“Mom,” Zhou Yi said weakly.

Zhou Yi was also confused.

Had she been unconscious for long?

And how long had it been since she’d looked at her mother? Why did her mom suddenly look so much older?

Zhou Yi felt aggrieved.

Her heart ached terribly.

Jiang Hong’s haggard and aged appearance had begun the day Zhou Yi insisted on marrying Yuan Han.

Whether older women show their age depends not only on natural aging but also on their peace of mind. When young, women can handle fluctuating weight, sleepless nights, and exhaustion – with proper rest, they bounce back to vitality.

But sudden weight loss at an older age means losing what little collagen remains, and that can’t be restored!

Some women age gradually, their collagen depleting slowly.

But for Jiang Hong, experiencing such a major shock and lying sick in bed unable to eat or sleep properly, the signs of age appeared rapidly.

Zhou Yi’s elopement with Yuan Han was just the beginning. Then came the pregnancy forcing marriage, life-threatening childbirth complications, and forcing Zhou Yi to study abroad – these events came one after another, leaving Jiang Hong no chance to catch her breath.

Unable to recover physically and constantly under mental strain, how could she not look increasingly haggard?

Zhou Yi wasn’t stupid.

She just hadn’t noticed these things before.

Somehow bewitched, she’d cared about nothing except Yuan Han.

She’d stopped caring about those around her.

When her parents refused to see her, she stubbornly showed no regret.

But now, the fog clouding her judgment had cleared, and she suddenly noticed Jiang Hong’s worn appearance.

After calling out “Mom,” Zhou Yi burst into heart-wrenching sobs in the hospital bed.

Her crying was so moving that it brought Jiang Hong to tears as well.

Xia Xiaolan quietly left the room, muttering to herself:

“Were we too harsh on the big fool?”

She looked around the corridor and spotted Luo Yaozong hiding around the corner. “Why are you hiding? Come here, I have questions for you.”

Luo Yaozong made a show of jogging over, but inched forward at a snail’s pace:

“Director Xia, I was wrong, so very wrong!”

“…”

She hadn’t even said anything yet!

This coward made Xia Xiaolan wonder if she had the word “tyrant” written on her forehead.

She’d looked in the mirror just this morning – still the same devastatingly beautiful face.

“I don’t want to hear your apologies. I just want you to tell me what happened before Zhou Yi was hospitalized?”

Though Luo Yaozong had prepared his answer mentally, considering every detail, he still stammered when facing Xia Xiaolan. Just as he finished speaking, Ge Jian came to add: “Director Xia, there’s a new development with the Yuan family.”

“Oh? Tell me!”

“Yuan Han and his family were tied up at the entrance of his workplace, with his compromising photos scattered everywhere. After being rescued, the Yuan family went to the police station to file charges against Ye Xiaoqiong and He Shiyuan. Yuan Han was taken away by the Municipal Disciplinary Committee.”

Ge Jian’s summary was concise, and Xia Xiaolan wanted to applaud.

Whatever else might be said about Ye Xiaoqiong’s actions, her method of dealing with her scumbag ex-husband was incredibly satisfying!

Most women weren’t as decisive as Ye Xiaoqiong.

When hurt, instead of seeking justice, they just wallow in self-pity asking “Why did he do this to me,” “Was it all lies?”… Ladies, don’t you know why they treat you this way?

Because you’re an easy target – who else would they take advantage of?

Being naive once isn’t terrible; many people have foolish pasts. The real problem is being naive forever. Being bitten by a dog once is bad luck, but if dogs keep following you, maybe you need to examine yourself. Be stronger, less weak – even dogs fear breaking their teeth on stones.

“So the Yuan family went to file a report.”

Xia Xiaolan dragged out the last words.

She didn’t like the Yuan family either.

Ye Xiaoqiong had said she agreed to abort her baby because Mother Yuan and the Yuan sisters had lied about the baby having defects. These three women were Yuan Han’s accomplices – didn’t they deserve the beating from Ye Xiaoqiong’s hired men?

The house Ye Xiaoqiong took back was originally Ye’s family property.

The money she swindled from the Yuan women went to hiring people to deal with Yuan Han.

The Yuan women unconditionally supported Yuan Han’s actions.

They’d hoped for Yuan Han’s success to elevate the entire Yuan family.

Now that Yuan Han was in trouble, they naturally had to share in his misfortune – that’s called ‘sharing in hardship.’

“Director Xia, should we take any action regarding this—”

Xia Xiaolan nodded, “Keep an eye on how this develops. Though I believe Ye Xiaoqiong planned her endgame carefully, if there are any loose ends, we can lend a hand.”

Ge Jian now understood what to do.

Seeing Luo Yaozong fidgeting nearby, Ge Jian mentioned: “Director Xia, regarding Little Luo’s performance, perhaps—?”

Luo Yaozong had completed his task well, and Xia Xiaolan didn’t want to be hard on him:

“Reward those who deserve it. Qihang never shortchanges people who work diligently.”

Xia Xiaolan figured Zhou Yi must have vented her emotions by now and headed back to check on her.

After she left, Luo Yaozong could hardly believe it.

Did the demon mean he wouldn’t have to jump from the sixth floor again, and would even get a reward?

“Manager Ge, did Director Xia say—”

“Director Xia said you deserve a reward. From now on, you’re Qihang’s Security Team Leader. Any other questions?”

None at all!

The joy came too suddenly.

Promoted from security guard to Security Team Leader – Luo Yaozong thought his father and grandfather would have to host a three-day feast in their village!

This was typical of someone who’d been humbled thoroughly.

Initially thinking himself impressive, believing his family’s local influence would at least get him a manager position at Qihang. But Xia Xiaolan wouldn’t be swayed – she only offered a security guard position, take it or leave it.

Luo Yaozong had been careless as a guard.

Then reality struck him hard, and after barely surviving, he felt incredibly secure being a guard at Qihang!

Luo Yaozong had decided to stick with Qihang for life, and now he’d been promoted from guard to Team Leader… who said he couldn’t become a manager someday?

Seeing him walking in air, Ge Jian warned sternly:

“You may be Team Leader now, but poor performance can get you demoted anytime. And if you gossip about anything related to Director Xia…”

Luo Yaozong swore his loyalty profusely.

Gossip?

How would he dare!

Women are terrifying nowadays. After witnessing how He Shiyuan and Ye Xiaoqiong teamed up to deal with Yuan Han, Luo Yaozong now saw every woman as a potential bandit chief in disguise.

They could transform at any moment – too scary to mess with!

Remembering what Ge Jian said about Yuan Han being stripped and tied to a tree, Luo Yaozong felt a chill in his groin!

At the police station.

The Yuan sisters were crying and showing their injuries to the police.

What ridiculous business this was.

A remarried man having an improper relationship with another woman, who turned out to be sent by his ex-wife?

Did things like this happen in real life?