Old Mrs. Song is reborn; get out of here, you scumbag husband and illegitimate child!

Everyone was waiting to see her make a fool of herself.

Hu Hong couldn't hide the schadenfreude on her face.

"Are you still hung up on that brilliant architecture student in Beijing?" Hu Hong chuckled. "That migrant worker from earlier, I think he's just good-looking. Compared to our brilliant student, one is like mud on the ground, and the other is like a cloud in the sky."

Female classmates nearby also joined in the commotion:

"west Yang has such high standards, how could she possibly be interested in someone who does manual labor? She probably did something stupid when she was a sent-down youth."

"Are you divorced or planning to divorce?"

Anxi Yang took a deep breath.

"The architecture prodigy you're talking about is Fu Qingnian, the son of my mother's best friend." An Xiyang raised her head, her gaze sweeping over Hu Hong's face. "He's an exchange student in the United States. If you're interested in him, I can give you his contact information later."

Hu Hong's smile froze.

She gritted her teeth reluctantly, trying to steer the conversation back on track, "Well... that migrant worker from earlier..."

That's my husband.

As soon as those words were spoken...

An Xiyang felt as if the heavy stone that had been weighing on her heart for over a year had been removed.

He was even more confident than when he received straight A's in the United States.

An Xiyang turned to look at Xia Wen, who hadn't said a word, her eyes filled with gratitude.

"Xia Wen is right. I also had a period of confusion, feeling that the person was not good enough for me, who was born in the city and went to university."

But now I understand that whether we're a good match or not isn't about education or social status, but about our feelings for each other.

Xia Wen smiled, peeling peanuts in her hand.

"It's just that some people are meddling in other people's affairs. I think An Xiyang's husband is good-looking and has a good eye; he'll be someone important in the future."

Hu Hong pursed her lips, still stubbornly refusing to admit it.

"An Xiyang, you two don't seem very close to me. Are you just pretending to be affectionate?"

Xia Wen tossed the peanut shells onto the table. "Do you think these couples are close enough to put on a show for you in public? Do you expect them to pull back a curtain so you can eavesdrop?"

Several classmates inside burst into laughter.

Hu Hong turned her face away in anger and stopped saying a word.

An Xiyang had a smile on her lips.

After a while, the girls said goodbye to their teacher.

After coming out, An Xiyang specifically thanked Xie Xiawen.

"I just said what I had to say."

"You gave me a push, and as the saying goes, those involved are often blinded while bystanders see things clearly. You've helped me see myself more clearly."

The sunlight outside was blinding.

She narrowed her eyes.

……

Zhou Fang sat on the edge of the bed, with a pile of cigarette butts already at her feet.

He smoked one cigarette after another.

One moment his mind was filled with the image of An Xiyang standing at the door of the mansion in a white dress, and the next it was filled with the harsh laughter of his female classmates.

She is stylish and confident.

This made him feel that it was even more unattainable.

Does she want to talk about divorce?

Zhou Fang became increasingly anxious as he thought about it. He took a deep drag of his cigarette and coughed violently, choking on the smoke.

The door was pushed open at that moment.

As soon as An Xiyang entered the room, she frowned and covered her nose because of the strong smell of smoke.

"Ahem... Didn't you say you didn't smoke? When did you learn to smoke?"

Zhou Fang hurriedly stubbed out his cigarette and frantically fanned the air in front of him. "Um... I... don't smoke..."

Anxi Yang didn't say anything.

Walk to the window and open it.

A gust of wind blew in, dispersing the smell of smoke in the room.

She turned around and met Zhou Fang's cautious gaze.

There was panic in his eyes, and a deeply hidden trace of humility.

"Have you eaten?" Anxi Yang asked.

"No...no." Zhou Fang shook his head, standing there helplessly.

The two fell silent again.

The room was so quiet that the only sound was the car bells on the street outside.

Zhou Fang rubbed his hands together, mustered his courage and broke the silence, "west Yang, if you want to go back to Qingyang County to see the children, we'll buy tickets tomorrow."

If... if you don't want to go back, I'll pick up Da Bao and Er Bao and take them to the county or... or wherever you specify.

An Xiyang felt a pang of sadness when she saw his cautious and timid demeanor.

Is this still the same Zhou Fang who dared to fight to the death in the village and dared to go against the whole world to protect her?

Do you miss me?

Zhou Fang's brain went blank for a moment.

Just as he was stunned, An Xiyang took two steps forward, stood on tiptoe, and wrapped her arms around his waist.

Soft lips pressed against mine.

With a slight tremor, it gently landed on the corner of his stubble-covered mouth.

"Zhou Fang, when I was in America, I missed you and the child so much that I cried under the covers many times."

All reason, inferiority, and fear turned to ashes at that moment.

He suddenly reached out and grabbed the back of An Xiyang's head, taking the initiative and deepening the kiss.

The smell of tobacco mixed with his unique scent rushed into my nostrils, domineering and intense.

With catharsis and the ecstatic joy of regaining what was lost.

Anxi Yang was a little out of breath and gently patted his back.

A long time passed.

Zhou Fang finally released her, panting, his forehead pressed against hers, his eyes red-rimmed.

"You won't divorce me?" Zhou Fang's voice was hoarse.

"No divorce," An Xiyang answered decisively.

"No regrets?" Zhou Fang stared intently into her eyes.

An Xiyang's cheeks were flushed, and her breathing hadn't calmed down yet. "My dad wants me to go to America for a year and not contact anyone in the family. He wants me to figure out what I really want. Now I've figured it out."

"I'm afraid I'll regret it, afraid of losing you and the child."

What she wanted wasn't some vague romance, but a man who would warm her hands in winter before touching her.

Zhou Fang suddenly laughed.

He picked up An Xiyang and spun her around in the cramped room several times.

"Oh no! Put me down! I'm so dizzy!" An Xiyang exclaimed, patting his shoulder.

"I won't let go. I'll never let go in this lifetime."

Zhou Fang laughed like a fool, hugging her and spinning her around.

The door was suddenly pushed open.

Liu Yukun swaggered in, "Hey Fang, let's eat... oh my god."

Seeing this scene inside the house.

Liu Yukun's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets, but he quickly realized what was happening and backed away with a mischievous grin. "Um... I'm not hungry, you guys continue, continue."

He was about to close the door when he said that.

Anxi Yang's face turned as red as a ripe shrimp.

She jumped off Zhou Fang and glared at him reproachfully: "It's all your fault."

"Liu Yukun, come in." An Xiyang straightened her skirt and opened the door.

Liu Yukun walked in, scratching his head, his eyes still darting between the two of them.

"Sister-in-law, did I... arrive at the wrong time? Perhaps I should go for a walk?"

"Don't go for a stroll, it's been a long time since we last saw each other," An Xiyang said generously. "It's my treat today. I know Zhou Fang has benefited a lot from your help these past two years."

When Liu Yukun saw Zhou Fang's expression, his eyebrows and eyes were filled with spring-like joy.

I knew then that my brother had come back to life.

"Alright! My sister-in-law is treating, so I'd better pick a good restaurant."

The three of them went out the door and headed straight for Huanghe Road.

We found an authentic Shanghainese restaurant and booked a small private room.

The dishes haven't all been served yet.

An Xiyang took a bankbook out of her bag, placed it on the table, and pushed it in front of Zhou Fang.

"This is the money I earned working in the United States. Labor is expensive there, so when I didn't have classes, I would wash dishes and work as a waiter, earning US dollars."

An Xiyang looked at Zhou Fang, her eyes sparkling.

"This money is enough to buy a small house in Haishi, and then open a shop for you to start a business. We'll bring Da Bao and Er Bao here so they can study in Haishi."

This was the plan she had come up with on the way.

The family reunited, settled down in Haishi, and lived a peaceful life.

Zhou Fang stared at the passbook, her chopsticks pausing in her hand.

Liu Yukun keeps his eyes focused on his nose and his nose focused on his heart.

Pretend to be invisible.

Zhou Fang pushed the passbook back, his face apologetic. "west Yang, keep this money for yourself. Shanghai... I might not be able to keep it."

An Xi Yang's smile froze: "Why? Don't you want to be with me and the child?"

"I want to. I dream about it."

Zhou Fang grasped her hand. "But I've already promised Xiang Dong I'd go to the new city to develop things. There's going to be big developments there, and they're short-handed right now. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I have to give it my all."

He was telling the truth.

Although no official documents have been issued yet, Song Xiangdong said that the documents should be issued in two or three months, designating the new city as a special economic zone.

He plans to first establish a construction company in the new town.

An Xiyang's face darkened.

"Zhou Fang, do you really have to go to the new city?"

"If you go to the new town, what will happen to me? What about the children?"

More importantly, she knew her mother all too well.

If they bought a house in Shanghai and Zhou Fang became a self-employed individual, her mother might be able to accept it after a while.

But what if I heard that she went to Xincheng with Zhou Fang?

The mother would definitely be furious and would do everything she could to force them to divorce.

"west Yang, listen to me..." Zhou Fang tried to explain.

"I won't listen," An Xiyang interrupted him, her eyes red-rimmed. "I'll just ask you one question: can't we stay in Haishi for the sake of our family?"

Liu Yukun listened with a pounding heart.

They were fine just a moment ago, how come they suddenly turned on each other?

Zhou Fang paused for two seconds, then said in a deep voice:

"It's for our family. Xiyang, I want to stand tall and proud beside you, and I want to shut up those who look down on me."

An Xiyang bit her lip, tears welling up in her eyes.

She understands the truth.

But the reality is that it's an insurmountable chasm.

"Do you know that my mom won't let me go to Xincheng with you? I'm the one who wants to stay in Haishi. What are we going to do then?" An Xiyang's voice trembled.