Reborn in the 80s: My Whole Family Secretly Hears My Thoughts and Goes Wild with Success! - Chapter 54

Chen Can and Shen Liya had found her that day. Without letting her explain, Chen Can immediately broke up with her.

Soon after, news of her “indiscretion” spread like wildfire, branding her the town’s infamous “loose woman.” Meanwhile, Chen Can publicly proposed to Shen Liya just three days later.

They married within a month. Seven months after that, Shen Liya gave birth to Chen Bo.

At the time, Wang Fengqin had claimed Chen Bo was a premature baby. Shen Zhiqiu had even pitied Shen Liya—until Chen Can’s mother, Tan Yingjun, accidentally revealed the truth: Chen Bo had been born full-term.

Meaning that while Shen Zhiqiu was still with Chen Can, he and Shen Liya had already… done everything.

Noticing Shen Zhiqiu’s pale expression, Yue Mingyuan quickly placed Yaya back in her crib and pulled Shen Zhiqiu into his arms, stroking her back soothingly.

The warmth of his embrace slowly melted the icy dread in her chest. She lifted her hands and hugged him back.

“Mingyuan… thank you.”

If not for Yue Mingyuan stepping forward to marry her back then, Shen Daqiang would have forced her to wed a widowed, middle-aged man with a limp—only a few years younger than himself—while smugly declaring “you should be grateful anyone wants you.”

At the time, she’d truly been ready to die rather than submit.

“Zhiqiu, there’s something I’ve always wanted to tell you.”

Yue Mingyuan gently pulled back, his gaze uncharacteristically uncertain. He gripped her hands tightly, pleading: “Promise me you won’t get angry, okay?”

“If you can’t help it, hit me—but don’t shut me out. And don’t… ask for a divorce.”

The last word took visible effort to force out.

Shen Zhiqiu frowned. “What is it?”

What could possibly be so serious that she’d want to divorce him?

“That jacket covering you in the reeds… it was mine.”

He watched her face shift from shock to fury and tightened his grip in panic. “Let me finish!”

“I was fishing nearby that day. When I heard noises, I went to check and saw two men trying to assault you.”

“I knocked them out and covered you with my coat.”

“I tried to wake you, but you’d clearly been drugged—some kind of sedative.”

“When I heard Chen Can and Shen Liya coming, I dragged those men away. I didn’t have time to take my jacket back, and I couldn’t step in to explain without making things worse for you.”

“Zhiqiu, I’m sorry.”

The guilt had haunted him for years.

“I wanted to tell you the truth so many times, but I never found the right moment. And I was terrified you’d… hate me for it.”

“I’m only saying this now because I’m afraid—”

“Stop.”

Shen Zhiqiu pressed her fingers to his lips, shaking her head with tears glistening in her eyes.

Yue Mingyuan panicked. “Zhiqiu?”

She threw her arms around him and sobbed into his chest.

Thank goodness it was him.

Yue Mingyuan froze, then clumsily wiped her tears as she cried.

When the storm passed—all the buried resentment, fear, and pain washed away with her tears—her eyes shone like gemstones after rain: clear, bright, breathtaking.

“What happened to those two men?” she finally asked.

“I turned them in. They had long criminal records—got five years combined. They’re serving time at Sanfang Prison in the next city over.”

“One tall and thin, the other short and fat?” She already had a guess.

“Yes.”

Yue Mingyuan confirmed it. “Wang Fengqin’s nephew, Wang Wu, and your neighborhood’s local thug, Guo Dechun. They confessed Wang Fengqin and Shen Liya separately hired them.”

“How could they—?!” Shen Zhiqiu’s fists clenched, her vision blurring with rage.

She’d suspected Shen Liya before—but never Wang Fengqin.

And because they were “family,” she’d even dismissed her doubts about Shen Liya.

Now she knew: Wang Fengqin had orchestrated it all.

The woman who’d pretended to “love her like a daughter” had actually wanted to gut her—to ruin her life.

“Zhiqiu, drink some water.”

Yue Mingyuan guided her to sit, then brought her a cup of warm sugared water—perfectly sweetened, just how she liked it.

Shen Zhiqiu glanced at him, then at Yaya, who was craning her neck to watch them from the crib.

Not wanting to worry them, she sipped the water slowly, forcing herself to calm down.

“Are you angry with me?” Yue Mingyuan took the cup from her, hesitating.

She thought carefully before answering. “Before Yaya was born, I would’ve been. But not because of you—because I was blind, too foolish to tell good from evil.”

“Now? No. I should be thanking you, Mingyuan.”

She reached for his hand. “Thank you for saving me. For always reaching out when I was at my lowest, pulling me back up every time.”

Just as Yue Mingyuan started to reply, headlights flashed through the window. A jeep pulled up outside.

Standing, they saw Ling Hang by the car door, waving vigorously.

Shen Zhiqiu lifted Yaya from the crib. “We’ll walk you out.”

“Okay.”

Yue Mingyuan grabbed his bag but paused at the door, hand frozen on the knob.

After a heartbeat, he gave in to impulse.

Turning, he cradled Shen Zhiqiu’s face and kissed her forehead. “Remember our promise—bring Yaya to see me.”

“I will.” Shen Zhiqiu ducked her head, ears burning crimson.

The night breeze cooled her cheeks but couldn’t soothe the ache in her chest as she watched him go.

Ling Hang snapped to attention the moment he saw her. “Sister-in-law!”

“Xiao Hang, thank you for coming.”

“No trouble at all!” He waved hastily.

When Shen Zhiqiu studied him, Ling Hang stiffened nervously, shooting Yue Mingyuan a “help me” look.

Yue Mingyuan pretended not to notice, busying himself with Yaya.

“Xiao Hang, do you have a girlfriend?” Shen Zhiqiu cut straight to the point.

She’d met Ling Hang a few times before but never paid him much mind—only knowing he was Yue Mingyuan’s childhood friend and now his partner.

After Yaya’s full-moon celebration, Wan Jiayin had mentioned the Ling family’s interest in Ye Jiawen—hoping to match her with Ling Hang.

Shen Zhiqiu had been surprised, but after asking Yue Mingyuan about Ling Hang’s character, she’d warmed to the idea.

Still, some things needed clarifying upfront to avoid complications.

“Huh?”

Ling Hang blinked but answered honestly. “No, Sister-in-law.”

“Is there someone you like?”