This statement was like a heavy torpedo, hitting the water with a "bang" and startling Lu Mingzhe, who immediately stood up.
He looked at his mother as if she were a monstrous flood.
"What do you want? What do you want now?"
"You forced her to the point where she couldn't survive in Nancheng, and she had to take her nearly eighty-year-old grandmother and hide elsewhere. Now she has a premature baby, and you still won't let her go?"
"Do you value this damn 'matching social status' so much? Are you that blinded by money?"
"What do you take me for? Do you see me as a person? When I was little, you arranged arranged marriages as you pleased, and when I grew up, you demanded that I find a girlfriend according to your requirements. Am I an insensible creation, devoid of feelings?"
"Before, I was grateful that you gave me life, and it wasn't easy to raise me and my brother over the years. I never wanted to truly hurt your feelings, but now—"
"Mom, I swear to you, if you dare to do anything, even the slightest thing, to wrong Xiang Wan and her daughter again, I will not only sever ties with you, but I will also hold you legally responsible!"
Lu's mother knelt on the ground, looking at her beloved son, her face turning pale and then red.
The few people present were both shocked and confused by the mother and son's exchange.
She was an elder, how could she keep kneeling on the ground?
Fang's mother walked over to help her up.
"Sister, the ground is cold. Let's talk after you stand up. What's going on? You and A Zhe..."
Lu's mother shook her head, refusing her kindness.
"No need. I am guilty. I have wronged all of you here. It's better for me to stay kneeling and speak. I'll feel more at ease this way."
Lu's father, whose reputation had been tarnished by the two of them for most of his life, had a somber expression.
"What exactly is going on? What have you two been up to behind my back?"
"What do you mean she couldn't survive in Nancheng, what about the premature baby, and what about the mother and daughter? What's the story?"
Lu's mother had embarrassed her husband in front of outsiders today, and for the first time in her life, she lowered her head to him.
However, before she could explain, Fang Shuya interjected.
"Dad, you're a pretty incompetent head of the household. Even I, an outsider, have heard about A Zhe self-harming for a woman and almost losing his life. You don't even know about it?"
Fang Shuya had previously shown great affection for Lu Mingzhe, and he was confident that even if they broke up, she would still maintain some decorum.
But today, he truly understood how cruel a woman could be when her heart changed.
"Ya Ya, all our issues are my fault, and it has nothing to do with anyone else. Please don't stir up trouble."
"I know what I should and shouldn't say about my own affairs. Let's leave some dignity for each other."
Fang Shuya sneered, "What did I say? Are you afraid I'll say she's promiscuous, that she was the 'other woman' during your first marriage? Are you protecting her because you're afraid others will scold her?"
"It seems she really has some skills. She could make you self-harm for her, and she could make you divorce twice. Despite her low birth, she's quite adept at charming men!"
As she spoke, her face contorted with jealousy.
Lu Mingzhe felt she was a stranger, like a cold, sinister monster with its mask removed. He felt even more fortunate that Xiang Wan existed in the world.
"Miss Fang, as I said, getting married to you delayed you for half a year. It's my fault, and I admit it. Therefore, my house, car, and all my savings can be yours."
"If you feel that's not enough, feel free to name any other demands. I will try my best to meet them."
"But please, do not involve others. This is my last sincere advice to you. If you dare to say another word against her, don't blame me for turning ruthless."
"You!"
His unyielding protection was so overbearing that it felt like countless slaps to Fang Shuya's face.
Her frail body trembled violently, and she was so angry that she could barely stand.
"I can't talk about her? She's innocent? She was with you during your marriage and even had a child, she's truly innocent!"
"Lu Mingzhe, what do you mean by 'turning ruthless'? Have you ever been affectionate towards me? You fraud of a husband!"
"Talking to me like this in front of everyone? I'm your second wife, after all. Does that make you look good?"
"You praise her like a flower. Since you love her so much, marry her! Elopement with her! You don't dare to take any responsibility, only talk big and pretend to be affectionate. I must have been blind to fall for you!"
Seeing them arguing again, and Fang Shuya becoming overly emotional, Lu's mother stepped in.
"Alright, Ya Ya, don't talk about him anymore. I said it, the matter between him and Xiang Wan is my fault!"
She had been somewhat hesitant to speak, but now, with the provocation, Lu's mother blurted out all the bad things she had done to Xiang Wan.
"A Zhe is right. I was selfish, domineering, and unreasonable before. I was arrogant."
"I always felt that as a mother, I was always right, and my children must obey me, otherwise, they were unfilial and going downhill."
"But seeing how much A Zhe suffered after Xiang Wan left, and how A Xu also told me I was wrong and spoke highly of Xiang Wan, I realized my mistake."
"Poverty and adversity can indeed limit a person's perspective and social class, but excellent qualities cannot be limited."
"Xiang Wan doesn't steal or cheat. She is neither servile nor arrogant. She relied on her own hands to get from a small town to Nancheng. Although her achievements are insignificant in my eyes, the qualities reflected behind them should not have been ignored by me."
"I deeply regret it. I have always played the role of a gentle and virtuous person, taking care of all the younger ones around me until they were all satisfied, except for Xiang Wan..."
"I am sorry for her. The thing I regret most in my life is... A Zhe, I've been looking for her recently, not for anything else, but just to find an opportunity to apologize to her."
"Really. I was wrong, I truly know I was wrong... It's just because of your relationship with Ya Ya that I didn't dare to approach her rashly."
"Today, you and Ya Ya have reached this point, and the responsibility is entirely mine. Mr. Fang, Mrs. Fang, please do not blame A Zhe. From beginning to end, it was truly all my fault."
"I can apologize to you, and economic compensation is also acceptable. Let them part on good terms. I'm sorry!"
Although Lu Mingzhe resented his mother for forcefully interfering in his relationship with Xiang Wan, he felt helpless seeing her so timid and submissive in front of him afterward.
Today, seeing her lower her head, which she had held high for her entire life, for his sake, she was his mother, and it was more painful than if he had been killed.
"Mom, you're alright. Get up and talk!"
"A Zhe..."
The Fang parents were shocked. Fang Shuya stepped forward.
"Did you plan this in advance?"
"Your mother and son's statements are remarkably consistent, making me suspect you rehearsed. What's the matter? You don't want to give me this house, but you can't say it directly, so you're sacrificing your dignity to put on a melodrama?"
"I knew long ago that the Lu family's financial situation was not what it used to be. Relying on Director Lu alone to support the family, living off past glories every day, but it shouldn't have come to this..."
Lu Mingzhe felt that she was completely blinded by jealousy. If she continued, they might completely fall out.
"I have expressed my sincere apologies and said I will compensate as much as possible, Fang Shuya. If you keep going on like this, it's meaningless."