Volume 1, Chapter 15: Not Wronged, As Long As You Keep Me in Your Heart

The words fell, and Song Qingyin’s movements froze.

She slowly turned her head, catching the gaze of Pei Jingmo’s earnest, tranquil eyes.

After a moment, she shook her head.

"I don't feel wronged," she added. "As long as you and Xiaoyu are with me and love me, I don't feel wronged."

"Besides, I know your heart."

Song Qingyin set down her things and walked step by step to Pei Jingmo’s side, her palm slowly climbing up to his cheek.

"Jingmo, as long as you have me in your heart, I don't feel wronged."

"I hope you will love me forever and never leave me."

Song Qingyin slowly lowered her waist, clutching his neck tightly. Closing her eyes, she said in a strained, tremulous voice, "I only have you now..."

The strained tone caused Pei Jingmo to instantly recall three years ago, when Song Qingyin returned covered in wounds.

If nothing had happened to her, the two of them would have been fulfilled long ago.

Perhaps, by now, Xiaoyu would be their child.

Perhaps even more; they might have had other children as well.

Every day after work, he could have seen their smiling faces.

Instead of what it was now—such a cold, indifferent home.

And that face he had always found annoying.

Pei Jingmo closed his eyes, shielding the surging hostility in his gaze.

It was Shen Shuhe who caused all of this.

It was she who made him and Qingyin suffer.

With this thought, Pei Jingmo felt an even deeper ache. He pulled Song Qingyin into a hug, rubbing the back of her head. "Don't be sad, I am here."

"We have missed too much, but rest assured, I will make everything return to normal as soon as possible."

"And as for Xiaoyu, he is your biological son."

Song Qingyin looked up at him, her eyes brimming with tears. "Jingmo, I will treat Xiaoyu well, too."

"I will contact the school later and change the mother's information to yours," Pei Jingmo said. "Making you feel bad these past few days was my oversight."

"It doesn't matter. After all, Miss Shen is indeed Xiaoyu's biological mother; she has the right to know," Song Qingyin said gently.

When Shen Shuhe was mentioned, Pei Jingmo's expression dimmed slightly, but his tone toward Song Qingyin remained firm. "I promise you that from now on, that right will belong entirely to you."

Hearing this, Song Qingyin’s eyes reddened. "Jingmo..."

Her gaze flickered with intense emotion, and she held his neck, slowly leaning toward his face.

But at the very moment she drew close, Pei Jingmo cupped her face and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.

Feeling the cool touch, Song Qingyin's eyes darkened.

She lowered her lashes, hiding a somber look.

It had been so long, yet he still refused to touch her!

Pei Jingmo, what exactly are you worried about?

Are you still clinging to that last shred of moral integrity?

Song Qingyin gritted her teeth in silence, closing her eyes to suppress the restlessness and frustration in her heart.

***

Two more days passed. Shen Shuhe’s work handover with Fang Wu was nearing its end; only a final wrap-up remained for tomorrow.

That evening, she received more good news.

Qi Zijin had prepared the divorce agreement and could give it to her at any time.

Checking the time, Shen Shuhe arranged to meet him tomorrow.

Just as she hung up the phone, Wen Yu returned from work.

"I'm exhausted..."

Shen Shuhe poured a glass of water and handed it to her. "Drink some water."

Wen Yu took a large gulp. "It's finally all resolved."

"Tong Xi's matter?"

"Yes," Wen Yu set the cup down. "The company wants to protect her, so the only option is to suspend all her public engagements for now and let her disappear from the public eye for a while."

After hearing this, Shen Shuhe didn't offer an opinion.

She said, "What do you want to eat? I'll go make it."

Wen Yu waved her hand. "Anything is fine."

"Alright." Shen Shuhe rolled up her sleeves and was about to head to the kitchen when her phone, resting on the coffee table, rang.

"It's your son," Wen Yu said, handing it to her.

Shen Shuhe was quite surprised that Xiaoyu had called her on his own.

They hadn't seen each other for three or four days.

But she knew that for the past few days, Pei Jingmo had been out playing with him and Song Qingyin; how could he possibly remember her?

"Xiaoyu, what is it?" Shen Shuhe answered the phone.

"Mom... I don't feel well. Can you come back to see me? I miss you."

On the other end of the line, Xiaoyu said in a weak, listless voice.

Hearing this, Shen Shuhe’s expression turned solemn. "How are you feeling unwell? Is your father there?"

Xiaoyu replied, "Dad is working overtime; he hasn't come home yet."

"Mom, please come back quickly. I feel really terrible."

Shen Shuhe glanced at the time; it was nearly ten o'clock.

Pei Jingmo was not there.

With that, Shen Shuhe walked quickly to the bedroom to grab her coat. "Alright, Mom is coming back right away."

After hanging up, Wen Yu saw her hurrying and couldn't help but worry. "Do you want me to go with you?"

"No need, I'll just head back to the mansion to check on the situation."

"Alright, be careful on the road. Call me if anything happens," Wen Yu cautioned, still uneasy.

Shen Shuhe grabbed her keys and replied, "Okay. There are dumplings in the freezer, you can boil them yourself."

"Got it."

Shen Shuhe drove back to the mansion.

She ran into Auntie Li in the lobby and asked, breathless, "Auntie Li, how is Xiaoyu? Where is he feeling unwell?"

"Huh?" Auntie Li was surprised to see Shen Shuhe home, but looked bewildered. "The young master isn't feeling well? I don't think so. He just finished dinner and is in his room now."

Shen Shuhe frowned and glanced upstairs. "Alright, I'll go up and check."

"…Very well."

Auntie Li watched her go upstairs, still not quite understanding the situation.

In the second-floor bedroom, Shen Shuhe steadied her breathing, her hand on the doorknob.

After a deep breath, she pushed it open.

What met her eyes was Xiaoyu sitting cross-legged on the carpet, holding a tablet and excitedly maneuvering a character.

"Hurry, charge! We're about to win!"

"Beat him, beat him! Dodge quickly!"

His face was flushed, his voice full of vigor; there was not a hint of illness to be seen.

Shen Shuhe felt a moment of relief, but her expression turned cold.

"Xiaoyu," she called out.

To her surprise, Xiaoyu interrupted impatiently, "Mom, why are you here now? Oh, don't talk yet, wait until I finish this round!"

Shen Shuhe sat on the sofa with a dark face.

Less than a minute later, Xiaoyu tossed the tablet aside.

"Mom, it's all your fault for bothering me! You made me lose the game!" Xiaoyu looked over and snapped accusingly.

"Xiaoyu, why did you lie to Mom?" Shen Shuhe ignored him and went straight to the point.

At the mention of this, Xiaoyu touched his cheek awkwardly.

Then he said dismissively, "Mom, I didn't lie to you. My stomach really did hurt a bit earlier."

"Maybe I just ate too much for dinner!"

"Then you should have explained it clearly to Mom, how could you lie..." Shen Shuhe attempted to reason with him.

But Xiaoyu wasn't listening; instead, he turned the topic back to Shen Shuhe.

"Alright, Mom, don't talk about my problems. I want to talk about yours! You were in Nanlin, why didn't you come home!"

"You didn't call or text me either. Do you not love Xiaoyu anymore!"

When he returned that day and didn't see Shen Shuhe, he thought his mother had left again, but yesterday Auntie Yinyin told him that Mom was in Nanlin and wouldn't be going back to Jiugang anymore.

Auntie Yinyin said that this way, Mom would have more time to spend with her.

But he wasn't happy; that meant he wouldn't be able to see Auntie Yinyin as often.

However, he hadn't expected Mom not to come home for four days, and he had happily spent those four days playing with his father and Auntie Yinyin.

This afternoon, he accidentally overheard Auntie Yinyin on the phone.

She said that if someone doesn't take the initiative to contact their child, it means they don't love their child and don't want them!

He was terrified.

Even though he didn't like playing with his mother, he couldn't live without her.

Otherwise, there would be no one to cook him delicious food, no one to wash his clothes, and no one to accompany him with his crafts.

So, he decided to test his mother!