Ling Bing offered a soft laugh, nestling closer into Shen Mo’s embrace. "I know Lu Meng, Chi Mu's wife. I'll have a word with her and make sure she exposes Lixi's true colors right in front of Chi Mu. Don't you worry."
Shen Mo’s heart softened. He led Ling Bing into the lounge, and only after they had spent some time together did he emerge, looking thoroughly satisfied.
Ling Bing rested for a while before checking her phone, where she found a message from her mother, Ye Qing: "Remember to take precautions. If you accidentally get pregnant, your career will be ruined!"
"Are you participating in the supermodel competition after the Kyoto event? Remember to have Shen Mo put in a word with the judges for you!"
Ling Bing replied, "I know, I have it handled."
...
Lixi’s mood plummeted after learning of Shen Mo’s stance from Gu Bin. She couldn't understand why he refused to let her go.
Noticing her distress, Chi Mu comforted her: "Don't worry. Lawyer Gu is very capable; with him on the case, everything will go smoothly."
"By the way, how is the educational consultant I found for you?"
Lixi thought of Chen Qing, who had come by yesterday to help with her pre-study planning, and nodded. "Teacher Chen is wonderful. She asked me to go through the materials she brought and complete a few tests so she can gauge my current level."
Chi Mu nodded, then asked with some concern: "Can you manage the workload? You have to look after me, and you have to study—do you think it will affect your progress?"
Lixi chuckled. Looking after Chi Mu wasn't tiring at all; he seemed to dislike inconveniencing others, and all she really did was pour water and bring him meals. She shook her head. "It’s fine, Marshal. Taking care of you isn't tiring at all. And it won’t affect my studies."
"By the way, why haven't I seen Lele and the others lately?"
Chi Mu’s heart stirred. It seemed Lixi was quite fond of children. He recalled Gu Bin saying that Lixi hadn't asked for custody in the divorce agreement, likely calculating that Shen Mo would never grant it.
Chi Mu felt a pang of sympathy. Regardless, Lele and the others were being bullied by that woman, Lu Meng, at home anyway. He decided it would be better to have them stay at the hospital for a while, and he would have another room prepared for them.
Seeing the flicker of anticipation in Lixi’s eyes, Chi Mu’s lips curved slightly. "They’re coming to visit me this afternoon. They’ll be spending a lot of time with me, so you’ll be able to see them often."
Hearing this, Lixi’s mood—previously dampened by the stalled divorce—instantly brightened. Her time in the hospital would be much happier now.
That afternoon, Lele and the others arrived, though it wasn't just Chi Le and Chi Yue; Lu Meng had come along as well.
After Lu Meng brought the children into Chi Mu’s room, she scanned the space and remarked with a sharp, mocking tone: "Oh? You’re all alone?"
"Is that new caregiver of yours not here? Or did she hide on purpose because she knew I was coming?"
Chi Mu ignored her. He looked at the nervous children and instructed them to head to the nurse's station so the staff could lead them to Lixi.
Once the children were gone, Chi Mu asked coldly, "Why are you here?"
Seeing he remained as distant as ever, a flash of malice crossed Lu Meng’s eyes. "Didn't you blame me last time for letting our son and the others come look for you on their own?"
"This time, I’ve delivered them here personally."
"Also, are you planning to have Chi Le and the others stay at the hospital so that nurse can take care of them?"
Chi Mu didn't flinch. "Yes."
Lu Meng couldn't help but shriek: "I am their mother! It's one thing that you never come home, but what right do you have to take them away? On what grounds?"
The guards at the door stepped in at the noise. Once Chi Mu dismissed them, he lowered his voice. "On what grounds? You tell me."
"When you were busy dating some other man, you left the children at home while they were running high fevers. You didn't care at all, and you even forbade the servants from taking them to the hospital, claiming they were just faking it."
"If the servants hadn't called my parents, Lele and the others might have died!"
"Afterward, you fired those servants and had people beat them nearly to death. Do you have any idea how many people my parents had to bribe and how much money they had to pay to bury that incident? Have you forgotten?"
Lu Meng refused to admit her fault. "It was all your fault! You were never home, so I was just momentarily confused."
"Besides, they’re your son and daughter, and they haven't inherited any of your constitution. They fall ill at the slightest chill—how was I supposed to know if they were just faking it to ruin my plans?"
Looking at the stubborn, unrepentant woman, Chi Mu felt his heart grow cold. It was true that he was rarely home, but the nature of his position made it impossible to be with his family as much as he wished. He had made that clear to Lu Meng before they were married, even suggesting they postpone the wedding so she could consider things carefully.
But Lu Meng had been enamored with his rapid rise in rank and, terrified someone else would snatch him up, had begged both families to rush the marriage that had been arranged since childhood. Yet, she never understood the price he had to pay for that success.
Chi Mu closed his eyes. "I don't want to see you anymore. Go back. Your parents are getting on in years; if you don't want them worrying about you, stop causing trouble."
"And sign the divorce agreement as soon as possible. It’s better for both of us."
Lu Meng had no intention of giving Chi Mu what he wanted. She felt that everything that had turned her into the bitter, wretched person she was today was his fault. She spat back with venom: "I will never sign it. I want to make your life miserable. And as for the two children—if I can't have a good life, neither will they. I’ll make sure they know that having a father like you is the greatest misfortune of their lives."
"If you've got the nerve, take me to court. Let everyone see just how pathetic a district Marshal you really are."
Chi Mu didn't open his eyes. He had heard these words many times before, and he had no desire to look at Lu Meng's twisted expression again. He sometimes wondered if he had been wrong, but he did not regret his service—his only regret was that hasty marriage.
He had ruined his own life, and hers along with it.
Seeing that Chi Mu would say no more, Lu Meng turned and left the room.
Before long, she found her way to Lixi’s room by asking a nurse. When she reached the door, it was ajar, and she heard the sound of Chi Yue acting spoiled inside.
Lu Meng felt a momentary daze. How long had it been since Chi Yue had acted that way toward her?
She instinctively slowed her steps and leaned to the side, peering into the room without being seen.
Inside, Lixi sat on the edge of the bed, a gentle smile on her face, whispering something to the children while holding a book. The children were huddled on either side of her, their eyes bright and full of joy. It was a heartwarming scene.
But to Lu Meng, it was an eyesore. Her face turned ashen.
She thought of what Ling Bing had told her—that Lixi was just playing the fragile victim to win Chi Mu’s favor. And now, these two little ingrates were clearly fond of this woman, too.
It was unforgivable!
Lu Meng could hold back no longer. She charged into the room and reached out to yank Chi Le away. "You ungrateful little brat! You’re just dying to find yourself a stepmother, aren't you?"