Having been married for over twenty years, Qin Hao knew Hu Mengling quite well, so he immediately noticed that she had softened her stance and pressed on to persuade her.
“Meng Ling, think about it. When we first got married, we didn’t have any children for seven whole years. Even back then, I never thought of doing anything to betray you. So how could I have gone out and messed around with other people later?”
"It really was just an accident, believe me this time."
Hu Mengling then recalled.
When she first married Qin Hao, she had several miscarriages due to her health condition, and was unable to give birth to a child for seven years.
Back then, not only were the old man and woman worried, but even her parents from her own family repeatedly advised her to find Qin Hao another woman, have a child, and bring the child over to raise herself.
She happened to get pregnant again, and after a lot of effort, she managed to keep the baby and give birth, and that's how the matter was dropped.
Even under those circumstances, Qin Hao didn't have that idea. He even said something like, "The Qin family has more than one son. Let Qin Zheng carry on the family line."
Memories from so long ago that she had almost forgotten flooded back, and Hu Mengling's expression softened.
Qin Hao's eyes flickered, and he continued, "But no matter what, I was wrong about this. What you said before was also true. I am indeed not as good as my second brother. I am not as good as him in terms of intelligence and methods, and I am not as good as him in terms of loyalty to marriage. I am sorry to you."
"If you insist on..."
Before he could finish speaking, Hu Mengling interrupted him, gritting her teeth and saying fiercely, "Fine, I can agree to let you bring Qin Zhao back, but this woman," she pointed at Zeng Man, "you must cut all ties with her completely!"
Hu Mengling's eyes were filled with gloom.
Appearance, husband, relationship, in-laws' favor—one thing at a time, why is she inferior to Gu Yueming in every aspect, and now she is completely in Gu Yueming's hands!
She refused to believe that she couldn't beat her!
It's just a child. If he's useful, what's wrong with bringing him back?
He's an illegitimate child who can't be brought into the light, and he's also a mentally ill idiot. Even if you bring him back, he'll only be controlled by her!
Given the old man's personality, he will definitely leave a substantial share of the family fortune to this grandson in the future. At that time, she can keep all those things in her hands and decide who gets them!
Thinking about it this way, Hu Mengling's mood finally improved a bit. She glanced at Qin Hao and asked, "So, can you do it?"
Qin Hao immediately nodded: "Yes!"
Now it was Zeng Man's turn to change her expression. She opened her mouth to speak, but Qin Hao's warning gaze swept over her, and she shuddered, swallowing back the words she was about to say.
But the hands hidden in the sleeves were clenched tightly.
Qin Hao considered for a moment, then smiled at Hu Mengling: "We still need to go to my parents' place to discuss this later. If she's willing to cooperate, things will definitely go more smoothly. I'll take her out to talk to her."
Hu Mengling wanted to say that there was something she couldn't talk about in front of her, but when she turned around and saw the woman's timid and hesitant appearance, she was disgusted and waved her hand, saying, "Go, go, go, and settle the matter properly!"
Qin Hao smiled and responded, but when he turned to face Zeng Man, his expression instantly turned cold: "Come out with me."
Zeng Man trembled, glanced at Qin Hao, then at Hu Mengling, and finally followed after him.
Hu Mengling saw this and her sneer intensified.
As expected, she's a worthless piece of trash; she's not even worth her time.
Hu Mengling felt relieved, glanced around casually again, and went back to her room.
Unbeknownst to her, the moment she closed the door, a figure flashed past the corner of the stairs and quickly ran out of the house.
*
Behind the villa where Qin Hao's family lives is a grove of camphor trees, with lush foliage that blocks most of the view.
Qin Hao led Zeng Man into the camphor forest, and only stopped when they were deep inside.
Zeng Man had been holding back all the way, but now she really couldn't hold back anymore. She grabbed Qin Hao's hands and said, "Brother Hao, we clearly agreed that as long as I cooperated with you in this charade and successfully brought Qin Zhao back to you, you would persuade the elders in your family to bring me back as well. How come now..."
Qin Hao grasped her hand in return and sighed, "Manman, you saw what happened today. It's not that I didn't want to bring you back, but Hu Mengling is too domineering, and there's nothing I can do!"
Zeng Man bit her lip: "But..."
Qin Hao reached out and pulled her closer to his chest, whispering, "Manman, don't worry, I will definitely keep my promise to you. But we'll have to wait a little longer, okay? Please be patient."
“You’ve seen my parents’ attitude. Now that I have Zhao’er, I have the confidence to fight for the Qin family. Once I’ve driven the Qin family out, I will definitely bring you back.”
"But your wife..."
Qin Hao pointed to the injury on his face, his expression gloomy: "How long do you think I can tolerate a woman like this who beats and scolds me at the drop of a hat?"
"I'm only putting up with her for now because I still need the Hu family's help. I'll wait until things settle down in the future..."
Qin Hao didn't finish his sentence, but Zeng Man understood immediately and looked relieved: "I knew you still cared about me, Brother Hao."
Qin Hao patted her back and said with a smile, "I didn't even hide the matter of Zhao'er's mother from you back then. You have such a big handle on me, what do you have to worry about?"
Zeng Man's eyes flickered, and she joked, "You're even ruthless to the woman who bore your son, disposing of her so easily. What if one day..."
"There's no such thing as 'what if'." Qin Hao interrupted her, his expression darkening. "I never intended to kill her. She was the one who disobeyed and went to the police station to spread rumors that I raped her. I am the eldest son of the Qin family. If this matter really goes to the police station, it will be a huge blow to the Qin family, regardless of whether it's true or not. I can't let her ruin the Qin family!"
Zeng Man scoffed inwardly.
What a hypocritical excuse! She must be a fool to believe him.
However, she didn't care. She had already prepared a backup plan, and even if Qin Hao really wanted to do something to her, she was confident that she could get away unscathed.
She wasn't afraid of him.
Zeng Man's mind raced, but her face remained impassive as she agreed, "Brother Hao is right. Song Xi was ungrateful and insisted on courting death; she deserved it!"
Qin Hao's face darkened, and he lost the will to speak. He turned and left the Nanmu Forest.
Zeng Man immediately followed.
Only after the two figures had walked far away did a heavy thud sound.
Behind a thick camphor tree, Qin Yanshu collapsed to the ground, her beautiful face deathly pale.
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