Chapter 9: Retaliate

There are ten commercial residential units facing the street, each divided into two floors.

"Are there no buyers for them yet?"

The sales office clerk was very eloquent, "There are many people who have come to look at the properties, but no contracts have been signed yet."

The commercial units cost over 1,100 per square meter; Si Rong estimated the money she had on hand, "Then I want three units."

The sales office clerk's mouth opened wide enough to fit an egg.

She could tell these two were wealthy ladies, but she hadn't expected them to be this extravagant.

Buying three houses in one go!

It was even easier and simpler than buying three pieces of clothing.

Following Ming Zi's advice, Si Rong went back to her parents' home to talk about using her parents' names to buy the houses.

Si Mu naturally agreed.

She hoped her daughter would have a happy marriage, but of course, she hoped even more that her daughter's happiness wouldn't depend solely on that marriage.

After the houses were bought, before Si Rong could even bring it up, her parents had already drawn up a will, leaving all three commercial units to their daughter.

After buying the houses, Si Rong only had a few thousand left in her hands.

Two days passed very quickly.

Sun Qiang contacted Ming Zi, arranging for them to meet at the coffee shop where they had met last time early tomorrow morning.

Si Rong lay on the bed, her mood heavy.

She both longed for a clear and definite result after the meeting and felt somewhat afraid.

Afraid that she wouldn't be able to bear it, afraid that she would go crazy.

The phone rang again; it was a call from the Shen family.

After answering, Ming Zi used her mouth to tell her that it was her mother-in-law, Shen Mu, calling.

Shen Mu was a single mother, and it hadn't been easy for her.

When Shen Lan was six, Shen Fu had died in an accident.

He had once poured out his heart to Si Rong while drunk about the hardships of his upbringing, how the widow and orphan had been bullied in the village, and how he had seen all the facets of life at an early age.

That was why Si Rong understood even better the important status his mother and younger sister held in his heart, and she had helped them out quite a bit over the years.

"Xiao Rong, why aren't you back yet when it's so late? I've been sitting in a car all day; hurry back and soak my feet!" Shen Mu's tone was very dissatisfied with Si Rong.

Her son worked hard outside all day, and when he returned home, the woman wasn't there to serve him; it was simply too inconsiderate.

If it weren't for her son, could Si Rong be living such a good life now?

"Right, and your younger sister, find her another blind date; the last one was absolutely worthless!"

Shen Mu commanded.

Si Rong was silent for a moment, then said the signal was bad and hung up directly.

She was in no mood to serve that pair of mother and daughter now.

Shen Mu always put on airs as a mother-in-law in front of her, trying to control her so she could go back to their hometown and brag to relatives about how the capitalist's daughter-in-law served her.

Ever since Shen Lan started sending money home, that younger sister of his had eaten until she was fat and bloated, and now she was over thirty and still hadn't managed to get married.

She was also someone with high aspirations but a thin-as-paper fate.

When she had first married, she had also been genuinely filial to Shen Mu and treated Shen Yun like her own younger sister.

But not all sincerity could be exchanged for sincerity.

For eighteen years, if it weren't for Shen Lan, these people would never have appeared in her life.

"Your mother-in-law again?"

Si Rong nodded, "She won't be for much longer."

"Are you really sure you want to divorce?" Ming Zi asked. Although Sun Qiang hadn't been able to elaborate on the phone today, judging by his words, it was confirmed that Shen Lan had a woman on the side.

"Yes, once I get the evidence of his infidelity tomorrow, I'll lay it all out and divorce."

Si Rong said.

"Just letting him off like that?"

Ming Zi felt it was too easy on that scumbag, "If you really wanted to make a scene, his official career would be over."

"Let's part on good terms!"

Si Rong didn't want to take things to the extreme, even if only for the sake of the love they once truly shared.

From now on, let the wide road be open, and each go their own way.

They were both nearing forty; how many days and nights were left in this lifetime? She didn't want to waste her time on these matters.

It wasn't until the next day, after seeing Sun Qiang, that Si Rong completely changed her mind.

"Ms. Si, I have thoroughly investigated the woman who has been having an overly intimate relationship with your husband; her name is Li Xuan, and she lives at..."

As soon as he said this name, Si Rong couldn't keep her emotions in check; she stood up, and the chair she moved made a sound, "Impossible!"

As an outsider, Sun Qiang had actually anticipated Si Rong's reaction in advance.

Because he had seen too many of these cases.

If the damage value of a husband cheating with a stranger was one hundred, then the damage value of cheating with a best friend had to be multiplied by ten.

Moreover, as far as he knew, Ms. Si and that woman were alumni with a friendship spanning twenty years.

They were so close it had almost turned into a familial bond.

It could be said that Ms. Si had suffered a double betrayal from the people closest to her.

This was also the reason he hadn't said it over the phone last night.

"Impossible! How could it be..."

Si Rong refused to believe that her husband, Shen Lan, could actually be with her good friend Li Xuan right under her nose.

Since when?

"Rongrong," Ming Zi said, supporting her arm, "calm down first, let's sit down and listen to what Sun Qiang has to say."

Tears slid silently down, and Si Rong bit her lip and sat down.

Sun Qiang continued, "What I was able to find out here is that it started five years ago, which is when that woman moved into the same residential complex as you."

Five years ago, Si Rong naturally remembered it.

At that time, she had been very happy and even ran over to ask Li Xuan if she had enough money.

Thinking that her good friend was all alone, living downstairs from her would mean they could look out for each other in the future.

She never expected that she would end up looking after her husband right into her bed.

How truly laughable!

A person who had lived for forty years without knowing what hatred was suddenly understood it in this moment.

She hated them so much!

After getting married, she served her husband and raised their children, supporting her husband's career; Si Rong considered herself a qualified wife.

When a friend encountered difficulties, she gave her full support and never distanced herself because of the bad things others said about her; Si Rong considered herself a qualified friend as well.

But why? By what right did these two people betray her?

This caused her more pain than if Shen Lan had cheated with some random stranger.

It started five years ago?

Then, during these past five years, were these two people whispering sweet nothings to each other every single day in places she couldn't see?

Playing her around in circles like a fool?

Si Rong felt her entire outlook on life had been dealt a devastating blow.

In this instant, all the malice in her heart surged to the surface.

She wanted to take revenge! She would pay back all this pain and deception in full!