Return of the Antagonistic Lady Boss

Chapter 38: Chapter 38: When Love Grows Cold, For Whose Sake?

”Divorce! This man who cares nothing for the family, doesn’t earn money, is stingy and unfeeling, messes around with other women, and often hits you—why do you need him?”

Qian saw that her mom was going around in circles without addressing the real issue and cut straight to the point.

”What nonsense are you talking about!” Jia Xiufang was startled. At her age, with her kids all grown up, how could she consider divorce?

”What use is he to you? Does he earn money and give it to you? Who’s supporting this dry cleaning business? It’s you! Has he provided you with a stable life? What’s going on between him and Qu Xue—do you actually not know? He’s so good to that woman and so bad to you. You put in all the effort, and Qu Xue enjoys all the benefits—are you honestly okay with that?”

”How can you say such things? This family cannot be broken! What will happen to you and your brother if I divorce?”

Jia Xiufang’s first reaction to her daughter’s rational analysis was anger.

She had complained to her own family, but her brothers just urged her to endure for the children, which also somewhat aligned with Jia Xiufang’s dependent personality.

”I’m already an adult, and your pampered son is also grown up. We won’t go astray just because our parents divorce—though, to be honest, your pampered son hasn’t turned out well even with you staying married.”

In a family that’s only held together in name, refusing to divorce to save face, the kids will still turn out bad if they want to.

Chen Lin neglects the family, plays around with women outside, and pays no attention to the two children, while Jia Xiufang tirelessly tries to please her husband and works her tail off, leaving no time to care for the kids.

Chen Zilong is addicted to online games—does it have nothing to do with this? Qian got married in a muddle in her previous life—does that have nothing to do with this?

Unhealthy family relationships hurt children more than parental divorce.

Qian’s words left Jia Xiufang at a loss, rejecting her daughter’s ideas in her heart.

To women of her age, marriage is more important than life. A home is complete only with a man, even if he’s good for nothing.

”Think about it carefully when you’re alone at night. What difference does it make to your life, with or without him? What changes if you divorce? Don’t be afraid; boldly imagine! The future is unknown, but it won’t be worse than now.”

”Say anymore, and I’ll hit you! Your dad is the backbone of this family; it can’t fall apart!”

”The criteria for dependent personality disorder has 12 points. You’ve hit at least four of them. One more, and you should see a psychologist.”

Dependent personality is characterized by extreme lack of self-confidence, an inability to determine one’s own direction, instinctively seeking help from others, and accepting whatever others say unconditionally—trusting outsiders but not oneself.

”What are you muttering about now?”

”I’m saying, you have a good daughter—no need to see a doctor. Mom, in this life, your happy days are ahead.” Qian patted Jia Xiufang’s shoulder.

”Go do what you need to do. Kids shouldn’t talk about adult matters!”

Qian didn’t expect to convince her mom, who had a dependent personality, in just a few words. But she had already planted the seed of divorce in her mother’s heart and provided psychological suggestions. Next, she would personally help her mom become independent and get rid of her worthless dad.

That evening, Chen Lin didn’t come back.

Jia Xiufang went to several places where he often played cards but couldn’t find him.

”Qian’er, do you think something happened to your dad?” Jia Xiufang was worried.

”What could happen to him? An old man with money on the run, who has food, drinks, and women—don’t worry about him.”

”Don’t say such things—what women!” Jia Xiufang was again upset by Qian’s words.

That night, Jia Xiufang lay on a double bed, alone, with the spot beside her empty.

Actually, this was the norm. Even if they weren’t fighting, Chen Lin often came back late, and sometimes they barely spoke a few words in a whole day.

Thinking carefully, when he’s home, he talks to Qu Xue more often than to her.

Closing her eyes, Qian’s words echoed in her mind: With or without him, what difference does it make to life?

What’s different? If she divorced, she’d still be busy running the store from early morning to late night, not seeing Chen Lin—but isn’t she not seeing him now anyway?

If there’s no man, what would be different from now? She won’t be hit anymore; the money she earns won’t be taken—sounds surprisingly good...

No, no, no, can’t think like that; the kids need their dad—Jia Xiufang tried hard to convince herself, only to find that every reason she could think of for not divorcing was so feeble.

It turns out, this home is really the same, with or without Chen Lin...

But no matter what, this home can’t fall apart, it can’t!

Jia Xiufang lost sleep.

In the next room, separated by just a wall, Qian stood by her window, listening to the sounds of crickets outside.

The worthless dad definitely hasn’t left Q City, and given his nature, probably went to find Qu Xue. She needed a way to locate him secretly, gather evidence of his affairs, and find a way to set a trap, forcing him to divorce. When the time came, even if her mom was upset, she’d have methods to always push her forward.

She looked up at the starry sky, asking herself.

Is it tiring, scheming so much?

Yes, it’s tiring.

But if she didn’t scheme, would she not be tired?

She’d still be tired. If she didn’t scheme, she’d end up being schemed against.

If she lived muddle-headedly like her mom, ”not tiring, not thinking,” she’d only die miserably.

In this world, there are too many unreliable men.

Yu Minglang is strong and dependable, but Qian never thought of relying on him, not in her past life, even less in this life.

He was very busy with work. When they were together in the past life, the relationship was so precious that she cherished it too much to consume his goodwill towards her, too precious to bother him with mundane matters; in this life, the two of them...

The neighbors were watching TV again at night, and the theme song carried over with the wind.

”If someone must cry, who do you think it will be?

If there must be someone right or wrong, who is to blame?

Unconcerned like you don’t need anyone to accompany you, but I’m most afraid of being alone.

Waiting for your comfort, waiting until it’s dark, waiting until the love grows cold.

Love grows cold, for whom~”

Out of the corner of her eye, she glanced at the pile of things in her room.

All bought by Yu Minglang for her.

The silly guy, what’s he doing now—still hung up on her being only 18?

The OCD that didn’t flare up all afternoon came back. Qian took the hand soap he bought to wash away her agitation, but couldn’t wash away that handsome image in her mind.

Love grows cold, for whom.

Under the same sky tonight, no one will sleep.

Yu Minglang hadn’t returned to his unit. Standing by the window, looking at the moon, it seemed like the girl’s face. The moon’s shadows resembled the beauty spot on her forehead, piercing his heart, refusing to go away.