Volume One, Chapter 103: Hidden Agendas

The Chi household was indeed bustling now.

Yang Jing lay on the bed, an ice pack pressed to her forehead, sighing repeatedly.

Chi Qianyu sat beside her, trying to comfort her. “Mom, try to look on the bright side and focus on getting better first.”

Yang Jing wailed, “Qianyu, what am I supposed to do? Your father actually said he wants a divorce. I can’t let that happen.”

Chi Qianyu replied, “Dad was just acting on impulse. Don’t take it to heart, Mom.”

Yang Jing shook her head. Having been married to Chi Zhenghua for so many years, she thought she knew him well. She could feel that when he said the word “divorce” yesterday, he meant it.

Not long ago, she found out that Chi Zhenghua had already returned to Yanjing City but had been staying elsewhere instead of coming home.

Her heart instantly grew wary, so she secretly followed him and indeed saw him going in and out with another woman.

Yesterday, she called Chi Zhenghua back and caused a scene, only to be shocked when he announced divorce in front of the children.

Fortunately, Chi Baiyu was present and opposed it. Chi Zhenghua valued Chi Baiyu’s opinion the most and retracted his words, but even so, Yang Jing remained uneasy.

Chi Yueyao entered with medicine and water. Sitting next to Chi Qianyu, she watched Yang Jing take the medicine before cautiously speaking, “Aunt, you don’t need to worry. Uncle is just toying around with those young girls; in the end, he will come back to you.”

Yang Jing snorted, “They’re not young girls at all.”

Chi Yueyao’s heart tightened. Chi Qianyu had already asked, “Mom, did you see the woman’s face? Not young?”

Yang Jing shook her head. “I didn’t see her face, but judging by her figure, she’s not young—probably around my age.”

Chi Yueyao felt some relief; at least the woman’s face hadn’t been seen.

“Mom, what are you worried about? A woman around your age? I’ve never seen anyone prettier than you,” Chi Qianyu said.

Under normal circumstances, Yang Jing would have been delighted by Chi Qianyu’s words, but now she had no heart for it.

“Qianyu, you don’t understand. It’s precisely because she’s not young that I’m worried. Your father once had a first love he couldn’t have.”

Hearing this, Chi Yueyao was completely reassured. Chi Zhenghua’s unattainable first love was not Pan Shuyun.

Yang Jing continued, “I’m afraid that first love has come back. Back then, your father was poor, so she didn’t want him. Now that he’s successful, if she returns, maybe your father will... sob...”

Her fear grew, and she broke down crying in front of the two children.

Chi Qianyu grew more alarmed as she listened. “That won’t happen. Dad won’t divorce you. No matter what, he’ll consider me and my brother.”

Even she had no confidence in her own words.

She knew very well that although she was dearly loved at home, her father, Chi Zhenghua, was fundamentally a man who favored sons over daughters. He would care for Chi Baiyu but not for her.

Suddenly, Chi Qianyu stood up. “I’m going to find my brother and ask him to persuade Dad.”

Chi Yueyao watched her leave, her eyes flashing as she said to Yang Jing, “Aunt, I have an idea, but I’m not sure if it will work.”

Yang Jing propped herself up slightly. “What idea? Tell me quickly.”

Chi Yueyao said, “Aunt, why don’t you pretend to be ill?”

“Pretend to be ill?” Yang Jing’s first reaction was refusal. “No, if I pretend to be ill and lie in bed every day, without me watching your uncle, wouldn’t he become even more unruly?”

Chi Yueyao pursed her lips. “Aunt, but if you’re not ill, what else can you do? You can’t follow your uncle around every day, right?”

Yang Jing blinked, caught off guard by the question. What else could she do? She certainly couldn’t trail Chi Zhenghua all the time; that was the source of their argument this time—Chi Zhenghua disapproved of her spying.

“Aunt, actually, the key to this ‘unattainable first love’ isn’t the woman herself but the fact that it was unattainable. If Uncle had ever truly had her, it wouldn’t be unattainable anymore. At that time, the so-called first love wouldn’t compare to you, well-maintained as you are.”

Yang Jing pondered deeply.

“Besides, you’ve been married to Uncle for so many years. His feelings for you must be deep. Without that unattainable first love, can anyone really surpass your place in his heart?”

Chi Yueyao’s words struck a chord with Yang Jing. She believed that Chi Zhenghua held a significant place in his heart for her.

Chi Zhenghua had cheated before, many times. Back then, it was always young, beautiful girls. She would get angry but never felt threatened.

If this so-called first love was no longer unattainable, then she couldn’t even compare to those young girls.

“Yueyao, I understand what you mean. I’ll pretend to be ill. The worse it looks, the guiltier your uncle will feel. Even if it’s just for appearances, he won’t divorce me right now. When he loses interest in that first love, he’ll come back to me.”

Chi Yueyao’s eyes flashed as she smiled. “Aunt, that’s exactly what I mean. But if you pretend to be ill, you’ll have to endure a lot.”

Yang Jing chuckled, “What hardship is that? To become the best, one must endure the worst. This is a long war. I was impulsive before and fell behind. Now, I won’t lose another step.”

Chi Yueyao comforted her for a moment, then found an excuse to leave and returned to her room.

Hiding in the bathroom, she called Pan Shuyun.

Pan Shuyun answered quickly, anxiously asking, “Yueyao, has my identity been exposed?”

Chi Yueyao snapped, “No, she didn’t see your face. She thinks it’s Dad’s first love. Although the situation is still bad, at least you’re safe for now.”

On the other end, Pan Shuyun exhaled deeply, hearing the irritation in Chi Yueyao’s voice.

Lowering her voice, Chi Yueyao said, “How many times have I told you to be careful? Why don’t you listen?”

Pan Shuyun sheepishly replied, “How was I to know she was so sensitive? Isn’t it fine now that I’m not exposed?”

“If you had been exposed, you’d be dead meat!”

Chi Yueyao was furious. In this entire plan, she was the most at risk, living right under the noses of Yang Jing and her children in the Chi household.

Especially Chi Baiyu. He knew about Chi Zhenghua’s illegitimate daughter. If Pan Shuyun’s identity were revealed, and Chi Baiyu exposed the truth, Yang Jing and Chi Qianyu would never let her off.

Fortunately, she remained hidden. Chi Baiyu probably thought the woman involved in Chi Zhenghua’s affair was some unattainable first love, unaware that everything was orchestrated behind the scenes by her.

“Enough of this. I’ve convinced Yang Jing to feign illness. Meanwhile, you need to get your hands on Dad as soon as possible. I also need to find a chance to move out.”

Chi Yueyao ended the call, still fuming, when another call came through.

It was from Tong Shijia.

She felt irritated. Tong Shijia had once been her target, but ever since Xiao Yue recovered, her interest in Tong Shijia had waned.

After all, it was a pity to let go of a fish she had worked so hard to catch. She decided to keep dangling Tong Shijia along, but her mindset had changed. She found herself increasingly annoyed whenever faced with him.