After the divorce, my ex-husband and son lined up to pursue me.

Chapter 17 Don't even think about getting a divorce
Ruan Muhuai took a deep breath, his complex and gloomy eyes shrouding her.

Jiang Xia was right.

From the moment she became pregnant with Chaochao, he was destined to owe her for the rest of his life.

For a woman, as a wife, bearing children is not an obligation, but a sacrifice she willingly makes despite knowing the hardships and risks of pregnancy and childbirth.

As a husband, I should not only be grateful, but also do my best to take care of and protect her for the rest of her life.

We deserve her efforts and are worthy of her sacrifices.

And Nguyen Nguyen Dynasty...

Ruan Muhuai didn't want to mention it anymore.

He understands all the道理 (principles/reasons), but he can't give Jiang Xia true love, and he doesn't want to make everything clear. Anyway, isn't it enough to just do his job well?

Ruan Muhuai closed his eyes for a long time before speaking again, his voice noticeably softer: "Once Chaochao is better, I will discipline him, and he will apologize to you."

"I don't need it anymore." Jiang Xia's voice was weak and full of exhaustion. She waved her hand, but she couldn't break free from Ruan Muhuai's grasp.

Ruan Muhuai tightened his grip on her wrist: "Jiang Xia, our son is the child of both of us. Even if he has made a mistake, it's not unforgivable, is it? Do you have to be so serious about a child who is only a few years old?"

“It’s not worth it…” Jiang Xia nodded in agreement, then said coldly, “I’m having a fit, okay! Let go! Ruan Muhuai, let go of me!”

Ruan Muhuai not only didn't let go, but also grabbed her other struggling hand, "Aren't you done yet? Are you really going to get so angry with your own son?"

"After a few days, when Chaochao is feeling better, can I have him kneel in the ancestral hall at the old house? Until you're satisfied, is that enough?!"

"You..." Jiang Xia's anger surged again, but she stopped herself from saying the fierce words. In the end, she forced herself to only utter a light "Whatever!"

No matter what, she won't change her mind.

She poured all her heart and soul into this father and son, draining her of everything. And the Jiang Xia they wanted had already been... killed by their own hands over the past few years.

Jiang Xia didn't want to say another word. She gritted her teeth and struggled, and just as Ruan Muhuai's phone rang in his pocket, she mustered all her strength to push him away and walked away indifferently.

Ruan Muhuai instinctively tried to chase after him, but the phone that had been hung up rang again.

Frustrated, he reluctantly answered the call.

Xin Rou's anxious voice came over: "I just got here. Why is Chaochao crying? He says his mother hit him. What happened?"

"fine."

Ruan Muhuai gave a perfunctory reply and was about to hang up when he heard Xin Rou say again on the phone, "Hey, Sister Jiang Xia?"

"Great, you're finally home! But why is Chaochao saying you hit him? He's been a little sick these past few days and in a bad mood, but kids will be kids, they don't always know how to speak properly..."

Before Xin Rou could continue, Jiang Xia interrupted her coldly: "Judging from your tone, it sounds like you're the one who's his biological mother, the lady of the house."

Xin Rou was taken aback, then her face immediately turned embarrassed: "What are you saying? Sister Jiang Xia, you must have misunderstood again..."

Ruan Muhuai gasped and hurried downstairs, where he bumped into the two of them in the corridor.

Jiang Xia ignored him, only coldly looking at Xin Rou, who was blocking her way: "Is this a misunderstanding? Miss Xin, I know exactly what you're thinking, but to be honest, I don't hate you at all. On the contrary, I'm very grateful to you." Why would she hate a mistress with ulterior motives?
While it's true that third parties are despicable, without men who are fickle and prone to infidelity, where would the "other woman" come from?
An age-old truth: flies don't land on eggs without cracks!
Xin Rou was surprised by Jiang Xia's words, which bluntly exposed everything. For a moment, she was so embarrassed that she could hardly maintain her composure.

"As I said before, my husband and son are now yours. Ruan Muhuai and I will be going through the divorce proceedings soon. Ms. Xin, I wish you good luck in the future."

After Jiang Xia finished speaking concisely, he withdrew his gaze, strode past the stunned Xin Rou, and went straight downstairs.

"Jiang Xia!"

Ruan Muhuai chased after Jiang Xia to the entrance, only to see Jiang Xia randomly pick a car from the garage, drive it across the front yard, and drive away.

This woman is truly insane!
He watched the departing car, his brows furrowed in anger.

"Mu Huai, what's going on between you and Sister Jiang Xia? What happened?" Xin Rou also ran out and habitually took Ruan Mu Huai's arm.

He withdrew his hand and avoided her, his expression not much better, but he said, "It's nothing, just a little quarrel, there's no way we'll get a divorce."

There was no precedent for divorce in the Ruan family, and besides, he couldn't possibly let his son be without a mother!

Xin Rou's eyes flashed, and she chuckled awkwardly, "Is that so? Since you don't want a divorce, then you should try to coax Jiang Xia. Women, you know, they're all just saying one thing and meaning another..."

Ruan Muhuai gave a faint "hmm" and interrupted, "Xinrou, I'll have someone take you back. Chaochao's fever has subsided this morning, and she's basically fine."

"Really?" Xin Rou tried to show some joy. "But I don't have anything to do today. I don't think Sister Jiang Xia will be back anytime soon. Why don't I stay with Chaochao a little longer?"

"No need," Ruan Muhuai said, turning his head to call over Aunt Chen. "Take Miss Xin back, and while you're at it, go to the old house. My mother has ordered a new batch of red wine; could you help me pick out a few bottles and bring them over?"

Aunt Chen immediately understood that this was a deliberate attempt to get her away, and she quickly nodded in agreement.

Xin Rou was somewhat unwilling, but before she could say anything more, Ruan Muhuai interrupted her, saying, "By the way, Chaochao doesn't need to attend early education classes for the time being. You go about your business, and we can talk about classes again in a few months."

"In...a few months?" Xin Rou was so surprised that she thought she had misheard.

Unexpectedly, Ruan Muhuai had no intention of repeating himself and turned to enter the entrance hall.

Aunt Chen quickly gestured for Xin Rou to go, "Let's go, Miss Xin, I'll take you home and settle the bill for this time as well."

"...

Xin Rou's expression tightened in shock, and her fingers involuntarily gripped the bag strap tightly.

Jiang Xia laid everything out in the open, but Ruan Muhuai still didn't want to go through with the divorce. In order to save his family, he wanted to distance himself from her.

This is not okay...

Xin Rou got into the car with Aunt Chen, but her thoughtful eyes seemed to be plotting something.

Ruan Muhuai, who had gone upstairs again, strode directly into the children's room. Looking at his son, whose face was still swollen and who was angrily throwing toys, he took a deep breath: "Ruan Yuanchao."

The little guy was playing with his toys with his back turned, but immediately turned around when he heard the sound. "Daddy, where's Aunt Xinrou? Huh? Why didn't she come with you?"

Ruan Muhuai didn't reply. He walked to Ruan Yuanchao's side with a sullen face, lowered his eyes and bent down to put his hands on Ruan Yuanchao's shoulders. "Tell your father the truth. You really like Aunt Xinrou, don't you?"

(End of this chapter)