Chapter 192 Sandwich Cookies
Song Yazhi was stunned by her son's roar. Her body swayed violently as if struck by an invisible force, and her face turned as white as paper.
Her eyes widened, her lips trembled, and her gaze was filled with shock and disbelief, as if she didn't recognize the man in front of her at all.
Her hand trembled as she pointed at Fu Lian, her voice broken and trembling: "You...you yelled at me?"
She could hardly believe it. "Fu Li'an, you're yelling at your own mother for a stranger? I'm your own mother! I carried you for ten months, gave birth to you, and raised you. And you're yelling at me like this for a woman?"
Fu Li'an took a deep breath, his chest heaving violently. He closed his eyes, trying his best to suppress the raging anger in his heart. When he opened his eyes again, his gaze had regained some calmness, but it was still icy cold: "Mom, I wasn't yelling at you."
His voice was low and suppressed, each word seemingly squeezed out from between his teeth, "But you can't treat Qingqing like this."
He paused, his voice trembling slightly, "She is my wife, the one I married legally and who is legally married. What you just said not only hurt her, but also me."
"I've ruined you?"
Song Yazhi suddenly burst into shrill laughter, the sound echoing in the quiet living room, so jarring it sent chills down one's spine.
There was no trace of laughter in that laugh; instead, it was filled with despair and sorrow, as if squeezed from the depths of a throat, shrill and unpleasant to hear. "Fine, very fine! My son, whom I raised with such care for over twenty years, has grown up, and now you say I bullied him? Say I ruined you all? Is there no justice in this world?"
She whirled around, her eyes bloodshot, staring intently at Qiao Wanyin standing to the side. Her gaze was like a poisoned knife, as if she wanted to pierce her right there and then. "It's all your fault! It's all your fault! Ever since you stepped into this house, Adong has changed! He used to be so filial and obedient to me, but now? He can't even bear to look at me! What did you do to him? Did you use some underhanded methods? Did you bewitch him?"
Qiao Wanyin frowned deeply, her lips moved slightly, but she ultimately remained silent.
She lowered her eyes, her fingers quietly digging into her palms, her nails sinking into her flesh, but she didn't care about the pain.
She knew that nothing she said would make a difference at this moment. Song Yazhi was already consumed by obsessive anger, and any explanation would only be seen as a provocation.
"Enough!"
Fu Lian stepped forward abruptly, his tall figure completely shielding Qiao Wanyin behind him. His movements were decisive and resolute, as if he were building a barrier with his own body. "Mom, calm down! Now is not the time to lose your temper!"
His voice was deep yet powerful, each word seemingly squeezed out from between his teeth, "Qingqing did nothing wrong, you are the one who is wrong. You shouldn't have humiliated her like that in front of so many people, you shouldn't have called her a vixen who ruins families! You have no right, no right to doubt her with those eyes!"
Song Yazhi seemed to have been struck by lightning, staggering back two steps, her heel hitting the edge of the coffee table, almost falling over.
Her eyes widened, her chest heaved violently, her lips trembled, and she couldn't utter a single word.
In that instant, she felt as if she had been slapped hard by her own son. Her face burned with pain, and her heart felt like it had been hit by a heavy hammer, making it hard to breathe.
She shook her head, tears welling up unexpectedly, rolling down her cheeks and dripping onto her collar, leaving a damp patch. "You only have eyes for her now, don't you? Tell me! Isn't that right?"
Her voice was hoarse, "When you were little, you had a high fever, who stayed by your bedside for three days and three nights without closing their eyes? Who scrimped and saved to send you to school? But now, you've turned your back on your own mother for a stranger? What am I to you? What am I, your own mother, to you?"
Before Fu Lian could explain, she suddenly turned around and rushed towards the door without looking back, her steps chaotic and hurried, as if she would suffocate if she stayed any longer.
"Aunt!"
Fang Wanyu cried out in surprise, her face full of anxiety and reluctance. Without thinking of anything else, she immediately chased after him.
She kept looking back as she ran, and before leaving, she didn't forget to glare fiercely at Qiao Wanyin.
That glance was like a blade chilled to the bone, cold and vicious, as if it wanted to tear her to pieces and devour her alive.
Qiao Wanyin subconsciously took a step forward, wanting to catch up and see what was going on.
Her mind was in turmoil. She was worried that Song Yazhi might lose control of her emotions, and she was also afraid that the old lady might fall because it was dark and the road was slippery.
But as soon as she lifted her foot, her wrist was grabbed.
It's Fu Li'an.
His palms were burning hot, his grip firm, not allowing her to break free.
"I'll go."
His voice was low, yet steady as iron, conveying an unyielding resolve: "You stay home and wait for me. Don't go anywhere else."
“But…” Qiao Wanyin bit her lip, her gaze passing through the open door and looking into the dark stairwell.
It was late at night outside, the streetlights were dim, and not a single motion-activated light in the stairwell was on, making it eerily quiet.
Her face was full of worry, and her voice trembled slightly, "It's so dark outside, and Auntie is so emotional right now. What if... what if she falls or something happens to her... how can I stay home and wait in peace?"
Fu Li'an didn't say anything more, but silently and slowly squatted down and gently cupped her face in his hands.
His hands were broad and strong, calloused from years of training, yet their warmth was as comforting as a spring breeze.
He looked up at her, his gaze firm yet tender, and gently wiped away the tear that was about to fall from the corner of her eye with his thumb.
"obedient."
His voice was deep and gentle, like a night breeze rustling through the treetops, “I’ll handle this. You’ve endured too much, suffered enough grievances.”
He paused, then lowered his voice, "This time, it's my turn to protect you."
As Qiao Wanyin gazed at his resolute profile and his eyes that shone even in the dim light, her heart felt as if it were filled with something tender.
She bit her lip, finally slowly relaxing her tense body, and nodded gently, her voice almost inaudible: "Okay... I'll wait for you to come back."
Fu Lian stood up, quickly put on his coat, and moved swiftly and efficiently.
Before leaving, he turned back for one last look at her, his tone serious and earnest: "Lock the door. Don't open it no matter who knocks. Wait for me to come back. Remember, it can only be me."
Qiao Wanyin stood there, watching him disappear into the night, then slowly walked back to the living room and gently closed the door.
She moved step by step to the sofa, slowly sat down, her fingers unconsciously clutching the hem of her clothes, her knuckles turning white.
She lowered her head, her gaze fixed on the pattern of the carpet, her thoughts a jumbled mess.
She really didn't expect things to turn out this way.
She just wanted to protect her dignity and didn't want to be insulted, criticized, and trampled on like before.
She no longer wanted to swallow her anger and compromise herself for the sake of so-called "family harmony".
She just wanted a little bit of fairness, a little bit of the right to be respected.
But she never intended to drive a wedge between the mother and son.
I never intended to put Fu Li'an in a difficult position.
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