Volume 1, Chapter 2: Tear Apart That Mistress's Face? Don't Let Her See the New Year

After holding her chubby son to sleep all night, Cheng Qian felt much better.

The little guy lay sprawled out on the bed in his diaper. As the morning sun streamed through the window, he looked as adorable as a little angel.

Cheng Qian leaned down and kissed his tiny forehead. The distance between mother and son had finally closed a little.

A knock sounded at the door.

Cheng Qian opened it to find Li Zhinan standing there, dressed in a sharp, formal suit.

"Xiaoye has a cognitive development class at nine-thirty. Are you taking him, or should I?"

Cheng Qian froze. Her son was taking classes? How did she not know about this?

"When did he sign up for classes?" He was only two and a half. Was it really necessary for him to start studying so early?

Li Zhinan replied calmly, "He's been attending for three months. The teachers are responsible and patient, and he enjoys it very much."

Cheng Qian frowned slightly. "Then let's call in sick for him today. I want to keep him company at home."

"Consistency is important for these courses. It's not good to skip classes," Li Zhinan insisted.

Cheng Qian crossed her arms and said coolly, "I haven't been with him for ten months. Please understand how much I've missed my son."

Li Zhinan could clearly feel that Cheng Qian's attitude had changed since she returned from her studies abroad. It was as if she no longer had any feelings for him as her husband, conversing with him like a machine.

And so...

"Fine," Li Zhinan said, his voice turning cold. He stopped insisting, straightened his posture, and walked downstairs.

Watching the man's increasingly cold gaze, Cheng Qian felt a bitter pang in her heart. A marriage without a foundation of love truly could not last.

Fortunately, she had always kept her feelings quiet and had never expressed them passionately. Otherwise, having to rein in those emotions now would be like slamming on the brakes of a speeding car—the crash would have been devastating.

After breakfast, Cheng Qian sat in the living room helping her son build with blocks while the television broadcasted a news report.

"Following its acquisition of Dr. Cheng's laboratory three years ago, the Li Group has announced another strategic investment. The conglomerate is set to acquire shares in Cheng's Bioengineering. This investment will serve as a key expansion for the XS Biotech Company, reflecting high confidence in the project's growth prospects and industry value."

"The biotech sector's stock prices are soaring, drawing widespread public attention."

Cheng Qian's face turned pale. Cheng's Bioengineering was a pharmaceutical enterprise established by her uncle, Cheng Zhifei, who had copied her father's original company.

Now, with Li Zhinan's backing, its market value had not only doubled, but the Cheng Group's reputation was also soaring, making them a dominant force in the industry.

That Li Zhinan would make such a decision went far beyond disappointment for Cheng Qian.

The mounting evidence only further confirmed that the relationship between Li Zhinan and Cheng Yan was anything but ordinary.

The news segment was followed by a speech from the Cheng Group. As the eldest daughter of the family enterprise, Cheng Yan possessed a brilliant resume.

A top graduate from the biology department at Harvard University, she had studied under renowned mentors, participated in twenty-six research projects, and held thirty-eight personal patents—making her a standout talent among the younger generation.

Cheng Qian stared at the television screen. Cheng Yan stood gracefully beside her father, her beautiful face lit up with a confident smile.

Cheng Qian clenched her fists in secret.

Had Li Zhinan lost his memory, or had he simply lost his mind?

Knowing full well that her father's research had been stolen and that her relationship with the Cheng family was completely hostile, he had still chosen to invest in their business.

At that moment, a heavy weight pressed down on Cheng Qian's chest. Perhaps it was time to put an end to this marriage.

After spending the entire day focused on her son, Cheng Qian truly experienced the joy of motherhood. The little guy was no longer as resistant to her, occasionally willing to play with her. Cheng Qian knew that her son was just young; his heart wouldn't naturally turn away from her—unless someone was deliberately leading him astray.

As dusk began to fall, Cheng Qian met up with her best friend for some shopping. Holding her adorable son, she spotted someone waving at her from a short distance away.

"Qianqian, over here!"

Cheng Qian squeezed through the crowd toward her. This was her closest friend, Lin Si, an heiress from a wealthy family.

"Oh, look how much this little guy has grown! He's so round and adorable!" Lin Si excitedly pinched the toddler's chubby cheek.

Cheng Qian's eyes softened as she looked at her son. "Yes, children change every day. I didn't expect him to weigh thirty pounds by the time I got back from abroad. My arms are already sore from carrying him."

"Such a chubby boy, his cheeks are so pinchable." Lin Si could hardly bring herself to let go; his skin was so soft and tender.

"No... pinch me," the little guy grumbled, using his tiny hand to push Lin Si's fingers away.

"Oh, someone's got a temper!" Lin Si burst out laughing.

"Let's go to the restaurant first," Cheng Qian said, switching him to her other arm. He was indeed quite heavy. They pushed through the crowd, heading toward the restaurant.

Suddenly, Lin Si shifted her body, quickly stepping to Cheng Qian's left side as if trying to block her view of something.

It had been a long time since Cheng Qian had walked down such a bustling street, and she was looking all around.

"Hey, don't look this way. There's something unpleasant," Lin Si said, quickly raising her hand to block Cheng Qian's view.

But Cheng Qian had already seen it.

Not far away, in front of a stall selling festive trinkets, a tall, upright figure in a black wool coat stood beside a woman wearing a bright blue jacket.

Cheng Yan reached out to pick a festive little doll, and Li Zhinan casually used his phone to pay the vendor.

The woman happily held the doll up against her handbag to see how it looked, but because of her freshly manicured nails, she couldn't open the clasp.

The man reached out gently, fastening the doll onto her bag for her.

Cheng Yan beamed like a child, making a few playful faces at Li Zhinan.

Li Zhinan reached out to stroke her long hair, gesturing for her to walk ahead.

Cheng Qian stood frozen in place, but the little boy in her arms suddenly called out at the top of his lungs, "Daddy... Mommy, I'm here! Wait for me!"

Cheng Qian struggled with all her might to hold her son back, but he still stretched out his arms, crying and shouting in that direction, "Daddy, Mommy, don't you want Xiaoye anymore?"

"I want Daddy and Mommy..." The little guy kept pointing in their direction with his chubby finger.

Passersby looked at the scene, wondering if Cheng Qian was just the child's nanny.

"What's going on?" Lin Si asked in shock. "Why isn't Xiaoye calling you Mommy?"

Cheng Qian felt utterly devastated. "It's a long story," she said bitterly. "Let's go upstairs and talk."

Lin Si pulled out a candied hawthorn like a magic trick to soothe the child, and the two of them went upstairs.

While waiting to order, Cheng Qian explained everything. Lin Si slammed her hand on the table in anger. "That shameless couple..."

"Qianqian, why didn't you just rush over there and tear that mistress's face off? What are you waiting for?" Lin Si said, her hot temper flaring.

"I didn't want to make a scene. There's no point," Cheng Qian replied. She believed that the one who wasn't loved was the true outsider; throwing a tantrum would only humiliate herself.

Besides, she knew Li Zhinan hadn't married her out of love. It was partly out of obligation, and partly because he hoped her medical research would yield results to boost his biotech company.

Since there had been no love from the very beginning, these few years of forcing things to work had finally reached their limit.

"Are you planning to get a divorce?" Lin Si asked, stunned.

Cheng Qian neither confirmed nor denied it, only looking down sadly at her young son in her arms.

Would she regret this decision?

But growing up in a loveless home wouldn't bring the child any happiness either.

Lin Si was absolutely fuming. "Fine, divorce him! Take half of his fortune and use his money to find yourself a younger boyfriend."

Cheng Qian smiled faintly. "I'm completely disillusioned with men. I'm not planning on finding anyone else for now."

"By the way, Qianqian, you've always refused to talk about what happened back then. How did you get pregnant with Xiaoye?" Lin Si asked, her curiosity piqued again.

Cheng Qian froze for a moment, then gave a bitter smile. "I don't want to talk about that."

Lin Si knew Cheng Qian's personality. Though she seemed quiet and gentle, she was actually strong, independent, deep, and reserved.

Once she made up her mind, she would leave absolutely no room for turning back.

"Are you really going to divorce him?" Lin Si felt it was a pity. Li Zhinan was now wealthy enough to rival nations, his fortune like a deep-sea leviathan. He was young and successful; if they divorced, it would be almost impossible to find another man who possessed both his looks and his wealth.

"Yes," Cheng Qian said, her eyes flickering as she stared out the window, as if she had made a final decision.

Lin Si stopped trying to persuade her, knowing it would be futile.

The Cheng Qian she knew was gentle yet firm, never dependent and never willing to settle. Her career was her armor, and her soul remained independent and free.

"Alright, I support you," Lin Si said, her heart aching for her friend. "But what about the child? Who gets custody?"

Cheng Qian leaned down to kiss her son's hair and said resolutely, "He must stay with me, of course."

Lin Si felt this was highly unlikely. She worried, "Xiaoye is the only grandson of the Li family. Will they really let you have him?"

Cheng Qian's eyes darkened. "I don't want anything else but my child."

"Qianqian, I think this divorce is going to be incredibly difficult." Lin Si could foresee that the outcome would not be in her favor.

Cheng Qian also knew how hard it would be to win custody from Li Zhinan. But she would absolutely never allow her son to call another woman "Mommy."

"I will find evidence of his affair. I will also work hard to prove that I am capable of raising my child," Cheng Qian said softly.

"Then starting now, you must gather and preserve all the evidence you can find," Lin Si sighed.

After dinner, Cheng Qian took her son back home. A light drizzle began to fall, bringing a deeper chill to the air.

Holding her child, Cheng Qian felt as if she were holding the entire world. Her eyes were filled with tenderness.

When they arrived home, Aunt Liu came forward to carry the sleeping child away, whispering to her, "The master is back. He seems to have had quite a lot to drink."

Aunt Wu, who was in charge of the kitchen, walked over carrying a bowl of liver-protecting soup. "Madam, why don't you take this upstairs to the master?"

Cheng Qian glanced at it and said indifferently, "You take it up. I'm going to take a shower."

As Cheng Qian headed upstairs, the two domestic helpers exchanged glances.

What was going on?

In the past, Madam would have immediately asked them to brew liver-protecting or hangover soup, and she would have personally blown it cool before carrying it upstairs for the master.

Had they gotten into a fight?

Madam had just returned from abroad, and the couple had finally reunited. Logically, they should be inseparable right now.

The night was as dark as ink. Half-asleep, Cheng Qian felt a large hand wrap around her from behind.

She jolted awake instantly as a firm, warm chest pressed against her back, the large hand naturally sliding down from her lower abdomen...

Cheng Qian immediately reached out to grab the wandering hand. "It's not a good time."