The shattered pieces on the ground seemed to slap Yi Yang hard.
Since returning to the country, Yi Yang's expression hadn't been good.
He couldn't help but start to ponder the words Xu Xinyi had been thinking before.
He really couldn't believe that someone he had known for more than ten years would be the kind of hypocritical person that Xu Xinyi suspected in her heart.
But everything in front of him forced him to believe it.
Otherwise, how could such an expensive jewelry box break so easily in his hands?
-"Just about managed to escape, if it weren't for this foolish Yi Yang, I wouldn't know how to get away."
-"This dog of a man is quite useful in critical moments."
-"Husband, this is Miss Qin's heartfelt gift, look," Xu Xinyi, with deep regret, picked up a piece of jade bracelet from the ground and reprimanded him, "Just by looking at this small piece, you can see the quality of the jade bracelet. How could you be so careless?"
"Yi Yang, what's going on? Can't even hold on to a jade bracelet?" Madam Yi quickly intervened, smiling at Qin Yan, "Yan Yan, I'm really sorry. Yi Yang has been busy with work recently, running around in and out of the country all the time. He didn't mean it, don't take it to heart. Another day, I'll give you an even better jade bracelet."
Qin Yan certainly wouldn't have any unpleasant verbal dispute with Mrs. Yi over a jade bracelet. She was very understanding, "Auntie, I understand Yi Yang didn't mean it. I've only just returned to the country these days too, still not used to the time difference, and feeling a bit off. As for the jade bracelet... it was meant to be a gift for Xinyi. If you give me a better one, what would it signify?"
Mrs. Yi was very pleased with her words and patted her hand, saying, "You're so considerate."
As the only daughter of the Qin family, a well-known international designer and famous model, Qin Yan had a deep background. The quality of the jade bracelet she gave was really good. Mrs. Yi had seen it before Yi Yang and Xu Xinyi returned.
Mrs. Yi, who had owned countless pieces of jewelry, naturally knew the value of this jade bracelet and initially declined, saying it was too extravagant.
When she said, "Auntie, Yi Yang and I grew up together. I wasn't in the country when Yi Yang got married. I've just returned to the country after all this time. This jade bracelet can be considered a wedding gift from me to Yi Yang and Xinyi. So please don't refuse," Mrs. Yi nodded.
She had known Mrs. Yi since she was a child, Qin Yan knew that Mrs. Yi liked her. Before Yi Yang and Xu Xinyi got married, Mrs. Yi always treated her as her daughter-in-law. But no matter how much Mrs. Yi liked her, it couldn't override Mr. Yi's marriage contract.
But before returning to the country, she inquired and found that Xu Xinyi was stubborn and had a domineering and unruly personality, which Mrs. Yi didn't like. Even Yi Yang and she were just superficially husband and wife, without real affection.
This jade bracelet was just a test, and it turned into a bunch of worthless debris. Qin Yan didn't feel any regret. She only regretted that the jade bracelet didn't break in Xu Xinyi's hands.
"Miss Qin, although this is all Yi Yang's fault, when you return you need to ask the old man who sold you the jade bracelet what's going on. How can a piece of jade bracelet, an easily broken piece of jewelry, be placed so carelessly in the jewelry box?" Xu Xinyi emphasized on 'all Yi Yang's fault.'
-"People are really hypocritical. If I had broken it, who knows how Yi Yang's mother would have chided me. She would unconditionally defend her own son, without even needing an apology."
The atmosphere immediately turned cold.
Being born into a prominent family, Mrs. Yi had seen and experienced many things during her years in the Yi family. She knew it all too well.
She retracted her hand from Qin Yan's back and her smile faded.
Yi Yang said with a dark face, "Sorry, I didn't mean it."
Qin Yan's expression froze for a moment, but then she smiled as if nothing had happened. "It's okay. If Xinyi likes it, I'll send another bracelet over another day."
"How can that be right! This bracelet was broken by Yi Yang. Of course, he should compensate me, and you shouldn't have to pay. Mom, don't you agree?" Mrs. Yi acquiesced.
Xu Xinyi pestered Yi Yang incessantly, "Husband, you broke the jade bracelet that Miss Qin gave me, you owe me...an identical jade bracelet!"
-"At least seven figures!"
Yi Yang stared at her with an unmistakable warning in his eyes and squeezed the words from his throat, "Okay, I'll compensate you!"
"Husband, you're really good!" Xu Xinyi appeared clueless, smiling pleasantly. "Uncle Chen, could you have someone come and sweep up the trash here and throw it out? It wouldn't be good if someone got hurt later."
"..." This speech was a veiled criticism, but it couldn't find fault. Being too petty was too uncomfortable, but swallowing it all was too frustrating.
Qin Yan got up to take her leave, saying, "Auntie, I just came to see you and Uncle. It's getting late, I should go."
She only said she was leaving, without showing any grievance.
Mrs. Yi had someone show Qin Yan out the door, then glanced at Xu Xinyi and Yi Yang. "Yi Yang, come with me."
-"Finally! Maybe it's about forcing Yi Yang to divorce! Mom! Go for it! If this works, you'll be my real mother!"
Yi Yang's steps paused as he turned around and looked at Xinyi, who barely concealed a triumphant smile on her face. "You come here too," he said.
Xinyi: "......"
Seeing Yi Yang and Xinyi entering the study one after the other, Mrs. Yi was about to speak when Yi Yang explained, "We are husband and wife, there's nothing she can't hear."
Mrs. Yi sighed, "Then I'll just be direct. Tell me, are you planning to get a divorce?"
Upon hearing this, Xinyi's heart was so agitated that she couldn't speak.
After a while, "Mom!" Xinyi's voice carried more sincerity than ever before, and tears gushed out, "This matter, you should ask Yi Yang about it."
"Yi Yang, what's going on?"
-"Speak quickly! Tell me you hate me and don't like me. Even if it means severing the mother-son relationship and not inheriting the family property, even if you die, you still want to divorce me!"
Yi Yang's fists clenched, and the veins on his hand back bulged. This woman had been provoking him within his limits of endurance, it was simply infuriating! After taking a deep breath, it took him a long time to calm himself.
He asked, "How did you know about this?"
"How did I know? The company's lawyer informed the old man recuperating in the mountains of this news at the first opportunity. If it wasn't for me discovering and suppressing it first, were you planning to take action without consulting anyone?" Mrs. Yi said, then glanced at Xinyi, "Such a big matter, why didn't you consult me beforehand?"
"Mom, I... I know I've done wrong. I know I'm not as likable as Miss Qin, it's normal for Yi Yang not to like me, but I'll change in the future. Please believe in me, help me persuade Yi Yang, I don't want a divorce..."
Xinyi deliberately mentioned Qin Yan, creating a comparison in Mrs. Yi's mind.
-"See, you have such an outstanding daughter-in-law replacement like Qin Yan, why do you still tolerate me? Hurry, make your son divorce me! Use your mother-son relationship to threaten him! If we don't divorce, sever the mother-son relationship!"
As she spoke, Yi Yang's head suddenly throbbed with pain.
It seemed like he would have a migraine in a couple of days.
"How much property division is involved in a divorce? Such a big matter, and you kept quiet, planning to hide it from us? Have you no regard for me as your mother now that your wings are strong?" - "Well said! This worthless man!"
"Mom, I will handle this matter."
Mrs. Yi scolded angrily, "Handle it? How will you handle it?"
Yi Yang argued, "The property has already been divided by the lawyer. If you're not reassured, I'll have the lawyer explain it to you in a couple of days."
"Explain it to me alone? What about your grandpa? Have you thought about how to explain it to them?"
Xinyi cried skillfully, "Mom, Yi Yang, I don't want a divorce, I don't agree to it, I absolutely won't agree to divorce Yi Yang, even if you agree, grandpa... grandpa won't agree!"
-"Hurry, while grandpa is away, quickly handle the paperwork!"
Yi Yang grit his teeth, "I will personally apologize to grandpa. I can't divorce from this marriage!"
Xinyi was greatly disappointed, tears streaming down, "Yi Yang, do you really hate me like this? I know I'm not as good as Miss Qin, but I have a sincere heart for you. Even though you haven't touched me in these years, you should understand my feelings for you."
"What? Haven't touched..." Mrs. Yi was furious, "Yi Yang! What's going on! You've been married for two years!"
-"I suspect he's impotent and has the evidence, otherwise, why would he ignore such a pretty young girl as me?"
"Mom, don't blame Yi Yang. If he doesn't like me, I don't blame him. Blame only..."
"Shut up!"
"You shut up!"
Xinyi stood by, feeling wronged, tears welling but she remained silent.
-"Clamor over nothing, it turns out Yi Yang's dawdling is a family trait, is this small matter worth arguing about for so long?"
The study fell into silence.
All three calmed down and carefully thought.
Mrs. Yi covered her forehead in thought.
Yi Yang also remained silent.
After a while, Mrs. Yi took a deep breath, recovering her previously composed demeanor, and said slowly, "I don't agree to your divorce. Yi Yang, if you dare to divorce Xinyi, don't ever call me 'mom' again, understood?"
Yi Yang stood there in silence.
Xinyi felt like a bucket of cold water had been poured over her head.
This plot was wrong, how could it be, 'if you dare to divorce, don't call me "mom"'? Why is Mrs. Yi not following the usual pattern?
"The recuperation center said the old man is recovering well and will be back next week. However, the doctor also said the old man can't handle any shocks. Your marriage was also arranged by the old man, you should know how much he's looking forward to it... Do you understand what I mean?"
Xinyi was struck as though by lightning.
She had forgotten about this.
-"Grandpa's health is not good, he can't handle shocks."
-"But... we could get divorced first, then keep it from grandpa. Pretend to be a married couple for a while, anyway, these two years of married life are not much different from a fake one!"
-"I think, Yi Yang should want this too, right?"
She gave Yi Yang a meaningful look.
Lady Yi's tone was heavy as she said, "Yi Yang, you're grown up now, you should have your own sense of propriety. I believe you know how to handle this matter."
Xu Xinyi looked at him hopefully.
Yi Yang looked at her askance. "Do you really want to divorce me?"
Heh.
"I know what to do, Mom, don't worry," Yi Yang said.
Click—
That was the sound of shattered dreams.
Xu Xinyi had a dead look on her face.
----
Xu Xinyi and Yi Yang left the study one after the other. Around the corner, Yi Yang grabbed Xu Xinyi's arm and pulled her into a partially open guest room.
From his elevated position, Yi Yang exuded an inexplicable awe and palpitation, making it hard for others to breathe.
"First, Grandpa's health is not good, so the divorce matter will be postponed," Yi Yang asserted.
Suppressing her sorrow, Xu Xinyi's eyes sparkled with tears as she nodded.
"Then you must remember that," she stressed.
"Second, Grandpa will be back next week, so we have to stay in the old house for a while. During this time, you must not say any nonsense to Grandpa, let alone mention the fact that we haven't consummated the marriage in two years!"
"But we didn't even consummate the marriage..." Xu Xinyi blurted out, aghast.
"The bastard won't make me share a room and a bed with him, right?"
"Would he try to do something to me?"
Xu Xinyi cautiously said, "Honey, isn't this a bit inconvenient? The old house is far from the city, and you're busy with work. It's not convenient to live there. How about this—I'll take care of Grandpa there for you, and you..."
"Xu Xinyi, don't think I don't know what you're thinking! Don't worry, I'm not interested in you. I absolutely won't touch you," Yi Yang interrupted.
Xu Xinyi blinked.
"Is that so? Can you also hear what I'm thinking? Can you hear me calling you? You jerk! Useless man! You’ve delayed my pig, my precious cabbage! Street rascal! Can you hear me, you deadbeat?!"
"Xu Xinyi!!!"
---