Chapter 334 Shady Methods
“No, I have to say it. I was too stubborn before, always thinking that you were not good enough for Li An, that you were a burden to him. But now I understand—it’s not that you are not good enough for him, it’s that he has found a treasure. It is you who have supported this family little by little, it is you who have made our lives bright and beautiful.”
Qiao Wanyin's eyes welled up with tears, her nose suddenly stung, and tears welled up in her eyes, but she didn't let them fall.
She never expected that this sudden upheaval would become a turning point in her family's mindset.
She never expected that her mother-in-law, who had always treated her coldly, would finally see through her sincerity and dedication today.
Mr. Fu sat on the side, quietly watching everything before him, his eyes filled with a complex mix of emotions—fear, relief,感慨, and deep-seated guilt.
His brows were slightly furrowed, as if he was trying his best to suppress the turmoil in his heart.
He finally spoke in a deep voice, which carried an undeniable weight: "Wanyin, we owe you a great debt this time. If it weren't for you, the Fu family would have really been doomed, and the consequences would have been unimaginable."
Qiao Wanyin gently shook her head, a gentle yet firm smile appearing on her lips: "Dad, you're being too polite. I'm a member of the Fu family, with Fu family blood flowing through my veins, and naturally I bear the responsibilities of the Fu family on my shoulders. What I should do, I will definitely do; I shouldn't shirk, nor can I shirk."
As Mr. Fu listened, he slowly nodded, his eyes trembling slightly.
In that instant, a glimmer of light flashed in his eyes, like a ray of sunshine suddenly breaking through a dark, cloud-covered sky—a pride and satisfaction that could not be hidden.
He had never realized so clearly that this daughter, whom he had once neglected, had now grown up to be able to support the family.
Time ticked by, the second hand moving slowly and steadily on the wall, making a subtle yet clear "tick-tock" sound.
The living room was so quiet you could almost hear the clock ticking through the air; the silence was oppressive and suffocating.
No one spoke; everyone remained in place, unwilling to break the heavy silence, as if speaking would disturb some delicate balance.
They simply stood guard, waiting for news, waiting for someone to return.
Lin Shuxian sat on the sofa, feeling restless, her body occasionally leaning forward slightly and then suddenly shrinking back.
Her eyes kept glancing towards the doorway, as if afraid of missing even a second of movement.
Her hands were tightly gripping the hem of her clothes, her knuckles turning pale from the force, and the veins were faintly visible, as if she wanted to knead all her anxiety into that piece of fabric.
Song Yazhi saw this and felt extremely distressed.
She walked quickly to the kitchen, brewed another cup of hot tea, and carefully brought it over to the coffee table next to Lin Shuxian.
She gently comforted her, "Sister-in-law, don't worry, really don't worry. Li An has already gone. He always acts with discretion and knows what he's doing. He won't do anything reckless. He will definitely bring her back safely. Trust me."
Lin Shuxian's lips moved slightly, and she finally nodded slowly, but the nodding motion was mechanical and stiff, as if she were being pulled by invisible threads.
The next second, tears streamed down her face like a burst dam, unstoppable.
She didn't cry out loud, but silently shed tears, her shoulders trembling slightly, like a withered leaf swaying in the cold wind.
Qiao Wanyin sat on the small sofa next to her, one hand unconsciously and gently stroking her slightly protruding belly, the movement tender and careful.
Her eyes were somewhat unfocused, and her thoughts were drifting.
She knew that the evidence she had prepared was irrefutable, every point could withstand scrutiny, and the evidence was so solid that it could not be overturned.
But she also knew that Zheng Mingyuan had an unfathomable background, was extremely influential, and had a complex and intricate network of connections.
Once he's cornered, he's capable of anything.
What if he goes all in and resorts to underhanded methods?
What if he takes his anger out on his family?
Thinking of this, she felt a chill run down her spine, as if an invisible hand was gripping her heart.
She raised her hand to rub her dry eyes, and when her fingertips touched the corner of her eye, she realized that it was a little hot.
She slowly raised her head and looked out the window.
The sky was just beginning to lighten, as if a tear had been gently ripped open in the night.
A few stars still hung forlornly in the sky, twinkling coldly, dim yet persistent, like grains of salt carelessly sprinkled on the deep blue canvas, lonely and distant.
"It's been so long, why hasn't Li An come back yet?"
Song Yazhi walked to the window again, her gaze anxiously sweeping across the street below.
She unconsciously twisted the hem of her clothes with one hand, making the fabric wrinkled and almost deformed.
Her voice carried a suppressed unease as she murmured softly, as if asking someone else, or perhaps herself.
Lin Shuxian curled up in the corner of the sofa, her whole body shrunk into a small ball, as if all her strength had been drained away, and she didn't even have the strength to lift her hand.
She held the cup of tea in her hands; it had completely cooled down, and a thin layer of water droplets had seeped onto the cup's surface.
She didn't drink a single drop, or even glance at it.
Those eyes, which used to always hold a gentle smile, are now empty, lifeless, and without light, like a kite with a broken string, floating in mid-air, not knowing where to land.
"Auntie, have some hot water."
Qiao Wanyin finally stood up, picked up another cup of freshly brewed hot tea, and walked over lightly.
Her tone was gentle, and her eyes were full of concern.
Just as she was about to hand it to Lin Shuxian, Fu Maihe suddenly walked over from the side and gently intercepted it.
"Sister-in-law, you rest, don't worry about these things, I'll take care of it."
His voice was deep yet gentle, and he took the teacup with exceptional care, as if he were holding a fragile treasure, afraid that he might accidentally spill it.
He turned to look at Lin Shuxian, his tone gentle yet firm: "Aunt, please have a sip. You haven't had a drop of water since this afternoon. How can your body take it? Li An hasn't come back yet. If you collapse, he'll be heartbroken when he gets back."
Lin Shuxian seemed to be touched by those words, and mechanically reached out and took the cup.
Her lips touched the rim of the glass slightly, but she didn't drink; she just stared blankly at the doorway.
Her gaze remained fixed on the tightly closed door, as if the next second it would be pushed open with a "click," and Song Heting would walk in, covered in dust and looking tired but unharmed, smiling and saying, "I'm back."
Mr. Fu remained motionless, curled up on a single sofa in the corner of the living room.
He had a cigarette between his fingers, and the ash had accumulated to a considerable length, but he didn't flick it off.
He lit another cigarette, his movements mechanical and silent.
The smoke rose in swirls, swirling around his face like an unyielding cloud of sorrow, enveloping him in a hazy, gray mist.
His gaze was deep and solemn as he stared at the carpet beneath his feet, as if counting the patterns on it, or as if he saw nothing at all, letting his thoughts sink into the boundless darkness.
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