The Little Spoiled Brat Divorces with a Child, Driving the Big Boss Crazy - Chapter 88

Chapter 88

Holding the half cup of Coke she had left behind, Jin Beizhou stared at the message and burst out laughing.

If he had not borrowed Auntie Zhang’s help to rein her in, Lu Ying would hide a little here and a little there. Who knew how much spicy, unhealthy food she would end up eating?

Leaving aside whether it would affect the baby, Lu Ying’s constitution ran warm. A little too much fried or spicy food would immediately make her break out.

She enjoyed herself while she ate, then acted impossibly delicate the moment a pimple appeared.

This woman became as stubborn as an ox whenever she faced him and directed all that bullheadedness at Jin Beizhou. She listened only to her elders. At present, Auntie Zhang was the only person who could control her.

The ice in the Coke melted, covering the cup with misty condensation. Jin Beizhou ran his fingertips across it, caught the straw between his lips, and gave it a lingering kiss.

He knew the gesture made him look like a pervert.

During the years when no fight, however fierce, could separate them, Jin Beizhou had always remained as composed as a meditating monk. He knew Lu Ying had no staying power. She could not even maintain a cold war. One second she would ignore him, and the next she would stare at him resentfully, upset that he had not coaxed her back.

Jin Beizhou knew how to coax her. He would lower his head and apologize, give her gifts, and say gentle things.

But he could not deny that his coaxing had never come entirely from the heart.

Ge Qi had once told him that a fever was only a symptom. Fever-reducing medicine could not cure its underlying cause.

Jin Beizhou’s coaxing had resolved Lu Ying’s emotions in the moment, but it had never addressed the root of those emotions.

Now the delayed consequences had arrived.

Lu Ying no longer wanted him.

No amount of gifts or groveling could coax her back.

Only now did Jin Beizhou belatedly realize that Lu Ying had never been the one unable to live without him. He was the one who could not live without her.

Jin Beizhou knew the truth of his birth. He had grown like rootless duckweed within the Jin Family. It was Lu Ying’s constant pestering and passionately sincere love that gave him a sense of belonging in Beicheng.

A woman cherished by everyone had approached him like brilliant sunshine. With her unwavering love, she had gradually soothed the suspicion and darkness born within him from a turbulent fate.

The Jin Family had given him a second life, but Lu Ying had given him a complete soul.

He could not let go.

–

Close to dinnertime, Lu Ying received a call from Ge Qi. Her voice was anxious. “Stay at home. Don’t come out no matter who calls you, and don’t answer any unfamiliar numbers.”

Before she could explain, Ge Qi hung up.

Lu Ying was bewildered and had no idea what had happened.

The next second, a call from a Beicheng number appeared on her phone, exactly as predicted.

After hesitating between answering and ignoring it, Lu Ying chose to heed Ge Qi’s warning and declined the call.

Several different numbers immediately began calling her one after another.

Thoroughly confused, Lu Ying casually selected one and answered.

The Jin Family’s Old Madam, Xi Suling, immediately launched into a shrill tirade. “Do you understand that hiding at home is useless? What do you gain from ruining Meimei’s marriage? You little hussy, earn some virtue for your baby. Be careful you don’t take one wrong step, fall, and miscarry…”

Lu Ying’s adrenaline shot through the roof. She cursed back on instinct. “You’d better stay alive! If you croak now, I’m genuinely afraid you’ll reincarnate in my belly. I have no desire to become your mother!”

“…” Xi Suling’s breathing grew labored as she spoke. “How on earth did your parents raise you…?”

Lu Ying fired back at top speed. “Definitely better than your parents raised you!”

“You… You!”

“You what?” Lu Ying demanded. “If it weren’t for the sake of your daughter-in-law and granddaughter-in-law, I’d curse you until no one could tell whether you were human or beast. Do you have any idea how much you look like the wolf disguised as a grandmother when you pretend to be a noble lady?”

With that, Lu Ying hung up.

Auntie Zhang had no idea what to say.

After several seconds of silence, she cleared her throat. “You should still pay a little attention to prenatal education.”
“I did pay attention,” Lu Ying said aggrievedly. “I didn’t even swear.”

“…” Auntie Zhang was left speechless. “Eat a little more. Cursing someone must take a lot of energy.”

“Not at all.” Lu Ying grinned. “It’s effortless for me.”

Auntie Zhang gave her an exasperated look. “That wasn’t a compliment.”

Lu Ying blinked several times. “I forgot to ask why she was calling.”

“…”

Impressive.

She truly feared nothing and no one. She would curse to her heart’s content first and worry about the consequences later.

“Oh.” Lu Ying thought about it. “She said I ruined Jin Meimei’s marriage. Did another one of Jin Meimei’s marriages fall through?”

Auntie Zhang did not understand. “Another one?”

“Wasn’t the last one supposed to be Jin Beizhou?” Lu Ying muttered. “That didn’t work out either, did it?”

“…We can say that in private,” Auntie Zhang told her, “but don’t say it in front of the Second Young Master.”

If a certain man heard it, his face would turn as black as the bottom of a pot.

Lu Ying curled her lip.

Auntie Zhang asked, “Aren’t you going to tell on her?”

“…” Lu Ying was confused. “Tell who what?”

“Tell the Second Young Master.”

“Why should I tell him about something I can win on my own? Besides… we’re divorced!”

“Oh.” Auntie Zhang’s tone was meaningful. “If you weren’t divorced, would you tell him?”

Lu Ying paused. “Why are you asking me that?”

Auntie Zhang sighed. “Don’t you feel wronged?”

“No,” Lu Ying answered succinctly. “She isn’t my grandmother anymore.”

She was only an outsider. If Lu Ying could defeat her, she would fight. If she could not, she would run. There was no reason to feel wronged.

Auntie Zhang looked worried. “I’m afraid this matter isn’t over.”

Lu Ying did not care. “She doesn’t dare provoke anyone else, so she can only vent her anger on me. Why should I fear someone who’s all bark and no bite?”

Jin Meimei’s marriage had probably fallen through because the Jiao Family wanted to cancel it.

Ge Qi came over as soon as darkness fell.

“I told you not to answer,” Ge Qi said helplessly. “The two elders have been thoroughly humiliated.”

Jiao An’s parents had threatened to kill themselves unless he canceled the engagement. They were willing to forfeit all the betrothal gifts and even compensate the Jin Family.

Unable to withstand the pressure from his parents and the rest of his clan, Jiao An went to the Jin Family, only to be beaten by Old Master Jin as well.

At this point, Ge Qi could not help saying, “He’s stayed devoted to Meimei for so many years, and they were on the verge of finally ending up together. His parents believed he would withstand every kind of pressure for Meimei… But not everyone can do what Xiao Er did.”

“…” Lu Ying froze. “What did Jin Beizhou do?”

Ge Qi’s expression turned complicated. She did not know whether she should explain.

If she did, Lu Ying and Jin Beizhou were already divorced, and it would only burden Lu Ying’s conscience.

But if she did not, it felt as though she were allowing a profound love to be buried and forgotten.

After hesitating repeatedly, Ge Qi looked at her. “The moment news of your grandfather’s illness came out that year, Grandpa immediately opposed your marriage.”

Every marriage of a child in the Jin Family had to pave the way for the family’s future. Lu Ying’s grandfather had a terminal illness and had already disposed of most of the companies and assets under his name. Soon, the Lu Family would consist of Lu Ying alone. Old Master Jin refused to let Jin Beizhou marry an orphan with no family support.

That night, Jin Beizhou knelt in the old master’s study. “She isn’t an orphan. She has me.”

“That’s precisely why this won’t do!” the old master roared. “This marriage must be canceled!”

If Lu Ying’s grandfather had not kept his illness perfectly secret until all his assets were dealt with, the marriage would never have been possible.

Jin Beizhou remained on his knees, repeating the same four words over and over. “I am marrying her.”

By then, even Jin Beizhou’s parents could no longer sway him and had given their consent. Jin Sinian had pleaded on his behalf as well.

Old Master Jin considered the matter for two nights, then summoned Jin Beizhou alone. He demanded that Jin Beizhou agree to several conditions and sign a document.