Jiaxi’s mother said disbelievingly, "No, Jiaxi wouldn't do such a thing outside. He only has Mengyao in his heart..."
"Ask him, ask him properly when he gets back, what does he want to do! Finding a woman like this outside, is he deliberately trying to humiliate our Yao Yao, or to humiliate us!" Wu Xiufang accused sternly.
Jiaxi’s mother was startled by Wu Xiufang, but still refused to believe it, "How could that be?"
"If you don't believe me, go see that woman named Tong Xiaoli yourself," Wu Xiufang said coldly. "The woman's address is on the back of the photo. What I want you to do is very simple: you go talk to that woman. No matter what method you use, you must make that woman leave Jiaxi, and not allow them to have any further connection."
Jiaxi’s mother quickly said, "If this is true, you don't need to say it, I will do it."
As she spoke, she put the photo into her bag, thinking that if this were true, how could she face Mengyao with any dignity today. She then took her leave.
After Jiaxi’s mother returned, she intended to question Jiaxi immediately, but on second thought, she decided to meet the woman named Tong Xiaoli first to see what was really going on.
The next day, she found an excuse to have Jiaxi go to her parents' house to deliver some things.
She followed the address on the back of the photo and rang the doorbell at the apartment.
The person who opened the door was indeed the girl in the photo. Seeing her in person, she was a bit more delicate than in the photo, but her looks were far inferior to Mengyao's, and her demeanor seemed ordinary.
She didn't understand why Jiaxi, if he was going to find a woman outside, would choose someone so unremarkable.
Tong Xiaoli saw the middle-aged woman staring at her without speaking and spoke first, "Hello, who are you looking for? Did you have the wrong door?"
"I'm looking for you. I am Hong Jiaxi's mother."
Tong Xiaoli looked at Jiaxi’s mother, momentarily too nervous to speak. Recovering herself, she said, "Please come in... Auntie, would you like something to drink?"
"Call me Mrs. Hong," Jiaxi’s mother said, entering the apartment with a stern face. She didn't sit down but walked around, noticing that it was indeed a place for two people. The toiletries in the bathroom were all brands that Jiaxi liked.
Tong Xiaoli still poured a cup of water for Jiaxi’s mother, wondering if Jiaxi knew about this and if she should send him a message.
Before taking the water out, she sent Jiaxi a message, "Your mom is here, do you know?"
After sending it, she quickly put away her phone and brought the cup of water to Jiaxi’s mother, "Mrs. Hong, please drink."
Jiaxi’s mother did not take the cup of water she offered, pushing her hand away. She lost her grip, and the cup fell to the floor, spilling water everywhere and shattering.
"Tell me, how much money do you want to break up with Jiaxi completely?" Jiaxi’s mother, seeing her reaction, knew that something inappropriate had already happened between her and Jiaxi.
Tong Xiaoli’s eyes instantly reddened. She knelt on the ground and said, "Mrs. Hong, I don't want money. I just want to stay by Jiaxi's side, it doesn't matter if I don't have a formal title."
"Get up, that's impossible," Jiaxi’s mother said coldly. "Jiaxi is married, and even if he weren't, our Hong family cannot let him be with a woman like you. I'm here today to talk to you. As long as you leave him, you can still get some money..."
"I don't want money!" Tong Xiaoli, tears streaming down her face, looked up at her and said, "Unless Jiaxi doesn't want me anymore, no one can make me leave him."
Jiaxi’s mother was not moved at all and said indifferently, "If you miss this opportunity, you will get nothing, and you will still have to leave Jiaxi. Don't blame me for being heartless."
Tong Xiaoli cried and hugged Jiaxi’s mother’s leg, pleading, "As long as I can stay by his side, I don't care about anything else..."
Jiaxi’s mother kicked her away, only then realizing that Jiaxi was entangled with this woman and that making her leave Jiaxi might be troublesome.
How could this child get involved with such a bewitching woman?
Jiaxi’s mother was furious, grinding her teeth. She kicked Tong Xiaoli in the chest again and threatened her, "This is not up to you. Get out of here immediately and leave Jiaxi!"
As soon as she finished speaking, the apartment door was suddenly opened from the outside. It was Jiaxi who had rushed over.
He happened to see Tong Xiaoli kneeling on the broken glass on the floor, leaning backward, with one hand also resting on the glass shards.
She looked like someone who had suffered greatly, making people feel very sorry for her.
"Mom, what are you doing?" Jiaxi rushed to Tong Xiaoli’s side, bent down to help her up, and checked the injuries on her hands and knees.
Jiaxi’s mother had intended to find him after returning home. Seeing him arrive on his own now, she was furious and reached out to hit him, "You scoundrel, how could you do such a thing? Are you worthy of Mengyao? Do you know that the Huangfu family knows about this? Are you trying to make our Hong family their enemy?"
She hit Jiaxi’s back several times, but it still didn't appease her anger. Did this brat not understand how serious this matter was?
"Mom, Mom! Stop hitting me, can't we talk properly?" Jiaxi shielded Tong Xiaoli and turned to shout at his mother.
Jiaxi’s mother was stunned to see her son yelling at her for this woman, and said with great heartache, "You are... bewitched!"
Seeing that his mother had finally stopped, Jiaxi picked up Tong Xiaoli, looked at his mother, and said, "You go back first. I'll take her to the hospital to get bandaged. I'll talk to you later when we get back."
After saying that, he left with Tong Xiaoli, not waiting for his mother to scold him further.
Jiaxi’s mother sat on the sofa, furious. It seemed impossible to explain this to Wu Xiufang. Since Jiaxi had done such a shameless thing, she could only divorce Mengyao.
She felt too ashamed to go to the Huangfu family again. She had to go back and discuss it with Jiaxi’s father to see if they should tell the old man and let him find a solution.
Jiaxi’s mother sat on the sofa to rest for a while. Recovering herself, she left the apartment and returned to the Hong family.
...
Jiaxi took Tong Xiaoli to the hospital. The surgeon removed the glass shards from her palm and knees. To prevent her wounds from becoming inflamed, she was asked to have a blood test.
The doctor needed to see her blood test results to determine what anti-inflammatory medication to use.
While waiting for the blood test results, Tong Xiaoli timidly asked, "Jiaxi, your mother already knows about us. She won't let us be together anymore. We... we..."
"I'm sorry, we shouldn't see each other anymore." Jiaxi knew clearly that without a complete break with her, he could not gain the forgiveness of the Huangfu family and Mengyao.
No matter what, he would not divorce Mengyao.
Tong Xiaoli felt as if she had fallen into an abyss. She hadn't expected Jiaxi to have already made up his mind, and so resolutely.
She suppressed her inner dissatisfaction and resentment, smiled, and said, "Okay, I'll listen to you. I won't disturb your life anymore."
Her obedient compliance pained him.