"So...you're protecting me?"

"Of course, we're friends!"

Upon hearing this explanation, Zhou Chunhua felt as if she had heard the answer but hadn't really heard it at all.

Because it sounds reasonable, yet something seems off.

But she couldn't quite put her finger on what was wrong.

"So, can we go have lunch now? I'm hungry."

Zhou Chunhua nodded and, as usual, followed Gu Yao toward the office while ordering food on her phone.

...

Hospital.

After a whole night of hard work by the doctors, Xu Xiuzhen was finally brought back from the clutches of death.

Xu Xiuzhen, her head wrapped in gauze, slowly opened her eyes and burst into tears when she saw Liao Nanxing.

"Mom, I'm here, I'm here. Don't cry."

Liao Nanxing used gauze to wipe away the tears from the old lady's eyes.

Xu Xiuzhen opened her mouth as if to speak, but her lips twitched and she couldn't utter a word.

Realizing she couldn't speak, Xu Xiuzhen looked at Liao Nanxing with horrified eyes.

Liao Nanxing quickly explained, "The doctor said that the anesthesia hasn't worn off yet, so it's normal not to be able to speak. Don't worry, you'll gradually recover once you leave the ICU."

Xu Xiuzhen nodded, then took Liao Nanxing's hand and wrote "Mom did it all for you" on his palm.

Liao Nanxing's eyes reddened as she tightly gripped Xu Xiuzhen's hand.

"I know, I know everything. It was my fault, I shouldn't have kept it from you. Mom, I was wrong, please forgive me?"

Xu Xiuzhen shook her head, sobbing, and her hand trembled as she touched Liao Nanxing's face.

"Mom, I promise you, from now on I will never hide anything from you again. I will never allow Su Mu to send you to a nursing home! Even if... even if I divorce her, I will never send you to a nursing home!"

Don't worry, from now on, wherever I am, you'll be there. If Su Mu can't accept it, I'll divorce her.

"Mmm..." Xu Xiuzhen nodded, tears streaming down her face.

Visiting time was over, and the nurse came in and asked Liao Nanxing to leave.

After leaving the ICU, Liao Nanxing went directly to school.

The old lady is important, but we can't afford to make any mistakes at work right now.

Fortunately, he had prepared in advance and quickly explained the situation.

With the school's mediation, the matter was brought to a close.

It was completely dark when I left the school.

Looking at the streetlights stretching into the distance on both sides of the road, Liao Nanxing suddenly didn't know where to go.

Before his divorce from Zhou Chunhua, he had many choices: to get together with a few close friends, to have a hot meal at home, or to enjoy a romantic getaway with Su Mu.

But now, he felt a sense of desolation, as if he were homeless.

Zhou Chunhua...

It seems that all his current misfortunes began with his divorce from Zhou Chunhua.

Was I really wrong?

He simply changed wives, so why did his life undergo such a dramatic change?

Why? He couldn't understand.

Zhou Chunhua...

"That's right!" Liao Nanxing slapped his forehead.

I was so busy that I forgot about the lawsuit that was three days later.

He called Lin Zhehan to arrange a meeting place and rushed there immediately.

The chosen location was a French restaurant that Lin Zhehan liked.

He had barely sat down when Lin Zhehan arrived.

"Old Lin, I've been waiting for you!" He stood up to greet him.

Lin Zhehan asked, "Old Liao, what happened that's worn you out like this?"

Liao Nanxing gave an awkward laugh.

"It's just that little thing! You know that already."

Lin Zhehan sat down, took the hand towel brought by the waiter, and wiped his hands.

"Old Liao, I'm not trying to be mean, but what man doesn't have a few women on the side? But what are you thinking, at your age still thinking about changing wives?"

"How could I not understand these principles? It's just that Zhou Chunhua is insisting on a divorce! I can't just send her to a mental hospital again like before!"

"Sigh! This Zhou guy, he's getting good food and drinks at home, why is he so desperate!"

"It's all very strange. I've kept it from her for seven years, and I don't know how, but she found out about Su Mu. Then she wouldn't let go of it, and she insisted on divorcing me, threatening to kill herself."

We'd been married for over twenty years; I couldn't just watch her commit suicide. I thought, "Let's get a divorce." She said she wanted the savings and the property, and without hesitation, I gave them to her.

But... who would have thought that she would actually file a lawsuit against me in court, wanting to get back the money I gave to Su Muhua! And didn't I tell you on the phone that her lawyer is Gu Yao!

What am I supposed to do about this? Well, I really have no other choice but to ask you to come.

Gu Yao is your fellow disciple, and you two often keep in touch. I have no choice but to swallow my pride and ask you for some advice.

"That Zhou girl, we've given her everything, why is she still clinging to it! Didn't you sit down and have a proper talk with her?"

"She came here specifically to kill me. How can I talk to her? I can't just give her my life, can I? Sigh! I used to think she was gentle and easy to train, but I never imagined she would turn out like this!"

Lin Zhehan shook his head.

"I've also sounded out Gu Yao, and he seems a bit difficult to deal with."

"If it were easy, I wouldn't have bothered to ask you for help."

Liao Nanxing beckoned with his finger, and the waiter brought over the decanted red wine.

He took it and personally poured Lin Zhehan a glass.

These two are from the same school; Lin Zhehan is the senior disciple, and Gu Yao is the last disciple.

If we're talking about someone in this world who can rival Gu Yao, it's only Lin Zhehan.

After pouring the red wine, Liao Nanxing signaled to the waiter to serve the dishes.

"Let's not talk about that, let's eat first. These past few years you've been flying around all the time, busy traveling around the world. It's been many years since my brother and I have had a proper get-together."

So their conversation turned back to their school days...

Meanwhile, Su Mu, who had dressed up carefully, was calling Liao Nanxing for the 27th time.

However, the answer she received was still: "The number you dialed is currently switched off. Please try again later."

Su Mu slammed his phone down and turned around to overturn a table full of dishes on the floor.

Carefully prepared dishes and ceramic shards were scattered all over the floor.

The nanny, who was holding the baby, quickly took the baby back to the room.

The aunt standing nearby was so frightened that she didn't dare to make a sound. She could only lower her head and quietly clean up the mess on the floor.

"Why! Liao Nanxing, why are you doing this to me?"

Su Mu smashed another cup to the ground.

The aunt was so frightened that she didn't even dare to tidy up and hid in the kitchen.

Su Mu held his head, panting heavily.

What should we do? We can't contact Liao Nanxing now, so what should she do? Should she deal with Zhou Chunhua's lawsuit on her own?

But what if we lose?

Why should she have to pay back the money she earned by spending the best seven years of her life?