Jiang Yuan looked at the three dumbfounded people and said unhappily, "What? In your eyes, am I just a love-struck fool who never learns from mistakes?"
Xu Ningyan was the first to react: "Of course not! Mom, we were stunned by how handsome you are! You're absolutely right! We women just need to live our own lives happily! We don't necessarily need men!"
"My mom is young and beautiful, and she has a job that everyone admires, with a high salary! Many men could work for several lifetimes and still not catch up with your achievements, Mom! Whether you live a good life, whether you are happy or not, whether you are content or not, it has nothing to do with men! You were deceived before, but now you are very clear-headed!"
"Mom, in your current state, you're more than good enough for a young, unmarried man! Why should you lower yourself to be an older man's second wife—"
Jiang Zhiyuan quickly covered her mouth to stop her from saying the rest.
Jiang Yuan was listening with a beaming smile when she saw her son covering her daughter-in-law's mouth, and she immediately became unhappy: "Eldest son, what do you mean? What's wrong? Do you think your mother and your wife are wrong?"
Jiang Zhiyuan smiled wryly: "Yes, yes, you're all right!"
Jiang Zhixing, who had just come to his senses, stared in disbelief: "Mom, over there ...?"
Jiang Yuan waved her hand dismissively: "I've already told Lao Bian that I've been hurt and fooled in a relationship before, and I don't want to be in a relationship again, nor do I want to be someone's stepmother again, working like a slave and not getting any appreciation in return. So, there's no way we're going to be together! I've made my stance clear, and what Lao Bian thinks is none of my business."
Jiang Zhixing pondered his mother's words, but the more he thought about it, the more something seemed off.
I always feel like my own mother has suddenly become a jerk.
It's probably just my imagination!
With the news that Bian Jiang was pursuing Jiang Yuan, the matter of Gu Yong's return was naturally forgotten by everyone.
Xu Ningyan broke free from Jiang Zhiyuan's hand, pulled Jiang Yuan aside, and started gossiping.
The two women, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, now get along like best friends, and Jiang Yuan is also willing to chat with Xu Ningyan.
So the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law each had a cup of tea and a plate of melon seeds, and they went to the stove to chat about their private matters.
She even kicked the Jiang brothers out: "My daughter and I are having a private talk. What are you two doing standing here? Go outside and take care of the child!"
What else can the Jiang brothers do?
The two could only go to the west wing to play with the child for a while, coaxing him to sleep. When they came out, they found the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law chatting happily.
Alright! The two touched their noses and hid in Jiang Zhixing's room.
After listening to Jiang Yuan's account of Bian Jiang's pursuit of her, Xu Ningyan said seriously, "Mom, as long as you want it, as long as you're happy and can be content, we don't mind if you find another partner! Uncle Bian is someone we know well, and you were old comrades-in-arms, so he's more reliable!"
Jiang Yuan laughed: "You think I don't want to find another partner because of you, right?"
Xu Ningyan nodded; she knew a little about Jiang Yuan's inner conflict.
After falling out with Gu Yong and seeing through his and his family's true nature, Jiang Yuan deeply regretted that she had been fooled by Gu Yong and lost her mind, failing to take good care of and love her two children, causing them a lot of grievances.
So later, Jiang Yuan tried her best to make amends to the two brothers.
Looking at her after marrying Jiang Zhiyuan, Jiang Yuan, as the mother-in-law, never puts on airs. Firstly, she has suffered greatly because of this; secondly, she is well-mannered; and thirdly, she feels most sorry for Jiang Zhiyuan, so she can't put on airs as a mother.
It's Jiang Zhixing. He doesn't want to get married, nor does he accept blind dates. If it were any other family, a mother would be anxious and pressuring her son to get married long ago if he was still single.
Jiang Yuan only mentioned it occasionally and didn't seriously pressure him to get married, partly because she felt guilty.
That's why Xu Ningyan said that. She could tell that Jiang Yuan did have feelings for Bian Jiang, but she was worried that Jiang Yuan said those things because she was afraid that her son and daughter-in-law would object, thus making herself feel wronged.
Jiang Yuan thought for a moment and said frankly, "It has something to do with you! As you know, I didn't do a good job as a mother during those years in the Gu family, and I wronged the two brothers. Even if I want to make up for it now, all the grievances and hurts they suffered have already happened!"
"But in the past two years, after I got used to being alone, I found that for a woman my age, it's really not easy to have a career, successful children, and two grandsons on your own."
"After remarrying, I will be back to being like the Gu family. Those people who used to nod and smile at me and respectfully call me Doctor Jiang and Dean Jiang will feel that they have the right to point fingers at me and expect me to smile and endure it."
"If I hadn't left the Gu family and had kept my eyes and ears closed, I wouldn't know the joys of being a single woman. Maybe I would have found someone else and repeated the same life, and I wouldn't have thought there was anything wrong with that."
"But now that I know how good this is, and have experienced how good it is, why would I turn back? Those who have held their heads high and seen even better scenery are unwilling to bow and scrape again!"
At this point, she sighed, "Old Bian is a good man, but a good man isn't necessarily a good husband after marriage! To put it bluntly, Old Bian isn't worth the risk I'd take!"
Xu Ningyan remained silent; Jiang Yuan had made her decision perfectly clear.
She no longer needs to worry about her.
"Mom, just know that no matter what decision you make, we will support you!" Xu Ningyan said earnestly.
Jiang Yuan laughed: "Of course I know! So it's even more impossible for me to let someone who cares about me, and whom I care about, get hurt for the sake of a man!"
The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law smiled at each other, and the topic was dropped.
After everyone returned to their rooms to rest, Xu Ningyan had just finished washing up and gotten into bed when Jiang Zhiyuan, who had gotten into bed earlier to warm the blankets, pulled her into his arms.
Jiang Zhiyuan leaned against the headboard, and Xu Ningyan nestled against his chest. His hot breath tickled Xu Ningyan's ear, making her squirm uncomfortably.
"An old man? Feeling wronged?"
Jiang Zhiyuan already had a mental illness, and he couldn't stand hearing the words "old man".
Especially from Xu Ningyan's words.
Hearing Xu Ningyan's disgusted tone when she mentioned the words "old man" today, he couldn't hold back any longer. Now that he had finally pulled her into his arms, he was going to have a good talk with her.
Xu Ningyan then understood why Jiang Zhiyuan was being sarcastic.
He chuckled immediately: "I was talking about Uncle Bian. He's in his fifties or sixties, isn't he an old man?"
"My man is not old! My man is in his prime, strong and vigorous, handsome and imposing, tall and mighty, still going strong even in his old age—"
"Still going strong in your old age?" Jiang Zhiyuan narrowed his eyes, his hand gripping Xu Ningyan's most vulnerable spot, and sneered, "Today I'll show you what it means to be still going strong in your old age—"
After finishing his sentence, he pressed himself against her...
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