Chapter 55 Stalemate

Pu Xia sat on the sofa in the living room, her hand tightly gripping her cup. Despite the heating being on full blast, she couldn't help feeling cold.

She also heard Pu Manli's tearful and abusive phone call to Xie Sheng that morning.

Yang Ning has already told Pu Manli everything.

Although she looked down on Pu Ming's family, she couldn't help but curl her lips into a sneer when she mentioned their names.

But when needed, she will still do her best to pull people into her "camp".

She was already used to Yang Ning like this, and she knew this was just the beginning.

Will she and Xie Sheng be able to get through this difficult time?

Pu Xia pursed his lips into a thin line.

...

At 2 p.m., Yang Ning's car stopped downstairs at Xie Sheng and Pu Xia's residence. She looked at Pu Manli, who was pale-faced, through her sunglasses.

"Once we go up there, you're in charge of persuading your son to stay away from Pu Xia. I'll find a way to take Pu Xia away."

Pu Manli was completely disoriented at this moment. She thought about what Xie Sheng had said that morning, and her mind was in a mess.

Looking at the decisive and calm Yang Ning, she nodded involuntarily and got out of the car.

...It was Xie Sheng who opened the door.

This was the first time Yang Ning had met Xie Sheng in person. He looked Xie Sheng up and down with a critical eye, but he couldn't find anything to criticize about his appearance or demeanor.

She snorted, thinking to herself that no wonder he was Pu Ming's biological son; he had the appearance of someone who could easily deceive others, and the black heart to ruin other people's lives.

When Pu Manli saw Xie Sheng, her eyes couldn't help but redden again.

She cried all the way, but the tears still wouldn't stop.

Xie Sheng was like her own son to her. She felt absurd and angry about what had happened, and at the same time, she was also deeply saddened.

Which of these adults can escape responsibility for the current situation?

Looking at Pu Xia, the already fair-skinned girl now appeared exceptionally pale, with red-rimmed eyes. Her usually bright and moist eyes now looked as if they were about to shatter.

She couldn't stop feeling sorrow in her heart.

Pu Manli and Yang Ning entered the living room and sat opposite Pu Xiaxiesheng, neither of them knowing how to start the conversation.

Finally, Pu Manli spoke first. Her voice had become hoarse at some point, "...When did this start? Do you know that you are ruining your own future?"

When did it start?

To be honest, they became entangled as if under a spell shortly after they met, as if it were destiny.

But this destiny is destined to remain hidden from the light of day, and the blood ties they firmly believe in cannot be openly and confidently stated at this time.

Xie Sheng raised his previously lowered gaze. "Without her, I have no future."

Yang Ning scoffed, "Now you have a future, but what about Pu Xia? Have you thought about her?"

"This was my own choice!"

"Shut up, what do you choose? You're a minor, you have no idea what you're doing right now."

Yang Ning reprimanded him without any politeness, then pressed Xie Sheng aggressively, "Pu Xia hasn't grown up yet, but what about you? Normally, you should be in college by now. Do you know what you're doing? To put it bluntly, you're abducting a minor, which is illegal!"

"Mom! What are you saying!" Pu Xia's anger surged up instantly. She could accept whatever she was told, but she couldn't tolerate Yang Ning's blatant attempt to smear Xie Sheng.

Pu Manli was also frightened by Yang Ning's words. In her opinion, Xie Sheng had done something wrong, but it shouldn't have broken the law!

She couldn't help but defend him, quickly saying to Yang Ning, "Oh dear, it's not that serious, they're just kids, they lost their minds for a moment... How about this, let me talk to him, let me talk to him..."

As she spoke, Pu Manli pulled Xie Sheng toward the room, but Xie Sheng did not budge. He stood there and looked at Yang Ning coldly, saying, "Say whatever you want, and use whatever means and methods you want, I will not separate from her."

"I hope you'll stay this stubborn once you're inside."

"Mom!...Brother, you go inside with Aunt first."

Xie Sheng looked at Pu Xia and Pu Manli's pleading and worried expressions, glanced at Yang Ning, and finally said nothing, letting Pu Manli pull him into the inner room.

"If you're trying to persuade me to break up with Xiaxia, you might as well save your energy."

Pu Manli glared at Xie Sheng, raised her hand, but didn't lower it for a long time. Finally, she covered her face and cried.

"What sins has our family committed! Your father died young, and you and Xiaxia are like this, our Pu family line is doomed to die out!"

Seeing Pu Manli like this, Xie Sheng felt bad too, but he couldn't bring himself to say that he wanted to break up with Pu Xia.

"sorry……"

"...You're not just letting me down, you're letting yourself down. Being with your own...younger sister, what do you think people will think of you two? You'll never be able to hold your heads high again!"

Even assuming no one notices you two, do you really think you can get married and have children? Without any recognition or approval, what makes you think you can stay together? You have passion now, but what about later?

Pu Manli's repeated questions were like heavy drumbeats, striking Xie Sheng's heart with a thud.

He didn't speak for a long time.

"...It's not just passion between us. We feel safe and secure together. This is the first time in our lives that we've felt a sense of belonging." Xie Sheng spoke slowly and earnestly.

Pu Manli looked at him, her tears flowing even more fiercely. Now, she truly didn't know what was right and what was wrong.

...In the living room, Pu Xia and Yang Ning stared at each other with identical expressions, their faces cold.

Yang Ning picked up her water glass and took a sip, then looked up and glanced around before her gaze finally fell on a photo wall in the restaurant, which displayed pictures of her and Xie Sheng.

"I was wondering why you suddenly stopped replying, but now it seems you've gotten addicted to playing house. However, a game is just a game, it's time to end it."

Pu Xia's jawline was taut, and she glared at Yang Ning, her eyes red-rimmed. "You really are as 'self-righteous' as ever, casually treating other people's lives as a game."

"Life? Ha, you're talking to me about life. Has your life even begun?"

"How could it not have started? From the moment I became conscious, my life began amidst your endless arguments with my dad! Now that I've finally found happiness and a sense of home, you appear to destroy it all!"

You hate me, don't you? I'm the witness to your and Dad's failed marriage, so you can't stand to see me doing well!

"Pu Xia!" Yang Ning slammed his hand on the table. "Can't you be a little more mature! Pu Ming and I are in a mess, I haven't cared enough for you... I admit all of that, but none of that is a reason for you to choose the wrong path of incest! If I really wanted to see you doing well, I wouldn't have come all this way to bring you back!"

"That's all just your opinion. Your self-righteous notion of 'being good to me.'"

Yang Ning felt a surge of energy rising in her chest. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and when she opened them again, her expression was cold and her tone was particularly firm. "Come back with me. Otherwise, what I just said wasn't just empty talk."

"Can't you be reasonable?!"

"What's the point of reasoning with a madman? I'll guide you step by step to make you realize what reality is."

After Yang Ning finished speaking, she couldn't stay any longer. Arguing was pointless. She glanced at the bedroom, turned around, and went out to wait in her car for the outcome of Pu Manli's persuasion.