Chapter 12: Still in Shock

The matriarch walked in and saw Chen Yan, still half-dressed, looking flustered, the bed in disarray, and only one button fastened on her top. As someone with experience, she immediately understood what had happened. Noticing a glimpse of gray clothing through the wardrobe gap, she stepped closer. Chen Yan, seeing her peeking at the closet, quickly got off the bed, leaning against it, and said, “Aunt, I wasn’t feeling well, slept in deeply, just got up.”

“Oh, young people need to take care of their health,” she said, glanced at the wardrobe, and left the room. Turning back, she said to Chen Yan, “I have something to do, I’ll go first.”

Gao Ershan, hearing his mother leave, came out of the wardrobe, panting, and said, “That was suffocating… my mother’s gone.” Looking at Chen Yan, he said, “I’ll leave first,” and stepped outside.

Just as he stepped out, he saw someone standing at Chen Yan’s door—it was his mother. Startled, he jumped, covered his face, and tried to go back in.

“Ershan, where are you going?”

“Mother, what are you doing here? I… I was just passing by,” Gao Ershan stammered.

“How come I’m here? You unfilial son! The whole village knows about your disgraceful deeds. What about my reputation?” She picked up a branch from the ground and started hitting him while scolding, “You unfilial boy!”

Gao Ershan silently endured her beating. After a while, she continued, “And with that widow too, sneaking around secretly is one thing, but during the day? How shameless!”

“Mother, I was wrong,” Gao Ershan said, looking at his furious mother.

“Let’s go home and talk,” she said, and the two headed back.

—

Lin Anran, hearing the front door open, thought it was just Gao Ershan returning and had no intention of leaving.

“Close the door.”

In the kitchen, Lin Anran’s hairs stood on end at the sound, and she shivered. Quickly regaining her composure, she walked out calmly with a smile. “Mother, you’re here?”

The matriarch glanced at her, surprised. It had been a while since she last saw her; Lin Anran had changed a lot—she was thinner, prettier. Her eyes scanned the courtyard for a stool, sat down, and sternly said, “Anran, you and Ershan come over.”

Lin Anran hurried over and stood there, with Gao Ershan beside her.

The old woman began scolding Lin Anran, “You’re Ershan’s wife, yet you don’t control him. And if he goes out and misbehaves, it’s also your responsibility.”

Lin Anran thought, what logic is this? Her son misbehaves and blames her? She cursed inwardly.

The matriarch continued, “You’ve been married a while and haven’t had a child. As a woman, that’s a failure.”

Lin Anran thought, she couldn’t have children on her own, and seeing Gao Ershan, she tried to stop her mother quickly, worrying about the main room. Her heart raced.

Gao Ershan listened to his mother’s scolding like an old play, sneering at Lin Anran silently, pretending not to notice.

Lin Anran, angry at the tirade, wanted to slam the table. She also sensed someone in the main room and saw a shadow moving. Alarmed, she looked down at her mother and said fiercely, “Mother, since you don’t like me and I haven’t given you a child, why not let me divorce Gao Ershan? You can find someone else to continue your family line.”

The matriarch jumped up from her stool, furious: “Fine! Lin Anran, you want a divorce? Alright! You can’t take anything with you.”

“Fine!” Lin Anran said firmly.

The matriarch had assumed her being an orphan with no family would pressure her into staying, but Lin Anran proposed divorce first. She was shocked. Angrily pointing at Lin Anran, she said, “Fine, this is your doing.” Then she turned to her son: “Ershan, hurry up and divorce her, the sooner the better!”

Gao Ershan hesitated upon hearing Lin Anran propose divorce, carefully observing her. He noticed she had become much prettier, with delicate, fair skin, and a captivating look. He paused, staring at her.

Lin Anran, seeing him look at her, thought he would agree and felt excited, expecting his answer. But he said, “I’ll think it over.”

The matriarch stomped angrily, “You fool! She’s saying this, and you still won’t divorce?”

Lin Anran glanced at him, ignoring her. She turned to leave, but the matriarch grabbed her arm.

“You little slut! Do you have a man? How could you divorce when you have no family?”

Lin Anran didn’t back down: “Your son misbehaves, and you blame me?”

The two started wrestling, hair and clothes in disarray, angrily striking at each other. Gao Ershan had a headache and shouted, “Stop fighting!” Helpless, he didn’t know what to do.

Lin Anran, swinging her arms, glanced toward the main room and saw a shadow moving. Alarmed, she ran quickly toward the main room, closed the door, bolted it, and panted heavily.

Outside, curses rang out: “You shameless woman, going around hooking up and now wanting a divorce!”

Gao Ershan, seeing his mother rant, stepped forward to stop her: “Mother, this is my business, don’t interfere.”

She pointed at her son: “You useless man, can’t even handle your own wife!”

Gao Ershan, hearing himself called useless, felt uncomfortable. He knocked on the door: “Lin Anran, open the door! I’ll deal with you right now,” pounding repeatedly.

Lin Anran, terrified, wished she could hide in a crack in the floor.

Leng Feng, seeing her sweating and panicked, walked over and leaned with her against the door, watching her flushed face and the rise and fall of her chest. His heart raced. He turned Lin Anran around, pressed her against the door, held her head, and kissed her forcefully.

Lin Anran’s eyes widened in disbelief. She stifled a groan, not daring to make a sound. Once the noise outside stopped, he released her.

Panting heavily, she said, “What do you want? To ruin my reputation?”

Leng Feng grabbed her hand firmly, saying earnestly, “Divorce him, and I’ll marry you.”

Lin Anran felt a rush of emotion, staring into his eyes—steadfast, undeniable. She didn’t know how to answer, shocked and thrilled at the same time. She also felt this agreement was sudden, having never met his parents, and she was already a married woman.

At that moment, urgent knocking sounded at the door again…