Chapter 31 Part 2: A Daughter’s Breaking Point

Zheng Ru’nan leaned against her mother, her eyes swollen like walnuts, her nose twitching.

“Wah…

I’m sorry…

I’m sorry…

I, I caused you trouble…”

“Master… thank you!

Thank you!

If it weren’t for you, Nan Nan would have…”

“Thank you…”

 

Qianyang waved her hand.

“You didn’t cause me any trouble.

It was a small thing.

However…”

 

She glanced at the man with the black eye.

“However, your father should see a psychologist.”

“You!”

The man slammed the table.

“What are you doing?!”

The police officer beside him had finally had enough.

“Your daughter’s behavior today is entirely thanks to you!

And this is your attitude toward the person who saved her life?”

 

Qianyang sat down beside Zheng Ru’nan.

“You only have one life.

When we were falling, weren’t you afraid?”

 

Zheng Ru’nan choked out, “I was…

I was afraid…”

“Um… the person who jumped… are they okay?”

“She’s fine.

She climbed back up,” Qianyang said.

“…Huh?”

“Child, tell us what happened.

We’re all here to stand up for you.

Don’t be afraid.”

“Make him leave!

I don’t want to see him!

I’ll be fine if he’s not here!”

 

The man’s eyes reddened.

“Make me leave?

I’m your father!”

“Are you worthy?!”

 

Facing her father, Zheng Ru’nan’s attitude was especially tough.

 

Zheng Ru’nan’s mother stared blankly at them, tears streaming down her face.

“How could this be… how could this be…”

 

She held her daughter.

“Why?

Why is this happening?

Things between you and your father weren’t always like this…”

“Why?”

 

Zheng Ru’nan’s father was also stunned.

 

His eyes wide with anger, he looked at Zheng Ru’nan in disbelief.

“You, what did you say?”

 

Zheng Ru’nan, tears on her face, looked up and stared at her father stubbornly, repeating, “I asked you, are you worthy?”

“…Am I worthy?

Am I worthy?!

Tell me, am I worthy?!”

“Mr. Zheng, please calm down!”

“Talk things out.

Don’t be so agitated!”

 

Zheng Ru’nan’s mother patted her back gently, her expression confused, her voice choked.

“Nan Nan…

Nan Nan… he’s your father… how can you…”

“What were you doing on the second?”

Zheng Ru’nan glared at the man, her eyes red, clenching her jaw to keep the tears from falling.

“This month, the second, 9:30 PM.

Where were you?

What were you doing?”

 

Hearing such a specific date and time, the man’s expression stiffened slightly.

“What nonsense are you talking about?

I had a business dinner on the second.

I just came home a little late…”

“A business dinner?

The 15th and 24th of last month, the 7th and 19th of the month before… and every time you’ve used a business dinner as an excuse not to come home for the past six months?”

 

The man’s expression completely changed.

His earlier arrogance faded.

He raised his reddened eyes.

“Nan Nan, don’t talk nonsense.

It’s not what you think.

You’re mistaken.”

“Mistaken?

What am I mistaken about?”

“What… what are you two talking about?”

Zheng Ru’nan’s mother looked at them, bewildered.

“Weren’t those days when your father was on business trips or at dinners?

Your father’s job is very busy.

He has to attend many dinners.”

“Mom…”

Zheng Ru’nan called out helplessly.

“How long are you going to keep lying to yourself?

That woman already came to our house!”

“Th-that’s just an employee of his company.

You’re mistaken…”

Zheng Ru’nan’s mother shook her head.

“Don’t overthink it.

She’s just your father’s employee.

Your college entrance exam is next year.

Don’t dwell on these things.

Your father isn’t like that.”

 

The others exchanged glances, not expecting things to go this far.

 

– Holy shit…

– Huh???

– She must have found out about his affair, right?

– Disgusting.

– This mother is strange.

– Ah… no wonder Wei Wei said she’s been off these past two weeks.

 

Compared to her hatred for her father, her mother’s weakness and self-deception seemed to be what really broke her.

“Mom… it’s happened more than once… she even came to me!”

Zheng Ru’nan said painfully.

 

Hearing Zheng Ru’nan’s words, the man strangely fell silent.

 

Zheng Ru’nan’s mother pressed her lips together and explained, “Nan Nan, you’re mistaken.

She only came to us because she couldn’t reach your father.”

“I, your father and I have a very good relationship.

We’ve been together since our school days.

All those years have passed.

How could he do something like this?”

“And besides, your father was really good to me.

He only stayed in Taihang to develop his career because of me.

He did so much for me.

He used to be so good to you.

He wouldn’t do this.”

 

It seemed this wasn’t the first time Zheng Ru’nan had said such things to her mother.

Facing her mother’s stubborn refusal to see the truth, she didn’t know what to do anymore.

“Sigh.”

The police officer sighed.

“This is a family matter.

I hope you can talk things out together and not let it affect your child.”

 

With that, he glanced at Zheng Ru’nan’s father.

“If it’s just a misunderstanding, explain it to your family properly.

If not, please have some conscience.

You’re an adult.

You shouldn’t need us to tell you what to do and what not to do.”

“Nan Nan has excellent grades.

Don’t let adult matters ruin her future.”

 

Zheng Ru’nan’s father was silent for a moment.

“Nan Nan, you’re mistaken.

I didn’t do that.

That woman is just an ordinary employee under me.”

 

Zheng Ru’nan’s mother’s eyes brightened, as if grabbing a last lifeline.

She took Zheng Ru’nan’s hand.

“Nan Nan, would he lie in front of the police?

You’ve really misunderstood your father.

I know him.

He, he wouldn’t do this to us.”

 

Zheng Ru’nan closed her eyes in pain.

Tears rolled down her pale face.

“Mom… divorce him… stop lying to yourself…”

“Nan Nan, your father and I have a very good relationship.

Things really, really aren’t as you think…”

 

Qianyang looked at them, thought for a moment, and asked, “Zheng Ru’nan, is this really what you want?”

 

Zheng Ru’nan was stunned by the question, tears streaming silently down her face.

“I don’t want to be like this anymore…

I don’t want to keep up this false facade with them…

I’m so tired, so tired.”

 

Qianyang pressed her lips together and looked at the silent man.

“There’s an infant spirit on you.”

 

Hearing this, everyone turned to look at the man.

“Your daughter has been in bad shape lately, under a lot of stress, and the infant spirit took advantage.

That’s why she did what she did today.”

 

Having saved Zheng Ru’nan, Qianyang shouldn’t have interfered in their family matters.

But the infant spirit on Zheng Ru’nan’s father held great malice toward her.

If this continued, Zheng Ru’nan would eventually be influenced by it and do the same thing again.

Next time, there might not be anyone to save her.

“…What?”

“What infant spirit?

What are you talking about?”

A flicker of panic crossed the man’s face.

 

Qianyang said, “Infant spirits are usually babies who die in the womb before being born.

They are very prone to resentment.”

 

Then she looked at Zheng Ru’nan’s mother.

“Have you had a miscarriage in the last two years?”

 

The mother’s face was pale as paper.

She shook her head.

“No… why would I have a miscarriage?”

 

Qianyang nodded.

“Then your husband has been having an affair.

About six months ago, they had a child.

Perhaps because the child couldn’t be born legitimately, it now feels hostility toward your daughter—also his child.”

“Generally, infant spirits don’t affect people other than the ones they cling to.

But since your husband lives at home, its presence has subtly influenced your daughter.

Add to that her exhaustion from you two and from school, and today’s events happened.”

“What nonsense are you talking about?

What infant spirit?

You’re a fraud!

Don’t listen to her!

I, I couldn’t possibly have a child with another woman!”

The man was visibly panicked.

 

A police officer frowned.

“Young master, you can’t say things like that without evidence.

We need to believe in science.”

“Whether I’m talking nonsense, he knows better than I do.”

Qianyang stared directly at the man.

 

– Damn…

– So disgusting.

– Can’t control himself, ends up harming an innocent baby and his own daughter.

– Can we just chemically castrate these men?

– I can’t take it!

Is her mother still going to believe him?

– I swear, don’t just think about yourselves.

Your daughter is about to take her college entrance exams!

 

“…You’re Master Qianyang?”

Zheng Ru’nan’s mother asked in a trembling voice.

“You know me?”

Qianyang asked in surprise.

 

The mother’s face was ashen.

She murmured, “I’ve heard of you… at Honglian Square, there’s a young master in a Daoist robe… she’s very effective.”

 

Hearing this, everyone in the office turned to look at her.

“The Master Qianyang who was on Taihang Television?” the principal asked in surprise.

 

Zheng Ru’nan’s mother stared blankly at her husband, tears streaming silently, her voice so soft it was almost inaudible.

“…You had a child with her?”

 

The man hurriedly explained, “No… that was just an accident…”

 

The mother smiled weakly.

“An accident?”

“You and her were an accident?

Or you and her having a child was an accident?”

“Listen to me, I, I didn’t…

I just thought…”

“You just thought I would keep believing you?

You just thought I would keep pretending not to know?”

The mother raised her voice.

“Zheng Xi, Nan Nan’s exams are coming up.

Did you know?”

 

Zheng Ru’nan stared blankly at her mother.

She had known all along, just lying to herself, pretending nothing had happened.

“You, why… why couldn’t you be more careful?

Why did you let Nan Nan find out?

Why did you let that woman make a scene in front of Nan Nan?”

 

The man’s face was pale.

“…You knew all along?”

 

The mother wiped her tears, her heart seemingly dead.

“We’ve known each other for twenty-four years.

What is there between us that the other doesn’t know?

Zheng Xi, I always thought you were just playing around, that you would come back, come to your senses…

How could you have a child with her?

How could her child almost take Nan Nan’s life?

Almost ruin her whole future?”

“I… no!

I didn’t know.

I really didn’t know!

My relationship with her was just, just…

I would never let her have my child!

Believe me, I would never!”

The man explained incoherently.

“Don’t you find it disgusting to say that?”

Zheng Ru’nan looked at him with deep loathing.

“Your relationship with her was just what?

Just sleeping together?

You spend time with other women outside, then come back to eat with us, your body reeking of her perfume.

Don’t you find that filthy?”

“Nan Nan…

Nan Nan… listen to me!

Adult matters aren’t as simple as you think.

I didn’t want to hurt you.

I never meant to hurt you.

I didn’t expect you to see.

I’ll fire her right away!

As for the infant spirit…

I’ll hire a master right now to drive it away.

Your exams are next year.

Don’t let things between your mother and me affect your future!”

 

Zheng Ru’nan’s eyes were full of disgust.

“Did you just find out today that my exams are next year?

Did you just find out today that cheating on your marriage would hurt us?”

 

Clearly, as things developed, this was no longer something outsiders could intervene in.

 

What choices Zheng Ru’nan and her mother would make, Qianyang didn’t know, nor did she need to.

 

She stood up, walked to Zheng Ru’nan’s mother, leaned down, and reminded her quietly, “Your daughter and he are like fire and water.

Choose carefully.”

 

The mother closed her eyes tightly.

“Master, thank you.”

 

After saying goodbye to the police officer, Qianyang left the principal’s office.

 

Outside, the Yang siblings were still waiting on the steps.

“Master, what happened?”

“Is Zheng Ru’nan okay?”

 

Qianyang said, “She should be fine.”

 

She looked at Yang Wei.

“Remind your classmate later.

The fee still needs to be paid.”

 

Yang Wei breathed a sigh of relief.

“Got it.”

“Come on, let’s go home.”

 

– Finally over.

– No exaggeration, even through the screen, this had me breaking out in a cold sweat.

– That father is a real piece of work.

– No kidding, cheating and getting caught by his own daughter.

– The other woman isn’t any better.

Why drag adults’ issues in front of a child?

– Her mother pretended not to know before to avoid affecting her daughter’s studies.

Then that bastard had to bring it to the daughter’s attention.

– Sigh, over twenty years of feelings.

– Sincerity can change in an instant.

 

The three walked a distance before being stopped by someone hurrying after them.

“Master Qianyang!

Master Qianyang, please wait!”

 

Qianyang and the others stopped and turned back in confusion.

“Principal?”

Yang Wei said in surprise.

“Your principal?”

Yang Mao also looked shocked.

“Is something wrong?”

Qianyang asked.

“Yes, yes!”

The principal beamed.

 

The principal was a man in his sixties.

Though he had silver hair, his spirit was quite good.

When he smiled, his face crinkled.

He seemed like a cheerful person.

“Principal, what’s the matter?”

Yang Wei asked with a smile.

 

She seemed to like the old man.

“Oh dear!

My son and daughter-in-law are abroad.

They said they were coming home for the New Year!

But now my granddaughter is sick.

From what they say, it’s not serious, but she just won’t get better.

And these past few days, they haven’t let me speak to her on the phone!

I’m a bit worried.

I’m afraid something might be wrong with my precious granddaughter.”

“A few days ago, you helped that child who was possessed, right?

I was hoping you could do a reading for my granddaughter.

If she’s fine, then I can rest easy!”

 

At the end, he seemed a little embarrassed, smiling sheepishly.

“Don’t laugh at me.

I only have this one granddaughter.

These past few days, I’ve been so worried I can’t eat or sleep!”

“Sister, can you help the principal do a reading?”

Yang Wei asked.

 

Qianyang nodded.

“Of course.

Do you have her name and birth details?”

“Yes, yes, yes!”

The principal nodded eagerly.

“Oh my!

My granddaughter’s birth details, I know them even better than the Core Socialist Values!”

 

Yang Wei joked, “Didn’t you say before that you needed to know the Core Socialist Values better than your own name?”

“I only know my granddaughter’s birth details and the Core Socialist Values!”

 

– Hahaha, what a cute old man.

– I’ve never seen Wei Wei so docile except in front of the streamer.

– This principal is usually very approachable, right?

– He looks so kind.

– See?

One thing after another.

That superstition stuff is no joke.

– Getting busy, getting busy!

– Listening to the old man talk makes me feel better.

– Sob sob, I miss my grandpa QAQ.

– Me too QAQ.

 

Qianyang had him write down his granddaughter’s name and birth details.

She held the paper with the birth details and made a gesture with her right hand.

 

Suddenly, her fingers paused.

Her brow furrowed deeply.

“Master, what’s wrong?”

Yang Mao’s heart inexplicably sank.

 

Qianyang didn’t answer.

She made the gesture again.

But again, she stopped in the middle.

…How could this be?

 

The owner of this birth chart… had died young?

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