Chapter 98

Qin Fang never expected to see her ex-husband again.

No, wait—he wasn’t even technically her “ex-husband,” since they never registered their marriage.

“Jin Haiyang, what are you doing here?” she said, her expression darkening as she looked at the scruffy man in front of her.

It was mealtime at the senior center cafeteria, and familiar faces passed by the entrance. Qin Fang didn’t want anyone to see her in such an awkward situation—she wished the man in front of her would just vanish into thin air.

Looking at Qin Fang—who had grown more beautiful instead of worn down after leaving his home—Jin Haiyang was filled with regret.

He never should’ve let a good woman like her go for that wretched woman.

Back then, Jin Haiyang thought he had found true love—and not just love, but a wealthy one. She lived in a villa, drove a BMW, and was supposedly carrying his child. So he hadn’t hesitated to abandon Qin Fang, the rural girl from the mountains.

But after they got married, Jin Haiyang learned the truth: not only had that woman cheated on him, but she was using him as a convenient stand-in.

The child in her belly wasn’t his—it belonged to some local big shot.

That big shot’s legal wife came from a powerful family, so while he could fool around in secret, he didn’t dare divorce his wife or let her find out about the mistress and child. So they came up with a disgusting plan: find a poor, gullible man to be the scapegoat. That way, the child could be legally registered, and their affair could stay hidden.

And so, poor fool Jin Haiyang thought he’d landed a rich woman but had actually been tricked by a professional homewrecker—becoming the caretaker for another man’s mistress and illegitimate son.

The big shot even summoned Jin Haiyang for a “friendly conversation” to ensure he played along.

When he walked out of that office, Jin Haiyang’s legs were weak, and his eyes were bloodshot.

He wanted to stab that cheating woman and the bastard child in her womb right then and there.

But he couldn’t. He wanted to live.

And so, Jin Haiyang obediently became the big shot’s stand-in father and caretaker.

Thankfully, once the bastard child’s household registration was moved into his family’s records, that shameless woman decided their living conditions were beneath her and moved back into the villa the big shot had bought her.

The funny thing was, neighbors and relatives who didn’t know the truth thought his wife had returned to her parents’ home in a fit of anger. They scolded him for driving her away and urged him to bring her and the child back home… Ha! That woman was never even his wife!

And the woman who truly had been his wife—Qin Fang—had already been driven out by his own family.

The reason Jin Haiyang appeared here was because he saw a recruitment ad for social workers in Haitangyuan Street. Back when he thought he’d struck gold with the rich woman, he had quit his job at the factory. Who would’ve thought she was a fake rich lady? He didn’t get a cent—just ended up a live-in loser.

Now that he had finally rid himself of that walking disaster, he just wanted a fresh start. But right after his interview, he ran into Qin Fang.

She looked better than ever.

Qin Fang had always been beautiful—otherwise, how could a barely educated mountain girl have married into the city? Back in the Jin family, she’d been locked in the house all day—either giving birth, doing chores, or serving the whole family—always disheveled and exhausted, far from the radiant girl she once was.

But after starting work at the senior center, where uniforms were required, she wore a blue-and-white tracksuit that made her look youthful. To make cleaning easier, she tied her hair into a bun, slicked back the wisps at her temples, revealing a smooth forehead and large, bright eyes—young and vibrant.

If she didn’t have kids with her, people might think she was barely a teenager.

Even with two kids in tow, plenty of men had tried to court her recently. But Qin Fang had turned them all down. All she wanted now was to work hard and raise her daughters well.

In fact, some warm-hearted uncles and aunties had tried to set her up with someone. But the moment they learned she was bringing two kids into the marriage, most men fled. The few that remained were either divorced men with kids of their own—just looking for someone to help with childrearing and housework—or men too poor or unwilling to pay a bride price, just wanting a woman to give them a son.

As for the former—raising two kids alone was already exhausting. Add a couple more, and she could forget about having a life.

And for the latter—if a man couldn’t even afford a few thousand yuan for a bride price, how could she expect him to help raise her daughters?

Qin Fang didn’t want to take advantage of anyone, but she sure as hell wasn’t going to be someone else’s mule again. All she wanted was to carve out a path for herself and her daughters with her own two hands.

So when her “ex-husband” looked at her with feigned emotion and said he knew he’d been wrong and wanted to bring her and the girls back home, Qin Fang couldn’t help but laugh coldly—

“Bring us back? And what about the one you actually got a marriage certificate with?”

Jin Haiyang choked—he suddenly remembered that damned woman and her bastard were still registered under his household!

Seeing his reaction, Qin Fang understood everything.

She sneered, brushed past Jin Haiyang, and headed for the cafeteria. Her daughters had eaten breakfast at seven. It was late now—she had to get them food quickly.

“Stop right there!” Jin Haiyang shouted. “Qin Fang, think this through—what man would want you besides me? You’re dragging two kids—who’d marry you?”

Qin Fang was so furious she laughed. She was about to say she never intended to remarry anyway, when suddenly, a pair of strong hands pulled her back and shielded her behind a broad back.

A smooth voice rang out beside her: “Who says Fangfang can’t get married? If she just nods, I’ll go get the marriage certificate with her right now!”

“Two kids? So what? I’ve got two apartments in J City and a few commercial properties in my hometown. I earn a mid-six-figure salary. Forget two kids—if Fangfang and I have two more, I can still support them all!”

Qin Fang was stunned.

When did she and Shao Ping start talking about marriage? Why didn’t she know about it?

Shao Ping turned around and winked at her. Qin Fang blinked, then nodded at him gratefully—but her gaze toward Jin Haiyang was full of disgust.

“Jin Haiyang, what—do you think your family has a royal title to inherit? Get lost! I was in your house for seven years. I gave you two daughters. Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten how I lived back then?”

“You want me to go back and live a good life with you? Pfft! With your stingy ass? You gave me fifty yuan a day for groceries and expected me to feed your whole family like they were dining at a palace. Anyone who wants that kind of ‘good life’ can have it. I’m done!”

Ignoring that idiot, Qin Fang looped her arm around Shao Ping’s, blushing slightly. She stole a nervous glance at him but marched confidently toward the cafeteria.

Once inside, she quickly let go of Shao Ping’s arm and thanked him, blushing. “Thank you, Brother Shao Ping, for stepping in earlier.”

“No need for thanks—it was nothing.”

Shao Ping smiled as he looked at the petite, adorable woman in front of him.

He couldn’t understand—how could a man abandon such a wonderful woman who had even given him two beautiful, smart daughters?

If she’d been part of his family, and he dared mistreat her, his parents would have beaten him half to death—no need for her to lift a finger.

Bottom line: the son could be beaten, but the two granddaughters must stay!

In all the time working with Qin Fang, it would be a lie to say Shao Ping hadn’t felt anything.

If fate had a name, it was hers. From her looks and personality to her tone of voice and every little unconscious, endearing habit—she fit his ideal type perfectly.

If he were a normal man, he would’ve fought for a chance, no matter the odds.

But unfortunately, he knew he wasn’t the kind of man who could give a woman lifelong happiness.

Qin Fang was just in her early thirties. She still had time to find a good man and build a better life. There was no reason for her to waste her future on someone like him.

Thinking of this, Shao Ping gave a bitter smile and quietly helped Qin Fang take two lunch boxes, urging her to quickly get food for the kids and take it back.

Seeing their interaction, the uncles and aunties eating in the cafeteria were beside themselves with excitement. Their eyes darted around, itching for the couple to leave so they could gossip freely. Ahem~

Shao Ping and Qin Fang—one young and handsome, the other charming and adorable. Most importantly, one was single and never married, the other divorced and unattached. For their generation, nothing was more enjoyable than matchmaking!

Though Xiao Qin had two daughters, girls were highly valued nowadays. Two girls, once grown up, wouldn’t be a burden at all—on the contrary, they could bring in a hefty bride price for the parents… Whether this idea would be criticized by modern folks didn’t matter. In the eyes of the older generation, marrying off a daughter meant receiving a bride price!

Think about it—her family worked hard to raise her, sent her to school, and just when she was old enough to earn money, she marries into another family. From then on, most of her wages go to support her new household. Some stingy mothers-in-law even badmouth their daughters-in-law behind their backs for buying too many things when visiting their own parents—with their own money, no less.

So don’t be fooled when some old folks shout about how parents shouldn’t “sell” their daughters. When it comes to marrying off their own girls, try offering zero bride price and see if they agree!

Some grooms’ families don’t just avoid paying bride price, they even expect the bride to bring a hefty dowry? Dream on!

Looking at it this way, Xiao Qin and Xiao Shao were actually a pretty good match. Xiao Qin was divorced with kids, so whether the groom’s side offered a bride price or not, her family couldn’t really complain. As for Xiao Shao, from what the uncles and aunties had observed, the kid was too shy—probably hadn’t even dated before. If he were to find a young girl, he’d have no choice but to take the initiative.

On the other hand, someone like Xiao Qin, who’d been married once, was more experienced and could guide a shy guy like Xiao Shao. Ahem~ Well then, heaven had clearly delivered the perfect match right under their noses—how could they not get together?

“Wei Sheng, I’m telling you, there’s definitely something going on between Shao Ping and Sister Qin Fang!” Yang Junyao excitedly shared the lunchtime drama over dinner.

“Wait! Aren’t people our age all about staying single and child-free for peace of mind?” Wei Sheng couldn’t quite grasp why his senior was so hyped.

“Ugh, you don’t get it! Sure, we don’t want to get married ourselves, but that doesn’t stop us from shipping other people’s beautiful romances~”

Yang Junyao perfectly embodied the core spirit of modern CP-shipping youth: as long as it’s not me, it’s the most beautiful love story in the world. I may stay single and child-free, but my CP must get married right now and have two kids within three years!

(End of this chapter)