I painted an aircraft carrier on the courtyard house for Dongda University.

These words sent another jolt through Liu Haizhong's heart. He instinctively thought of Song Dahua, and a pang of pain shot through him. His voice trailed off with hesitation: "So, Dahua didn't betray me? Her affair with Xu Damao was just a setup?"

Even though the two were already divorced, he still felt a mix of emotions when he heard that his ex-wife's decision was not voluntary.

Zhang Cuilan shook her head again, her tone laced with sarcasm: "You can't entirely blame others. It was your Song Dahua who joined in the fun first, teaming up with Qin Huairu and the deaf old lady to try and trick Shazhu into Qin Huairu's bed, hoping to manipulate him and use this to implicate Zhou Weiguo for personal gain. Unexpectedly, she ended up losing more than she gained and got herself implicated instead."

Seeing Liu Haizhong's face instantly turn ugly, she understood a few things: "You're not thinking of getting revenge for your ex-wife, are you? Even though Song Dahua and Xu Damao are divorced now, are you still planning to marry her again? Putting aside the rift between you two, with Song Dahua's current reputation as an 'old cow eating young grass,' can you handle the gossip from the people in the hospital?"

The thought of being gossiped about and pointed at by everyone in the courtyard if he were to get back together with Song Dahua made Liu Haizhong feel extremely uncomfortable. He couldn't help but shudder and quickly waved his hands, saying, "Impossible! I won't get back together with her! Even if she was set up, it's all in the past. I have nothing to do with her anymore!"

Zhang Cuilan nodded with a hint of wariness, and solemnly warned, "Remember, no matter how unhappy you are in the future, never think about seeking revenge against Zhou Weiguo. Otherwise, I will report you immediately."

Liu Haizhong was even more bewildered, his face full of confusion. He blurted out, "Even if I want revenge on Zhou Weiguo, what are you going to report me for? I haven't offended you. We're in the same boat now. What good will it do you to report me?"

Zhang Cuilan gently shook her head, her gaze falling on the sleeping child in her arms. Her voice was filled with weariness and helplessness: "I don't want to die, and I don't want my child to lose his mother right after birth. I just want to live a peaceful life with my child. I came to you because you also have no way out. Like me, you are just a miserable person who has been schemed against."

Upon hearing this, Liu Haizhong immediately became displeased, his brows furrowing, and his tone tinged with resentment: "Who said I have no way out? I can always find other ways to make a living! Besides, you keep saying you'll report me, but what do I have that you should report? Explain yourself!"

Zhang Cuilan lowered her head and gently touched the child's cheek, remaining silent. The room fell silent instantly.

Seeing that she remained silent, Liu Haizhong stepped forward and pressed, "So, how exactly are you going to report me? Tell me! Don't just talk the talk, who are you trying to scare with that?"

Zhang Cuilan suddenly looked up, her eyes filled with disdain as if she were looking at a fool. She glared coldly at Liu Haizhong and said, word by word, "If you insist on courting death and want to go back to labor camp, I don't mind accusing you of rape."

She paused, her gaze falling on the child, her tone filled with unwavering certainty, "He is the greatest proof."

"What?!"

Liu Haizhong was struck dumb, frozen in place. The smugness and stubbornness on his face vanished instantly, leaving only disbelief and shock.

He subconsciously took a step back, looked at Zhang Cuilan's cold eyes, and then at the baby still in swaddling clothes, and couldn't help but shiver.

Looking at his panicked appearance, Zhang Cuilan showed no pity in her eyes. Her tone was calm: "I don't want to be so ruthless, but you need to understand your situation. Do as I say, protect the child, and I'll guarantee you a place to stay, a home, and I won't mention this matter again. We can even live a good life together. But if you dare to disobey or try to take advantage of Zhou Weiguo, don't blame me for being ruthless. Like I said, I don't want to offend Zhou Weiguo. I want to live, to live well with my child."

Liu Haizhong opened his mouth, sighed heavily, and slowly nodded, his tone full of helplessness: "Fine, I agree. To be honest, I have no intention of seeking revenge against him. In other words, why should I seek revenge?"

Seeing that he had relented and compromised, Zhang Cuilan's coldness softened slightly, and her tone became gentler as she slowly explained, "Old Liu, to be honest, I'm actually trying to help you."

Liu Haizhong looked completely bewildered, instinctively pointing to himself with a confused expression: "You're helping me? You threatened me with the rape, and you call that helping me?"

Zhang Cuilan sat down on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) holding the child, and continued calmly, "That's right, it's to help you. Think about it calmly, will the three sons you had with Song Dahua take care of you in your old age and see you off when you die?"

These words were like a bucket of cold water, waking Liu Haizhong up.

He subconsciously wanted to shout "Yes" defiantly, but the images of Liu Guangtian's cold eyes and Liu Guangfu's hostility flashed through his mind. Even his eldest son, whom he once loved the most, now avoided him and had long since left him.

The defiant words that were on the tip of his tongue ultimately turned into a helpless sigh. He lowered his head, his voice dejected: "No... they hate me too much to even think about it."

Seeing that he had come to terms with reality, Zhang Cuilan nodded gently and continued, "As long as you sincerely raise this child with me from now on, I can get a marriage certificate with you and let him change his surname to Liu openly and legitimately. From now on, he will be your own son and take care of you in your old age."

These words made Liu Haizhong look up abruptly, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. But before he could be happy for long, Zhang Cuilan's tone changed again, becoming serious and resolute: "But I have one request, one bottom line. You must never lay a finger on the child again, whether you're angry or not. You must never hit or scold him. If you dare to break this rule, I will immediately report you to the police station and make you pay for your actions."

Looking at the unwavering determination in Zhang Cuilan's eyes, then at the child's sleeping face, and at Guangtian and Guangfu in his mind, Liu Haizhong nodded emphatically, his tone more solemn than ever before: "I promise you! I will never touch the child. I will cherish him and protect him from now on, and I will never let him follow in the footsteps of Guangtian and the others."

Zhang Cuilan stared into his eyes, making sure he wasn't lying, before her tense nerves relaxed slightly: "Okay, since you've agreed to all three things, then I, Zhang Cuilan, am not the kind of person who goes back on her word. I'll go get the paperwork now, and today I'll openly and honestly get our marriage certificate, so that this child will take your surname, Liu."

But no sooner had he finished speaking than a series of loud, urgent knocks rang out.

A voice filled with suppressed anger came through the door; it was Yi Zhonghai's voice: "Cuilan! What are you doing? Open the door! Why did you let Liu Haizhong into our house? He just caused a ruckus in the yard, what does he want to do with this?"

P.S.: Please urge me to update more and give me good reviews. Thank you!