He used to really love Liu, the woman who had been with him for over ten years, but in the last two years he noticed that she had changed.

We've repeatedly told her to keep a low profile, but now she's gradually becoming disobedient. We've already bought her four houses and two cars, and she's still not satisfied.

Thinking about the phone call from Old Wang at the Civil Affairs Bureau that afternoon, he felt uneasy. It was all Liu's fault; she wasn't careful at all.

Trying to seize someone else's house and then so blatantly using his own name suggests that the homeowner is not someone to be trifled with; he must be a relative or friend of Old Wang.

We can't let Liu continue like this. We shouldn't let a small matter cause a big loss and escalate the situation, which would be bad for everyone.

Although Lao Wang never participates in the struggles between the two factions, he is a local resident of Jinan and has a better mass base than the other two.

Besides, Lao Wang is about to retire, so there's no need to escalate the conflict over such a small matter, affecting the next election, and causing his superiors to have opinions about him.

It seems it's time to give Liu a warning. There's a limit to greed; one can't just grab whatever one likes.

I shouldn't let this small matter cause me to lose everything. I'll be retiring in a few years, and my wife is keeping a close eye on me now, and my son also has a lot of complaints about me.

Should I take measures to completely break things off with Liu? But then I thought, Liu still has something on me. In the past two years, he threatened to report me several times when things didn't go his way.

If she really reports me, my reputation will be ruined. I'll lose everything, be abandoned by everyone, and might even end up in jail.

Duan's gloomy face was now hidden in the thick smoke. He silently inhaled his cigarette, forgetting even to exhale smoke rings.

After taking a shower, Liu walked out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel and climbed onto the bed with a seductive gait.

He put his arm around Duan's neck and said, "Old Duan, I have something to tell you. I met a woman today."

Her boyfriend dotes on her; he bought her properties and shops in Beijing, Shanghai, and Jinan, worth at least forty or fifty million.

Look at me again. I've been with you since I was eighteen, and all I've gotten are four houses and two worthless cars. All of that doesn't even amount to as much as someone else's courtyard house.

I'm no less attractive than that woman, and I've been with you for so many years, even giving you a son. Even if it's not for me, just for the sake of our son, you should at least take good care of us!

Now that I'm a government official, I'm more than a match for an old man like you who's about to retire. You wouldn't even agree to divorce your wife and marry me. So what am I supposed to gain by staying with you?

Duan said with a gloomy face, "Four houses and two cars, aren't you satisfied? I've spent almost all the money I've made over the years on you."

I've said it before: it's impossible for us to get married. If I really divorced and married you, my future would be ruined. Where would I get money to spend on you?

You made that promise so readily, and I kept it. I not only bought you a house and a car, but I also promoted you from a lowly waiter to your current managerial position, giving you the best future.

I helped your parents and two younger sisters change their rural household registration to urban status and arranged jobs for them in Jinan. I also arranged retirement for those who could, and found jobs for those who could.

Your whole family has gone from country bumpkins to phoenixes, all thanks to you!

Now you want me to divorce my wife and marry you? Tell me, isn't that insatiable? I absolutely cannot agree to this request. Forget about it!

Liu thought to herself, "Are you trying to break up with me? Have you been wanting to dump me for a long time?"

No wonder you've been hiding your whereabouts from me these past two years. I call you every day, but you only answer a few times. It's incredibly difficult to meet up with you every day.

It seems you're tired of me. In that case, I won't ask you to divorce your husband and marry me. Let's just part ways amicably!

However, since my son is in my name, you have to give us both compensation for the years I've wasted my youth and for child support!

Duan glanced at her and said casually, "I think your only goal is money. All that talk about wanting me to get a divorce or about love is fake!"

"Your son isn't mine, why should I pay him child support? Compensation for lost youth? What a joke! You probably don't even know how much money I've spent on you over the years!"

Liu jumped off the bed, put her hand on her hip, pointed at Duan and started cursing, "Duan, you think you're so great now? Do you want to dump me because I'm old and past my prime?"

Two years ago, when I gave birth to my son, you still called him your precious darling. Why didn't you say he wasn't your son back then?

Now that you want to break up, you're denying he's your child? Too late! Let me tell you, if you don't go to Beijing and buy me a courtyard house, you think you can dump me? No way!

"I'll report you to the higher authorities and ruin your reputation. You've wasted over a decade of my time, and now you want to walk away? Keep dreaming!"

Without saying a word, Duan forcefully stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray. His hand was heavy and steady, as if he had made a major decision.

He slowly dressed, picked up his briefcase, and left without saying a word.

As the door closed behind him, Liu trembled with rage, shouting and screaming in the room to vent his anger and dissatisfaction.

"You want to break up without meeting my conditions? No way! If you push me too far, I'll really sue you, you old geezer! Do you really think I can't get anywhere in Jinan without you?"

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