His mother had passed away early, and his father remarried a stepmother who was cunning. On the surface, she appeared gentle and caring, but her words were laced with barbs, constantly undermining him.

Over time, his father, who had been bewitched by her, turned into a stepfather, only criticizing and berating him.

His stepmother was a wolf in sheep’s clothing, utterly hypocritical.

In the Sheng family, Sheng Zexi had long lost anyone who cared for or loved him, which was why he threw himself into military life without hesitation.

He knew his maternal grandparents loved him, but they were old and couldn’t be there for him all the time.

Moreover, due to a past injury that might have left him infertile, Sheng Zexi had once thought that he would spend his life alone. So, he trained with all his might, becoming the top soldier multiple times and completing missions almost flawlessly. He thought that perhaps dying on the battlefield would be his best end, as the future held little promise for him.

Unexpectedly, over a year ago, he was injured and fell into a coma, only to be picked up by Gu Jianing. From that moment, his heart was stirred, and his emotional world underwent a seismic shift.

Although he felt a twinge of jealousy over Gu Jianing’s past affection for Wen Zhuqing, Sheng Zexi could see that Gu Jianing now wanted to build a life with him.

So, he would also strive to give Gu Jianing a better life.

The future he once imagined, where he might grow old alone, could now be rewritten—with him holding Gu Jianing’s hand, walking through life together.

After dropping Gu Jianing off at her family’s home, Sheng Zexi drove back to Zhaoyang County.

Little did he know, at this very moment, his father in the Sheng household was in a rage.

Far away in the Sheng residence in the capital.

Sheng Xinhao’s phone slammed onto the floor, his face dark with fury, startling Fang Wanrong, who was sitting on the sofa. She quickly stood up to soothe him.

“What’s wrong? Why are you so angry?” Fang Wanrong asked softly.

Earlier, the housekeeper had said it was a call from the Northwest Military Region, looking for Sheng Xinhao.

Knowing it involved the Northwest Military Region, Fang Wanrong realized it must be related to her stepson. So, she stayed seated on the sofa, wanting to know who had called and what had happened.

To her surprise, Sheng Xinhao had only been on the phone for a short while before exploding in anger, even throwing the phone to the ground.

Had her stepson done something “remarkable” again?

“That brat Sheng Zexi, does he even still consider me his father? He secretly got married to some country girl.”

“Even the marriage report was approved. If Old Xu hadn’t called me, would I have only found out when they had a child?”

What? Sheng Zexi got married? To a country girl? And the marriage report was already approved?

Fang Wanrong’s eyes widened, but she quickly thought of something and her lips curled slightly. Remembering Sheng Xinhao was beside her she forced her smile down.

In her heart, she thought: Marrying a country girl is good. What she feared most was Sheng Zexi marrying the daughter of a high-ranking official, gaining powerful connections. Now that Sheng Zexi had married a country girl, she no longer needed to worry.

But what about her Manping…

She had been helping Li Shuyao marry Sheng Zexi, hoping to use this opportunity to get closer to Li Tingxuan through Li Shuyao. But now…

Li Shuyao had lost her chance, so what about her daughter and Li Tingxuan…

Just as she thought this, she heard movement at the door. Looking up, she saw her daughter leaning against the wall, her face pale.

Clearly, she had overheard.

Fang Wanrong’s heart sank. Her daughter was stubborn and had inexplicably fixated on Li Tingxuan.

She knew Li Tingxuan was a good match, and if only Pingping were her husband’s biological daughter, she and Li Tingxuan would be a perfect pair. But unfortunately, Pingping wasn’t, and her status was so awkward.

For now, Fang Wanrong couldn’t comfort her daughter and had to focus on soothing her husband, while also subtly stirring the pot against her stepson.

“Zexi has gone too far this time. How could he not inform his parents about such a major life event?”

“Even if, even if I’m just his stepmother and he doesn’t want to tell me, A-Hao, you’re his biological father. You’ve never treated him poorly all these years. How could he not even tell you?”

Fang Wanrong’s words further stoked Sheng Xinhang’s anger.

Not informing him about such an important matter as marriage—did he still consider him his father?

After all the effort he had put into planning for him, hoping he would marry Old Li’s youngest daughter, and this is what happens!

Fang Wanrong noticed Sheng Xinhao’s face growing darker and felt satisfied, though she wore a look of sorrow on her face.

“It’s all my fault. Ever since you married me, Zexi has held a grudge against me. All these years, I’ve dragged you down, making you unwelcome in his and his maternal family’s eyes. I, I…” Fang Wanrong’s eyes welled up with tears, “It’s all because I couldn’t control my feelings for you back then…”

Fang Wanrong was a beauty, with soft features and eyes that seemed to speak. Now, as she cried, she looked even more pitiful and endearing.

Sheng Xinhao couldn’t help but recall the time he first met Fang Wanrong.

Was it really Fang Wanrong who couldn’t control her feelings?

Only Sheng Xinhao knew that, from beginning to end, Wanrong had been the reserved one, the one who had gently refused.

It was he who had been unable to control himself after meeting Wanrong, insisting on marrying her despite her initial refusal.

Sheng Xinhao knew that Sheng Zexi and the Sang family elders had distanced themselves from him because of his remarriage and because of Fang Wanrong.

Originally, when he thought of this, he had felt some resentment toward Fang Wanrong.

But now, as she spoke and he recalled the past, he could no longer bring himself to blame her.

From beginning to end, Wanrong had done nothing wrong.

All these years, not only had she devoted herself to the family, but she had also given birth to A-Yu, such a well-behaved and sensible son.

Sheng Xinhai wrapped his arms around Fang Wanrong, gently wiping away her tears with his thumb, and said softly, “Wanrong, it’s not your fault. That boy has grown too stubborn, and his wings have hardened. He doesn’t even respect me as his father anymore.”

Sheng Xinhao thought that the next time that brat came back, he would teach him a lesson.

As for now, since he couldn’t reach him, there was nothing he could do.

Fang Wanrong, nestled in Sheng Xinhao’s arms, softly murmured in agreement, delicate and pitiable.

From an angle Sheng Xinhao couldn’t see, Fang Wanrong’s lips curled into a faint smile.

Still concerned about her daughter, Fang Wanrong stoked Sheng Xinhao’s displeasure with Sheng Zexi a bit more. After sharing some tender moments with Sheng Xinhao, she went to Fang Manping’s room.

Pushing the door open, she saw the floor littered with toppled and scattered items, while her daughter lay face down on the desk, her back to the door, shoulders shaking as suppressed sobs escaped.

“Sigh.”

Fang Wanrong sighed, closed the door, and walked over, placing her hands on her daughter’s shoulders.

Fang Manping turned around and hugged Fang Wanrong, burying her face in her mother’s chest, crying pitifully, “Mom, do you think Li Tingxuan and I have no chance anymore?”