Chen Can slammed on the brakes, stopping beside Shen Zhiqiu. He jumped out of the car and rushed up to her, immediately launching into a baseless accusation: “No matter what, Shen Liya is still your sister. Why do you hate her so much? What good does ruining her reputation do for you?”
Shen Zhiqiu coldly replied with one word: “Satisfaction.”
Chen Can frowned. “What?”
“Ruining her reputation makes me feel good.”
“Zhiqiu, I remember you used to be kind. How did you become like this?”
“You and Liya used to be so close, and what about your parents—”
Shen Zhiqiu cut him off sharply: “Wang Fengqin was never my mother. She’s Shen Liya’s mother—don’t get that wrong.”
“As for Shen Daqiang, I’ve already severed our father-daughter relationship. That means he’s no longer my father.”
Chen Can adopted a self-righteous tone: “Zhiqiu, we Chinese value filial piety above all. Acting like this will make people despise you! No parent is ever truly wrong—you can’t do this!”
“If the wrong people catch wind of this, it could ruin your career!”
“Yue Mingyuan must know this. Yet he’s letting you act recklessly—he’s trying to destroy your future!”
“Zhiqiu, don’t you want to keep dancing?”
“Chen Can, you’re only here because you’re afraid Shen Liya’s arrest will hurt your promotion prospects, aren’t you?” Shen Zhiqiu saw right through him. “Coming to interrogate me with such high-sounding excuses is truly laughable.”
“Fine, I admit I’m worried. But she’s her, and I’m me. Once we divorce, we’ll have nothing to do with each other. Zhiqiu, I’m genuinely concerned for you.”
Chen Can took a step forward, reaching for her hand. “Zhiqiu, don’t be foolish. I know you’ve suffered, but acting rashly won’t solve anything.”
Shen Zhiqiu took two large steps back, putting distance between them. She glanced coldly at his outstretched hand, and Chen Can had no choice but to awkwardly withdraw it.
“Zhiqiu, listen to me. Yue Mingyuan might seem like he’s on your side, but he has ulterior motives.”
Chen Can gritted his teeth. “I’ve only just realized what kind of man he is. Don’t let him deceive you.”
“Chen Can, speaking about my husband like this makes me furious.”
Shen Zhiqiu’s expression darkened. She tapped her chest sharply. “I know exactly what kind of man Mingyuan is. I have eyes to see and a heart to feel—I don’t need you to teach me!”
“They say pregnancy makes women foolish for three years, but Shen Zhiqiu, it seems your brain is completely ruined. What kind of spell has Yue Mingyuan cast on you to make you defend him like this?”
Chen Can’s jealousy blazed openly in his eyes. “Tell me the truth—were you already with Yue Mingyuan while we were together? You saw his family was better off than mine and decided to climb onto his branch, didn’t you?”
“Chen Can, was General Xu’s granddaughter the high branch you wanted?”
Shen Zhiqiu shot back. “If Shen Liya hadn’t gotten pregnant, you never would’ve married her. And you wouldn’t have married me either—our families weren’t good enough for you.”
“In your eyes, only General Xu’s granddaughter was barely worthy.”
“Given that, what right do you have to judge me? You know perfectly well whether I wronged you or not. Bringing this up now just shows your own bitterness.”
“You think I should’ve married poorly—or better yet, not married at all—just waiting around for you to come back so I could grovel in gratitude.”
Shen Zhiqiu smirked in disdain. “Chen Can, if anyone’s brain is ruined here, it’s yours.”
“Don’t you own a mirror? Or do you just never look in it?”
She gave him a once-over and stated coldly: “You don’t seem like someone who’s never seen his reflection. So you must just lack self-awareness.”
“Chen Can, I’m genuinely curious—what exactly do you think makes you better than Mingyuan?”
She ticked off the points one by one: “You’re a full head shorter. Your face isn’t as handsome. Your abilities don’t even compare. And as for family background—need I say more?”
“What gives you the confidence to think I’d wait for you instead of falling for Mingyuan? You were tangled up with both me and Shen Liya at the same time. I cut things cleanly with you—why shouldn’t I move on?”
“Zhiqiu, you’re only saying these things to upset me because you’re still bitter, aren’t you?”
Instead of getting angry, Chen Can looked smug. He raised a finger to his lips and shook his head at her. “No need to explain—I understand.”
“Zhiqiu, truthfully, I’ve never been able to forget you. My marriage to Shen Liya was only because of the child—you were right about that. Without Xiaobo, I never would’ve married her.”
“And General Xu’s granddaughter—that was unavoidable. As a man, I have to fight for my career.”
“My father died young, and my mother couldn’t help me at all. I had to rely on myself, unlike Yue Mingyuan, who gets to lounge in the shade of his father’s influence.”
Shen Zhiqiu was utterly speechless. For the first time, she realized men could be even more unreasonable than women.
The only difference was that men didn’t throw tantrums themselves—they pushed women to the brink, then blamed them for losing control.
“Zhiqiu, your issues with your father and Shen Liya are family matters. I know you don’t want to hear about it, so I won’t say more.”
“But you can’t let Shen Liya be convicted—at least not right now. Do this for me.”
“Stop making things difficult. Tell me what you want, and if it’s within my power, I’ll agree. Alright?”
“You’ve always been so understanding before. This sudden change has thrown me off—I don’t even know how to act around you now. But I have to say, I like this fiery side of you.”
His expression and tone made Shen Zhiqiu nauseous. She couldn’t hold back anymore—she turned away and gagged. “Hurk—“
“Zhiqiu, don’t tell me you’re pregnant again—” Chen Can’s face darkened at the possibility.
“No!” Shen Zhiqiu held up a hand to stop his wild speculation.
“Your breath is just so foul it’s making me sick.”
“Chen Can, you know why I never let you kiss me? This is why.”
Deciding to out-crazy him, Shen Zhiqiu went all in: “And this is how I’ve always been. The reason I barely spoke to you before was because I had to hold my breath around you. The moment I opened my mouth, your stench would hit me, and I was afraid I’d vomit like this.”
Chen Can’s face turned even darker, flushing with anger. He opened his mouth to retort, but Shen Zhiqiu quickly stopped him: “Don’t speak!”
“Hurk—“
“I can’t take it—if I have to keep talking to you, I’ll actually pass out from the stink.”
