Hearing Yang Chen's words, Qin Xi suddenly felt a pang of guilt.
But then she thought of the three lives lost in the Xiong family, and her expression hardened again. With a complicated look, she said to Yang Chen, "I just don't want you to do anything illegal because of me."
Yang Chen knew Qin Xi was kind-hearted and didn't explain further, simply replying, "I understand."
The Volkswagen Phaeton drove toward Lantian Kindergarten in silence. Neither spoke—Yang Chen because he didn't know what to say, and Qin Xi because she regretted her harsh words but didn't know how to apologize.
However, when they picked up Xiao Xiao, the little girl quickly lifted their spirits with her antics.
Back at the Qin family home, Xiao Xiao excitedly announced, "Grandma, Daddy picked me up again today!"
Zhou Yucui immediately caught the word "again" and her face darkened. She glared at Qin Xi and demanded, "Don't tell me Yang Chen has been picking you and Xiao Xiao up these past few days?"
Qin Xi frowned, displeased. "Mom, he's just giving us rides. Besides, he's Xiao Xiao's father—what's wrong with that?"
"What's wrong?" Zhou Yucui snapped. "You're a high-level executive at Sanhe Group now! There are so many eligible bachelors who want to marry you. If you keep dragging things out with Yang Chen, how are you supposed to remarry?"
Knowing her mother's deep-seated prejudice against Yang Chen, Qin Xi ignored her and took Xiao Xiao upstairs.
"Mom, I'm home!" Qin Yi walked in after work.
Seeing Zhou Yucui's stormy expression, Qin Yi smiled and asked, "Who upset you this time?"
Zhou Yucui shot her a glare. "That good-for-nothing, of course! Your sister's acting like she's under a spell, letting him chauffeur her around every day. If those wealthy young heirs see this, who'd still want to marry her?"
Qin Yi finally understood and couldn't help but recall how respectfully Luo Bin and Su Chengwu had treated Yang Chen at Beiyuanchun Restaurant. She gave a bitter smile. "Mom, don't meddle in Sis's affairs. Yang Chen isn't as useless as you think."
"Meddle? Wait—what did you just call him?" Zhou Yucui's eyes widened.
Qin Yi hadn't realized her slip. "Brother-in-law."
"Have you all lost your minds? Your sister lets him drive her around, and now you're calling him 'brother-in-law'? Are you trying to kill me?" Zhou Yucui fumed.
"Mom!" Qin Yi quickly massaged her mother's shoulders, trying to placate her. "Mom, fortunes change. Just because Yang Chen was useless five years ago doesn't mean he still is. If Sis doesn't want a divorce, why not give them time? If he really is still a loser, she'll kick him out herself. But what if he's changed? Maybe one day, he'll become your golden son-in-law, right?"
Zhou Yucui couldn't argue with that logic but still grumbled, "You and your clever tongue. Anyone can marry my daughter—except that loser. And if I hear you call him 'brother-in-law' again, don't blame me for what happens."
"Alright, Mom, I got it. I'm starving—is dinner ready?" Qin Yi grinned.
"Having daughters like you two must be my punishment from a past life," Zhou Yucui muttered, heading to the kitchen.
Upstairs, Xiao Xiao's eyes welled up with tears. "Mommy, why does Grandma hate Daddy? I want Daddy to live with us and tell me stories every night."
Qin Xi's heart ached. While Zhou Yucui had always pushed for divorce, the fact that Yang Chen wasn't living with them was largely her own doing.
She no longer disliked Yang Chen and even felt a faint warmth toward him, but living together was still a hurdle she couldn't overcome.
"Xiao Xiao, don't worry. One day, we'll all live together with Daddy," Qin Xi said softly, wiping her daughter's tears.
"Really?" Xiao Xiao's eyes sparkled with hope.
Not wanting to lie, Qin Xi hesitated before nodding firmly. "Really."
"Yay! Mommy, I love you! And I love Daddy!" Xiao Xiao beamed, planting a kiss on Qin Xi's cheek.
---
The next morning, Yang Chen arrived punctually at the Qin family gate.
But instead of Qin Xi and Xiao Xiao, he was greeted by his mother-in-law wielding a broom.
"You scoundrel! How dare you keep pestering Xiao Xi? I'll beat you to death!" Zhou Yucui swung the broom wildly.
With Yang Chen's skills, a broom was no threat. He stood his ground, letting her hit him. After a few strikes, Zhou Yucui paused, puzzled. "Are you stupid? Why aren't you dodging?"
Yang Chen smiled warmly. "If I dodged, you'd only get angrier. As long as you let me be with Xiao Xi, you can hit me as much as you want."
"In your dreams!" Zhou Yucui scoffed.
Her gaze then fell on the black sedan parked beside Yang Chen. It looked sleek, but when she spotted the Volkswagen logo, she sneered. "A lousy Volkswagen, and you think you're worthy of my daughter?"
Unfazed, Yang Chen asked, "Mom, what do I need to do for you to accept me and Xiao Xi being together?"
Zhou Yucui's eyes gleamed. "If you can give me 50,000 yuan every month as living expenses, I'll *consider* letting you stay with her."
"Mom, you mean it?" Yang Chen's face lit up.
Zhou Yucui snorted. "Do you think earning 50,000 a month is easy?"
Without another word, Yang Chen opened the car door, pulled out five stacks of crisp hundred-yuan bills from the glove compartment, and handed them to her.
"Mom, here's 50,000 for you. I'll give you more next month."
Zhou Yucui's jaw dropped. In her eyes, Yang Chen was a worthless loser—she'd only thrown out the number to mock him. Yet here he was, handing her cash.
"This… this is really for me?" She snatched the money, clutching it tightly.
Yang Chen nodded. "It's yours. As long as you let me be with Xiao Xi, next month I'll give you 100,000."
"Deal!" Zhou Yucui agreed instantly, afraid he'd change his mind.
Yang Chen was stunned. If he'd known money would solve things, he'd have done it sooner. A few million? A few billion? Worthless compared to being with his wife and daughter.
"Mom, what are you doing?" Qin Xi emerged with Xiao Xiao, glaring at her mother.
Zhou Yucui hastily stuffed the money into her apron and coughed. "Xiao Xi, I've reconsidered. Yang Chen *is* Xiao Xiao's father. He can stay with us for now."
"What?" Qin Xi was floored. No one knew Zhou Yucui's hatred for Yang Chen better than her.
Zhou Yucui huffed. "I'm only allowing it temporarily. If he misbehaves, he's out."
With that, she hurried inside.
Xiao Xiao cheered. "Mommy, you didn't lie! Daddy *can* live with us!"
The little girl's words betrayed Qin Xi, whose face flushed. She scolded, "Get in the car, or we'll be late!"
She quickly ushered Xiao Xiao into the car, leaving Yang Chen grinning. "Seems Xiao Xiao let something slip."
After dropping Xiao Xiao at kindergarten and Qin Xi at Sanhe Group, Yang Chen drove off, humming cheerfully.
---
At the office, Wang Meng slammed a stack of documents onto Qin Xi's desk. "Copy these twenty times. I need them for a meeting."
When Qin Xi returned with the copies, Wang Meng flipped through them and angrily knocked them to the floor. "Is *this* how you make copies?"
"Is there a problem?" Qin Xi picked one up—nothing was wrong.
"I wanted single-sided copies! Who told you to do double-sided? If you can't even handle this, why are you still here?" Wang Meng snarled.
Qin Xi finally understood—this was deliberate harassment.
"Wang Meng, if you think I don't belong here, take it up with HR. There's no need for these games."
Wang Meng's face twisted. "Oh, so now you're talking back? You're not the high-and-mighty chairwoman anymore. You work under *me* now. If you can't take it, quit!"
Qin Xi's eyes reddened. "What did I ever do to you? If it weren't for me, would you even be here?"
*Slap!*
Wang Meng struck Qin Xi across the face. "Shut up!"