Accusations of not wanting to marry: The prosecutor pressed him relentlessly.

Every year, Lu Tong would send an invitation to the Tang family's annual meeting. In previous years, to show that he valued it, not only Tang Zhang and Tang Yi would attend in person, but even the old man would attend. Lu Chengzhong would also take this opportunity to meet with some old friends.

But this year, when he received the invitation, the old man fell silent.

He decided to feign illness and not go.

I'm too ashamed to face my old friends.

Tang Zhanghe also didn't want to go, but Tang Yi persuaded him, "Dad, you still have to show your face. We get so much dividend from Lutong every year, it wouldn't be right for you not to go."

But what I was really thinking was: With you here, at least I don't get scolded; Grandpa Lu would take his anger out on you.

Fang Youxi was eating a peach in the living room as if nothing had happened. Tang Zhanghe thought for a moment and said, "Tangtang, why don't you go with your older brother? Your name is on the invitation this year. The banquet is about showing respect, and Grandpa Lu has liked you since you were little. He wouldn't want to blame you."

She's lying through her teeth; she doesn't even remember ever seeing Grandpa Lu when she was a child.

Seeing that Fang Youxi didn't believe him, Tang Zhanghe tried to jog her memory: "Grandpa Lu gave you a set of little gold locks for your sixth birthday, remember?"

"I don't remember. I only remember that Grandma had a huge, heavy gold bracelet on her wrist. I wonder if it was made by melting down Grandpa Lu's gold lock." Fang Youxi teased Tang Zhanghe on purpose.

Tang Zhanghe: ...

This little rascal feels itchy if he doesn't annoy someone every day.

"They even invited you to the banquet; it would be unreasonable for you not to go."

Fang Youxi raised an eyebrow and said, "Dad, if I go to Lu Tong's annual meeting, aren't you afraid Mu Wangbei will get jealous? You can't have it all; you have to offend one of them, right?"

Mu Wangbei and Lu Yanli, Tang Zhang decisively abandoned Lu Yanli and nodded, saying, "Dad, go ahead, you stay home and rest."

Tang Zhanghe's expression made Fang Youxi suppress a laugh. She volunteered, "I can be your and your brother's fashion consultant, and I'll give you a 50% discount on the consultant fee."

Tang Yi waved his hand: "I'm sleepy, I'm going upstairs to sleep."

Fang Youxi glanced at the time; it was only 9:30. Tang Zhanghe immediately yawned, "Winter makes me sleepy. I'm going back to my room too."

She didn't even say how much she was charging before the two of them left.

What if she didn't hit that hard?

After finishing the peaches, Fang Youxi got up to go back to her room.

Mu Wangbei would video call her every night.

The family is full of bachelors, and Tang Yi is half of one. He's engaged, but he's still worse off than a bachelor. He's been living at home for several days now, and I haven't seen him call that legendary Miss Peng.

I don't understand why they would get engaged. What's the point of an engagement?

With three days left until the Spring Festival, Jiang Chengyun was going back to his parents' home.

Before leaving home in the morning, he told Yun Qiao, "Take good care of yourself while I'm gone. Call me if anything happens."

Yun Qiao smiled faintly: "Okay."

"Baby, give me a kiss before I go." The man, who was about to leave, reached out to Yun Qiao again. These past few days, Yun Qiao hadn't asked, and he hadn't said anything either; the two of them had just been living like this.

But Yun Qiao noticed that Jiang Chengyun had put away the computer in the study and was trying his best not to look at his phone in front of her.

But at night, he would always torment her, calling her "Qiao Qiao" over and over again.

It felt like we were back in the early days of our relationship, all lovey-dovey.

Yun Qiao went over and hugged him, then tiptoed and kissed the corner of his lips: "Go on, be careful on the way."

This was an ordinary morning, just like any other.

After Jiang Chengyun left, Yun Qiao also left the villa where they had lived together for four years.

She thought she had a lot of things, but when she started packing, she realized that she actually owned very little, just a suitcase and a handbag.

She'll hardly ever need those luxury items in the future. With her qualifications, she'd be lucky to find a job with a monthly salary of over ten thousand. Even if she carried such an expensive bag with that salary, people would think it was fake. And those dresses, she probably won't have many occasions to wear them in the future.

However, Yun Qiao took the several sets of valuable jewelry that Jiang Chengyun had given her.

For the past four years, although Jiang Chengyun gave her a lot each month, she was responsible for all the expenses of the villa. He had extremely high requirements for the quality of life, and he wanted the best in everything, including food, clothing and daily necessities, so he spent a lot of money.

She really wanted to keep all these worldly possessions with a sense of superiority, so that when she thought back on this relationship in the future, she could proudly say that it had nothing to do with money. But the reality was that she did the math and found that she only had a few hundred thousand yuan in her account. Although that was enough to support her for a while, her mother still needed to come to Beicheng for medical treatment, which could be a bottomless pit.

If you urgently need money in the future, these pieces of jewelry can be converted into cash.

Even if Yun Qiao is unwilling to admit it, the reality is that, in the eyes of outsiders, her relationship with Jiang Chengyun looks more like a transaction between a greedy person and a lustful person.

So-called love is nothing but a joke.

She cleaned the house spotless, and on that very morning, she left behind the past four years. As she left, her heart felt like it was being churned by a tsunami.

During the Spring Festival, the northern part of the city becomes like a ghost town. The huge city suddenly has fewer people, and every street is clear, no longer bustling with traffic.

Yun Qiao hailed a car and went to her rented apartment.

It's a very ordinary two-bedroom apartment near Beicheng Hospital, a dilapidated old building that's almost thirty years old, with a monthly rent of 6000 yuan.

She has made several trips to Beicheng Hospital in the past few days with her mother's medical records, trying to transfer her mother from her hometown to this hospital for treatment. It is not easy, as many expenses cannot be covered by insurance.

Besides, my mother doesn't have any insurance other than the New Rural Cooperative Medical Scheme.

The 5-year survival rate for patients with advanced cervical cancer after chemotherapy is approximately 15%-35%, depending on the stage, treatment regimen, and individual differences. The 5-year survival rate for stage III patients is 30%-50%. Fortunately, my mother was a stage III patient and, after receiving concurrent chemoradiotherapy, there is hope for long-term control.

The little money she has might not last long.

Fortunately, her father was finally persuaded. After settling things at home after the New Year, he took his mother by train to Beicheng for medical treatment.

The furniture in this house was left by the previous landlord; it has everything. The bedding and some other household items were ordered online in advance.

My beloved will be very busy during the Spring Festival. She had informed them beforehand that she would be unable to visit for a long time due to family matters, and that the executive chef would be in charge of everything. She also told them that if there were any issues that couldn't be resolved, they could simply contact the boss, Jiang Chengyun.

However, she had checked the accounts with the finance department and everything was clear. All the previous profits had been deposited into her card. She then used the excuse that there was a problem with that card to have the accounts handled by Jiang Chengyun's assistant from now on.

With these burdens lifted, Yun Qiao felt at ease, her heart at peace.

I remembered a passage from *Norwegian Wood* that I read in college: "On a very ordinary day, I gave up on someone very important." After that, I never felt anything for anyone; I chose to love myself and live a clean and simple life. As for us, let's pretend the wind never blew, you never came, and I never loved. I can't hate you, because you bear the marks of my passionate love. Although it's a little hard to let go, my overwhelming joy must come to an end!

Looking back now, all of this seems pretentious and insignificant in the face of life's pressures.

It will pass, Yun Qiao thought, and she should truly establish herself in this city on her own.