Mr. Shen, your love-struck wife doesn't want you anymore!

Jiang Yu was silent for two seconds before asking her what she wanted to see her about.

"I have something personal to discuss with you in person."

Deng Wen spoke with a smile, as if talking to a child, "Are you free tonight? I'll have my driver pick you up."

Jiang Yu: "No need, just send me an address, I'll go there myself after get off work."

Deng Wen didn't insist and said okay.

As it was nearing the end of her workday, Jiang Yu received the address she sent.

It is a restaurant serving Northern Chinese cuisine.

Jiang Yu asked the waiter for directions to the private room. When she pushed the door open, Deng Wen was on the phone, her tone both doting and helpless: "Xiaoxiao, Mom is away on a business trip. Listen to your aunt and go eat. You're already so thin, why are you still trying to lose weight? Be good."

Seeing Jiang Yu come in, Deng Wen said a few words of comfort to the person on the other end of the line and then hung up the phone.

"You're here." Deng Wen put her phone on the table and said considerately, "I think it's hotter in Jiangcheng than in Beijing, so I ordered you some plum juice. Sit down and have some."

A glass of room-temperature plum juice was placed in front of Jiang Yu.

Seeing that she didn't move, Deng Wen asked, "Don't you like it?"

Jiang Yu shook her head: "It would be better if it were chilled. I don't really like drinking drinks at room temperature."

Deng Wen frowned: "Girls shouldn't drink too many cold drinks..."

Jiang Yu didn't argue with her about this issue, and went straight to the point: "Did President Deng want to meet me for something?"

Deng Wen lowered her head and took a sip of water before saying, "Actually, it's nothing much. I just felt like we clicked, and I happened to be passing through Jiangcheng on a business trip, so I asked you to come out for a meal..."

Jiang Yu remained silent.

Deng Wen put down her cup and openly looked her over, her eyes sweeping over her face inch by inch, finally landing on her smooth forehead: "A widow's peak seems to be a dominant genetic trait. My daughter Xiaoxiao inherited it, and you have it too."

Jiang Yu looked up and asked, "What does President Deng mean? Are you saying I'm also your daughter? It's a pity I wasn't born into such a good family; my parents are just ordinary people from a small town."

Deng Wen paused for two seconds: "On Xiaoxiao's birthday, I overheard you calling Jiang Guodong's name on the phone outside, and I was immediately stunned. When you turned around and I saw your face, it confirmed my suspicions even more, but I didn't dare to ask too much. So the next day, I asked Xiao Liu to arrange a dinner for you and President Wei, and under the guise of chatting, I asked you some questions..."

Jiang Yu still remembers the question she asked that day.

She asked her where she was from, and she spoke Mandarin very well without any accent. She also asked her what kind of food she liked to eat, how old her parents were, and so on.

Wei Zongming must have realized that Deng Wen was trying to find out something, and he cleverly changed the subject for her.

At first, Jiang Yu didn't notice anything amiss, but Wei Zongming's behavior aroused her suspicion.

"The age matches, the hometown address matches, Jiang Guodong's name matches, and there's even that widow's peak..."

Deng Wen's gaze lingered on her face. "Your nose and mouth look a lot like Jiang Guodong's. He was very handsome when he was young, especially his nose, which was very straight and high..."

Jiang Yu suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of resistance. "There might be some misunderstanding here. My mother's name is Fu Ying, and my father said she died a long time ago."

A hint of disdain flickered in Deng Wen's gentle expression: "Does your father still like to lie so much?"

She paused, then leaned closer: "I know you can't accept it right now, but I changed my name for a better life, and also because I didn't want to have anything to do with your father. Can you understand that?"

Deng Wen reached out to hold her hand, but Jiang Yu subtly withdrew her arm. Deng Wen was taken aback, then sat back down awkwardly, tucking her hair behind her ear, looking slightly embarrassed.

The private room fell silent.

Half a day later, Deng Wen spoke again: "Jiang Guo... is your father still a gambler?"

"Gambling addiction can't be changed just like that."

"Did he call you that day to ask you for money?"

"Um."

"I knew he would never change this habit, so after I saw through him back then, I decided to leave him without hesitation." Deng Wen said coldly, "If he doesn't change this habit, he will die because of it one day."

Jiang Yu suddenly laughed, seemingly lost in thought: "I have some good news for you. You know he's crippled? When I was in high school, he got drunk and started picking a fight with some thugs. He got surrounded and beaten up, fell down the stairs, and broke his leg. He still walks with a limp."

Deng Wen: "It seems this is karma."

Jiang Yu shrugged: "Maybe."

Deng Wen looked at her and asked, "Last time we ate together, you said you were married. Is your husband good to you?"

This question surprised Jiang Yu.

Then she thought about the question very seriously and said honestly, "Compared to my unreliable father and my missing mother, my husband is actually quite good to me. At least he ensures that I have enough to eat and wear and that I no longer have to worry about anything. He has given me a home that can at least provide me with shelter from the wind and rain."

Deng Wen pursed her lips: "I want to make it up to you..."

Jiang Yu asked curiously, "Why didn't you do this sooner?"

"I have my reasons."

"What kind of trouble is it that you won't even make a phone call?" Jiang Yu picked up the plum juice and took a sip. Sure enough, it was sour and astringent. She put down the cup and said, "If you could call back a few more times, maybe my days would have been easier."

"If I don't call, you'll resent me; if I call but don't take you with me, you'll resent me even more," Deng Wen said calmly. "I've already chosen the wrong man, chosen the wrong life. I won't do anything I'll regret. I'm myself first, then a mother."

Jiang Yu knew why this woman had achieved such a successful career.

She was more decisive than most men.

She will ignore anyone or anything that holds her back.

Even if it's her bloodline.

Even though she knew her daughter was suffering.

Jiang Yu's emotions gradually cooled down. "You have your reasons, and I have my suffering. After this meal, let's pretend we don't know each other."

She got up to leave, but Deng Wen grabbed her hand and said, "I haven't fulfilled my responsibilities to you for the past twenty years. If you're willing, I'll make it up to you in the future."

Jiang Yu remained silent for a long time before suddenly asking her, "If you divorce your current husband, would you abandon your daughter named Xiaoxiao?"

Deng Wen opened her mouth, but gave no answer.

Sometimes, no answer is the best answer.

Jiang Yu understood, removed her hand, and turned to leave.

I wandered aimlessly down the street, not knowing where to go.

She was actually very hungry. She had worked all day, hadn't eaten enough at lunch, and then had to deal with all this unpleasantness at dinner, which really put her in a bad mood.

At this moment, she actually thought of Shen Chengyan.

She wanted to call him and yell at him to vent her frustration.

So she actually removed his number from her blacklist and dialed it.

He answered the phone; the background noise was somewhat loud: "Jiang Yu?"