Chapter 185 - I’ve Been Kneeling for Too Long, I Can’t Feel My Legs (1/2)

Yu Keyao had no choice but to return home first. As she walked through the doorway, the cries of Liang Lihua were heard. “Big brother, sister-in-law, please be reasonable. From the day I joined this family, I was serious and responsible. I was worried sick for the family. If it weren’t for me shamelessly running to the Song family begging, what would’ve happened to Yu Zidong? Even so, for the company, for his own interest, he now wants a divorce!”

“I’ve been his wife who shared all his hardships for nearly 30 years now. When he first started the business, I suffered and pushed through with him. Now, he’s forgotten all about it. For a measly amount of money, he wants to abandon me! What kind of person is he?” Liang Lihua sobbed, her face drenched in tears.

Ever since the divorce was suggested, she had no time to care for herself. She had no makeup on now — the spots on her face stood out sorely. She was in a mess.

“Lihua, rest assured, we’ll help you,” Liang Lihua’s sister-in-law, Ma Yingshu, said passionately. “That Yu Zidong thought there’s no one else in the Liang family, so he continued to bully you! Does he think he can get a divorce so easily? I won’t allow it! Even if he really wants the divorce, you must split the family property fairly. We won’t let him gain a single cent out of this divorce!”

Liang Lihua wailed. She knew Ma Yingshu’s kindness towards her was not sincere. Ma Yingshu was only afraid that the divorce would end with Liang Lihua becoming her family’s problem. Her need to settle the money properly was just so that if Liang Lihua had money, she would not need her family’s help.

Long story short, Ma Yingshu was afraid she might be taken advantage of.

At this time, Yu Keyao walked in. Ma Yingshu stood up immediately. She pointed at her forehead and scolded, “You! Your mother gave birth to you and cared for you your entire life — aren’t you the cause of all the conflict we face today? Now, for your own benefit, you stand on Yu Zidong’s side, not even bothered if your own mother is dead or alive! Raising an ingrate like you, she couldn’t be more heartbroken!”

Ma Yingshu’s finger pointed fiercely at Yu Keyao’s forehead. Hurt, Yu Keyao frowned intensely and screamed, “What are you doing?!”

“What am I doing? What do you think? I’m helping your poor mother teach you a lesson, you unfilial ingrate!” Ma Yingshu pulled up her sleeves, ready to strike. To her surprise, Yu Keyao made the first move and violently shoved her.

“That’s all her fault! What can I do? Anyone with a brain would know you can’t apologize to Song Yu at the last minute, then proceed to scold her again!” Yu Keyao shrieked. “If she didn’t get on Qi Chengzhi’s nerves in the first place, the company would’ve been fine! Now that things have escalated to this point, who’s to be blamed?”

“You —” Liang Lihua raised her head abruptly to look at Yu Keyao. She could not believe Yu Keyao just dumped all the blame on her.

“Yu Keyao! Pampering you was just a huge waste of time! Ever since you were a child, I’ve always stood by you. Even when Song Yu got together with Qi Chengzhi, you wanted to interject, and I supported you, displeased your uncle because of you! You claimed Song Yu stole Qi Chengzhi from you — alright, I supported you. I scolded Song Yu for you, I scolded her parents for you. Now tell me, whom do you think I offended Qi Chengzhi for? It’s all because of you that I’m stuck in this situation now. For that measly amount of money, your father wants to divorce me. At a time like this, you chose to betray me.”

“Yu Keyao, I’m not just anybody — I’m your mother! I’ve done so many things for you, yet you now shift all the blame on me and claim that I brought this on myself!” Liang Lihua stood up. With a face wet with tears, she darted towards Yu Keyao, raised her hand, and gave her a harsh slap across the face. “Are you still human? You truly are from the Yu family — just like your father, you have the heart to do anything for your own benefit!”

“Where do you think I went just now? I went to plead with Song Yu for you, but someone stopped me! I didn’t even get to see her! Still, you call me an ingrate?” Yu Keyao covered her face. Feeling indignant, she burst into tears as well.

“Did you do that for your mother? You did that for yourself! You’re only afraid that even after your parents divorced, the company will still be in shambles! Don’t think I don’t know what goes on in the mind of yours. Qi Chengzhi merely promised to stop taking action against Dong Hua, but he never said he would take responsibility and help Dong Hua get back on its feet — that’s why you went to plead with Song Yu! You shameless thing! Confounding black and white, and right and wrong!” Ma Yingshu scolded, spit spraying everywhere.

“You… How can you say such ugly things?!” Yu Keyao shook with anger.

“There’s more where that came from. You want to hear more?” Ma Yingshu retorted with spit spattering.

“Ma Yingshu, this is my house, the Yu family’s home. What did you say about me? Who are you to occupy our home, unwilling to leave? Ever since my dad suggested divorce, you and your husband moved in with the excuse of helping my mom. The longer you stay here and make a fuss, the longer my dad is away! Ma Yingshu, this is the Yu family’s home, so what do you think you can achieve by staying here? What makes you think you can come to my house to point and shout at me?!” Unwilling to back down, Yu Keyao scolded in a sharp voice.

“You disrespected your elders, you ill-bred thing!”

…

…

As things grew heated over at the Yu household, Cheng Dongge looked at Qi Chengyue through the rear-view mirror. Her head leaned against the window.

Her gaze was cast downwards. Her long hair covered her face and hid her expression.

Cheng Dongge had been driving for a while, but Qi Chengyue did not utter a word throughout the ride.

“Miss Qi.” Cheng Dongge looked into the rear-view mirror. “Where would you like to go?”

He knew she would not want to go back to the company. The house she shared with Jian Yi did not seem appropriate either. He wondered if he should send her to the Qi family’s home.

Qi Chengyue did not say anything for a long time. Just as Cheng Dongge thought she did not wish to speak, he heard Qi Chengyue’s low and frail voice coming from behind. “If possible, just drive me around for a while. I don’t feel like going anywhere now, sorry.”

Cheng Dongge glanced at the rear-view mirror. He could not imagine how Qi Chengyue would look when she apologized to someone.

Her frail and feeble appearance evoked sympathy in others.

Cheng Dongge drove in silence for a long time. Once again, he glanced at the rear-view mirror and noticed Qi Chengyue had disappeared.

At long last, he parked the car by a road. Beside the road, a field of luscious green grass surrounded a lake. This was one of the best places for a picnic in B City. However, not many people were around at this time.

Once in a while, a person or two would walk by the lake, but as it was quite a distance away, they would not be able to make out the situation by the road.

Cheng Dongge got out of the car, walked towards the back door and opened it. The sight he was met with gave him a shock.

Qi Chengyue’s arms were hugging herself. Her torso stuck firmly to her thighs. Her head nearly touched the seat in front of her, while her face was buried between her knees.

Not a sound came out of her, but her shoulders and back shook violently.

Cheng Dongge opened his mouth, wanting to wake her up, but he could not utter a word no matter what. It was as if something was blocking his throat and chest, and it stung.

He stood by the door for a long time. Qi Chengyue’s posture did not change at all, but the tremors grew worse and worse, and it made her seem more and more helpless.

“Miss Qi, you…” Cheng Dongge kneeled down and gently placed his palm on her shoulders.

He felt Qi Chengyue’s body freeze. She no longer quivered. It felt as if she was desperately holding it back, not wanting to be embarrassed in front of others.

She seemed to have not realized the car had stopped and that he had opened the door and stood beside her.

He watched as she stayed in that posture for some time before finally sitting up and raising her head slowly.

Cheng Dongge saw her appearance and was frozen in place without any reaction.

Her long curly hair was disheveled, some strands stuck to her tearful face. Her appearance was not at all elegant and attractive, but scruffy and in a mess. Tears left their tracks on her face. Her swollen, red-shot eyes still held tears, which she was desperately holding back.

Furthermore, seeing Qi Chengyue in such a sorry state, then remembering her arrogant look from before – she had really taken a deep dive. He could not help but pity her.

“Sorry, but can you… can you leave me alone…” Before she could finish her sentence, he pulled her into his arms.

Cheng Dongge’s husky voice sounded in her ears, “You can cry.”

His firm voice had the power to soothe others. After hearing his voice, she suddenly could not hold back her tears anymore, as if the crumbling dam that stood in her heart had suddenly collapsed.

Tears poured from her eyes, yet Qi Chengyue still clenched her teeth and bit her lips. Only when she had reached the limits of her endurance did she let out a small whimper.

However, when the warm and steady palm rested on the back of her head and gently caressed her hair; comforted and consoled her wordlessly, the effect on her was even greater.

Finally, Qi Chengyue gave in. “Waa…” she wailed loudly.

She cried like a child. Her crying was not melodious at all — it was rough and miserable. She cried so hard that she had hiccups, and her sinuses were blocked. Slowly, her snot merged with her tears and ran down her face.

“Why… Just because I loved someone, does that mean I deserve to be trampled like this? Why do some people treat marriage as a way to benefit from others? Why must marriage be about benefits? Why would someone use love to deceive others? Why didn’t he target someone else? Why did it have to be me?! Even if he just wanted the money and status, couldn’t he have at least treated me nicely? Am I unworthy of even a little love and respect?”