“He’s already dead.”
“Even if he’s dead, I’m willing to remain a widow for him for the rest of my life!”
The man Lin Miaomiao was talking about was the young man who had helped her leave the city back then.
He was a city dweller who had met her while visiting relatives in the countryside. When Lin Miaomiao heard he was about to return to the city, she asked him to take her along to find work.
However, he passed away not long after due to illness.
It was unclear who spread the rumor, but among the many people who had left with him to find work back then, she alone was accused of abandoning Lu Yanzhou for a city man and running off with someone else.
Lin Miaomiao found it utterly baffling.
But it didn’t matter anymore.
After all, so many years had passed.
Although she wasn’t sure what his relationship with the female lead was, Lin Miaomiao had no intention of getting involved with him.
Lu Yanzhou withdrew his hand, staring at her coldly, his gaze as if he wanted to devour her.
Lin Miaomiao understood that he might be furious because he felt humiliated by his ex-wife being with another man. But wasn’t she also proving that she would never interfere with his relationship with the female lead?
His earlier actions—saying she didn’t deserve her position—weren’t they meant to make her back down and stay out of his sight?
If it weren’t for Yu Meijing, Lin Miaomiao might have given up long ago.
But looking back now, why should she? After struggling for so many years to earn this opportunity, why should she be the one to back down?
She hadn’t done anything wrong, and she had already made it clear she wouldn’t interfere with him and the female lead. Why should she be the one to leave?
“Lin Miaomiao, don’t you regret this!”
He threw down the words, his face dark as he turned and left, afraid that if he stayed any longer, he might strangle her.
The door slammed shut with a bang. Lin Miaomiao’s eyes dimmed. Regret?
If she regretted anything, it was ever getting involved with him.
Fearing his retaliation and worrying that, as in the novel, her family would suffer because of her, she had even dared not stay in close contact with them.
When she was pregnant, she didn’t dare tell her family, afraid he would find out.
Having always relied on her family since childhood, she had gritted her teeth and persevered, making it this far.
Finally, after enduring until he left, she thought she could go home.
But she never expected her parents’ biological daughter to return.
She no longer had any reason to go back.
How could she not regret it?
…
In the factory director’s office, Shen Bing brought over a stack of documents. “This factory of yours is really complicated. I didn’t realize how bad it was until I looked into it—the number of people involved in embezzlement and bribery is at least this many.”
He gestured with his hand.
“What were you thinking, taking on such a mess? Being a factory director—what’s the point?”
Lu Yanzhou’s voice was low and cold. “Get to the point.”
“What’s wrong with you?” Shen Bing thought his tone was unusually harsh. “Did you swallow a bomb?”
“Aside from Lin Miaomiao, I’ve never seen anyone else get you this worked up,” Shen Bing muttered.
Seeing the man’s dark expression and silence, Shen Bing didn’t dare ask further. He could only honestly report the factory’s situation.
After talking until his mouth was dry, with no one offering him a cup of tea, he poured one for himself and continued, “That’s pretty much it. There shouldn’t be any major issues, but with so many people involved, it’s messy.”
“Though for you, it shouldn’t be a problem.”
After finishing, he glanced again at Lu Yanzhou’s expressionless face and said, “By the way, did you know that Lin Miaomiao moved away? I heard from Wang Defa that she took the child and left, no idea where she went.”
“She really had it rough…” he sighed, speaking while watching Lu Yanzhou’s expression.
Lu Yanzhou’s face turned icy: “Do you have nothing better to do?”
Shen Bing was both angry and amused—who was he doing this for, anyway?
Wasn’t he afraid that Lu Yanzhou would worry about something happening to Lin Miaomiao, which was why he had asked Wang Defa about her?
Otherwise, what business was it of his!
“I’m just worried you might be concerned? And you don’t even appreciate it.”
“Why would I be worried about her?”
Shen Bing was left speechless. “If you’re not worried about her, why did you refuse to leave back then?”
“Even though she was wrong to run off with someone else, given your situation at the time… it was normal for her to look down on you. After all, the dazzling world can be tempting.”
“So many men in the village had their wives run off, but who else is like you?”
“Since you can’t let go, and now her husband has passed away, why not seize this opportunity?”
“At worst, you’d just be a free dad.”
“She’s good-looking. I don’t know about others, but that kid Wang Defa saw her twice and has been daydreaming about her ever since. If you don’t make a move soon, someone else will snatch her away…”
Shen Bing couldn’t stand watching any longer.
He knew better than anyone that Lu Yanzhou couldn’t let go of Lin Miaomiao. Back when Lin Miaomiao divorced him, he refused to leave for so long.
After returning to the city, the Lu family tried every means to set him up on blind dates, but he never agreed to any.
He still treated Lin Miaomiao as his wife.
He even told others he was already married…
What a shameless guy.
He acted like he didn’t care, but he cared to death!
Now that he’s finally found her, and her ex-husband is gone.
Such a great opportunity, and he still won’t cherish it.
If he weren’t his good brother, afraid he’d end up truly alone, Shen Bing wouldn’t even bother with him.
“Finished?”
“Then get lost.”
Shen Bing nearly choked on his tea.
“Fine, fine, I’ll go.”
“Keep acting like this, and sooner or later you’ll ruin yourself…”
…
It must be said that since Lu Yanzhou took office, the situation at the factory had been getting better and better.
Those leaders who used to look down on everyone or those who relied on connections to slack off and bully employees were now all on edge. In contrast, employees with real skills but no backing felt much more at ease.
No longer did they have to grovel to please leaders or colleagues.
The once high-profile connections were now keeping lower profiles than ever.
Afraid that one wrong move would draw attention.
Although many people had been fired, it didn’t have much impact on the factory. Instead, it created opportunities for many skilled but previously suppressed employees without connections.
Even the previously always in-demand staff dormitory now had many vacancies.
Everyone was busy trying to stand out, hoping to climb up using this opportunity.
Those who dared to send fruits, alcohol, or money to Lu Yanzhou were reportedly thrown out of the factory.
His methods were ruthless and showed no mercy!
At this point, there was only one day left until the assessment.
After two days of tidying up, although there were still few belongings in the house, it was enough for Lin Miaomiao and A Bao to live.
After telling A Bao a story and waiting for him to fall asleep, Lin Miaomiao left the room, turned on the light, and continued studying.
The last night had arrived. Although Lin Miaomiao had studied extensively, cramming every day, and Yu Meijing had assured her that as long as this year’s exam questions weren’t too difficult, she would be fine, Lin Miaomiao still felt uncertain. She was so anxious she couldn’t sleep; even when she scored twenty points on a math test in elementary school, she hadn’t been this nervous.
Several more hours passed in a flash. Lin Miaomiao dared not delay any longer and quickly climbed into bed to lie down.
That night, she slept poorly.
As soon as she closed her eyes, she began to dream—a dream of when she had first met Lu Yanzhou.
With a haughty expression, she said, “You’re a bad element, so you should do more work! Reform yourself properly!”