Chapter 67: Separate Beds Are Clearly Not Enough; It's Best to Live Apart Directly

"Aunt, you may have misunderstood; I'm not a mistress." Before Lu Yanshen could speak, Xia Meng interrupted again.

Xie Ningmeng's unfriendly gaze turned toward Xia Meng, "Did I speak to you?"

Xie Ningmeng has always been gentle with people, never causing trouble, nor fearing it.

This was the first time she felt someone hated her to this extent.

"Whether or not you spoke to me, I want to tell you I'm not a mistress." Xia Meng said each word deliberately, calm and frank.

"Heh—"

Xie Ningmeng laughed in irritation, glancing contemptuously at the silent Lu Yanshen beside her, "Mr. Lu, do you think being pursued by many women makes you feel proud?"

"Mom, I…"

"Hold on, don't call me Mom. You've been married to Tang Bao for three years, and besides the certificate, you never held a wedding, right? You didn't even serve the tea for a name-change ceremony; I can't bear that 'Mom' title."

"Just call me Aunt like Miss Xia does, and besides, you're about to renew your certificate soon."

After speaking, Xie Ningmeng lifted the tea cup before her and took a sip.

She'd spoken so much her throat was dry.

"Fine, as long as you can convince my grandparents, I'm ready to cooperate," Lu Yanshen replied.

"……"

Xie Wantang, returning from the restroom, happened to hear Lu Yanshen's detached, unregretful, casual words.

He said he's ready to cooperate at any time?

Xie Wantang lowered her eyelids and walked over slowly.

Xie Ningmeng pursed her lips slightly, "Leave this matter to me, but Mr. Lu, there's something else you need to cooperate on."

"Please, go ahead."

"When the time comes, I'll have Brother Tang Bao issue a legally binding statement declaring that you voluntarily relinquish all rights—custody, visitation, etc. —to the child in Tang Bao's womb."

"Then you just need to sign."

"The only condition for the baby in Tang Bao's womb to survive is that Tang Bao must keep the child; otherwise, we can make the baby vanish instantly."

"Tang Bao said she will leave the household cleanly, so your divorce is straightforward. It was Mr. Lu's failure to sign earlier that caused all this trouble; had he signed before, none of this would have happened."

"Therefore, for the cooperation needed, please, Mr. Lu, stop being so persistent."

Lu Yanshen looked at Xie Wantang, but she gave him not even a glance.

Xie Wantang was very obedient in front of Xie Ningmeng, and while Xie Ningmeng spoke at length, she sat beside her without a single rebuttal.

Clearly, what Xie Ningmeng said reflected her true feelings; Xie Ningmeng was her spokesperson.

She thought the same, right?

She also wants to keep the child, right?

If he refuses, she'd rather give up the baby in her womb than stay married to him?

"Rest assured, as I said earlier, once you convince my grandparents, whatever you want, I'm willing to cooperate," Lu Yanshen promised calmly and ruthlessly.

With that said, this table couldn't be pieced together any more.

Lu Yanshen looked at Xia Meng gently and said, "Shall we eat somewhere else today?"

"Sure." Xia Meng nodded.

"Let's go." Lu Yanshen stood up, not giving Xie Wantang another glance.

Xia Meng stood up shyly, then turned around, "Aunt, Miss Xie, there's something I've held back for a long time; I have to get it out."

"Back then, if I hadn't left, the position of MrsLu would have been mine; at that time, it was Miss Xie who slipped into the gap and actively sought this marriage."

"Now that the marriage is over and disappoints Miss Xie, I'm sorry, but returning to Miss Xie what doesn't belong to me is wise."

"Isn't that so?"

"Enough said?" Xie Wantang grabbed the about-to-freak-out Xie Ningmeng, lifted a cold stare, glared at Lu Yanshen like an empress, then fixed her gaze on Xia Meng's face.

She knew that Xia Meng's brazen behavior before mother and daughter was enabled by Lu Yanshen.

Otherwise, she wouldn't dare act so recklessly.

"If you've said enough, get out, Lu Yanshen; aside from the day you sign the divorce, I don't want to see you again."

"……"

Implicitly, Xie Wantang hinted that he shouldn't return to the hotel tonight.

In their current situation, merely separate beds is insufficient; it's best to live apart entirely.

Lu Yanshen silently left, taking Xia Meng with him.

Before leaving, Xia Meng gave Xie Wantang a label: "childish."

It was the first time Xie Wantang was called that, but she didn't argue with Xia Meng.

She had no strength left.

Lu Yanshen was her pillar; before she completely let go of this dog man, she truly lacked the confidence to confront a woman who had a pillar behind her.

But someday, she'll make it so Xia Meng and Lu Yanshen, that dog man, can't hold their heads up in front of her.

Just wait.

"Spend the night staying with Mom?" Xie Ningmeng asked calmly.

Xie Wantang's eyes reddened slightly as she nodded, "Okay."

"If you want to cry, just cry; Mom's shoulder is there for you to lean on."

Xie Wantang shook her head, "I don't want to cry."

"It's fine not to cry; this man doesn't deserve a single tear from you."

"Hmm."

Xie Wantang nodded.

Afterwards, Xie Ningmeng accompanied Xie Wantang to Yu Jing Zun Di first, letting Xie Wantang move her belongings to the hotel where she was staying.

At the entrance of Yu Jing Zun Di, Xie Wantang's parents had already been waiting in the lobby for a while; seeing Xie Wantang holding Xie Ningmeng's hand, and the mother‑daughter pair appearing chatting and laughing, the couple immediately stepped forward.

"Wantang (Tangtang)—" the couple called out with a smile, trying to curry favor with Xie Wantang.

"Mr. Xie, Mrs. Xie, it's so late—how did you two end up here?" Xie Wantang frowned.

"We… wanted to talk to you, and also, Wantang, we are your birth parents—why do you always address us so formally and distantly?" Xie Wantang's father had always been dissatisfied that his biological daughter called him Mr. Xie.

In his view, Xie Wantang was far too lacking in propriety.

Even if they hadn't raised him, Xie Wantang's ability to find such a good haven in Lu Yanshen still meant she was basking in the glory of the Xie family.

This could be considered a case of merits and faults canceling each other out.

"You are Tang Bao's birth parents?" Xie Ningmeng hadn't expected that; tonight she not only met Lu Yanshen, but also met Tang Bao's birth parents.

Conveniently, all the troublesome matters in Sijiucheng could be completely resolved together.

She intended to take Tang Bao home and help her eliminate all future threats.

"Who are you?" Xie Wantang's father narrowed his eyes at Xie Ningmeng; for some reason, although her clothing wasn't expensive, her bearing was so noble as to be unattainable.

Xie Wantang's father found himself using the honorific "you" (nín).

Xie Wantang's mother was displeased, but she knew her husband's judgment of people was always sharp.

Anyone whom her husband held in high regard generally had a status that was not lacking.

Xie Wantang's mother remained silent, even accompanying her husband as they faced Xie Ningmeng with smiling faces.

Xie Ningmeng had no interest in laughing with them.

"My name is Xie Ningmeng, my husband is Qin Siyuan, we are from Haishi, and additionally I am Tang Bao's adoptive mother." Xie Ningmeng introduced herself openly.