Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

  Previously, Mu Jingzhe had been focused on earning money and raising the five children. Even though Ji Buwang had confessed his feelings, she hadn’t had the time or energy for this.

  However, these days, Ji Buwang had indeed shown her his sincerity.

  ?

  After dinner, it was already dark, so Ji Buwang drove them back.

  It was Ji Buwang’s first time in Great Eastern Village, but he was sensible enough to only take them to the village entrance and didn’t even get out of the car. He was considerate enough not to make things difficult for Mu Jingzhe.

  Logically speaking, Mu Jingzhe should have invited Ji Buwang to her house for some tea. However, her identity as a widow would invite gossip if he was seen at her house, and Mu Jingzhe was in the limelight now. If the villagers really saw Ji Buwang, who knew what would happen.

  Mu Jingzhe was in a difficult position. Knowing that, Ji Buwang simply waved at them and left after they got out of the car.

  Mu Jingzhe watched Ji Buwang’s car drive away and stood there for a moment before turning around to go back.

  The next day, after taking the children to school, Mu Jingzhe unexpectedly saw Tang Moling outside the village. Tang Moling had come to look for her.

  “Mu Jingzhe, did you not let the children go to art school just to avoid me?”

  Tang Moling had given Mu Jingzhe a week to accept it, thinking that she ought to have calmed down after a week.

  He had specifically gone to the art school to look for them after class in the afternoon, but he had not managed to find them. He’d even gone to the county library, but they hadn’t been there either.

  Tang Moling didn’t know that Mu Jingzhe and the children had gone to Ji Buwang’s house. He thought that Mu Jingzhe was trying to avoid him, so he’d let his imagination run wild. In the end, he couldn’t help but run over to look for Mu Jingzhe the next day.

  Mu Jingzhe’s hair stood on end when she saw him. “Why are you here? Are you trying to do me in? When the villagers see you looking for me, they will definitely misunderstand and think that I snatched you away. Old Lady Mu and Mu Xue won’t let me off.”

  “I’ve already broken off my engagement to her. You and I have to get together sooner or later.” Tang Moling frowned.

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  Mu Jingzhe looked at Tang Moling, then looked around to calm down. “Are you really done with Mu Xue?”

  “Of course. Otherwise, why would I go so far as to end the engagement?”

  “So you were serious before. You’re not joking or taking revenge?” Mu Jingzhe tried her best to calm down.

  “Of course not. Who would take revenge on someone by making such a joke?” Seeing that she had finally accepted it, Tang Moling heaved a sigh of relief. “Don’t worry, if they’re unhappy or spout nonsense in the village, I’ll find a way to deal with it.”

  Mu Jingzhe shook her head. “How are you going to deal with it? Money isn’t omnipotent. Forget it, don’t rush into talking about this. If what you said is true, then I’ll give you my answer first. I don’t like you, so it’s impossible for anything to happen between us. Remember, it’s impossible.”

  She had seen the love between Mu Xue and Tang Moling before. Although she’d tried her best to accept the fact that Tang Moling had had a change of heart, she rejected him without hesitation.

  She was only wary and suspicious of this confession.

  Tang Moling’s face stiffened. “Impossible?” Why had she used such an absolute word?

  “That’s right. Regardless of whether it’s true or not, it’s absolutely impossible. Please don’t come looking for me again in the future.” Mu Jingzhe nodded her head. Feeling that she had made herself clear, she left immediately.

  Tang Moling wanted to chase after her but was stopped by Mu Jingzhe. “Don’t force me to knock you out.”

  Tang Moling gritted his teeth and stood still. “I won’t give up. I’ll come and find you again.”

  The more he spoke, the faster Mu Jingzhe ran. Soon, she disappeared without a trace. Judging by the way she ran, those who didn’t know would think that wild dogs were chasing after her.

  Tang Moling smacked the car angrily. As he hesitated, having no clue whether to continue looking for Mu Jingzhe or go back, he turned around and saw Mu Xue.

  Mu Xue was standing behind him and looking at him coldly.

  “When did you arrive?” Tang Moling frowned.

  “When Mu Jingzhe came over.” Mu Xue had followed Mu Jingzhe over. Although she had been far away and hadn’t heard everything, she had heard Tang Moling’s last sentence clearly.

  “You came to find Mu Jingzhe after all.” At that moment, Mu Xue wished that she wasn’t so sensitive, but she had already predicted everything.

  “Tang Moling, I can tolerate you breaking off the engagement, but I can’t accept you being with Mu Jingzhe. Now that you’re with her, how am I supposed to face everyone?”

  If Tang Moling really married Mu Jingzhe, she would become a complete joke. Mu Xue couldn’t tolerate it. She definitely wouldn’t allow Mu Jingzhe to find happiness and marry Tang Moling by trampling on her.

  One Shao Qihai was enough.

  “My only request is that you don’t be with her. Can’t you do that?” Mu Xue asked.

  “I didn’t promise you this back then. Forgive me for not being able to do it.” Tang Moling could only apologize. “I’m sorry for hurting you.”

  After apologizing, Tang Moling changed the topic. “But I hope you don’t take your anger out on her. My change of heart wasn’t because she seduced me. She has never done such a thing. If you want to blame someone, blame me. She’s innocent. I fell in love with her, and it has nothing to do with her. Don’t cause her trouble with Grandma.”

  When she heard his words, Mu Xue’s face was full of mockery. “You’re already so protective of her. How do you expect me to believe that she didn’t seduce you? Tell me how I’m inferior to her. Tell me what she did to make you so devoted to her.”

  Tang Moling frowned. “Mu Xue, can’t we part peacefully?”

  “No way. If you go after Mu Jingzhe, we won’t be able to part on good terms. I won’t let Mu Jingzhe off, and the Mu Family won’t let her off either. I’ll tell everyone about the unscrupulous way she snatched my fiancé. Since she did it, she must pay the price.”

  Mu Xue’s suppressed hatred erupted at that moment.

  Tang Moling looked at the unfamiliar Mu Xue and closed his eyes. “Mu Xue, I told you she didn’t seduce me. She doesn’t like me at all. You must have seen it for yourself just now. She kept rejecting me. She kept hoping that you and I would be together, but I couldn’t control myself.”

  “I don’t believe you. There must be a reason you’re so protective of her. Do you know what sort of person Mu Jingzhe is?”

  Mu Xue gritted her teeth. “She will snatch anyone who likes me. If she can’t, she will ruin his reputation. Shao Qihai, Shao Qiyang, Zhang Fei, Li Hua, and you are all the same. Last time, she said that Li Hua took revenge on her. Who knew that they…”

  “Don’t mention Li Hua. He’s just a piece of trash.” Tang Moling couldn’t help but interrupt her. “He was up to no good. He only wanted to bully Mu Jingzhe…”

  At this point, Tang Moling reacted and stopped abruptly, but it was too late.

  “What do you mean? How do you know this? Hadn’t you already left?” Mu Xue’s expression changed slightly.

  Tang Moling hesitated for a moment. “I was going to leave, but Mu Jingzhe seemed to be feeling unwell, so I followed her. In the end, I was locked in the mill.”

  Mu Xue’s pupils shrank. “The two of you…”

  “Don’t jump to conclusions. Nothing happened between us. I’m only telling you this because I hope you won’t get the wrong idea about her. Li Hua did have ill intentions, and she really didn’t seduce me. I just completely understood my feelings that night.”

  Tang Moling explained a lot, hoping that Mu Xue wouldn’t think too much about it. He had accidentally let this matter slip, so if he didn’t explain things clearly, he was afraid that Mu Xue would misunderstand.

  However, Mu Xue could not hear anything. Her ears were buzzing, and none of his words registered in her mind. There was only one word left in her mind—retribution.