for the child to have a picture of his aunt. however, shen ning and shen mei weren¡¯t particularly close. she sat there, lost in thought. at that moment, ding ding coughed a few times and opened his eyes. ¡°ding ding, you¡¯re awake,¡± she asked warmly, ¡°would you like to have some soup first?¡± ¡°i don¡¯t want to drink,¡± ding ding shook his head, his eyes lifeless. he stretched out his small hand, his throat hoarse, and said, ¡°grandma, i want the tablet.¡± li wanqing was momentarily puzzled but immediately handed him the tablet. ding ding took it, his small fingers gently caressing the image of shen ning on the screen. after a while, he pouted and hugged the tablet tightly to his chest. li wanqing suddenly seemed to understand something. she asked softly, ¡°ding ding, do you want this lady to come and take care of you as your therapist?¡± ¡°yeah,¡± ding ding nodded weakly. li wanqing was stunned, unable to speak. after a while, she said, ¡°ding ding, if you drink the soup, i¡¯ll have your dad bring her here.¡± ding ding¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°really?¡± but soon, his eyes dimmed again, ¡°daddy won¡¯t agree.¡± ¡°silly child, as long as you drink the soup, grandma will keep her word. even if your dad disagrees, grandma will personally invite her to come and take care of you.¡± this time, li wanqing spoke with determination. ding ding finally agreed to drink the soup. he reluctantly sat up and managed to finish half a bowl. li wanqing didn¡¯t force him to drink more; after all, a sick child¡¯s digestive system was often delicate. after taking care of ding ding and ensuring he was settled down to sleep, li wanqing turned and walked outside. in the downstairs living room, li zhenting was puffing on one cigar after another. li wanqing walked over and sat across from him, her expression serious. ¡°zhenting, do you know that ding ding wants shen ning as his home tutor?¡± she asked. li zhenting took a drag of his cigar and nodded in silence. ¡°so, are you going to hold a grudge against the child?¡± li wanqing emphasized her words. ¡°mom, i¡­¡± li zhenting hesitated. ¡°zhenting, i only have one grandson. all he wants is someone to accompany and take care of him. can¡¯t you fulfill this simple wish? especially when he¡¯s so sick now,¡± li wanqing stood up abruptly. ¡°even if he wants not just one but ten or a hundred people to look after him, i¡¯d gladly arrange it. if you disagree, then i¡¯ll personally invite her.¡± she was about to leave. ¡°mom,¡± li zhenting stopped her, ¡°it¡¯s not that 1 disagree, but i have doubts about shen ning¡¯s intentions.¡± ¡°all, you¡¯re truly muddle-headed. you¡¯ve let shen mei cloud your judgment,¡± li wanqing scolded, exasperated. ¡°in my opinion, shen ning is miles better than shen mei. you not only lack discernment but also seem gullible. 1 wonder what shen mei has done to you. just wait; you¡¯ll regret this someday..¡± Chapter 114 - Chapter 114: You Win chapter 114: you win translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation li zhenting stormed off with a grim expression. ¡°zhenting, if you don¡¯t get shen ning here tomorrow, then i¡¯ll personally invite her. at that time, you must not object,¡± li wanqing said from behind. li zhenting walked faster with his head down. the night was shrouded in a mystical veil, and the earth was cloaked in a mysterious darkness. in gu qi¡¯s office, shen ning was still hard at work. she had just come out of the laboratory, and production for the new variety was set to begin tomorrow. but the expenses¡­ she furrowed her brows, feeling a slight headache coming on. earlier in the afternoon, she had discussed and calculated with the financial manager, wan zhengping. no matter how they meticulously calculated and tried to save costs, they still needed at least twenty-five million in funding. for her, this was a substantial sum of money. when she proposed to mortgage the company, wan zhengping shook his head repeatedly. a company with losses on its books couldn¡¯t be mortgaged. even if it were, it wouldn¡¯t fetch much money and wouldn¡¯t be of much help. in the end, he suggested an alternative: financing ¨C borrowing money from a bank or institution. in reality, it was just an idea without much promise. however, no matter what, wan zhengping was willing to give it a try. after all, shen ning¡¯s perfumes had a market, and profits were visible. besides, in the past, gu qi had no negative credit history. shen ning rubbed her temples, picked up a glass of water, and took a sip. suddenly, she heard footsteps in the corridor. she initially thought it might be secretary li mengqing, and didn¡¯t pay much attention. but a little later, the footsteps grew louder, heading straight for her office. she furrowed her brows and looked up, startled. at her office door stood a tall man, his imposing figure like a mountain, and his sharp, ominous gaze fixed on her. ¡°mr. li¡­ why are you here?¡± shen ning thought she might be hallucinating from overwork, rubbing her eyes. but when she looked again, there was no mistake¡ªit was still li zhenting, the devil himself. she stood up. li zhenting paused and walked toward her, his tone icy. ¡°shen ning, you¡¯ve won.¡± shen ning was bewildered. ¡°won what?¡± ¡°what do you think?¡± li zhenting sneered. shen ning¡¯s gaze turned cold. this man had appeared in front of her in the dead of night, and judging by his demeanor, it couldn¡¯t be for anything good. moreover, she had known him for so long, and he had never brought good news before! right now, she looked at him coldly and said, ¡°li zhenting, if you have something to say, say it quickly. if you have nothing important, please leave immediately. 1 don¡¯t welcome you here.¡± if she had been cautious and polite before, it was because gu qi had still needed his help. but now, she had no connection with him, and she didn¡¯t want to play nice in front of him anymore. she preferred to be straightforward and express herself clearly. li zhenting¡¯s face darkened. ¡°you¡¯re quite rude.¡± this woman was becoming increasingly audacious in front of him. not only did she not show him any respect, but her attitude was also far from friendly. well, it didn¡¯t matter. after all, he had come to ask her to take care of his son. he took a deep breath, suppressing his anger. ¡°well, you¡­ you like my son, right? you want to be his therapist. 1 approve of it now.¡± shen ning was taken aback, finally understanding his purpose in coming here. she couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. he really had come to ask her! but even though he had come to request her assistance, his tone made it sound as if she had nothing better to do all day than to wait for him to come begging her to take care of his son. this man was truly self-assured, inherently domineering. she raised her proud head slightly and mockingly said, ¡°mr. li, what¡¯s your ¡®approval¡¯ supposed to mean? right now, you¡¯re the one asking me to take care of your son. it depends on my mood whether i¡¯m willing to do it or not..¡± Chapter 115 - Chapter 115: Are You Going to Be Cocky? chapter 115: are you going to be cocky? translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°shen ning, don¡¯t push your luck.¡± li zhenting¡¯s face darkened.¡± it was already the middle of the night, and he was already giving her a lot of face by coming personally. ¡°what did i do?¡± shen ning scoffed.¡± what inch did you give me? how much did i get? we were husband and wife. when we divorced, i left with nothing. i worked as a free nanny in the li family for two years. what did i get? other than you cheating on me and abandoning me, what else do 1 have?¡± shen ning¡¯s eyes lit up as she thought about the hardships she had gone through with the children all these years. it was as if the scars of the past had been opened in her heart, and blood was dripping. she would never forget how cold and heartless the man she once loved was to her! fortunately, she no longer loved him and regarded him as her life! li zhenting was silent for a moment. suddenly, he took out a check from his pocket.¡±how much do you want?¡± she was the one who ¡®died¡¯ back then. it wasn¡¯t like he wasn¡¯t willing to give it to her! ¡°forget it.¡± shen ning was expressionless.¡± you will never be able to give me what i want. didn¡¯t you say that i only married you because i was trying my best? don¡¯t worry, everything in the past will be forgotten. but from now on, 1 will take everything that belongs to me, not a single cent less.¡± li zhenting narrowed his eyes. this woman was really pretentious. she wanted money, but when it was offered, she declined! he put away the check and sneered. however, you have to report to my house tomorrow morning. i¡¯m officially hiring you to be my son¡¯s tutor.¡± if it wasn¡¯t for his son¡¯s illness and his mother¡¯s threats, he wouldn¡¯t have lowered himself to make this trip. he turned around and left. ¡°stop right there.¡± shen ning looked at his tall and cold back and shouted at him angrily. li zhenting stopped and turned around. ¡°mr. li, do you really think that having money gives you the right to command me?¡± she spoke with an icy tone. this man asked her to become his son¡¯s private tutor without even using the word ¡®please.¡¯ did he really think he was someone special? the emperor of heaven? ¡°what¡¯s wrong? now that i¡¯m here, are you going to be cocky?¡±he raised his eyebrows and was a little impatient. she had volunteered to go, and now that he agreed, she seemed unhappy. now that she had gotten what she wanted, she was unwilling. ¡°who told you that i must go? where does your confidence come from? is this an invitation or an order? you have no right to command me.¡± shen ning held her head high, not giving an inch. ¡°do you expect a welcoming ceremony from me?¡± li zhenting¡¯s lips curved into a mischievous smile. shen ning sneered, ¡°even if it¡¯s an offer, both parties should have terms and conditions, shouldn¡¯t they?¡± li zhenting paused, likely understanding her point. it was all about money, wasn¡¯t it! ¡°alright, what conditions do you have? how much salary do you want?¡±li zhenting walked back. shen ning¡¯s expression softened slightly. ¡°first of all, you should know that gu qi can¡¯t leave me. now that it has reached a critical moment, my focus has to be here.¡± li zhenting frowned, ¡°are you suggesting that taking care of my son is just a small part of your life, something on the side?¡± shen ning glanced at him, ¡°mr. li, you have wealth and power, you don¡¯t need to struggle for a living. but what about me? 1 have responsibilities, both young and old to care for. i must earn a living, and besides, gu qi¡¯s company is currently in a state of disarray. how much time do you think i can spare to take care of your son?¡± ¡°you¡¯re married?¡± li zhenting¡¯s eyes flashed with surprise, and his face darkened. shen ning pursed her lips and quickly changed the subject, ¡°mr. li, do you think what i¡¯m saying makes sense?¡± ¡°if you¡¯re so busy, why are you competing to take care of my son now that i¡¯ve come to ask you?¡± he challenged. ¡°but it was you who came to request my help,¡± she asserted. li zhenteng swallowed hard, choked by her words. ¡°don¡¯t try to deceive me.. if it weren¡¯t for your involvement with my son, would he remember you, and would we be in this situation today?¡± Chapter 116 - Chapter 116: Is Ding Ding Sick? chapter 116: is ding ding sick? translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation shen ning sighed.¡± to be honest, in some aspects, you¡¯re really far worse than your son. i like your son, but i hate you very much. you¡¯re not adorable at all. listen well, i can only give three hours a day to take care of your son.¡± she had already calculated that ding ding was in kindergarten and would return home at 4:30 pm every day. children slept early at night, and she had to work during the day. with this calculation, she could only spend time with ding ding from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm after work. then, she would return home at 9:30 pm and take care of coco and xiaoxiao. this arrangement was not bad. li zhenting was stunned and looked around the office. gu qi really needed her to take care of it. thinking that ding ding had to go to kindergarten during the day, this seemed to work. ¡°alright, 1 can promise you that.¡±he readily agreed. in fact, he was more than happy to see shen ning spending less time with his son. in addition, shen ning and shen mei were not on good terms. if she stayed in the li family, there would definitely be chaos. ¡°also, as i said before, my pay for being your son¡¯s therapist is not low.¡± ¡°no problem. just name your price.¡±li zhenting did not even raise his eyebrows. ¡°i¡¯m charging according to the international price. it¡¯s 1,000 dollars per hour.¡± li zhenting looked up at her and smiled.¡±how can you compare to those international psychologist?¡± ¡°i¡¯ll tell you this much, for your son, i¡¯m more valuable than they are. the price is right here, whether you want to go for it or not is your choice.¡± shen ning sat pretty, feeling perfectly at ease. lifting his words casually, li zhenting replied, ¡°alright, as i¡¯ve said before, money isn¡¯t the issue. whether it¡¯s worth it or not depends on the results. just take good care of him.¡± ¡°sure.¡± ¡°deal.¡± ¡°then let¡¯s sign the contract first.¡±shen ning turned on the computer and pulled out the electronic contract.¡± take a look. if there¡¯s no problem, 1¡¯11 print it out and sign it.¡± seeing that she had even prepared the contract, li zhenting couldn¡¯t help but cross his arms. he tilted his head and looked at her, mocking her.¡±you look like you¡¯ve already predicted that i¡¯ll come and invite you. 1 don¡¯t understand. why are you so sure?¡± shen ning pursed her lips and smiled,¡±there are some things you will never understand.¡± ¡°hmph, it sounds more and more profound.¡±li zhenting walked over, bent down, and whispered in her ear,¡±shen ning, if you want to play any tricks to hurt my son, i will never let you off.¡± ¡°if you don¡¯t believe me, then there¡¯s no need for us to sign this contract.¡±shen ning was inexplicably angry when she heard that. she slammed the printer lid shut. li zhenting was stunned. this woman¡¯s temper was getting worse. she dared to give him a hard time. who did she think she was? if she didn¡¯t sign it, of course he wouldn¡¯t put down his pride to coax her. ¡°if you don¡¯t want to sign it, then don¡¯t sign it.¡±his face was cold. for a moment, the two of them froze. ¡°then you better leave. it¡¯s late, and you staying in my office like this, a man and a woman alone, will give people something to talk about,¡± shen ning began ushering him out. li zhenting was a little angry.¡±fine, i¡¯m leaving. if it weren¡¯t for ding ding being sick and wanting to see you, 1 wouldn¡¯t have come to find you in the middle of the night. you really think highly of yourself, self-righteous and unreasonable.¡± he really turned around and left, forgetting about li wanqing¡¯s threat. shen ning¡¯s brain suddenly exploded and she immediately shouted,¡±li zhenting, stop right there. what did you just say? you said ding ding is sick?¡± li zhenting ignored her and walked out angrily. he was too lazy to answer this question. if she knew that his son was sick, she would definitely be more arrogant and she would think that he had asked her for help. but what he didn¡¯t expect was that shen ning rushed over from behind like a gust of wind, grabbed his clothes, and asked anxiously,¡±i¡¯m asking you, is ding ding sick?¡± Chapter 117 - Chapter 117: Li Zhenting Was Reprimanded chapter 117: li zhenting was reprimanded translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation li zhenting was baffled and nodded. shen ning¡¯s vision turned black and she shouted angrily,¡±how did you raise the child? he was fine a few days ago. why did he suddenly fall sick? what illness was it? was it serious? did he send him to the hospital? who was watching him now? are you a pig? the child is seriously ill, yet you still left him. is there a father like you? no wonder he doesn¡¯t like you.¡± li zhenting was stunned by the series of roars. he opened his eyes wide and couldn¡¯t react. ¡°quick, let¡¯s go. the child is sick, but you¡¯re still fooling around outside. he¡¯s so young. it¡¯s not good for him to not have daddy and mommy accompanying him at night. what if he has a fever and burns his brain?¡±shen ning anxiously turned around, picked up her bag, and ran out. she felt that li zhenting was walking too slowly, so she rolled her eyes and scolded him. li zhenting was urged by her to run to his luxury car and open the door. ¡°hurry up and start the car.¡± shen ning sat in the backseat and looked at the dark night sky outside. she was anxious and urged the man in the driver¡¯s seat,¡±can you even drive? if not, i¡¯ll drive.¡±¡± li zhenting didn¡¯t know whether to laugh or cry. he was already driving as fast as he could but he had to drive carefully as well. ¡°put on your seatbelt. i¡¯m going to drive fast.¡±li zhenting was already worried about ding ding. now that shen ning was urging him, he was also anxious. he stepped on the accelerator and quickly started the car. before shen ning could put on the seatbelt, the car sped out. shen ning¡¯s head hit the back of the front seat, but she didn¡¯t care about the pain. her fingers were clenched tightly as she nervously watched the night scene outside. it turned out that li zhenting came to invite her in the middle of the night because ding ding was sick. no wonder her eyelids were twitching and she felt uneasy the entire day! thinking about her son¡¯s illness and not knowing how sick he was, she was extremely worried and sad. she felt guilty about ding ding. she had never spent a day with her child, nor had she given him the motherly love he deserved. however, no matter how she asked, li zhenting refused to tell her about ding ding¡¯s illness. he just drove with a cold face as if he was deliberately punishing her. the car finally drove into the li family¡¯s manor. before he could stop the car, shen ning opened the door and ran towards the villa. li zhenting was surprised and incredulous. was there something wrong with this woman? she was actually more nervous about someone else¡¯s son than she was about herself! no wonder ding ding liked her. if it was just because of this, he felt that it was still okay. ¡°ding ding.¡± shen ning ran to ding ding¡¯s bedroom and saw that it was empty. she shouted anxiously. fortunately, butler luo followed her and told her immediately that ding ding was sleeping in li zhenting¡¯s bedroom. she ran towards li zhenting¡¯s bedroom. in the bedroom. ding ding¡¯s small body was lying on the super large soft bed, looking so weak and helpless. ¡°ding ding.¡± she rushed forward and saw that the child¡¯s face was completely red. she quickly placed her hand on his forehead. not good. the child¡¯s forehead was burning hot. it was at least 39 degrees celsius. without hesitation, she picked up the child and ran out. as soon as she ran out of the elevator, she bumped into li zhenting, who had just parked his car. ¡°quick, send the child to the hospital.¡± shen ning said anxiously. li zhenting stood there without moving.¡± there¡¯s no need. the doctor will come early tomorrow morning to check on him. it¡¯s already midnight.¡±¡± ¡°but the child is running a fever. he has a very high fever and needs to be given an infusion immediately. it looks like it¡¯s a pathogen infection and a rotavirus. he has had diarrhea several times today. if this continues, the child will easily become dehydrated.¡±shen ning fired off a barrage of questions. butler luo had already told her about the general situation. she had experience in taking care of coco. in such a situation, the child would usually be very uncomfortable and would need to be given antibiotics. she would not let him leave the child alone. besides, even if the doctor came to check on him, it would be better going to the hospital. only the hospital had the necessary equipment for the examination. she carried the child, pushed him away, and ran out without a care.. Chapter 118 - Chapter 118: Fortunately, it was delivered in time chapter 118: fortunately, it was delivered in time translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°quick, zhenting, chase after her. are you really going to let her carry the child to the hospital like this?¡±li wanqing heard shen ning¡¯s voice and immediately ran over. seeing her son standing there in a daze, she immediately urged him. li zhenting reacted and turned around to follow her. looking at her son and shen ning¡¯s back view, li wanqing let out a sigh of relief. it seemed that her son had listened to her words and invited shen ning to be a therapist. that¡¯s a good sign! she smiled. in the hospital. ¡°mr. li, your son has a high fever of 42 degrees. fortunately, you were here in time. otherwise, there would have been repercussions.¡±professor wang said with lingering fear. ¡°thank you, professor wang. please cure my son. ¡°at this time, li zhenting was also trembling with fear. it was really fortunate that shen ning was here tonight. otherwise, he would not have sent the child over in time. he glanced at shen ning and a rare look of gratitude flashed across his eyes. however, shen ning only held the child nervously and did not even look at him. throughout the journey, she was gripped by anxiety. ding ding¡¯s body grew increasingly feverish, resembling a raging fire. when they finally reached the hospital, he had already begun convulsing. thankfully, li zhenting had proactively called the hospital, and a professor promptly arrived to diagnose him, administering a fever-reducing injection and prescribing an iv. ¡°mr. li, there¡¯s no need for you to worry. the child¡¯s high fever has subsided, and there shouldn¡¯t be any serious complications. however, this condition may require a hospital stay of about ten days to two weeks. chlamydia is challenging to treat, but there won¡¯t be any major issues,¡± professor wang reassured them. by this late hour, it was already deep into the night. professor wang bid them farewell and headed home, with li zhenting seeing him off. ¡°ding ding, i¡¯m truly sorry. mommy should have been here with you sooner,¡± shen ning said as she cradled ding ding in her arms, gently kissing his forehead. she was filled with guilt, but she knew they had arrived just in the nick of time. otherwise, she would have carried the burden of remorse for the rest of her life. li zhenting was quite a jerk. clearly, he had come to request her help. if he hadn¡¯t been so crafty and had informed her earlier about their child¡¯s illness, they wouldn¡¯t have wasted precious time on unnecessary conversation. ding ding lay weakly in her arms, already fast asleep. after the fever had subsided, the child¡¯s body was drenched in sweat, and his hospital gown was soaked through. shen ning wanted to put him on the bed to help him change his clothes, but the little guy¡¯s fingers were holding onto her clothes tightly, as if he was afraid that she would fly away. she could only wipe the sweat off his back with a tissue and start adding li zhenting¡¯s wechat account. he didn¡¯t even bring the things for the child¡¯s hospitalization, so she could only ask him to go back and get them! when li zhenting returned to the door of the ward, he saw shen ning wiping and changing ding ding¡¯s clothes. her movements were very skilled, as if she had done these things often. he couldn¡¯t help but be a little stunned. after a while, he walked in. ¡°i added your work wechat account. why didn¡¯t you accept?¡±shen ning frowned when she saw him. li zhenting quickly took out his phone and looked at it. sure enough, she had added his work wechat account. however, he was a little unhappy. ¡°why didn¡¯t you add me to your private account?¡±he asked with a dark face. she didn¡¯t need to use her work account to take care of the child. she obviously wanted to do business and distance herself from him. ¡°mr. li, taking care of your son is also my job. it¡¯s better to separate public and private matters.¡±shen ning replied lightly. li zhenting was inexplicably annoyed when he heard that. he suddenly snatched her phone. he swiped open the phone screen, and it showed that he needed to enter a password. he pressed a few times, but they were all wrong. he looked at shen ning. shen ning shrugged and couldn¡¯t be bothered with this psychopath. she didn¡¯t know what was wrong with him. last time, he didn¡¯t want her to add his private wechat account, saying that she was using this opportunity to seduce him. today, she added his work wechat account, and he said that he wanted to add a private one. it was better to ignore such a man with schizophrenia. she bent down to clean the bed. he suddenly thought of something and his expression changed. he straightened his back and went to grab the phone. but at this moment, li zhenting suddenly pressed a string of passwords. his phone was unlocked. his face lit up with joy. shen ning came over to snatch the phone. he raised his arms and opened wechat. he directly entered his phone number and successfully added him on wechat. shen ning¡¯s face was frosty.. Chapter 119 - Chapter 119: This Woman Is Getting More and More Unbridled! chapter 119: this woman is getting more and more unbridled! translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°why do you still use my birthday as your password? it means you¡¯re still thinking about me, right?¡± li zhenting¡¯s discovery made him feel quite pleased, and his tone carried a hint of playfulness. however, shen ning responded with a cold sneer, ¡°li zhenting, you¡¯re too self-absorbed. it¡¯s just a few digits, and i¡¯ve only kept it out of habit. don¡¯t read too much into it! that¡¯s just your vanity.¡± she snatched the phone from him and generously connected with him on wechat, sending a series of messages. ¡°these are the things you need to prepare for ding ding¡¯s hospital stay. you should go back and get them.¡± li zhenting glanced at the messages and said, ¡°i¡¯ll have leng xue bring them.¡± shen ning questioned, ¡°why can¡¯t you get them yourself? can anyone else understand what the child needs better than you? if you don¡¯t even know what your child uses daily, how do you take care of him?¡± her tone turned sharp, and she accused him. li zhenting felt a surge of anger rising within him. this woman was becoming more audacious by the day! she was treating him like an irresponsible man! but he had always taken great care of ding ding since he was a baby. furthermore, her attitude was absolutely atrocious! he turned and walked away in frustration. after all, it was getting late, and the child could have diarrhea at any moment! watching the man reluctantly leave, shen ning shook her head. men were always like this; they didn¡¯t understand the pain women went through during childbirth, and they seldom got involved in their children¡¯s growth. instead, they were quick to blame women. * an hour later. li zhenting came in carrying bags and bags of stuff, his face covered in sweat. shen ning had been exhausted during this period and had already fallen asleep, holding ding ding tightly. li zhenting quietly approached, placed the items down, and when he looked at shen ning, he saw that she was tightly hugging ding ding in her arms. even though she was asleep, her eyebrows were knitted with worry and pain on her face. as for ding ding, he was sleeping soundly in her arms. his little face looked particularly peaceful, radiating a sense of happiness even through the air. one big and one small, sleeping like this, it didn¡¯t seem out of place at all. they looked like a mother and son! li zhenting was briefly lost in thought and took a seat in a nearby chair. from what he had seen so far, shen ning did indeed care for ding ding. her care and love for him seemed to surpass his own, as a father. of course, compared to shen mei, shen ning was way better. why was that? he couldn¡¯t help but wonder. suddenly, ding ding wriggled in shen ning¡¯s arms. after a moment, an unpleasant smell wafted through the air. uh-oh, ding ding had diarrhea again! li zhenting hurriedly stood up, ready to change ding ding¡¯s diaper himself. just then, shen ning opened her eyes. ¡°daddy, my tummy hurts,¡± ding ding murmured with his eyes tightly shut, still half-asleep. ¡°ding ding, don¡¯t worry, it won¡¯t hurt tomorrow,¡± shen ning reassured him. she quickly lifted the blanket, felt his bottom, and indeed, it was wet. she got up and fetched some hot water, taking out a clean set of pajamas. fortunately, she had prepared a few extras before bedtime. she lifted ding ding, sat him on a nearby chair, covered his chest with a towel, removed his soiled pants, and with one hand, lifted his legs, cleaning his little bottom over a basin of warm water. the entire process was gentle and meticulous, with swift movements, leaving ding ding still sound asleep throughout. after cleaning him up and putting on fresh pants, she looked at ding ding¡¯s dad, who seemed lost, and said, ¡°you hold the child for a moment, i¡¯ll tidy up the bed.¡± ¡°okay,¡± li zhenting walked over, taking the child into his arms and making sure ding ding was comfortable and sleeping well. shen ning went out to the nurses¡¯ station and asked for a new set of sheets. she also took a mattress protector from the large bag li zhenting had brought. only then did she gently place ding ding back on the bed. as soon as ding ding was on the bed, he reached out and grabbed shen ning¡¯s clothes. shen ning, feeling helpless, turned to li zhenting. li zhenting¡¯s lips twitched, ¡°you stay with the child; i¡¯ll take care of the rest.¡± he bent over, picked up the basin of hot water, and headed for the bathroom. he tossed the soiled clothes into the laundry basket on the way. shen ning watched him with cold eyes. luckily, he wasn¡¯t as delicate as she¡¯d imagined. in just a few minutes, he had tidied up the hospital room neatly. after finishing up, shen ning checked her phone; it was already 4 a.m. ¡°you should go back now. i¡¯ll take care of the child,¡± shen ning softly told him.. Chapter 120 - Chapter 120: Can You Be a Little More Reasoning? chapter 120: can you be a little more reasoning? translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation li zhenting stood still. there was only one big bed. shen ning had to sleep with the child, so he had no place to sleep. shen ning couldn¡¯t be bothered with him. he couldn¡¯t possibly stand there all night. she had been working hard these past few days and was really too tired. she fell asleep the moment she closed her eyes. it started to rain outside in the middle of the night, accompanied by lightning and thunder. in the darkness, shen ning suddenly saw herself falling into an unfathomably deep sea, surrounded by the deafening roar of waves. her brain throbbed with pain, and her ears, eyes, and nose were filled with water. suffocation, pain, discomfort, fear! her five fingers clenched and stretched, her breath grew shallower. drowning¡­ accompanied by a deafening crash, she felt like she was propelled into the sky, surrounded by blinding light that made it impossible to open her eyes. she exhaled and passed out, tears streaming down her face. in the midst of it all, she clung tightly to a piece of wood, holding on for dear life, never letting go¡­ the sunlight illuminated every corner of the hospital room. shen ning abruptly opened her eyes. ¡°all!¡± she screamed in surprise. there was a man next to her, and she and ding ding were sleeping in this man¡¯s embrace. li zhenting! what was going on here? she quickly sat up. ¡°how did you end up here? trying to take advantage of me?¡± shen ning was furious, and she raised her fist to strike him. li zhenting frowned, caught her fist, and sat up, annoyed. ¡°could you be a bit reasonable? last night, you were the one holding onto my hand and wouldn¡¯t let go. i pitied you and felt sorry for you, so i held you.¡± shen ning was shocked, and her face turned red. indeed, there was an extra bed in the hospital room! ¡°last night, you cried and made a scene. you kept me up all night. fortunately, you didn¡¯t wake ding ding.¡± li zhenting said coldly, releasing her fist and standing up. last night, he had asked a nurse to bring in an extra bed. he had just fallen asleep when he heard the woman in the adjacent bed screaming and shouting. worried that it would wake his son, he hurried over to take a look. he found the woman with her eyes tightly closed, her face contorted in pain, her mouth wide open as if she was yelling something, and her hands flailing in the air, helpless and in agony. for a moment, he felt sympathy and reached out to pat her, but she unexpectedly grabbed his hand and didn¡¯t let go. he had no choice but to lie down beside her. but as soon as he lay down, she wriggled her way into his arms¡­ shen ning¡¯s face went from red to pale. last night, she must have had that terrible nightmare again! whenever she was under extreme stress or experienced a shock, she would have that horrifying nightmare¡ªthe moment she was pushed into the sea six years ago. could it be that he was the piece of wood she had been tightly clinging to in her dream? she lowered her head and walked towards the door. ¡°where are you going?¡± li zhenting stopped her. ¡°mr. li, 1 have to go back to work at gu qi. i¡¯ll leave ding ding to you. 1¡¯11 come over to accompany him for three hours after work.¡±shen ning replied in a low voice. ¡°no, you have to stay here for the next few days.¡±li zhenting¡¯s face darkened. ¡°but 1 still have to go to work¡­¡± of course, shen ning did not want to leave ding ding. the child was so sick that it was time for maternal love. however, gu qi¡¯s funds were tight. she had to get the product on the market as soon as possible. li zhenting¡¯s eyes were cold.¡± ding ding is already so sick. he hasn¡¯t eaten for a few days. he¡¯s sick because of you. how can you bear to leave him in the hospital like this?¡± these words hit the softest and most painful part of shen ning¡¯s heart! her face turned pale. she lowered her head and pondered for a while before walking back. she sat down beside the child and gently held his small hand. forget it, it didn¡¯t matter if it was a day or two! this was the time when the child needed her the most. she really couldn¡¯t leave. after all, kinship was priceless! li zhenting¡¯s lips curled up slightly and he walked out.. Chapter 121 - Chapter 121: Completely Treating Him Like Air chapter 121: completely treating him like air translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation early morning in the gu qi financial office. wan zhengping had just taken a seat when li zhenting walked in. ¡°mr. li,¡± wan zhengping said in surprise, quickly approaching him. ¡°how¡¯s gu qi doing now?¡± li zhenting sat down on the sofa. wan zhengping cautiously replied, ¡°mr. li, at the moment, gu qi is facing a financial crisis. mr. shen is trying to find a bank or institution to secure financing. if we don¡¯t receive funds within three days, the company will face bankruptcy.¡± li zhenting furrowed his brows slightly, ¡°has the jing group not offered any assistance?¡± jing chenxi loved shen ning so much, and he was also a shrewd businessman. he couldn¡¯t possibly be unaware of shen ning¡¯s predicament, right? jing group? wan zhengping shook his head in surprise, ¡°mr. li, mr. shen has never accepted help from the jing group. she never even considered asking jing chenxi for a loan.¡± li zhenting was momentarily stunned, then a faint smile curved at the corner of his lips. he stood up in silence. * in the hospital room, ding ding woke up to see shen ning sitting at his bedside, smiling. mommy! the little guy was overjoyed. even though he was the reserved and slow-to-warm-up type, he was extremely excited at this moment. he climbed out of bed and threw himself into shen ning¡¯s arms, quietly calling her ¡®mommy.¡¯ shen ning¡¯s eyes welled up with emotion. she hugged him and gave him a soft kiss, whispering, ¡°you can¡¯t call me that when there are other people around, alright?¡± ¡°1 understand.¡± ding ding nodded earnestly. ¡°mommy, is it because of that ugly witch, shen mei, that you don¡¯t want people to know you¡¯re my mommy? don¡¯t worry, i won¡¯t let daddy marry her.¡± shen ning was momentarily taken aback and quickly replied, ¡°it¡¯s not because of that. you¡¯re still too young to understand.¡± innocent children wouldn¡¯t understand that the reason she couldn¡¯t be with his father wasn¡¯t because of shen mei but because li zhenting didn¡¯t love her. if there was genuine love between them, not even ten shen meis could come between them. ding ding couldn¡¯t comprehend these things, but he was just happy to be with his mommy. he sat in shen mei¡¯s lap, still feeling quite weak, with cold sweat on his forehead. seeing his pale face, colorless lips, and his large eyes looking even bigger and lifeless due to his illness, shen ning felt a deep ache in her heart. she gently wiped the sweat from his forehead with a tissue, her heart filled with tenderness. ding ding lay quietly in her arms, basking in the sweetness of his mother¡¯s love. shen ning would occasionally kiss his forehead, showing her deep affection. as mother and son were bonding, li zhenting walked in, followed by several hotel staff carrying trays of delicately prepared breakfast. ¡°ding ding, it¡¯s time for breakfast.¡± li zhenting had been in the room for a while, but ding ding didn¡¯t even look at him. he was engrossed in hushed conversations with his mommy, exchanging secretive words and sharing cheerful smiles, as if they completely ignored li zhenting¡¯s presence. li zhenting¡¯s face darkened. this kid, he had raised him, been by his side for so many years, yet he was less important than a stranger to him! ¡°humph.¡± he let out a deep, disgruntled snort, and both ding ding and shen ning, who had been happily chatting, were startled. they looked at his stern face and fell silent. shen ning began to take care of ding ding¡¯s breakfast. ¡°auntie, 1 really can¡¯t eat anymore.¡± ding ding shook his head after only having a small bowl of rice porridge. ¡°no, have another bowl of bird¡¯s nest soup.¡± li zhenting maintained his serious expression. ¡°the reason you caught a cold and got sick is because you eat too little usually. your weak immune system is the cause.¡± ding ding glanced at the bird¡¯s nest soup, which looked both fishy and sticky, and he couldn¡¯t bring himself to eat it. he looked at shen ning with a pitiful expression. shen ning felt extremely sorry for him. ¡°the child is still recovering from a cold and stomachache. he should eat smaller but more frequent meals. you can¡¯t force a child to eat so much,¡± she suggested. ¡°that¡¯s right!¡± ding ding immediately agreed. ¡°adults shouldn¡¯t force kids to eat. you¡¯re not a child, so you don¡¯t understand me..¡± Chapter 122 - Chapter 122: But I’m Worried About You chapter 122: but i¡¯m worried about you translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation li zhenting deliberately wore a stern expression and gave ding ding a sharp look. this kid was acting all high and mighty just because shen ning was around. but what shen ning said was correct; children nowadays had weaker digestive systems, so eating smaller, more frequent meals was the right approach. after breakfast, shen ning began to tidy up her things. suddenly, her phone rang. she answered it. it was wan zhengping on the line. ¡°ms. shen, great news! the commercial bank has agreed to provide us with a loan, and our financial problems are solved,¡± wan zhengping¡¯s voice was filled with excitement. ¡°really?¡± shen ning¡¯s spirits lifted, and she felt energized. ¡°of course it¡¯s true,¡± wan zhengping chuckled. with li zhenting here, even a loan of 500 million wouldn¡¯t be a problem. ¡°gu qi has a good credit rating, and after i had a chat with their manager, they agreed. they even promised us a low-interest loan.¡± ¡°that¡¯s fantastic! notify manager yan immediately, and let¡¯s start production as soon as possible. we must turn a profit within three months,¡± shen ning stood tall and confident. this was the best news she had received in a long time. ¡°alright, ms. shen, i¡¯ll take care of it right away,¡± wan zhengping replied before hanging up. shen ning held her phone, a smile playing on her lips. as long as gu qi¡¯s perfume entered the market, making money was just a matter of time. she looked up and met li zhenting¡¯s gaze. he was looking at her with faint eyes. ¡°mr. li, aren¡¯t you leaving yet?¡± she asked, a hint of amusement in her smile due to her happiness. ¡°where to?¡± his magnetic voice was warm. ¡°to work, mr. li. doesn¡¯t the ceo of the li group need to work?¡± she retorted. li zhenting lowered his gaze slightly. ¡°the child is seriously ill. i¡¯ll stay with him for a couple of days. the company has someone to manage it.¡± shen ning was stunned. he was going to stay with the child for two days, here? that meant she had been here with him for two days. it was an uncomfortable feeling. ¡°um, mr. li, 1 can actually take care of ding ding myself. how about this? 1¡¯11 look after him for the next two days, and then you can come and spend time with him for the following two days. that way, ding ding will have someone with him all the time. isn¡¯t that a good idea?¡± shen ning¡¯s smile had a hint of cunning. as long as she could avoid being alone with him in the same space, it would be fine! but li zhenting¡¯s face grew stern. he suddenly leaned forward and whispered in her ear, ¡°well, that¡¯s fine, but i don¡¯t trust you.¡± ¡°you¡­¡± shen ning couldn¡¯t help but laugh. ¡°alright, do whatever you want. i just need to fulfill my responsibility,¡± li zhenting said. shen ning lowered her head and stopped engaging with him. ¡°daddy, auntie, 1 want to play a game.¡± ding ding, with his small stature but a clever mind, noticed that his parents weren¡¯t being affectionate, which he didn¡¯t like. he enjoyed seeing his mommy and daddy together, and he liked seeing them happy. so, he came up with an idea and spoke in his childish voice. ¡°what game?¡± shen ning wasn¡¯t sure what he was planning, but she quickly smiled and looked up. li zhenting¡¯s gaze also turned to him. ¡°let¡¯s play a card game. we can compare sizes, and the loser has to give money. if we don¡¯t have money, then we have to kiss.¡± ding ding held his round face in his little hands and blinked his eyes. shen ning immediately shook her head upon hearing the words ¡®money¡¯ and ¡®kiss¡¯. ¡°that¡¯s not a good game. you¡¯re sick, and you should rest properly. don¡¯t play games; it¡¯ll be tiring.¡± ¡°no, auntie, 1 want to play,¡± ding ding started to act cute. shen ning turned her eyes toward li zhenting, convinced that he wouldn¡¯t agree to play with her given his aversion to her. who knows¡­ ¡°what are you afraid of?¡± he asked, smiling ambiguously. it¡¯s just playing with the child. you won¡¯t lose much. maybe you¡¯ll even win and make a fortune.¡± shen ning rolled her eyes at this unreliable man.. Chapter 123 - Chapter 123: This Scheming Is Too Deep! chapter 123: this scheming is too deep! translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°mommy, don¡¯t worry. if you lose, i¡¯ll pay for you. if daddy wins, i¡¯ll help you kiss him.¡±just as she was feeling vexed, ding ding whispered into her ear in a voice that only the two of them could hear. shen ning found it amusing, thinking that this was quite a clever strategy. to keep the child from feeling disappointed, she reluctantly agreed. ding ding was in high spirits, and he had mostly recovered. he said loudly,¡±daddy, auntie, today, both of you are adults, and i¡¯m a child. therefore, both of you have to listen to me.¡± ¡°alright.¡± shen ning readily agreed. li zhenting narrowed his eyes and looked at the two of them. he didn¡¯t know what tricks they were playing. why did he feel that they were plotting against him? ¡°mr li, are you afraid to lose?¡± shen ning asked sarcastically. li zhenting¡¯s face darkened. a woman and a five-year-old child, how could he not afford to lose? ¡°alright.¡± so, li zhenting went to the hospital supermarket to buy a set of cards. the three of them started playing. ding ding dealt the cards. ¡°yay, 1 won.¡± ding ding won three times in a row and cheered. but after he won, he only wanted li zhenting¡¯s money. as for shen ning, of course, she wanted to kiss him. after shen ning kissed him three times, he laughed out loud. next, li zhenting won two rounds. ding ding immediately crawled over, picked up li zhenting¡¯s face, and kissed him twice on each side. when li zhenting looked at shen ning, shen ning shrugged and said that ding ding had already kissed him. li zhenting was stunned. ¡°daddy, i told you just now that you all have to listen to me. auntie is a lady, so we can¡¯t bully her.¡±ding ding said. ¡°¡­¡±li zhenting touched his dark face and was speechless. he had won twice, but he had gotten two kisses from the little wimp, and his face was covered in saliva. ¡°mr li, you won¡¯t hold it against a sick child, right?¡±shen ning held back her laughter and teased him. li zhenting gritted his teeth. forget it, 1 won¡¯t argue with women and children! next, shen ning won five rounds. li zhenting was delighted and stretched his face over. according to the rules, he could kiss shen ning five times. ¡°daddy, auntie is a girl. she can decide whether to kiss you or ask you for money.¡±ding ding suddenly spoke again in a childish voice. this time, li zhenting¡¯s face really darkened. brat, did you do it on purpose? shen ning was overjoyed. as expected of her biological son, he was completely on her side. she immediately declared that she wanted money! ding ding immediately announced that she would win 100,000 yuan each time. li zhenting was furious. only then did he understand ding ding¡¯s little scheme. he gritted his teeth in hatred. so this little bastard was colluding with outsiders to cheat him of his money. how did he raise such a son? betray an outsider! this time, he lost 500,000! what made him even angrier was that ding ding even asked li zhenting to transfer the money to her right in front of shen ning. li zhenting had no choice but to transfer five hundred thousand to shen ning. ding ding was even more pleased with himself. in one round, shen ning won another five rounds. li zhenting had no choice but to transfer another five hundred thousand to shen ning. so far, shen ning had won one million! ¡°mommy, you can buy some food and toys for coco and xiaoxiao with this money. i¡¯ll help you earn more in the future.¡±ding ding gave the money he won to shen ning and whispered into her ear. shen ning¡¯s eyes welled up with tears. ding ding looked cold and aloof on the outside, but he was actually warm on the inside. he was always thinking about others. what a good child! li zhenting narrowed his eyes and looked at them. was shen ning using his son to ask for money from him? if that was the case, she was too scheming! ¡°daddy, brother.¡± at this moment, a little girl¡¯s coquettish voice came from outside. they turned around and saw lan lan running in wearing a red dress with puff sleeves. she called out intimately as she ran, followed closely by shen mei, who was dressed in exquisite makeup.. Chapter 124 - Chapter 124: You Are Very Irresponsible chapter 124: you are very irresponsible translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°lanlan.¡± when li zhenting saw lan lan, a warm and gentle smile immediately appeared on his face. he put down the plate, stood up, bent down, picked her up, and kissed her little face. ¡°daddy, i miss you so much.¡± lan lan hugged li zhenting¡¯s neck and smiled. she swayed on his body and giggled happily. shen ning¡¯s heart felt as if it had been hit by sand. how much did li zhenting love lanlan? the gentle smile on his face was so dazzling. he had never been so caring even when ding ding was sick. that¡¯s right. men are animals that use their lower bodies to think about problems. he loved shen mei deeply, so naturally, he would dote on shen mei¡¯s lan lan more. this was nothing strange. after all, she was his biological daughter! shen mei took in shen ning¡¯s desolated expression and a smug sneer appeared on her lips. ¡°ding ding, how are you? are you feeling better?¡± she walked over and pushed shen ning to the side. she hugged ding ding on the bed and hugged him in her arms. her face was full of love and her voice was intimate. ding ding watched helplessly as she pushed his mommy away. he was very angry and pursed his lips, his face full of unhappiness. ¡°has ding ding taken his medicine?¡± at this moment, shen mei began to check the medicine on the bedside table. she picked up the cup and took a look. she poured the water into the bathroom and instructed shen ning,¡±go to the convenience store and buy a few bottles of mineral water to boil for the child. i don¡¯t even know what kind of water this hospital has.¡± then, he saw a bag of snacks on the bed. his face changed color and he immediately asked sternly, ¡°shen ning, did you give this to ding ding? no wonder the child¡¯s diarrhea didn¡¯t get better. it turned out that you gave the child random food. ding ding has been pampered since he was young. if he eats bad food, he will have diarrhea. you are very irresponsible.¡± then, she took out a few high-end food from her bag and said to shen ning,¡±these are what ding ding is used to eating. they are very precious and you have probably never seen them in your life. there are instructions on them.¡± after a series of actions, she completely treated shen ning as a nanny. shen ning didn¡¯t feel too sad about taking care of her son and did as she was told. however, she felt disgusted by shen mei¡¯s acting. after a while, shen ning bought some mineral water and put it into the pot to boil. shen mei took out an exquisite small silver pot from her bag and frowned, ¡°shen ning, if you haven¡¯t used decent things yourself, don¡¯t let my son use these random kettles to boil water. who knows what materials these hospital kettles are made of? could they exceed the lead limit? my son is the young master of the li family, he¡¯s precious, he can¡¯t use this junk. i seriously doubt your ability to take care of my son.¡± she emphasized ¡®son¡¯ repeatedly, making it seem like ding ding was truly her child. shen ning felt a deep pain in her heart. her own son couldn¡¯t openly acknowledge her, and instead, he was being raised by her enemy. to make matters worse, her enemy was scolding her right in front of her, trampling on her self-esteem. this kind of pain was unimaginable. as shen ning was struggling with her emotions, shen mei took a few steps closer and once again pushed her aside. this time, whether intentionally or unintentionally, she stepped on shen ning¡¯s instep with her heel, exerting heavy pressure. shen ning immediately felt a sharp pain in her instep and quickly withdrew her foot.. Chapter 125 - Chapter 125:I Don’t Want Her, I Only Want You chapter 125:i don¡¯t want her, i only want you translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation shen mei had snatched the kettle and was about to throw it away when shen ning, in pain, lifted her foot, causing shen mei to lose her balance, and the kettle fell. ¡°all, it hurts so much!¡± she suddenly screamed in pain, clutching her foot. although the kettle hadn¡¯t boiled yet, it was still quite hot, and it splashed all over her feet. ¡°what happened?¡± li zhenting was playing with lan lan and ding ding and didn¡¯t notice this side. when he heard the scream and turned around, he saw shen mei clutching her feet in apparent agony, furrowing his brow. ¡°zhenting, sister burned me with boiling water,¡± shen mei looked at him tearfully, her expression full of grievance. li zhenting stood up, frowning as he glanced at shen ning. shen ning retorted coldly, ¡°1 didn¡¯t do anything. she pushed me with her foot, and i just lifted mine. it¡¯s not my fault she couldn¡¯t keep her balance.¡± ¡°nonsense! i was about to boil water for my son, and you used your foot to push me. oh, it hurts so much,¡± she cried out in pain, tears streaming down her face. she then turned to shen ning, looking pitiful, and said, ¡°sister, i know you don¡¯t like me, and 1 may have been a bit strict with my demands. but 1 didn¡¯t mean to make things difficult for you. after all, ding ding is my only son. i understand him well. he¡¯s had digestive problems since he was little and never eats randomly. in the past, he either had me or a high-level nanny by his side, and everything he ate had to be approved by me. i saw that you didn¡¯t seem to understand anything, and i was worried. 1 spoke a bit too fast, but i absolutely had good intentions. it wasn¡¯t directed at you.¡± after speaking, she looked at li zhenting, tears streaming down her face, and said, ¡°zhenting, i¡¯m ding ding¡¯s mother, and 1 also have the right to care for our son. 1 don¡¯t oppose you getting him a psychologist, but 1 also have a responsibility to give some guidance, don¡¯t 1?¡± as she continued, she cried even harder, her grievances pouring out. li zhenting furrowed his brows tightly, setting lan lan down and walking over to shen mei. he bent down, picked her up, and placed her on the bed. he examined her feet, which were fair and had turned quite red. immediately, he called for a doctor who prescribed some medication for the burns and treated her wounds. after a while, li zhenting suggested that shen mei take lan lan home. however, shen mei was reluctant and insisted on taking care of ding ding personally, not trusting anyone else. li zhenting found himself in a bit of a dilemma. if he forced shen mei to leave, it was true that ding ding was her son, and he couldn¡¯t separate a mother from her child. however, anyone with common sense could see that shen ning and shen mei had a hostile relationship, and they were engaged in a power struggle, which wasn¡¯t good for the child. ¡°ding ding, come here, mommy wants to hug you.¡± ever since shen mei arrived, ding ding had looked visibly downcast, hardly saying a word. he lay in bed, still sickly. li zhenting had ordered a hearty lunch to cheer him up, and shen mei tried to win him over by reaching out her hands affectionately, trying to be endearing. however, ding ding didn¡¯t even glance at her. ¡°ding ding, there¡¯s so much delicious food here! we have your favorite cola chicken wings, charcoal-grilled oysters, hot dogs, and beef meatballs,¡± shen mei, thinking she knew what ding ding liked, continued to tempt him with his favorite treats. but ding ding just looked towards shen ning and called out to her, ¡°auntie, come here, 1 want you.¡± the smile on shen mei¡¯s face instantly vanished, leaving her standing there awkwardly. shen ning, on the other hand, was filled with anxiety and hesitation, unsure of what to do and remained where she was. ding ding¡¯s actions were becoming more pronounced, and she feared that shen mei might become embarrassed and hold a grudge against ding ding because of this. after all, ding ding would have to live with her and li zhenting in the future. she suppressed the pain in her heart and forced a smile at ding ding, ¡°ding ding, your mommy is here. spend some time with her.¡± ¡°no, i don¡¯t want her, 1 only want you,¡± ding ding opposed without hesitation. he sat up and reached out his hands towards her, looking pitifully at her. shen ning¡¯s heart was in agony.. Chapter 126 - Chapter 126:I Only Want Auntie chapter 126:i only want auntie translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation she longed to reach out and hold the child close to her, but shen mei was here, and she was the child¡¯s mother. it wasn¡¯t because she was weak, but the timing was wrong. taking control now would only provoke shen mei¡¯s jealousy and harm ding ding. after all, she couldn¡¯t compete with li zhenting for custody of the child. ¡°ding ding, come on, let mommy feed you,¡± shen mei didn¡¯t give up and extended her hands to pick up ding ding with a sweet smile on her face. ¡°no, go away.¡± what surprised everyone, including shen ning, was that ding ding turned out to be so determined. he pushed shen mei away and looked at shen ning with disgust, extending his hands towards her. ¡°auntie, come here.¡± everyone was shocked, including shen ning. at that moment, shen ning¡¯s heart trembled. the child was still so young, unaware of the complexities of human nature. he liked what he liked and disliked what he disliked. she had thought that after all these years of shen mei raising ding ding from a young age, there would be some emotional connection between them, and he wouldn¡¯t reject her like this. but she never expected it to be so bad! this also confirmed from another perspective that shen mei had never genuinely cared for ding ding. if she had, ding ding wouldn¡¯t be in such a pitiful situation. but his actions would only fuel shen mei¡¯s resentment because she was not a kind-hearted person. sure enough, she saw a glint of coldness in shen mei¡¯s eyes, and her fingers clenched into fists. all at once, her heart ached to the extreme. how had this little child grown up? how much neglect had he endured to develop such an extreme personality? ¡°zhenting, look, ding ding is deeply hostile towards me. i don¡¯t know what i did wrong. although sometimes i may not be as caring towards him, i am his real mother, at least showing him love. 1 suspect someone with ulterior motives might be using him.¡± shen mei¡¯s face turned pale, resembling a wounded rabbit, her eyes filled with tears as she gazed at li zhenting, looking utterly miserable. her words were quite clear; she suspected that ding ding had been manipulated by shen ning, leading him to treat his real mother this way. if that were the case, the situation would be very serious. li zhenting narrowed his eyes, feeling a hint of doubt in his heart. ding ding¡¯s rejection of shen mei was indeed chilling, considering she was his real mother. at least in front of li zhenting, shen mei had always shown great care for ding ding. while she might not have contributed much, she certainly did her part. ding ding¡¯s ill treatment of shen mei was clearly unjust. although li zhenting had witnessed shen mei¡¯s indifference to a sick ding ding last night, it didn¡¯t necessarily mean she had ill intentions or didn¡¯t care for her child. shen mei had grown up in a privileged environment and might have felt repulsed by a child¡¯s bowel movements, but that didn¡¯t necessarily indicate she was a bad mother. therefore, when li zhenting returned home and saw how ding ding was treated, he didn¡¯t reprimand shen mei. additionally, as he was planning to hire shen ning as a home tutor for ding ding, it wouldn¡¯t have been appropriate to criticize shen mei. ¡°ding ding, your mommy may have made some mistakes, but she gave birth to you and raised you. she usually cares for and loves you. she¡¯s your elder, and you should learn to be grateful. you shouldn¡¯t be so disrespectful to your mommy,¡± li zhenting approached and sternly scolded ding ding. ding ding pouted and retorted, ¡°hmph, you just like lan lan and her. then maybe you shouldn¡¯t come to see me anymore. i only want auntie.¡± li zhenting couldn¡¯t believe his ears. this kid had even started disliking him now. it seemed like he had lost his way in teaching him, and ding ding was becoming unmanageable. ¡°ding ding,¡± he said sternly. seeing his father¡¯s dark expression and feeling the chill emanating from him, ding ding became somewhat frightened. he pursed his lips and teary-eyed, looked towards shen ning. unable to hold back any longer, shen ning rushed over and scooped ding ding into her arms.. Chapter 127 - Chapter 127: Can You Please Stop Scolding Mommy? chapter 127: can you please stop scolding mommy? translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ding ding immediately buried his face in shen wing¡¯s arms and hugged her tightly. just how, shen mei had pushed shen ning away maliciously twice and even stepped on his mother¡¯s foot with her high heels. he had seen it all. in fact, ever since shen mei came in, his mother had been forced to leave him. his attention had been on his mother. he knew very well what had happened to shen ning. this was the reason why he had treated shen mei like this. at this moment, shen ning¡¯s heart was unusually uncomfortable. the child was not wrong. only she understood why ding ding would do this. which child would be willing to acknowledge another woman as their mommy? moreover, shen mei usually ignored the child. she was cold and two-faced. she had never given her child any motherly love! mr li, please be quiet. don¡¯t scare the child. he¡¯s still young, and some things can¡¯t be seen on the surface. ding ding is actually a kind child. ¡°shen ning hugged ding ding tightly and looked at li zhenting coldly. ¡°oh, sister, what do you mean by this? are you accusing me of mistreating ding ding? not treating him well? he¡¯s my own child. you have no right to interfere in our family affairs,¡± shen mei was very angry and confronted shen ning in front of li zhenting. shen ning stared coldly at her. ¡°every child is naturally innocent. if you treat him kindly, he will genuinely reciprocate your love. why do you think ding ding behaves this way towards you? you should reflect on that.¡± ¡°you wicked woman, how dare you speak to me like this!¡± shen mei was furious, her face turning red, and she raised her hand as if to slap shen ning. but before she could reach her, li zhenting grabbed her hand and dragged her out. ¡°mei mei, take lan lan home for now. don¡¯t cause a scene at the hospital. we can discuss this later,¡± li zhenting¡¯s eyebrows furrowed, and he spoke with a stern tone. ¡°for the next few days, don¡¯t bring lan lan to the hospital.¡± ¡°why?¡± shen mei was so angry she stomped her foot and tears streamed down her face. ¡°why are you only concerned about me and not her? she¡¯s obviously using the child against me. i¡¯m ding ding s real mother. how can a real mother not be allowed to be with her child? ding ding has been manipulated by her. you can¡¯t just ignore it.¡± li zhenting¡¯s eyes flashed with coldness. ¡°mei mei, it¡¯s not just me saying this. are you truly blameless when it comes to ding ding? last night, you watched him wet his pants without doing anything and called for the nanny instead. can a nanny replace a real mother¡¯s care? you¡¯ve indeed been lacking in affection for ding ding. he even prefers the food i make over yours. is there no reason behind that?¡± ¡°zhenting, i¡¯m just nor good at cooking. are you rejecting me because of that?¡± shen mei cried loudly, feeling wronged. hearing her mother cry from inside, lan lan ran out and grabbed li zhenting¡¯s arm, shaking it from side to side. ¡°daddy, mommy is crying. please don¡¯t scold mommy anymore, okay? mommy is very pitiful.¡± lan lan burst into tears too. li zhen ting had a throbbing headache. ¡°mei mei, there¡¯s a new arrival at the mall. take lan lan to have a look. if she likes anything, buy it for her.¡± only then did shen mei¡¯s crying subside a bit. ¡°zhenting, 1 really love ding ding. you must speak well of me in front of our child,¡± she said with a teary, beseeching face.. Chapter 128 - Chapter 128: Get Pregnant with His Child as Soon as possible chapter 128: get pregnant with his child as soon as possible translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°okay, i understand. you can leave now,¡± li zhenting bent down to pick up lan lan, gently wiped away her tears, and offered some comforting words. holding shen mei¡¯s hand, he walked towards the luxurious car parked outside. inside the hospital room, shen ning cradled ding ding in her arms, listening to the sweet cooing and occasional cries of shen mei and lan lan outside. her heart weighed heavily with emotions. outside, li zhenting held lan lan in one arm while clasping shen mei¡¯s hand with the other. the three of them strolled together, presenting a picturesque image of a harmonious and happy family. they looked like such a lovely family. they shared kisses and farewells, leaving ding ding behind, who appeared like a forlorn, homeless child, feeling like a misfit among them. in her heart, it was as if a sharp stone had lodged itself, causing both pain and bitterness. ding ding was still so young, and the road ahead was long. how could she allow such a young child to be caught up in such a complicated family situation? she couldn¡¯t bear to think about it. she took a seat, intending to say something to ding ding, but he had already fallen asleep in her arms, utterly exhausted. she buried her face against his chest, tears streaming down her cheeks. if shen mei could show more kindness to ding ding, she would have welcomed it. even if the investigation into her mother¡¯s cause of death implicated shen mei and her daughter, the primary responsibility would lie with lan feiyun. after all, shen mei was too young at the time to bear much blame. and now¡­ could she truly find peace of mind? ding ding was still so young, and he wouldn¡¯t learn to be worldly-wise anytime soon. would shen mei be lenient with him? she held ding ding in her arms, her clothing dampened by tears. in the luxury car, shen mei wiped away her tears with a tissue as her phone rang. ¡°mom,¡± she answered the call and immediately started venting her frustration to lan feiyun. ¡°that wicked woman shen ning is too cunning. can you believe she¡¯s now working as a psychological family tutor for ding ding at the li family¡¯s house? she¡¯s turned ding ding against me!¡± ¡°did you go and cause trouble with li zhenting again?¡± lan feiyun asked sternly on the other end. ¡°mom, i¡­¡± shen mei hesitated. ¡°my dear daughter, i¡¯ve told you before. all you need to do is be a good wife and mother in the li family, take care of the two children, and win li zhenting¡¯s favor. don¡¯t worry about anything else; leave it to me. why won¡¯t you listen to me?¡± ¡°mom, i understand,¡± shen mei lowered her head. ¡°but 1 can¡¯t swallow this humiliation.¡± ¡°can you defeat her in a fight? if not, follow my plan,¡± lan feiyun spoke seriously. shen mei didn¡¯t respond, but she felt indignant in her heart. what was so great about shen ning? why should she be unable to defeat her? ¡°don¡¯t worry, meimei. 1¡¯11 take care of everything for you,¡± lan feiyun reassured her. ¡°you must do as i say, keep your emotions in check, and remember, now that you¡¯re the biological mother of li zhenting¡¯s two children, he can¡¯t just abandon you. you must marry him. once you¡¯re married, you¡¯ve won. you have to remember my words and hurry to have his child. leave everything else to me.¡± ¡°okay, thank you, mom,¡± shen mei replied softly. after exchanging a few more words, the mother and daughter hung up the phone. lan feiyun held her phone and sat down on the sofa, her eyes gleaming with a cold and malicious light. ¡°shao meiqi, you were a loser even when you were alive, and how can your worthless daughter possibly defeat me? i won¡¯t allow your daughter to disrupt the good fortune of my daughter. if you can see from beyond the grave, then watch closely. see how your daughter and grandson will suffer under my torment.¡± when li zhenting returned to the hospital room, shen ning sat on the edge of the bed, holding ding ding¡¯s small hand, lost in thought.. Chapter 129 - Chapter 129: Do You Like Daddy? chapter 129: do you like daddy? translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°shen ning, let¡¯s forget about today¡¯s incident. shen mei has this kind of personality, and you don¡¯t need to dwell on it,¡± li zhenting walked over and said after a moment of contemplation. shen ning had a cold expression, ¡°mr. li, what do you mean by ¡®let¡¯s forget about it¡¯? are you suggesting that today¡¯s incident was my fault? are you pardoning me without pursuing my responsibility? let me tell you, there¡¯s no need for that. i did nothing wrong today. it was your woman who initiated the physical confrontation, pushing me and even stepping on me.¡± ¡°i¡¯ve already said, let¡¯s just drop this matter,¡± li zhenting responded impatiently, his brows furrowing. ¡°what if 1 don¡¯t agree?¡± shen ning opposed without holding back. ¡°shen ning,¡± li zhenting¡¯s voice turned displeased, ¡°shen mei is ding ding¡¯s mother, and it¡¯s not wrong for a mother to care for her son. even if she¡¯s picky, it¡¯s her right.¡± shen ning felt a pang in her heart. indeed, what¡¯s wrong with a mother caring for her son? shouldn¡¯t she care for ding ding as well? ¡°based on what you¡¯re saying, is it acceptable for me to endure her insults and physical attacks?¡± she asked bitterly, ¡°what era is this? do you still think you can treat hired help like feudal lords treating their servants? let me tell you, i¡¯m here as a therapist you¡¯ve hired, not your nanny.¡± li zhenting had been dealing with a lot at work recently, and with ding ding¡¯s illness, he felt exhausted. besides, shen mei was ding ding¡¯s mother, and shen ning had volunteered to come and take care of ding ding. in this situation, he felt that shen ning also had some responsibility. he turned serious, ¡°shen ning, you must understand that your role is solely ding ding¡¯s therapist. please focus on your designated tasks and avoid unnecessary conflicts. i don¡¯t want chaos in my household.¡± he finished speaking and walked away. shen ning bit her lip until it bled. this man was infuriating. he didn¡¯t care about right or wrong; he just blindly protected shen mei. disgusting! at this moment, she wanted to pick up ding ding and leave, to leave this man forever! but how was that possible? so far, what did she have to compete with him? she thought of coco and xiaoxiao, and a small sense of comfort welled up inside her. no matter what, she still had coco and xiaoxiao. for their sake, she would endure! but ding ding¡­ she lowered her head to look at the innocent face of the sleeping child. she gently pressed her cheek against his forehead, tears of anguish streaming down. in the days that followed, shen mei didn¡¯t bring lan lan to cause trouble anymore. shen ning began to wholeheartedly care for ding ding, trying to make every moment the best time for them as mother and son. she wished to shower him with all the motherly love she could give. perhaps this was their last time together as mother and son. despite the pain and sorrow, she could only do her best in these final moments. li zhenting came every day and saw shen ning meticulously taking care of ding ding. they had a close relationship, and there was no sign whatsoever that shen ning wanted to harm the child. this made him both happy and puzzled. what was this woman¡¯s true intention? why did she care for his child so much? perhaps there was only one explanation: shen ning still loved him! ¡°auntie, do you like my daddy?¡± one day, just as li zhenting reached the door of the hospital room, he heard ding ding asking shen ning in his childish voice. at that moment, shen ning and ding ding were sitting on the bed, playing cards. li zhenting¡¯s steps abruptly halted at the sound of the question, and for some reason, he felt a strange tension building within him. ¡°i don¡¯t like him.¡± quickly, he heard shen ning¡¯s voice from inside, a very certain tone. his face darkened instantly. ¡°why not? daddy is handsome and rich. why don¡¯t you like him?¡± ding ding¡¯s face was filled with disappointment. if mommy liked daddy, and daddy liked mommy, then they could get married! that way, he, coco, and xiaoxiao would have both a daddy and a mommy! Chapter 130 - Chapter 130:I Have No Feelings for Him chapter 130:i have no feelings for him translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°it¡¯s not about why. if you like someone, you like them. if you don¡¯t, you don¡¯t. besides, your daddy already likes someone else, and the person he likes isn¡¯t me,¡± shen ning gently replied, rubbing the little one¡¯s head. she looked at his disappointed eyes with compassion. ¡°but what if daddy likes you? can you like daddy, even just a little bit?¡± ding ding asked with hope still in his eyes. ¡°it¡¯s impossible.¡± seeing the urgency in the child¡¯s eyes, shen ning¡¯s heart ached. since she and li zhenting separated six years ago, it was impossible for them to be together again. something that was impossible should not even give the child a glimmer of hope; otherwise, it would only bring him more pain and disappointment. ¡°your daddy and i are from two different worlds. we can never be together. moreover, i no longer love your daddy and have no feelings for him at all. so, in the future, you should live well with your daddy. remember, your grandparents love you. no matter what happens, always remember to go to them, okay?¡± mommy no longer loved daddy at all, and they could never be together. ding ding sniffled and tears welled up in his eyes as he nodded sadly. li zhenting stood in the corridor, a cold smile playing at the corner of his lips. she doesn¡¯t have even the slightest feeling for him anymore. she doesn¡¯t love him at all! fortunately, this woman had some self-awareness. it seemed that her schemes and tricks had unraveled six years ago, and it had left an impression on her. it¡¯s best that she has this mindset, or she¡¯ll only bring trouble upon herself! he turned away and walked down the corridor. the next day, shen ning got up early and went to the market to buy groceries. after a few days of treatment and careful care, ding ding¡¯s symptoms had improved, except for a lingering cough. once a child¡¯s health showed signs of improvement, their appetite usually returned. last night, just before bedtime, he had told shen ning that he wanted to eat rainbow dumplings and chicken soup. shen ning was delighted, so she headed to the nearby market early in the morning. *** when li zhenting arrived, he could smell the fragrant aroma from the room in the hallway. his stomach even grumbled involuntarily. he walked in. ¡°here, hold it like this, pinch both sides gently, and press lightly,¡± in the hospital room, shen ning was teaching ding ding how to wrap dumplings. ding ding sat on a small stool, concentrating on learning, and his little hands were covered in flour. ¡°yay, i did it!¡± soon, ding ding happily raised the dumpling he had wrapped over his head, revealing a row of small white teeth as he smiled. ¡°ding ding, you did a great job!¡± shen ning kissed his little face and praised him with a beaming smile. a faint blush appeared on ding ding¡¯s face. li zhenting watched his son¡¯s radiant smile and couldn¡¯t help but feel moved. this might be the umpteenth time he had seen his son smile so brightly. he couldn¡¯t remember ding ding ever smiling like this before. the interaction between shen ning and the child truly resembled that of a biological mother and son. it gave him a strange illusion that ding ding was shen ning¡¯s biological child. but how could that be possible? six years ago, he had never touched shen ning. how could she have given birth to ding ding for him? he thought it must be because shen mei and shen ning were sisters. shen ning had a good and approachable personality, which made the little guy really attached to her. ¡°you¡¯ve wrapped the dumplings quite nicely,¡± li zhenting said with a slight smile, looking at the various shapes and colors of dumplings in the bowl. shen ning had heard his footsteps in the hallway and knew he had arrived. just like the previous days, she didn¡¯t lift her head or show any change in her demeanor. she maintained the appropriate politeness¡ªneither cold nor distant, neither too close nor too far.. Chapter 131 - Chapter 131: Pay Up chapter 131: pay up translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°alright, i¡¯ll go cook the dumplings now,¡± shen ning said as she quickly wrapped a large plate of dumplings and carried them to the kitchen. this vip room was top-notch and even had a kitchen and balcony, which was very convenient. ding ding, like a little shadow, followed her, leaving li zhenting alone in the hospital room. li zhenting, feeling a bit bored, decided to sit down and scroll through his phone. ¡°time to eat dumplings!¡± not long after, shen ning and keke came out with cheerful smiles. shen ning was carrying a tray of colorful dumplings with thin skins, which she placed on a small round dining table. ding ding climbed onto the chair and sat down. shen ning then brought out a pot of well-cooked chicken soup, scooped a bowl for ding ding, and placed it in front of him. ¡°ding ding, are you hungry? go ahead and start eating.¡± shen ning picked up a dumpling, blew on it gently, and fed it into ding ding¡¯s small mouth. ding ding took a bite, and the flavorful juice filled his mouth. he immediately started eating eagerly. ¡°slow down, don¡¯t rush, it¡¯s hot,¡± shen ning cautioned. she used a small fan to cool the chicken soup while wiping the sweat from his forehead. after ding ding had eaten a few dumplings, she let him drink some chicken soup and placed a soft towel behind his back. she sat beside him, taking care of him. shen ning raised her head. she saw li zhenting watching her with his deep, cold, and profound gaze. she pressed her lips together. ¡°auntie, i¡¯d like to have more in the future,¡± ding ding grinned as he continued to eat. ¡°sure.¡± shen ning¡¯s heart quivered slightly at his words, a hint of pain flickering in her eyes. nevertheless, she didn¡¯t want to let down the cheerful child, so she agreed with a forced smile. a cold smirk appeared at the corner of li zhenting¡¯s mouth. he got up and walked over to the dining table. ¡°mr. li, would you like to join us for a meal?¡± shen ning asked graciously. ¡°can this food even taste good?¡± li zhenting asked, eyeing the food with disdain. ¡°it¡¯s really delicious,¡± ding ding chimed in. li zhenting responded with an indifferent grunt. seeing his reaction, shen ning decided to ignore him. she miraculously brought out a large bowl of fresh vegetables from the kitchen, along with a plate of tangy cucumber salad. the vibrant green vegetables and the fragrant cucumber salad were quite appetizing. at this point, li zhenting started to feel hungry. initially, he had considered ordering food from a restaurant to share with them, but since they had already eaten, he lost interest. shen ning began to eat on her own. ¡°dad, go ahead and eat if you want,¡± ding ding, who was already getting full, suddenly raised his bright, black eyes and extended his little hand to li zhenting. ¡°you¡¯ll need to pay, though.¡± ¡°what do you mean, pay?¡± li zhenting was puzzled. ¡°for the meal, of course,¡± ding ding pointed at the food on the table. li zhenting¡¯s expression darkened. during this time, this kid had already cost him a fair amount of money while staying with shen ning. regardless of the situation, he kept mentioning money, becoming quite the little money enthusiast. ¡°she¡¯s making this meal voluntarily for you. why would 1 have to pay for it?¡± ¡°dad, why aren¡¯t you being fair? auntie bought groceries and cooked for me. i¡¯m your son; you should compensate her. do you really want auntie to raise your son for free? how can you, as a man, not feel embarrassed?¡± ding ding was straightforward. shen ning struggled to hold back her laughter at his words. ¡°well, if people found out that mr. li¡¯s son relies on other women to feed him, it would be quite embarrassing,¡± ding ding continued, speaking seriously and convincingly. ¡°how much?¡± li zhenting reluctantly asked. ¡°not much, just ten thousand,¡± ding ding promptly replied. ten thousand? for this little meal! li zhenting felt the urge to give his biological son a good scolding. but he had no choice; this little guy had him wrapped around his finger! he reluctantly took out his phone and transferred ten thousand to shen ning. ¡°that¡¯s already ten thousand. if i don¡¯t eat it back, it¡¯s a big loss.¡± after completing the transfer, he turned and went to the kitchen, grabbing some chopsticks and a bowl before sitting down and digging into the food. surprisingly, the dumplings and chicken tasted really good in his mouth. they were just right in terms of flavor, not too salty or bland. especially the cucumber salad and the fresh greens from the chicken soup, they were simply delicious and perfectly suited his palate. as he savored this familiar meal, he found himself lost in thought for a moment. six years ago, he had eaten her cooking every day, and at that time, he hadn¡¯t thought much of it. but later, after she had ¡®died,* he could no longer enjoy her homemade dishes. day after day, he dined on food prepared by five-star hotel chefs, and over time, it became tasteless, making him long for the flavors of her cooking. several times, in his dreams, he had yearned for this taste. now, with shen mei unable to cook even a simple meal and ding ding depending on him for food, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a complex mix of emotions as he held the chopsticks in his hand.. Chapter 132 - Chapter 132: An Important Entertainment Event Tonight chapter 132: an important entertainment event tonight translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°mr. li, starting from tomorrow, i have to return to the company for work. i can only spend three hours with ding ding in the evenings.¡± after finishing dinner, shen ning spoke calmly. she had been with ding ding in the hospital for almost a week, and it was time for her to return to work. she couldn¡¯t afford any further delays. li zhenting paused, glancing at ding ding. it was clear that shen ning had already prepared the young boy for this news, and he seemed quite composed. so, he nodded in agreement. the next day. shen ning finally returned to work at gu qi. ¡°ms. shen, there¡¯s an important social event tonight with representatives from a new company. they¡¯re hoping for our company¡¯s legal representative to attend as a sign of respect,¡± her secretary, li, reported as she finished sorting through the piled-up tasks. shen ning hesitated for a moment. she really didn¡¯t like these types of social events. moreover, she hadn¡¯t been home for many days and wanted to get back early to see xiao xiao and coco. ¡°ms. shen, the company has assigned the marketing department manager, yan zexiong, and the public relations department manager, ji hongmei, to attend. mr. yan emphasized the importance of this event and kindly requested your participation,¡± secretary li sighed, understanding shen ning¡¯s feelings. but the company was in a crucial development phase, and such social events were unavoidable. shen ning suddenly smiled, ¡°alright, i¡¯ll attend.¡± secretary li nodded slightly, offering a smile before stepping out. on this day, shen ning was busy. despite her hectic schedule, she managed to find time to call and video chat with ding ding in the hospital. she explained that she had a social event in the evening and would be a bit late in returning to be with him. as the end of the workday approached, shen ning went to the restroom to splash some cold water on her face. she applied a light makeup and took a short break before picking up her purse and heading outside. ¡°have you seen the newspaper? mr. li and shen mei¡¯s engagement date is set for national day, just over a month from now. shen mei has finally hit the jackpot.¡± ¡°what¡¯s so surprising about it? shen mei gave birth to a lovely pair of children for mr. li, so it¡¯s only natural for him to marry her.¡± ¡°yeah, shen mei is so lucky. gu qi has been losing money year after year, but she doesn¡¯t have to worry about anything. with mr. li supporting her, she lives a life of extravagance and splendor every day. that¡¯s why they say women should marry well.¡± ¡°that¡¯s right. otherwise, why do all women dream of marrying a prince charming? look at shen ning now, she looks so miserable and unlucky. they say she and shen mei are sisters, but it¡¯s like one is in heaven and the other is in hell. what¡¯s more, even if shen ning works like a horse, there¡¯s no guarantee she can turn the company around. 1 heard gu qi is still borrowing money from the bank, and if they don¡¯t succeed in the next three months, they¡¯ll go bankrupt. this woman, without a man to support her, life is truly tough.¡± shen ning listened with a blank expression. shen mei had been living with the li family for six years and had only now secured an engagement. it seemed like marrying into a wealthy family was quite the ordeal. of course, between her and li zhenting, there was nothing more than a piece of unsigned paper. it wasn¡¯t much different from being married. ¡°ms. shen, hello. shall we go? the car is waiting at the entrance,¡± she walked out slowly, and the gossiping voices fell silent. at that moment, yan zexiong approached, wearing a friendly smile and showing great respect. shen ning nodded and headed towards the elevator, pulling out her phone to make a call back home. ¡°mommy.¡± it was xiao xiao who answered, with a voice as soft and sweet as ever. shen ning wished she could instantly be with her children. ¡°xiao xiao, mommy won¡¯t be able to come home until 10 o¡¯clock tonight. if you and coco are feeling sleepy, go to bed early. mommy will take you to kindergarten tomorrow.¡± she gently and softly reassured. for this past week, she had been taking care of ding ding in the hospital, feeling anxious and guilty about leaving coco and xiao xiao at home. but there was no other choice, and she was thankful that they were understanding and considerate of her situation.. Chapter 133 - Chapter 133: Come, Let Me Rasie a Toast to You! chapter 133: come, let me rasie a toast to you! translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°sure, mommy, please be careful. should 1 ask big brother to pick you up?¡± xiao xiao asked thoughtfully. shen ning smiled, ¡°no need, mommy will spend some time with ding ding tonight and then take a taxi back. you two take care and go to bed early.¡± ¡°okay, mommy, i love you,¡± xiao xiao said with a sweet smile. ¡°i love you both too. remember to sleep early,¡± shen ning replied tenderly before ending the call with a warm smile. ¡°is ms. shen married now? how old are the kids?¡± as she stepped into the elevator, shen ning looked up to see yan zexiong gazing at her with a smirk on his face. shen ning frowned slightly, standing in the corner of the elevator without responding. yan zexiong had a sly look in his small eyes, calculating and seemingly sinister. she didn¡¯t like him very much. in her childhood, when gu qi was still her mother¡¯s company, she had visited here when the employees were all her mother¡¯s subordinates and had treated her kindly. but now, after so many years, the old guards were long gone, and the current staff were all recruited by shen mei. they might not all be shen mei¡¯s confidants, but at the very least, they weren¡¯t people she trusted. take yan zexiong, for example, he had a mysterious and unpredictable demeanor. who knew if he was a friend or foe? however, she had only taken over the company recently, and with ding ding¡¯s illness, she had to make do for now. in the seductive and luxurious private room, when shen ning and yan zexiong arrived, the pr manager had already ordered a sumptuous banquet. seated at the head of the table was a middle-aged man with a gold-rimmed glasses, a protruding forehead, and a potbelly. as soon as shen ning entered, his eyes lit up, and he fixed his gaze directly on her. ¡°ms. shen, let me introduce you. this is mr. lai hongyu, vice president of the american innovation company, and a chinese-american,¡± the pr manager, ji hongmei, immediately introduced lai hongyu to shen ning with a smile. ¡°mr. lai, hello, and welcome.¡± shen ning displayed a reserved and graceful smile and extended her hand to him. ¡°mr. lai, this is ms. shen, our legal representative at gu qi,¡± ji hongmei introduced shen ning to lai hongyu. ¡°ms. shen, hello, hello.¡± lai hongyu immediately reached out his large hand and firmly shook shen ning¡¯s small hand. his small eyes sparkled with admiration. ¡°ms. shen, you¡¯re truly a beauty, intelligent and elegant. one of the most beautiful asian women i¡¯ve ever seen,¡± he praised with enthusiasm. while speaking, he held shen ning¡¯s hand tightly and even rubbed it forcefully. shen ning¡¯s smile froze on her face, and a sense of disgust welled up within her. ¡°oh, not at all,¡± she forced a weak smile and pulled her hand back with determination. lai hongyu courteously pulled out her chair and made a gentlemanly gesture. ¡°miss shen, please have a seat.¡± shen ning hesitated but finally took her seat, feeling incredibly uncomfortable, as if sitting on pins and needles. it was clear that lai hongyu was an adept at socializing, not easy to deal with. while she was pondering, yan zexiong and ji hongmei began to take turns toasting. lai hongyu was in high spirits, welcoming each guest with enthusiasm. shen ning had planned to wait until lai hongyu had drunk enough and then make a token toast before leaving. however, lai hongyu had an astonishing tolerance for alcohol. after a few drinks, his enthusiasm soared, and his amber eyes kept fixating on shen ning, flashing with a wolf-like glint. shen ning¡¯s heart sank. she wasn¡¯t much of a drinker in normal circumstances, and facing someone as experienced as lai hongyu, she felt out of her depth. ¡°ms. shen, a young and beautiful woman like you, with ambition and a good drinking capacity, is truly a rare find,¡± lai hongyu leaned closer to her, raising a glass of white wine and flattering her, ¡°to express my admiration, let me offer you a toast.¡± shen ning reluctantly picked up her glass and clinked it with his, exchanging polite words before downing the drink under his watchful gaze. as the alcohol entered her stomach, she felt like it was burning like fire.. Chapter 134 - Chapter 134:I Was Set Up chapter 134:i was set up translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°haha, ms. shen is awesome.¡± lai hongyu gave her a thumbs up. shen ning cautiously moved herself further away, maintaining a certain distance from him. she picked up a glass of water and took a few sips, discreetly spitting out some of the wine. ¡°shen general, come, let me toast you again, wishing us a pleasant collaboration,¡± lai hongyu poured himself another full glass of wine and raised it to shen ning. this time, shen ning just sat there and didn¡¯t reach for a glass. lai hongyu¡¯s hand hung in the air. ¡°what¡¯s wrong? ms. shen, won¡¯t even give me the face of a toast? or do i not qualify?¡± lai hongyu¡¯s face darkened, and he suddenly brought the wine glass close to her lips, leaning in towards her aggressively. shen ning¡¯s fingers clenched, her lips tightened, and she wished she could claw his fat face to pieces. ¡°miss shen, 1 especially like the gentleness and classical beauty of asian women. if miss shen can satisfy me, 1 promise to sign a contract with your company and let your perfume sell well all over the world.¡±seeing that shen ning didn¡¯t dare to move, lai hongyu became more and more daring. he breathed out the smell of alcohol and whispered his intentions in her ear without any restraint, and his hand wandered restlessly on her. shen ning¡¯s anger shot up to the top of her head. this was outrageous! how could such a large international company be controlled by such scum? was there no justice left in the world? with a loud ¡°slap,¡± she smacked the table hard, about to explode in anger. but she suddenly realized that yanzexiong and the pr manager, jihongmei, had already left the private room. in the entire spacious room, only lai hongyu and she remained. her face changed color, realizing that she had fallen into a trap tonight. she immediately picked up her phone and sent a message to coco, sending him the address. it was an agreement she had with coco. if she ever felt endangered outside, she would send him the address to prompt him to call the police. ¡°beauty, your temper is quite fierce, but 1 like it.¡±just as shen ning was about to stand up and leave, lai hongyu¡¯s big fat palms pressed down heavily on her shoulders, forcing her to sit down. his fingers pinched her chin and he laughed,¡±little beauty, as long as you accompany me tonight, 1 will definitely not treat you unfairly.¡± after saying that, his oily lips were about to bite shen ning¡¯s face. ¡°bastard, scoundrel.¡± shen ning flew into a rage, and the five fingers of her right hand scratched at his face. in an instant, lai hongyu let out a miserable cry, and his face was terribly scratched. ¡°f * ck, you b * tch, how dare you!¡±the vicious man slapped shen ning¡¯s face. shen ning saw stars and felt dizzy. ¡°i told you, if you don¡¯t drink a toast, you¡¯ll have to drink a penalty.¡± lai hongyu suddenly grabbed shen ning¡¯s hair viciously and pulled it back, picking up a bottle of wine from the table and forcefully pouring it into her mouth. shen ning clenched her teeth as the wine followed her lips and trickled down her snow-white neck, gradually soaking her clothes¡­ lai hongyu¡¯s eyes grew wider, filled with excitement. ¡°beast, let go of me.¡± shen ning was quickly pushed down onto the sofa by lai hongyu. he knelt with one knee on her stomach, leaned in with a lewd smile, and his large hand caressed her face. his fingers moved down her neck, finally resting on her chest. his chubby fingertips lifted her clothing, and there was a lustful glint in his eyes. ¡°beautiful lady, don¡¯t be afraid. i¡¯ll make you beg for mercy soon. just be obedient, and the glory of gu qi will be in my hands. i¡¯ll make you enjoy endless wealth and prosperity.¡± lai hongyu¡¯s eyes gleamed with lust, growing more intense by the moment.. Chapter 135 - Chapter 135: Thank You for Saving Mommy chapter 135: thank you for saving mommy translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°open the door.¡± at this critical moment, the sound of someone kicking on the door came from outside. ¡°who is it?¡± lai hongyu turned his head away, his eyes bloodshot. ¡°quick, smash it for me.¡± a childish and domineering voice came from outside. shen ning, whose face was ashen, was shocked. wasn¡¯t that the sound of ding ding? ¡°ding ding.¡± she shouted excitedly and took advantage of lai hongyu¡¯s distraction to push him away and crawl towards the door. ¡°b * tch, you actually called a little brat to save you. do you think you can escape from my demonic claws?¡±lai hongyu sneered disdainfully and kicked shen ning¡¯s abdomen. shen ning immediately broke out in cold sweat from the pain. her face was pale and her body curled up into a ball. at this moment, the door was kicked open. ding ding was wearing a small suit and sunglasses. he swaggered in, followed by two tall and mighty bodyguards! ¡°mom!¡­ auntie.¡± ding ding saw shen ning lying on the ground as soon as he came in. his expression changed and he immediately ran towards her with a loud cry. lai hongyu had never expected that this little guy would bring along two fierce-looking bodyguards. his expression changed when he saw the two bodyguards. ¡°you guys beat him up ruthlessly, beat him until he pees his pants.¡±ding ding was so angry at his mother¡¯s miserable state that his teeth cracked open. he stood up with both hands on his waist and roared loudly. the two bodyguards rushed towards lai hongyu. not long after, the police rushed in. ¡°mommy, how are you? does it hurt?¡±ln the luxury car, shen ning was lying on the bed, her face pale. ding ding was kneeling beside her, his little hand caressing her stomach, and his voice was filled with heartache. ¡°it doesn¡¯t hurt anymore. ding ding, thank you for saving mommy. ¡°shen ning covered her stomach with one hand and held ding ding¡¯s hand with the other. she smiled in relief. what could be more blissful than being saved by his own son? she felt that even if she died, it would be worth it! ¡°mommy, i¡¯m sorry i¡¯m late.¡±ding ding pouted.¡± if it weren¡¯t for the two bodyguard uncles being so cowardly, i would have beaten that bad guy to death tonight.¡± shen ning smiled.¡± ding ding, we can¡¯t beat the bad guys to death. that¡¯s illegal. the bad guys will be dealt with by the police. the law will punish them severely. we have to know the law and protect ourselves. we can¡¯t compare ourselves to those bad guys, understand?¡± she panted heavily after saying that! ¡°alright, i¡¯ll listen to you.¡± ding ding nodded, but he still felt unfair.¡± but they hit mommy, and they hit her so hard. i¡¯m so angry.¡± ¡°mommy is fine now. you can¡¯t call me mommy when we reach the hospital later.¡±shen ning held ding ding¡¯s little hand tightly as she reminded him. she smiled and closed her eyes. ding ding¡¯s eyes were red. li zhenting knew that ding ding was making a scene because he received bodyguard¡¯s call when he was about to leave the office and return to the hospital. ¡°mr. li.¡± bodyguard wang an jumped out of the car.¡± miss shen is injured. i¡¯m afraid we have to let the doctor examine her.¡± ¡°what exactly happened?¡± li zhenting¡¯s eyebrows were tightly knitted. the bodyguard then told him what had happened. it turned out that ding ding was restless tonight. mommy had to work overtime. he couldn¡¯t sit still anymore and called li wanqing, saying that he was going to pick up auntie. after li wanqing heard this, she immediately gave him two bodyguards to bring him to pick up shen ning. unexpectedly, just as he arrived at gu qi¡¯s door, he received coco¡¯s call. coco told him solemnly that his mommy was in danger and that he should immediately take bodyguard to save his mommy.. he then sent him the address and told him that he had already called the police! Chapter 136 - Chapter 136: This Little Bastard Is Doing Bad Things chapter 136: this little bastard is doing bad things translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ding ding¡¯s heart thumped when he heard that. fortunately, the location was not far from gu qi. she immediately gave the address to his bodyguard uncles so he rushed over in time. shen ning was sent to the hospital emergency room. ¡°what should i do? her face is all swollen and hot,¡± li zhenting entered the hospital room, where ding ding was in front of shen ning. he was blowing air gently on her swollen, red cheek while crying and talking. shen ning had five clear fingerprints on one side of her face, and it had swollen so much that even her eyes were nearly closed. when li zhenting walked in, he was shocked by what he saw. at that moment, shen ning looked disheveled, her clothes were in disarray, and her hair was sticky. she appeared completely unkempt. her face was swollen like a steamed bun, and she had been kicked in the abdomen, as bo biao had informed him. ¡°shen ning, why were you with someone like lai hongyu tonight?¡± li zhenting¡¯s gaze was severe. ¡°i¡­¡± shen ning looked at the man standing before her, exuding a chilling aura. she clung tightly to her clothes with both hands and could only manage to utter a single word, ¡°i,¡± before losing consciousness entirely. ¡°auntie!¡± ding ding burst into tears. li zhenting promptly called for a doctor, who confirmed that she was alright before he left the room, his expression grim. ¡°release me, or i will have headquarters take action against you and bankrupt your company immediately,¡± lai hongyu yelled loudly from within a small, dimly lit room. li zhenting kicked the door open and entered. ¡°who are you?¡± lai hongyu widened his eyes, and a menacing glint appeared in them. the man standing in front of him exuded darkness and a dominating presence. he stood tall and imposing, like a mountain god, exuding an air of authority and arrogance. lai hongyu instantly felt a wave of fear, and he shrunk back, but before he could react¡­ the man delivered a powerful kick that struck him in the chest. he was sent flying, crashing into the wall before bouncing back and falling to the ground. blood spewed from his mouth, and he clutched his chest, curling into a ball as he looked at the man in terror. ¡°this is punishment for harming a woman,¡± li zhenting declared in a stern and commanding voice. lai hongyu immediately sensed the presence of death and trembled all over. *** in the luxurious guest room. lan feiyun was flustered and exasperated. ¡°what did you say? did ding ding save shen ning?¡± ¡°yes, he brought two bodyguards.¡±a middle-aged man with a full beard nodded. ¡°damn it.¡± lan feiyun was so angry that she gritted her teeth.¡± this little bastard is always doing bad things. it¡¯s really a waste of time to raise him.¡± she had thought that she would succeed tonight. lai hongyu would definitely sleep with shen ning, and shen ning would be ruined tonight. however, she did not expect a five-year-old child to appear out of thin air and ruin her plan. ¡°mrs. shen, mr. li is currently investigating lai hongyu. ¡°the middle-aged man immediately reminded. ¡°all,¡± lan feiyun exclaimed in alarm, taking a few steps back, her face turning pale. ¡°quickly, go over there and get yan zexiong and ji hongmei. make sure to frame shen ning, and don¡¯t reveal the real target. if this succeeds, there will be a substantial reward.¡± ¡°alright,¡± the middle-aged man acknowledged and turned to leave. lan feiyun angrily threw the pillow onto the floor. shen ning was indeed lucky, and getting rid of her wouldn¡¯t be so easy. in the small, dimly lit room: ¡°tell me, why did you target shen ning tonight? what were you planning to do?¡± li zhenting demanded, pressing his foot onto lai hongyu¡¯s chest, his voice filled with anger. lai hongyu¡¯s mouth was foaming with blood, and stars danced before his eyes. ¡°i¡­ i¡­¡± just as he was about to speak in fragments, the room¡¯s door was suddenly pushed open, and two people rushed in, panting heavily. li zhenting took a look and saw that it was yan zexiong and the public relations manager, ji hongmei. his eyes gleamed with a cold light as he stared at them, and he demanded, ¡°where were you both tonight? what¡¯s going on here?¡± Chapter 137 - Chapter 137: You Said Shen Ning Seduced Lai Hongyu? chapter 137: you said shen ning seduced lai hongyu? translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°mr. li.¡± yan zexiong immediately smiled and bowed. he stammered,¡± 1¡­¡± ¡°speak up.¡± ¡°li, mr. li.¡± yan zexiong¡¯s small eyes evaded her gaze.¡± we came with manager shen to entertain today. she instructed us to do everything we could to convince mr. lai. then, she kept forcing mr. lai to drink and even seduced him¡­finally, she signaled for us to leave¡­¡± ¡°you said that shen ning took the initiative to seduce lai hongyu?¡±li zhenting narrowed his eyes dangerously. ¡°yes.¡± yan zexiong was careful, his expression troubled.¡± but mr. li, you can¡¯t blame ms. shen for this. after all, she did it for the company¡¯s business.¡± ¡°nonsense.¡± li zhenting¡¯s eyes were filled with anger. although shen ning¡¯s return was indeed unusual, she was definitely not someone who would sell her body. after all, he had been her husband for a few years and knew her character. yan zexiong¡¯s face was full of tears.¡±mr. li, we don¡¯t want to believe it either, but manager ji and i were there from the beginning to the end. look, these are the photos we took.¡± he opened the photo album on his phone and showed li zhenting the pictures of shen ning seducing lai hongyu. li zhenting¡¯s eyes flashed with a cold light. ¡°ah, isn¡¯t this mr. lai? what¡¯s wrong with him?¡±at this moment, ji hongmei saw lai hongyu curled up on the ground and groaned in pain. she immediately walked over to help him up and asked with concern. lai hongyu cursed,¡± your president shen seduced me, and you beat me up like this. let me tell you, there¡¯s no way we can work together anymore. this time, i¡¯m going to make gu qi go bankrupt, and that b * tch will never be able to rise again.¡±¡± ¡°i¡¯m sorry, i¡¯m sorry¡­¡± ji hongmei quickly apologized with a bitter face. at this moment, the police walked in. lai hongyu was carried out. ¡°mr. li.¡± captain wang looked at li zhenting. ¡± captain wang,¡± li zhenting¡¯s face was gloomy. ¡°this matter didn¡¯t really have any real consequences. let¡¯s just forget about it.¡±¡± he shook hands with captain wang and exchanged a few pleasantries before walking out. the night was dark. at the exit of the hospital. shen ning staggered out. ding ding was already asleep. she had to go home. she had promised coco and xiaoxiao that she would come home tonight. moreover, she had sent coco a message before the accident. she was worried that the children would not be able to sleep at home and that they would come out to look for her because they were worried about her. she wasn¡¯t sick, and the doctor let her go after checking that her injuries weren¡¯t serious. on the street, she walked with her head lowered. her thin figure was pulled up by the streetlights, making her look thin and lonely. it was only at this moment that she understood how dark society was and how bad human nature was! there was no doubt that she had been set up tonight! yan zexiong and ji hongmei must be shen mei¡¯s men! they wanted to join forces to destroy her! her cold eyes were bloodshot. it seemed that gu qi needed to be reorganized! the night was dark. coco and xiaoxiao sat on the sofa with red eyes and pursed lips. ding ding had already sent them a video. they saw mommy. mommy was badly injured and had been beaten by a man. this was too despicable. someone actually dared to hit mommy. they had to avenge mommy! coco wanted to rush out a few times, but aunt dong stopped him. aunt dong was the nanny that shen ning hired for keke and xiaoxiao! when shen ning made the decision to take care of ding ding, she thought of hiring a nanny to take care of coco and xiaoxiao. that day, lan feiyun had warmly told her that they had already moved out of the white villa and asked her to move back. shen ning brought some people to check on the body. it was there that she met aunt dong. aunt dong had always been with her mother, shao meiqi, taking care of her. later on, shao meiqi had given her two rooms on the top floor of the villa for her retirement. at that time, it had been certified and had legal effect, so she had been living there all these years. to put it bluntly, she lived there as a nanny for lan feiyun. these few years, she had lived a very aggrieved life. when she saw shen ning, she was so excited that she hugged her and called her miss, tears streaming down her face. after exchanging pleasantries and understanding the situation, aunt dong insisted on taking care of shen ning and her children. coincidentally, shen ning was also preparing to hire a nanny. with a close person like aunt dong, she was naturally happy. hence, she brought her home and gave her a high salary.. Chapter 138 - Chapter 138: You Have to Be Careful of These People chapter 138: you have to be careful of these people translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°mommy, where are you? that stinky bad guy hit you so hard, didn¡¯t he? i¡¯m going to beat that bad guy to death.¡± ¡°yes, mommy, i¡¯m going to beat that bad guy to death too.¡± after a while, keke¡¯s phone rang. it was shen ning. he immediately stood up and put it on speaker mode. xiao xiao also echoed angrily. shen ning sat on a small stone chair downstairs and looked at the lights in her house. she smiled and replied gently,¡±coco, xiaoxiao, mommy is fine now. mommy still has to accompany ding ding for a while. you guys go to bed early. don¡¯t worry about mommy. ding ding is the young master of the li family, he has bodyguards and he can protect mommy.¡± ¡°alright then.¡± coco and xiaoxiao didn¡¯t want to sleep when they couldn¡¯t see their mommy, but their mommy still had to accompany ding ding, so they could only agree helplessly. moreover, they were really sleepy at this time. they were so sleepy that they could not even open their eyes. shen ning hung up the phone and looked upstairs. she only dared to stand up and walk home when the lights went out. ¡°miss, why is your face so swollen? who did it?¡± shen ning quietly opened the door and walked in. aunt dong brought her some hot water and asked as she looked at shen ning¡¯s face. ¡°shh.¡± shen ning softly hushed him.¡± don¡¯t let the children see this. otherwise, they will make a ruckus.¡±¡± aunt dong nodded, her eyes red.¡±you¡¯re in such a difficult situation now. if your mother knew about it, she would be so heartbroken.¡± shen ning felt a lump in her throat and lowered her head. ¡°by the way, miss, i saw your aunt, wu lili. she went to the shen family in the middle of the night to look for lan feiyun and her daughter. you have to be careful of these people.¡±aunt dong remembered that night when she went out to take out the trash and coincidentally met wu lili walking out of the shen family¡¯s house happily. she had a bad feeling at that time and immediately reminded her. shen ning pursed her lips tightly and her eyes were cold.¡±yes, they¡¯re a nest of snakes and rats. they¡¯ve been colluding for a long time.¡± ¡± they¡¯re too despicable, these scumbags. oh right, young miss, i went to visit your grandmother a few days ago. her health isn¡¯t very good. that day, she said a lot of things with tears in her eyes. according to the news i received, the internal strife in shao corporation is very serious now. your first and second uncles fight all day for that bit of property and don¡¯t care about the business at all. your grandmother is worried about it and doesn¡¯t dare to hand over the family property to them.¡± aunt dong said angrily, ¡°in my opinion, your second uncle became like this after he married that woman, wu lili. that woman dresses like a vixen all day long. how could she love an old man like your second uncle? it¡¯s obvious that she¡¯s after his money. your second uncle is really stupid. his wife was so good in the past, but he didn¡¯t know how to cherish her. sigh, what a pity.¡± aunt dong was an orphan and had been taken in by jun meizhen since she was young. she grew up in shao family and was very grateful to jun meizhen. later on, jun meizhen was worried about her daughter shao meiqi, so she volunteered to follow shao meiqi to the shen family. shen ning cried as she listened. she had originally planned to bring coco and xiaoxiao to visit her after gu qi settled down. after all, it was good news to take back gu qi¡¯s ownership. however, she did not expect that in just a few days, things would happen one after another. at the moment, she could not even take care of herself. she did not have the energy to take care of her at all. ¡°sigh, it¡¯s true that the shao family has fallen as far as they could have been in the past. this is probably the so-called saying that the predecessors are not as strong as the future generations.¡±aunt dong sighed as she gently wiped the wound on her face. shen ning was silent. the next day. gu qi perfume group.. Chapter 139 - Chapter 139: I’m Giving You A Chance Now chapter 139: i¡¯m giving you a chance now translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°manager shen is really shameless. she actually seduced ceo lai at the wine table last night. she¡¯s really willing to do anything for benefits.¡± ¡°there¡¯s something even worse. 1 heard that she used to work as a prostitute in a nightclub and seduced countless men. she definitely won¡¯t let go of a rich and powerful man like ceo lai.¡± ¡°tsk tsk, how disgusting.¡± in order to prevent coco and xiaoxiao from seeing the injury on her face, shen ning asked aunt dong to send them to kindergarten. she went out early in the morning and arrived at the company. as soon as she arrived, she felt that the atmosphere was strange. many employees were looking at her with strange eyes, mixed with disdain. their discussions were not soft, and it was obvious that they did not intend to hide from her. in just one night, her reputation in the company had already been ruined. of course, this was because someone was deliberately slandering her behind her back. the politics of the workplace were really deep! ¡°liu huiyun, qiu meili, you two are fired.¡±she didn¡¯t intend to endure it either. she kicked open the half-closed office door and said expressionlessly,¡± please go to the finance department to settle your salary and resign immediately.¡± the two women who were gossiping changed their expressions and stood up. ¡°manager shen, why are you firing us? did we fail in our job?¡± they asked almost at the same time, their tone arrogant and unwilling. ¡°i¡¯m giving you a chance to leave with dignity. if you don¡¯t leave, you¡¯ll only be embarrassed later.¡± shen ning sneered.¡± ¡°dream on, we won¡¯t leave.¡±liu huiyun waved her hand and shouted angrily,¡± what right do you have to fire us? just because we said bad things about you? if you have the ability, then don¡¯t do those shameful things. if you do it, don¡¯t be afraid of others saying it. i¡¯m telling you, as long as we don¡¯t make any mistakes at work, you have no reason to fire us. the labor law is there. don¡¯t think that you can do whatever you want just because you used tricks to get gu qi¡¯s shares.¡± ¡°do you really want to follow the labor law?¡± shen ning sneered.¡± you have to think about it carefully. don¡¯t regret it.¡± ¡°regret what? we didn¡¯t do anything wrong!¡± qiu meili¡¯s eyelids twitched. although her tone was domineering, she was not confident. ¡°alright, then come with me. i¡¯ll make you convinced.¡±shen ning turned around and walked towards her office. no matter what, gu qi could no longer allow these foul people to do evil! today, she had to strike where it hurts! by establishing her dominance first! liu huiyun and qiu meili looked at each other and nodded. the two of them followed shen ning to the office at the same time. however, after a few minutes, their faces changed and they panicked. ¡°ms. shen, i¡¯m sorry. we were wrong. we shouldn¡¯t have believed the rumors and scolded you. please forgive us.¡¯the two of them began to beg for mercy, and cold sweat seeped out of their foreheads. ¡°this isn¡¯t about whether you scold me or not. it¡¯s about the law.¡±shen ning was expressionless. ¡°yes, yes. then, ms. shen, please be magnanimous and spare me. 1 have elders and children at home.¡±liu huiyun started to cry, and qiu meili wiped her tears. shen ning didn¡¯t want to cause any more trouble. after all, the company was short of funds, and she didn¡¯t have much time left. the perfume had to be released as soon as possible. it would be best if these cockroaches and rats could leave as soon as possible. she did not have time to play petty tricks with them. ¡°then write your resignation letters. if you do, i¡¯ll let you off.¡±she said with a cold face. ¡°alright, 1¡¯11 write, i¡¯ll write.¡± their faces were ashen as they went to write their resignation letters. shen ning¡¯s lips curled into a cold smile. it turned out that during this period of time, shen ning had been collecting evidence of some of the company¡¯s employees. secretary li was originally shen mei¡¯s confidant and had a lot of secrets. she carefully organized them and gave them to shen ning. when shen ning came in early in the morning, she saw these two women gossiping. these two women were accountants and had concrete evidence of corruption and falsified accounts. this was a very serious matter. she had wanted to fire them for a long time. now that she was using this as an excuse, she would immediately get rid of them. next, she had to speed up her plan.. Chapter 140 - Chapter 140: She Actually Dared to Go on a Date chapter 140: she actually dared to go on a date translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation on the outskirts of the city, there lay a farmhouse. under the scorching sun, shen ning walked for more than two miles along a mountain road until she reached a vast farmland. in the fields, a middle-aged man with a straw hat was busy at work. ¡°uncle mali,¡± shen ning called out from the field embankment. mali straightened up. on the embankment, a young and beautiful girl was calling his name. who could this young girl be? he hurriedly walked toward the embankment. ¡°uncle mali, 1 finally found you,¡± shen ning looked at mali, who was covered in mud, and her eyes welled up with tears. ¡°oh, you¡¯re ning ning. you¡¯ve grown so tall and beautiful, more and more like your mother,¡± mali recognized shen ning immediately when he got closer, and he was very excited. mali used to be a trusted aide to gu qi. when shao meiqi was still around, he was her right-hand man. however, after gu qi was taken away by shen mei and her daughter, he was forced to leave. when she was a child, shen ning often played at gu qi¡¯s place, and mali used to tease her and treat her very well. therefore, she knew him well. ¡°uncle mali, i¡¯ve been searching for you so desperately,¡± shen ning was also very excited. to find mali, she had personally searched through archives and spent a whole day looking for information. she finally found an address, but when she rushed there, he had already moved out, and there was no trace of him. then she found an old telephone number in the archived records. although she didn¡¯t reach mali himself when she called, she managed to obtain his hometown address through that number. it was only through his family that she was able to locate him here. ¡°is there something you need, ning ning?¡± mali asked warmly. ¡°yes,¡± shen ning nodded. ¡°uncle mali, you must come back to help me at gu qi¡¯s.¡± ¡°back to gu qi¡¯s?¡± mali¡¯s expression darkened slightly as he shook his head. shen ning knew he had something on his mind, so she quickly filled him in on the recent situation. his eyes lit up as he listened. ¡°ning ning, you¡¯ve taken back gu qi?¡± ¡°yes, but now the company is facing many difficulties. you must help me, or else, the company will go bankrupt in three months,¡± shen ning shared her concerns. ¡°alright, let¡¯s go right away. uncle will help you,¡± mali eagerly agreed, his excitement evident. ¡°this is great! ceo shao¡¯s daughter has finally returned, and now there¡¯s hope for gu qi.¡± shen ning was overjoyed. at the li manor, shen mei sat in front of her vanity, humming a tune, her mood exceptionally pleasant. shen ning¡¯s reputation had already been tarnished! she had just opened her phone, and news of shen ning¡¯s alleged seduction of lai hongyu last night had skyrocketed to the top of the trending topics. all sorts of defamatory rumors and accusations against her were flying around. although she had saved shen ning last night due to ding ding¡¯s appearance, shen ning was now under immense pressure. could a woman with such poor morals and character succeed in business? would customers trust her? would she be blacklisted? all of these were possible! if she couldn¡¯t handle the pressure, she would leave the city with her two illegitimate children, which was quite a favorable outcome. indeed, experience was invaluable! when her mum took action, the effect was completely different! she adorned herself and grabbed her handbag before heading out. inside the hospital, shen ning arrived just before 8 o¡¯clock. ding ding, worried that her mommy might be harmed again since he couldn¡¯t see her, refused to eat and take hismedicine. he sat there sulking, clearly unhappy. li zhenteng had a stern expression on his face. ¡°don¡¯t you know that ding ding is still sick? how could you be late? last night, he risked everything to save you, even ignoring his illness,¡± he scolded shen ning, his tone very serious. he had already called gu qi and confirmed that shen ning wasn¡¯t working overtime or attending any business engagements. there was only one possibility: she was on a date with jing chenxi. as far as he knew, chenxi indeed had an appointment at flowing light cafe at 7 o¡¯clock tonight! this woman had a really big heart. after such a big incident last night, she still dared to go on a date.. well, perhaps she was seeking comfort! Chapter 141 - Chapter 141: Holding Her Hand Very Tightly chapter 141: holding her hand very tightly translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°i¡¯m sorry, ding ding. auntie got delayed because of something, but i promise 1 won¡¯t be late again in the future.¡± shen ning immediately crouched down in front of ding ding and apologized softly, feeling deeply guilty. it hurt her heart to see the child hadn¡¯t eaten dinner at this hour just because she hadn¡¯t come back. ¡°auntie, did that bad person bully you today?¡± ding ding¡¯s little hand touched shen ning¡¯s bruised cheek, and he asked with concern. shen ning¡¯s eyes turned red, and she quickly shook her head. ¡°no, don¡¯t worry. there won¡¯t be any bad people bullying me anymore.¡± ¡°okay, if anyone dares to bully you again, you tell me right away, and 1¡¯11 get revenge for you.¡± ding ding held his little fist and earnestly advised. shen ning nodded emphatically and said seriously, ¡°ding ding, you also have to promise auntie that if i¡¯m not around, you¡¯ll eat your meals properly.¡± ¡°okay.¡± the little guy thought for a moment and then nodded, tapping his little head in agreement. ¡°then, let¡¯s pinky swear.¡± shen ning extended her little finger, feeling worried. ¡°sure, let¡¯s pinky swear.¡± ding ding also extended his little finger. mother and son locked their pinkies and made a promise, both of them smiling warmly. li zhenting stood by, coldly observing them. next, shen ning got busy. she first took care of ding ding¡¯s meal and medicine, then took him for a bath. after his bath, ding ding wanted to play a game. these days, shen ning often played a particular parent-child game with ding ding to help him develop psychological stability and adaptability. back in the united states, she used to play similar games with keke and xiaoxiao. the children had always enjoyed them, but the only regret was the absence of a father¡¯s participation. in the united states, that was impossible. today¡¯s game required li zhenting¡¯s participation since parent-child games were more effective when fathers were involved. in the past, there had been no choice in the matter. ding ding immediately reached out his little hand toward li zhenting. li zhenting glanced at shen ning, walked over, and extended his finger to the little guy. ding ding firmly held their hands together, not letting them separate. shen ning quickly said, ¡°ding ding, you don¡¯t need dad and auntie to hold hands. it might make your mommy angry if she sees this.¡± she tried to free her hand with force, but li zhenting, intentionally or unintentionally, held her hand tightly. shen ning struggled to break free, casting him an annoyed glance. li zhenting¡¯s lips curled slightly. ¡°well, here¡¯s how it goes: each of us uses our index and middle fingers to ¡®walk¡¯ on the bed. we take turns shouting ¡¯stop,¡¯ and when we do, our fingers have to jump into a circle. the one who does it faster wins.¡± ¡°what do you get if you win?¡± li zhenting asked casually. ¡°in principle, the winner can tickle the loser,¡± shen ning answered honestly. li zhenting rubbed his fingers. ¡°fine.¡± ¡°no, i want money. i want money,¡± ding ding suddenly protested loudly. well, this little money enthusiast! li zhenting¡¯s face darkened, and he glared at ding ding in disagreement. ¡°no, 1 want money, 1 want money,¡± ding ding insisted, wiggling his bottom and throwing a tantrum. ¡°all right, 1 agree,¡± shen ning quickly sided with her son. ¡°majority rules.¡± li zhenting¡¯s face darkened. in recent days, no matter what game they played, he always ended up losing. he had already lost quite a bit of money to shen ning. ¡°fine,¡± he reluctantly agreed at last. shen ning pursed her lips and smiled. the game began, with the three taking turns calling ¡°stop.¡± each time they did, ding ding intentionally blocked li zhenting¡¯s fingers, allowing shen ning¡¯s fingers to enter the circle. after several rounds, without exception, li zhenting lost another hundred thousand. of course, all the money went into shen ning¡¯s pocket. seeing his dad losing money, ding ding was especially delighted, his little face turning red from laughter. shen ning was also pleased; she needed money, and it came quite quickly. only li zhenting was itching with frustration, displeased with ding ding¡¯s greediness. but he wasn¡¯t such a stingy person to be bothered by this amount of money. after playing for a while, shen ning worried that ding ding would be too excited to sleep, so she asked li zhenting to tell him a bedtime story while she made an excuse to go to the bathroom. she had to start detaching herself at the right time. otherwise, when she eventually left, ding ding wouldn¡¯t adapt well. in the shower room, just as shen ning had stepped in, her phone suddenly rang.. Chapter 142 - Chapter 142: Coco Xiaoxiao Is Missing chapter 142: coco xiaoxiao is missing translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation shen ning lowered her head and saw that it was aunt dong calling. her heart inexplicably skipped a beat. ¡°miss, something¡¯s wrong. coco and xiaoxiao still haven¡¯t returned home,¡± aunt dong¡¯s voice sounded anxious as soon as she answered the call. shen ning¡¯s heart sank rapidly. ¡°aunt dong, didn¡¯t they come home after school?¡± shen ning first locked the bathroom door and lowered her voice, trying to sound as calm as possible. ¡°miss, when coco and xiaoxiao left school, they called me and said they were going to a classmate¡¯s house to play. i told them not to stay out too late, and they promised. later, after 1 prepared dinner, i called coco, and he said the classmate¡¯s mom invited them for dinner. the classmate¡¯s mom even talked to me, so i had to agree and told them to be back by 8 o¡¯clock. at 8 o¡¯clock, i called coco again, and he said he was on his way home. i¡¯ve been waiting at home, but it¡¯s almost 9 o¡¯clock now, and they haven¡¯t returned. just now, 1 called coco¡¯s phone, but it¡¯s turned off,¡± aunt dong explained and began to cry. ¡°miss, i¡¯m so sorry; 1 was so careless. 1 shouldn¡¯t have allowed them to go to their classmate¡¯s house.¡± ¡°aunt dong, don¡¯t worry too much. do you know the name of the classmate¡¯s house they went to?¡± shen ning asked after thinking for a moment. ¡°no, i don¡¯t know. i called coco¡¯s phone and forgot to ask the name of the classmate¡¯s mom. i¡¯m so careless,¡± aunt dong sobbed in distress. shen ning¡¯s heart raced with anxiety. ¡°aunt dong, please don¡¯t cry. coco and xiaoxiao are both sensible and smart kids. normally, they come home on their own. nothing should have happened. 1¡¯11 call their teacher first and come back right away,¡± she comforted aunt dong and hung up the phone, then rushed out in a state of frantic worry. but as soon as she pushed open the door¡­ she saw li zhenting leaning against the door frame, his eyes cold and piercing, fixed on her. ¡°mr. li, 1 should be heading home,¡± she said hurriedly, trying to pass him and walk away. however, as she took a step, her arm was caught by li zhenting. she was pulled back several steps, her back pressed against the door panel. ¡°what happened last night?¡± li zhenting stared at her with a stern look. shen ning sneered, ¡°mr. li, do you really think i would seduce someone like lai hongyu?¡± ¡°logically, you wouldn¡¯t, but when it comes to self-interest, it¡¯s hard to say.¡± after all, at this critical moment for gu qi, she had been worried about financial issues just a few days ago. ¡°heh,¡± shen ning smirked, ¡°mr. li, you can say whatever you want, but 1 will find evidence. i have to go now, i don¡¯t want to waste time arguing with you.¡± shen ning pushed him away and walked away. li zhenting sneered behind her, ¡°jing chenxi is waiting for you outside.¡± shen ning couldn¡¯t be bothered to turn back! internet cafe. ¡°big brother, is it resolved?¡± xiaoxiao rubbed her eyes and asked. ¡°it¡¯s almost done,¡± coco said angrily, his finger clicking rapidly on the keyboard. he was furious! after school today, he accidentally opened his smartphone and found that the hot search was filled with indecent photos of his mom. the posts painted her in a terrible light. if this continued, his mom would be subjected to a relentless online manhunt. someone was deliberately framing his mom! thinking about how his mom had been beaten up badly last night, his anger surged. he dragged xiaoxiao and came to an internet cafe. to avoid worrying winter grandma, he called her and said he was going to a classmate¡¯s house to play- upon arriving at the internet cafe, he nervously discovered that the posts about his mom were coming from a blacklisted website. he couldn¡¯t trace the ip address. first, he used his hacker skills to block all the negative information about his mom. soon, the hot search no longer showed the indecent photos and derogatory texts. now, he heaved a sigh of relief, ready to take revenge.. Chapter 143 - Chapter 143: Do We Still Want This Daddy? chapter 143: do we still want this daddy? translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation coco then started searching for the ip address of the person who framed his mom! through layers of tracking, he finally found an endpoint address. but upon closer examination, this website was hosted on a foreign server, and he needed technical analysis to find the culprit. however, he was certain that the person who posted these things was from the imperial city because he traced a signal from this server, and it originated from the imperial city. at this point, he had a clear idea. ¡°all done.¡± an hour later, he clapped his hands, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and finally succeeded! the ip address of the person who posted the content was now useless. at the same time, he sent this ip address to gu qi¡¯s ceo email, so his mom would use it tomorrow to track down the mastermind with the help of computer technicians. ¡°big brother, let¡¯s go home quickly. mommy will be back home at this time, and she and winter grandma will be worried if they don¡¯t see us,¡± xiaoxiao rubbed her eyes again. she was now hungry and tired, her head feeling a bit fuzzy. xiaoxiao didn¡¯t know about computers, and she didn¡¯t enjoy playing with them. that¡¯s why she felt lost when following coco. ¡°okay.¡± the two little ones walked outside with their backpacks, and xiaoxiao¡¯s figure looked lonely and forlorn. ¡°big brother, dad is going to marry that ugly witch, shen mei, on national day. do we still need this dad?¡± xiaoxiao looked up at the stars in the sky and asked sadly. since she was young, she had envied other kids who had dads. dads would lift them high, and they could happily ride on their dad¡¯s shoulders. dads would even drive them to buy delicious treats. but she and coco didn¡¯t have a dad, and they had never seen one. now, they had finally found one, but this dad was going to marry another woman, become that annoying lan lan¡¯s dad. it was so heart-wrenching. ¡°a dad is a must,¡± coco spoke with maturity. ¡°having a dad is great, and it¡¯s good for mommy too.¡± ¡°but right now, even ding ding can¡¯t stop dad from marrying that ugly witch. he even got himself sick, and mommy had to go be with him for a whole week,¡± xiaoxiao¡¯s eyes welled up with tears. coco patted his little sister¡¯s head gently. ¡°ding ding never had a mom from a young age; he¡¯s so pitiful. we can¡¯t be jealous of him. sharing mommy with him for a while is the right thing to do.¡± ¡°okay.¡± ¡°don¡¯t worry, from now on, we¡¯ll team up with ding ding to stop dad from marrying that ugly witch,¡± coco reassured xiaoxiao with confidence. xiaoxiao looked up to coco and nodded vigorously. at this moment, they passed by a small food stall, and xiaoxiao could hardly move another step. ¡°big brother, i¡¯m so hungry.¡± ¡°i¡¯m hungry too. let¡¯s grab something to eat.¡± so, the two little ones joyfully bought some food. of course, they used the money from coco¡¯s phone, pretending to be ding ding when they asked for it from li zhenting. when shen ning returned home, aunt dong was already in a state of panic, pacing around like ants on a hot griddle. at this point, shen ning¡¯s head was spinning with worry. she had just called the school¡¯s teachers, and they informed her that coco and xiaoxiao had not mentioned going to any classmate¡¯s house to play. the teachers had even scolded her, saying that for children so young, parents should pick them up promptly; they shouldn¡¯t be allowed to go home alone. besides, for this past week, both coco and xiaoxiao had been in poor spirits, looking listless in school. shen ning felt a rush of anxiety and self-blame. she swore that once uncle mali took over, she would delegate the company¡¯s management to him. she needed to take care of these three children first. luckily, after a while, coco and xiaoxiao returned. the two little ones had food all over their faces and noses, walking hand in hand as they entered from the door. ¡°coco, xiaoxiao,¡± shen ning and aunt dong each picked up one of them and hugged tightly. but no matter how much shen ning asked, coco and xiaoxiao only said that they had gone to the food street with classmates to play, refusing to mention anything about helping mom suppress the indecent photos. shen ning was on edge, but thankfully, they seemed unharmed! the next day, shen ning made it official by appointing uncle mali as the vice president of gu qi, essentially transferring almost all the authority to him. mali did not disappoint. within a week, he, along with shen ning, found substantial evidence against yan zexiong, ji hongmei, and shen mei¡¯s trusted associates. he promptly dismissed them all. one week later, the perfume factory officially began production, and everything was up and running.. Chapter 144 - Chapter 144: Please Don’t Interfer Me chapter 144: please don¡¯t interfer me translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation at 7 o¡¯clock in the evening, shen ning arrived punctually at the li manor. today was the first day that ding ding was discharged from the hospital, and to celebrate, she had picked up a bouquet of fresh flowers on her way here. the li manor was brilliantly lit, with many servants bustling about. as she entered, shen ning immediately began searching for ding ding¡¯s figure. she had no interest in anything else here; her sole focus was to spend every precious moment with her child. if her child was well, then she was well! ¡°sister, tomorrow is my birthday, and zhengting is going to throw a party for me. since you¡¯re here, i¡¯m inviting you to join us,¡± shen mei, with an air of arrogance, blocked shen ning¡¯s path as they went upstairs. shen ning¡¯s lips curled slightly, her tone indifferent. ¡°i¡¯m sorry, i have to work. my job is to take care of ding ding.¡± did this woman genuinely invite her to her birthday party out of kindness? of course not. she was scheming to humiliate her, and shen ning had no intention of falling into her trap. at this moment, shen mei¡¯s eyes fell on the flowers shen ning was holding, and she wrinkled her nose in disdain. ¡°why do you have such cheap flowers? just throw them away.¡± ¡°no, it¡¯s the first day ding ding is out of the hospital. i bought these to give to him as a gesture of goodwill,¡± shen ning replied, ignoring shen mei. she continued walking towards ding ding¡¯s room, clutching the bouquet of flowers. shen mei, frustrated, couldn¡¯t resist and pushed shen ning from behind. shen ning, anticipating this, raised the bouquet over her head and out of shen mei¡¯s reach. shen mei failed to grab the flowers and resorted to shoving shen ning forcefully. shen ning stumbled but managed to maintain her grip on the flowers. ¡°mom¡­ aunt.¡± ding ding, who had been waiting in his room for shen ning, heard her voice in the hallway. his heart leaped with joy, and he rushed to open the door, only to witness shen mei maliciously pushing his mother to the ground. furious, he ran to shen ning¡¯s side, grasped her arm, helped her up, and glared at shen mei. ¡°mom, how could you treat aunt like this? she¡¯s my respected teacher.¡± ¡°respected teacher? ding ding, come here,¡± shen mei scowled. ¡°she¡¯s just here to swindle money, getting close to your father. she doesn¡¯t know anything. don¡¯t let her deceive you.¡± ¡°no, she¡¯s my best teacher and the kindest aunt. 1 want her,¡± ding ding retorted angrily. ¡°please don¡¯t interfere.¡± ¡°ding ding, these flowers are for you. i wish you good health and success from now on,¡± shen ning said, extending the bouquet towards ding ding with deep sincerity. ¡°thank you.¡± ding ding accepted the flowers and brought them close to his nose, taking a whiff. a rare smile appeared on his otherwise expressionless face, and he held the bouquet tightly. shen mei, left with no face or substance, seethed with hatred as she watched them. ¡°mommy, i¡¯m hungry.¡± when they returned to the bedroom, shen ning had planned to take ding ding for a bath and play some parent-child games with him. she didn¡¯t expect ding ding to say this. ¡°haven¡¯t you had dinner?¡± she asked in surprise. ¡°no, look at my tongue.¡± ding ding pitifully shook his head and stuck out his tongue, making a pained expression. shen ning¡¯s heart sank, and she carefully examined his little tongue, which did indeed look a bit red. ¡°what¡¯s wrong?¡± she asked anxiously. ¡°it¡¯s spicy, really spicy, and my tongue hurts.¡± ding ding said with a muffled voice, still nursing his tongue. shen ning immediately called the butler, atr. luo. after inquiring, she learned that today was lai wanching¡¯s fasting day, as she had gone to the church and had not returned yet. due to ding ding falling ill, it had delayed li zhenting¡¯s work, so he was working late. shen mei had instructed the kitchen to prepare dishes she liked, all of which were spicy. ding ding had been forced to take a few bites, but it was so spicy that tears welled up in his eyes, so he had given up on dinner and come upstairs.. Chapter 145 - Chapter 145: No matter how you look at it, they look like a pair of mother and son! chapter 145: no matter how you look at it, they look like a pair of mother and son! translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation shen ning felt heartbroken listening to ding ding. the child had just recovered from a cold, and his stomach and throat were still delicate. how could he eat spicy food? ¡°ding ding, what do you want to eat? mommy will make it for you right now,¡± she immediately asked. ¡°mommy, 1 want plain congee, stir-fried pork with sour green beans, and some thin-skinned dumplings,¡± ding ding replied after a moment of thought. ¡°alright, you wait here for a moment. mommy will go down and make it for you,¡± shen ning kissed his forehead and turned to go downstairs. ¡°mommy, 1 want to go with you,¡± ding ding didn¡¯t want to be alone in the bedroom, so he followed her downstairs. in the kitchen, shen ning got busy. this kitchen was not unfamiliar to her. she had spent two years here, cooking and preparing meals for li zhenting every day. she was quite skilled at it. she cooked the congee, chopped the meat, kneaded the dough, and stir-fried the vegetables with ease. ding ding stood by, occasionally chatting with her. wherever shen ning went, he followed closely, like a little shadow. when li zhenting returned home, he walked into the bustling kitchen. steam rose from the pots, and the woman was focused on cooking, while the child stood beside her, pointing and asking questions. it was such a warm and harmonious scene. no matter how you looked at it, they appeared to be a loving mother and son! he stood there for a moment, feeling a bit lost. ¡°alright, it¡¯s time to eat,¡± shen ning wiped her hands on her apron and picked up the ladle, lifting a steaming bowl of thin-skinned dumplings from the stove. ¡°time for dinner!¡± ding ding exclaimed with a big smile, quickly climbing onto his seat at the dining table, placing his hands on the table, and looking eagerly at his mommy. shen ning arranged the food and smiled as she uncovered the pot. immediately, a delightful aroma filled the air. ¡°wow, this looks amazing! thank you, mommy,¡± ding ding clapped his little hands with excitement. he didn¡¯t even notice li zhenting standing on the side; he was too busy thanking his mommy. ¡°here, let¡¯s eat.¡± shen ning scooped a bowl of congee for ding ding and began serving him the dumplings, all the while reminding him, ¡°be careful, it¡¯s hot.¡± li zhenting suddenly felt his stomach rumbling; he had forgotten to eat dinner in his rush to finish his work and come home to see his son earlier. now, the delicious aroma of the food made his stomach ache with hunger. he cleared his throat deliberately and walked over, wearing a stern expression. when shen ning looked up and saw him, her face changed. how long had this devil been here? did he just hear ding ding call her ¡°mommy¡±? but judging by his calm and indifferent expression, he probably hadn¡¯t heard it. ¡°mr. li, you¡¯re back,¡± she greeted him indifferently, then lowered her head to continue taking care of ding ding¡¯s meal, treating him like air. ¡°daddy,¡± ding ding simply called him once and then focused on eating. li zhenting sat down at the dining table with an icy demeanor. six years ago, every day he sat at the dining table in this calm and composed manner, shen ning would serve him food, scoop soup for him, and care for him like a nanny, making him as comfortable as a child. but today, after sitting down at the dining table, she didn¡¯t even glance at him, which made him feel uneasy. he cleared his throat again. ¡°daddy, if you want to eat, you can serve yourself,¡± even ding ding noticed his thoughts and spoke without lifting his head. well, now li zhenting felt a bit embarrassed. shen ning also raised her head, ¡°mr. li, 1 made quite a bit today. if you want to eat, you can serve yourself.¡± after saying that, she lowered her head to scoop some sour bean stir-fry for ding ding. well, li zhenting was really hungry now. the familiar taste of the food had a fatal temptation for him. shen ning had nothing to do with him now, and he couldn¡¯t force him to give him the same treatment anymore. he stood up, served himself some congee, and started eating the dumplings heartily.. Chapter 146 - Chapter 146: Don’t Call Me the Wrong Mommy Next Time chapter 146: don¡¯t call me the wrong mommy next time translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ding ding made a funny face at shen ning, mocking daddy for his show-off attitude. shen ning suppressed a smile. ¡°ding ding, don¡¯t casually call someone else ¡®mommy¡¯ in the future, okay?¡± at this point, li zhenting seemed to have noticed that ding ding was mocking him and adopted a stern tone to reprimand him. this little guy was becoming increasingly unruly. shen mei was still in this house, and he was already calling someone else ¡°mommy.¡± if shen mei found out, she¡¯d be furious. shen ning felt a slight tension upon hearing this but quickly relaxed. it seemed that li zhenting had indeed heard ding ding call her ¡°mommy,¡± but he didn¡¯t seem to believe it, which was perfect! ¡°yes, ding ding, you can¡¯t call mommy the wrong name next time,¡± she immediately signaled ding ding with her eyes, reminding him gently. ¡°okay,¡± ding ding agreed reluctantly, though he didn¡¯t really accept it in his heart. after all, shen ning was his real mommy; he hadn¡¯t called her the wrong name. at this moment, upstairs, lan lan, wearing a small floral nightgown, came out of her bedroom to find ding ding to play. however, she couldn¡¯t find him anywhere, so she came downstairs. as soon as she descended, she caught a whiff of a delicious aroma, and her stomach rumbled in response. the dishes tonight were exceptionally spicy, and she hadn¡¯t eaten much. she hurried to the kitchen. ¡°daddy, i want to eat too.¡± as soon as she entered the kitchen, lan lan saw shen ning. with big eyes fixed on her, she spoke to li zhenting. li zhenting glanced at his empty bowl, nearly cleaned out by his own voracious appetite, and the pot was empty too. this presented a bit of a problem. ¡°lan lan, do you want to eat? auntie will cook for you,¡± shen ning said warmly, looking at the child¡¯s hungry expression. as a mother, even though this wasn¡¯t her child, she couldn¡¯t help but feel compassion and enthusiasm. ¡°yes,¡± lan lan nodded. ¡°then come and sit here quickly. ding ding still has a few left in his bowl. you two can share them first, and i¡¯ll cook some more over there.¡± shen ning placed lan lan beside ding ding and gave her a few dumplings from his bowl. then, she turned to the stove to prepare more. li zhenting looked at ding ding with surprise. what a significant change in the child! the old ding ding never smiled, and he even disliked lan lan. not to mention giving her dumplings, he wouldn¡¯t even share his food. they used to argue a lot. but now, they were sitting together happily, looking just like real siblings. it seemed that shen ning had quite a magical touch. after a moment of astonishment, li zhenting¡¯s attention was drawn as li wanqing returned home. shen ning¡¯s dumplings were ready just in time. li wanqing returned home to find her son, grandson, and granddaughter sitting together while shen ning was busy in the kitchen. her eyes moistened with emotion. how long had she been waiting for this scene? if only her son¡­ but then, she shook her head, and her heart sank. shen mei had already given birth to a pair of children for zhenting. looking at it now, how could it be possible? she sighed inwardly, feeling a sense of disappointment as she approached shen ning and greeted her warmly. as she looked at the greenish congee, her own stomach rumbled with hunger. the five of them happily gathered around the dining table to enjoy their meal. upstairs in ding ding¡¯s bedroom. shen ning and ding ding were getting ready to play a game when suddenly they noticed lan lan standing by the door, her gaze fixed on ding ding without any intention of leaving. shen ning was momentarily surprised. when she looked at ding ding, he seemed quite aloof and not very interested in interacting with lan lan. she found it somewhat amusing. ¡°lan lan, we¡¯re about to play a game with ding ding. would you like to join us?¡± she asked softly. ¡°okay,¡± lan lan replied happily. shen ning smiled and waved to her. ¡°then come over here.¡± lan lan happily walked in. although she didn¡¯t like shen mei, she didn¡¯t have any aversion to lan lan. after all, lan lan was still young, and how much mischief could she really get into? shen ning began teaching ding ding and lan lan some games that promote unity and friendship, aiming to strengthen their bond. after all, in case she wasn¡¯t around in the future, it would be good for ding ding to have a companion. ding ding originally didn¡¯t like lan lan, but with shen ning¡¯s guidance, he gradually became less indifferent towards her. and lan lan also corrected her habit of bullying ding ding, slowly developing a more respectful attitude towards him.. Chapter 147 - Chapter 147: Can’t Find a Woman’s Item chapter 147: can¡¯t find a woman¡¯s item translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation 8:50 pm. shen ning promptly turned off the lights and sent ding ding and lan lan to bed. thinking about her own children, coco and xiaoxiao, she felt an overwhelming sense of urgency, wishing she could sprout wings and fly back home. however, just as she walked into the hallway, she came face to face with a bathrobe-clad li zhenting. ¡°stay a bit longer, move ding ding to my bedroom before you go,¡± li zhentinginstructed. ¡°why?¡± shen ning asked in surprise. move ding ding to li zhenting¡¯s bedroom? was he planning to place ding ding between him and shen mei like a third wheel? seeing the mischievous look on her face, li zhentingcoldly snorted, ¡°ding ding often has nightmares at night. i want to take care of him personally. i¡¯m worried that if you move him after you leave, he might not settle down. stay a bit longer, let him sleep peacefully in my room before you go.¡± after he explained, he headed to ding ding¡¯s bedroom. shen ning understood and agreed. a while later, li zhentingcarried the already asleep ding ding into his own bedroom. shen ning held his little hand, afraid he might wake up. ding ding must have sensed some instability because he turned over. shen ning gently patted his back, and ding ding fell asleep again. just as they settled down, li zhenting¡¯s phone rang. afraid of waking the child, he quickly left the room. shen ning sat at the bedside and took a good look around the bedroom. the last time she was here, ding ding was still ill, and she didn¡¯t have the time to examine the room. the bedroom was dominated by a light gray color that complemented the deep black wardrobe, giving it an elegant and tranquil atmosphere. this was once her and li zhenting¡¯s bridal chamber. during those two years, she had guarded this empty room¡­ at that time, she had yearned for his presence every day, but it was always like chasing after a mirage. her nose tingled with a hint of bitterness, and she suddenly felt something was amiss. li zhenting¡¯s bedroom was also shen mei¡¯s bedroom. was it appropriate for her to stay here like this? what if shen mei walked in¡­ she stood up. but soon, she scanned the entire room and couldn¡¯t find a single trace of anything belonging to a woman. the whole space was devoid of any feminine touch, filled only with the scent of a man. could it be¡­ as she stood there in a daze, li zhenting finished his call and walked in. ¡°li zhenting, ding ding is fast asleep now, so 1¡¯11 be leaving,¡± she said softly as she gently pried the child¡¯s hand from hers and started heading towards the door. ¡°li zhenting, i heard that you¡¯ve fired many high-level executives,¡± she continued, unfazed by his presence, without even turning to face him. ¡°yes,¡± li zhentingreplied calmly, following her outside. he leaned against the wall, his indigo bathrobe contrasting against his snow-white skin, his dark eyes gleaming. ¡°do you want to know the evidence against gu qi, yanzexiong, and ji hongmei?¡± shen ning asked, her voice devoid of emotion, as she coldly locked her gaze onto him. he returned her gaze steadily. ¡°no need,¡± li zhentingsuddenly spoke, a faint, enigmatic smile playing at the corners of his lips. heh! shen ning smirked coldly and turned to leave. perhaps he was too afraid to know the truth. after all, yanzexiong and ji hongmei had already confessed everything. they were backed by shen mei and her mum, but he was just trying to protect them. her eyes were icy, and she walked briskly towards the exit. li zhentingwatched her retreating figure for a moment, then reached into his pocket and pulled out a cigarette¡­ ¡°shen ning.¡± just as shen ning had stepped out of the living room, she heard someone calling her from not too far away. startled, she turned her head to see shen mei standing under a large tree, her gaze chilling. she gave shen mei a cold glance but was focused on her concern for coco and xiaoxiao, so she continued walking. ¡°shen ning, what¡¯s it like giving away your biological son to someone else?¡± shen mei¡¯s voice, like a ghostly whisper, reached shen ning from behind. shen ning¡¯s face turned pale, and she swiftly turned around.. Chapter 148 - Chapter 148: Please Don’t Hurt Them chapter 148: please don¡¯t hurt them translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°shen mei, what do you mean?¡± shen ning asked nervously. a wicked smile curled at the corner of shen mei¡¯s lips. ¡°shen ning, don¡¯t pretend to be clueless. you already know that ding ding is your son, right?¡± shen ning¡¯s face turned pale, and then she erupted in anger. ¡°so, you¡¯re telling me you snatched my son and claimed him as your own?¡± shen mei¡¯s laughter grew sinister. ¡°so what if i did? what can you do about it?¡± a flush of anger crept up on shen ning¡¯s face. ¡°shen mei, 1 can¡¯t believe you would stoop so low. 1 won¡¯t let you get away with this.¡± ¡°i doubt you¡¯ll even have a chance for revenge before you¡¯re finished,¡± shen mei said, her smile disappearing. ¡°but let me tell you, you should be grateful to me. i raised ding ding for you, or else he would¡¯ve died a long time ago. back then, i had nothing to do with what happened.¡± shen ning sneered, ¡°shen mei, do you think 1¡¯11 believe that?¡± ¡°believe it or not, it¡¯s up to you,¡± shen mei said coolly. ¡°but if you want to find evidence, it¡¯s almost impossible.¡± she took a few steps forward and lowered her voice, ¡°shen ning, you have more than just ding ding, don¡¯t you? you were carrying fraternal twins that time. let me tell you, i know everything about you. if you¡¯re smart and listen to me, 1 might spare ding ding and treat him well. otherwise, i¡¯ll tell li zhenting about your other son. then, do you think you can keep coco? li zhenting will immediately fight for custody of coco. in that case, you¡¯ll never see your child again. i¡¯m about to marry li zhenting, and your two children will fall into my hands. i can do whatever i want with them, and whether they survive or not is uncertain.¡± shen ning felt as if she had been pelted with ice shards falling from the sky, and her entire body shivered with cold. the thing she feared most had come true! no matter what happened to her, she didn¡¯t care, but she was a mother and would not allow her child to be harmed in any way, absolutely not. ¡°haha,¡± shen mei burst into a shameless laughter. shen ning was left as limp as a wilted eggplant, with no fighting spirit left in her. if you counted from the moment she returned, shen mei had never won, but from this moment on, she had won everything! ¡°what do you want?¡± shen ning weakly asked. ¡°from now on, i¡¯ll have you do whatever 1 want. you must obey my orders, or face the consequences,¡± shen mei spoke sharply, her eyes flashing with a sinister and triumphant smile. shen ning felt like she had been plunged into the depths of hell, and the pain shattered her entire heart. ¡°shen mei, whatever you want, take it out on me. the children are innocent. please, don¡¯t hurt them,¡± she softened instantly, pleading with shen mei in desperation. shen mei smirked coldly, then suddenly gripped her arm tightly, applying a painful pressure. intense pain shot through her arm, and shen ning bit her lip hard, not daring to make a sound. shen mei watched her endure the hidden pain, a smug and contented smile on her face. she had finally managed to overpower this woman. while wu lili hadn¡¯t been good for much else, this time, she had delivered a tremendous surprise. next, she would make good use of these two children to make her suffer like never before. let¡¯s see how she would maintain her dignity in front of her. the night was dark, and the earth seemed vast. shen ning walked the dark streets like a soulless ghost, one step at a time. ding ding, coco, these unfortunate children had encountered such a terrifying demon! if she had to face shen mei alone, even ten of her wouldn¡¯t be able to harm her. but now, the children were so young. she was a mother, and protecting her children was her responsibility. but what about their father? shen ning¡¯s mind flashed with the image of li zhenting¡¯s handsome, cold face, and a growing hatred surged within her. this man had done nothing but protect shen mei! she walked with her head down, lost in despair. the lonely streetlights cast her shadow as thin and elongated. she looked up, and the bustling city lights filled the entire sky.. the world was so vast, yet there was no place for her and her three children! Chapter 149 - Chapter 149: This Smelly Scoundrel Specially Bullies Mommy chapter 149: this smelly scoundrel specially bullies mommy translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation sitting on a stone bench outside zhengsheng apartments, shen ning had her head down, tears rolling down her cheeks like fallen pearls. noticing her pale complexion, aunt dong, who had been looking after shen ning for years, expressed her concern. ¡°miss, why do you look so pale? is something troubling you? you can always share it with me, even if i can¡¯t solve it, i can lend a listening ear,¡± she offered kindly. shen ning, her eyes vacant and distant, took a moment before responding. ¡°aunt dong, it looks like we might have to move away soon,¡± she admitted with a heavy heart. aunt dong, her voice full of warmth, suggested, ¡°well, this place isn¡¯t all that great anyway. we could go back to the white villa.¡± shen ning shook her head. ¡°no, we can¡¯t move there,¡± she said with a hint of fear in her voice. ¡°that place belongs to shen mei and her daughter. going there would be like walking into a trap,¡± shen ning explained, her eyes welling up with tears. understanding her concerns, aunt dong reassured her, ¡°alright, then we¡¯ll find another place. i¡¯ll be right there with you, no matter where we go.¡± shen ning, touched by her support, embraced aunt dong tightly, her tears staining aunt dong¡¯s shoulder. the next day arrived, and shen ning was finally able to send coco and xiaoxiao to kindergarten. she cherished the wonderful moments spent with her children! if they were to move soon, these two kids might have to temporarily miss school. ¡°mommy, did you sleep well last night?¡± coco, looking at his mom¡¯s pale face with concern, asked on the school bus. shen ning smiled and reassured him, ¡°i did, sweetheart. mommy had a good night¡¯s sleep.¡± last night, she had been plagued by nightmares, all featuring the moment when shen mei pushed her into the sea. in her dream, she cried so much that she even woke up aunt dong. it was only in the latter part of the night that aunt dong held her, comforting her until she fell asleep again. in the morning, she woke up feeling groggy. ¡°mommy, you don¡¯t have to work too hard. don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll make money and support the family when we grow up,¡± xiaoxiao said, looking at her mom¡¯s face, her eyes turning red. her mommy looked so pitiful! xiaoxiao could feel the heavy burden weighing on her mom¡¯s heart, making it hard to breathe. she was really worried. ¡°thank you, xiaoxiao.¡± shen ning hugged xiaoxiao tightly, cradling her in her arms. as she held the little bundle of joy, her heart warmed. she vowed to ensure her children lived happily and never let li zhenting take coco away from her. in the kindergarten, ¡°big brother, mommy has always worried that daddy might take you away and that you¡¯d be mistreated by that ugly witch. that¡¯s why she¡¯s been so down,¡± coco shared his thoughts with xiaoxiao, sitting on their desks. xiaoxiao felt her heart ache as she listened. ¡°don¡¯t worry, even if daddy tries to take me away, i won¡¯t go with him. that meanie bullies mommy. i¡¯ll stand up to him.¡± her little fists clenched in anger. ¡°yeah,¡± xiaoxiao nodded firmly. ¡°xiaoxiao, mommy must be suffering at li¡¯s manor. we can¡¯t let this go on. today, i¡¯m going to investigate what¡¯s happening at li¡¯s manor,¡± coco declared. ¡°okay, i want to go too,¡± xiaoxiao immediately agreed. ¡°right, let¡¯s talk to ding ding later and come up with a plan. remember, grandma said you could visit li¡¯s manor often last time. you can go openly, and i¡¯ll sneak in,¡± coco had his plan ready. ¡°okay.¡± xiaoxiao looked up to her big brother in admiration, he always knew what to do! the next day, li¡¯s manor was decked out with decorations, buzzing with excitement. it was shen mei¡¯s 24th birthday party.. Chapter 150 - Chapter 150: Shameless, Audacious chapter 150: shameless, audacious translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°hey, ning ning, the first batch of perfumes hits the market tomorrow, excited?¡± shen ning arrived at gu qi¡¯s office early in the morning, and ma li came in energetically. ¡°absolutely! thank you so much, uncle ma li,¡± shen ning expressed her gratitude with enthusiasm. thanks to the success of the tea party not long ago, and with substantial investments in advertising, they had received many orders. making money was clearly visible on the horizon. ¡°i¡¯m truly delighted. the old gu qi is back,¡± ma li beamed like a child. just then, shen ning¡¯s phone rang. she checked and saw that it was shen mei calling. her heart sank. ¡°shen ning, 1 command you to come to li¡¯s manor immediately to see me.¡± the call came from shen mei, and she sounded imperious. shen ning clenched her fist. ¡°shen ning, if you don¡¯t come, you¡¯ll face the consequences.¡± shen mei left this threat behind and hung up. shen ning¡¯s eyelid twitched, and she gritted her teeth. ¡°uncle ma li, i¡¯m entrusting gu qi to you for now. i hope you can protect everything here for my mother¡¯s sake. 1¡¯11 be grateful.¡± after a moment of thought, she earnestly requested ma li. ma li, with his amiable smile, responded, ¡°ning ning, don¡¯t worry. 1 came here to help you develop gu qi with all my might.¡± ¡°thank you, thank you,¡± shen ning expressed her gratitude again, her eyes glistening with tears. she remembered her mother¡¯s words: ¡°ning ning, if you ever take over gu qi, be sure to utilize uncle ma li. he will safeguard the company.¡± her nose tingled with emotion as she walked outside. li¡¯s manor. when shen ning arrived, the villa was filled with jubilation and bustling activity. she observed that at least one-third of the li family¡¯s housekeepers and staff had been dispatched to assist. the fact that an unmarried woman could celebrate her birthday on such a grand scale at li¡¯s manor had no reasonable explanation other than li zhen ting¡¯s favor. she had spent two years here and celebrated two birthdays, both times in a desolate manner with no one remembering. perhaps an unloved woman in her in-law¡¯s home was destined to be treated this way. her heart ached, and she sniffled as she walked inside. however, what she didn¡¯t expect was to find lan fei yun here! upon seeing this mother and daughter, she felt a surge of disgust deep within her. ¡°shen ning, come over and sign this contract.¡± as soon as she stood in shen mei¡¯s room, shen mei domineeringly tossed a stack of contracts at her. ¡°what contract?¡± shen ning asked cautiously. ¡°take a look for yourself,¡± shen mei replied arrogantly. ¡°mei mei, ning ning is your sister. don¡¯t have this attitude,¡± lan fei yun scolded shen mei with a hint of displeasure. she then turned to shen ning with a friendly smile. ¡°ning ning, come over and have a seat.¡± shen ning looked at her coldly but didn¡¯t move. ¡°ning ning, when are you going to bring coco and xiao xiao home for a family reunion dinner?¡± lan fei yun asked enthusiastically. she deliberately emphasized ¡®coco,¡¯ making shen ning feel an instant chill. ¡°i¡¯m sorry, i need to take care of ding ding right now, so i don¡¯t have the time,¡± she replied in a detached tone. ¡°oh, well, you must make time in the future. your father was talking about you yesterday,¡± lan fei yun said with a forced smile. shen ning couldn¡¯t help but inwardly scoff. would shen de shun really be thinking about her? over the years, when she was struggling and in dire straits, he never once looked for her. his heart belonged solely to shen mei, his daughter. ¡°ning ning, your father¡¯s company, shen group, has had a tough year. they¡¯ve incurred losses of millions. your father is worried every day, can¡¯t even eat properly, and his hair has turned completely white. as his daughter, you should take some responsibility,¡± lan fei yun continued. at this point, shen ning seemed to recall something. she immediately opened the contract that shen mei had handed her, and sure enough, inside it stated that shen ning was required to transfer ninety percent of the earnings from gu qi into lan fei yun¡¯s name. it was shameless and utterly audacious! Chapter 151 - Chapter 151: You Will Get Retribution chapter 151: you will get retribution translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°it¡¯s impossible! why should i?¡± shen ning angrily retorted. gu qi had just started, and they still owed the bank thirty million. how could she give them the money? what about the employees¡¯ salaries? ¡°shen ning,¡± shen mei arrogantly shouted, ¡°gu qi was originally a gift from dad to me. you took it by illegal means, so now you must give us all the money you¡¯ve earned.¡± shen ning looked at these two blood suckers, her anger clouding her judgment. she clenched her fist, and her hand slipped into her pocket, where she had a fruit knife. it was something she had prepared before coming here. ¡°shen ning, i didn¡¯t invite you here for a discussion today. i want you to sign. if you¡¯re unwilling, i¡¯ll have someone bring coco here immediately and give him to zhengting. then i¡¯ll have another son, just in time for my birthday gift,¡± shen mei sneered and pulled out a tablet, playing a video. shen ning only glanced at it and quickly withdrew her hand, trembling with anger. several men were standing at the entrance of the blue sky kindergarten! clearly, they were planning to snatch coco. ¡°shen mei, if zhengting finds out that ding ding and coco are my children, do you think he¡¯ll still want you?¡± she asked coldly. ¡°haha!¡± shen mei suddenly burst into laughter, indicating she had thought about this question long ago. ¡°shen ning, zhengting will announce our wedding date tonight, and it¡¯s a done deal. besides, i not only gave birth to ding ding but also to lan lan. didn¡¯t you see how doting he is towards lan lan? he won¡¯t abandon lan lan. even if 1 manage to snatch coco back, who says coco must be yours? coco looks exactly like ding ding. anyone can see they¡¯re my children. six years ago, in the delivery room, zhengting was there with me, he saw ding ding being born with his own eyes. if he sees coco, he¡¯ll think coco is also mine. even if you try to claim him, he¡¯ll believe you schemed to steal his son. with his power and influence, do you really think you can get custody of coco?¡± ¡°shen ning, the li family won¡¯t allow their descendants to be abandoned. it might be better for you to cooperate with us,¡± lan feiyun chimed in. every word they uttered struck shen ning¡¯s heart, making her chest tighten. she opened her mouth, needing to take deep breaths to maintain her composure. her fingers twisted into a knot. ¡°you¡­ you will face retribution,¡± she hissed through gritted teeth. lan feiyun discarded her elegant outer garment and demanded, ¡°shen ning, will you sign or not? if you don¡¯t, we¡¯ll bring coco home today. children and money, it¡¯s your choice.¡± she purposefully turned up the volume on the video, facing it towards shen ning. shen ning saw the school bell ringing, and children rushed to the playground, including coco and xiaoxiao. they held hands as they ran toward the gate. ¡°keep an eye on them. as soon as coco comes over, bring him back to the li mansion immediately,¡± lan feiyun instructed the men inside. several men immediately surrounded the gate. ¡°no!¡± shen ning watched as coco and xiaoxiao approached the gate. coco was her lifeline. if she lost him, what meaning would her life have? overwhelmed by desperation, she raised her voice, ¡°fine, i¡¯ll sign.¡± trembling, she picked up the pen and scrawled her name, pressured to leave her thumbprint as well. with that, a victorious smile finally appeared on the faces of lan feiyun and her daughter. lan feiyun took the contract and left for a meeting, elated. it was perfect! previously, gu qi was running at a loss, and now shen ning had taken care of it. all the money earned would be theirs. it was like icing on the cake, a windfall from the heavens. ¡°stop.¡± just as shen ning was turning to leave, shen mei called her back. shen ning halted in her tracks.. Chapter 152 - Chapter 152: That Girl Is Not Shen Mei chapter 152: that girl is not shen mei translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°shen ning, today is my birthday, and you must serve me. put on this maid¡¯s uniform and be ready to follow my orders at any time,¡± shen mei tossed a maid¡¯s uniform in front of her and commanded. shen ning widened her eyes. ¡°shen mei, i¡¯m not a maid for the li family. i¡¯m just ding ding¡¯s therapist.¡± ¡°pff, you think you¡¯re even worthy of being ding ding¡¯s therapist? you¡¯re not even fit to be a maid. just because you¡¯re ding ding¡¯s biological mother, do you think you can maintain a good image in front of the child, trying to win him over and attract zhen ting¡¯s attention through the child? let me tell you, there¡¯s no place for you here. from now on, you¡¯re just a maid. stay away from ding ding. otherwise, 1¡¯11 make sure you won¡¯t even get keke,¡± shen mei scornfully declared, giving her harsh instructions. ¡°now, change into the maid¡¯s uniform, work properly, and don¡¯t provoke my displeasure. i can make sure you won¡¯t even have a child in a matter of minutes.¡± shen ning¡¯s fists clenched, making a faint cracking sound. but after a while, she gritted her teeth and turned to put on the maid¡¯s uniform. shen mei smirked with satisfaction and left with her head held high. li corporation ceo¡¯s office. li zhen ting was in his office when leng xue strode in. ¡°mr. li, the photo you asked me to investigate has been identified,¡± leng xue reported. li zhen ting paused, his gaze sharp and focused on the tip of his pen. for a while, he didn¡¯t raise his head but simply stared at the pen. ¡°go ahead,¡± he said calmly a moment later. ¡°mr. li,¡± leng xue hesitated briefly before continuing, ¡°the girl in that photo is not shen mei.¡± he handed over a file folder. li zhen ting remained silent for a moment, then slowly accepted it, asking, ¡°then where is she?¡± ¡°she¡¯s already deceased,¡± leng xue replied with a solemn expression. ¡°very well, 1 understand,¡± he waved his hand, ¡°you may leave for now.¡± leng xue looked at him with a serious expression, let out a sigh, and then exited the room. mr. li was truly a man devoted to love. for all these years, he had held onto the memory of his ¡®white moonlight¡¯ in his heart, rejecting any woman, including his ex-wife shen ning. however, now the reality proved that the current shen mei was not his ¡®white moonlight¡¯ either. he wondered when he would finally break free from this cycle of love. after leng xue left, li zhen ting slowly took out the documents, briefly reviewed them, and placed them in the drawer. he reached for a cigar on the desk, lit it, and took a drag. his eyes revealed no signs of joy, anger, sorrow, or happiness. in fact, six years ago, since the incident involving shen ning, he had already sensed that shen mei was not the girl he had in mind. he had made a mistake. but by then, it was too late. he had already slept with shen mei, and she had even given birth to a pair of children for him. out of responsibility and moral duty, he had to marry shen mei. he had asked leng xue to investigate, hoping to prove something to himself. he stood up and walked to the window, gazing at the blue sky and white clouds outside, his tall and imposing figure appearing solitary and forlorn. her name was xiaofeng, which came from her online pseudonym: listener to the wind. he had chosen the word ¡°wind (feng)¡± from it and affectionately called her xiaofeng. xiaofeng was exceptionally intelligent and kind-hearted, possessing a heart as clear as crystal with seven orifices, something beyond the reach of ordinary girls. she was too wonderful, too perfect for the mortal world. but she had left him alone in the earthly realm, what a cruel fate! he gazed at the distant cloud in the sky for a long time, imagining her sweet face. however, it was too regrettable because his eyes had been severely injured, and at one point, he had thought he would lose his sight forever, never having a chance to see her. but the fact was, his eyes had healed, yet he had never had the opportunity to lay eyes on her. he stared in amazement. suddenly, the cloud in the sky transformed into the visage of a woman, gradually becoming clearer, and he widened his eyes. it was a familiar face. and that face bore a striking resemblance to shen ning. he was taken aback. at that moment, the phone began to ring. he picked it up.. Chapter 153 - Chapter 153: Do You Think I’ll Believe You? Chapter 153: Do You Think I¡¯ll Believe You? Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°Zhenting, today is my birthday. When will you come back? The guests have already arrived,¡± Shen Mei held her phone, coquettishly complaining, ¡°You promised to accompany me today.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be back immediately,¡± he replied after a brief pause, hung up the phone, and turned to pick up his briefcase, heading outside. Xiaofeng, you¡¯re already gone. I¡¯ll never have love again in this lifetime. For the sake of the children, I have to marry another woman. I¡¯m sorry! But in this lifetime, you¡¯ll forever be my true love! The cherished lover in my heart! Li Family Manor. As soon as Li Zhenting returned to the Yun Lake Villa, he saw that the house was decorated like a palace. There were even many reporters outside. He couldn¡¯t help but furrow his brows. It was just an ordinary birthday, yet Shen Mei had made such a big fuss. Even his grandparents¡¯ and Li Wanqing¡¯s birthdays had never been this ostentatious. His face darkened. Just as he reached the upstairs, preparing to go to the bedroom to change into casual clothes, he unexpectedly bumped into a woman who was coming out of a room. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry,¡± the woman seemed equally startled and immediately apologized. Li Zhenting furrowed his brows, raised his eyes, and then froze. It was Shen Ning! Why would she come to the Li Family Manor at this time, and dressed in a maid¡¯s uniform, coming out of his room? What¡¯s she up to? Shen Ning also hadn¡¯t expected to run into Li Zhenting. Her face displayed surprise for a moment, then turned ice-cold. She bypassed him and continued walking. ¡°Hold on, what are you doing here?¡± he asked in a deep voice. ¡°I came to tidy up Ding Ding¡¯s room and change the bedding for him,¡± Shen Ning replied indifferently. ¡°Tidying up the room?¡± Li Zhenting sneered at the corner of his lips. ¡°Didn¡¯t you arrive at 7 PM last night? You came this early to tidy up Ding Ding¡¯s room? Do you think 1¡¯11 believe that?¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t believe it, then go ask your beloved woman, Shen Mei,¡± Shen Ning said, thinking about her current situation, feeling a deep pain. This scoundrel was the cause of all her troubles. She had no need to explain anything to him. After leaving those words, she walked away indifferently. Li Zhenting watched her cold and distant figure, feeling somewhat irritated for no apparent reason. What¡¯s with this woman¡¯s attitude? Hadn¡¯t he offended her yesterday? Yet, her attitude was so hostile! He entered the bedroom and indeed found that the bedding had been changed. Ding Ding had sweated a lot last night, and she had been quite attentive. Shen Ning descended the stairs. Earlier, when she had gone to Li Zhenting¡¯s bedroom, it was because Ding Ding had been having recurring nightmares. She remembered that when she used to have bad dreams as a child, Shao Meiqi would always take off her pants and place them under her pillow, with a small fruit knife pressed beneath them. Of course, she would never really put a knife under there, just a small fruit knife, which was said to ward off evil spirits. Her mother had once said that it had to be her own mother¡¯s pants, and no one could see them. So, she had quietly come upstairs. Though it was superstitious, regardless of whether it worked or not, she didn¡¯t want to see her child suffer like this at night and decided to give it a try. ¡°Shen Ning,¡± as soon as she went downstairs, Shen Mei called to her, ¡°There are many guests outside. Serve each guest a cup of lemon tea.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± it was quite clear that they were using her as a maid, hoping to embarrass her and make her the subject of ridicule. However, she agreed nonetheless. ¡°Ning Ning,¡± she walked to the outdoor guest area with a tray of lemon tea cups and served each guest a cup. The guests were engaged in lively conversations, and nobody paid attention to her. She breathed a sigh of relief and was about to slip away when suddenly, a man¡¯s voice called her back.. Chapter 154 - Chapter 154: No Beating Chapter 154: No Beating Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°Big brother, be careful. If anything happens, use the code word, and don¡¯t let anyone recognize you,¡± Little Xiao looked at Coco, who was dressed exactly like Ding Ding in a sharp designer suit, and earnestly cautioned. Coco had one hand casually in his pocket, his designer suit was impeccably tailored, exuding a commanding presence. He looked dashing, stylish, and very handsome. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ve been practicing for half a day with Ding Ding. We won¡¯t make a mistake,¡± Coco walked up to Ding Ding and patted his shoulder. ¡°Brother, we share a telepathic connection. Don¡¯t forget the secret code.¡± Ding Ding scratched his head. ¡°I won¡¯t forget. But remember, from 7 to 9 in the evening, I have quality time with Mommy. You must switch with me.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Coco held Little Xiao¡¯s hand. ¡°Then we¡¯ll go in first.¡± ¡°Go ahead. I know my way around here. I¡¯ll take a shortcut in. If anything comes up, we¡¯ll stay in touch,¡± Ding Ding waved to Coco and Little Xiao. Hand in hand, Coco and Little Xiao confidently walked inside. ¡°So beautiful and elegant,¡± Little Xiao commented as she admired the palace-like villa. She seemed a bit awestruck. ¡°Ahem, Little Xiao, maintain your composure. We shouldn¡¯t let anyone think we lack worldly experience; that would be a giveaway. Remember when we used to visit the White House with Mommy in the United States? Don¡¯t forget your mission,¡± Coco reminded Little Xiao as they walked. Their first priority was to find Mommy and ensure her safety. Little Xiao nodded earnestly, putting away her admiring gaze. Beneath a secluded large tree. ¡°Shen Ning, what are you doing here in such a disgraceful outfit?¡± Shen Deshun, with stern eyes, looked at Shen Ning in her maid¡¯s uniform and scolded her. ¡°Today is your sister¡¯s birthday. What are you doing here? Are you still thinking about Li Zhenting? Do you want to remarry him?¡± Shen Ning looked at her father, who she hadn¡¯t seen in years, with a deep sense of sadness. ¡°Dad, in your eyes, am I only fit for these lowly tasks? We¡¯re both your daughters, but it seems like you only have room in your heart for Shen Mei. Have you ever considered what might have happened to me? If you want to know, why don¡¯t you ask your precious daughter and that vile homewrecker?¡± ¡°You ungrateful daughter!¡± Shen Deshun¡¯s anger flared upon hearing Shen Ning¡¯s disrespectful remarks about Lan Feiyun. He hissed, ¡°Your Aunt Feiyun was just thinking of you a few days ago. She wanted to bring you back home and even moved out of the Shuiyun Residence voluntarily. You really don¡¯t know how to appreciate her.¡± Moved out voluntarily? Shen Ning was on the verge of tears but couldn¡¯t help laughing. She had to admit that Lan Feiyun was exceptionally skilled in manipulating situations. However, she had no intention of explaining anything to this man in front of her. Men all over the world shared a common trait: they were powerless against manipulation. They believed whatever women like Lan Feiyun told them. ¡°Dad, I just want to ask you one thing. Were you present at the scene when my mom jumped off the building?¡± Shen Ning, her eyes red, asked. Shen Deshun¡¯s face turned dark. ¡°You¡¯re truly malicious. Today is your sister¡¯s birthday and the day Li Mei and Zhenting announce their marriage. Yet, you bring up your mother¡¯s death here. Is that auspicious?¡± ¡°What about my mom? Was her death justified? Do you feel no guilt about how she died? Shen Corporation was founded with my mom¡¯s help. But once the company started making money, you abandoned her. These years, don¡¯t you have any conscience left?¡± Shen Ning¡¯s emotions were running high as she poured out her grievances, her voice choked with tears. ¡°You heartless beast!¡± Shen Deshun, overcome with anger and humiliation, raised his hand to strike Shen Ning. Somewhere along the way, he had developed an intense aversion to this daughter of his. In fact, he had reached a point where he didn¡¯t want to see her at all, almost as if she had become his mental burden. ¡°No hitting!¡± Just then, a child¡¯s innocent voice rang out loudly. Shen Deshun was taken aback, looking up to see Ding Ding, dressed in a little suit, striding confidently towards them. Several bodyguards followed him, their faces displaying an intimidating demeanor as they glared at Shen Deshun.. Chapter 155 - Chapter 155: Extremely Humiliating Chapter 155: Extremely Humiliating Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation He immediately stopped, smiled at Ding Ding, and said, ¡°Ding Ding, I¡¯m your grandfather. Come here, let me give you a hug.¡± Seeing his overly-friendly smile, Coco felt uncomfortable. ¡°I don¡¯t care who you are. Hitting people is wrong, even if it¡¯s your fault. 1 won¡¯t allow you to hit people, and you must say sorry to this pretty and nice young aunt here,¡± Coco said sternly, with his hands behind his back, looking serious and speaking clearly. Shen Deshun¡¯s face couldn¡¯t take it anymore. Even though Ding Ding was his daughter¡¯s child, he was the young master of the Li family, with an important status. Shen Corporation was facing a crisis, and Shen Deshun was hoping to make a good impression on Li Zhenting to help the company out. He stood there awkwardly. ¡°If you won¡¯t say sorry, then please leave. We don¡¯t want grumpy old men here,¡± Coco firmly told him. Shen Deshun was surprised. He didn¡¯t expect a little kid to act so authoritatively. At that moment, two bodyguards started to pressure him. He never thought that, at his age, a five-year-old would chase him away. It was embarrassing! ¡°Say sorry quickly, or leave,¡± Coco insisted. With clenched teeth, Shen Deshun reluctantly forced a smile. ¡°Ning Ning, let¡¯s just forget about this. Dad apologizes to your mom and to you.¡± Watching her father humble himself before her son¡¯s authority, Shen Ning felt both sad and relieved. He should have apologized a long time ago! But she never thought her son would be the one to make it happen. ¡°Auntie, come on, let¡¯s go over there,¡± Coco said, looking at her with a smile. He held his mom¡¯s hand and started walking away, not wanting to bother anymore. ¡°Ding Ding, thank you for standing up for Mommy,¡± Shen Ning said, her heart warming as her son led her away. The feeling of happiness was overwhelming, and she felt like all the past grievances were worth it. But just then¡­ ¡°Shen Ning.¡± A woman¡¯s voice filled with sarcasm and mockery echoed. Shen Ning raised her head to see Shen Mei approaching. There was a cold, sinister glint in her eyes, and her smile froze on her face. ¡°Tonight, Zhen Zhen and I will announce our wedding date. There will be a ceremony, and you¡¯ll have to stand by, bow halfheartedly, and carry a tray, handing over the red silk from the tray to me,¡± Shen Mei instructed with an air of superiority. She wanted everyone to know that Shen Ning, the former wife, had fallen from grace and was no longer worthy of Li Zhenting! Shen Ning¡¯s face paled as she listened, her fingers tightening. ¡°Ding Ding, don¡¯t go. Stay with me tonight,¡± Shen Mei¡¯s gaze shifted to Ding Ding, her eyes filled with a menacing determination. After a while, when Shen Mei received no response from Shen Ning, she immediately questioned with a harsh tone, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you, suddenly lost your voice?¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Shen Ning replied softly, her voice submissive. Coco, standing nearby, was stunned. This wicked witch was treating his mommy this way, and she even made his mommy serve at their wedding ceremony. Even a five-year-old like him could tell it was insulting. Why did she have the right to treat his mommy like this? What surprised him even more was that after just a few days, his mommy had seemingly lost her backbone. She actually agreed to such a request! When did his mommy become so cowardly? Coco was infuriated. ¡°I¡¯m not staying with you!¡± He glared angrily at Shen Mei and dragged Shen Ning away. He was furious, absolutely furious! The little guy¡¯s face turned red with frustration. He really wanted to take his mommy back home and not stay in this oppressive place any longer.. Chapter 156 - Chapter 156: Coco’s Fury Chapter 156: Coco¡¯s Fury Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°Meimei, isn¡¯t Dinding your son? Why is he siding with Shen Ning? He doesn¡¯t want to be with you, but instead, he¡¯s with Shen Ning. What kind of mother are you?¡± Shen Deshun had been observing everything and his face grew darker by the moment. Having been forced to apologize to his daughter by his five-year-old grandson today was too embarrassing for him to mention. And now, his grandson was disregarding Shen Mei as well. This was unacceptable! ¡°I¡­¡± Shen Mei exchanged a glance with Lan Feiyun. Shen Deshun had always been kept in the dark about the fact that Dinding was Shen Ning¡¯s son. Lan Feiyun gave her a meaningful look, and Shen Mei spoke with resentment, ¡°Dad, you don¡¯t know. Shen Ning has never accepted being abandoned by Zhenting. Now that she¡¯s back, she¡¯s deliberately getting close to Dinding and acting as his psychological therapist. Dinding has been influenced by her for a long time. Her goal is to get back together with Zhenting and stop our wedding. But Zhenting doesn¡¯t love her at all, and he even dislikes seeing her.¡± ¡°This despicable woman is such an embarrassment. She¡¯s not only staying in a man¡¯s house but also ruining her sister¡¯s happiness. It¡¯s karma. How could I have a daughter like her?¡± Shen Deshun¡¯s face turned blue with anger, and his eyes gleamed with rage. He seemed like he wanted to rush over and physically harm Shen Ning. Lan Feiyun and Shen Mei exchanged a satisfied smile, both feeling victorious. The VIP area. Li Zhenting wore a stylish gray casual suit that complemented his smooth porcelain-like skin, his high and chiseled nose, rosy lips, and an innate air of pride and aloofness. He stood out in the crowd like a dazzling star, radiating a distinct aura. After having a few drinks with his buddies, he walked over in this direction. On the other hand, Coco had one hand in his pocket, confidently strolling with a group of tough-looking guys. When he crossed paths with Li Zhenting, he didn¡¯t even spare a glance. Li Zhenting was momentarily stunned! This kid! So arrogant! He didn¡¯t even acknowledge his own father. What audacity! ¡°Ding Ding,¡± he called out. ¡°Hmph.¡± Unexpectedly, Coco let out a disdainful snort, turned his back to him, and presented him with half of his buttocks, completely ignoring him. This father was utterly useless. His mother was severely hurt, and he couldn¡¯t do anything about it. Instead, he planned to marry that ugly witch! Coco was really angry! Li Zhenting furrowed his brows. This kid had no manners! ¡°Ding Ding,¡± his displeased voice rose, and his expression turned serious. ¡°Dad.¡± ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going?¡± ¡°Wherever I want,¡± Coco retorted bluntly, his face stern. Li Zhenting was quite displeased. This brat hadn¡¯t been wronged by anyone, so why was he giving him this attitude? ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? Did someone bully you?¡± he asked sternly. ¡°You bullied Auntie,¡± Coco suddenly turned around and confronted him, questioning repeatedly, ¡°Dad, why did you make my teacher wear a maid¡¯s outfit? Treating her like a servant, she¡¯s my teacher, not your housekeeper. Did you ever consider her feelings or my face?¡± The little guy actually had a sense of pride. Li Zhenting almost burst into laughter but found himself in a perplexing situation. This little one cared about his pride! However, he was also quite furious. When had he ever made Shen Ning wear a maid¡¯s outfit? He found it rather strange! ¡°You should ask her, she wore it willingly,¡± he replied seriously. ¡°No way! I asked butler Lo, and he said Mommy forced her to wear it, making her do all kinds of chores just to humiliate her. They even made her bow and carry a tray during your wedding announcement. Why did you do that? Why treat her like this? She¡¯s a gentle and kind Auntie. If it weren¡¯t for her taking me to the hospital that night, I might have gone crazy. She took such good care of me, but Mommy didn¡¯t do anything except make things difficult for her. I hate you all. I don¡¯t want to see you anymore, and 1 don¡¯t want to stay in this house. I don¡¯t want to be your son!¡± Coco suddenly lost his temper and shouted at Li Zhenting.. Chapter 157 - Chapter 157: Hated by My Son Chapter 157: Hated by My Son Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Shen Ning had just been called over by a maid to clean up some trash on the floor. She was a bit distracted while sweeping when she suddenly heard Coco¡¯s loud and furious shouting at Li Zhenting. She was shocked. She hadn¡¯t expected Ding Ding to be so angry and make such a scene. She quickly ran over, trying to calm him down, holding his hand in a somewhat flustered manner. Li Zhenting was puzzled for a moment, and his gaze turned to Shen Ning, his eyes flashing with a dark and chilly light. ¡°You didn¡¯t buy Auntie a nice dress. I¡¯m taking her shopping now, and I¡¯m going to make Auntie look beautiful. I¡¯ll find her a good husband,¡± Coco, with red eyes, pulled Shen Ning along, his emotions running high. ¡°Stop right there,¡± Li Zhenting grabbed Coco, irritated that this child, who understood nothing, was causing such a commotion. It gave him a headache. ¡°No, I don¡¯t want you to interfere,¡± Coco¡¯s stubbornness flared up, and he tried to twist Li Zhenting¡¯s wrist, even spitting in his direction when he couldn¡¯t overpower him. Li Zhenting was infuriated by Coco¡¯s childish behavior, emitting a terrifying coldness all over. Even Shen Ning was startled by this turn of events. She hadn¡¯t expected Ding Ding to throw such a tantrum. In her memory, Coco did have a history of throwing tantrums. She remembered one incident when he was bullied by a black kid. At that time, he had beaten the other child so badly that he lost his teeth. She had to apologize and pay a significant amount of money to settle the matter. ¡°Ding Ding, come with Auntie first,¡± she bent down and lifted Ding Ding, heading inside. ¡°Dad, 1 hate you!¡± Even as Shen Ning held him in her arms, Coco pouted and shouted loudly at Li Zhenting, his eyes red. Li Zhenting felt like he was about to pass out from anger. Unbelievably, his own son now hated him! Shen Ning¡­ He clenched his teeth! Shen Ning took Ding Ding into the game room, sat with him, and comforted him until he stabilized emotionally before leaving the room. ¡°Shen Ning.¡± As soon as she stepped out, a strong arm grabbed her by the arm and pushed her against the wall. Li Zhenting¡¯s eyes were filled with anger. ¡°Is this intentional?¡± ¡°Intentional? Intentional for what?¡± Shen Ning blinked, staring at him with a puzzled expression. ¡°You deliberately dressed as a maid, making yourself look pitiful, trying to provoke Ding Ding to make him hate me, right?¡± Li Zhenting¡¯s eyes emitted a dangerous aura, and his handsome face was full of anger. Shen Ning was taken aback for a moment, then pushed his chest vigorously and said irritably, ¡°Are you out of your mind? Why would 1 intentionally wear a maid¡¯s uniform to provoke Ding Ding? That¡¯s absurd.¡± ¡°Then why did Ding Ding suddenly act this way?¡± Li Zhenting asked coldly. It didn¡¯t feel good to be resented by his son. ¡°Are you an idiot? Just listen to what Ding Ding said. Why don¡¯t you believe a child¡¯s words?¡± Shen Ning rolled her eyes at him. In fact, she was also somewhat surprised by how out of control Ding Ding¡¯s emotions had become tonight. ¡°A child¡¯s words?¡± Li Zhenting narrowed his eyes and stood there in a daze. Shen Ning pushed him away and started walking. ¡°Come with me,¡± but he quickly grabbed her arm again, pulling her towards the stairs. ¡°Jerk, let go of me, my arm hurts.¡± Shen Ning was dragged along, angrily protesting. Li Zhenting remained silent and continued to drag her until they reached a door to a dressing room. ¡°You immediately go in and pick a gown to wear. If you provoke Ding Ding again, 1¡¯11 deal with you.¡± The main reason for Ding Ding¡¯s emotional outburst tonight was because of her, and if she wore a maid¡¯s uniform again and upset Ding Ding by making him think she was being mistreated, he worried it might trigger his old condition. He didn¡¯t want his son to have a relapse. Shen Ning was pushed into the room. Nuts! She rubbed her arm and muttered. She glanced around the spacious dressing room, which was exactly the same as it had been six years ago when she was here. In truth, she would rather wear a maid¡¯s uniform than these expensive gowns. But she also worried about triggering Ding Ding¡¯s emotions.. After all, which child would want to see their mom being treated with disrespect? Chapter 158 - Chapter 158: Chapter 158-Taken advantage of Chapter 158: Chapter 158-Taken advantage of Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Shen Ning chose a simple and elegant dress to put on and walked out. However, as soon as she opened the door, she saw that jerk Li Zhenting standing right outside. ¡°This one won¡¯t do, it looks like you¡¯re from a village. Change into another one,¡± he ordered dominantly. Shen Ning frowned, ¡°I¡¯m just a regular home tutor.¡± ¡°Do you want Ding Ding to come after me again?¡± The man¡¯s gaze turned cold and serious. Fine! Shen Ning went back inside and chose a dress with a shawl, which looked more elegant and sophisticated. ¡°Too mature, change into another one,¡± she couldn¡¯t get Li Zhenting¡¯s approval even after the second attempt. He just glanced and disapproved. Shen Ning glared at him, ¡°I can¡¯t find a better one.¡± Clearly, she was dealing with a woman who hadn¡¯t seen much of the world, someone who couldn¡¯t even choose her own clothes! Li Zhenting shook his head and walked in. Soon, he picked out a black evening gown with bare shoulders and a high slit and handed it to her. Shen Ning looked at the black evening gown and her heart fluttered. In fact, she had her eye on this outfit for a while, but she was hesitant to wear it, fearing it would attract too much attention. If Li Zhenting didn¡¯t give it to her, she wouldn¡¯t dare to wear it. ¡°Hurry up.¡± ¡°Then go outside.¡± Seeing her cautious expression, Li Zhenting smirked mischievously, ¡°If you want my help, just say so. I¡¯ll stand right outside.¡± As if I¡¯d want your help! Shen Ning coldly snorted and locked the door behind her. A while later, she stood in front of the mirror in the gown, feeling a bit lost. Was this still her? Even she could hardly believe that the beauty she saw in the mirror was herself. The woman in the mirror had hair as dark as seaweed cascading down her chest. The V-cut neckline of the dress revealed her snow-white skin, and her ample cleavage hinted at sensuality. In the soft lamplight, she resembled a blooming white lotus, her fair and captivating legs silently exuding temptation in the darkness. A faint blush adorned her face, and she stood there, hesitant to step out. ¡°Turn around,¡± suddenly, a man¡¯s voice came from behind. She jumped in surprise, turning her head to see that Li Zhenting had somehow entered the room. ¡°How did you get in?¡± Her face changed color. She distinctly remembered locking the door from the inside. Li Zhenting¡¯s eyes gleamed with an inexplicable charm, and his wicked gaze traveled from her chest to her feet, finally lingering on her cleavage. A strange heat simmered in his lower abdomen, and his throat grew dry. He swallowed and grinned mischievously. ¡°I just pushed the door open.¡± ¡°Li Zhenting, who allowed you to come in? Don¡¯t you know I was changing clothes in here?¡± Shen Ning gritted her teeth, her face frosty. Thinking that she might have been peeped at by him, she blushed and felt flustered and angry. This scoundrel actually had the habit of spying on others. How did she not know about this before? Li Zhenting¡¯s eyes revealed a mocking smile, and he replied nonchalantly, ¡°You were changing your clothes, so what? Who cares about seeing you anyway? You clearly changed your clothes, but you didn¡¯t dare to come out. If I didn¡¯t come in, should I wait outside for you until it gets dark?¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Although she had been taken advantage of, he acted as if it were nothing, wearing an indifferent expression, which drove her crazy. She really couldn¡¯t bring herself to walk out now, and he had seen through her concerns, making her even more agitated. ¡°Li Zhenting, what you did is illegal,¡± she blushed with anger, ¡°You¡¯ve intruded into a woman¡¯s private space without my consent. This is outrageous behavior, and I will report you.¡± Li Zhenting scoffed, ¡°Shen Ning, come on. I¡¯m in my own house, opening my own door. It¡¯s not illegal. You came to my house voluntarily, it¡¯s not my problem..¡± Chapter 159 - Chapter 159: This Man Was Actually Holding Her Hand? Chapter 159: This Man Was Actually Holding Her Hand? Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°Li Zhenting, can you be any more shameless?¡± Shen Ning, hearing his tone, was certain that he had seen through her completely. She felt both embarrassed and angry. Although they had shared an intimate encounter in the past, it was different now. She clenched her teeth and clenched her fist to strike at him. Li Zhenting easily caught her fist with his hand, then suddenly, he wrapped his arm around her slender waist, pinning her against the desk. With one hand, he tilted her chin up. ¡°Shen Ning, don¡¯t play games with me. You came to the Li Manor to get close to Ding Ding, but it¡¯s really to get close to me, isn¡¯t it? Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know your intentions. I¡¯m showing you some respect today, so why the pretense?¡± He lowered his head, his gaze filled with mockery, and he stared at Shen Ning with a deadly intensity. Heavens, this bastard! He was so arrogant, conceited, and self-assured! What did he think he was? Did he believe that every woman in the world wanted to climb into his bed? Shen Ning couldn¡¯t help but burst into laughter. She struggled and reached out, attempting to claw his face, but his reaction was unusually quick. He grabbed her right hand, turned her around, and pinned both her hands at her waist with his strong grip. She struggled, but the man¡¯s body pressed firmly against hers, rendering her immobile. She glared at him in anger. He chuckled wickedly and focused on her seductive and full lips, then lowered his head to lightly lick her sweet lips. An electric sensation shot through her body like a jolt. Shen Ning involuntarily shivered. Li Zhenting let out a low laugh. ¡°Your body seems quite honest, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Shen Ning was furious, her gaze directed at him as if she wanted to kill. Li Zhenting, however, grinned wickedly, and suddenly lowered his head, his rosy lips firmly sealing her red ones. Shen Ning¡¯s widened eyes revealed sheer astonishment, and just as she was about to cry out, the man playfully parted her lips¡­ Time seemed to freeze. Shen Ning¡¯s entire brain went blank, and she lost the ability to think. She had never anticipated such a situation, and for a moment, she even forgot to resist. In the corridor, Shen Mei, who had been following them, watched the man and woman inside kissing. Her face turned ashen, and she was furious, her eyes filled with hatred. Shen Ning, you despicable woman! You dared to seduce my man! 1 won¡¯t let you get away with it! She stomped her foot in anger, tears welling up in her eyes, then turned and ran outside. ¡°Li Zhenting, you bastard! How dare you bully me!¡± Shen Ning regained her senses and forcefully pushed him away. With all her strength, she slapped him across the face. Li Zhenting¡¯s lips curved into an attractive arc as he caught her hand. He smirked, ¡°Can you blame me? You didn¡¯t close the door yourself, and you stayed inside for so long. If I hadn¡¯t come in to check on you, who knows what might have happened? Can you blame me for being responsible?¡± She didn¡¯t close the door? Shen Ning stood there, stunned. She distinctly remembered that she had closed the door on the first two occasions. However, as the encounters became more frequent and with Li Zhenting urging her on, she might have rushed back in the last time and forgotten to lock the door. Now, she felt like she wanted to die. She had practically handed herself to this playboy for free. She almost bit her tongue trying to stifle her frustration. ¡°Look at you, so easily flustered. With your skinny figure, you haven¡¯t even piqued my interest,¡± Li Zhenting teased, no longer wanting to tease her. ¡°When 1 opened the door, you were already dressed.¡± After saying this, he took her hand and led her outside. Shen Ning was momentarily dumbfounded. This man was actually holding her hand? Was this a dream? She bit her tongue hard. Ouch, it hurt! Taking a deep breath, she corrected her misstep in her high heels and stumbled forward. A strong and powerful hand quickly reached out to support her, effortlessly wrapping around her arm as they walked out together. As Shen Ning slowly made her way outside, she noticed that the gazes of everyone in the room were now fixed upon them.. Chapter 160 - Chapter 16o: I Really Hate Daddy Chapter 16o: I Really Hate Daddy Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Shen Ning felt like she wanted to disappear when she suddenly woke up to reality. This was a situation she¡¯d rather not be in. At this very moment, she found herself linked arm in arm with Li Zhenting. What was she doing? Reporters began flashing their cameras. She tried to pull her hand away from this man, but he firmly held onto it, whispering quietly in her ear, ¡°Do you want my son to misunderstand me mistreating you again?¡± She was taken aback and then heard Li Zhenting ask Mr. Luo, ¡°Where is Ding Ding?¡± Mr. Luo immediately responded, ¡°Young Master is still upstairs sulking.¡± ¡°Please go and call him down,¡± Li Zhenting instructed. Mr. Luo agreed and left. At this point, Shen Ning understood his intention. He wanted to present her in a respectable manner for his son to see. She sneered inwardly and regained her composure. However, being led by him, hand in hand, in the presence of so many upper-class individuals, seemed inappropriate and could easily lead to misunderstandings. ¡°Hey, who¡¯s this woman that Li Young Master is escorting? Isn¡¯t she Shen Mei? Does he have a new love interest?¡± ¡°This woman is really beautiful and has a great demeanor. She and Li Young Master are a natural match.¡± ¡°Yeah, she¡¯s quite charming. In fact, she looks like a perfect match for Li Young Master.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t this woman look a lot like Li Young Master¡¯s ex-wife?¡± Some people had seen Shen Ning before, despite her past being concealed. All eyes were on Shen Ning, who was being escorted by Li Zhenting, and people began to whisper and discuss quietly. Lan Feiyun, as well as Shen Mei, were practically wide-eyed in shock. They couldn¡¯t believe that Li Zhenting had dressed Shen Ning so beautifully and elegantly and was personally holding her arm, treating her with such tenderness and care, almost like his own wife. The affectionate smile on the corner of his lips drove Shen Mei nearly insane. All her plans had been disrupted by this unexpected turn of events. She wouldn¡¯t be able to humiliate Shen Ning or make her kneel down and offer a red silk tonight. This woman was truly cunning! The growing hatred inside Shen Mei was becoming increasingly evident. Meanwhile, Coco, who had been brought by Shen Ning to the game room, soon sneaked into Ding Ding¡¯s bedroom. Ding Ding was engrossed in his game, leading a group of generals to dominate the virtual world. ¡°I¡¯m so furious! 1 can¡¯t stand it!¡± Coco plopped down on the sofa, her eyes red. ¡°Coco, what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Ding Ding, why aren¡¯t you doing anything when Mommy is being treated like this?¡± Coco¡¯s emotions were running high. ¡°That ugly witch is bullying Mommy, and Daddy isn¡¯t doing anything either. I¡¯m so angry at Daddy.¡± Hearing Coco¡¯s words, Ding Ding paused the game and sighed, ¡°Big bro, there¡¯s really nothing 1 can do. All 1 can do is try to make Dad lose more money for Mommy. I don¡¯t know what else to do.¡± Coco stood up, hands on her hips. Hmph, Dad is such a scumbag! Only he can help Mommy in this situation, but he¡¯s already been bewitched by that ugly witch. Just then, the door suddenly opened, and Xiao Xiao slipped inside. ¡°Big bro, Ding Ding, something really scary happened.¡± ¡°What happened?¡± Both Coco and Ding Ding turned their attention to Xiao Xiao. Xiao Xiao¡¯s face was filled with anger. ¡°That ugly witch wants to torment Mommy, make her look bad, and that old witch would love to devour her alive. Oh, my poor Mommy, her life is too hard. We must help her, we can¡¯t let her be bullied.¡± ¡°Yes, we have to find a way to help, but how can we help?¡± Ding Ding looked troubled. ¡°I¡¯ve got an idea. Let¡¯s go find Grandma and ask her to help Mommy,¡± Xiao Xiao suddenly remembered Li Wanqing.. Chapter 161 - Chapter 161: Daddy’s Performance Was Not Bad This Time Chapter 161: Daddy¡¯s Performance Was Not Bad This Time Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Coco and Ding Ding both looked at Xiao Xiao. Xiao Xiao¡¯s face was filled with anger as she said, ¡°That ugly witch wants to torment Mommy, make her look bad. And that old witch, she¡¯d love to swallow Mommy alive. Oh, my poor Mommy, she¡¯s suffering so much. We must help her, can¡¯t let her be bullied.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, we need to find a way to help, but how can we help?¡± Ding Ding looked troubled. ¡°Here¡¯s the plan: let¡¯s go find Grandma and ask her to help Mommy,¡± Xiao Xiao suddenly thought of Li Wanqing. ¡°Well, that¡¯s a good idea, but why would Grandma want to help Mommy? Mommy isn¡¯t her family, and she doesn¡¯t even know that we¡¯re Mommy¡¯s children,¡± Coco was smart and immediately grasped the key issue. ¡°But Grandma also doesn¡¯t like the ugly witch. The enemy of a friend is a friend,¡± Xiao Xiao, perhaps scared by the dangerous situation Mommy was in, suddenly became more intelligent. ¡°Yeah, this plan could work.¡± Now both Coco and Ding Ding nodded, willing to give it a try. ¡°By the way, there¡¯s a strange thing. When did our Mommy become so submissive? She does whatever that ugly witch tells her to do. Why isn¡¯t she resisting?¡± Coco couldn¡¯t understand. He had seen Mommy serve tea, pour water, sweep the floor, and wipe tables for Shen Mei, and it broke his heart. Mommy had always been assertive, so why was she being controlled by a bad person now? Xiao Xiao also felt something was off. ¡°That¡¯s right, Mommy should never listen to that ugly witch.¡± ¡°No matter what, we must stop Daddy from marrying that ugly witch. Today, they¡¯re going to announce the wedding date, and we must stop it. We need to bring Daddy back,¡± Coco was determined. The three children nodded resolutely. At that moment, there was a knock at the door. ¡°Ding Ding, young master,¡± a voice called. Ding Ding immediately hushed and rushed to the cupboard, hiding inside. Seeing Ding Ding hide, Coco went to open the door. ¡°Mr Luo, what can I do for you?¡± Coco politely inquired. ¡°Young Master Ding Ding is very polite today,¡± Butler Luo remarked with a cheerful smile. ¡°Please come down, your father is looking for you.¡± Coco held Xiao Xiao¡¯s hand, and the two children followed Butler Luo downstairs. Downstairs, their father was standing affectionately, holding a woman¡¯s hand. Coco and Xiao Xiao¡¯s eyes lit up. Wasn¡¯t that woman their mommy? Mommy looked so beautiful, even more beautiful than any woman here. ¡°Daddy!¡± Coco joyfully called out as he approached. ¡°Son, I¡¯ve handed over your teacher to you. Are you happy now?¡± Li Zhenting handed Shen Ning¡¯s hand to Coco and gently ruffled his son¡¯s round little head, a tender smile playing on his lips. ¡°Happy!¡± Coco cheered. ¡°Thankyou, Daddy. You didwell this time. I¡¯m satisfied, but remember to keep it up.¡± Uh, he needed to keep it up? Li Zhenting¡¯s face was speechless. At this moment, Shen Ning, who had been standing to the side, suddenly turned pale. She immediately spotted Xiao Xiao standing next to Ding Ding. Wait, how did Xiao Xiao end up here? ¡°Auntie, you look so pretty,¡± Xiao Xiao immediately approached Shen Ning and nestled in her arms, her voice sweet and childlike. ¡°Can 1 talk to you for a moment?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Shen Ning said, hurriedly taking Xiao Xiao aside. ¡°Xiao Xiao, how did you get here?¡± Chapter 162 - Chapter 162: He Doesn’t Love Mommy at All Chapter 162: He Doesn¡¯t Love Mommy at All Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°Mummy, Ding Ding took me to the Li Family Manor a while ago, as I told you before,¡± Xiao Xiao whispered to Shen Ning, ¡°It was the home of a classmate¡¯s grandmother, a very kind and friendly lady, just like Ding Ding¡¯s grandmother.¡± She leaned in closer. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, no one here knows I¡¯m your daughter.¡± Shen Ning suddenly realized that Xiao Xiao had mentioned going to her classmate¡¯s house several times, but it turned out that Ding Ding had brought her to the Li Family Manor. No wonder there were a few times when she seemed to have glimpsed Li Zhenting¡¯s figure in the Zhengsheng Apartment. It seemed he was escorting Xiao Xiao back. ¡°Well, be careful and don¡¯t wander around,¡± Shen Ning cautioned, regaining her composure. Xiao Xiao was also of the Li family bloodline. If she could visit here without being recognized, it might work! ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mommy, 1 will,¡± Xiao Xiao reassured in a hushed tone, holding onto Shen Ning¡¯s neck. ¡°Mommy, you have to be careful too. The ugly witch and the old witch both want to harm you.¡± Shen Ning felt her nose tingle and managed a smile as she gently ruffled Xiao Xiao¡¯s hair. ¡°I know, so you have to act like you don¡¯t know Mommy, okay?¡± With that, she took Xiao Xiao¡¯s hand and approached Ding Ding. She spoke softly to him, ¡°Ding Ding, your classmate is here. You should take good care of her and protect her.¡± Ding Ding immediately held Xiao Xiao¡¯s hand. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, 1 will.¡± Shen Ning smiled faintly. ¡°Xiao Xiao, welcome to play,¡± Li Zhenting said with a smile, extending his welcome. But Xiao Xiao looked at him with cold, dark eyes, showing clear indifference and unfamiliarity. Li Zhenting was somewhat helpless. This little girl seemed to hold a strong animosity towards him, and he couldn¡¯t figure out why! He had never offended her in any way. However, he had no intention of confronting a young girl over it. ¡°Daddy!¡± At that moment, Lan Lan, dressed like a little princess, ran towards Li Zhenting with open arms, calling out loudly in excitement. Li Zhenting smiled, feeling the warmth of his own daughter¡¯s affection. It was wonderful to have his daughter so attached to him! ¡°Lan Lan.¡± He bent down, extending his arms to embrace her. Lan Lan immediately wrapped her arms around Li Zhenting¡¯s neck and gave him a signature hug and a loud declaration, ¡°Daddy, 1 love you!¡± Li Zhenting chuckled heartily and lifted her high into the air. Lan Lan giggled with joy. Meanwhile, Xiao Xiao¡¯s big eyes remained fixed on them, filled with sadness and disappointment. She had always wanted a daddy, to be held high in his arms like Lan Lan. But she had never known what her daddy looked like. Finally, when she had found him, he was about to marry another woman, become someone else¡¯s daddy, and he was cold and distant towards her beloved mommy. Today, she had used her telepathy to read her daddy¡¯s thoughts. She realized he didn¡¯t love her mommy at all, he had someone else in his heart. After twirling Lan Lan around a few times, Li Zhenting gently set her down. Lan Lan beamed with happiness, looking at Xiao Xiao with an air of pride, as if to say, ¡°You don¡¯t have a daddy, you¡¯re just a wild child.¡± Xiao Xiao lowered her head, feeling utterly heartbroken. ¡°Xiao Xiao, come on, I¡¯ll take you to play,¡± Coco, empathizing with her, noticed Xiao Xiao¡¯s sadness and immediately took her hand, leading her outside. ¡°Ding Ding, I want to go too,¡± Lan Lan wanted to play with Ding Ding and followed along. But Coco¡¯s expression turned cold. ¡°No, you can¡¯t come with us. We have other things to do.¡± ¡°Ding Ding, what other things do you have? I¡¯m your sister. Why do you treat everyone else nicely and not me?¡± Lan Lan protested, feeling indignant. ¡°Because you¡¯re too troublesome, just like that ugly woman,¡± Coco replied without holding back, holding Xiao Xiao¡¯s hand, and the two of them swiftly left. Lan Lan pouted, standing there with teary eyes.. Chapter 163 - Chapter 163: She Must Think of a Way to Make Daddy Fall in Love with Mommy! Chapter 163: She Must Think of a Way to Make Daddy Fall in Love with Mommy! Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°Grandma!¡± Li Wanqing was in the study, doing embroidery, when Coco and Xiao Xiao rushed in. Their voices were sweet and adorable. ¡°Oh, Ding Ding, Xiao Xiao is here too,¡± Li Wanqing took off her glasses and looked at Xiao Xiao with a warm smile. ¡°It¡¯s been a while, and you¡¯ve grown taller.¡± ¡°Grandma, I missed you so much,¡± Xiao Xiao said with a sweet and tender voice that could melt hearts. She ran up and playfully punched Li Wanqing¡¯s leg with her tiny fist, while Coco joined in by giving her a shoulder massage. The two little ones were happily busy. ¡°You¡¯re such good children,¡± Li Wanqing said with a smile that couldn¡¯t be contained. ¡°My grandkids, what would you like to eat? Tell Grandma.¡± ¡°Grandma, we don¡¯t want to eat anything,¡± Coco shook his head, looking at Li Wanqing with an earnest face. ¡°We have a request, can we?¡± Li Wanqing was taken aback. These two little ones were so polite, they must want something from her. ¡°Tell me, and let¡¯s see if Grandma can help.¡± ¡°Grandma, I don¡¯t want to see the date when Daddy announces his marriage to Mommy today. 1 want to cancel it. I don¡¯t want Daddy to marry Mommy,¡± Coco said with determination, his face showing reluctance. Li Wanqing was surprised. This little guy had brought up this issue again. What was going on? Her own son didn¡¯t like his parents being together! Shen Mei, as a mother, seemed to be quite a failure in this matter. She must have failed terribly. ¡°Ding Ding, this is your Daddy¡¯s decision. Your Daddy is already grown up, and Grandma can¡¯t change that,¡± she sighed and patted his head gently. ¡°Why don¡¯t you want your Daddy and Mommy to be together?¡± Suddenly, Xiao Xiao spoke up, ¡°Ding Ding¡¯s Daddy doesn¡¯t like Ding Ding¡¯s Mommy, and Ding Ding¡¯s Mommy doesn¡¯t love Daddy.¡± Li Wanqing was stunned. She said, ¡°Xiao Xiao, you shouldn¡¯t say such things. Your Daddy and Mommy are happily living together. But Ding Ding¡¯s Daddy and Mommy can¡¯t be together unless they get married. Ding Ding¡¯s situation is different from yours. Children should not speculate about adult matters, understand? It¡¯s not right.¡± Xiao Xiao¡¯s eyes welled up with tears, and she lowered her head. ¡°Grandma, I¡¯m just like Ding Ding. I¡¯m even worse. I only have Mommy. I¡¯ve never seen Daddy, and now that I¡¯ve found him, Daddy doesn¡¯t love me.¡± Li Wanqing was taken aback and immediately picked up Xiao Xiao. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Xiao Xiao. Grandma didn¡¯t know about your situation. I shouldn¡¯t have said that to you. If you ever need Grandma¡¯s help, you can talk to me.¡± ¡°Thank you, Grandma.¡± Xiao Xiao leaned into Li Wanqing¡¯s embrace, sighing deeply. Perhaps talking wouldn¡¯t make a difference. Daddy really didn¡¯t love her Mommy. She had to find a way to make Daddy fall in love with Mommy! Li Wanqing glanced outside the window at the young men and women celebrating downstairs and shook her head. She had strongly disapproved of the party that Shen Mei had organized for her birthday. It was too noisy for her liking, so she had chosen to hide upstairs and do some embroidery. The Li family, despite being the wealthiest, had always valued frugality and discretion. She couldn¡¯t stand Shen Mei, who was so ostentatious and extravagant. Even with her own children, she couldn¡¯t take proper care of them. Li Wanqing genuinely disliked her. But her son liked her, and since Shen Mei had also given birth to a pair of twins, she had to turn a blind eye to Shen Mei¡¯s extravagance. Downstairs, Shen Ning was busy making coffee for the guests when her phone rang. She checked her phone and saw that it was Uncle Mali calling, so she immediately answered. At the moment, Uncle Mali was still unaware that Shen Ning had been pressured into signing the contract with the Lan Feiyun and Shen Mei. She dared not tell him, as he would surely be furious. ¡°Shen Ning, who allowed you to make a call?¡± Shen Mei stormed over, her anger evident in her voice, as she scolded Shen Ning loudly. Shen Ning had no choice but to hang up the phone and walk towards the coffee pot.. Chapter 164 - Chapter 164: Now Mommy Has Become a Cowardly Dog Chapter 164: Now Mommy Has Become a Cowardly Dog Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°Shen Ning, who allowed you to wear these clothes? Do you think you deserve them? You¡¯re using Ding Ding to create trouble in front of Zhenting, trying to grab all the attention. Do you think this will get you remarried to Zhenting? You know he doesn¡¯t love you, yet you still get close to Ding Ding. What exactly are you trying to do?¡± As Shen Mei¡¯s mind flashed with the image of Zhenting holding Shen Ning¡¯s hand, anger bubbled up inside her, bursting forth uncontrollably. Shen Ning, head lowered, quietly made coffee, not uttering a word. ¡°Shen Ning, I¡¯m warning you, stay away from Ding Ding, stay away from Zhenting. Better yet, find a way to leave this place immediately, or else, 1¡¯11 make sure Coco disappears.¡± Shen Mei gripped Shen Ning¡¯s arm fiercely, her voice growing more venomous with each word, especially as she leaned in close to Shen Ning¡¯s ear. Shen Ning cried out in pain. ¡°Stop it!¡± Just then, a stern voice echoed. Shen Mei¡¯s face changed color instantly, and she quickly released her grip, forcing a smile while still holding Shen Ning¡¯s arm, ¡°Sister, 1 was just playing with you, don¡¯t mind me.¡± She then turned around with a smile, ¡°Auntie, would you like some coffee?¡± Li Wanqing¡¯s face was stern as she spoke firmly, ¡°Shen Mei, Shen Ning was once my daughter-in-law and is now the psychological family teacher of my grandson. She is not only qualified to wear any clothes but also has every right to stay here. She has lived here for two years, taking great care of our family. She may not have merits, but she certainly has hard work. This villa was originally intended as a gift for her by us, and it will be hers in the future. So, there¡¯s no issue with her staying in her own place.¡± Shen Mei¡¯s eyes widened in shock, her face turning pale. This villa was to be given to Shen Ning? Then, what about her? What did she have left? To know that in the Capital, a place like Yunhu Residence, with its standalone seafront villa and lavish decoration, screams ¡¯expensive¡¯ in every corner. It¡¯s the most valuable property in the Li family Manor, with a price beyond estimation, and yet it was to be given to Shen Ning. This thought made Shen Mei¡¯s heart ache! She had plans to hold a grand wedding here! ¡°Shen Ning, you can stay here with Ding Ding without any worries. This place will eventually be yours. Ding Ding likes you, and that¡¯s your good fortune. Nowadays, society is deteriorating, wives who stay at home and abide by rules don¡¯t get their husbands¡¯ love, while mistresses get more arrogant and domineering. But you must believe that your efforts will eventually be rewarded. We will not let you down,¡± Li Wanqing patted her hand. Not just Shen Mei, even Shen Ning herself was taken aback for a moment. Li Wanqing was actually going to give this place to her. She couldn¡¯t believe it. Although Li Wanqing had been quite nice to her, this generosity was unexpected. ¡°Auntie, thank you for your kindness. Taking care of Ding Ding is something 1 willingly do. A salary is enough, nothing more is needed,¡± she said with a smile. ¡°You just listen to me, and everything will be fine,¡± Li Wanqing said with a smile and left before Shen Ning could reply. Shen Mei was left fuming, insulted and humiliated, her face turning pale as she stormed out. ¡°Yay, grandma is so mighty and imposing, she made the wicked witch turn pale,¡± Coco and Xiao Xiao clapped in delight, their faces blooming like chrysanthemums. ¡°Grandma is truly my hero. Now mommy is like a cowardly dog,¡± Coco expressed dissatisfaction with her mother¡¯s reaction. How could mommy be scolded like that by the wicked witch and not fight back? She had no right to be scolded! Coco really couldn¡¯t understand what was wrong with her mommy! Awhile later, the sound of fireworks erupted outside, signaling the moment to celebrate Shen Mei¡¯s birthday had arrived. Shen Ning picked up the coffee and headed towards the service area. Coco and Xiao Xiao also followed her out. In the VIP area, the fireworks were dazzling, and the atmosphere was lively. A red carpet stretched all the way to the seashore. Shen Mei, dressed in an elegant and luxurious gown, stood beside Li Zhenting, her face full of charming smiles, like a blooming peony, extremely eye-catching. Everyone was setting off fireworks, fooling around.. Chapter 165 - Chapter 165: We Want to Expose Her Chapter 165: We Want to Expose Her Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Li Zhenting, having spent some time with Shen Mei, grew bored and strolled toward a white chair on the beach. A young man with wildly unkempt hair, wearing an exquisite red suit, approached him, his waist twisting like a snake. ¡°Cousin, isn¡¯t that our former cousin-in-law?¡± Li Zhijun¡¯s gaze lingered on Shen Ning, his eyes sparkling like peach blossoms, a mischievous smile on his face. Li Zhenting cast a brief, indifferent glance at Shen Ning, then turned to Li Zhijun. ¡°Where¡¯s Huixian? Why didn¡¯t you bring her?¡± ¡°Oh, we¡¯re divorced now,¡± Li Zhijun replied, his eyes still fixed on Shen Ning¡¯s elegant figure, swallowing hard. ¡°She is quite stunning. Cousin, since she¡¯s no longer with you, I might as well try my luck.¡± He then walked towards Shen Ning, swaying seductively. Li Zhenting¡¯s eyes turned icy, a chill forming on his lips. ¡°Ningning, it is you!¡± Li Zhijun exclaimed, moving closer to her, his gaze softening. Startled, Shen Ning soon recognized Li Zhijun and smiled. ¡°Zhijun, hello. How¡¯s Huixian?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve become even more beautiful, Ningning,¡± Li Zhijun said, his eyes roving over her, barely listening to her words. Shen Ning shook her head, knowing his little cousin to be unreliable. She had heard about his divorce woes and wondered how he was faring now. After a brief exchange, she walked away, but Li Zhijun followed her like a shadow. ¡°Xiaoxiao, that ugly witch is going to play the piano later,¡± Coco whispered to Xiaoxiao under a tree. ¡°She can¡¯t play as well as Mommy. She¡¯s just showing off,¡± Xiaoxiao scoffed. ¡°Exactly, she can¡¯t really play. So, she set up a piano outside and let Mommy play inside, just for show,¡± Coco said, fuming. He had just found out from the housekeeper, Butler Luo, and was so annoyed he lost his appetite for snacks. ¡°Oh my, this is so infuriating, we can¡¯t let this go. We need to expose her, to show that she¡¯s faking, and then let Mommy play for everyone to see how outstanding she really is,¡± Xiao Xiao said, her teeth itching with hatred. ¡°Right, so, we need to find a way to reveal that ugly witch¡¯s true face to everyone,¡± Coco said, his eyes full of anger. It turned out that Li Zhenting¡¯s favorite piano piece was the challenging ¡®Moonlight.¡¯ Shen Mei, eager to please him, had practiced for a long time but still couldn¡¯t master it. Knowing that Shen Ning was proficient in this piece and played it beautifully, she planned to have Shen Ning play it backstage tonight, while she pretended to play in front of the stage, making Li Zhenting believe it was her performance. However, Butler Luo, upon learning of this, felt it was unfair to Shen Ning. When Coco visited him, Butler Luo shared this information with Coco. He thought that Young Master Ding Ding would surely tell the young master upon knowing this. After all, children don¡¯t lie, and this way, the young master would believe it too, thus avenging Shen Ning in a way. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, please raise your glasses. I will play the ¡®Moonlight¡¯ to enhance your enjoyment and wish you all a delightful time,¡± Shen Mei soon picked up a wireless microphone, her sweet voice floating in the night breeze. ¡°Great, great,¡± the crowd responded, raising their red wine glasses and shouting into the wind. With a smile, Shen Mei bowed deeply and walked toward the piano. Her slender fingers touched the pure white piano keys, and the notes poured out like heavenly music, winding and meandering, endlessly fascinating. Everyone quieted down, their raised glasses forgotten. Li Zhenting¡¯s ears twitched, and he sat up straight, his face showing surprise. This piece was Xiao Feng¡¯s favorite. During his time in the hospital, she had played it for him many times, bringing him light in the darkness. His face showed a touched expression. Just as everyone was captivated by the music, suddenly, a small figure ran towards Shen Mei.. Chapter 166 - Chapter 166: That Depends on Her Mood Chapter 166: That Depends on Her Mood Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°Mommy, 1 have a wonderful surprise for you. Come with me quickly,¡± Coco ran up to Shen Mei with a sweet, milk-like voice and a beaming smile. Shen Mei was pretending to play the piano, occasionally casting seductive glances at Li Zhenteng. She could see the tenderness welling up in his ink-black eyes, and she couldn¡¯t contain her joy. He would soon announce their wedding date, and many reporters had already arrived. It would be difficult for him to back out now. However, she didn¡¯t expect Ding Ding to approach at this moment. She smiled at Ding Ding and gestured for him to leave, not wanting to be disturbed. But Ding Ding blinked his big eyes as if he couldn¡¯t understand her, and instead, he reached out and took her hand, sweetly saying, ¡°Mommy, I¡¯ve prepared a birthday gift for you. Come on, follow me.¡± Without waiting for her agreement, he dragged her away. Even though Coco was only five years old, he had practiced martial arts, so he was quite strong. With a sudden tug, he pulled Shen Mei¡¯s arm away from the piano. She was wearing long, slender high heels, and as her entire body left the seat, her feet wobbled, causing her to fall to the ground. Everyone was left stunned. They had been expecting the piano to stop playing. But then, something strange happened. The beautiful piano music not only didn¡¯t stop, but it became even more passionate and moving, like a song and a cry. After a moment of bewilderment, everyone finally understood. Shen Mei had been pretending to play all along. The piano piece was just too beautiful, and everyone had forgotten to expose Shen Mei¡¯s act. The entire room remained in utter silence, captivated by the music. Li Zhenteng¡¯s face lit up with fascination as he stood up. Xiao Feng, it must be you! His emotions overwhelmed him as he rushed toward the backstage. Meanwhile, Shen Ning was lost in her playing, and beautiful scenes slowly unfolded in her mind. Suddenly, her head began to throb painfully. Li Zhenteng had just reached the backstage following the music when it abruptly stopped. Shen Ning, her hands cradling her head, sat in agony on the chair in front of the piano. ¡°Is it you? What are you doing here?¡± Li Zhenteng entered the backstage and was astonished to see Shen Ning, her face twisted in pain. Shen Ning¡¯s vision briefly darkened, and stars sparkled before her eyes. After a moment, she stood up and rushed outside. Li Zhenteng glanced at the piano stand and then at the amplifier. His face turned as dark as the sea, and he turned to leave. ¡°Hey, why did the music stop?¡± ¡°It was so beautiful! Who¡¯s the pianist?¡± ¡°It must be a master; we should ask her to continue playing.¡± As the audience emerged from their reverie, they began discussing animatedly. ¡°I know who it is,¡± Coco exclaimed, flashing a charming smile. ¡°Oh, Young Master Ding Ding, who is it?¡± The crowd looked at the cute and playful little guy, asking with amused smiles. ¡°It¡¯s my therapist, Miss Shen Ning,¡± Coco picked up the microphone, his voice sweet and soft, as he loudly replied, ¡°She¡¯s beautiful, gentle, kind-hearted, talented, and amazing.¡± ¡°Really? Can you please ask her to continue playing then?¡± The crowd was charmed by Coco and asked in unison, with smiles on their faces. Coco raised his innocent little face proudly and said, ¡°That depends on her mood. After all, this is such a challenging piece that not everyone can perform. If you want to hear more, you¡¯ll have to go to the theater and make a reservation.¡± ¡°So, Young Master Ding Ding¡¯s psychology teacher is so talented. Can you go and persuade her to continue playing for us?¡± The crowd teased him. Coco replied seriously, ¡°A gentleman has choices, I can¡¯t force anyone to do something against their will.¡± ¡°Haha,¡± the crowd burst into laughter, thoroughly entertained. ¡°Young Master Ding Ding is truly adorable.¡± At that moment, Li Zhenting walked through the crowd, his face grim, emanating an unsettling chill. The atmosphere grew heavy, and everyone stopped laughing.. Chapter 167 - Chapter 167: How Despicable! Chapter 167: How Despicable! Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°Zhenting,¡± Shen Mei rose to her feet, genuinely fearful, and looked at him with a seductive and imploring expression, her eyes filled with coquetry. But Li Zhenting didn¡¯t even glance at her. He picked up a wireless microphone from the side, his deep and commanding voice resonating with authority, ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, tonight¡¯s banquet ends here. Thank you all for coming.¡± It¡¯s ending now? Shen Mei¡¯s face turned deathly pale. The climax of her birthday banquet had not yet arrived. Originally, she had planned to finish playing this piece, move Li Zhenting with its heartfelt melody, and then announce their wedding date to the world as a matter of course. She had invited many reporters for this very purpose. But she had never expected Ding Ding to suddenly appear and ruin everything. ¡°Zhenting,¡± she gazed at Li Zhenting with teary eyes. However, Li Zhenting merely took Ding Ding¡¯s little hand and walked away. Shen Mei watched Ding Ding¡¯s receding figure, her fingers digging into her palm, her eyes flashing with a sinister coldness. This little troublemaker had repeatedly sabotaged her plans. If it weren¡¯t for him today, she should have been the happiest woman in the world right now. Her face was livid. Meanwhile, Shen Ning had taken refuge under the grapevine arbor in the garden. She had sat there for a while with her head in her hands before finally regaining her composure. While playing the piano just now, she had experienced a sudden illusion, accompanied by a severe headache. She didn¡¯t know why! But she felt deeply sad and in pain! After sitting in silence for a while, she got up and walked outside. ¡°Hurry up, I can¡¯t wait, I¡¯m dying here,¡± as soon as Shen Ning reached a dark corner by the pool, she suddenly heard the panting voice of a young man. ¡°Hey, why rush? 1 haven¡¯t even gotten in the mood yet,¡± soon, a woman¡¯s wanton voice followed. Shen Ning shuddered all over. At this moment, there were still men and women indulging themselves here, it was unbelievable. Moreover, the woman¡¯s voice sounded very familiar. Who could it be? She paused in her tracks. At that moment, the man panted again and asked, ¡°Little seductress, when are you going to transfer that villa into my name so we can get married?¡± ¡°Why the rush? That old man, Shao Wenbo, is getting suspicious of me now, always on guard against me. Let¡¯s wait a little longer, my dear,¡± the woman coquettishly replied, ¡°Let me empty the Shao family¡¯s coffers first, and then we can leave. Let¡¯s enjoy ourselves while we can.¡± Shen Ning¡¯s face turned pale with shock. It was actually Wu Lili, that despicable woman. She was having an affair with a younger man behind her uncle¡¯s back, but conspiring to take over the Shao family¡¯s wealth was beyond despicable! Her head felt hot, and she rushed over, shouting loudly, ¡°Wu Lili, you¡¯re truly wicked, doing such things here. I¡¯ll make sure to tell my uncle.¡± ¡°Ah!¡± The couple, in the midst of their tryst, were frightened and let out a scream. They scrambled to find their clothes in a panic. Shen Ning picked up her phone and started taking pictures. ¡°You wretch, it¡¯s you! You¡¯re asking for trouble,¡± Wu Lili wrapped a towel around her lower body and rushed out, only to find Shen Ning. Enraged, she charged towards Shen Ning. Shen Ning fought back, and the two of them exchanged blows. At that moment, the man, wearing only a towel, rushed out as well. When he saw Shen Ning, his eyes filled with malice. He lunged at her and threw her into the pool. Since her near-drowning incident six years ago, Shen Ning had developed a deep fear of water. She wasn¡¯t a strong swimmer to begin with, and being thrown into the water, she swallowed several mouthfuls of water. In the pool, she flailed and struggled, screaming for help. ¡°Oh no, someone fell into the water!¡± Fortunately, there were still people by the pool who hadn¡¯t left yet. They immediately shouted loudly.. Chapter 168 - Chapter 168: How Did He Suddenly Fall Into the Water? Chapter 168: How Did He Suddenly Fall Into the Water? Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation After splashing and struggling in the water for a few moments, Shen Ning¡¯s head began to pound, and her ears rang with a loud explosion. Her consciousness gradually blurred. The area where she fell into the water was a deep section of the pool, relatively less crowded. This was why Wu Lili and her lover had chosen it for their secret rendezvous. ¡°Ning Ning!¡± The first person to arrive was Li Zhijun, who splashed and jumped into the pool. In fact, Li Zhijun¡¯s eyes had been on Shen Ning all along. He had been waiting outside since she started playing the piano. However, when she rushed out from inside, a friend had pulled him away, and he lost track of where Shen Ning had gone. While he was searching, he heard someone shouting for help and rushed over, recognizing Shen Ning¡¯s voice immediately. Shen Ning¡¯s voice, he could pick it out in an instant. So, he jumped into the water without hesitation. When Li Zhenting arrived, Li Zhijun had just jumped into the water. It was just a swimming pool, so Li Zhenting stood by the edge, waiting for Li Zhijun to rescue Shen Ning before lending a hand. But what he didn¡¯t expect was that Li Zhijun, once he jumped into the deep end, suddenly experienced a leg cramp and began screaming in pain. Seeing that something was wrong, Li Zhenting immediately removed his coat and jumped in. ¡°Hurry, go save Shen Ning; she¡¯s already unconscious,¡± Li Zhijun shouted in pain as he swam towards the railing. Shen Ning? Li Zhenting was stunned upon hearing her name. How did she suddenly fall into the water? He dived into the water, quickly spotted Shen Ning lying unconscious on the pool¡¯s bottom, and cursed under his breath. He swiftly retrieved her and swam towards the pool¡¯s edge. ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± Several guests who hadn¡¯t left yet looked at the unconscious Shen Ning in astonishment and asked in confusion. Everyone shook their heads. As soon as Li Zhenting reached the shore, he placed Shen Ning¡¯s abdomen on his knees and administered firm back blows, successfully removing a significant amount of water from her stomach. He continued with artificial respiration until her face regained a healthier color, and then he rushed her to the hospital. ¡°Big brother, what should we do? Mommy fell into the water,¡± Coco cried out in distress. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Daddy has already rescued Mommy and taken her to the hospital. She¡¯ll be okay,¡± Coco reassured him, gently patting his back. ¡°But who pushed Mommy into the water?¡± Coco asked angrily. ¡°We don¡¯t know yet, but Daddy will find out eventually,¡± Coco said, holding Coco¡¯s hand. ¡°For now, let¡¯s head back home and visit Mommy tomorrow.¡± The disruption of tonight¡¯s banquet had already been more than enough! Taking advantage of the chaos, the two youngsters made their way outside and hopped into a sightseeing car to leave. The night was profoundly dark. In the hospital room, Li Zhenting was on the phone. ¡°Mr. Li, after reviewing the surveillance footage, we discovered that tonight, Wu Lili brought a man with her. They were engaged in an affair near the deep end of the pool when Shen Ning caught them. They got into a fight, and eventually, the man threw Shen Ning into the water,¡± Leng Xue reported. A cold glint flashed in Li Zhenting¡¯s eyes as he instructed, ¡°Notify the head of security that from now on, Wu Lili is not permitted to enter Li Mansion. Anyone who allows her entry will be dismissed.¡± ¡°Understood,¡± Leng Xue replied, then inquired, ¡°Mr. Li, would you like to report the man to the police?¡± ¡°No need,¡± Li Zhenting pondered for a moment and replied, ¡°It¡¯s just a swimming pool, even if we identify him, what can we do? Swimming pools are intended for swimming, after all. He was unaware that Shen Ning had a fear of water and couldn¡¯t swim. We won¡¯t be able to press many charges, and it would only draw more attention to the incident.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Leng Xue agreed and ended the call. Li Zhenting turned back to look at the hospital room. Shen Ning lay on the hospital bed, her face pale, her brows knitted in pain, and her expression filled with suffering. Li Zhenting turned around. Shen Ning lay on the hospital bed, her face pale and her eyebrows furrowed. Her face was filled with pain.. Chapter 169 - Chapter 169: Her Weakness Chapter 169: Her Weakness Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Li Zhenting¡¯s heart inexplicably clenched, and the beautiful Moonlight played in his ears, casting a veil of doubt over his gaze. Shen Ning could actually play that piece! The Moonlight was a highly skilled composition, something that would be beyond the reach of someone with limited expertise or lacking natural talent. In his impression, Shen Ning had always been an incredibly ordinary woman. He had never heard of her playing the piano. This revelation took him completely by surprise! Strangely, he found that Shen Ning resembled a calm surface hiding deep, unseen whirlpools beneath. She seemed to carry many secrets within her. This sparked an unexpected curiosity in him, a desire to unravel the mysteries she held. ¡°No, bitch, don¡¯t harm me,¡± suddenly, Shen Ning tightly clutched her clothes over her chest, crying out in agony. He blinked in confusion. ¡°Don¡¯t kill me, please, don¡¯t kill my child,¡± she cried out again in her dream, tears streaming down her face. Li Zhenting froze. Did she have a child? Was she going mad with thoughts of a child? Regardless, her frail body and tormented expression tugged at his heartstrings. His fingers involuntarily brushed over her face, seeking to soothe her pain. Suddenly¡­ A sharp ¡°slap¡± resounded as Shen Ning abruptly sat up and slapped him hard across the face. Li Zhenting was momentarily stunned, and when he regained his senses, he was furious. How dare she strike him! He raised his hand to retaliate but then saw her descend once more into the depths of anguish, crying out continuously. ¡°Damn woman,¡± he muttered angrily, ¡°I¡¯ll settle the score with you once you¡¯re awake.¡± He touched his face and stormed out in frustration. The Shen Family. ¡°Mom, my plans got ruined by Shen Ning and Ding Ding again today. If this keeps happening, Zhenting won¡¯t marry me,¡± Shen Mei complained. ¡°You¡¯re always causing trouble. Why did you let Shen Ning play the piano for you? It was unnecessary,¡± Lan Feiyun scolded her daughter, clearly frustrated. ¡°Mom, Zhenting loves that particular piece. If 1 could play it for him, he¡¯d surely fall in love with me, and then I wouldn¡¯t have to worry about anything,¡± Shen Mei wiped her tears with a tissue, sobbing. Lan Feiyun was so frustrated she stomped her foot. ¡°My dear, this time you had Shen Ning stand in for you. What about next time when he asks you to play it? You can¡¯t keep going to Shen Ning for help. This is something you can¡¯t fake, and do you really think he¡¯ll fall in love with you just because of that song? You¡¯re too naive. I¡¯ve told you before, he¡¯ll only truly love you if you bear his child. Everything else is just deception. Why do you always complicate things?¡± Shen Mei listened in silence, wiping her tears. ¡°Mom, what should we do next?¡± she asked anxiously after a while. ¡°Next, we can only focus on the child,¡± Lan Feiyun, a schemer, replied. ¡°That little brat Ding Ding causes trouble every time. I want to deal with him first,¡± Shen Mei¡¯s eyes burned with anger at the thought of Ding Ding. ¡°No,¡± Lan Feiyun immediately shook her head. ¡°Ding Ding is the young master of the Li family. If anything happens to him, we¡¯ll have to face Li Zhenting. With his capabilities, he could expose us in no time. But if it¡¯s Keke, things won¡¯t be as easy for him. Right now, the most crucial thing is to drive Shen Ning away, make her leave the capital and Li Zhenting forever. That¡¯s the key. So Keke is her weak point.¡± ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right,¡± Shen Mei nodded in agreement. The darkest hour before dawn. Shen Ning abruptly opened her eyes. She sat up quickly, her eyelids twitching.. Chapter 170 - Chapter 170: There’s Still That Slap of Revenge! Chapter 170: There¡¯s Still That Slap of Revenge! Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°Auntie Dong, we need to pack up and leave here immediately,¡± Shen Ning took a taxi back home and woke up Auntie Dong. Auntie Dong asked in surprise, ¡°Miss, what¡¯s going on? It¡¯s so early, where can we go?¡± ¡°Yes, Coco is in danger now. Let¡¯s leave first. I¡¯ve already booked an apartment in the suburbs,¡± Shen Ning replied urgently as she started packing. Auntie Dong realized the seriousness of the situation and didn¡¯t ask further questions. She joined in the packing. Half an hour later, Shen Ning woke up Coco and Xiaoxiao. ¡°Mommy, it¡¯s still dark outside. Where are we going?¡± Xiaoxiao, with her eyes barely open, asked in a drowsy tone. ¡°We¡¯re moving to the countryside,¡± Shen Ning kissed her on the cheek and lifted her up. The little one was chubby and soft, radiating a special kind of comfort that warmed Shen Ning¡¯s heart. As long as her children could stay safe by her side, she wasn¡¯t afraid of any fatigue or hardship. Coco was okay with the idea of moving to the countryside; he was even happy about it. He busied himself helping with the packing. A little while later, the family of four disappeared into the mist of the early dawn. It was nine in the morning. Li Zhenting was in his office, reviewing data and going through documents. His phone rang. It was a call from Ding Ding. ¡°Daddy, is Teacher Shen feeling better today? Did you go see her?¡± Ding Ding was concerned about Shen Ning, especially after she had passed out in the pool last night. Li Zhenting was momentarily surprised. This kid seemed quite caring about her. He couldn¡¯t recall the last time he received such concern from him. ¡°She¡¯s fine,¡± he replied casually. ¡°Did you go visit her?¡± Ding Ding asked with a hint of worry in his childlike voice. Visit her? Li Zhenting couldn¡¯t help but feel irritated. Last night, he inexplicably got slapped by her at the hospital. He had saved her life, so why should he be slapped? And now, she wanted him to visit her? She must be dreaming. However, after a pause, he said, ¡°Kid, I¡¯ve already visited her. You can focus on school.¡± ¡°Okay, thank you, Daddy,¡± Ding Ding politely hung up the phone. Li Zhenting was a bit surprised. This usually arrogant and conceited boy was unexpectedly polite today. He suddenly felt restless. Perhaps he should go and see Shen Ning. He couldn¡¯t ignore his son¡¯s concern for her. After all, the child cared deeply about her, and it wouldn¡¯t be right to deceive him. Besides, he didn¡¯t seem to mind the idea of seeing her again, especially after that slap. He stood up, grabbed his briefcase, and walked briskly towards the door. But when he arrived at the hospital, he realized that Shen Ning had already been discharged. She was gone! That woman. He would remember that slap, and there would be a reckoning! He muttered angrily and left. Shen Family. ¡°What did you say? Shen Ning moved?¡± Lan Feiyun was visibly shocked. ¡°Yes, we went to Blue Sky Kindergarten today, but we didn¡¯t see Coco coming for school. Later, we went to Zhengsheng Apartments and waited all morning. We didn¡¯t see anyone from Shen Ning¡¯s family coming out. Finally, we asked the property management and found out that Shen Ning had checked out early in the morning,¡± a middle-aged man on the other end replied. ¡°Checking out doesn¡¯t change anything. Unless she leaves the capital city and never comes back, 1 will find her and her son,¡± Lan Feiyun sneered, instructing, ¡°Keep a close eye on them. Report to me immediately if you have any updates, and money is not an issue.¡± ¡°Yes, Mrs. Shen,¡± the voice on the other end confirmed before hanging up. ¡°Mom, do you know where this despicable woman has moved to?¡± Shen Mei was visibly nervous upon hearing that Shen Ning had moved away. Her face was cold as she asked the question.. Chapter 171 - Chapter 171: She Had a Careful Plan Chapter 171: She Had a Careful Plan Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°No matter where she moves, she won¡¯t leave the capital city,¡± Lan Feiyun scoffed, ¡°Ding Ding is her son, and she will definitely use him for something. You need to be cautious.¡± ¡°Mom, what if she moved back to that white mansion? After all, we¡¯ve already returned it to her,¡± Shen Mei suggested. ¡°Is she that foolish? Moving there would be the same as moving right under our noses,¡± Lan Feiyun shot her daughter an exasperated look. ¡°You¡¯re not a child anymore; use your brain. No wonder you haven¡¯t been able to handle Li Zhenting all this time.¡± Shen Mei pouted. ¡°We can¡¯t blackmail her anymore now. She¡¯s become quite cunning, not the same as she was six years ago. You need to be careful,¡± Lan Feiyun warned as she tapped her daughter¡¯s forehead. ¡°Remember, these three days are your ovulation period. It¡¯s a crucial opportunity. If you get pregnant, you won¡¯t have to fear anything.¡± Shen Mei blushed at the mention of pregnancy and nodded shyly. It was 7 o¡¯clock in the evening. Ding Ding sat on the sofa, eagerly awaiting his mother. He hoped that his mommy would come to keep him company. Last night, mommy had fallen into the swimming pool, and he wasn¡¯t sure if she was feeling better today. He knew that Daddy didn¡¯t really care about mommy, so there was no way Daddy would go to see her. He needed to see mommy with his own eyes to feel at ease. Today, he had ordered many supplements online and had them delivered to his bedroom. When mommy arrived, he planned to give them to her to help her recover. ¡°Big brother, are you waiting for Auntie here?¡± A little while later, Lan Lan came down in her fancy pajamas and sat next to him. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Ding Ding asked with displeasure. He was waiting for mommy, and Shen Ning wasn¡¯t her mommy. What was Lan Lan doing here? ¡°I want to wait for Auntie with you, and I want to play games with you guys,¡± Lan Lan said cheerfully. Ding Ding shrugged. Well, Lan Lan had been behaving better these days and wasn¡¯t as bossy or difficult. If she wanted to stay, he didn¡¯t mind! The two little ones sat in a row on the sofa, watching TV and waiting for Shen Ning to arrive. ¡°Ding Ding, Lan Lan, it¡¯s time for you to go back to your rooms and sleep early,¡± a little while later, Shen Mei came downstairs with a stern expression. ¡°No,¡± both little ones replied in unison. Shen Mei¡¯s face darkened. ¡°It¡¯s already dark outside, and you have to go to kindergarten tomorrow. It¡¯s time to go to bed.¡± This time, she was quite strict with Lan Lan. Lan Lan pouted. ¡°Mommy, it¡¯s too early. I can¡¯t sleep.¡± Ding Ding strongly opposed, ¡°It¡¯s not even 7 o¡¯clock yet. I want to wait for Teacher Shen to come and teach me. I don¡¯t want to go to sleep.¡± ¡°Classes?¡± Shen Mei sneered. ¡°What kind of classes do you think she can give you? She¡¯s just brainwashing you to dislike me as your mommy. Let me tell you, she won¡¯t come tonight. Stop waiting and go to sleep.¡± That wretched woman had already moved out, so there was no way she¡¯d come over at night! ¡°No, she comes every night. She¡¯ll definitely come today,¡± Ding Ding firmly believed that mommy would come to be with him, so he refused to go to bed. Lan Lan also didn¡¯t want to sleep so early; she couldn¡¯t fall asleep anyway. So, the two little ones sat there without moving. Shen Mei was furious. Tonight, she had a well-thought-out plan. She intended to spend a romantic night with Li Zhenting. She had already instructed the kitchen to prepare his favorite dishes and had them delivered to her bedroom. She also had a bottle of Ferrari red wine ready. Li Zhenting was on his way home in his car. When she called him earlier, he readily agreed. She was ecstatic, confident that she would succeed in her plan tonight. Thinking about the intimate moments they would share, she felt her heart filled with anticipation. She couldn¡¯t tolerate the two little brats ruining her perfect evening plans.. Chapter 172 - Chapter 172: This Was Also The Problem She Was Most Afraid Of Chapter 172: This Was Also The Problem She Was Most Afraid Of Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°Ding Ding, Lan Lan, I¡¯m counting to three. If you don¡¯t go to bed, you¡¯ll see what I¡¯ll do to you,¡± Shen Mei yelled angrily and savagely. Lan Lan had never seen her mother so furious, and she was suddenly scared. She stood up and tried to pull Ding Ding with her to go upstairs. But Ding Ding didn¡¯t want to; their mommy hadn¡¯t arrived yet. ¡°Ding Ding, if you don¡¯t listen, I¡¯ll lock the villa¡¯s main gate, and your teacher won¡¯t be able to come in anymore,¡± Shen Mei said coldly and ruthlessly. Hearing this, Ding Ding also got scared and reluctantly muttered, ¡°Hateful,¡± then allowed Lan Lan to pull him upstairs. Shen Mei finally felt satisfied, glanced at her watch, and realized that Li Zhenting would be back soon. She hurriedly went upstairs to dress up. Li Zhenting returned home around half-past seven. As soon as he entered the living room, he noticed that the lights in the hall were ail off, and only the nightlight in the corridor was on. There was no sign of the housekeepers, servants, or even their two children. Normally, at this time, Ding Ding would be sitting on the couch playing, and Lan Lan would shout ¡°Daddy¡± and run towards him with open arms, laughing. But now the whole house felt eerie and gloomy, creating an unsettling atmosphere. He furrowed his brow and started heading upstairs. As he reached the landing, a captivating fragrance filled the air, incredibly alluring. ¡°Zhenting.¡± Shen Mei was standing at the corridor entrance, eagerly welcoming him with shining eyes. She ran over and clung to his arms, her face adorned with a dazzling and coquettish smile. ¡°Meimei, let go.¡± The woman¡¯s soft body pressed tightly against him, brushing sensually against him, and the intoxicating fragrance grew increasingly potent. Li Zhenting was momentarily dazed, lost in a haze of desire, but he quickly snapped back to reality and pushed her away. ¡°Zhenting, you must be hungry, right? I¡¯ve prepared a lavish dinner for you.¡± Shen Mei paid no attention to his rejection. Instead, she took his arm and led him to her room. In the bedroom, the soft pink lights swayed, and the enchanting fragrance hung in the air. Li Zhenting had to take several deep breaths to stabilize his emotions. When he finally looked up, he almost sprayed blood from his nose. Before him, the woman was wearing a sheer nude-colored gown adorned with diamonds, exuding a seductive and alluring charm. Her entire body shimmered, especially certain sensitive areas that tantalizingly peeked through. Any normal man, at this moment, would willingly submit to her allure, consequences be damned. Shen Mei smiled faintly, her eyes filled with seduction and coquetry as she occasionally appraised Li Zhenting. Tonight, this dress was her secret weapon to capture him. She believed she would successfully captivate him. However, her disappointment came swiftly. After taking a few deep breaths, Li Zhenting pushed her hand away, his expression indifferent. She would never understand that what Li Zhenting truly loved was not this kind of seductive and provocative allure, but rather a connection of souls. Especially after this period of time, his favorable impression of her had plummeted to its lowest. ¡°Shen Mei, please sit down. 1 came here today with something to ask you.¡± Li Zhenting¡¯s expression remained stoic as he led her to sit on the sofa. ¡°Zhenting, what¡¯s the matter?¡± Shen Mei¡¯s face slightly changed, but she continued to ask with great coquetry. ¡°Shen Mei, there¡¯s something I¡¯ve wanted to confirm all along, and 1 hope you can be truthful about it,¡± Li Zhenting¡¯s voice grew solemn as he slowly began. This was the reason he had agreed to see her tonight. As Shen Mei listened to the man¡¯s indifferent tone, an inexplicable chill washed over her, and her romantic allure waned. Nevertheless, she maintained her appearance of meekness and compliance. ¡°Zhenting, go ahead. I promise to be completely honest,¡± she cooed. ¡°Good.¡± Li Zhenting nodded and suddenly asked, ¡°Shen Mei, I have to ask you, when my eyes were injured that year, did you really save me and take care of me all that time? Was that girl really you?¡± Shen Mei was taken aback, never having imagined that he would bring up this question. It was also the question she dreaded the most. ¡°I¡­¡± Her face turned pale, and she stammered.. Chapter 173 - Chapter 173: Blame Me For Loving You Too Much Chapter 173: Blame Me For Loving You Too Much Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°To be honest, I want to hear the truth,¡± Li Zhenting¡¯s eyes were fixed on her, his tone as cold as ice. ¡°You should know my character.¡± ¡°Zhenting, I¡­ I¡­¡± Shen Mei was at a loss for words, her nerves on edge. ¡°Shen Mei, I¡¯ve already agreed to marry you, not because you were the girl who saved me and took care of me, but out of duty and responsibility. After all, you¡¯ve already given birth to a son and a daughter for me. For the sake of the children¡¯s happiness, as long as you can treat them well and raise them, I will fulfill my promise. Actually, today 1 just want to confirm if you¡¯re being honest. If you don¡¯t tell the truth, it means you¡¯re not being transparent with me, and our engagement can only be canceled. It depends on your attitude,¡± Li Zhenting spoke slowly. Back then, when he learned that the girl was Shen Mei, he was filled with excitement and fondness for her. But as time passed, he increasingly felt that she was not that girl. Love is sensitive and delicate, only those who truly love can feel it. Shen Mei was too different from that girl in many aspects. However, he was unwilling to accept it and wanted to confirm why she pretended to be that girl to deceive him. Like last night, even though she couldn¡¯t play the piano piece, she had Shen Ning pretend to be her and play it, which was clearly deception. He stared at her with a dark gaze. Shen Mei gradually calmed down from her initial panic. Li Zhenting¡¯s attitude was as she had expected. She had always been afraid that Li Zhenting would expose this secret and abandon her, but now it seemed that she had won. The more candid he was, the more it indicated that he had truly let go of that past relationship and was ready to face reality. After all, she was the mother of his two children. ¡°Zhenting, please forgive me,¡± she lowered her head, her fingers nervously twisting the hem of her sheer dress, tears of remorse streaming down her face. ¡°It¡¯s my fault. I loved you too much. That night, you were drunk and kept asking if I was Xiaofeng. I knew she was your true love, the woman in your heart. But at that moment, I didn¡¯t want to see you in so much pain, and I wanted your love so badly that I admitted it. But afterwards, you never asked me about it again, and 1 forgot about it too.¡± She pressed her body close to him, entwining her fingers with his, her voice as gentle as can be. ¡°Zhenting, please come out of it. People have to move forward. She¡¯s already gone. Even if it¡¯s hard for you, you have to think about Ding Ding and Lan Lan. They¡¯re still young and need a father¡¯s love. Besides, I love you so much that I¡¯m willing to die for you. You have to believe that I won¡¯t be any less than her.¡± She spoke while discreetly studying the man¡¯s face, tears flowing incessantly. ¡°Zhenting, who hasn¡¯t had ignorant youthful feelings in the past? Let¡¯s forget the past. In the future, let¡¯s be loving and create a perfect family. That¡¯s better than anything,¡± Shen Mei leaned into his embrace, sobbing softly. Li Zhenting¡¯s face remained expressionless as he slowly helped her up and said, ¡°You focus on taking care of the children. The wedding will proceed as scheduled.¡± He stood up and walked away. ¡°Zhenting¡­¡± came Shen Mei¡¯s tearful voice from behind. Ding Ding was standing at the door of his bedroom. When Li Zhenting came over, he saw a tiny figure sitting by the door, huddled with knees drawn to the chest, looking very lonely and isolated. His heart tightened. ¡°Ding Ding, what are you doing sitting here?¡± he asked in surprise. ¡°Mommy forced me and Lan Lan to go to bed, but I just want to wait for Teacher Shen,¡± Ding Ding spoke in a small voice. Li Zhenting was taken aback and quickly asked, ¡°Teacher Shen didn¡¯t come?¡± ¡°No, she definitely drowned in the water yesterday,¡± Ding Ding replied, his lips pouting, his eyes reddened. He no longer had his real mommy! How miserable! Chapter 174 - Chapter 174:I Just Want Mommy to Accompany Me Chapter 174:I Just Want Mommy to Accompany Me Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°Not true,¡± Li Zhenting¡¯s handsome face darkened. ¡°Daddy saved her and took her to the hospital. She¡¯s perfectly fine.¡± ¡°You¡¯re lying,¡± Ding Ding vehemently argued, ¡°She comes to be with me every night. Why isn¡¯t she here today? It¡¯s clear that she has already drowned.¡± Ding Ding pouted, tears streaming down one after another. Li Zhenting, seeing his heartbroken appearance, couldn¡¯t help but feel both amused and exasperated. He reluctantly took out his phone and tried to call Shen Ning. However, after several attempts, it kept saying that her phone was switched off. He furrowed his brows. Did this woman have no manners left? Clearly, it was her time to be with Ding Ding now, and not only did she not show up, but she also didn¡¯t even take leave. What did she take him for? ¡°I told you, she¡¯s already dead,¡± Ding Ding, convinced that Shen Ning was gone since his dad couldn¡¯t find her, burst into louder sobs, his little nose twitching. ¡°Ding Ding, Daddy promises you, she hasn¡¯t died,¡± Li Zhenting said, also feeling helpless, resorting to making a solemn oath. But Ding Ding didn¡¯t believe him at all, he just cried even harder. Just when Li Zhenting was at his wit¡¯s end, they suddenly heard hurried footsteps from downstairs. Li Zhenting¡¯s face couldn¡¯t help but show a hint of joy. Despite the urgency in the footsteps, he instantly recognized them as Shen Ning¡¯s. ¡°Ding Ding.¡± Shen Ning was drenched in sweat after a busy day of moving. The suburban location was quite a distance away, and the road conditions weren¡¯t great, with traffic jams delaying even the taxi. She rushed up and saw Ding Ding with tear-stained cheeks, looking at her. His bright, starry eyes melted her heart instantly. She hurried over precisely because she was afraid Ding Ding might be waiting for her. Indeed, her son had been waiting for her. His unwavering affection touched her deeply. ¡°Auntie,¡± Ding Ding, with his incredibly adorable face, finally broke into a genuine smile. He reached out his hands towards her and said, ¡°You didn¡¯t die, Auntie.¡± Shen Ning was taken aback and rushed to embrace him. ¡°Auntie is perfectly fine. How could Auntie die? Auntie will find a way to stay alive for Ding Ding¡¯s sake.¡± She meant every word. For the sake of her children, she would do everything in her power to stay alive and protect them from harm. As Ding Ding¡¯s small body nestled into her arms, he became quiet and obedient. Shen Ning had no resistance to his charms. She picked him up and headed towards the bedroom, whispering gently, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ding Ding. There was heavy traffic today, which caused a delay. I¡¯ll make sure to arrive on time next time.¡± ¡°Auntie, you have to come every day. I can¡¯t sleep without seeing you,¡± Ding Ding¡¯s voice was sweet and tender, with a hint of lingering melody. Shen Ning¡¯s heart melted into a puddle. She placed Ding Ding on the sofa, pinched his nose, and softly replied, ¡°You¡¯re a little man now. It¡¯s not good to depend on someone to sleep. It¡¯s a bad habit.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care. 1 just want Mommy to be with me,¡± Ding Ding whispered softly in Shen Ning¡¯s ear. Shen Ning smiled sweetly. Suddenly, a cold beam of light hit her, and she raised her eyes to find Li Zhenting standing there with a cold expression. However, she only gave him a brief glance before getting busy with her tasks. Li Zhenting watched them, their mother-and-son-like interaction, with a pensive look. ¡°Auntie, can you stay tonight and sleep with me?¡± After a while, he also went to the bathroom to take a bath. When he came out, he saw Shen Ning sitting by Ding Ding¡¯s bedside, engaged in conversation. Ding Ding, with his little face held high, earnestly made the request.. Chapter 175 - Chapter 175: Can This Guy Be Normal? Chapter 175: Can This Guy Be Normal? Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°No, Auntie has to go home,¡± Shen Ning smiled and shook her head. ¡°No, I want you to stay,¡± Ding Ding started to hold her hand and shake it in a playful manner. Shen Ning was about to refuse, but when she raised her eyes, she saw Li Zhenting walking out of the bathroom. The man¡¯s bathrobe was slightly open, revealing his muscular chest and strong eight-pack abs, a symbol of strength all over his body. She couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit flustered and quickly averted her gaze. There was no way she could stay. Ding Ding was supposed to sleep with Li Zhenting, and she certainly didn¡¯t want to share a room with this devil. ¡°Daddy, please? Let Auntie stay and sleep with me for one night,¡± Ding Ding turned to his father to plead. lie believed that the reason Mommy didn¡¯t agree was because Daddy, this big villain, was not good to Mommy. Therefore, he decided to ask Li Zhenting for permission. Shen Ning looked at him coldly. This man had no fondness for her at all, so he would definitely refuse. This way, Ding Ding would give up. But Li Zhenting stood by and quirked his lips, ¡°Ding Ding, it depends on whether your teacher Shen is willing or not.¡± ¡°Then Daddy agrees!¡± Ding Ding heard this and immediately burst into laughter, sitting up and looking at Shen Ning. ¡°Auntie, Daddy agreed, so stay and sleep for one night, okay?¡± Shen Ning was stunned! Could this man be any more unpredictable? Wasn¡¯t he supposed to firmly oppose this? This was completely unexpected! ¡°Mummy, please, stay,¡± at this moment, little Ding Ding nestled his small head in her embrace, clinging to her and refusing to let her go. He whispered his plea in her ear. Shen Ning was now both anxious and helpless. In this situation, with one man and one woman, even though there was a child present, what difference was there between sharing a room with a man? She couldn¡¯t! But Ding Ding had made up his mind not to let her leave. He held onto her clothes and wouldn¡¯t let go. ¡°Go ahead, how much does it cost to accompany the child for a night?¡± Li Zhenting, now leaning against the desk with his arms crossed, added fuel to the fire. ¡°You¡­ despicable,¡± Shen Ning was infuriated. Did he think she was doing this for money? Li Zhenting smiled slyly, ¡°I¡¯m flexible, you figure it out.¡± Shen Ning gritted her teeth, ¡°I¡¯ll stay, but you get out.¡± She was more than willing to be with the child, but if he wanted to be involved, she was sorry, she didn¡¯t like that idea. Li Zhenting¡¯s face turned cold, and he sneered, ¡°Do you think I¡¯m willing?¡± With that, he turned and walked towards the study. Shen Ning saw him leave and immediately ran over to lock the bedroom door. She and Ding Ding exchanged glances, and suddenly, both of them smiled at each other, raising their hands and clapping each other¡¯s palms. Ding Ding handed his phone to Shen Ning, and she took it. They began to call Coco and Xiao Xiao. In reality, Shen Ning¡¯s new home was a bit far from the Li manor. Auntie Dong was concerned about her safety on the way back and forth and was happy for her to stay. So, with the agreement of Coco and Little Ding Ding, Shen Ning had no qualms about taking a bath and getting ready to accompany Ding Ding to sleep. Late at night, after Li Zhenting added some work hours in his study, he opened the bedroom door. Inside the bedroom, Ding Ding was sleeping in Shen Ning¡¯s embrace, and she had her arms wrapped around him. The two of them, one big and one small, were intimate and slept soundly, resembling a mother and child. For a moment, he stood there in a daze. The night light outside the window cast a faint glow into the room, illuminating the sleeping woman¡¯s face. It was a small and delicate face, with exquisite features whether looked at individually or as a whole. Her skin was like snow, but her eyebrows were tightly knitted, as if burdened with a lot of thoughts and worries. He felt a faint sense of pity deep down and couldn¡¯t help but reach out his fingers to smooth her eyebrows, gradually relaxing them. At this moment, he suddenly realized that he still had some feelings for his ex-wife.. Chapter 176 - Chapter 176: A Woman Who Doesn’t Know What’s Good For Her Chapter 176: A Woman Who Doesn¡¯t Know What¡¯s Good For Her Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation The next morning, Ding Ding woke up with a big smile. He had slept deeply and comfortably that night, and when he woke up, his eyes were bright and he seemed exceptionally energetic. It was the first time that Li Zhenting and Shen Ning went together to drop him off at kindergarten. He was so thrilled, shedding his usual aloof demeanor. He stood tall, with his chest puffed out, and he looked lively and spirited. No longer did he envy others who had both their parents to pick them up, because now he had that too. ¡°Auntie, can you and my dad pick me up from school together?¡± Children are indeed greedy. After having both his mom and dad drop him off at school, the feeling was too wonderful to give up. He hoped that his mom and dad could also pick him up after school. Shen Ning looked at the child¡¯s hopeful and bright eyes, feeling a pang in her heart as she thought of Keke and Little Ding Ding. She turned her head away. Over at the Blue Sky Kindergarten, parents were gathered in groups, and children were in clusters, but she couldn¡¯t see Coco and Xiao Xiao anymore. Her eyes welled up with tears. ¡°Get in the car.¡± At some point, Ding Ding had already entered the kindergarten, and Li Zhenting drove the car up to where she was, his magnetic voice low and deep. Shen Ning turned to look at him. Indeed, which child wouldn¡¯t want to be picked up by their mom and dad? But her three children had never experienced this kind of affection that most ordinary children easily had. Under Li Zhenting¡¯s repeated urging, she got into the car, her expression distant. Li Zhenting took her to a five-star hotel¡¯s dining hall. ¡°Ding Ding has changed a lot lately, and you deserve credit. Today, I want to treat you to breakfast as a reward,¡± Li Zhenting said, showing unusual approval as they sat down in a quiet and elegant corner of the restaurant. ¡°No need, it¡¯s what I should do,¡± Shen Ning replied with a calm expression. She stood up, ready to leave. She didn¡¯t want to have breakfast with this wealthy man in such a fancy hotel. Li Zhenting had never been turned down by a woman before, and Shen Ning¡¯s clear rejection left him feeling embarrassed. He furrowed his brow and ordered, ¡°Shen Ning, please sit down. Let¡¯s have breakfast first.¡± Shen Ning still didn¡¯t sit down and turned to walk away. Li Zhenting looked displeased. He wondered how happy Shen Mei would be if she were here instead. This woman was acting overly proud. ¡°It¡¯s just breakfast. Why are you so reluctant? If it weren¡¯t for Ding Ding, do you think I would have breakfast with you?¡± He was irritated and his tone was filled with coldness and sarcasm after being rejected. Shen Ning gave a cold smile. If he didn¡¯t want to, she didn¡¯t care! She confidently walked away, not giving him a second thought. Li Zhenting sat there with a dark expression. The woman¡¯s firm departure made him feel abandoned for the first time in his life. A woman who didn¡¯t appreciate what she had. He angrily got up, grabbed his briefcase, and left. Shen Ning was briskly walking towards the bus stop when suddenly a car came rushing from behind. ¡°All!¡± She screamed in terror, her face turning pale, and she instinctively covered her head with her hands, crouching down. The car passed by her closely, with only a fist¡¯s distance to spare. ¡°You lunatic!¡± When Shen Ning lifted her head, she saw Li Zhenting¡¯s car speeding past her. She could almost see his dark and gloomy face through the window. She couldn¡¯t help but stand up, curse under her breath, pat her chest, and take a few deep breaths before continuing towards the bus stop. In the afternoon, she was still busy at work when Li Zhenting called. He reminded her that they had promised to pick up Ding Ding together after school in the morning. This time, Shen Ning didn¡¯t refuse and obediently got into his car.. Chapter 177 - Chapter 177: Why Do You Look Like This? Chapter 177: Why Do You Look Like This? Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Li Zhenting had a stern face and a foul mood. As Shen Ning got into the car, he remained silent. Before she could even settle down, he vindictively started the car, almost causing Shen Ning to fall inside. Shen Ning pressed her lips tightly and gave him a cold look. She found it odd; why was this man so angry? Wasn¡¯t it because she had refused to have breakfast with him in the morning? But that should have suited his preferences, and he should have been pleased. Why was he wearing such a scowl? However, she didn¡¯t care much. This man was known for his unpredictable moods. ¡°Daddy, Auntie!¡± As they approached the kindergarten, Shen Ning saw the little guy standing at the school gate with his backpack, waving and calling out in excitement upon spotting Li Zhenting¡¯s luxury car in the distance. A warm smile appeared on Shen Ning¡¯s face, and her heart felt full of warmth. Even before the car had come to a complete stop, she opened the door and ran towards Ding Ding, arms wide open. She embraced him tightly. Mother and son shared joyous smiles and exchanged affectionate kisses before walking hand in hand towards Li Zhenting¡¯s luxury car. Li Zhenting sat in the driver¡¯s seat, observing them with a cold gaze. Shen Ning¡¯s face radiated with a brilliant smile, a genuine expression from the depths of her heart. She smiled as she bent down to listen to her child¡¯s chatter. Meanwhile, Ding Ding gestured and chatted animatedly, their heads often coming close together in hushed conversation. Although Li Zhenting had nothing but disdain for Shen Ning, deep down, he was still quite shaken at this moment. Ding Ding had truly changed, like a completely different person. In the past, Ding Ding used to be distant, hardly spoke, and was cold to everyone. Sometimes, he even had tantrums. But now, although he could still be cool sometimes, when he was with Shen Ning, he would laugh and chat warmly. Even the household staff praised Ding Ding for being much more polite. There was no sign of any depressive symptoms in him anymore; he had transformed into a cheerful and optimistic child. This was something Li Zhenting could never have imagined before. The fact that a child could undergo such a significant change in such a short time made him realize that he shouldn¡¯t underestimate Shen Ning. Soon, Shen Ning and Ding Ding got into the car. Li Zhenting started the car and glanced through the rearview mirror. Shen Ning and Ding Ding were chatting and laughing in the back seat. Shen Ning would occasionally ask Ding Ding about interesting things that happened at kindergarten, and Ding Ding would describe them earnestly. Shen Ning listened patiently, offering comments from time to time. They were all smiles. Whenever they encountered issues of principle, Shen Ning would promptly point them out, and Ding Ding would earnestly heed her advice. Since they got in the car, apart from addressing him as ¡°Daddy¡± once, Ding Ding acted as if Li Zhenting didn¡¯t exist. Li Zhenting had a stern face. This little rascal, Ding Ding, if it weren¡¯t for the fact that he had the exact same face as his, he would have doubted if Ding Ding was really his biological child! After dinner, to his surprise, Ding Ding suggested that Shen Ning should leave first. Li Zhenting raised an eyebrow in curiosity, and sure enough, he saw Ding Ding and Shen Ning whispering to each other. Clearly, they had made a plan beforehand. He snorted in response. Shen Ning quickly said her goodbyes and left, her footsteps hastening as she thought of Coco and Xiaoxiao. On the second floor, Li Zhenting stood by the floor-to-ceiling glass window in his study, watching Shen Ning¡¯s graceful figure as she walked away with a small bag on her back. He narrowed his eyes and took out his phone, dialing Leng Xue¡¯s number. ¡°Mr. Li.¡± ¡°Leng Xue, I want you to investigate Shen Ning¡¯s life in detail for the past six years. The more detailed, the better.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± After taking a bus and then hailing a motorcycle taxi by the roadside, Shen Ning finally got off the motorcycle ten minutes later. The driver dropped her off in front of a semi-new, somewhat run-down apartment building. As Shen Ning got off the motorcycle and reached into her bag to find her keys and access card, ¡°Ning Ning.¡± Suddenly, a man¡¯s voice came from behind her. Shen Ning was startled, her hand trembling, causing her keys to fall to the ground, and her face turned pale.. Chapter 178 - Chapter 178: A Huge Secret Chapter 178: A Huge Secret Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°Ning Ning, so you¡¯ve moved here,¡± said Li Zhijun as he swayed his hips, raised his fingers with a playful grin, and revealed a smug look as if he had uncovered a secret. Shen Ning¡¯s face turned pale. ¡°Zhijun, how did you discover this place?¡± She had just relocated here, and within a day, Li Zhijun had already found her. This left her feeling quite uneasy. ¡°I tracked you, plain and simple,¡± Li Zhijun¡¯s eyes sparkled with mischief, and he sported a charming smile that showcased two deep dimples. ¡°Why are you following me?¡± Shen Ning asked with clenched teeth, wanting nothing more than to get rid of this man. He seemed like a spoiled playboy who didn¡¯t understand the difficulties of life and resorted to stalking women. ¡°Ning Ning, I tracked you because I care about you a lot. Truth be told, I¡¯ve liked you for a long time. Even when you were my cousin¡¯s wife, 1 wished I could straighten him out. He didn¡¯t know how to appreciate someone as precious as you. Your marriage to him was a real injustice,¡± Li Zhijun expressed with a touch of regret in his eyes, adopting a more serious tone. Seeing that he didn¡¯t appear to have any malicious intent, Shen Ning inquired, ¡°Apart from you, does anyone else know about this place?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m the only one who knows. 1 only recently found out,¡± Li Zhijun replied, shaking his head. Shen Ning let out a sigh of relief, about to send him on his way and ensure he wouldn¡¯t return. But then, the front door of the apartment swung open from the inside. ¡°Mama!¡± Coco exclaimed with excitement as he rushed toward Shen Ning, his arms wide open. Shen Ning was taken aback. Li Zhijun was equally surprised. ¡°Little Ding Ding,¡± he exclaimed, looking at Coco with a face full of astonishment. Shen Ning had brought young Master Ding Ding here. The place hid such a significant secret, which explained why she had been so panicked when she saw him. ¡°Who are you?¡± Coco, with a wary expression, rushed into his mama¡¯s embrace, revealing half of his face to scrutinize the strange figure before him. ¡°I¡¯m Ding Ding, don¡¯t you recognize me? I¡¯m your cousin, truly, absolutely.¡± Li Zhijun looked at Coco with a deep sense of surprise in his eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t know any cousin. Go away. This place isn¡¯t welcoming for you, and you can¡¯t bother my mama,¡± Coco said with determination, clenching his small fist. Mama? Li Zhijun was thoroughly bewildered. Wasn¡¯t Ding Ding Shen Mei¡¯s child? Why was he calling Shen Ning ¡°Mama¡±? Even he, who considered himself mentally agile, was now in a fog, unable to make sense of it all. ¡°Coco, go back home for now. Mama will come up in a little while,¡± Shen Ning said in a hushed tone, gently pushing him and urging him to return home. She had lost her composure. Coco had spent the entire day cooped up at home, feeling restless since he hadn¡¯t gone to kindergarten. When he finally spotted Mama returning on the balcony, he rushed out with excitement. However, to his surprise, he found Mama tangled up with a flamboyant man. This didn¡¯t sit well with Coco at all. He turned to face Li Zhijun, stuck out his tongue, and made a silly face. Waving his little fist, he warned, ¡°If you dare to bully my Mama, I¡¯ll make sure you¡¯re picking up your teeth from the ground.¡± With that, he even demonstrated some mock martial arts moves. Li Zhijun stood there, utterly dumbfounded, watching the little boy¡¯s defiant departure. Though Coco bore an uncanny resemblance to Ding Ding, his behavior and demeanor were worlds apart. ¡°Shen Ning, what¡¯s going on here?¡± Li Zhijun couldn¡¯t contain his curiosity and suspicion and directed his questioning gaze at her as soon as Coco left. Shen Ning hesitated for a moment, as if she had made a decision. She clenched her teeth and said, ¡°Zhijun, come with me.¡± She led Li Zhijun towards his luxury car. Both of them got into the car.. Chapter 179 - Chapter 179:I Will Definitely Keep Your Secret Chapter 179:I Will Definitely Keep Your Secret Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°Zhijun, there¡¯s something 1 want to tell you, but you must promise not to tell anyone, including your aunt and all your relatives,¡± Shen Ning pleaded tearfully, her hands clasped in the car. ¡°If you can¡¯t promise, please leave now, and consider today as if you¡¯ve seen nothing. Don¡¯t involve yourself in my affairs anymore. I¡¯ll be grateful to you.¡± As she spoke, she suddenly leaned against the back of the car seat and burst into tears. Li Zhijun felt at a loss. In his entire life, he had never been in a situation like this. He was torn between curiosity and uncertainty, unable to figure out how to respond. However, the woman¡¯s distressed expression made him more certain than ever that Shen Ning was facing difficulties. A surge of chivalry rose within him. ¡°Ning, don¡¯t worry. I will definitely keep your secret. If you¡¯re facing any difficulties, just tell me, and I¡¯ll do my best to help you,¡± he reassured her gently, patting her back. He had always held affection for Shen Ning. He had even heard rumors that she had died after being abandoned by her cousin, which had deeply saddened him. Although she was still alive, her current living conditions, as evidenced by this semi-old, remote apartment, were undoubtedly bleak. ¡°Then swear to the heavens,¡± Shen Ning said, wiping away her tears and pointing to the sky outside, her voice filled with doubt. ¡°I, Li Zhijun, swear to the heavens. If I break my promise and betray your trust, 1 shall be struck by heavenly retribution, and my soul will find no peace.¡± Shen Ning watched him take the oath, finding his commitment fierce. Given the circumstances, she had no choice but to take this gamble and trust him. In reality, even if she didn¡¯t trust him, he had already discovered Keke¡¯s secret, and there was no way to hide it any longer. Instead of waiting for him to reveal it, she decided to tell him herself, hoping to seek his assistance. So, she briefly explained her situation to him. ¡°Oh my goodness, Shen Ning, you¡¯re incredibly noble,¡± unexpectedly, Li Zhijun exclaimed, looking at Shen Ning in amazement. ¡°So you¡¯ve given birth to triplets for my cousin. He¡¯s incredibly lucky. If it were me, I¡¯d be overjoyed.¡± ¡°Hey, remember the oath you took,¡± Shen Ning nervously reminded him when she saw his exaggerated expression. Li Zhijun chuckled and then became serious, showing even more admiration for Shen Ning. ¡°Shen Niece-in-law, you could have chosen to reveal the truth. Although my cousin may not love you, he definitely loves the children. He wouldn¡¯t neglect Keke and Xiaoxiao.¡± ¡°No,¡± Shen Ning, with a pale face, shook her head vigorously. ¡°If I could tell him, 1 would have done so long ago. I can¡¯t let him know about the children. You should know, I have nothing in this life except Keke and Xiaoxiao. If your cousin finds out, he¡¯ll definitely take my children away. He¡¯s a devil. 1 can¡¯t lose my children. And that wicked woman, Shen Mei, won¡¯t spare my children either.¡± As she spoke, Shen Ning began to cry in despair, holding her head. ¡°Oh dear, don¡¯t cry. Don¡¯t worry, 1 won¡¯t say a word, and I¡¯ll even help you,¡± Li Zhijun said hastily, feeling flustered when he saw a woman cry. He couldn¡¯t imagine how much suffering and injustice she had endured over the years. His conscience compelled him to lend her a hand. ¡°If you ever say anything, I¡¯ll be on my deathbed, and you can take a knife and finish me off,¡± Li Zhijun solemnly swore to the heavens. Shen Ning couldn¡¯t help but smile at his words. ¡°Fine, for now, you¡¯re the only one who knows. If this leaks out, I¡¯ll come looking for you.¡± Shen Ning finally wiped away her tears.. Chapter 180 - Chapter 180: Extremely Shameless! Chapter 180: Extremely Shameless! Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°Alright, if I break my promise, you can punish me however you like. Come on, quickly wipe your tears, and take me to see my little nephew and niece,¡± Li Zhijun offered a tissue and tried to help Shen Ning wipe away her tears. Shen Ning snatched the tissue back and glared at him. ¡°Why the rush? If you can¡¯t keep a secret, 1¡¯11 really use that knife on you.¡± Li Zhijun chuckled. He couldn¡¯t believe that an unintentional act of tracking had dragged him into a child custody battle. Later, he deeply regretted it, regretted tracking her today. Even if he had tracked her, he should have left immediately instead of delving into this secret. Li Zhijun cursed his curiosity, which had led him down this path. In the days that followed, Li Zhijun visited Coco and Xiaoxiao every day, buying them various toys and treats. Before long, he and Coco had formed an unbreakable bond, calling each other ¡°brothers,¡± and they had a blast together. Seeing that Li Zhijun not only kept the secret but also got along well with Coco, Shen Ning was pleased and relieved. She managed her life by juggling work, taking care of Ding Ding, and spending time with her son and daughter. It was tiring but peaceful. One day, while she was working in her office, the receptionist informed her that there was a woman outside looking for her. She was taken aback, and before she could respond, she heard the sound of high heels in the corridor. Following that, a female employee chased after her, saying, ¡°Miss, please wait. You haven¡¯t obtained approval from our Manager Shen yet.¡± ¡°What Manager Shen? She¡¯s just a despicable woman,¡± the woman¡¯s voice was sharp and dripping with contempt. Shen Ning¡¯s nerves immediately tensed up, and her face changed color as she looked coldly towards the door. Soon enough, a woman dressed provocatively, Wu Lili, appeared at the office entrance. ¡°Shen Ning, I¡¯ve come to reclaim the Shaw family property,¡± Wu Lili spoke with extreme hostility as soon as she saw her. Shen Ning asked coldly, ¡°What property?¡± Wu Lili sneered, ¡°Quit pretending. Shen Mei and her daughter have already transferred that white mansion to you. That mansion was originally Shen family property. Your grandmother gave it to your mother back then. Now that your mother has passed away, I¡¯m here to take it back.¡± It took Shen Ning a moment to process, and she realized that the property Wu Lili was referring to was the white mansion, her mother¡¯s dowry. She was here to seize the family property! Her anger surged. Last time, she could give her the bank card her grandmother had given her, but this white mansion was her mother¡¯s dowry. Why should she give it back? This was beyond audacious! ¡°Wu Lili, did you have too much radish for dinner last night? Did you dream of striking it rich? My mother¡¯s dowry, after so many years, you want it back? What kind of audacious person are you? Why do you deserve it? When my mother was at the Shaw family, you were probably hiding in some corner, so why do you think you can take it back now? After you get it back, are you planning to give it to your little gigolo?¡± Shen Ning¡¯s voice was stern and direct. Thinking about Coco being beaten by her and the ugly affair between her and the gigolo at the Li ancestral castle, she was infuriated. ¡°You¡¯ve done so many despicable things, and 1 haven¡¯t even told my uncle yet. You dare to come here and target my mother¡¯s dowry? Do you really think I¡¯m an easy target?¡± ¡°Hmph,¡± Wu Lili smirked shamelessly, ¡°Shen Ning, your mother emptied the Shaw family back then. Isn¡¯t it fair for me to reclaim the mansion? Let me tell you, Shen Ning, you better transfer the mansion to me obediently. Otherwise, 1 can make you suffer.¡± With a sinister smile, she took a few steps closer, speaking in a low voice, ¡°Is your son Coco still doing well? He looks exactly like Ding Ding, unmistakably Li Zhenting¡¯s son. Now, all I need to do is inform Li Zhenting about this, and do you think you¡¯ll still have custody of Coco? Be wise, transfer the mansion to me promptly, or i¡¯ll ensure you lose your son in no time..¡± Chapter 181 - Chapter 181: She Already Had Two Children Chapter 181: She Already Had Two Children Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Shen Ning¡¯s body trembled with rage. ¡°Rubbish, there¡¯s no such thing, get out!¡± she shouted angrily, slamming her fist on the table. ¡°Someone, throw this wretched woman out and never let her step into Gu Qi again.¡± Soon, two security guards rushed in. ¡°Hurry and get rid of her,¡± Shen Ning barked loudly. The two guards grabbed Wu Lili like she was a small chicken and threw her outside. ¡°Shen Ning, you wait, I will make you regret this, you despicable woman!¡± Wu Lili, thrown out by the guards, shouted angrily while clapping her hands. It turns out, Wu Lili had been secretly observing after revealing Coco¡¯s information to Lan Feiyun and her daughter. She realized they dared not tell Li Zhenting about Coco, merely using it as an opportunity to blackmail Shen Ning. She also thought of exploiting this chance for a windfall. Just then, Shen Ning had taken back a white mansion. Wu Lili immediately set her sights on it, but to her surprise, this time, Shen Ning did not fall for her tricks. Could it be that Shen Ning no longer cared about Coco? Or had she reached some agreement with Shen Mei and her daughter? Wu Lili got up from the ground and walked away, seething with hatred. In the leisure area of the Li Corporation. Li Zhenting, bare-chested, was practicing boxing. Sweat trickled down his tight chest in straight lines. Meanwhile, Leng Xue entered the room. ¡°Mr. Li, Shen Ning¡¯s records from six years ago in America are still a blank, as if deliberately hidden.¡± Li Zhenting punched the sandbag hard, swinging it against the wall before it bounced back violently. He twisted his fists, sweat running down his temples. ¡°Why would that be?¡± he asked, frowning, his eyes sharp. ¡°Two possibilities,¡± Leng Xue analyzed calmly. ¡°Either Shen Ning was an illegal immigrant with no records, or someone deliberately hid her identity. If it¡¯s the latter, it¡¯s the work of a skilled hacker.¡± Li Zhenting¡¯s eyes gleamed sharply. If it¡¯s the second scenario, besides Jing Chenxi, he couldn¡¯t think of anyone capable of hiding Shen Ning¡¯s identity. But why would Jing Chenxi do that? There was only one reason: they had some shameful secret between them. His eyelids twitched as he heard Leng Xue continue, ¡°Mr. Li, while we couldn¡¯t find anything about Shen Ning¡¯s time in America, we did find some information about her after she came to the capital. According to my investigation, she already had two children, about four or five years old, while living in Zhengsheng Apartments.¡± Li Zhenting, about to drink a bottle of vitamin water, suddenly shuddered, dropping the bottle. Water splashed everywhere. ¡°Are you saying Shen Ning is married with children?¡± His face darkened, teeth clenched. ¡°It¡¯s unclear if she¡¯s married, but the children are definitely hers,¡± Leng Xue replied. Li Zhenting paused, a cold smile forming on his lips. No wonder her life in America for six years was a blank slate. In that time, she had children for another man. Considering the children¡¯s ages, the timing was just right. It seemed likely that the children were Jing Chenxi¡¯s. Now, with Jing Chenxi engaged to the daughter of a shipping magnate, Shen Ning having children would be a scandal needing cover-up. His eyes flashed coldly as he waved a hand, ¡°Leave it be. That¡¯s enough for this matter.¡± A woman who had children with another man, no matter who she was, was no longer of any concern to him. In his eyes, such a woman was dirty. Leng Xue acknowledged and left. Li Zhenting, suddenly feeling restless, grabbed a towel and headed towards the outdoor swimming pool. By the pool, he took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and leaped into the water. Chapter 182 - Chapter 182: The Person She Loves the Most Is You Chapter 182: The Person She Loves the Most Is You Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Jinyuan Cemetery. Shen Ning knelt in front of her mother¡¯s gravestone, tears streaming down her face. ¡°Mom, I¡¯m sorry, but I have to take Coco and Xiao Xiao away from the city for now. I¡¯ll have to delay seeking revenge for you. Please understand, 1¡¯11 definitely make things right for you, but at the moment, there are some bad people after Coco, and I need to protect my children,¡± she said, her fingers touching the gravestone, her heart heavy. Even if she did everything she could to regain what was rightfully hers, she was outnumbered and had to face reality. That shameless woman, Wu Lili, had come to the company to use Coco as a bargaining chip to demand her mother¡¯s dowry, and the Lan Feiyun and Shen Mei were also targeting Coco. These malicious women wouldn¡¯t spare her and the kids. For the safety of her children, she had to temporarily leave the city and find another opportunity to seek justice for her mother. She believed her mother would understand. Flowing Light Cafe. Jing Chenxi sat by the window, casually sipping his coffee while glancing at his phone. After a while, a stylishly dressed woman with a designer bag walked in. ¡°Mr. Jing, you¡¯re looking even more handsome,¡± Shen IVIei said as she sat down beside him, giving him an alluring smile and trying to flatter him. Jing Chenxi furrowed his brow slightly, a trace of annoyance crossing his face as he asked, ¡°Miss Shen, what¡¯s the reason for inviting me out today?¡± Shen Mei smiled faintly, ¡°Mr. Jing, I want to ask you if you¡¯d like to marry my sister?¡± Jing Chenxi retorted coolly, ¡°Whether I want to marry your sister or not has nothing to do with you. Did you meet me today just for this?¡± ¡°Yes, I want to help you,¡± Shen Mei nodded. Jing Chenxi smirked, ¡°Put away your little schemes. My affairs don¡¯t concern you.¡± He stood up to leave. Shen Mei hurriedly stopped him and asked, ¡°Mr. Jing, are you thinking of giving up on my sister now? If so, you will regret it.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Mr. Jing, you and my sister are a perfect match, and you love each other. You¡¯ve missed your chance once, and if you miss it again, you¡¯ll regret it for the rest of your life.¡± A hint of worry flashed in Jing Chenxi¡¯s eyes, and he said coldly, ¡°Your sister¡¯s heart belongs to your fiance, Li Zhenting. She has never loved me. Regret and pity are useless. But I will love her forever and keep her in my heart. That¡¯s our love, something a shallow person like you wouldn¡¯t understand.¡± He turned to leave. ¡°Mr. Jing, why don¡¯t you fight for her instead of keeping your love hidden in your heart? It must be so painful,¡± Shen Mei spoke from behind, ¡°In truth, my sister¡¯s true love is you.¡± Jing Chenxi¡¯s steps halted, and he turned back, asking, ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°I said, my sister¡¯s true love is you. Trust me, she has always deeply loved you, but she has her reasons and doesn¡¯t want to confess her feelings to you,¡± Shen Mei replied urgently. Doubt clouded Jing Chenxi¡¯s eyes, ¡°Shen Mei, you need evidence to back up your words. Don¡¯t make baseless claims.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not making baseless claims.¡± Shen Mei smiled and took out a diary from her bag, ¡°This is a diary my sister wrote over the years. A diary is where a person¡¯s true feelings are revealed. Take a look, and you¡¯ll know if I¡¯m lying.¡± Jing Chenxi¡¯s eyes brightened, and he reached for the diary, casually flipping through it. A trace of joy crossed his face as he carefully stashed the diary into his briefcase. He said, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go back and read it. If it¡¯s true, I¡¯ll owe you a favor.¡± He turned and walked away. Shen Mei¡¯s fingertips played with her hair in front of her chest, a sly smile curling on her lips.. Chapter 183 - Chapter 183: Coco Is Missing Chapter 183: Coco Is Missing Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Inside the apartment, ¡°Mommy, are we going to leave here soon?¡± Coco was in the midst of disassembling a toy car, sweating profusely. Lately, Li Zhijun had given him lots of fun toys, and he was having a great time with them. Shen Ning was also busy tidying up things nearby, also perspiring. ¡°Yes,¡± Shen Ning smiled faintly, ¡°We¡¯re going back to the United States first, and after some time, we¡¯ll come back to visit Grandma.¡± Coco stopped disassembling the toy car, blinked his big eyes, and after thinking for a while, he ran over with a tissue to wipe the sweat off Shen Ning¡¯s forehead. In a childish voice, he asked, ¡°If we leave, what will happen to Uncle Zhijun?¡± In these few days, he had developed a deep bond with Li Zhijun. Now that they were about to leave, he felt a bit disheartened and missed him. Shen Ning caressed the little one¡¯s face, ¡°Uncle Zhijun¡¯s home is here. He can only stay here. Our home is not here, so we have to leave. People can only stay together if they¡¯re close relatives or family. Otherwise, it can¡¯t be forced, okay?¡± ¡°But Uncle Zhijun is our relative too,¡± Coco replied with disappointment. He had never had anyone treat him so well, and he really liked Uncle Zhijun. ¡°But he¡¯s not our close relative. He has his own life. If we force ourselves to stay with him, what about his family, parents, wife, and children? They wouldn¡¯t be happy,¡± Shen Ning patiently explained. ¡°Okay,¡± Coco reluctantly agreed. Shen Ning quickened her pace. After a while, she finished her chores at home, booked a flight for tomorrow, and then went to bid farewell to Gu Qi and Uncle Mali. But just as she arrived at Gu Qi¡¯s office to clean up her things, her phone suddenly rang. She picked it up and saw that it was a call from Auntie Dong. Her heart inexplicably skipped a beat, and she immediately answered it. ¡°Miss, something terrible has happened! Coco is missing,¡± Auntie Dong cried as soon as she answered the phone. Shen Ning¡¯s face turned pale, but having experienced a similar situation before, she remained calmer and managed a reassuring smile. ¡°Auntie Dong, please don¡¯t panic. Wasn¡¯t Coco playing with his toy car at home?¡± ¡°Yes, he was. But shortly after you left, he took the assembled toy car and went downstairs to the community to play with Xiaoxiao. Within less than half an hour, Xiaoxiao came back in a panic, saying that Coco had been tricked by several men in black near a car. They used a sack to take him away,¡± Auntie Dong sobbed, her voice breaking. ¡°I immediately rushed down to look for him, but I searched the entire apartment complex and couldn¡¯t find Coco. Miss, please come back quickly. Coco is in real trouble this time.¡± After finishing her explanation, she burst into tears. Hearing this, Shen Ning felt her vision blur and almost collapsed. ¡°All right, Auntie Dong, please don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll be back right away,¡± she reassured and hung up the phone. From her home to Gu Qi¡¯s place, only about two hours had passed, and yet this had happened. If it was true, her plan was too slow. Those people were ruthless. Thinking of her son falling into the hands of those wicked individuals, she felt like all the energy had been drained from her body. Her legs were weak, and her vision darkened. ¡°Coco!¡± she cried, tears streaming down her face, and she rushed outside. After finally managing to hail a taxi and get back home, she saw Auntie Dong running around downstairs, shouting for Coco. Auntie Dong¡¯s once neatly arranged white hair was now disheveled in the wind, presenting a tragic scene. At this moment, Shen Ning¡¯s heart felt like it was being whipped, and she was bleeding internally. ¡°Auntie Dong!¡± She ran towards Auntie Dong, and as soon as Auntie Dong heard her voice, she rushed towards her. Auntie Dong embraced her tightly, tears flowing freely. ¡°Miss, you¡¯ve finally come back..¡± Chapter 184 - Chapter 184: Who Do You Think I Am? Chapter 184: Who Do You Think I Am? Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°Auntie Dong, please don¡¯t worry. Maybe Coco went to play somewhere else and will come back soon,¡± she whispered, trying to console the distressed Auntie Dong. ¡°No, it¡¯s different this time. He won¡¯t come back,¡± Auntie Dong shook her head repeatedly, her voice filled with anguish. ¡°Xiao Xiao saw him being abducted by two men in black with his own eyes.¡± Shen Ning¡¯s eyes turned icy, and she said softly, ¡°In that case, Auntie Dong, you go upstairs to take care of Xiao Xiao. 1¡¯11 go talk to the property management.¡± Xiao Xiao must be terribly frightened right now! With tears in her eyes, Auntie Dong nodded and slowly made her way upstairs. Shen Ning immediately contacted the property management and explained Coco¡¯s disappearance. They took it seriously and dispatched several security guards to search the community. The apartment complex wasn¡¯t large, but they couldn¡¯t find any trace of Coco. They also reviewed the surveillance footage, but there were no suspicious individuals entering the community. ¡°Miss Shen, it¡¯s only been three to four hours since your child went missing, and we haven¡¯t seen any suspicious individuals entering the community. I suggest you check nearby places first. It hasn¡¯t been twenty-four hours yet, so the police won¡¯t take action,¡± the property manager advised seriously. Without hesitation, Shen Ning rushed outside. ¡°Coco, Coco!¡± she cried out as she frantically searched the area around the community. Soon, in a secluded overgrown area next to the community, she found a small car lying there. She hurried over, picked it up, and recognized it as the toy car Coco had been playing with earlier in the morning. The car appeared to have been dropped forcefully, with two of its wheels missing. ¡°Coco, Coco!¡± she cried out in anguish. But there was only silence among the rustling leaves. She took out her phone and snapped a photo of the scene before rushing back home. ¡°Xiao Xiao, take a look. Is this the place where those two men took Coco?¡± Shen Ning showed Xiao Xiao the photo she had taken with her phone. Xiao Xiao only glanced at it and tearfully nodded. ¡°Xiao Xiao, please tell Mommy what happened. How did this happen?¡± Shen Ning anxiously asked, wiping away her daughter¡¯s tears. Xiao Xiao choked up as she spoke, ¡°Mommy, I don¡¯t know what happened. Coco and 1 were playing in the community. He was playing with his toy car, and I was jumping rope. Suddenly, Coco¡¯s car went outside the railing. He ran to pick it up, and when I turned around to look, I saw two men in black clothes putting Coco into a big sack and throwing him into a car. 1 shouted loudly, but the two men jumped into the car, and it drove away.¡± As Xiao Xiao finished her account, she burst into tears. Winter Aunt also started crying. Shen Ning stood there in shock, feeling anxious, panicked, and in pain, all flooding her heart at once. She felt like the world was spinning. The thought of Coco falling into the hands of those ruthless criminals twisted her heart like a knife. She stood there with her phone, feeling lost and not knowing what to do. Despair and fear overwhelmed her, making her feel dizzy. Suddenly, she remembered something and immediately dialed a number. ¡°Ningning, what¡¯s going on?¡± Li Zhijun was in a bar singing karaoke and playing mahjong with a group of wealthy kids when he saw Shen Ning¡¯s call. He picked up immediately. ¡°Li Zhijun, let me ask you, did you tell anyone about Coco¡¯s secret and our address?¡± Shen Ning¡¯s voice was hoarse as she questioned. Li Zhijun was taken aback. ¡°Ningning, what do you take me for?¡± ¡°But do you know what? Coco is missing now, and 1 can¡¯t find him anymore,¡± Shen Ning shouted uncontrollably. ¡°Since 1 moved here, you are the only one who knows this address..¡± Chapter 185 - Chapter 185: Please Don’t Hurt the Child Chapter 185: Please Don¡¯t Hurt the Child Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Li Zhijun was dumbfounded. He immediately dropped the mahjong tiles in his hand and stood up, saying, ¡°Ningning, what on earth happened? Please explain it clearly.¡± So, Shen Ning recounted the entire story of Coco¡¯s disappearance. Li Zhijun listened and rushed out. ¡°Hey, Zhijun, we all came because you invited us. You can¡¯t just ditch us like this,¡± a few guys shouted in annoyance. ¡°If you¡¯re going to flirt, at least bring us along.¡± Li Zhijun paid no attention to them. At the Deji Apartment, ¡°Ningning!¡± When Li Zhijun arrived, Shen Ning was sitting on the sofa, huddled, her hands on her head, motionless. He rushed over. ¡°Zhijun.¡± Shen Ning lifted her head, her face pale, her gaze vacant. The sweat on her forehead had soaked her hair into a messy tangle. She looked disheveled, distressed, and anxious. ¡°Coco is missing, taken by those bad people.¡± She slapped her head with both hands, ¡°It¡¯s my fault for not taking care of him.¡± ¡°Ningning, don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve got this.¡± Li Zhijun was inspired with a heroic spirit by the woman¡¯s agony. He firmly grabbed her hand and assured her, patting his chest, ¡°Please trust me. Even if 1 have to sacrifice myself, I won¡¯t betray you guys.¡± ¡°Zhijun, if something happens to Coco, I don¡¯t want to live anymore,¡± Shen Ning murmured, looking at him. Li Zhijun¡¯s face turned serious. ¡°Don¡¯t say that. Coco is so clever and smart; how could something happen to him? Don¡¯t panic. I¡¯ll contact the police right away.¡± He called a buddy at the police station. The buddy was very loyal and immediately drove over in a police car. Shen Ning¡¯s heart finally settled a bit. The police detectives investigated but found that the area where Coco went missing was a blind spot in the surveillance cameras. They couldn¡¯t discover any suspicious leads, making it incredibly difficult to solve the case promptly. Time was of the essence, and every minute counted! Shen Ning once again fell into a state of anxious agony, tears streaming down her face. Little Xiaoxiao was terrified, her face pale from her brother being taken away by bad people, and she couldn¡¯t stop crying. Auntie Dong was also in tears, the entire family overwhelmed by grief. Li Zhijun, whose heart had always been wild and carefree, felt a deep pang of sorrow at this beautiful girl¡¯s unfortunate situation. Watching her on the verge of breaking down, he genuinely worried if she could hold herself together. But he himself felt utterly helpless. Later, they all split up to search, but even after the sun had set, there was no trace of Coco to be found. Exhausted and defeated, they returned home, collapsing on the couch, too worn out to even cry. Suddenly, in the midst of the silent air, the sound of a cell phone rang out. It was the notification sound for a text message. Shen Ning quickly sat up, grabbed her phone, and opened a message. Her face turned pale, and her hands shook. The message said, ¡°We have your child. Don¡¯t call the police. If you want your child back, bring one billion dollars, and then we can talk. Otherwise, we¡¯ll harm the child.¡± Shen Ning cried out, ¡°Coco, my poor Coco!¡± She dialed the number back, but it was already turned off. Li Zhijun took her phone and said angrily, ¡°These ruthless criminals have no decency left.¡± Shen Ning started sending messages desperately, ¡°Please, don¡¯t hurt the child. He¡¯s only five years old. I¡¯ll agree to any terms. Tell me where to bring the money, and I¡¯ll do it.¡± She continued to send messages, begging them not to harm Coco. But there was no response from the other side. With determination, Shen Ning stood up and rushed outside.. Chapter 186 - Chapter 186: Only One Person Can Help Yon Chapter 186: Only One Person Can Help Yon Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Li Zhijun held onto Shen Wing¡¯s arm and said, ¡°Ning Ning, stay calm. This isn¡¯t the time to panic.11 Shen Ning responded in distress, ¡°Can I really stay calm? Coco is just five years old/1 her heart aching ar rhe thought of her child in danger. ¡°In moments like this, we need to keep our wits about us,¡± advised Li Zhijun as he paced around the living room. After a while, he stopped in front of Shen Ning, his expression serious. ¡¯¡¯Ning Ning, there¡¯s only one person who can help you now.¡± ¡°Who?¡± ¡°The child¡¯s real father, Li Zhenting.¡± ¡°No/1 Shen Ning instantly stepped back, shaking her head vehemently. Letting Li Zhenting help rescue Coco would expose everything, and she¡¯d lose Coco forever. ¡°Shen Ning, think about it carefully,¡± Li Zhijun sighed. ¡°I understand your concerns, but at this moment, Coco is in grave danger. Only Li Zhenting has the ability to save him. Other options, like calling the police, may nor work.¡± Shen Ning clutched her head in despair. ¡°They want to deal with me. Let them do whatever they want. As long as Coco is safe.¡± Li Zhijun shook his head with a bitter smile. ¡°Shen Ning, let me ask you, do you have one billion dollars? No, you don¡¯t. They¡¯re demanding one billion dollars as the first condition, and there may be more demands later. Even if you manage to ger one billion, do you think rushing in alone will ensure Coco¡¯s safety? No, they¡¯ll only become more ruthless. They might even capture you, and you¡¯d be walking into a trap. These are ruthless criminals, even the police can¡¯t handle them. Have you thought about Xiao Xiao?¡± Shen Ning stood there pale and speechless. ¡°Ning Ning, 1 understand your dilemma. I¡¯ve been keeping this secret for you, but now, we have to decide what¡¯s more important: the child¡¯s life or your custody rights. If Coco returns to the Li family mansion, he¡¯ll be the young master of the Li family. His future will be bright, and it will be good for him. Maybe he won¡¯t belong to you anymore, but you¡¯ll always be his biological mother. No one can erase that blood tie,¡± Li Zhijun spoke with earnestness. Shen Ning clenched her hands, torn by a fierce internal struggle. ¡°But even if 1 go to him now and beg, he might not be willing to save Coco. He¡¯s extremely unfriendly towards me, and he¡¯ll probably think I¡¯m deceiving him/¡¯ Shen Ning said, her eyes filled with deep helplessness and pain. Had Li Zhenting¡¯s cold heart ever shown any softness towards her or her child? Li Zhijun continued pacing the room and said, ¡°Here¡¯s what we can do. I¡¯ll go to him first. If I can keep Coco¡¯s secret safe, I¡¯ll do everything in my power. But if it¡¯s impossible, then we ll have to reveal the truth. If, after knowing the truth, he¡¯s still a jerk, I¡¯ll have to seek help from the Li family¡¯s old lady and old man. In prominent families like theirs, who wouldn¡¯t want more children and grandchildren?¡± Shen Ning nodded in silence. They walked out together. Li Corporation¡¯s CEO office. After a long day of meetings, Li Zhenting had just taken his seat when Li Zhijun walked in. He glanced at him and asked coldly, ¡°What are you here for?¡± ¡°Cousin, I¡¯m in trouble, and I need your help,¡± Li Zhijun said urgently, a departure from his usual nonchalant demeanor, looking serious.. Chapter 187 - Chapter 187: What If It Was Your Son? Chapter 187: What If It Was Your Son? Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°Spit it out. Which woman did you knocked up this time? It¡¯s been several months, hasn¡¯t it?¡± Li Zhenting gave him a cold, disdainful glance. Well, he actually guessed it right this time, it was indeed about a child! But not his child! It was his nephew! Li Zhijun chuckled and scratched his head, wearing a bitter expression. ¡°Cousin, I¡¯m in real trouble this time. Please, you must help me. I¡¯ll owe you a big one in my next life.¡± ¡°Cut the crap and get to the point. 1 have things to do,¡± Li Zhenting was growing impatient. Li Zhijun hesitated for a moment and then cautiously said, ¡°It¡¯s like this, cousin. My friend¡¯s son has been kidnapped¡­¡± Li Zhenting squinted at him and asked sarcastically, ¡°Is it your friend¡¯s son or your son?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s just say he¡¯s my son,¡± Li Zhijun replied, thinking of Shen Ning¡¯s agonizing expression. If Li Zhenting found out Coco¡¯s true identity, this guy would undoubtedly try to claim custody. Shen Ning would be in a pitiful situation. Li Zhijun decided to take responsibility for now and deal with things step by step. ¡°Your son?¡± Li Zhenting coughed dryly. ¡°You have a son? An illegitimate child? Why have 1 never heard you mention this before?¡± ¡°Cousin, he is indeed my son, already five years old, and he has been living outside¡­¡± Li Zhijun tried to explain. ¡°You scoundrel! No wonder Hui Xian wants to divorce you,¡± Li Zhenting suddenly grabbed his shirt and raised his fist as if to strike him. ¡°Have mercy, cousin,¡± Li Zhijun covered his head with both hands. ¡°I swear, it¡¯s not my fault.¡± Li Zhenting pounded his fist on the desk and shouted angrily, ¡°Not your fault? Do you mean women get pregnant all by themselves?¡± ¡°Cousin, let¡¯s save the discussion about how pregnancy happens for later. Right now, the most important thing is that my son has been kidnapped, and it¡¯s a dire situation. Those people are demanding one billion in ransom and other conditions. 1 don¡¯t have that kind of money, and you know that all my assets are controlled by Hui Xian. Brother, dear brother, you have to help me. My child is in grave danger, please think of a solution for me,¡± Li Zhijun cried out loudly, in a pitiable state. Li Zhenting sneered, ¡°Are you absolutely sure that¡¯s your son?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°Then show me his photo and birth certificate. If it¡¯s true, I¡¯ll go back and discuss it with my mother before deciding whether to help him,¡± Li Zhenting wasn¡¯t easily fooled, and he spoke with a calm tone. Now Li Zhijun was at a loss for words. ¡°If you don¡¯t have those, then just get lost. I don¡¯t rescue other people¡¯s bastards. I don¡¯t have time to play this boring game with you,¡± he picked up his mouse and started browsing computer files. ¡°Cousin, do you have to be so ruthless?¡± Li Zhijun struggled to speak. ¡°He¡¯s just a five-year-old child, a life. Can you really turn a blind eye to someone in danger?¡± ¡°Why should I rescue him? People face danger every day in this world. Do you think 1 can save them all? I¡¯m just a businessman, and the nature of businessmen is to make money. Besides, they¡¯re asking for a billion. Do you think money falls from the sky for me?¡± Li Zhenting replied indifferently. ¡°Do you think 1 have nothing better to do than save people every day? My only son wouldn¡¯t have been kidnapped by thugs in the first place.¡± Li Zhijun¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°What if it was your son?¡± ¡°Nonsense, could my son be kidnapped by kidnappers?¡± Li Zhenting¡¯s face darkened with a chilling coldness. ¡°You brat, have you had enough? Get out of here, or I¡¯ll have you thrown out.¡± Li Zhijun was left dumbfounded. This guy¡¯s heart was as cold-blooded as they come. It seemed that only the truth would work! But just as he was about to speak, two security guards approached. The two security guards came over, each grabbing one of his arms and escorting him towards the exit.. Chapter 188 - Chapter 188: That Bastard Has Already Left Chapter 188: That Bastard Has Already Left Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°Bro, please don¡¯t do this. You¡¯ll regret it later,¡± Li Zhijun shouted loudly. But then came the sound of a slamming door, and Li Zhenting had firmly locked the office door. Li Zhijun was escorted outside by the two security guards and unceremoniously dumped in the square as if he were a lost chick. ¡°You bastard, Li Zhenting, if something happens to your son, don¡¯t blame me,¡± Li Zhijun muttered, rubbing his sore buttocks as he got up and left. As Shen Ning sat anxiously in the car, she saw Li Zhijun climb in looking disheveled, and her heart sank. ¡°That Li Zhenting is too arrogant. This guy will eventually be exposed and regret it to death,¡± he cursed through gritted teeth as he sat in the driver¡¯s seat. A faint smile tinged with sadness curled at the corner of Shen Ning¡¯s lips. Indeed, a man as cold-blooded as Li Zhenting, both in body and heart, would never care about the son she bore for him. He only cared about the children Shen Mei bore for him, Ding Ding and Lan Lan. If he ever found out that Ding Ding was also her child, he probably wouldn¡¯t like Ding Ding anymore. She lowered her head, tears falling like raindrops. ¡°Ning, don¡¯t worry. Time is running out, and I¡¯ve thought it over. You should go and plead with him yourself. If he knows that Coco is his son, he¡¯ll definitely run faster than a rabbit,¡± Li Zhijun said after some consideration. Shen Ning looked up, ¡°You mean he still doesn¡¯t know that Coco is his son?¡± ¡°Yes, to protect you, 1 initially said Coco was my son, but he threw me out. That jerk didn¡¯t give me any face,¡± Li Zhijun explained, recounting what had just happened. Shen Ning found it both funny and exasperating, but Li Zhijun was doing it for her sake after all! In fact, she had just figured it out. Compared to Coco¡¯s life, custody was indeed insignificant. Besides, Coco was a child who valued love and loyalty, warm and thoughtful. He wouldn¡¯t forget his mommy. So, no matter what the cost, she had to make Li Zhenting go and rescue him! She opened the car door and rushed towards the Li Group. But just as she reached the CEO¡¯s office, the secretary told her that Mr. Li had already left. She stood there stunned for a moment and was about to push her way in, not believing he could have left so quickly. But the secretary pointed towards the elevator that led down. Shen Ning turned and ran back outside. The CEO¡¯s private elevator was only for his use, and he had really left! At the exit of the underground garage. As Shen Ning ran over, she saw a limited edition Rolls-Royce speeding out from inside, heading towards the street. She was about to wave her hand, but the car shot onto the road like an arrow. ¡°Shen Ning, hurry, that jerk has already left,¡± Li Zhijun shouted from the driver¡¯s seat as he saw Li Zhenting¡¯s car pass by his. He immediately opened the car window and yelled to Shen Ning. With all her strength, Shen Ning ran over and climbed into the moving car. Li Zhijun quickly started the car and chased after Li Zhenting¡¯s car. Li Zhenting¡¯s driving skills were truly exceptional. Perhaps he had noticed that Li Zhijun was following him, so he displayed his mysterious driving skills and quickly left Li Zhijun behind. ¡°Zhijun, let¡¯s go to Li¡¯s Manor,¡± Shen Ning said, thinking of Li Wanqing. At this point, she couldn¡¯t afford to think of anything else. Li Zhijun seemed to have thought of the same thing. He stepped on the gas pedal, heading towards Li¡¯s Manor. Li¡¯s Manor. ¡°Ding Ding, Lan Lan.¡± Li Zhenting walked in with a set of toys in hand, radiating excitement. Today, a new drone had been released, and he immediately bought one for Ding Ding. To avoid any envy from Lan Lan, he also got her a Barbie doll. ¡°Daddy!¡± Lan Lan enthusiastically greeted him, hugging and demanding kisses. Ding Ding, on the other hand, was seated on the sofa, engrossed in a video game, casually uttering, ¡°Daddy..¡± Chapter 189 - Chapter 189: Daddy, You Must Save Coco Immediately Chapter 189: Daddy, You Must Save Coco Immediately Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°Kid, do you like it?¡± Li Zhenting handed the drone to him, sitting down with Lan Lan in his arms. ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Ding Ding replied as he took it. ¡°Thanks, Dad.¡± ¡°What would you like to eat? Daddy is taking you out for some delicious food today.¡± Li Zhenting ruffled Ding Ding¡¯s little head affectionately, asking in a warm tone. Ding Ding raised his listless gaze and said, ¡°I want to wait for Teacher Shen to come.¡± Li Zhenting¡¯s expression darkened. No matter how good he was to this boy, his heart would always belong to Shen Ning. He couldn¡¯t fathom how Shen Ning had managed to win his son¡¯s heart. Just as he felt a growing sense of unease, a breathless woman rushed in from outside. To his surprise, it was Shen Ning. His handsome face instantly clouded over. ¡°Mr. Li, please, save my son,¡± Shen Ning gasped for breath, clutching her chest and bending over in desperation. Li Zhenting was momentarily stunned, a hint of mockery in his eyes. ¡°Shen Ning, you¡¯ve finally admitted you have a son.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Li, 1 beg you to save him. He¡¯s been kidnapped by criminals, and his life is in imminent danger,¡± Shen Ning pleaded, her eyes filled with tears, her face pale. At this moment, Li Zhenting¡¯s secretary entered the room, followed by Li Zhizhun, who had just arrived. ¡°Is it a ransom of one billion?¡± Li Zhenting glanced at the two of them, his mockery intensifying. Li Zhizhun had just informed him that his son had been abducted by criminals, and now Shen Ning had come with a similar plea. Their actions seemed suspicious, and it appeared they were trying to take advantage of him. ¡°Yes, it is,¡± Shen Ning nodded repeatedly. Li Zhenting wore a cold smile. ¡°It¡¯s quite strange. Your son is kidnapped, but why should I be concerned? Why should 1 rescue him? What is your relationship to me?¡± He asked, leaving Shen Ning speechless. ¡°Cousin, you must go, or you¡¯ll regret it,¡± Li Zhijun said with a serious expression. ¡°1 admit I lied to you earlier. The child is actually Shen Ning¡¯s, and I¡¯m here on her behalf. Keke has been kidnapped.¡± He didn¡¯t reveal that Keke was Li Zhenting¡¯s child, as that was a matter between Li Zhenting and Shen Ning, and it would be better for them to discuss it themselves. ¡°Haha,¡± Li Zhenting laughed, exasperated. ¡°You come here so boldly to find me, on what grounds? Why should I care about someone else¡¯s child?¡± Li Zhijun looked up at the sky, knowing that a satisfying moment of vindication would come later. Little did he know that before Shen Ning could speak, Ding Ding¡¯s face changed upon hearing about Keke being kidnapped. He rushed over and asked, ¡°Auntie, did you say Keke has been kidnapped?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Shen Ning touched his head gently. She didn¡¯t want to worry him, but the situation left her with no choice. She had to admit it through tears. Ding Ding was shocked for a moment and then shouted loudly at Li Zhenting, ¡°Dad, you must go and rescue Keke right away.¡± Li Zhenting was irritated. ¡°Kid, do you think being a father means I have to do whatever you say?¡± ¡°Yes, you must go,¡± Ding Ding replied firmly. ¡°If you don¡¯t, then I¡¯ll go myself. Just don¡¯t regret it later.¡± He grabbed Shen Ning¡¯s hand and started to leave. ¡°Stop!¡± Li Zhenting was furious. ¡°Kid, do you dare to try without my permission?¡± This kid always sided with others, and it was making him furious. But Ding Ding stood firm and said, ¡°Yes, 1 must go. If you don¡¯t, then I will. Just don¡¯t regret it.¡± Then, he reached for a fruit knife on the coffee table and placed it against his own neck, threatening, ¡°Dad, are you going to save Keke or not? If you don¡¯t, I¡¯ll take my own life, and you¡¯ll have no son.¡± With this statement, everyone present was left stunned.. Chapter 190 - Chapter 190: Is This Bitch’s Child Yours? Chapter 190: Is This Bitch¡¯s Child Yours? Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°You little brat,¡± Li Zhenting was so infuriated that he nearly jumped up. This young child was resorting to such a drastic measure at such a tender age. Unbelievable! ¡°Dad, it¡¯s your choice. Either lose me or go save Coco,¡± Ding Ding¡¯s determination was unwavering, and his tone was surprisingly firm for someone his age. Shen Ning stood by the child, and her heart felt like it was about to stop beating. Especially when she saw that sharp knife poised against her child¡¯s delicate neck, it felt like it could pierce through at any moment. Her hands trembled, and she felt lightheaded. ¡°Ding Ding, please, put down the knife.¡± ¡°No, I can¡¯t just stand by and do nothing for Coco,¡± Ding Ding responded stubbornly and boldly, displaying the brave determination of a hero. Li Zhenting was seething with anger. He couldn¡¯t bring himself to save a child born of Shen Ning and another man! ¡°Cousin, you have the capability and influence. Please, go and save Coco. It might bring you some good karma for Ding Ding,¡± Li Zhijun earnestly advised. Li Zhenting was even more furious upon hearing Li Zhijun¡¯s words. Suddenly, he grabbed Li Zhijun¡¯s shirt and lifted him off the ground, slamming him onto the sofa. He shouted angrily, ¡°Is this despicable woman¡¯s child also yours?¡± Li Zhijun was on the verge of spitting out blood. How could this guy be so clueless? Didn¡¯t he realize that he was the one who planted the seed himself? ¡°All!¡± Suddenly, Ding Ding cried out loudly, and Li Zhenting¡¯s body jolted in shock, turning around in a panic. Shen Ning held the fruit knife tightly, raising it high above her head. Meanwhile, Ding Ding lay on the floor, rolling and throwing a tantrum, crying and shouting, ¡°Dad, if you don¡¯t go and save Coco, I won¡¯t recognize you as my dad!¡± Li Zhenting breathed a sigh of relief. It turned out that all of Shen Ning¡¯s attention was focused on the fruit knife in the child¡¯s hand. When Li Zhenting grabbed Li Zhijun and shouted angrily, Ding Ding was still somewhat afraid of his dad, causing him to lose focus. During this moment, Shen Ning seized the opportunity to snatch the fruit knife away. Once Ding Ding realized what happened, he began throwing a fit. Li Zhijun, feeling annoyed, stood up and shook his head. Li Zhenting, a person so arrogant and confident in his abilities, was not easy to sway. However, no matter what, Coco was the descendant of the Li family. He couldn¡¯t just stand by and do nothing. Just as he was about to go and find Li Wanqing, suddenly¡­ ¡°Leng Xue, immediately gather a team and come with me to rescue someone,¡± Li Zhenting picked up his phone, dialed a number, and gritted his teeth as he gave the order. His heart leaped with joy. Li Zhenting put away his phone, glared at Shen Ning one last time, and then turned to leave. ¡°Dad, 1 want to go too,¡± Ding Ding was worried about his dad. He was afraid that this big villain might slip away during the mission, so he insisted on coming along. Shen Ning was chilled to her bones by the way Li Zhenting had glared at her. She couldn¡¯t help but shrink away. At this moment, in order to save her son, she had no choice but to swallow her pride and seek help from this man. Ding Ding held her hand and followed closely. Li Zhijun also ran up to join them. In a majestic land rover, Leng Xue was driving up front, with Li Zhijun in the passenger seat, while Li Zhenting sat in the back with Ding Ding and Shen Ning. Since they got in the car, Li Zhenting had been wearing a gloomy expression. He hadn¡¯t even glanced at Shen Ning, and his entire demeanor exuded an air of arrogance and aloofness, making the atmosphere in the car oppressively low. Shen Ning did her best to shrink into the corner, trying to minimize her presence. However, she couldn¡¯t help but sense the terrifying aura emanating from the man from time to time. With her head lowered, tears in her eyes, her mind was filled with various grim possibilities of what might have happened to Coco after being kidnapped. Was he injured? Was he cold or hungry? What kind of torture and abuse was he enduring? In the pitch-black night, a light drizzle began to fall, carrying the chill of early autumn. Her heart was tightly clenched with worry. Before long, the car came to a stop in a remote suburban area. This location was determined by Li Zhenting using high-tech methods based on information found on Shen Ning¡¯s phone. The kidnappers were likely in the vicinity.. Chapter 191 - Chapter 191: Who Is His Daddy? Chapter 191: Who Is His Daddy? Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°You two go down for now; I have something to discuss with her,¡± Li Zhenting ordered expressionlessly. As soon as Li Zhijun heard this, he immediately took Ding Ding and exited the car. This arrangement was fine with him. If Shen Ning would willingly tell him that the child was his, he would be more than willing to help, rather than feeling like she was holding a knife to his throat and forcing him to come here. He would also put in more effort to save Coco. Leng Xue also jumped out of the car. Outside, five young, strong men in black clothing were gathering. Soon, only Li Zhenting and Shen Ning remained inside the car. ¡°I¡¯ll ask you a few questions, and you better answer truthfully. Otherwise, your son¡¯s fate will be your responsibility alone,¡± Li Zhenting spoke coldly. ¡°Okay,¡± Shen Ning¡¯s voice was as soft as a mosquito¡¯s buzz. ¡°What¡¯s your son¡¯s name?¡± ¡°Coco.¡± ¡°Who is his father?¡± Li Zhenting asked icily. Despite his seemingly heartless demeanor, he couldn¡¯t explain why he didn¡¯t want to save a child who had been kidnapped, even though it was a normal thing for a responsible and just businessman to do. Shen Ning¡¯s child with another man was the reason behind his reluctance. Shen Ning¡¯s heart tightened, and she looked at him with some unease. ¡°Spit it out,¡± he furrowed his brows impatiently. ¡°You should know I¡¯m a businessman, and I weigh the costs and benefits of everything 1 do. 1 don¡¯t need to go rescue someone else¡¯s child. The child¡¯s father is the one responsible for saving him.¡± Shen Ning¡¯s hands tightly twisted her clothes at the hem as she bit her lip. Coco belonged to her, he was her flesh and blood. Over the years, she had raised him, changed his diapers, and gone through so many hardships. If she told the truth today, he might leave her in the future¡­ And, most importantly, Shen Mei, a woman like that, would become his stepmother. She was pushing her son into a pit. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you saying anything?¡± Li Zhenting was getting very impatient. ¡°Is it Jing Chenxi¡¯s or Li Zhijun¡¯s? Spit it out.¡± ¡°Neither of them,¡± Shen Ning replied in a soft voice. Li Zhenting sneered, ¡°You can¡¯t possibly not know who the child¡¯s father is.¡± Shen Ning blushed and suddenly raised her head. ¡°Mr. Li, yes, 1 truly don¡¯t know. That year, 1 was in dire straits, and 1 went to a hotel to seek help. As a result, I was raped by a thug.¡± Thinking back to that night six years ago, her heart ached, and tears filled her eyes, sparkling with tiny cold stars. ¡°Heh, you seduce men with your charm and then blame them. It¡¯s amazing you can say that with a straight face,¡± Li Zhenting sneered. For some reason, after learning that the child wasn¡¯t Jing Chenxi¡¯s, his mood improved considerably. He opened the car door, gritted his teeth, and said, ¡°Today, I¡¯m saving your son only for Ding Ding¡¯s sake. Remember that.¡± He stepped out of the car. ¡°Dad, please, you have to save Coco, you must save him,¡± Ding Ding stood nervously in the darkness. As soon as Li Zhenting got out of the car, he immediately ran over and threw himself into his arms. His face turned pale, and he clung tightly to his clothes, murmuring and begging. Seeing his son like this, Li Zhenting felt heartache and worried that this tense situation might trigger his old illness. He quickly embraced him and reassured him, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Dad has already called the police and brought so many people. We will definitely save Coco.¡± ¡°Thank you, Dad,¡± Ding Ding rarely expressed gratitude to him. Li Zhenting sighed inwardly. This son of his was a lost cause, completely leaning towards outsiders. But no matter what, he was still his precious son, and he cared deeply for him.. Chapter 192 - Chapter 192: Otherwise, You Will Really Regret It Chapter 192: Otherwise, You Will Really Regret It Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°Leng Xue, take your men and search the houses up ahead one by one. I¡¯ll stay here to protect Ding Ding. Report to me immediately if there¡¯s any situation,¡± Li Zhenting instructed Leng Xue. In this kind of environment, Ding Ding had also followed. Of course, his own son was the priority. He needed to protect his son first. As for Coco, he had already brought people to rescue him, which could be considered fulfilling his responsibility. Leng Xue agreed and immediately headed towards the houses with five young men. Li Zhijun saw his cousin¡¯s nonchalant and indifferent attitude and couldn¡¯t help but roll his eyes. This man, Ding Ding was his son, but wasn¡¯t Coco important too? ¡°What about you? Weren¡¯t you loudly shouting that you wanted to come and help rescue someone? You were quite loud earlier, why aren¡¯t you going now?¡± Li Zhenting looked at Li Zhijun, who was now huddled in the darkness, his colorful hair ruffled by the wind, with a hint of cold mockery in his eyes as he questioned him. Li Zhijun shrank his head, glanced into the pitch-black night where he couldn¡¯t see anything, and indeed felt a bit scared. He had been afraid of the dark since he was a child. ¡°Cousin, whether I go or not is not the point, but what about you? If you don¡¯t go, it won¡¯t be justifiable,¡± he chuckled. It¡¯s your son, so you should go to save him! However, Li Zhenting smiled indifferently. ¡°First, I need to protect my own son. As for someone else¡¯s son, I¡¯ll do my best.¡± Li Zhijun widened his eyes in disbelief. So, Shen Ning hadn¡¯t told him the truth yet. In this pitch-black night, facing dangerous criminals, if he didn¡¯t go, he would regret it if something happened later. Suddenly, Li Zhijun snatched Ding Ding into his arms and said, ¡°Cousin, I¡¯ll take care of your son. You go and rescue Coco quickly; otherwise, you¡¯ll regret it.¡± With that, he swiftly got into the car, locking the door behind him, leaving Li Zhenting fuming outside. After a moment of hesitation, Li Zhenting finally took determined steps into the darkness. ¡°Thank you, Ding Ding,¡± Li Zhijun said as he got into the car. Shen Ning reached out and embraced Ding Ding, tears welling up in her eyes. Today, if it weren¡¯t for Ding Ding, that jerk Li Zhenting would never have come to rescue Coco. She was truly grateful to him. ¡°Don¡¯t cry, Mommy. Trust me; I¡¯ll make sure Dad rescues Coco,¡± Ding Ding said as he handed his mom a tissue to wipe away her tears. Shen Ning held Ding Ding tightly in her arms. Meanwhile, when Coco opened his eyes, he had a splitting headache. It was pitch dark around him, and he felt pain all over, as if he had been badly beaten. He struggled to sit up and realized that his hands and feet were tightly bound, rendering him immobile. ¡°Mommy, Mommy,¡± he whimpered. It was so cold, and he felt like he was lying on a freezing floor. There was a strong foul odor in the air. Where was he? The smart little boy soon realized that he was in danger. During the day, Coco was playing with his toy car in the neighborhood when suddenly, a man reached in and took his toy car. The man started talking to him in a friendly manner, saying they should have a race with their cars. Coco naively believed him and ran outside. As soon as he stepped out, the villain knocked him unconscious. He had been careless, not listening to his mommy¡¯s advice, and talking to strangers had led him right into this trap. Now, he was sure his mommy must be very worried. And Xiao Xiao must be frightened too! Coco called out a few times and then calmed down. He began to crawl while propped up on his hands, trying to rub the ropes that bound his hands against the wall. Before long, he heard heavy footsteps approaching from outside. Oh no, the bad guys were coming. He closed his eyes and collapsed to the ground. Soon enough, the sound of footsteps reached the door, and with a rush of cold air, two men entered the room.. Chapter 193 - Chapter 193: Who Is Your Daddy? Chapter 193: Who Is Your Daddy? Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°Big brother, the time has come. It¡¯s time to get this kid¡¯s mommy to bring the money/1 Black Seven said, shining a flashlight on the sleeping Coco, his patience running thin. Black Nine settled into a chair in the middle and glanced at the messages constantly sent by Shen Ning on his phone, filled with pleas and flattery. He nodded) ¡°Hmm, let¡¯s wait a little longer. We won¡¯t make them believe the child is in danger or willingly send the money until we push them to the limit.¡± ¡°Big brother, do you think asking for a billion will disrupt our original plan? After all, that woman has already given us money,¡¯1 Black Seven said, feeling uneasy. This whole situation was already violating the rules of the underworld. Black Nine sneered, ¡°Little Seven; you¡¯re being too timid. That woman only gave us thirty million, and we still have to share half of it with Fourth Master. What can we earn from that? We re doing something risky here, and if there¡¯s no profit, who would do it? I¡¯ve thought it through. After making a big score this time, we¡¯ll fly abroad with this mother and son and enjoy life. I¡¯ve already got the passports ready.¡± ¡°Brilliant, Nine Master, brilliant,¡± Black Seven grinned, giving him a thumbs-up. Coco understood now. These two men were after money, and judging by their tone, there was a woman behind this, instructing them to kidnap him. They also planned to take them all abroad. How wicked! Having seen his fair share of detective movies, Coco knew he had to stay calm and use his wits to buy time. Combined with his inherent courage and composure, he wasn¡¯t as frightened as before. He shifted his eyes and yawned loudly, then suddenly shouted in a frightened tone, ¡°Mommy, mommy, where are you? Hurry, I¡¯m so scared, it¡¯s so dark in here!¡± ¡°Hey there, little one, you¡¯re awake,¡± Black Seven immediately stood up upon hearing the child¡¯s voice. He shone a flashlight on Coco¡¯s face and chuckled, ¡°Don¡¯t cry, little guy. Your mommy will come to rescue you soon.¡± Coco struggled to sit up and saw two men dressed in black, their faces showing a menacing demeanor. One was slim, and the other had a beard with stubble on his cheeks. ¡°Uncles, who are you, and where are we?¡± he asked, deliberately trying to be friendly. He sweetly added, ¡°Uncles, you look so handsome.¡± He called them ¡°uncles¡¯ with a honeyed voice. Black Seven chuckled, ¡°Little one, you¡¯ve got a sweet mouth. Remember, we¡¯re your uncles. If you stay here and wait for your mommy to come and ransom you, be a good boy, and we won¡¯t do anything to you. Otherwise, we¡¯ll deal with you. Out here in the wilderness, it¡¯d be easy to get rid of a little brat like you.¡± ¡°Uncles, please don¡¯t hurt me, and don¡¯t take my mommy¡¯s money. She¡¯s really poor. Please spare her,¡± the thug¡¯s words made Coco a little frightened. He pouted and pleaded pitifully. ¡°Spare her? Who spared us? If you want to blame someone, blame yourselves for malting enemies. Bad luck for you,¡± Black Seven sat down and sneered. After a pause. Coco, in a childish voice, said, ¡°Granduncles, actually, kidnapping me and threatening my mommy won¡¯t work. My mommy doesn¡¯t have any money. But if you threaten my daddy, there will be a lo t of money. I promise you¡¯ll strike it rich.¡± Black Nine and Black Seven both froze, looking at him in disbelief. They almost simultaneously asked, ¡°Who¡¯s your daddy?¡± ¡°My daddy is the richest man in the capital, Li Zhenting,¡± Coco proudly declared; picturing his dad s handsome and dignified appearance in his mind.. Chapter 194 - Chapter 194: Why Don’t You Cooperate With Me To Lie To Daddy? Chapter 194: Why Don¡¯t You Cooperate With Me To Lie To Daddy? Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation The two big guys were completely stunned now. ¡°Your dad is Li Zhenting?¡± they asked, finding it hard to believe. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m an honest kid. I never lie,¡± Coco nodded enthusiastically, his young face looking both cute and innocent. After exchanging wide-eyed glances for a moment, the two men focused on Coco, carefully observing him. Usually, in situations like this, most kids would cry loudly when they saw them. But this little guy was not only calm and adorable but also initiated a conversation with them. It didn¡¯t seem like he came from an ordinary family. ¡°Kid, you¡¯re smart, but we¡¯re not falling for your tricks. I¡¯m not a three-year-old,¡± Black Nine said gruffly. Hah, I¡¯m not a three-year-old either, I¡¯m a five-year-old kid! 1 can lie to you without even blinking! ¡°Hey, guys, if you don¡¯t believe me, you can search online. 1 look exactly like my dad. It¡¯s easy to see that I¡¯m Li Zhenting¡¯s son,¡± Coco confidently suggested, offering a solution. Black Nine immediately sat up straight. Indeed, Li Zhenting was the wealthiest man in the capital and frequently appeared on television. And now that he looked closely, this little guy did resemble him. They quickly opened a google search on their phones. Soon enough, pictures of Li Zhenting appeared on their screens. They didn¡¯t need to examine it closely, just a quick glance left them dumbfounded. Oh no, they had actually kidnapped the son of the wealthiest man in the capital. What were they going to do? Li Zhenting would definitely not let them off the hook. ¡°Kid, you claim to be Li Zhenting¡¯s son, but how come you¡¯re living in such a rundown neighborhood?¡± Black Seven still couldn¡¯t believe it. ¡°Well,¡± Coco let out a long sigh, ¡°this is a long story. It¡¯s mainly because my dad is a scumbag, manipulated by that evil woman, Shen Mei. That¡¯s why my mom and 1 are in such a miserable situation.¡± He raised his little head and continued, ¡°Gentlemen, please don¡¯t harm my mom anymore. She¡¯s really pitiful. Just go directly to Li Zhenting, he has a lot of money. It¡¯s better to ask him.¡± ¡°You make it sound easy. Your dad might not spare us, let alone give us money,¡± Black Seven growled at him. ¡°Yeah,¡± Coco nodded emphatically. ¡°That¡¯s why, instead of that, why don¡¯t you cooperate with me? Only then will my dad be willing to give a lot of money. 1 guarantee it¡¯ll work.¡± ¡°Cooperate with you?¡± Black Nine sneered. ¡°You little brat, do you think we¡¯re idiots? There¡¯s no way a son teams up with criminals to deceive his old man!¡± Coco puffed up his chest confidently. ¡°Gentlemen, I¡¯m not lying to you. I hate my dad so much right now.¡± Black Nine¡¯s eyes gleamed with sinister determination. ¡°Gentlemen, I swear, I won¡¯t deceive you,¡± Coco put on a mature expression, ¡°Let me tell you the truth. Right now, I hate my dad more than anyone else. I wish all of his money would be swindled by bad people.¡± ¡°Well, you¡¯re quite cunning for a kid,¡± Black Nine crossed his arms and looked at him skeptically. ¡°Why should I believe you?¡± ¡°Sir, my dad is a scumbag. He doesn¡¯t love my mom at all. He¡¯s always having affairs with other women. My mom was heartbroken, so she took me away. Later, my mom worked odd jobs in the United States to raise me. It was really tough. But that scumbag dad of mine still wants to marry another woman. 1 just can¡¯t accept it. 1 don¡¯t want him to marry that bad woman. So, I really hope all his money gets swindled by someone else. That way, the bad woman will leave my dad, and everything will be better, right?¡± Coco explained in one breath, his face showing anger as if he truly hated Li Zhenting. The two men listened and checked Li Zhenting¡¯s profile once again, confirming that he indeed had a son and a daughter. While there were no photos, the child¡¯s face, identical to Li Zhenting¡¯s, was the best evidence.. Chapter 195 - Chapter 195: Grandpa, I Want to Pee Chapter 195: Grandpa, I Want to Pee Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°Gentlemen, my dad is very formidable. He¡¯s trained in martial arts, including Taekwondo, and has been a martial arts champion. He also has a bunch of tough bodyguards, all incredibly skilled. You won¡¯t stand a chance against them. As soon as they arrive, you¡¯ll be in deep trouble. It¡¯s better to cooperate with me. I¡¯ll help you negotiate with him for the money,¡± Coco¡¯s agile eyes darted around as he presented his case convincingly. The two men seemed to be considering it, whispering to each other and calculating something. ¡°What do you think? Should we cooperate with him?¡± the little guy urged. He was bound by ropes on his hands and feet, and it was painful. Just then, their phone rang. Black Nine glanced down and saw a text message that read: ¡°Do not harm the child. I¡¯ve brought the money. If anything happens to the child, you won¡¯t get a cent, and you¡¯ll end up in prison. Signed: Li Zhenting.¡± ¡°It¡¯s really him!¡± Both men¡¯s faces changed. ¡°I didn¡¯t deceive you, did I? If you don¡¯t cooperate with me, you¡¯ll be in a dead-end. My dad is cunning and ruthless. If he catches you, there¡¯s no way out,¡± Coco boasted proudly. ¡°You little rascal, if you trick us and we don¡¯t get the money, we¡¯ll cut you into pieces and feed you to the fish in the sea,¡± Black Nine threatened with a menacing look. Coco pouted, ¡°Come on, don¡¯t scare me, gentlemen. A child¡¯s heart is fragile, you know.¡± Black Seven sighed, ¡°Kid, fine, we¡¯ll cooperate with you. Let¡¯s swindle your scumbag dad¡¯s money. So, what¡¯s the plan next?¡± ¡°Sir, my hands and feet are hurting from these ropes. Could you please untie me first?¡± Coco smiled sweetly, revealing a row of small white teeth. ¡°Kid, you trying to escape?¡± Black Nine chuckled ominously. ¡°Well, gentlemen, didn¡¯t you agree to cooperate with me? This is part of the deal. I¡¯m betraying my dad to make money with you, which is a much better deal than you tying me up,¡± Coco was getting a bit annoyed, pouting his small mouth. ¡°And I¡¯m just a five-year-old child. With you two adults here, do you think I can really escape?¡± Black Nine smirked and nodded to Black Seven. Black Seven began to untie Coco¡¯s hands. After all, what could a five-year-old child do? ¡°Little guy, I¡¯ve untied your hands. When the time comes, you better get more money from your dad,¡± Black Seven advised. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, a gentleman keeps his word,¡± the ropes loosened, and Coco¡¯s arms felt numb. It took him a while to regain some feeling. He patted his chest and reassured them. A little while later, Coco, with his short legs and a flushed face, pitifully said, ¡°Gentlemen, 1 need to pee. Can you help me untie the ropes on my legs?¡± ¡°No, just pee right here,¡± Black Nine immediately refused. He was more cautious than Black Seven. ¡°Come on, it¡¯s not hygienic like this. My mom always says we should use the toilet for peeing. Besides, I can¡¯t pee like this,¡± Coco wrinkled his small round face. ¡°Okay, gentlemen, how about you loosen my legs, and I¡¯ll make sure my dad gives you an extra million.¡± The number one million indeed sparked a glint in the eyes of the two men. However, They weren¡¯t about to trust a four or five-year-old kid. After all, Li Zhenteng was known for being cunning and ruthless. ¡°Once you¡¯ve got the money, we¡¯ll untie you. For now, stay tied up,¡± Black Nine grinned ominously and said to Black Seven, ¡°Take him outside to pee.¡± ¡°So stingy,¡± Coco pouted, sitting dejectedly, his hands covering his legs, wearing a mournful expression. Black Seven picked him up and headed outside.. Chapter 196 - Chapter 196:I Want to Eat a Big Chicken Leg Chapter 196:I Want to Eat a Big Chicken Leg Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation The night sky was pitch-black, and the rain was pouring down even harder. ¡°Kid, you better pee quickly,¡± Black Seven took off Coco¡¯s pants. ¡°Sir, please don¡¯t look at me. I¡¯m really shy,¡± Coco blinked his innocent eyes and spoke softly. Man, this little troublemaker knows how to make a fuss! But considering he was the young master of the Li family, he deserved a bit more respect. So, Black Seven agreed with a nod and averted his gaze. ¡°Sir, no peeking,¡± Coco reminded in his sweet, innocent voice. Black Seven couldn¡¯t be bothered! He really needed to pee, and he did so with great relief. ¡°That¡¯s better.¡± After helping Coco pull up his pants, he let out a satisfied shout. Black Seven couldn¡¯t help but chuckle as he picked up Coco and walked out of the room. ¡°Sir, I¡¯m thirsty now,¡± Coco moistened his dry lips, his big black eyes all innocent and endearing, making it impossible to refuse! ¡°Okay, here you go.¡± Black Seven took out a bottle of mineral water, unscrewed the cap, and handed it to him. Coco immediately took it and started drinking. So refreshing! ¡°Sir, I¡¯m cold and hungry now. Can I have some food? Don¡¯t worry, 1 promise to give you ten times more when my dad arrives.¡± Coco had just settled down for a moment when he started talking again. Black Seven clenched his teeth. ¡°Fine, you¡¯re the boss. 1¡¯11 go get you something to eat.¡± And he walked out¡­ ¡°Hey, mister, 1 want a big chicken leg!¡± he shouted loudly from behind. ¡°¡­Your uncle! If we don¡¯t get the money later, 1¡¯11 show you how I can cook you up and eat you,¡± Black Nine said with a sinister grin. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, my dad will definitely give it,¡± Coco replied confidently. He hopped a few times and comfortably took a seat on a rickety chair. A little while later, Black Seven returned with some food. ¡°Little guy, eat up. After you¡¯ve eaten, send a message to your dad and tell him to transfer some money to us first,¡± Black Seven tossed the food onto Coco. Coco picked it up, opened it, and was delighted to find a chicken leg. Being kidnapped by bad guys and still getting to eat a chicken leg, not a bad treatment, all things considered. ¡°Thanks, sir. I¡¯ll start eating then,¡± Coco said, taking a bite. Maybe it was because he was so hungry, but he found the chicken leg incredibly delicious. After a while, he finally ate his fill, let out a satisfied burp, and stretched lazily. Black Seven was about to ask him to message Li Zhenting when the little guy suddenly lay down on the ground. ¡°Sir, I¡¯m really sleepy. I¡¯m going to take a nap,¡± he said, closing his eyes in comfort. ¡°Hey, kid,¡± Black Seven called his name. But he was fast asleep, and no matter how they called him, he wouldn¡¯t wake up. ¡°This kid¡¯s got quite the heart,¡± Black Seven said, both amused and annoyed. ¡°Let¡¯s go outside and take a look first,¡± Black Nine said, glancing at the darkness outside as he stood up. ¡°All right.¡± The two men cautiously made their way outside. ¡°Oh no, someone¡¯s already here.¡± Just as they stepped outside, they saw two SUVs approaching from the main road, their headlights flashing brightly, blindingly so. ¡°Weird, I haven¡¯t even sent them the address, how did they find this place?¡± Black Nine¡¯s face turned pale. ¡°Nine, we need to get out of here and relocate, quick!¡± Black Seven started to panic, and they immediately turned and entered the warehouse. Inside. Coco had never really been asleep. When they came in, he squinted his eyes and looked at them. They were in the light, and he was in the dark. He saw the look of panic on their faces and secretly rejoiced. Mommy had once said that to judge a person, you should look into their eyes, as eyes most accurately reflect one¡¯s true thoughts. It seemed like they were facing a tricky situation, and it was very likely that his dad had already found this place.. Chapter 197 - Chapter 197: We Were Tricked By That Little Rascal Chapter 197: We Were Tricked By That Little Rascal Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation While Coco was thinking, Black Seven came over and lifted him up, then re-bound him with ropes and hoisted him onto his shoulder. They headed outside. In the pitch-black night, raindrops fell on them, sending shivers down their spines. Coco widened his eyes. Sure enough, there were two imposing SUVs parked on the main road, and that presence clearly belonged to his dad. He felt confident. Of course. He couldn¡¯t just wait for his dad to rescue him. His dad didn¡¯t even know he was his son, and these two men were extremely dangerous. He didn¡¯t want to risk them harming him. He wanted to grow up and protect his mommy and little sister. Soon, they moved him to a warehouse in a nearby alley, a place even more secluded. ¡°Let¡¯s go, we¡¯ll scout outside again.¡± Black Seven and Black Nine left Coco on the ground and headed outside. Coco immediately sat up. He tried to test the ropes that bound him and was relieved to find that they weren¡¯t tied as tightly as before. He needed to save himself and find a way to escape. He wondered how worried his mommy and little sister must be right now. Besides, Li Zhenting still didn¡¯t know he was his real son, so he couldn¡¯t rely solely on him. From a young age, his mommy had told him that a real man had to be strong, independent, and self-reliant! He had to find a way to escape from here as soon as possible. He exerted force to loosen the ropes around his hands. Thanks to his taekwondo skills, it didn¡¯t take long for the ropes around his hands to become loose¡­ Now, as Li Zhenting arrived in front of a cluster of residential houses and abandoned warehouses, his eyebrows furrowed tightly. The kidnappers hadn¡¯t provided the specific address yet, and it was pitch-dark with rain pouring down. In such a vast area, where exactly had they hidden the child? He took out his phone to call the kidnappers, but it displayed a message that the phone was turned off. ¡°Mr. Li, I¡¯ve already surveyed the area. There are many abandoned warehouses and houses around here, with numerous alleyways. It won¡¯t be easy to find the child room by room,¡± Cold Blood rushed over. Li Zhenting¡¯s sharp gaze scanned the surroundings, and he instructed in a low voice, ¡°Split up and search in four directions, comb through the area methodically, then converge toward the center. Listen for my signal.¡± Cold Blood immediately led his team into the darkness. Li Zhenting examined the terrain, walked to a high point, and observed some scattered footprints. He strode towards that direction. Half an hour later. ¡°Yes, finally got free,¡± Coco stretched his hands and threw the ropes harshly to the ground. He then tiptoed toward the exit. ¡°Nine, we have a problem now. Someone is approaching this way.¡± ¡°Damn it, how did they arrive so quickly? Could that little guy have betrayed us?¡± ¡°Impossible, he doesn¡¯t even have a phone to betray us with,¡± Black Seven said, puzzled. ¡°Quick, we need to get out of here with the little guy,¡± Black Nine turned and whispered. As long as they had the child in their hands, there was hope. Li Zhenting wouldn¡¯t jeopardize the child¡¯s life. They rushed back. But when they pushed open the door of the rundown warehouse and looked inside, they were dumbfounded. The little guy was gone! ¡°Damn it, that little punk tricked us,¡± Black Nine cursed as he looked at the ropes on the ground. ¡°Quick, let¡¯s go after him!¡± Black Seven yelled and turned to run outside. A four or five-year-old kid in this pitch-dark, rainy place wouldn¡¯t get far. They were sure he couldn¡¯t escape. On a muddy path, Coco ran as fast as he could. There were lights ahead. Mom always said, where there¡¯s light, there¡¯s hope! He sprinted toward the light.. Chapter 198 - Chapter 198: Go to Hell, Grandsons of Turtles Chapter 198: Go to Hell, Grandsons of Turtles Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°Kid, stop right there!¡± Black Seven and Black Nine had run around but couldn¡¯t find Coco. When they rushed back, not too far away, they saw the figure of a little boy running. They immediately shouted loudly. ¡°Mommy, mommy!¡± Coco was genuinely scared now. He had tricked these two demons once, and if he fell into their hands again, they would surely cut him into pieces. The thought of being chopped into pieces and thrown into the sea to feed the fish terrified him, and his whole body was covered in goosebumps. Meanwhile, on the other side, Li Zhenting kicked open an old warehouse. Inside, it was empty, with no one in sight. He lowered his head and saw ropes and half-drunk mineral water on the ground. It seemed that Coco had been here with those thugs just moments ago. He turned and ran outside. Not long after he started running, he faintly heard a child crying in the night, ¡°Mommy, daddy, please come and save me!¡± He was momentarily stunned; the voice sounded so familiar. He immediately aimed his powerful flashlight in the direction of the sound. With one sweep of the light, he gasped in horror. In the darkness, a little boy was desperately running, with two tall men chasing him. His eyes flashed with determination, and he rushed towards them like a bolt of lightning. ¡°You little rascal, daring to deceive us!¡± No matter how Coco ran, he was just a five-year-old child. How could he stand a chance against two strong men? He didn¡¯t get far before they caught him, lifting him into the air. The two men were furious and ashamed. Coco dangled in mid-air, terrified, crying out, ¡°Mommy, daddy, come save me!¡± ¡°Kid, you better get your dad to transfer the money right away, or you¡¯re done for,¡± Black Nine shouted angrily, grabbing Coco and swinging him around. Coco¡¯s whole body turned upside down, and his insides churned, causing him to vomit. ¡°Put the child down.¡± Suddenly, from behind, Li Zhenting¡¯s fierce voice cut through the cold wind. Black Nine immediately turned around, holding Coco in front of him, and shouted, ¡°Don¡¯t come any closer! If you do, I¡¯ll kill the child.¡± They held the child above their heads, showing no mercy. Li Zhenting stopped in his tracks. ¡°Kid, if you want to stay alive, have your dad transfer the money to us and ensure our safe escape, then we¡¯ll let you go,¡± Black Seven said, his eyes fixed on Li Zhenting, waving his hand towards Coco. Coco once again felt dizzy and vomited. ¡°Don¡¯t harm the child. I¡¯ll transfer the money to you right away.¡± Li Zhenting¡¯s gaze was ice-cold as he took out his phone. In mid-air, Coco saw his powerful and imposing daddy. In this moment, his daddy shone like a bright star and seemed godlike in his eyes. With his daddy here, he was no longer afraid. ¡°Don¡¯t make the transfer.¡± Suddenly, Coco, hanging in mid-air, took a deep breath and forcefully spat out the vomit residue in his mouth straight into Black Seven¡¯s eyes. ¡°You bastards, go to hell!¡± Black Seven screamed and covered his eyes. In an instant, almost within seconds, Coco¡¯s small body made a powerful twist in mid-air. Caught off guard, Black Nine couldn¡¯t believe the strength of a five-year-old child. He loosened his grip, and Coco fell to the ground. ¡°Coco, be careful!¡± Li Zhenting was stunned, shouting loudly. But at that moment. Coco, who had fallen, suddenly executed a spinning kick, aiming directly at Black Seven¡¯s chest, delivering a fierce blow. Black Seven was sent tumbling to the ground. Cold Blood, who had rushed over, immediately stepped on his chest, capturing Black Seven on the spot. ¡°You damned bastards, dare to kidnap me.¡± At the same time, Coco swiftly turned and, with both feet, kicked toward Black Nine¡¯s head. The entire action took just seconds, and it was executed with agility. Black Nine¡¯s face took a heavy blow, and he let out a cry. Coco landed skillfully and quickly ran outside. However, Black Nine was more agile than Black Seven. At this moment, the ruthless man pulled out a long knife and rushed up from behind, slashing down fiercely towards Coco.. Chapter 199 - Chapter 199: Please Drive Us Back Immediately Chapter 199: Please Drive Us Back Immediately Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°Stop!¡± With a stern shout, just as Black Nine¡¯s knife was about to fall, Li Zhenting struck with lightning speed. He leaped into the air and kicked the man¡¯s wrist with tremendous force. The knife flew out more than ten feet, crashing to the ground. Immediately after, Li Zhenting turned and delivered a powerful punch to Black Nine¡¯s nasal bone. In an instant, Blood gushed out like a fountain. Black Nine screamed in agony, howling like a wolf, his eyes filled with malice. He pulled out an iron chain from his body and viciously lunged at Li Zhenting. Li Zhenting sneered, swiftly evading the attack. Seizing the opportunity, he launched several powerful kicks in rapid succession, striking Black Nine¡¯s chest. With a splatter, Black Nine spewed a mouthful of blood and everything went black before his eyes. Li Zhenting smirked and delivered another punch, knocking him to the ground, where he could no longer get up¡­ A man who wouldn¡¯t even spare a child deserved no mercy! Meanwhile, Cold Blood, along with five men, had finished their search and were converging on the scene. Police cars were also approaching with sirens blaring. As for Coco, he ran desperately without daring to pause for a moment. He had no knowledge of his father defeating the two brutal men behind him, but he knew he had to keep moving forward to find his mommy. Mommy would definitely come to rescue him! On the main road, the high beams of two SUVs intermittently flashed as if his mommy was beckoning him. He quickened his pace. On the other hand, as soon as Li Zhenting left, Shen Ning, who had only sat in the car for a while, became anxious and restless. The thought of Coco being mistreated by those bad men tore at her heart, and she was filled with worry about whether Li Zhenting would do his utmost to rescue their son. After a while, she handed Ding Ding to Li Zhijun and ran towards the commotion, ignoring his attempts to stop her. After circling the residential area a few times, she faintly heard the sounds of a fight coming from this direction and hurried over. On a small path connecting to the main road, She ran towards the sound in the drizzle. Not long after, There it was, A figure in the distance, running towards her. The figure was incredibly familiar; it was undoubtedly Coco. ¡°Coco, Coco!¡± She shouted in delight. ¡°Mommy!¡± Coco, still running, was disoriented and thought he might be hallucinating. However, as he heard his mother¡¯s voice, he recognized it and waved and shouted in excitement. Finally, mother and son tightly embraced each other. But Both of them were too nervous and excited, and their bodies were trembling as they held each other. ¡°Mommy, let¡¯s go quickly. Those behind us are bad guys.¡± Without wasting time, Coco pulled Shen Ning, and they began to run. Shen Ning glanced back; there were several flashlights shining in the pitch-black night, and she didn¡¯t know who those people were. She dared not dwell on it and took Coco¡¯s hand, heading towards the SUV. ¡°Hurry, get in the car.¡± Mother and son ran to the SUV, and Li Zhijun, who was pacing anxiously beside the vehicle, immediately opened the door for them. ¡°Zhijun, please drive us home right away.¡± Shen Ning said urgently as she got in the car with Coco. Li Zhiiun was momentarily puzzled, ¡°Why the rush? Cousin and the others haven¡¯t arrived yet. Let¡¯s wait a bit longer.¡± ¡°No, we must leave now.¡± Shen Ning shook her head. She kept glancing outside at the pitch-black night and said, ¡°Zhijun, I beg you, please drive us away quickly, or else it will be too late.¡± Li Zhijun suddenly understood her concern but remained silent. She didn¡¯t want Li Zhenting to see Coco. However, if they left like this, it would be burning the bridges after they left. Li Zhenting would definitely hold them responsible for this. He hesitated.. Chapter 200 - Chapter 200: Might as Well Offend Him to the End! Chapter 200: Might as Well Offend Him to the End! Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°Zhijun, this is the last time I¡¯ll ask something from you, please?¡± Shen Ning pleaded bitterly. ¡°Alright.¡± Li Zhijun gritted his teeth suddenly. ¡°Fasten your seatbelts; we¡¯re leaving right away.¡± He stepped on the gas, started the car, and quickly drove forward after making a U-turn. ¡°Coco, are you hurt?¡± It was only after the car had gone quite far that Shen Ning, with a hoarse voice, anxiously asked while holding her son, checking his body. ¡°Mommy, don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m perfectly fine.¡± Coco patted his chest reassuringly. ¡°Big brother, they didn¡¯t hurt you, did they?¡± Danding, next to them, gently held Coco¡¯s hand and asked with concern. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, with their intelligence, they couldn¡¯t possibly harm me. They didn¡¯t even have a door. Not only did they not hurt me, but they also gave me a big chicken leg to eat.¡± Coco spoke proudly, recounting his experience in detail. Danding listened with admiration on his face, almost wishing he had been kidnapped along with Coco. ¡°Coco, you¡¯re amazing.¡± Shen Ning, hearing her son¡¯s words, felt proud to have such a clever son. She gently said to Coco in a soft voice, while caressing Danding¡¯s head, ¡°Coco, Danding was very worried about your safety. It¡¯s so late, and he insisted on coming to rescue you. You should really thank him.¡± She didn¡¯t tell Coco about how Li Zhenting was initially unwilling to save him and that it was Danding who threatened Li Zhenting with suicide to make him agree to the rescue, fearing it might create a negative impression of his father. Coco immediately hugged Danding¡¯s forehead and kissed him sweetly, saying, ¡°Thank you, Danding.¡± The two brothers exchanged a smile. Shen Ning watched her two sons with relief, seeing their close and affectionate relationship, which made her particularly happy. She thought about how wonderful it would be if her two sons could stay together forever, loving and supporting each other. But how could that ever happen? Li Zhenting, after assisting the police in capturing the criminals and handling some matters to ensure everything was okay, walked back to the main road. However, When he arrived at the main road and took a look, he was dumbfounded! There was only one car left on the road, and the other one was gone. He immediately dialed Shen Ning¡¯s phone number, but to his surprise, her phone was turned off. His face instantly became terrifyingly dark, and his anger gnawed at him! Shen Ning, you ungrateful woman. 1 saved your son, and you just left like that, without even saying ¡®thank you.¡¯ You even took my son with you. What¡¯s the meaning of this? He immediately called Li Zhijun. Li Zhijun, upon seeing the call from Li Zhenting, the living Yama, turned pale with fear and began to stutter: ¡°C-Cousin, Coco¡­ was frightened. I¡¯m taking the kids home first. You¡­ you can come back slowly.¡± ¡°Taking them home?¡± Li Zhenting¡¯s eyebrows furrowed, and he angrily shouted, ¡°Li Zhijun, you¡¯re audacious. Without my permission, you dared to take them away. I order you to return immediately.¡± Li Zhijun wore a pained expression and stammered, ¡°Y-yes, C-Cousin. K-Kids¡­ scared. 1¡¯11 take them back. You can come back slowly.¡± This man was infuriated, and if he really went back, he might end up being eaten by him. Since he had already offended him, he might as well go all the way! Li Zhijun stepped on the gas, accelerating the car. Li Zhenting roared, ¡°I give you twenty minutes to appear in front of me, or I¡¯ll make your ass bloom.¡± Li Zhijun squirmed in his seat, feeling an inexplicable pain in his rear. At this moment, Danding climbed over from the back seat, snatched Li Zhijun¡¯s phone, and put it to his ear: ¡°Dad, I¡¯m really sleepy. I¡¯ll stay with Teacher Shen. Uncle Li Zhijun and Coco have gone home.¡± The little guy¡¯s voice was drowsy. It was understandable. It was deep into the night, and normally, at this hour, Danding would have been fast asleep. Now that Coco was safe, he let his guard down and felt overwhelmingly sleepy..