Chapter 42: Struggle

Liang Zhengxian lay listlessly on the bed in Wang Manni's rented apartment.

At this moment, he was somewhat relieved he hadn't had time to let Zhao Jingyu come over and kick Wang Manni out—otherwise he'd be sleeping on the streets. Though he had many friends, he knew exactly what kind of people they were; they associated mostly for resource sharing and mutual benefit, and to them, a friend in trouble wasn't a friend at all.

He silently wished Wang Yan well.

At this point, Wang Yan had been cursed to have his bones ground to dust at least three thousand times in his mind.

"Are you insane? I just said one thing about your lack of manners, and you went off like a rabid dog?" He felt deeply wronged.

After being thrown out, he had only a few ten thousand yuan in cash left. Compared to his previous lifestyle, how could such a sum possibly sustain him?

Even this much was only because his father had briefly remembered their father-son bond; otherwise, he'd now be drowning in debt.

He had originally been in debt, but before, it wasn't anything serious—just normal business practice.

But Zhao Jingyu stole most of his fortune, leaving him insolvent.

The old man helped him settle it, though he himself was barely holding on—this was the absolute limit of what he could do. Of course, it was also because there wasn't much money involved; compared to the current state of the Liang family, it was negligible. Otherwise, Liang Zhengxian might as well have just died.

Liang Zhengxian had originally planned to go beg Wang Yan for forgiveness, but yesterday he received word that their family's attempts to plead his case hadn't just failed—they'd made things even worse. Since the other side had made up their mind, why should he go out of his way to get humiliated?

The old man had simply told him, "Do your best."

Liang Zhengxian understood the implication: he was finished, utterly beyond return.

Without the Liang family, he was nothing. His past wealth had come from connections and relationships. But now that the Liang family was clearly collapsing, who would even recognize him?

Some people can be reborn through adversity; others simply collapse.

It's not absolute, but Liang Zhengxian, who had enjoyed smooth sailing for so many years without ever facing setbacks, was almost certainly the latter.

At this point, he might not accept it, but he had to admit it—there was nowhere to appeal, no one to hear his complaints.

To say he had no desire for revenge would be a lie, but the gap in power was too vast—he couldn't even match the family, let alone the man himself. What could he do? If he provoked Wang Yan further, wouldn't he just be outright destroyed? For now, this was fine—at least he was still alive. Feng shui shifts; who knows if there might be another chance someday?

Wang Manni had been restless and anxious lately, constantly worrying and second-guessing herself. Her work performance was terrible, her sales figures dismal. She couldn't stand Daisy, who she'd take every opportunity to belittle.

Since she'd proposed transferring to Hong Kong, Liang Zhengxian hadn't contacted her in days.

She had her suspicions, but still refused to face reality. For the first time in many years, she truly wanted to become Mrs. Liang, to spend the rest of her life with Liang Zhengxian.

Opening the door, she saw a pair of men's shoes at the threshold and froze. Only she and Liang Zhengxian had keys—what other possibility could there be?

She quickly shut the door and hurried into the bedroom, where she found the man she'd longed for day and night, smiling at her.

She tossed her bag aside and flung herself onto Liang Zhengxian, bursting into tears.

Sobbing, she pounded his chest repeatedly: "Where have you been? I thought you'd never come back!"

Liang Zhengxian caught her hands and said gently, "There, there, you've cried your makeup off—I'm back now, aren't I?"

Gazing at his face so close, she leaned in and kissed him passionately, seeking affection.

No need for words—the atmosphere was perfect, the emotions aligned; when feelings run deep, the rest follows naturally.

But when Liang Zhengxian took off his clothes, his body was covered in black-and-blue bruises, terrifying Wang Manni.

Gently tracing the wounds, she asked: "Zhengxian, what happened to you? How did you get beaten up like this?"

Liang Zhengxian spun a story: drunk on the street, somehow cornered by thugs, beaten up, and then the culprits vanished.

Wang Manni believed him without question—because the story sounded plausible.

"There, don't worry—it's almost healed, it's nothing."

He moved her hand away from his wounds and resumed kissing her… He hadn't had the energy for this kind of pretense lately, and he'd been holding back for a while.

After a while, Liang Zhengxian leaned back against the headboard, holding Wang Manni, one hand stroking her smooth back.

"Why didn't you come see me for so long?" The initial passion faded, and Wang Manni asked.

"Manni, I'm sorry. My family's business ran into some trouble, so I didn't have time to tell you that day. Then I've been swamped day and night—there was literally no time to contact you."

He knew exactly what kind of person Wang Manni was—she was only with him for his money. If he told her the truth, she'd kick him out immediately. So he might as well keep lying for as long as he could; meanwhile, he could figure out what to do next.

Wang Manni, being smart, didn't press further—after all, he'd come back, hadn't he?

"Oh, I see. How's your family's business now? You rushed back so suddenly and have been so busy—did anything else happen?"

"Nothing serious—just some competitors pulling dirty tricks, caught us off guard, but we've handled it."

Wang Manni didn't understand these things, so she said no more.

The conversation quickly turned to Hong Kong.

"Zhengxian, I told you before about transferring to Hong Kong—you left without clarifying. So what's your real opinion?"

"You want to go to Hong Kong just to be closer to me. I know your feelings—I know them all. But wouldn't it be just as good if I developed my career on the mainland? What do you think, Manni?"

Hearing this, Wang Manni beamed with joy—she'd done all this for exactly this reason: to embed herself deeply in Liang Zhengxian's life, to make him accustomed to her presence.

But thinking of Liang Zhengxian's refusal to marry, she felt a pang of regret.

Still unwilling to give up, she cautiously tested the waters: "Zhengxian, if that's the case, isn't it almost the same as marriage?"

She stopped speaking, watching his reaction.

Liang Zhengxian fell silent, wrestling internally—his heart stirred. After all, beyond his polished exterior, he had nothing left. If he clung to her, it could be an option.

He knew exactly what Wang Manni was—she was only with him for his money.

Though he played with women constantly and discarded them when done, he'd never forced anyone; in the beginning, it was always mutual—after all, one hand can't clap.

He manipulated human nature, but he shouldn't manipulate people's lives—he told himself he hadn't sunk that low.

If he married her, he'd truly destroy Wang Manni—this harm wouldn't be mere heartbreak.

He knew that if he married her and she later discovered he was broke, bankrupt, and cast out of his family, she'd divorce him immediately. And that would benefit neither of them—he might not care, but the damage to Wang Manni would be enormous.

Though he was a terrible person and had fallen this far, he still had some pride left. He sighed: "Manni, I don't want to talk about this now. Give me some time, okay?"

Though she expected this answer, Wang Manni still couldn't help feeling disappointed, her spirits sinking.

Liang Zhengxian, unchanged as ever, soothed her with sweet words until she smiled again.

"You haven't eaten yet, have you? I'll make you something—what do you want?"

"Anything you make, I love."

Wang Manni listened, then teased and flirted a bit more before happily going to cook.

Since bringing Gu Jinghong over last time, Wang Yan had become idle again.

Gu Jia had been even busier lately, working long hours at the company every day, leaving little time to care for the three of them.

The tea from the factory had been harvested and was waiting for Gu Jia to open up sales channels—she'd been preparing for this since returning.

Although the ladies' circle had bought a batch, it was barely a drop compared to the tea from several hillsides.

In the end, it all depended on the broader consumer base and returning to the product itself. Gu Jia was confident—she had personally participated in every step, all handcrafted.

In Henglu Village, men and women, young and old, worked tirelessly—even the children joined in. Gu Jia couldn't let down the villagers' earnest hopes; she pushed herself to the limit.

She reached out online to various influencer agencies to promote the product.

She had to find reliable ones—her product was mid-range; she couldn't let influencers turn it into street-market junk.

Plus, many companies demanded excessive kickbacks, which she couldn't accept. Her intention was to channel more profits back to the villagers of Henglu—to repair roads, build schools, help them grow wealthier—she couldn't let it all be siphoned off.

Every day was just endless negotiations—finding reliable companies, agencies, and such.

Offline, she didn't have to worry—Wang Yan saw how exhausted she was and introduced her to some channels; the ladies' circle also lent a hand out of goodwill.

They'd placed products in many malls, supermarkets, and similar outlets.

There was only so much tea; once sold out, they'd have to wait for the next harvest.

This launch could be called a smashing success—everyone was pleased. Consumer feedback, aside from a few outliers, was overall quite good.

Now that the first big push had succeeded, future sales would be easier. As long as the tea remained the same, there'd be little problem.

During this period, Wang Yan had fulfilled all the responsibilities and duties of a husband.

Now the roles had reversed—he was practically becoming a stay-at-home dad.

He didn't like cooking breakfast, so he just bought it on his way back from running.

Because Gu Jinghong lived in Junyue Mansion, not far away, they all had dinner together every evening.

No one was cooking anymore, and though they weren't short on money, they couldn't eat out every night.

So Wang Yan took the chance to practice his cooking—but his skill was truly inadequate. Though nimble, he'd fumble around for a while, then flip through recipe books, looking clumsy and slow.

Gu Jinghong found Wang Yan's bumbling, clattering efforts unbearable, so he simply stepped in to help.

As someone with rich life experience, his cooking might not match Gu Jia's, but it left Wang Mou far behind.

As they cooked together, the initial awkwardness faded; Wang Yan and his father-in-law, Gu Jinghong, got along remarkably well.

His daily routine was reading, writing calligraphy, and coding.

Occasionally, he'd join Gu Jinghong for tea, helping Gu Jia relax.

Xu Ziyan, when on break, took him around to see places and stroll.

Gu Jia watched all this, her heart filled with joy—what could be happier than a harmonious family and a thriving career?

One day, after dinner, they put Xu Ziyan to sleep.

On the rooftop terrace, they embraced, watching the Huangpu River roll eastward, the bustling city below.

"You've worked so hard these past days," Gu Jia murmured, nestled in Wang Yan's arms.

"You keep saying such formal thanks—I'm sick of hearing it."

Wang Yan dramatically rubbed his ear.

The gesture wasn't particularly funny, but wasn't there a saying—something like, in the eyes of someone who sees only you, even the most ordinary thing becomes charming?

Gu Jia burst into giggles at his exaggerated motion.

Not understanding her sense of humor, Wang Yan playfully tickled her, making her laugh harder—she'd been worn out lately; more laughter would help her relax.

After a while of merriment, they finally quieted down.

"Let's go back to Henglu Village after a while," Gu Jia suddenly said.

Wang Yan had no objection: "Of course."

Gu Jia smiled gently and fell silent.

They'd been together long enough; all the important things had been said, and sweet nothings couldn't be repeated forever.

So neither spoke again—just sat quietly, gazing into the distance, savoring this rare peace.

The atmosphere at this moment was warm, beautiful; Wang Yan sank into it, unwilling to wake.

"Ding. Ding. Ding." The annoying phone rang, startling the two from their reverie.

Wang Yan got up, picked up the phone beside him, glanced at it, and answered: "Hello, yeah, it's me."

"Alright, have them bring her up."

Gu Jia asked, "What's going on?"

"The property management called—Zhong Xiaoqin got drunk, so I told them to bring her up."

Gu Jia had told him about this before—after all, they'd had a conflict; it was natural for her to explain for her friend.

As for Zhong Xiaoqin knowing this address, Gu Jia had told them back then. Besides, when Wang Yan went to Hong Kong to meet Zhao Jingyu, Gu Jia had brought them here too—they'd left a strong impression, so it wasn't surprising.

Hearing Zhong Xiaoqin had come drunk, Gu Jia panicked and immediately pulled Wang Yan downstairs.

Opening the door and walking to the elevator, not long after, property staff and Zhong Xiaoyang dragged Zhong Xiaoqin out.

The elevator doors opened; Gu Jia asked about the situation. Zhong Xiaoyang explained everything and urged Gu Jia to take good care of her.

After finishing his instructions, Zhong Xiaoyang and the property staff left.

Throughout, Wang Yan didn't even glance at Zhong Xiaoyang—he looked down on the man, too full of himself.

If Zhong Xiaoqin hadn't been drunk and remembered Gu Jia's address, babbling it out, Zhong Xiaoyang wouldn't have known they lived here—he wouldn't have brought her at all.

The property had already called downstairs; if he'd just taken her away, he'd have had no good explanation—he'd stayed because he had to.

Gu Jia and Wang Yan carried Zhong Xiaoqin inside and laid her on the sofa.

Then Gu Jia quickly cleared out a guest room, settled Zhong Xiaoqin in, and finally sighed in relief.

In bed.

"I'm sorry." Gu Jia knew Wang Yan thought nothing of Zhong Xiaoqin and Wang Manni.

They had been living together for some time, and by now she understood why.

"It's fine. They're your friends, after all. Let's sleep—it's been a long day."

Today Gu Jia was in a special situation; she had been utterly exhausted earlier, and was still worried about Zhong Xiaoqin. Clearly, she had no interest.

The two of them held each other and fell asleep.

The next day, after his workout, Wang Yan picked up breakfast on the way back.

Gu Jia had been swamped lately, so Wang Yan hadn't let her get up early to fuss about it.

When he got back, Gu Jia was already up—she was thinking about Zhong Xiaoqin, and couldn't sleep soundly even when she tried to go back to bed.

The usual routine of waking Xu Ziyan, the two of them washing up together.

Once they were done washing up, Zhong Xiaoqin got up too.

Seeing the unfamiliar decor, and Gu Jia beside her, Zhong Xiaoqin wished she could slap herself a couple of times.

She also thought nothing of Wang Yan; the impression from that last conflict had honestly not been good. She hadn't thought that much about it either, hadn't realized Liang Zhengxian was trying to step on Wang Yan. In any case, her read on Wang Yan was the same as Zhong Xiaoyang's—too pretentious, too cold and unfeeling.

The atmosphere at the breakfast table was rather awkward.

Wang Yan had no interest in paying Zhong Xiaoqin any attention.

Zhong Xiaoqin thought nothing of Wang Yan either.

Gu Jia wanted to ease the tension, but didn't know what to say.

Xu Ziyan didn't understand the situation; kids forget quickly, and he chattered away to Zhong Xiaoqin about all sorts of random things.

After the meal, Wang Yan and Gu Jia said goodbye and he went to take Xu Ziyan to school.

After Wang Yan left, both Gu Jia and Zhong Xiaoqin breathed a sigh of relief—the feeling had been too uncomfortable.

"I'd better go, don't want to be a bother to you here," Zhong Xiaoqin said.

After fermenting, the matter had blown up completely. Public opinion simply couldn't be controlled—it was an overwhelming wave. One after another, righteous, warm-hearted, hot-blooded heroes of the masses spoke up boldly, unanimously tearing into Zhong Xiaoqin and the property management company.

"No way. Given the situation now, how could I possibly feel at ease letting you be on your own?"

"But, your husband..."

That really was a problem, but now Zhong Xiaoqin had already been dug up online and was being cursed by ten thousand people.

Not at ease letting Zhong Xiaoqin be on her own, Gu Jia thought for a moment: "Listen to me, just stay here for now. Wang Yan won't say anything; at worst it'll be awkward for a few days."

"Let's wait and see, see how things go." Zhong Xiaoqin didn't agree outright either.