Volume 1, Chapter 30: There Is Absolutely Nothing Between Her and Me

Min Yuanhua might be advanced in years, but her strength was undiminished. Had Xie Yanchen not dodged quickly, that book would surely have shredded his face.

He looked up, startled, to see Su Wanqing standing beside Min Yuanhua. He could not hear what she was whispering, but judging by the way Min Yuanhua was preparing to champion her cause, it could not have been anything kind. He clenched his fists, swallowing the urge to confront Su Wanqing, and called out with a furrowed brow, "Grandmother."

"Grandmother your head! If you truly considered me your grandmother, you would not treat my Qingqing this way!"

Min Yuanhua was genuinely heartbroken. Over the years, she had known the family held grievances against Su Wanqing, so she had encouraged Xie Yanchen to move out with his wife. She knew Su Wanqing to be a gentle soul, and she could see that the girl loved Xie Yanchen. Since she happened to be the type of woman Xie Yanchen usually favored, Min Yuanhua had always believed that, in time, he would inevitably grow to love her.

Who could have guessed that upon her return, she would learn that the entire Xie family had gone to the Su residence yesterday to celebrate for that girl, Su Wanning? Seeing that group photo had nearly given her a cerebral hemorrhage. Though she resided in Ming City, she had long-standing roots and informants within the Xie household. After the family returned last night, word spread that Xie Siwei was telling everyone that Xie Yanchen intended to divorce Su Wanqing for the sake of Su Wanning. That was why she had rushed back immediately.

Without her permission, if Xie Yanchen dared to divorce, she would break his legs!

Since walking through the door, Min Yuanhua had not even noticed the dark circles under his eyes; she had focused entirely on accusing him of mistreating Su Wanqing. Seeing Su Wanqing standing to the side with her back straight, looking for all the world like someone with a powerful backer, Xie Yanchen could no longer hold his tongue.

"How have I mistreated her?" he retorted. "I deposit money every month, I provide her with a home, there are servants to wait on her, and she buys whatever she wants. She transformed from an ordinary person into a wealthy socialite—how is that mistreatment?"

His tone was righteous, but every word stepped on one of Min Yuanhua’s triggers.

"You! Are those not things you ought to provide as a husband? A young, pure girl marries you and bears your child, and you think merely providing food and clothing is enough? Xie Yanchen! Ever since your great-great-grandfather’s time, the men of the Xie family have been upright, loving husbands. How did the standard become so low by the time it reached you?" Min Yuanhua slammed the table, questioning him with a mixture of anger and disappointment.

***

Seeing that Min Yuanhua was truly furious, Su Wanqing stepped forward to soothe her, saying softly, "Grandmother, you’ve misunderstood. I’m just on a diet; it has nothing to do with Yanchen. He... he treats me quite well."

At the same time, she blinked frantically at Xie Yanchen, signaling him to show weakness to his grandmother. However, to Xie Yanchen, her grimacing looked like a provocation. It was as if she were saying, "Look how much face I’m giving you. Hurry up, apologize to Grandmother and treat me well when we get home, or I’ll keep complaining about you!"

Xie Yanchen pressed his lips into a thin line. The frustration of the entire night, combined with the day’s events, meant he was done holding back. He had to make her understand that Grandmother was not her weapon. He had been suppressed for five years, and it was time to strike back.

"Yes," Xie Yanchen said. "Since the time of my great-great-grandfather, every man in the Xie family has been a good man. But the standard has lowered with me. Grandmother, have you ever considered why?"

His eyes were rimmed with a faint, angry red. Despite his efforts to suppress his emotions, his voice was uncontrollably low and tinged with grievance.

Min Yuanhua was unmoved by his act. Her expression was indifferent. "There is no 'why'! Since you married her, you should treat her well! There is no reason for anything else!"

Seeing his grandmother’s reaction, the resentment Xie Yanchen had bottled up finally erupted. He slowly knelt on the ground and said, word for word:

"Because they married women they loved. But I—my beloved was forced overseas on our wedding day by this woman! I was coerced into marrying a woman I didn't even know! And now I have to pretend we are a harmonious couple. Grandmother, have you never considered whether this is fair to me?"

He roared the final sentence, his voice hoarse. Like a wounded beast, he clutched his chest, hysterical.

Su Wanqing had never seen Xie Yanchen like this, and her heart tightened. Yet, hearing him claim that she was someone he never knew, she couldn't help but feel a sharp pang of pain. Back then, she had recognized him instantly by his eyes, yet after five years of living side-by-side, he still failed to recognize her. In the end, the childhood promise had only been taken seriously by her.

Su Wanqing lowered her eyes, her vision blurring at the thought of her own past naivety. Min Yuanhua, standing beside her, assumed that Xie Yanchen’s words had wounded her. She reached out and gently held Su Wanqing’s hand, offering her strength. "Don't be afraid. Grandmother is here."

***

After saying this, she pulled Su Wanqing to sit beside her. Looking down at the kneeling Xie Yanchen, she spoke with deliberate clarity: "Your grandfather was saved by Qingqing’s grandfather on the battlefield. It was agreed upon long ago that you were betrothed to the Su family from childhood. You did not marry the wrong person."

Xie Yanchen argued, "But Su Wanning is also a daughter of the Su family! Marrying her would have fulfilled Grandfather’s wish all the same!"

At the mention of this, Min Yuanhua’s temper flared. "Hmph! What is that Su Wanning? Why should the daughter of a mistress marry into our Xie family?"

Xie Yanchen replied, "That is their family business; we have no right to judge! But that does not affect my feelings for Wanning!"

"Grandmother, I came here today to tell you clearly: I want to divorce Su Wanqing."

"Whether or not I marry Su Wanning is another matter, but I truly do not want to continue living with her!"

Pain etched his features, as if being with Su Wanqing were a form of exquisite torture. "Furthermore, you told me to try with her, that perhaps in time, feelings would grow. But it has been five years—is that not long enough? Grandmother, I truly have no feelings for her at all. I beg you, let me go!"

As he spoke, he bowed his head deeply to Min Yuanhua, a gesture marking his resolve.

Su Wanqing stood slightly ahead of him to the side. If she had been grieving for herself a moment ago, seeing the proud Xie Yanchen willing to kneel and kowtow just to divorce her caused her heart to tremble violently.

Even though she had already decided she would never turn back, she still felt a deep sorrow at Xie Yanchen’s actions. For five years, she had given her all, exhausting every ounce of her strength. Yet, she had still caused Xie Yanchen such agony.

It was her fault.

This marriage should end.