Xu Jiaming arrived home, stepped into the living room, and saw Yang Yihan talking with her manager, Brother Dong.
While changing his shoes at the entrance just now, he vaguely heard his father’s name.
“The school has already been contacted. Tomorrow, you can take Xiao Ming to complete the admission procedures…”
He also heard that sentence.
Xu Jiaming frowned slightly.
He didn’t want to leave.
Yes, during the Spring Festival, when that person kept pestering him, he didn’t want his Mom and Grandmother to worry. At that time, he thought about leaving, so they wouldn’t have to be put in a difficult position.
It seemed like it had always been this way.
As a child, he was raised in his hometown. Born with congenital malnutrition, he was weak and often bullied at school for various reasons. Later, when Yang Yihan found out, she gave him all sorts of nutritional supplements and even sent him to a martial arts school to learn self-defense, just so he could grow stronger and not be bullied.
Back then, he didn’t yet know that Yang Yihan was not his biological mother. He only sensed that his father was cold toward him, especially when Yang Yihan wasn’t around to see it.
As he grew older, he accidentally overheard his father on the phone one day.
His father complained, “He’s not my son, and he’s not hers either. Raising him is one thing, but now she won’t even have a child with me because of him. She says she’s afraid the kid will be upset!”
At that time, he was still young, too immature to fully grasp the meaning of those words. But children are sensitive. He remembered them.
He never mentioned it to his Mom or Grandmother, not even later when his parents divorced.
He had suspicions, a vague sense of the truth. But he also had an intuition that his Mom, Grandmother, and even other family members were keeping it from him. Asking would only upset them.
So, he investigated on his own.
Once a thread is pulled, unraveling the whole truth is not difficult.
On the day he finally uncovered it, he didn’t feel particularly hurt. Instead, it was a moment of realization. He finally understood why his Mom’s attitude toward him was always filled with care, yet tinged with caution, never as casual and natural as other mothers and sons. She was extraordinarily good to him, so much so that she refused to have a child of her own for his sake, and even after the divorce, she never remarried.
Xu Jiaming had once gently advised her that if she met someone suitable, she should consider it.
Yang Yihan had smiled and said, “If I find someone new, I’d worry they might not treat you well. I’d rather focus on my career while I still can.”
Focusing on her career was, of course, a good thing. But he hoped it was her own choice, not just for his sake…
But he said nothing more and never brought it up again.
Yet, the older he grew, the stronger his feelings became—as if Yang Yihan was trying very hard to play the role of a good mother, and he, in turn, had to be the obedient and understanding son, pretending to know nothing.
It had always been like this. But was it right?
If they laid everything bare, if that man had nothing left to use as leverage against them, would he no longer need to go abroad? Would life be easier for them?
“Mom. Uncle Dong.”
Seeing Xu Jiaming walk in, Yang Yihan was momentarily stunned before quickly smiling. “You’re back! Did you have fun with your friends today?”
Brother Dong, who was familiar with Xu Jiaming, also smiled at him. “It’s only seven o’clock. You’re back so early? You should spend more time with your friends, it’ll be harder to meet after this.”
Xu Jiaming glanced at him, then turned to Yang Yihan. “Mom, I don’t want to go abroad.”
Brother Dong’s smile froze. He glanced at Yang Yihan, who also looked surprised. “Why? Didn’t we already agree?”
“I’ve thought about it,” Xu Jiaming said calmly. “I want to stay. Can we talk alone?”
Brother Dong immediately stood up, said his goodbyes, and left.
Although he had managed Yang Yihan for years and had a good personal relationship with her, this was their family matter. He had no intention of intruding.
Once he was gone, only mother and son remained in the living room.
Seeing Xu Jiaming’s calm expression, Yang Yihan became nervous instead. “What’s wrong? Did he harass you again?”
Xu Jiaming slowly shook his head. “No. I just want to tell you that we don’t need to fear his threats.”
Yang Yihan’s heart pounded harder. “Xiao Ming? What… do you mean?”
Xu Jiaming sighed softly and looked at his Mom. “Because the thing he’s using to threaten you, I’ve known about it for a long time.”
Yang Yihan’s eyes widened in shock.
Nearly an hour later, Yang Yihan emerged from the living room, supported by Xu Jiaming.
Her eyes were red, clearly from crying. She looked even more devastated than she had the night before when she’d come home drunk.
The housekeeper was surprised. Had Xu Jiaming upset Yang Yihan? But that didn’t seem right, he had always been so obedient…
At the door to her room, Yang Yihan looked at Xu Jiaming, her gaze complicated. “I’ll think about it.”
“Alright. Don’t overthink it, just rest well.”
Yang Yihan forced a faint smile.
Once inside her bedroom, she turned on only a single floor lamp and sat there in a daze for a long time.
Maybe the shock had been too great, and maybe she had already cried all her tears. Now, she was finally able to calm down and think.
She had worked so hard to keep this secret, yet the child had known all along.
He was far too perceptive…
Yang Yihan’s mind was in turmoil.
Rationally, she knew that this might be a good thing—at the very least, her ex-husband could no longer use this to threaten her.
But her mind was still in turmoil.
She didn’t want Xu Jiaming to know about this because she was afraid he would have lingering doubts, just like some adopted children who tiptoe around in their families, overly sensitive and anxious, worried that they are not truly loved.
Yet just now, Xu Jiaming had said that all these years, he had been carefully pretending not to know anything, just like her.
In fact, he had wanted to bring it up long ago, but he kept quiet for fear of hurting her feelings, so he had played along with her act of concealment.
At that moment, Yang Yihan suddenly felt a sharp pang in her heart.
She had always thought she was doing the right thing, that she was protecting him, that she was willing to make sacrifices for him.
But if those sacrifices were only self-gratifying, if she was merely deceiving herself while keeping him in the dark… was that really the right thing to do?
She needed to think carefully, including whether or not to send him abroad.
Even if this particular threat was removed, that man was shameless. Who knew if he would become desperate and do something even worse?
Yang Yihan stayed awake the whole night.
The next morning, an unexpected visitor arrived at her home. He introduced himself as Xie Yizhao’s assistant and said he was here to deliver a document.
“CEO Xie said that whether or not you choose to use this is entirely up to you,” Li Xiao said.
Yang Yihan glanced toward the neighboring house, momentarily dazed. “What does CEO Xie mean by this?”
Li Xiao spoke in a professional, businesslike tone. “CEO Xie specifically asked me to come in person to assure you that he has no ulterior motives. He just wants his wife and son to have peace of mind. No one else will know about this matter.”
After he left, Yang Yihan opened the document, then immediately widened her eyes in shock.
Inside were detailed records of her ex-husband’s debts over the years, contact information for his creditors, and a list of enemies he had made due to certain past incidents.
After a brief moment of surprise, Yang Yihan quickly understood Xie Yizhao’s intention.
If she reached out to these people and informed them of her ex-husband’s whereabouts, would they really let him continue living freely? He would likely be too busy dealing with his own problems to harass them anymore.
Besides, now that she and Xu Jiaming had laid everything out in the open, there were no more secrets. At worst, she could make everything public.
She was just his ex-wife, and Xu Jiaming had no blood relation to him at all.
Even if he shamelessly tried to make a scene, she wasn’t afraid. They had their own good lives to live, there was no reason to let a scumbag dictate their path.
After dinner, Yang Yihan smiled and asked Xu Jiaming if he wanted to go out for a walk with her.
Xu Jiaming guessed what she wanted to talk about and agreed without hesitation.
It was rare for them to have such a leisurely moment alone together. Yang Yihan was always busy, and Xu Jiaming was not the most lively or outgoing child. They took care of each other, yet there was still a certain distance between them.
At first, as they walked, neither of them spoke, unsure of what to say.
Then, suddenly, she saw Lu Xi and her family approaching from the opposite direction.
Lu Xi walked in the middle, flanked by Xie Yizhao and Xie Heng on either side. She was smiling radiantly, looking like the center of the universe.
Seeing Yang Yihan, Lu Xi’s eyes lit up, and she walked over. “Are you two out for an after-dinner stroll as well?”
Yang Yihan smiled. “Yeah, I have work again in a few days, so I’m taking this time to be with my child.”
She couldn’t help but glance at Xie Yizhao.
He noticed her look but remained expressionless, merely nodding at her.
In that moment, Yang Yihan suddenly realized. Xie Yizhao had helped her solely for the sake of Lu Xi and Xie Heng. He didn’t need her gratitude, nor did he expect any acknowledgment from her.
Xu Jiaming greeted them politely, “Uncle Xie, CEO Lu.”
Xie Heng also called out, “Aunt Yang.”
Xie Heng was curious about how Xu Jiaming’s conversation with his Mom had gone, but now wasn’t the right time to ask. Instead, Xie Heng casted a pleading look at Lu Xi.
Unfortunately, Lu Xi completely missed his signal. “Why are you winking at me? Got something in your eye?”
“…” Xie Heng was speechless.
Lately, Ms. Lu had been speaking to him with less and less courtesy.
Feeling unfairly treated, Xie Heng decided to retaliate. He deliberately asked, “No, I was just curious, why do you two always leave at night and return in the morning? Sneaking off somewhere fun without me?”
Xie Yizhao shot him a cool sidelong glance. “Mind your own business, kid.”
…That again.
Xie Heng let out a sarcastic chuckle. “I wasn’t asking you, I was asking Ms. Lu.”
Lu Xi’s response was even more dismissive. “A little fairy and a domineering CEO, none of your concern.”
At that moment, Xie Heng finally saw the family hierarchy clearly. In this household, Ms. Lu was at the top of the pyramid, followed by his Dad, and he was at the very bottom.
Simply put, if one day Ms. Lu and his Dad had a conflict, he would definitely side with Ms. Lu without hesitation.
If Ms. Lu and he had a fight—though unlikely—his Dad would undoubtedly take Ms. Lu’s side and give him a beating.
And if he and his Dad ever had a falling-out… well, in that case, who Ms. Lu would side with was still uncertain.
He glanced at Lu Xi, his expression proud and self-assured.
Anyway, no matter what, Ms. Lu will definitely not just stand by and watch his Dad beat him.