After three years of misplaced affection, Mrs. Yu is no longer willing to pretend to be obedient.

"So you're saying that Ding Chongwen not only had a girlfriend he'd been dating for years behind my back... but he's also having an affair with someone else?"

"Yes, your summary is spot on." Jian Ailing asked the boss for paper and pen, drew a timeline on the white paper, and explained it to Zhu Yan as if she were solving a math problem.

"Ding Chongwen actually had a girlfriend he'd been dating for almost three years, but last year he went hiking alone and met another girl, the one I saw in Songyuan last time. He brought that girl to Songyuan that time just to show off in front of her."

As Jane Ailing spoke, she showed the chat history.

Both women knew of each other's existence, but for some reason, the girlfriend still chose to forgive. Jian Ailing felt that Ding Chongwen was indeed very shrewd, and she was afraid that Zhu Yan would be coaxed back by him again.

"This is his girlfriend's contact information. You are the one in question, so it's up to you to decide whether or not to contact her."

After Jane finished speaking, she noticed that Zhu Yan's eyes had become red at some point.

"Yan Yan..." But this wasn't the first time Jian Ailing had seen Zhu Yan cry because of heartbreak. To some extent, she had become immune to it, so she could still harden her heart and speak.

"I know you're upset. But this man is absolutely, positively NOT a good husband! He's a serial cheater! You need to think of it this way; knowing this now will allow you to cut your losses in time."

Zhu Yan buried her face in her hands and began to sob softly.

Seeing this, Jian Ailing stopped talking and silently handed her a tissue, waiting for Zhu Yan to finish crying before speaking.

"Actually, I could guess that he was probably that kind of person... but I just like him too much, I don't know why, it's like I'm bewitched. Lingling, am I hopeless?"

"Don't say that. Don't we often see each other at our most miserable and pathetic? It's not like I haven't seen you with your love-struck mind." Jian Ailing raised the corners of her mouth.

"Didn't I cry my heart out in front of you three years ago? Back then, you told me that since some things can't be undone, there's no use in regretting and crying. After you've finished crying, you should think about what to do next." Jian Ailing said gently, "Now I'm returning those words to you. I'll cry with you, but some things you still have to solve yourself."

"It's time to cut ties with that man."

"I understand..." Zhu Yan wiped her eyes and nodded heavily.

"Send me the contact information for those two girls. I need to have a serious talk with them and check the timeline," Zhu Yan said, clenching her fist. "Then I'll throw all this evidence in Ding Chongwen's face and ask him directly how he dared to treat me like this!"

"Great, that's the kind of drive I want!" Jane pushed the cranberry roasted chicken bagel on the table in front of her. "Hurry up and eat something. You have to promise me this time that you'll make things clear with that man."

She had agreed just the same way last time, but unexpectedly, that man coaxed her back with just a few words. Jian Ailing attributed this to the fact that she had only spoken to him briefly on the phone last time, and hadn't explained herself clearly.

So she can't make the same mistake again this time.

No matter how eloquently Ren Dingchongwen speaks, he probably can't come up with a perfect excuse anymore, right?

"Don't worry... I promise this time! I definitely won't fall for it again." Zhu Yan wiped away her tears and nose. "Otherwise, I'd be too useless."

"Okay, be sure to let me know if there are any follow-ups."

"Fine, I absolutely have to get an explanation from Ding Chongwen!" Zhu Yan snorted coldly. "But it's really infuriating, it's rare to meet a man I like so much..."

"Speaking of which, that fortune slip was actually quite accurate." Zhu Yan rested her chin on her hand, took a sip of her drink after calming down a bit, and said, "It really hasn't even been three months since Ding Chongwen and I met and started dating."

"We've only known each other for three months next week, and he even said he'd booked a French restaurant for me... I'm so annoyed! I thought I could break that fortune slip."

After Zhu Yan finished speaking, she winked at Jian Ailing, "See, your best friend's prediction came true too. Are you... still thinking about divorcing your cousin?"

Just as she finished speaking, Jane Ailing's phone, which was on the table, suddenly rang.

It was my mother calling.

Jane Ailing paused for a few seconds before answering the call.

"Mom...why did you suddenly call me?"

"Ailing," Wang Shuqin's voice came from the other end of the phone, "you haven't been home for almost two months."

One or two months...is it really that long?

"Are you free tomorrow night? Would you like to come back for dinner?" Wang Shuqin's tone was soft, and Jian Ailing could hear the expectation in her words.

"I'm planning to make some lotus root and oxtail soup tomorrow. Isn't that your favorite?"

"Um... I understand. I'll be back tomorrow night." After a pause, Jian Ailing added a reason, "I've been very busy lately, so I don't have time to go back."

"What are you busy with?"

"There's a lot going on at the photography studio, so I..." Jane Ailing said, her voice unconsciously lowering.

I almost forgot, my mother doesn't like her doing photography at all.

"Oh, have you gone back over there now?"

"Yes. Yu Yunting knew about this too, and he didn't stop me. I even went to their company for events."

"That's good... I'm glad you can do what you like. It's settled then, I'll prepare some of your favorite dishes."

"Yes, thank you, Mom."

"Why are you being so polite and distant with Mom? Alright, I won't bother you anymore."

"Bye." Jane put down her phone thoughtfully.

Although her mother said she spoke in a distant manner, wasn't she herself just as distant?

"What, is your mother looking for you?" Zhu Yan looked at her in confusion.

She said I hadn't been home for dinner in a long time and told me to go back tomorrow night.

"I know it's normal that you can't forgive them for what they did to you... but they are still your family after all." Zhu Yan sighed as she spoke, "...Never mind, I don't know what to say."

As one of the people who knew about their "family scandal" back then, Zhu Yan didn't know how to comfort her friend.

Thinking about this, she suddenly felt somewhat relieved.

She only met a jerk and broke up with him; it's been less than three months. She can just consider it a waste of time.

Her friend was not only betrayed by her family, but also forced to marry someone who didn't love her.

Now, although her parents and husband seem to be by her side, she seems to belong neither to the Jian family nor the Yu family.

I can't fit in anywhere.