“What?” Lin Baoguo stepped into the room just in time to hear what his daughter had said—Fang Shijun already had a son?! If that was true, this marriage absolutely could not happen!
“…Dad,” Lin Ruyuan said, looking at the middle-aged man standing at the door with a fierce presence. Her nose tingled, her voice choked, and she ran forward to hug him.
Compared to her mother’s warm embrace, her father’s hug felt even more secure.
Ever since their two daughters had grown up, Lin Baoguo hadn’t hugged them like this.
Seeing his youngest daughter with red, tearful eyes, full of grievance, his heart melted completely.
He patted her back comfortingly with his large hand. “Don’t be afraid. Dad’s here. Anyone who dares to let my precious daughter suffer will not get away with it!”
Lin Ruyuan took a deep breath and said steadily, “I want to annul the engagement. I’m not marrying him!”
“Good!” Lin Baoguo nodded without hesitation. “Annul it!” If Fang Shijun already had a child, there was no way this marriage could continue!
After hearing the whole story of what happened today, Zhao Guixiang and Lin Baoguo both looked more and more grim.
There was definitely something shady going on between Fang Shijun and Bai Jingshu!
Even if the twins weren’t Fang Shijun’s, the Fang family was clearly not a family they could trust.
This marriage had to be called off!
“First, quickly take off those wet clothes. Mother will make you a bowl of ginger soup to warm you up,” Zhao Guixiang said, wiping away her tears. Annuling the marriage before it happened was still not too late—it was actually a blessing in disguise. Otherwise, once her daughter married in, who knew how badly she would be treated.
Lin Ruyuan still fell ill.
That night she developed a high fever, and her parents took turns giving her medicine and caring for her, busy until midnight.
All night, Lin Ruyuan drifted in and out of fevered dreams, reliving memories from her past life.
The next morning, seeing that she was feeling a bit better, Lin Baoguo asked, “When do you want to go annul the engagement? We’ll do whatever you want.”
“Today!” Lin Ruyuan said hoarsely. Today, the engagement must be ended!
“Good!” Lin Baoguo nodded. “After breakfast, we’ll go.”
Breakfast was simple tomato-and-egg noodles—Lin Ruyuan’s favorite. Zhao Guixiang had added two eggs just for her, while leaving none in the parents’ bowls.
In the 1980s, eggs were a luxury, and the family’s income relied solely on Lin Baoguo’s odd jobs.
Lin Ruyuan had just gotten into university a couple of years prior, which had put even more pressure on the family’s finances.
Thinking of this, her eyes darkened. In her previous life, the Fang family had valued her abilities and insisted she study finance, so that after graduation she could better manage their family business.
Meanwhile, she had been working hard to support her own family, while the Fang family had been using her money to support their illegitimate children.
“Xiao Yuan…”
Suddenly, an infuriating voice cut through the room, instantly ruining the mood for the family of three.
Fang Shijun walked in as if he owned the place. “Wow, Auntie, your noodles smell amazing! Did you make any for me?”
Today, Fang Shijun seemed completely different from yesterday—was he trying to brush off the unpleasantness from before?
“Get out!” Lin Baoguo slammed his chopsticks down on the table and pointed at the door, letting Fang Shijun know he wasn’t welcome.
“What’s wrong, Uncle?” Fang Shijun pretended not to understand. Seeing no one respond, he changed his tone. “I just remembered—Xiao Yuan, are you still upset about yesterday? I apologize. The little boy was mischievous; there’s no need to take it personally. He even had a high fever last night—he got his lesson!”
Fang Shijun tried to move closer to sit next to Lin Ruyuan, but Lin Baoguo shoved him far away.
Fang Shijun staggered but managed to steady himself, a flicker of impatience crossing his eyes.
“Uncle, Auntie, it’s really just a misunderstanding. I came specifically to apologize today.”
“Misunderstanding? You’ve already created two lives! And you dare talk about ‘misunderstanding’ to me?”
Lin Baoguo couldn’t believe he hadn’t realized this kid could lie so shamelessly! Stubborn as a mule!
Fang Shijun’s chest tightened. “What?”
“The twins Bai Jingshu gave birth to… they’re yours, aren’t they?” Lin Ruyuan said bluntly.
“Fang Shijun, even if you deny it now, it won’t matter. Those twins look more and more like you.”
Her voice was calm, her brow raised. “You’re a grown man! Can’t you take some responsibility? Ding Ziqiang knows as well—these two children aren’t his. Otherwise, why do you think Bai Jingshu gets beaten every time?”
Fang Shijun knew exactly what had happened.
Before he got engaged to Lin Ruyuan, he and Bai Jingshu had feelings for each other.
But his grandfather forced him to marry Lin Ruyuan, and Bai Jingshu, heartbroken, married Ding Ziqiang.
Later, he found out she had already been pregnant with his children, and that Ding Ziqiang treated her horribly, often beating her. He had wanted to divorce them and bring Bai Jingshu and her children back.
But he couldn’t—his grandfather had said, “If he doesn’t marry Lin Ruyuan, I’d rather donate the family inheritance to the state than give it to them.”
Fang Shijun had no choice. He had to console himself that Lin Ruyuan wasn’t worthless—her role was to make money, so he could support Bai Jingshu and the children.
But only the three of them knew the truth. Not even his grandfather noticed anything amiss. How had Lin Ruyuan found out?!
Fang Shijun froze, running through all the events in his mind.
He didn’t know what to say. After a long pause, he stammered, “No… they can’t possibly be my children…”
“You know the truth,” Lin Ruyuan said, deliberately pausing. “But if you keep denying it, who knows if Bai Jingshu will be beaten to death by Ding Ziqiang?”
Fang Shijun swallowed hard. “…”
“There’s nothing more to say to him!” Lin Baoguo said, seeing the look on his face—it was an admission.
Fang Shijun remained dumbfounded as he was dragged to the Fang family courtyard, still not fully comprehending what had just happened.
The Fang patriarch looked at the fierce Lin family and then at his grandson, his face falling. “This brat has upset Ruyuan again?”
Lin Baoguo said nothing, instead looking at the elder next to the patriarch, signaling silently.
There were outsiders present.
Elder Qin cleared his throat, his gaze sharp. “Old Fang, whatever you say, I’ll pretend I didn’t hear it.”
The Fang patriarch figured it was fine to speak freely here. No outsiders.
“Baoguo, what exactly happened?”
“Fang Chief, today my daughter wants to annul her engagement with your grandson. From now on, our families will have nothing to do with each other,” Lin Baoguo said, his voice deep and resolute.