Chapter 644: A Million Times for You (6)
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
“Suit yourself. I’m single now, it’s only understandable for me to do that,” he scoffed nonchalantly.
Clenching her jaw and gritting her teeth in anger, Jin Qingyue said, “Is that so?”
“Jin Qingyue, so what if you’ve found yourself a backup tire now? Even then, you can’t erase the fact that you were once my wife. Bao’er can tell clearly who between us treats her well. She won’t be happy under your care. So, just give me the custody rights while you continue being in love with your childhood sweetheart.”
“Who are you to say that Bao’er won’t be happy under my care? Do you think she’ll be happy with you?”
Shi Shaochuan waved his hand and said, “I don’t wish to argue with you at your doorstep. Let’s settle it in court and allow the judge to make the final decision.”
He appeared extremely confident, as if he would definitely get the rights to his daughter’s custody.
“Daddy, where are you taking me to have fun today?”
“We’ll go anywhere you’d like, Baby.”
“I want to go snow skiing. Daddy, I don’t want to do my homework.”
“Let’s not do homework if you don’t want to, then. I’ll take you out to play.”
“…”
Shi Shaochuan held Jin Bao’er’s hand and walked toward the elevator. Jin Qingyue was overwhelmed with a mix of emotions as she watched the elevator doors close.
She took a look at the court notice again before heading back inside her house. She plonked herself down onto the chair, feeling flustered and anxious.
She did not wish to give up her daughter’s custody, and yet, she felt extremely helpless.
Shi Shaochuan had become Jin Bao’er’s favorite person, despite having done nothing to raise her since she was born. Ironically, she now saw Jin Qingyue as the evil mother who abuses her, although the latter was the one who raised her single-handedly.
Fortunately, Jin Qingyue was not alone in this battle.
She hurriedly changed into a fresh set of clothes, put on some makeup, and placed the document inside her bag before proceeding to look for Ling Ciye.
Just as she arrived at his entrance, one of his subordinates came forth to open the door for her. “Hello, Boss’ wife!” the subordinate greeted.
Jin Qingyue was pleased to hear how she was being addressed. She nodded while smiling and asked, “Is Brother Ciye in?”
“Yes.”
She nodded and entered with her bag on her shoulder.
Upon reaching the door, Jin Qingyue gently pushed it open and peeked in through the small gap to see Ling Ciye sitting by his office desk, his back as straight as a ruler. The rays of the sun were casting into his office.
Just how did she manage to gain his devotion and sincere love, despite being divorced?
She must have been blessed to be able to meet him.
Jin Qingyue then pushed the door wide open to enter.
Ling Ciye smiled at the sight of her. “Are you missing me already?”
“Yes, I missed you.” Jin Qingyue closed the door and walked toward him. She then sat down onto his lap and put her arms around his neck.
Ling Ciye placed his pen down onto the table and gave her a kiss on her lips before saying, “You seem a little troubled. Is there something you need my help with?”
“You’ve got bionic eyes, don’t you? I can’t seem to hide anything from you,” Jin Qingyue said with a chuckle.
“Who told you to write your emotions on your face? I could tell that you were upset with just one glance.”
“Yes. Shi Shaochuan gave me this when he came to pick Bao’er up,” said Jin Qingyue.
She got down from his lap and handed him the court notice that she took out from her bag. “He’s filed for a request for full custody of Bao’er. The court trial will take place in a few days’ time.”
After taking a look at the letter, Ling Ciye asked, “You don’t want him to get hold of the custody, do you?”
He sounded firm and certain.
“I don’t know if it’s because I spoiled Bao’er rotten since she was young or she has inherited her father’s heartless nature. She detests the thought of being in my custody, but I still don’t want to give her up to him. I know very well what kind of a scoundrel Shi Shaochuan is. What’s going to happen to Bao’er when he gets married again in the future? At least you wouldn’t maltreat her if she remains in my custody,” said Jin Qingyue, voicing her thoughts.
Ling Ciye stared at her in an unruffled manner and questioned, “How are you so sure that I’ll be good to her?”
“I just know you will. Brother Ciye, I’ve never asked you this before, but does Bao’er’s existence make you feel uncomfortable? If it does, I’m willing to give up the rights to her custody.”
Ling Ciye was truly appalled to hear her words for he had never expected her to say something like that.
“If I really don’t want you to fight for her custody, will you really give it up?”
“Yes, I will, because I don’t want you to be unhappy.”
“But I don’t want you to be unhappy either.” He stood up and stared at her earnestly. “No man would want to be someone else’s stepfather willingly. They usually only concede for the sake of the woman they love. Since Shi Shaochuan wants to take the matter to court to fight for the custody rights, we’ll go ahead and take him on.”
Tears welled up in Jin Qingyue’s eyes as she said, “Brother Ciye, why are you so nice to me? I’m not perfect, and I have an extremely flawed and embarrassing past.”
“Because you’re nice to me, and you treat me with sincerity too. Let bygones be bygones and let’s leave the past behind. The present and the future are of utmost importance. We still have a long way ahead of us. Slow and steady wins the race,” said Ling Ciye, hugging her tightly.
Greatly moved to tears, she nodded fervently and agreed, “Okay.”
——
As evening approached, the warm, yellow lamp lit up in the elderly lady’s backyard in Beijia Bay.
Xu Baizhi and the elderly lady were having dinner together while sitting by the dining table.
There were more dishes than rice. The food prepared by the elderly lady was bland and tasteless.
Xu Baizhi lost her appetite and stopped eating after a few mouthfuls.
She put down her chopsticks and remained silent while sitting opposite the elderly lady, who was eating unhurriedly.
Noticing that she had stopped eating, the elderly lady asked, “You’re not used to the food, are you?”
“A little.”
“But it can’t be helped. You’ll be staying here for more than just a few days. If you think the food I prepare is unappetizing, you shall cook our meals from tomorrow onwards.”
Bai Zhi agreed with a nod, “Sure.”
The elderly lady’s eyes lit up in surprise. “Do you know where the difference between you and Ms. An lies?”
“I don’t,” Xu Baizhi answered respectfully, well aware of how highly skilled the elderly lady was.
“You’re both very popular with men, and your other halves are completely devoted to you. You don’t enjoy stirring unnecessary trouble, and you both are blessed with fortune. But you’re not different from her simply because your fate has been altered. You have to understand why the lives of everyone go on different paths. At the end of the day, it all boils down to your individual personality and willpower. Altering your fate will only change the rough path and direction that your life will follow. If you obstinately hold on to your core personality and mindset, it’d be difficult to alter your fate. The world would be in chaos if everyone’s destiny could be changed so easily. I’ll help you this once, but if you insist on going back to your former ways and continue being ignorant about how you should protect yourself, even Heaven can’t help you.”
“I understand.”
However, the elderly lady shook her head and said, “No, you don’t. If you understood, you wouldn’t still be thinking that you ended up in this plight because of someone else’s doing. Instead, you’d be reflecting on yourself and trying to find out where your mistakes lie.”
Xu Baizhi was astonished and perturbed to find that the elderly lady could read her mind clearly.
She could not help but feel a little guilty.
“Your husband genuinely loves you. If you’re true to him, do pull him out of this predicament too. Don’t treat him half-heartedly. The circumstances are different now. You definitely have the ability to help him.”
“Got it,” Xu Baizhi answered with a straight face.
The elderly lady put her chopsticks down and said, “Go and do the dishes, then come inside my room once you’re done.”
“Alright.”