Before leaving Ping’an Town, Shen Zhengfeng secretly sought out Li Xiaomei, who happened to be at home on a day off. Seeing the joy in her eyes, he said in a low voice, "Xiao Mei, we shouldn’t see each other for a while."

"What?"

The smile on Li Xiaomei’s face froze. She said in a panic, "Zhengfeng, what on earth is going on? Why would you suddenly say that?"

"Someone saw us hugging outside the movie theater." Shen Zhengfeng watched the panic spread across Li Xiaomei’s face. He tried to hold back, but ultimately couldn’t stop himself from asking, "Xiao Mei, are you really sure Xiao Feng is my son?"

Li Xiaomei: "..."

Li Xiaomei didn’t even know when Shen Zhengfeng had left. She slumped to the floor, staring at the photos.

In the photo, she was happily embracing Shen Zhengfeng. She remembered feeling in that moment that her years of devotion were finally about to be rewarded.

’And this was the result?’

’And on top of that, Shen Zhengfeng actually dared to suspect that Xiao Feng wasn’t his son!’

"Shen Zhengfeng, you’re heartless!"

Li Xiaomei screamed hysterically, ripping the photos to shreds. When that wasn’t enough to quell her rage, she smashed a water glass from the table.

When Chen Feng arrived home, he was greeted by the sight of a complete mess. He felt something under his foot. Picking it up, he realized it was a torn photograph.

When he saw clearly what was in the photograph, Chen Feng’s heart skipped a beat. He felt as though he’d been struck by lightning.

Li Xiaomei, however, seemed to have vented her frustration. Seeing her son, she wiped away her tears and quickly got up. She started to clean up the mess, saying, "Oh, I just had an argument with someone, but it’s fine now. Xiao Feng, don’t overthink it. Go to your room and study."

Li Xiaomei began to console herself. ’At least my son is outstanding. He’s countless times better than that hot-tempered weakling!’

Chen Feng wasn’t stupid.

On the contrary, he’d been dwelling on this matter for some time, so much so that he was distracted in class. For one, he was worried his mother would find the photos he had at home and cause unnecessary trouble.

For another, he was worried that there really was something going on between his mother and that Shen Zhengfeng.

Now, looking at the pieces of the photograph on the floor, Chen Feng let his schoolbag slip from his hand. "Mom," he said, "the person you were arguing with just now... was it Shen Zhengfeng?"

Li Xiaomei’s mind went blank with a loud BUZZ, and her entire world shattered.

Seeing his mother’s reaction, and knowing her as well as he did, Chen Feng instantly had his answer.

He turned and ran out, slamming the door behind him.

**

When Qin Jiao got home from school, she heard her aunt, Qin Na, and her mother, Su Yun, talking.

Qin Na was saying in a low voice, "Eldest Sister-in-law looked furious earlier. But she’s really something else, just sending that person packing."

Su Yun replied, "I just explained to Eldest Sister-in-law that what Xiao Jiao said last night was just to give Eldest Brother an out, to stop him from bringing that person home. Sigh... it’s a shame Eldest Brother cares so much about saving face."

Qin Na said, "Don’t you worry. Eldest Sister-in-law is a formidable woman, but she knows right from wrong. Still, things got so ugly this time... I wonder if she’ll even come back to our hometown for the New Year."

"Honestly, I don’t want to go back either, but it’ll depend on what your second brother wants to do."

Qin Na thought for a moment, then lowered her voice. "I don’t really want to go back either. Mom and Dad were already against my divorce, and after seeing how Third Sister-in-law acted yesterday... who knows what nasty things she says about me behind my back. I’m sure whatever she says to my face will be even more unbearable."

Qin Jiao walked in and asked, "What’s going on? What kind of trouble did Xiao Tao get into at Eldest Uncle’s house yesterday?"