Chapter 23: The Breakup

Song Qingli’s composure had been rattled by Zhou Guanxin, yet she still struggled to maintain her dignity.

"Ms. Zhou, you should know that I was with Zhou Yuheng first. Furthermore, Zhou Yuheng does not love Lin Xilan, so I do not believe I am in the wrong."

Zhou Guanxin set down her teacup. Looking at Song Qingli with cold detachment, she said, "What good does it do to be with him first? Do you have a marriage certificate? You became pregnant unexpectedly while Zhou Yuheng and Lin Xilan were still legally married. It is not as if we are unaware of these matters. The fact that Lin Xilan took care of you—that was a clever move on her part, don't you see?"

"If I were to release this information to the public, who do you think public opinion would side with? At that point, who would care whether you believe it was 'true love'?"

"Your parents, your colleagues, and your friends would all find out. Once public opinion festers on the internet, it can never be erased. You would never be able to clear your name for the rest of your life. And as for the Lin Xilan you despise, she would be pitied, championed, and supported by others. What would your situation be then?"

"Especially considering that you two were once such good friends."

"No, that cannot happen."

Song Qingli worked at a hospital; she was a doctor at a prestigious institution. If this scandal were to break, she could not bear the consequences. Zhou Guanxin had achieved her goal and moved to the next step.

"So, what are you more afraid of? Ruining your reputation, or losing Zhou Yuheng? I think you already have your answer."

With that, Zhou Guanxin took a card from her bag and pushed it toward Song Qingli. "Our Zhou family is a respectable clan. As long as you leave Zhou Yuheng, we will not treat you unfairly."

Song Qingli glanced at the card and immediately replied, "I don't want it."

Zhou Guanxin said, "There are three million in this card."

Song Qingli paused, casting a sidelong glance at the black card on the table. "I am not that kind of person. My love for Zhou Yuheng cannot be bought with money."

Zhou Guanxin nodded. "Fine. As a fellow woman, this is all I can do. If my father or my brother were to handle this, it might not end so amicably."

Song Qingli frowned as Zhou Guanxin tucked the card back into her bag.

"Wait, I accept."

"I realize now that Zhou Yuheng will never marry me, but the sincerity and youth I gave him were not for nothing. Therefore, I must take what is rightfully mine."

Song Qingli seemed like a different person; she had changed her stance in an instant. Zhou Guanxin flashed a satisfied smile. "Now that is a smart girl."

Song Qingli accepted the three million from the Zhou family. Though she was reluctant to leave Zhou Yuheng in her heart, she weighed the pros and cons and realized the reality of her situation: being with him was nearly impossible. It was better to withdraw early than to wait to be destroyed by others.

Thus, Song Qingli broke up with Zhou Yuheng. Not only that, but she also accepted the advances of Gu Xuan. Gu Xuan had long been interested in Song Qingli. His family background was similar to the Zhou family, but most importantly, Gu Xuan was not an illegitimate child, and his future was certain to be brighter than Zhou Yuheng’s.

Song Qingli was a pragmatist. She had studied hard to move from a small county to Haicheng, and she did not want to return to her hometown or be looked down upon by her relatives. If they found out she had been a mistress living in the shadows, she couldn't imagine how they would view her.

Song Qingli cut ties with Zhou Yuheng completely. Overnight, she blocked him on all platforms and publicly announced her relationship with Gu Xuan. It became widely known.

Lin Xilan, however, only learned of this through Hua Zhan.

"So, what are your thoughts?" Hua Zhan asked, looking into Lin Xilan's eyes.

"It’s refreshing. I feel a sense of satisfaction, as if a great grudge has been settled."

Lin Xilan had not expected Song Qingli to play out this drama. She found it surprising, yet it also made her realize how fragile love truly was.

Hua Zhan smiled and asked, "And what about you? What do you plan to do next?"

Lin Xilan sighed. "I have no time to think about myself. My sister is still waiting for surgery, but we cannot find a kidney donor. I am so anxious, Master."

Hua Zhan watched Lin Xilan's pain. He didn't mention that he, too, had been trying to find a suitable donor for Lin Xingmian, but it was not an easy task.

After parting ways with Hua Zhan, Lin Xilan returned to the villa. As soon as she stepped inside, she was hit by a heavy scent of alcohol.

Lin Xilan guessed that Zhou Yuheng must be home. She didn't turn on the lights, feeling her way up the stairs in the dark, intending to grab a few changes of clothes and leave.

She had only stepped onto the second stair when Zhou Yuheng’s voice emerged from behind her.

"Come here, Lin Xilan."

Lin Xilan’s heart skipped a beat. She realized she had finally been cornered by this plague of a man. Composing herself, she walked toward him. She had never been one to suffer in silence, so she chose to strike first.

"Zhou Yuheng, your business with Song Qingli has nothing to do with me. Don't take your anger out on me."

The living room was not entirely dark, as moonlight filtered in, yet Lin Xilan still could not make out the expression on his face.

"Have a drink," Zhou Yuheng said calmly.

Lin Xilan was startled. She wondered if he was seeking comfort after being dumped. *Don't even think about it,* she thought. She would never take what someone else had discarded.

"Er..."

"Sit down—unless you don't care what happens to your sister."

Before Lin Xilan could speak, Zhou Yuheng cut her off with a threat.