Chapter 66: Openly Parading with a Mistress

Xie Wantang sent a message to Qin's father: "Dad, why did Mom come to Sijiucheng? Were you with her?"

Qin's father replied instantly: "Your mother went to do a free clinic at the Chinese Medicine Hospital for three days; I originally wanted to go, but your mother wouldn't let me."

He added a very aggrieved expression.

Xie Wantang smiled, "Then I understand."

"Did your mother call you?"

"No, she sent a message asking me to have a meal."

"Oh, Tang Bao, do you miss dad?" Qin's father tried to use his beloved daughter as a pretext to see his wife.

"I miss him, but a friendly reminder: dad shouldn't just decide to come over on his own; if mom gets angry, she won't be easy to appease."

Qin's father: "…"

Tang Bao was right; before his wife left, she instructed that she was coming to handle an important matter and didn't want him to cause trouble.

"Thanks for the reminder, Tang Bao, so dad won't come over. Tonight you should have a good talk with your mother; Mrs. Wang and Xie Guanjia have returned and reported to us about your situation with Lu Yanshen. Your mother is very angry."

"Got it."

In the evening, Xie Wantang changed clothes and prepared to go out to pick up Xie Ningmeng for a nice meal, just as Lu Yanshen returned.

"Going out?" Lu Yanshen asked eagerly.

"Yeah, I have an appointment. President Lu, something wrong?"

"Male or female, what time are you coming back?"

"Can I not come back today?" Xie Wantang raised an eyebrow, testing.

"If you don't want to be summoned again to the old residence for bird's nest soup, I advise you to come back."

"Alright, I should be able to return before ten."

"Okay." Lu Yanshen was also returning to change clothes; after taking two steps, he remembered something and called Xie Wantang back, "By the way, I ran into Designer Su in the elevator just now, and I told her our house won't be renovated for the time being."

"Hmm, then settle the money owed to them. Thanks for the trouble, President Lu."

"I'll have her send the bill to you; when the amount is known, I'll transfer it to you."

"Understood."

……

A street food stall beside the Chinese Medicine Hospital.

Xie Wantang ordered the local specialty snacks according to Xie Ningmeng's request.

Xie Wantang originally planned to take Xie Ningmeng to a nicer restaurant, but Xie Ningmeng refused; she prefers places with many customers.

Xie Ningmeng has always been like this; she instinctively thinks that a place crowded with customers won't have bad food.

With a popular taste that appeals to the masses, this food stall must have its own uniqueness.

When Xie Wantang goes to unfamiliar places, she also chooses eateries based on Xie Ningmeng's mindset.

Occasionally there are miscalculations, but most choices turn out successful.

Xie Ningmeng also politely declined the invitation from the Chinese Medicine Hospital officials tonight; she said she had another appointment, left the group, and waited for Xie Wantang in her hotel room.

"Mrs. Wang told Xie Guanjia that Lu Yanshen has a third child outside; is that true?" Xie Ningmeng asked calmly while eating, her tone unruffled.

But Xie Wantang knew that the calmer Xie Ningmeng was, the less she approved of her marriage with Lu Yanshen.

"It's not exactly support; he still wants that face." Xie Wantang refused to admit that Lu Yanshen's relationship with Xia Meng was a kept‑woman arrangement.

After all, he was the great hero she idolized since youth; even if she divorces, Xie Wantang is unwilling to tarnish him.

At most, they are fated but without destiny.

She doesn't blame him.

Just like in the dream she had, Xia Meng was actually right; she met Lu Yanshen first, and love indeed cares about who comes first.

She arrived late; Lu Yanshen's heart had already gone to another woman.

"Since the youthful wish has been fulfilled, shall we cut our losses now?" Xie Ningmeng said, looking at her.

She came specially to strengthen Xie Wantang's resolve to divorce.

The last time she returned, she indeed said she would divorce Lu Yanshen, but she also knew she wasn't that resolute then.

"Hmm, I think the same, Mom."

"If you've decided, that's fine; then don't delay."

"But the current situation is this: the two elders of the Lu Family know I'm pregnant, and they will definitely oppose it."

Not only do they oppose, Lady Lao also gave a bracelet and a card.

Lady Lao truly cares a lot about the baby in her womb.

After all, it's the first child of the next generation of the Lu Family.

"Whether they agree or not, Mom doesn't care; what Mom cares about is you. As long as you want a divorce, Mom will cooperate and find a way."

"I…"

Before Xie Wantang could finish speaking, a familiar voice from nearby called, "Second brother, we haven't come here for good food in ages; I wish we could return to those naive years."

It was Xia Meng's voice; she called Lu Yanshen "second brother."

Indeed, after the Xia family fell apart, Xia Meng was taken in by Madam Lu to the Lu Family; like Lu Rourou, she calls Lu Yanze "big brother" and Lu Yanshen "second brother."

The difference is that she fell in love with Lu Yanshen, the second brother.

But Xie Wantang didn't expect that the food stall her mother chose also held the pleasant memories of Lu Yanshen and Xia Meng.

Is it that coincidental?

Seeing Xie Wantang frozen as if something had pinned her, Xie Ningmeng turned her head and followed Xie Wantang's stunned gaze.

Lu Yanshen also saw Xie Wantang.

Neither of them expected that, an hour later, they would meet again at the same food stall.

Xie Wantang buried her head, not wanting to look at them, as Xia Meng grabbed Lu Yanshen's hand: "Second brother, it's Wantang, let's go over and join their table?"

Ah—

Lu Yanshen wanted to stop them, but his hand wasn't fast enough, and he failed to grab Xia Meng.

Xia Meng walked as lightly as a butterfly, gracefully arriving before Xie Wantang and Xie Ningmeng: "Wantang, I didn't expect you to be here eating with friends too? It's crowded today, seems there's no seat left—let's join tables?"

"We're almost done eating." Xie Wantang glanced at the little left on the table.

In other words, she was rejecting Xia Meng's suggestion.

At the same time, she gave Lu Yanshen a look, hoping he would take his first love away.

"How can you be so oblivious?"

"It's fine, let's sit together." Xia Meng pulled out a stool and sat down without hesitation.

Xie Wantang glanced embarrassedly at Xie Ningmeng, who remained calm: "Tang Bao, they're so enthusiastic; since we don't have many dishes, let's just join tables."

"Besides, Mom still wants to eat something else."

"Okay, Mom."

Xie Wantang got up and sat beside Xie Ningmeng.

"Um… are you an aunt?" Xia Meng looked at Xie Ningmeng: "You look really young, Auntie; if Wantang didn't say so, you'd look just like her sister."

One has to admit, Xia Meng is good with words—after all, she mixes in the entertainment circle.

"Wantang? I've met all of Tang Bao's friends—who are you? Is Tang Bao actually your friend?" Xie Ningmeng asked lightly, completely rejecting Xia Meng's goodwill.

Xia Meng's face flushed with embarrassment, and she closed her mouth.

"Tang Bao, you drank a lot of water just now; pregnant women shouldn't hold their urine—go take care of it." Xie Ningmeng openly sent her daughter away, as she wanted to lecture someone.

"Okay, Mom."

After Xie Wantang left, Xie Ningmeng then greeted Lu Yanshen to sit down.

Once Lu Yanshen sat down, Xie Ningmeng didn't waste any time:

"Mr. Lu, although Tang Bao hasn't yet taken you to Haishi to meet our family, we've still ended up meeting like this. You openly bring your mistress parading around—this shows you don't put our Tang Bao in your eyes at all!"

……