"It's all Wen Tingxue's fault for being heartless!"
"Why don't you believe an old person's words?"
"I was framed by Wen Tingxue..."
No matter how Wu Shangrong 'explained' or shouted.
No one was willing to believe her.
The scornful and mocking gazes of the crowd deeply wounded Wu Shangrong's fragile self-esteem.
She couldn't bear it and ran downstairs.
She thought... she thought Wen Tingxue should be the one spat upon.
Then she could get the money...
However, things had deviated entirely from her expectations, even worse than she had anticipated.
Except, the one suffering was her...
She couldn't understand why, when she did this before, it was always Wen Tingxue who got hurt. Why this time...
Wu Shangrong certainly wouldn't understand, and never would.
The current Wen Tingxue was no longer the timid person of the past who only knew how to endure, hide, and make peace.
She had become stronger and braver, more adept at protecting herself.
What's more, she was no longer alone.
She had friends, family, and even a beloved.
They made her confident and cheerful.
At the same time, they were her shield.
Once danger arose, it would automatically deploy.
She no longer had to endure being slandered without even a chance to retort, as she had in the past.
Because even if she didn't speak, someone would speak for her.
But—
To be honest, today's scene was something Wen Tingxue herself hadn't expected.
Even the moment she saw Wu Shangrong, she had prepared herself to be disliked.
After all, she had experienced such situations too many times.
Every time Wu Shangrong caused a scene at school, she would lose friends and become a laughingstock.
Therefore, her first reaction upon seeing Wu Shangrong was to run.
Unfortunately, she didn't escape, and fortunately, she didn't.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have escaped her nightmare, nor would she have known how warm it felt to be protected by friends.
Even Wen Di, who had misunderstood her before, looked at her with kindness...
Everything was developing in a better direction, and she, too, should look forward.
-
Small conference room.
The atmosphere was heavy.
Wu Shangrong sat alone opposite everyone. After a brief moment of breakdown.
She regained her haughty demeanor.
Righteously, she said, "If you still acknowledge me as your mother, then you should cover your younger brother's mess. Otherwise..."
"If I acknowledge you as my mother, do you acknowledge me as your son?"
Wen Zhongen interrupted calmly, his eyes as deep and still as a lake.
Wu Shangrong was displeased, "What kind of talk is that? When have I not acknowledged you..."
"Since Zhi and I were born," Wen Zhongen interrupted again, his tone slightly heavier, "Have you ever treated us as your children?"
Faced with the question from her eldest son, whom she had neglected since childhood, Wu Shangrong felt a flicker of guilt for the first time.
Indeed.
She loathed her eldest son and disliked her second daughter, only doting on her youngest son.
Because of her eldest son's arrival, her husband couldn't touch her, so he sought out other attractive women.
After ten months of pregnancy, she had nearly 'lost' her husband.
Moreover, his arrival was ill-timed. Those years were plagued by disaster, and she herself could barely eat, yet she had to carry him in her womb.
Once he was born, her husband lost his job.
She increasingly felt he was an ill omen.
Even her husband rarely looked at him, even unwilling to come home.
Finally, when she managed to coax her husband back from his worldly pursuits, and he promised to refrain from philandering, she gave birth to a daughter.
Many in her family said she was useless.
Only her youngest son was born when her relationship with her husband was at its best. On the day he was born, her husband had just closed the biggest deal.
She also gained the right to hold her head high at home.
Wen Zhongen's expression was indifferent, "From the moment I was aware, I knew you and father disliked me.
"You also disliked Zhi, because she was a girl, but I liked Zhi, because she is my sister.
"So I protected her since childhood, took the blame for her, and fought for her. Many times when you drove me out of the house.
"Only Zhi was willing to accompany me under the broken bridge.
"I know I was stubborn since childhood, not good-looking, and my personality was unlikable.
"But as long as you asked, I would do any task, even if the end result was thankless, I would still do it.
"Because you are the one who gave me life, but Mom, people fear heartbreak, and trees fear their roots being disturbed."
A thin mist welled up in Wen Zhongen's eyes.
"Over the years, you've taken a lot of money from Zhi and me. When you took it, you never asked Zhi and me.
"Did you have that much money? Was your money hard-earned or borrowed?
"Did you need this money for emergencies? Are you working hard? Are you tired?
"No, not a single word, not even a perfunctory one, you were stingy with us.
"When I was little, you never asked if we liked to eat, or if we were happy.
"After I grew up and started working, you never asked if we were doing well.
"When you called, it was always for money, and then for more money."
Her excessively calm tone made Wu Shangrong unable to get angry.
She opened her mouth but finally said nothing.
Wen Zhongen took a deep breath, his eyes clearing slightly.
"Mom, I used to be your son, but you didn't want me.
"No matter how hard I tried, how hard I worked, you didn't want me; only Xiuxiu wanted me.
"She gave me a home, and a daughter. From now on, I have only this home.
"Now, for Wen Zhongyi, you want to destroy my home. Do you think you have the right to acknowledge me as your son?
"Since that's the case, why should we hypocritically talk about family affection?"
Wen Zhongen took a document from his secretary and pushed it in front of Wu Shangrong.
"Our mother-son relationship was shattered the moment you came to the school to trouble Yi Yi.
"If you still want to play the guilt-tripping game, go ahead. I don't care anymore anyway."
"Wen Zhongen!!"
Wu Shangrong couldn't sit still upon hearing this, slamming the table and roaring with a contorted face.
"I am your mother! The mother who gave birth to you and raised you! You actually want to abandon your mother for two women?!"
"You are mistaken, they are not just two women."
Wen Zhongen looked at his furious birth mother without changing his expression. "They are the reason I, Wen Zhongen, live this life.
"I can repay the kindness of being born and raised by being a cow or a horse in my next life, but in this life, I, Wen Zhongen, live only for Yu Xiuxiu and Wen Tingxue.
"Anyone who touches them, I will touch. No matter the cost."
The man in a suit sat with his hands clasped, calmly stating his words.
Yet, no one dared to doubt the truth of his words, not even Wu Shangrong, who gave birth to him and raised him.
She stood there in a daze, finding it hard to believe that her trip to Jiangcheng.
Not only had she lost face, but now, she was even losing her son.
Yu Xiuxiu looked at the middle-aged woman in front of her, who suddenly appeared a decade older, with a mixture of pity and mockery.
In the end, it all turned into empathy for her own gender.
"This is a contract we've drafted. Please take a look. If you're not satisfied, we won't make any more changes.
"If you are satisfied, then please sign."
Yu Xiuxiu pushed the pen over, her attitude calm and business-like.