Chapter 16: Because of Love

This man, she could do without.

But Li Xinyue knew she couldn’t decide whether her child should acknowledge this father.

“Yiyi, you need to listen to your mother: He, is indeed your father.”

“He hasn’t seen you for so many years, firstly because he didn’t know you existed.”

“Secondly, because your mother did something to hurt him.”

“It’s wrong to hurt an innocent person, it’s all my fault.”

“But because of you, I will never regret it!”

At this point, Li Xinyue’s gaze fell on Chen Mingchuan.

“His name is Yiyi, his full name is Chen Yiheng.”

“Yi meaning standing firm, Heng meaning eternal.”

“He used to be called Gou’er, without a full name.”

“This is the name I gave him.”

“I like this name, and he likes this name too!”

Meaning, you don’t like it, you have no choice, because you don’t deserve it!

But Chen Mingchuan didn’t quite catch the last sentence!

Only one phrase resonated in his mind: Standing firm and eternal?

What a grand name!

-Does it mean she will stand firm and be eternal in the future?

Gou’er…

Hearing these two words, Chen Mingchuan’s eyes grew darker.

This must be the name his parents gave his son!

It seems in their hearts, his son is a dog son, and he is the dog of the family!

“This is a good name, Yiyi, your mother has a good eye for names.”

“From now on, can I call you that?”

Chen Yiheng had always wanted a father since he was little.

Because people with fathers are not easily bullied.

However, this father shouldn’t want him or his mother, otherwise he wouldn’t have come back to see them.

“No, this name was given to me by my mother, you can’t call me that, uncle.”

Uncle…

Hearing these two words, Chen Mingchuan’s heart clenched… He had wronged his child…

Li Xinyue had no time to consider Chen Mingchuan’s feelings, because she felt it was all his own doing.

For five years, he probably never once asked about the original owner, right?

Why should he be entitled to be a father so easily and naturally just because he came back?

The child didn’t want to acknowledge him, she didn’t force him.

She carried the child into the house.

“Yiyi, go play on the bed for a while, mommy will go collect the clothes.”

“Okay, mommy.”

Chen Yiheng instantly forgot about the father outside who he didn’t recognize, and obediently lay down on the bed to sleep.

The clothes had too many patches, and it had rained today, leaving some places wet.

When Li Xinyue came out with the clothes, Chen Mingchuan had already entered the main room.

She didn’t bother with him, and went to build a fire in the corner, the clothes wouldn’t dry without being roasted.

However, the fire had only been lit for a short while when Chen Mingchuan came out again.

Looking at the patched clothes in Li Xinyue’s hand, he hesitated for a moment before speaking: “Only two sets of clothes?”

She didn’t expect him to ask that.

Li Xinyue looked up, her gaze indifferent: “Yeah, these were bought by my third aunt when I got married.”

“But, you don’t have to feel guilty, it’s not your fault.”

“It’s all my own doing, I brought it upon myself, I’m not saying this to gain your sympathy, it’s the truth.”

How could it not be his fault?

Love might be wrong, forcing might also be wrong.

But his indifference, his neglect, couldn’t be said to be completely without fault.

If he hadn’t been dead set on not coming back all these years, he would have known he had a son long ago.

With a son, no matter how much he disliked her, he couldn’t have let them mother and son live like this.

Not knowing what to say, Chen Mingchuan, who knew his parents too well, felt a pang in his heart.

All those years, all that money, probably not a single cent went to this woman in front of him.

Turning around, he returned to the main house.

After a dozen minutes, Chen Mingchuan came out.

“Take this.”

“?”

Li Xinyue looked up at the stack of banknotes in his hand, blinking her eyes: “Break-up fee?”

Chen Mingchuan’s face flushed: It was supposed to be, but it wasn’t anymore, because they had a son…

“Household expenses.”

Household expenses?

A person who doesn’t even want a home, how can there be household expenses?

Li Xinyue wouldn’t accept money from a man, even though she was desperately short of it, her pride wouldn’t allow it.

As for whether the original owner would accept it, it wasn’t her concern.

It wasn’t like she wanted to take over her body, so she wouldn’t live her life.

Raising the child, giving him the best education, letting Yi’er have a good future, even if it was to repay the original owner.

“No need, I know what this money is, and I know you’re giving it sincerely.”

“Logically, I should take it, so you no longer feel guilty.”

“But if I take it, it will break my grandfather’s heart.”

“Pride doesn’t have much value, but we can’t just throw it away!”

“Our marriage has come to this point, you have your faults and I have mine, the past… let’s just call it even!”

“You can rest assured, I’m not playing hard to get.”

“This is the clarity I bought with five years of being a slave, it’s definitely not about attracting your attention.”

Chen Mingchuan: “…”

So eloquent?

“You didn’t used to talk so much.”

Used to?

He still remembers the past?

Li Xinyue twitched her lips, looking disdainful.

She didn’t want to say anything, but a wave of discomfort surged through her heart… Li Xinyue, please, since you’re dead, don’t control me anymore!

But, her heart churned even more violently!

“What’s wrong with you?”

Seeing Li Xinyue suddenly look extremely unwell, as if she was in pain, Chen Mingchuan became a little anxious.

Huff, huff, huff…

Forcing down her discomfort, seeing Chen Mingchuan’s concerned expression, a surge of anger arose in her heart…

“Nothing, I won’t die!”

“Chen Mingchuan, did you know me well before?”

“Before, I was young, shy, and knew I wasn’t good enough for you, so I was insecure.”

“Because I liked you, so I was humble.”

“Because I liked you, I would do anything.”

“Because I liked you, I ultimately hurt you.”

“I’m sorry! This is the first time Li Xinyue has liked someone, I have no experience.”

“I didn’t know that one-sided love is a kind of harm to others, I apologize.”

“For the past five years, I’ve slept later than a dog, woken up earlier than a rooster.”

“Worked harder than an ox, ate worse than a pig, dressed like a beggar, all for the sake of atonement.”

“Chen Mingchuan, I forced you, and you abandoned me for five years without a word, we’re even now!”

“Tomorrow, let’s go get a divorce!”

Is it really that no one owes anyone anything?

Is she truly so eager for a divorce?

Thinking back to the little girl’s affection for him years ago, the hand he had extended froze in place…

“Third Uncle, Third Sister-in-law, it’s time to eat.”

Wang Mei came out, calling them to eat.

It was getting late, but luckily the moon had risen, and the courtyard wasn’t dark.

Li Xinyue shook the clothes in her hand: “I won’t eat, and I won’t work anymore either.”

“From tomorrow onwards, you don’t need to prepare food for our mother and son anymore.”

“Second Sister-in-law, Chen Mingchuan and I have already agreed, we’ll go get a divorce tomorrow morning.”