Seeing Zhou Yunnan's cautious demeanor, Yun Qing felt a pang of pain in her heart; she had ultimately failed this child.

Outside the car window, scenes flashed by, just like the life of her son that she had missed.

Holding Zhou Yunnan's hand, Yun Qing returned to the Yu family home. Surprisingly, Yu Heng was also there. A hint of surprise flashed in Yun Qing's eyes.

Little did she know, seeing Zhou Yunnan behind her was also a source of great turmoil for Yu Heng.

He had known for a long time that Yun Qing had been married before marrying his elder brother and had a son with her ex-husband.

This is also one of the reasons why he believes Yun Qing has ulterior motives. What kind of affection can a woman who heartlessly abandons her husband and children have?

He never imagined that his poor ex-husband would actually be his good friend Zhou Sinian.

Yun Qing was completely unaware of Yu Heng's shock. She walked to the refrigerator and took out a bunch of snacks.

Zhou Yunnan, however, greeted Yu Heng excitedly upon seeing him in the living room: "Uncle Yu, it's been a long time!"

Upon hearing this, Yun Qing nearly dropped the ice cream in her hand.

"You two know each other?"

“Yes.” Before Yu Heng could speak, Zhou Yunnan interrupted, “I’m very familiar with Uncle Yu, Uncle Yu, don’t you agree?”

“That’s right.” Yu Heng gave an enigmatic smile. “I’ve known my father in Yunnan for over two years.”

"Really? That's quite a coincidence." Yun Qing smiled insincerely, marveling at how small the world was, that Yu Heng and Zhou Sinian were actually friends.

She had originally thought that as the heads of the two leading enterprises in Baigang City, they would be irreconcilable enemies.

But ultimately, this has nothing to do with her. Anyway, she has already achieved financial freedom and doesn't need to please anyone.

If I could see Zhou Yunnan often, I could play with the kids and spend money, which would be quite a carefree life.

To everyone's surprise, her eldest son said something astonishing the next second: "Uncle Yu, are you my stepfather?"

This time, Yunqing's ice cream really did fall to the ground.

"Zhou Yunnan, what nonsense are you talking about? When did I say you had a stepfather?"

"I guessed it." He twisted his chubby body and blinked mischievously. "Although Dad keeps saying that you will definitely come back to us, I don't believe it."

"Oh? Why don't you believe me?"

“Because his kindergarten friends told me that his parents hadn’t lived together since he could remember. Later, he got a stepfather and a stepmother, both of whom were people he knew.”

Yun Qing was both amused and exasperated: "You don't have a stepfather, and even if you did, it wouldn't be Uncle Yu, understand?"

"I understand." Zhou Yunnan nodded thoughtfully. "Mom, you don't like Uncle Yu, right?"

Yu Heng paused in his reading, his expression cracking as he looked at the newspaper, wishing he could kick the mother and son out of the house.

Yun Qing inexplicably sensed a hint of grievance in his back view and said to Zhou Yunnan, "Don't talk nonsense. Your Uncle Yu is not married yet, how could he go back to be someone else's stepfather?"

Zhou Yunnan scooped up ice cream with gusto, not even looking up: "That's good. Yueyue said that if you have a stepfather, you'll have a stepmother, and if you have a stepmother, you'll have a stepfather. Then both parents will be bad people, and good children will become pitiful. Nannan doesn't want that."

Upon hearing this, Yun Qing was taken aback.

She has a very clear understanding of herself: selfish, materialistic, and self-serving; she is a completely irresponsible mother.

However, Zhou Sinian was the complete opposite of her. He was upright, kind, and selfless. He possessed all these wonderful qualities. Yun Qing was not unaware of his goodness, but she simply could not continue to walk with him.

She had endured two years of hardship with him, and she believed she had done more than enough.

After Zhou Yunnan finished his afternoon nap, the butler came in to inform Yunqing.

"Madam, Mr. Zhou, the president of Yun'an Group, has come to visit. Would you like to see him?"

Yun Qing was still dazed, but upon hearing this, she instantly snapped to attention: "Have him wait for me in the reception room."

After the housekeeper left, Yun Qing quickly changed her clothes and pulled Zhou Yunnan out of bed.

"Wake up, your dad is here to pick you up."

Zhou Yunnan was still half asleep, speaking in a childish voice: "No, no, Daddy, let him go."

Seeing his dazed state, Yun Qing didn't force him to get up and covered him with the air-conditioning blanket again.

Upon entering the reception room, the first thing that catches the eye is Zhou Sinian's back; he looks even more robust than he did three years ago.

The broad shoulders and narrow, powerful waist of the Pacific Ocean made Yunqing's mouth dry and her mind wander.

If you really think about it, she's been a vegan for more than half a year.

The high heels tapped out a harmonious melody on the marble floor, and even with his eyes closed, Zhou Sinian could imagine how graceful the owner of the shoes must have been.

Whether it was her full upper body or her slender waist, she had captivated him, making him linger and unable to forget her even in his dreams.

Unfortunately, things have changed, and the affection he thought he had was colder than the marble beneath his feet, leaving him battered and bruised.

Feeling his heart pounding, Zhou Sinian closed his eyes, his expression complex.

He suddenly remembered that his subordinates had been discussing an old, melodramatic idol drama in the office a few days ago.

The female lead in the drama is a saintly, love-obsessed woman. No matter how the male lead hurts or humiliates her in the past, she will foolishly rush to him as soon as he beckons, completely forgetting the pain and torment she suffered before.

Zhou Sinian secretly vowed that he would never fall into such a miserable state.

I'm here today for Zhou Anan, nothing more.

As for that heartless woman, she can forget about ever summoning him and dismissing him at will again. His dignity and the torment he has suffered day and night for the past three years are reminding him that he must never repeat the same mistake.

The footsteps behind him gradually stopped, and Zhou Sinian turned around to face Yun Qing in mid-air.

"Speak, what brings you here?"

Yun Qing crossed her arms and leaned against the table next to her, her nonchalant attitude evident in her eyes.

Seeing her like this again, Zhou Sinian could barely maintain his composure. Her expression reminded him of the humiliation he suffered three years ago.

After receiving that farewell letter, he frantically chased after her, carrying the child, searching the entire airport until he finally found Yun Qing.

Before he could even feel happy, the scene before him made his eyes turn red.

Yun Qing nestled tightly in the arms of a strange man, her eyes filled with admiration. At that moment, Zhou Sinian wished he were blind.

But for the sake of his child, he still chased after her, pleading with his wife not to abandon him and their son.

However, Yunqing's heart was made of stone. Neither his humble pleas nor Zhou Yunnan's heart-wrenching cries could shake her determination to leave.

At that moment, the sweltering summer airport felt like a frozen wasteland to Zhou Sinian.

[This world is one where the male protagonist coldly washes his underwear; that's the premise, so please don't attack the female protagonist.]