Everyone at the table was startled by the slap. They put down their chopsticks and stared at Chen's mother with their mouths agape.

In their memory, let alone hitting her, Shen's mother had never even scolded Shen Yanxi many times. Today, she actually slapped Shen Yanxi for an outsider, which even Shen Yanxi herself could not believe.

Shen Yanxi's eyes reddened with grievance. She covered her face, pointed at He Lingchuan, and said, "Mom, you actually hit me for this man? What right do you have to hit me?"

"Because you're unreasonable."

With a cold expression, Mother Shen raised her chin towards He Lingchuan and said, "Apologize."

"I will not apologize. I will die rather than apologize to him."

Shen Yanxi became increasingly agitated, shouting and yelling. He Lingchuan stepped in to smooth things over, saying, "Aunt Shen, please calm down."

He looked helpless, his gaze shifting between the two women beside him. He just wanted to eat his meal in peace and quiet, never expecting that Shen Yanxi and her mother would end up like this.

If he had known this would happen, he should have gone straight to the hospital to get his wound treated instead of rushing back.

Mother Shen waved her hand to comfort He Lingchuan: "You don't need to interfere. What Shen Yanxi said just now was really too much. She should apologize to you."

Mother Shen sighed helplessly, "I haven't raised my daughter well, and you've suffered because of this."

The more she acted this way, the more aggrieved Shen Yanxi felt.

She walked up to her mother, her lips twitching, her heart filled with despair: "Mom, you're so protective of him, why don't you just let him be your son? I'm unfilial, and you haven't raised me well. I don't deserve to be your daughter."

After saying this, Shen Yanxi turned and left. Before leaving, she glared at He Lingchuan with displeasure and said in an icy tone, "Are you satisfied now? If it weren't for you, my mother and I wouldn't have ended up like this."

He Lingchuan spread his hands, looking helpless.

Before he could explain, Shen Yanxi had already left the restaurant with Zhou Mingyan.

Watching the two figures leave, He Lingchuan sighed helplessly.

Mother Shen looked at He Lingchuan with some guilt: "It's all my fault. I'll go back and give her a good talking to."

He Lingchuan said helplessly, "That's not important. The key is that my relationship with Yan Xi has deteriorated to this point, and I'm afraid I can no longer live here."

He Lingchuan wasn't unable to find a place to stay; he was just worried about his two children.

“Aunt Chen, Yan Xi definitely won’t leave the children with me, so if you have time, could you come and visit them often? Or take the children somewhere so I can keep an eye on them.”

Hearing He Lingchuan's words, Madam Shen thought for a moment and then told the housekeeper to pack his things: "Why don't you all come and stay at my place?" "Go to your place?"

He Lingchuan looked puzzled, not understanding what Shen's mother meant.

“Aren’t you worried about the children? You can stay at my place, and I’ll have someone bring the two kids over. That way, when Xixi asks, you’ll have a reason to answer her.”

He Lingchuan hesitated and did not immediately agree: "Isn't that a bad idea? If Yan Xi finds out, she will definitely think that we are conspiring to deceive her. I don't care about myself, I just don't want your relationship to be affected by me."

Mother Shen smiled and waved her hand: "You don't need to worry about it. We are mother and daughter after all. We don't hold grudges overnight."

Hearing her say that, He Lingchuan immediately agreed.

All he wants now is to see his child; where he lives is of no importance to him.

In less than ten minutes, the butler had already helped He Lingchuan pack his things.

Before returning, Shen's mother waited at the villa for a while, but Shen Yanxi didn't show up until the early hours of the morning before they left.

On the way back, Mother Shen looked back at He Lingchuan several times, as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.

Finally, He Lingchuan couldn't help but speak up, "Aunt Chen, please just say what you want to say."

Hearing his words, Chen's mother paused for a few seconds, then sighed softly: "Actually, it's nothing. I just wanted to ask you, are you really happy right now?"

He Lingchuan was somewhat surprised. He looked at the person next to him with a puzzled expression and said, "I don't quite understand what you mean."

"Lingchuan, it has been really tough being with you and my daughter all this time. I know you've suffered a lot of grievances. I know my daughter better than anyone else."

Mother Shen gently patted He Lingchuan's wrist. She had no other choice but to say such a thing.

“If you’re willing, I can compensate you. I remember you were accepted into graduate school before, right? Do you want to continue your studies? If you do, I can send you abroad, and I’ll cover all your expenses.”

He Lingchuan stood there, stunned, looking at Shen's mother with some surprise.

Are you serious?

He never expected that Shen's mother would have such thoughts. Did she feel wronged? So she wanted to send him abroad?

Mother Shen looked at He Lingchuan with great determination and nodded: "I'll give you a week to think it over. You can come to me anytime."

Mother Shen wasn't joking; she genuinely intended to send He Lingchuan abroad.

Because of what Shen's mother said, He Lingchuan didn't sleep all night. He tossed and turned, hesitating about whether to leave the city. He still hadn't made a decision by noon.

He pushed open the laboratory door, intending to discuss it with Gu Chengze, who always seemed to make the better choice on certain important decisions.

He awaited Gu Chengze's reply, but instead saw Shen Yanxi walking towards him.

She looked travel-worn and like she had come to settle scores with him: "He Lingchuan, you are not allowed to go abroad."

He Lingchuan looked at Shen Yanxi with some surprise: "Who told you I was going abroad?"

Hearing his words, Shen Yanxi shrugged: "Don't worry about who told me. I'm just here to tell you that your ID card is with me. You are not allowed to leave the country without my permission."

He Lingchuan frowned, his expression growing increasingly somber: "What gives you the right to make decisions for me?"

"Because you're my man."

Shen Yanxi frowned, pushed the man into the office, closed the door, and ordered He Lingchuan with a flushed face: "You are not allowed to leave this city without my permission. Let me tell you, even if you die, you will die here with me. You are mine in life and in death. I will never let you leave me."

After saying these words, Shen Yanxi blushed. She took a deep breath and patted He Lingchuan's face: "I will pick you up tonight. You'd better not leave on your own."

After saying the last word, Shen Yanxi fled the office as if she were escaping.

She didn't loosen her clenched fists until she left the laboratory building.

Just as she was about to breathe a sigh of relief, she heard a questioning voice behind her: "Xixi, are you really reluctant to part with He Lingchuan?"