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◎After Shen Xinglian traveled back to the modern era◎
At the glamorous banquet, Shen Xinglian held a glass of champagne, but felt a chill in her heart.
She had just traveled back from a time of war and chaos, yet people were still pure of heart. She hadn't fully adapted to the superficiality of modern life. In her previous life, this so-called family dinner party had brought her immense humiliation.
But she continued to fawn over the Lin family.
Across from her, her fourteen-year-old son, Lin Haoxuan, frowned, his tone filled with the rebellious and sarcastic tone typical of a teenager: "Mom, can you stop making such a big deal out of this? So what if Dad has someone else on the side? Which family doesn't have an illegitimate child? This is a mistake that even rich men make!"
This time, Lin Haoyu openly brought his mistress to her birthday party.
Shen Xinglian was about to leave when she was stopped by her two biological children.
The gifts the mistress received were all chosen by the two children.
That's ridiculous.
Twelve-year-old Lin Yutong chimed in, her little face full of protectiveness towards her father: "That's right! Dad said he loves us the most! He buys you designer bags, lets you live in a big house, and helps you manage your studio. He's been good enough to you! Why are you so ungrateful and insist on nitpicking over this little thing?"
"And Mom, aren't you an illegitimate child yourself? If Dad hadn't taken pity on you back then, would you be where you are today? Now you can't even tolerate your sister, you're so selfish!"
The words "illegitimate daughter" were like a poisoned dagger, piercing Shen Xinglian's heart.
This time, however, she didn't force herself to hold back her tears like before. Instead, she laughed wildly, finding it both absurd and laughable.
In that era, she had seen Jiang Renzhou and Zhou Qingyu do their best to protect their country and family, and she had seen Mingyuan, who knew how to uphold justice at a young age. Looking at these two spoiled children in front of her, she felt only unfamiliarity and heartache.
The moment the words fell, the noisy banquet fell silent, and all eyes were focused on Shen Xinglian. There was sympathy, there was mockery, and there was a lot of amusement in watching the spectacle.
Shen Xinglian's husband, Lin Haoyu, walked over slowly, put his arm around his delicate mistress, looked down at Shen Xinglian, and said contemptuously, "Xinglian, the children are right, you're just being too dramatic. I admit I made a mistake, but can't my kindness to you and the children outweigh that mistake? Is it really necessary for you to make a scene that everyone knows about?"
"It's because Chu Chu is too accommodating to you."
His mistress tugged at Lin Haoyu's sleeve pitifully and said insincerely, "Haoyu, don't say that about Sister Xinglian. It's all my fault. I shouldn't have been here."
"This has nothing to do with you!" Lin Haoyu immediately protected the mistress, then turned to Shen Xinglian and became even more aggressive. "Shen Xinglian, introduce your director friend to Chuchu, and this matter will be over. Otherwise, I won't be responsible for your studio's cash flow."
"Enough!" A sharp voice rang out. Lin Haoyu's mother, holding a glass of red wine, strode up to Shen Xinglian, her eyes filled with undisguised disgust. "Shen Xinglian, our Lin family must have been incredibly unlucky to have married such a troublemaker like you! Your own identity is unclear, yet you dare to interfere in my son's affairs?"
“Chuchu has a good family background, but your family background is clean.”
Before she could finish speaking, she raised her hand and splashed the cold red wine in her glass hard onto Shen Xinglian's face.
Red wine dripped down her hair and cheeks, soaking her elegant dress and leaving her looking disheveled.
A collective gasp rippled through the crowd, but no one dared to speak up and say a word of justice.
The smug looks from Lin Haoyu and his mother, the indifferent gazes of the children, and the smug expression on the mistress's face, formed an impenetrable net that enveloped Shen Xinglian.
She didn't know how she got through today in her past life; in a daze, she seemed to remember going back and swallowing the medicine.
The nanny found him and took him to the hospital, where he survived.
She then sold the company and used the money to start her own business.
Her life will begin with divorce.
Just then, a steady and powerful voice broke the deadlock: "Madam Lin, please watch your words and actions."
Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw Jiang Renzhou wearing a sharp black suit, walking quickly to Shen Xinglian's side.
His expression was cold and his eyes were sharp as an eagle's; he was Jiang Renzhou, whom Shen Xinglian had known in that era.
Shen Xinglian felt a little uncomfortable.
Jiang Renzhou took off his coat and carefully draped it over Shen Xinglian, shielding her behind him.
"President Jiang?" Lin Haoyu's expression changed, and he quickly put on a fawning smile. "What brings you here? Please have a seat, I'll have someone pour you some tea right away. Honey, why didn't you say you knew President Jiang?"
Jiang Renzhou ignored him completely, his cold gaze sweeping over Lin Haoyu's family: "President Lin, I'm here today to inform you that our company's cooperation and inspection with the Lin Group has been terminated."
"What?!" Lin Haoyu's expression changed drastically, his smile freezing on his face. "President Jiang, you must be joking! Our cooperation is almost finalized, all that's left is to sign the contract!"
“I’m not kidding.” Jiang Renzhou said firmly, “After my investigation, the person in charge of the Lin Group is of low character and has an improper family style. Such a company is not worthy of cooperating with us.”
He paused, his gaze falling on Lin Haoyu, his mother, and their two children. His words were firm and resolute: "A man who doesn't know how to respect his wife and indulges his mistress, a mother-in-law who speaks hurtful words and insults her daughter-in-law, and two children who have been raised to be unable to distinguish right from wrong and to belittle their mother—such a family cannot support a responsible enterprise."
Lin Haoyu trembled with rage: "President Jiang, don't go too far! Just because of Shen Xinglian? She's having an affair with you?"
Jiang Renzhou interrupted him, his eyes sharp as knives, "President Lin, I'm just doing business. When did unhealthy practices cease to be a criterion for evaluation? Not only me, but I will also inform all my business partners to carefully consider their cooperation with the Lin Group."
Upon hearing this, Lin Haoyu panicked completely.
Jiang Renzhou wields enormous influence in the business world. If he were to actually do this, the Lin Group would be finished!
Lin Haoyu's mother was also terrified, her face turning pale, and she lost all her previous arrogance.
The two children shrank back, frightened by Jiang Renzhou's stern gaze, and dared not speak again.
It turns out that Jiang Renzhou also traveled back in time and became a well-known and upright entrepreneur in the business world, as well as a partner that the Lin Group was trying hard to win over.
Shen Xinglian pulled her coat tighter, wiped the red wine from her face, and said calmly but firmly, "Lin Haoyu, let's get a divorce. I will divide the property according to the law, and I will fight for custody of the children. As for my status, that's none of your business. I deserve at least half the credit for the Lin family getting to where it is today."
Shen Xinglian looked at Lin's mother: "Ms. Lin, do you think your son, whose education is so mediocre, can make any money or do any business?"
Lin's mother pointed at her: "You, you, are you not my son, but a promiscuous woman like you?"
Shen Xinglian sighed, "It's truly terrifying to be uncultured. 'Fickle and promiscuous' is actually a compliment, describing a woman as pure, beautiful, resilient, free-spirited, and lively. I didn't expect you to think so highly of me, thank you for the compliment."
The two children also mentioned that Shen Xinglian was confused.
"You're wrong. I, Shen Xinglian, have never relied on anyone to survive."
After saying that, she ignored the Lin family's unpleasant expressions and walked out of the banquet hall with her head held high.
Behind her, there was the Lin family's panic and the murmurs of the crowd, but Shen Xinglian felt an unprecedented sense of ease and clarity.
As she stepped out of the villa, the evening breeze ruffled her hair.
Shen Xinglian had taken off her high heels.
There aren't many cars in the villa area.
She walked all the way to the park, repeatedly regretting that she didn't have Wanzhou's contact information.
I don't know if Wanzhou has returned either.
Suddenly, an arm reached out to offer water.
Jiang Renzhou handed her a bottle of soda water: "Are you alright?"
This is a drink that Wanzhou really likes to drink, and she likes to drink it too.
In his later confession, Jiang Renzhou also learned the truth.
Shen Xinglian shook her head and gave him a relieved smile: "It's nothing, thank you."
"Of course." Jiang Renzhou looked at her, his eyes gentle, but he hesitated to speak.
Shen Xinglian knew that she needed to find her true self again.
There was no response to the topic that Jiang Renzhou might have wanted to discuss.
The divorce proceedings did not go smoothly. Lin Haoyu, relying on his wealthy family background, made things difficult at every turn. He not only tried to seize most of the marital property, but also spread rumors that Shen Xinglian's extramarital affair was the cause of the marriage breakdown.
Even more despicable, he refused to relinquish custody of the two children and forbade Shen Xinglian from visiting them, deliberately using the children to manipulate her.
Shen Xinglian didn't panic. While collecting evidence of Lin Haoyu's infidelity and asset transfer, she also reorganized her studio.
However, just a few days after the work resumed, the studio's water and electricity were cut off without reason, and the material supplier she was working with suddenly broke the contract, saying that they had received a warning and dared not work with her anymore.
Without a doubt, this was all Lin Haoyu's doing.
That evening, Shen Xinglian was standing in her dark studio, about to contact the property management, when she suddenly heard light footsteps behind her.
Her heart tightened, and when she turned around, she saw Jiang Renzhou standing at the door carrying a thermos, followed by two workers in work clothes.
"The new company is renovating next door. They saw that you had a problem, so they sent the renovation team to take a look."
His tone was indifferent, as if he had simply happened to be passing by.
The technicians quickly inspected the lines and coordinated the restoration of water and electricity, while Jiang Renzhou handed her a thermos: "I just bought some hot soup, have some to tide you over."
The thermos contained warm pork rib soup, and the warmth slid down her throat into her stomach, dispelling the chill in Shen Xinglian's heart.
She didn't say thank you, and Jiang Renzhou didn't mention it either. After the water and electricity were restored, he simply said, "Call me anytime if you need anything," and then turned and left.
Such "chance encounters" happened one after another.
Shen Xinglian went to the court to submit evidence. As soon as she got out of the car, she saw Jiang Renzhou's car parked not far away. He said, "I just happened to be here to take care of some official business."
She went to the building materials market to find a new supplier and ran into Jiang Renzhou at a stall. He said he was "helping a friend choose some materials" and then introduced her to a supplier with an excellent reputation who was not afraid of threats from the Lin family.
Even when she was working late at night and returning home, she would sometimes run into Jiang Renzhou, who was taking a walk, at the company entrance. He would accompany her to her apartment building before leaving.
Upon learning this, Lin Haoyu was so angry that his teeth itched, and he became even more aggressive.
He had people throw paint and put up insulting slogans in front of Shen Xinglian's studio, and he also had the two brainwashed kids block her near the school, telling her to stop making trouble and that Dad would give her three million.
Fourteen-year-old Lin Haoxuan bumps into Jiang Renzhou and loudly berates him as a "sinner who destroys families."
Twelve-year-old Lin Yutong picked up pebbles from the ground and threw them at her, shouting, "You won't take Mom away! You bad person!"
Shen Xinglian took out her phone to record evidence and casually said, "This one is fourteen and will definitely bear legal responsibility. As for this one, twelve, it depends on your situation."
Jiang Renzhou shook his head. He knew Shen Xinglian wouldn't abandon the two children: "Your mother gave birth to you and raised you, not so you could hurt her like this. Is this how Lin Haoyu taught you?"
After all, if the child is left with Lin Haoyu, he will definitely be led astray.
Shen Xinglian will definitely feel guilty about how much harm such a child will cause to society in the future.
“We were all taught by our mothers!” Lin Haoxuan retorted.
Jiang Renzhou chuckled: "Is this how your mother taught you?"
Shen Xinglian held Lin Haoxuan down: "Don't worry, even if Mom didn't raise you well, Mom will wait for you to come out."
Lin Haoxuan wanted to retort, but was too intimidated by Jiang Renzhou's gaze to utter a sound.
Jiang Renzhou turned to Shen Xinglian, handed her a tissue, and then instructed his assistant, "Tidy all these up. I'll be there in a bit."
That wasn't the end of it. Lin Haoyu's mother somehow found out that Shen Xinglian's studio was doing well, and she actually brought her mistress and barged in.
The old lady grabbed Shen Xinglian by the hair and dragged her to the ground, cursing her with vile and foul language: "You little bitch! Everything you have is given to you by the Lin family, and you still dare to oppose the Lin family? I'll tear your face to shreds today!"
The mistress fanned the flames from the sidelines and even took the opportunity to push Shen Xinglian.
Shen Xinglian struggled to get up, and just as she was about to fight back, Jiang Renzhou arrived with security guards.
He pulled the old lady up.
"Security guard, please remove these two people. They are not allowed to set foot in here again."
Jiang Renzhou's voice was cold and devoid of any warmth.
The old lady was both frightened and angry. Pointing at Jiang Renzhou, she scolded, "You outsider, mind your own business! This is a family matter of the Lin family!"
"Family matters?" Jiang Renzhou sneered. "Tolerating your son's infidelity and instigating your grandchildren to insult and assault their mother—is that what you call a family matter? Isn't your daughter-in-law human? Doesn't she have human rights and dignity? I think there's no law anymore."
He turned to look at Shen Xinglian, his gaze softening slightly: "I've already had the surveillance footage compiled and submitted to the court as evidence. In addition, the Lin Group's cash flow is already in trouble due to the termination of previous cooperation. I just received news that several of their core projects have also been suspended due to qualification issues, and they won't be able to hold on for much longer."
Shen Xinglian looked at Jiang Renzhou, a glimmer of light appearing in her eyes.
She knew that Jiang Renzhou's encounters with her were never coincidences; he was silently protecting her in his own way.
Later, the Lin Group indeed went bankrupt completely, and Lin Haoyu was prosecuted and imprisoned for multiple crimes, including suspected transfer of assets and defamation.
Without their father's protection and witnessing the fate of Lin Haoyu and his grandmother, the two children finally began to reflect on their mistakes and tearfully apologized to Shen Xinglian.
Shen Xinglian would not forgive them, so she arranged for them to go to various schools to learn how to be good people first.
She and Jiang Renzhou maintained a distance that was neither too close nor too distant, but they would always appear when the other needed them.
As the sun set, the two walked side by side along the street, a gentle evening breeze blowing.
Shen Xinglian said, "I am no longer able to have children, so you don't need to follow me for Mingyuan and Mingmei's sake. Go and have a completely new life of your own."
"How could you think that?" Jiang Renzhou chuckled, his eyes filled with tender starlight. "I love them because I love you. You and Rongguang both shine, don't you know that?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Jiang Renzhou took out a dazzling ring from his pocket, knelt down on one knee, and said solemnly, "Ms. Shen, are you willing to have a belated wedding with me and spend the rest of your life with me?"
Tears welled up in Shen Xinglian's eyes. She nodded vigorously, her voice choked with emotion: "I do."
In an instant, dazzling fireworks exploded in the sky, illuminating the smiling faces of the two.
Jiang Wanzhou appeared, holding Zhou Qingyu's hand, and walked quickly over with a bouquet of beautiful roses, smiling and calling out, "Xingxing, happy new marriage!"
The evening breeze, carrying the lingering warmth of fireworks, blends love into the twilight.
The bond that transcends time and space has finally blossomed into a lifelong commitment. In the years to come, with a loving partner by your side and family and friends by your side, life will be peaceful and warm.
Every ordinary day will be adorned with starlight and gentleness.
[End of article]
[Author's Note]
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Most importantly!!! My novel, "The Legendary Female Teacher's Timid Daughter," will be released in January. Please add it to your favorites and pre-orders!
Yan Zhengnu devoted her life to studying and admiring Yan Lan, the legendary female teacher who emerged from prison and pioneered women's education.
In an unexpected turn of events, she transmigrated into the body of the legendary female tutor's cowardly yet vicious daughter, who climbed the social ladder by clinging to the powerful and stepping on Consort Li.
The character's initial infamy includes being insulted by his adoptive sister and his mother being wrongfully imprisoned.
Historically, it took the foster sister three years to exonerate the female teacher.
Outside the palace gates, Yan Zhengnu bumped into Xie Hui, the young general who was on the verge of death and was being punished by the emperor to kneel as a form of punishment for Consort Li.
She was also Yan Zhengnu's nemesis, and after Consort Li's death, she made things difficult for her in every way.
The system buzzed with messages: 【Get on his good side! This is the fastest shortcut to power!】
Yan Zhengnu knelt down and massaged him to relieve the intense pain from his old battlefield wounds.
He looked up, his eyes filled with disgust: "What reward do you want?"
Everyone thought she would seek a better future and wealth.
Yan Zhengnu bowed her head, her voice clear:
"General, would you dare to investigate the arson case thoroughly?"
He was stunned.
Yan Zhengnu wanted to personally push Yan Lan onto the path to fame and fortune, making her journey less arduous.
Years later, when Yan Lan was famous throughout the world, she stood on the platform of the academy, pointed to Yan Zhengnu who was smiling below the stage, and declared to the world: "My most outstanding work in my life is my daughter."
Xie Hui silently draped a cloak over Yan Zhengnu's shoulders: "Your Majesty, it's time to go home."
—
Yan Zhengnu:
I know how history will record my infamy, and I also know that it is the only stain on my mother's life.
But this time, I will join forces with my nemesis's blade to cleave this cannibalistic situation open.
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