Please stay away from my son!

Mrs. Ji offered a faint smile, but her words were razor-sharp.

Wen Shuang’s smile froze. "Auntie, what do you mean by that?"

"The meaning is quite simple: I want you to leave my son. I will give you fifty million immediately. By leaving, I mean breaking up right now, never seeing him again, and preferably, leaving the Jinghai District altogether!"

Previously, Mrs. Ji had known that Wen Shuang and Ji Shen were dating. While she didn't approve, she hadn't reacted so strongly. She had assumed Ji Shen was only playing around with Wen Shuang. But later, through some unknown method, Wen Shuang had managed to win the favor of the elderly Mrs. Ji, who even specifically named her as the desired granddaughter-in-law.

Ji Shen, as if possessed, had not only defied his mother at a banquet—refusing to give her face—but had also been suspended from his job for two months because of matters involving Wen Shuang. This was something Mrs. Ji could not tolerate. She knew how difficult it had been for Ji Shen to reach his current position, and she would not allow any variables in his life—especially when Wen Shuang was not the daughter-in-law she wanted.

Wen Shuang spoke calmly: "Auntie, I am sorry, but I will not take your fifty million, and I will not agree to your request."

If this were six months ago, she might have taken the money and left without a word. After all, fifty million was a fortune to her. But now, Wen Shuang clearly understood her feelings for Ji Shen. She had fallen for him beyond the point of return. He was upright, resolute, handsome, possessed sound values, respected women, and while occasionally blunt, he was mostly very attentive. No woman could date him and not fall in love. Even though Wen Shuang had struggled and restrained herself before, it had been in vain.

Seeing her swift and clean refusal, the displeasure flickered across Mrs. Ji’s well-maintained face. "Miss Wen, I am trying to talk to you reasonably. If you refuse to break up with my son, then not only will you lose this fifty million, but you will also find yourself in a very miserable situation at my hands."

"Mrs. Ji, you might find me ridiculous, but I truly love your son. If our relationship were to face genuine issues or incompatibility, I would consider leaving. But for this reason, I cannot comply." Wen Shuang stood her ground.

Mrs. Ji was furious. "Wen Shuang, I’ve been talking to you nicely. Don't be ungrateful! Even if you love A-Shen, what does it matter? I don't accept you as a daughter-in-law; you aren't qualified to enter the Ji family. Furthermore, your family background is weak and provides no help to his career. Do you know how much effort it took for him to get to where he is today?"

"Although I didn't witness it firsthand, I know it was very difficult for him."

"Since you know that, why are you unwilling to let go? Because of you, A-Shen was suspended from his unit for two months! Can you not look within yourself and see the damage you've caused to his career?"

"Mrs. Ji, I am, of course, ashamed and distressed by that."

"If you were truly ashamed and distressed, you would leave my son immediately! Never appear again, and I will have that fifty million transferred to your account as soon as possible!"

Wen Shuang smiled. "Mrs. Ji, it seems we cannot communicate calmly. No matter what I say, I fear you will always think I am ungrateful. Then, please return; I will act as if you never came today."

"Fine, Miss Wen. Since you are so stubborn, don't blame me for being ruthless in the future!"

Mrs. Ji left with an air of fury. Wen Shuang never imagined she would end up in a scene straight out of a soap opera, where a wealthy woman would toss a check at her to leave her son. In the past, whenever she saw such dramas, she would think, "Are they stupid for not taking the money?" If it were her, she would have taken the money and left. She never expected that when it finally happened to her, her perspective would change. She smiled bitterly.

She did not tell Ji Shen about Mrs. Ji’s visit. When he came to see her after work, she told him everything was fine. She knew that if she told him, he would only confront his mother, which would only make Mrs. Ji’s impression of her worse.

However, the caregiver Ji Shen had hired for her was not easily fooled. She reported the entire incident to Ji Shen, including what had been said. Ji Shen’s brow furrowed. When he visited Wen Shuang, she hadn't mentioned a word of it, choosing to bear it silently.

Ji Shen called his mother. Mrs. Ji sneered, "Oh, A-Shen, calling to interrogate me so soon? Did that little vixen add fuel to the fire in front of you? What a schemer!"

"She didn't tell me; I found out through other channels."

"What a green tea bitch," Mrs. Ji scoffed. "What do you want to say?"

"I want you to stop interfering in my life. Who I date and who I marry has nothing to do with you!"

"I am your mother! This is a major life decision; how can it have nothing to do with me? A-Shen, you must marry someone with an equal family status, someone who can clearly help your career. That Wen Shuang—besides being pretty, what does she have?"

Mrs. Ji was so angry her voice cracked.

"She has many wonderful qualities. You simply look at her through colored glasses, which is why you refuse to like her," Ji Shen took a deep breath. "Grandmother has seen it all; she has met countless people in her life. Since she picked Wen Shuang as her granddaughter-in-law at first sight, it shows how much Wen Shuang shines."

"That’s just your grandmother getting old, her eyesight failing, mistaking a little 'green tea' for a pure lily."

"No, Mother, it is you who have never opened your eyes!"

Ji Shen hung up the phone. He had originally returned to his unit, but he turned back to the hospital. Wen Shuang had just fallen asleep. She heard familiar footsteps. "Brother Shen, did you go back to work? Why are you back?"

Ji Shen held her hand, his voice deep. "Shuangshuang, why didn't you tell me my mother came today?"

Wen Shuang was surprised. "You... how did you know?"

Ji Shen didn't answer. Wen Shuang thought for a moment and realized it must have been the caregiver. She patted his hand lightly. "You knew your mother didn't like me long ago. There is no point in me saying anything; it would only deepen the conflict."

Ji Shen pulled her into his arms, feeling a mix of anger at himself for not noticing her distress and frustration that she had kept it from him. "I'm the one marrying a wife, not her. Loving you is enough for me!"