Chapter 100: Splitting the Family, Leaving

Chapter 100: Chapter 100: Splitting the Family, Leaving

Her heart ached when her daughter and son were bullied by Zhao Huilan, but as soon as she defended them, it would only bring on more vicious bullying from Wang Lianhua and Zhao Huilan. She was too weak to protect her children, and they suffered because of it.

If we’re not happy together, then let’s just separate.

"Okay, I want a happy home too. I promise you, we’ll live a good life from now on," Xia Yingyu said, choking back sobs. "I used to always try to force our two families into one, but it never worked. I couldn’t do it. After everything that’s happened, after all we’ve been through, we can’t take any more of this drama. If you still want things to be like they were before, I don’t have the courage to go on with you."

"I understand, I know," Zhao Jinghai said. "From now on, we’ll live our lives well and stop thinking about other people. The children are grown and have their own ideas; if we say too much, we’ll just annoy them. I promise you, I will treat Nuanyang and Nuanyue with respect. Even if we face another dangerous situation, I won’t do what I did this time. Believe me, it will never happen again."

"Fine, I’ll trust you one more time. Zhao Jinghai, you can’t disappoint me again," Xia Yingyu said gravely. She didn’t have the courage to leave Zhao Jinghai, nor did she want the child in her belly to be without a father, so she chose to keep the peace, to give in, to escape. At the same time, she couldn’t bear to part with her daughter and son, so she gave them the house. This way, she could lessen some of her guilt.

Zhao Jinghai nodded repeatedly and said gratefully, "Thank you, Yingyu."

Xia Yingyu and Zhao Jinghai went straight to the sub-district office for the area where the large courtyard house in Jincheng City was located. They presented the letter of introduction and relevant documents and obtained a file. Then they went to the property registration office to transfer the property directly into Zhao Nuanyang’s and Zhao Nuanyue’s names.

By evening, Zhao Nuanyue had the ownership documents for the courtyard house her father had left behind.

"Jinghai, wait outside for a moment. I have something to say to Nuanyue," Xia Yingyu said softly. There were some things that, if left unsaid, might affect their relationship. She still wanted to win back the hearts of her daughter and son.

"Alright, I’ll wait for you outside," Zhao Jinghai said gently. He understood Zhao Nuanyue. Although she hated him, her stepfather, both she and Zhao Nuanyang still had some genuine affection for Xia Yingyu.

The room held only mother and daughter. Xia Yingyu sat gently on the edge of Zhao Nuanyue’s bed. "Nuanyue, I’m sorry. I didn’t divorce Zhao Jinghai. I’ve disappointed you. The house is yours now. From now on, you and Nuanyang take care of yourselves."

Zhao Nuanyue’s eyes reddened. Although she was disappointed, she had long guessed this would be the outcome, so she wasn’t surprised.

But when Zhao Nuanyue saw the property ownership documents, she felt a thrill of excitement. She had finally gotten back what belonged to them—the only thing their father had left them.

In her past life, Zhao Jinghai’s family had lived there, acting all high and mighty, while she wasn’t even allowed to live in the house that should have been hers.

Zhao Nuanyue looked closely at the documents, wiped her tears, and said with a choked voice, "Father’s spirit in heaven will be happy."

"Yes, what happened this time has made you and Nuanyang resent this family, but at my age, I can’t take any more drama. If I got a divorce, the child in my belly would be fatherless. Even if I remarried, this child would be a burden and might suffer the same pain you two have. That’s why I chose to keep the peace this time."

Xia Yingyu spoke with resignation, her large eyes misting over as two streams of tears rolled down.

When Zhao Nuanyue cried, she looked somewhat like Xia Yingyu—a tragic, beautiful sight, like pear blossoms in the rain.

Wang Lianhua was right. Zhao Jinghai was only in love with Xia Yingyu’s looks, with her beauty. That was why he fought so hard to save their family this time.

"Actually, I knew what you would choose long ago, because this is what you’ve always done," Zhao Nuanyue said, her voice thick with emotion. "Even though you feel sorry for us, you also feel for Zhao Jinghai. He’s your man, and especially now that you’re carrying his child, the scales were always going to tip in his favor."

Hearing her daughter’s words, Xia Yingyu was overwhelmed with guilt and stammered, "I’m... I’m sorry... I... I..."

"Mom, you don’t have to be sorry. You have your own life. Nuanyang and I respect your choice and your life. After all, we’re grown up now, and we’ll have our own lives too, so please take care of yourself." Wiping the tears from her face, Zhao Nuanyue continued, her voice still choked, "Nuanyang and I are being discharged tomorrow. Please pack up the bundle you brought for us and bring it over. Tomorrow, we’re going straight to our home in the city. That is where my and Nuanyang’s home is now."

Hearing her daughter’s words, Xia Yingyu’s face was once again streaked with tears. She wanted to say something more, but she swallowed the words before they could escape. At this moment, all words were pale and meaningless.

This was no longer her son and daughter’s home; their home was the courtyard house in Jincheng City. In their hearts, she was no longer as important as she once was.

"Okay..." By transferring the house to Zhao Nuanyang and Zhao Nuanyue’s names, Xia Yingyu had, in fact, tacitly agreed to Zhao Jinghai’s idea and separated her household from Zhao Nuanyue and Zhao Nuanyang’s.

When Xia Yingyu came out of Zhao Nuanyue’s hospital room, her eyes were red.

"It’s all my fault. I’m the one who failed and made you so sad," Zhao Jinghai said, apologizing profusely. But deep down, he was secretly delighted. ’Those two little bastards are finally out of my hair, no longer buzzing around and annoying me.’

’From now on, Xia Yingyu’s heart can finally be at ease and focused on him, and they can live a good life together.’

After returning home that evening, Xia Yingyu packed up Zhao Nuanyue’s and Zhao Nuanyang’s belongings. She then gathered some of the family’s ration tickets and money, putting a large amount of them into the bundle.

The next day, Xia Yingyu came to the hospital, accompanied by Zhao Jinghai.

"Nuanyue, will you... will you come back for the New Year?" Xia Yingyu asked softly. Deep down, she still hoped her daughter could be by her side, or at least come back for the holidays.

Zhao Nuanyue gently shook her head. "Mom, Nuanyang isn’t doing well. The shock and trauma from this incident have caused his mental state, which was just starting to improve, to worsen again. After we get back to Jincheng City, I’ll buy a few things and then take him back to Nianqiao Village. I hope he can recover quickly there."

Turning to look at the somewhat blank expression on Zhao Nuanyang’s face, Xia Yingyu felt a sharp, twisting pain in her heart. When her son had first come back, he would still talk to her and smile gently, almost like a normal person.

But now? After being imprisoned and brutally beaten, his condition seemed even worse than before.

"Oh... then you two take care. From now on, I’ll send your father’s pension to you and Nuanyang every month," Xia Yingyu said through her tears. She then gently hugged her daughter, and then her son.