Chapter 5: Cutting Losses

“Madam… Mrs. Zhou, hello.”

Secretly, I worried for Chu Ning.

Why did her future mother-in-law suddenly appear?

The person who entered without notice was Chu Ning’s future mother-in-law, Wang Xiang.

The Tang family was a prominent family, and they also had business dealings with the Zhou family.

Tang Siqi’s mother and Wang Xiang were old acquaintances in the wealthy social circle.

Although Tang Siqi didn’t look favorably upon Zhou Chenhao, that scoundrel,

she still respected Wang Xiang.

However, she happened to say words that incited Chu Ning.

Chu Ning was the wealthy young mistress personally chosen by Wang Xiang for her son.

She had always been cherished by Wang Xiang.

Wang Xiang’s blatant suggestion that Chu Ning find a man to regulate her estrogen levels was a direct affront.

Fortunately, Wang Xiang was self-aware, knowing that her son was a loser.

Being disliked was only to be expected.

“Thank you, Miss Tang, for taking care of my daughter-in-law. I will personally visit to express my gratitude another day.”

Wang Xiang possessed extremely high emotional intelligence. As a woman of high society, she never made enemies.

She was always polite, graceful, and poised, perfectly embodying the image of a wealthy matriarch.

This, in turn, made Tang Siqi feel somewhat awkward.

“No need, Little Lemon and I are best friends; taking care of her is only natural.”

“Precisely because of that, I must thank you even more, Miss Tang.”

“Uh, no need.”

The more magnanimous Wang Xiang was, the more burdened Tang Siqi felt.

She practically fled the scene.

The door closed, leaving the room silent.

Wang Xiang spoke first, “Ningning, thank you for calling me last night. Chenhao, he was momentarily confused last night.”

“I saw him sleeping with Lin Wan’er.”

Chu Ning interrupted Wang Xiang, stating the blunt truth.

Wang Xiang’s expression faltered, “Just playing around, he was just playing around. You know he’s wild and likes to play.

Don’t worry, Auntie promises you, I will make him settle down.”

Chu Ning had saved Wang Xiang’s life.

Chu Ning was the future daughter-in-law Wang Xiang had chosen for her son.

Naturally, she would do her utmost to appease Chu Ning and keep her compliant.

This was to maintain the Zhou family’s reputation.

Having said that, to show her determination, Wang Xiang took out a house deed and a car key and placed them in Chu Ning’s hand.

“This is a new property and car I’ve arranged for you, my dear.”

Chu Ning wasn’t stupid; she knew this was Wang Xiang’s usual tactic.

Whenever Zhou Chenhao caused a scandal, Wang Xiang would use property, cars, and jewelry to appease her.

This was to resolve her grievances, to bypass Zhou Chenhao, and to ensure she obediently played the role of the wealthy young mistress.

Even if the media raged with stormy reports, she would remain unshaken in her position.

In short, she was a puppet.

A puppet manipulated by Wang Xiang with money.

Before, because she loved Zhou Chenhao, she cared about her love for him.

She didn’t care about the Zhou family’s wealth, so she willingly became a puppet.

This, in turn, led to Zhou Chenhao’s escalating behavior.

Now, she had completely broken up with Zhou Chenhao, and naturally wouldn’t continue to be a puppet.

“Auntie, last night wasn’t the first time Zhou Shao made a mistake.

He has crossed my bottom line.

Therefore, please take back your things and leave my home.”

The implication was that from now on, they would each go their separate ways.

Chu Ning didn’t want the property or car.

Since she was rejecting it, she would reject it completely.

She took out all the property certificates and vehicle registration certificates that Wang Xiang had previously given her from the cabinet and returned them to Wang Xiang.

Of course, the jewelry, bags, and designer clothes that Wang Xiang had given her were all in her and Zhou Chenhao’s villa.

When she moved out three days ago, she had the servants inventory and record them, creating a list to give to Wang Xiang if necessary.

Upon hearing this, Wang Xiang was speechless.

In the past, when this happened, Chu Ning would turn a blind eye and accept everything.

Today, she suddenly refused and even returned everything from the past.

This made Wang Xiang inexplicably uneasy.

She felt that Chu Ning had changed.

But she still maintained a composed demeanor.

Grasping Chu Ning’s hand, she said affectionately, “My dear child, why wouldn’t you want them? You are my lifesaver and the young mistress of the Zhou family, so naturally you should live luxuriously.

Mom knows you and Chenhao had a fight and you moved out.

This house you’re renting temporarily is not befitting your status.

Mom is giving you this property, hoping you will move there.

Regardless of what happens between you and Chenhao in the future, move there for now.”

“I have agreed to break off the engagement with him and give him his freedom. I am no longer the young mistress of the Zhou family, nor your future daughter-in-law.

Please take these back and give them to the Zhou family’s true young mistress.”

Wang Xiang had no idea that Chu Ning had broken off her engagement with her son.

Last night, after catching them in the hotel with Lin Wan’er, she had focused all her attention on Lin Wan’er.

She used all her energy to deal with Lin Wan’er.

She banished Lin Wan’er from Beijing overnight.

This was to prevent Lin Wan’er from having the opportunity to ruin her son’s marriage.

The reason she was here now was naturally to appease Chu Ning.

She hadn’t had time to comfort her last night, so she came this morning to coax Chu Ning.

Unexpectedly…

“Ningning, I know Chenhao is a scoundrel, Mom will help you get revenge, don’t be impulsive.

Be good, listen to me, Mom will take you out for a walk, there’s a newly opened coffee shop, the coffee is very good.”

Wang Xiang’s tone was entirely conciliatory, unaffected by Chu Ning’s words.

This, instead, made Chu Ning feel disgusted.

“Auntie, enough, isn’t it better for us to be clear-headed?

Zhou Chenhao doesn’t love me, there’s no need for us to deceive ourselves.

Please leave, thank you for your care over the past three years, let’s each have a good life from now on!”

Chu Ning’s heart was broken, she just wanted to let herself go.

“Ningning, are you really serious?”

“Yes.”

Chu Ning’s attitude was firm.

She had never been so clear-headed.

Wang Xiang’s heart trembled, and she felt completely distraught.

To be honest, Chu Ning was kind, beautiful, highly educated, and a talented designer.

The key was that she was obedient, sensible, and easy to control.

Since her engagement to her son, she had always been obedient.

Zhou Chenhao was wild and inherently rebellious and fickle; it was impossible for him to settle down in a short time.

The Zhou family needed a well-behaved girl like Chu Ning.

Losing her would be a loss for the Zhou family.

“Ningning, Mom will give you time, you need to calm down, we’ll talk again after you’ve calmed down.”

Wang Xiang knew that Chu Ning was heartbroken and determined to break up with her son.

Pressing the issue would only backfire.

She just wanted to give Chu Ning time to settle down.

Then, Wang Xiang left.

Chu Ning stood there, hesitant, feeling a splitting headache.

She hadn’t showered after getting drunk last night, Chu Ning took her pajamas and went to the bathroom to shower.

The moment she stepped into the bathroom.

In a daze, everything in the bathroom changed.

Everything in the bathroom became masculine.

To be precise, the bathroom had become the bathroom of the man from yesterday.

In an instant, Chu Ning was struck by lightning.

She didn’t have any cheats, why did she time travel again?

It wasn’t like she had time traveled, she just felt that the scene before her seemed to be switching between two bathrooms, making her dizzy.

She felt a little dizzy.

Suddenly, Chu Ning felt a sharp pain in her chest and fainted on the spot.

•  

Red Light Brigade.

Fu Yuzhou, who had been sleepless all night, didn’t pack his bags to catch the bus first thing in the morning.

Instead, he went to the educated youth point to look for the newly arrived educated youth.

He just wanted to find Chu Ning, who had recklessly provoked him.