Feng Xianxu's face stiffened, and a trace of gloom shadowed his eyes.
He should have been happy that Qiu Tingting had stopped bothering him.
But hearing Cheng You's words, he just felt inexplicably uneasy.
Humans were truly contradictory beings.
Cheng You, completely unaware of the magnitude of the bomb she had just dropped on Feng's elderly parents and Feng Xianxu, left on her own.
As soon as she stepped outside, she saw Zheng Lei, her eyes red-rimmed.
Her complexion was pale, and the dark circles under her eyes were as pronounced as a giant panda's.
"Second Aunt."
Although the title felt a bit awkward, by seniority, that's how she should address her.
Before Cheng You could close the door, she asked, "Do you want to go in?"
Zheng Lei shook her head. "I'm not going in. I came to find you."
Cheng You looked puzzled. "Me?"
Zheng Lei cried, pleading, "Cheng You, please help me. For the sake of my child, please help me!"
Cheng You gave an awkward smile. "I need to know what happened first."
Zheng Lei's expression was pained, and she hesitated, as if what she had to say was difficult to articulate.
Cheng You lowered her voice. "Just tell me."
Zheng Lei bit her lip fiercely, her voice breaking. "He's having an affair! With Feng Xue!"
The thought made her feel nauseous.
Her child was so young, and Feng Yaojie hadn't considered his reputation at all.
"Feng Xue is pregnant! She's carrying Feng Yaojie's child!" Zheng Lei wailed in despair.
Cheng You keenly noticed the surrounding, covetous gazes of gossipers. But seeing Zheng Lei's state, she didn't seem capable of controlling her emotions.
A sense of melancholy washed over her.
"Cheng You, this child can't be kept! If Feng Xue gives birth, how will our Feng family's generations be reckoned? Will that child call you 'cousin aunt' or 'cousin sister'?"
Zheng Lei had chosen the Feng family back then because she respected the elderly parents' integrity.
But she never expected that both of the Feng sons would turn out to be such scoundrels!
Cheng You wore a troubled expression. If she were Feng's elderly parents, she would likely be furious.
"Grandpa and Grandma probably don't want to get involved. Second Aunt, you should handle this yourself. Your husband's character is evident from his actions. You should divorce him as soon as possible. The child will always be considered part of the Feng family, and Grandpa and Grandma will not abandon him."
Zheng Lei closed her eyes in despair and let out a cold laugh.
"Divorce isn't that easy. If I divorce, how will I support myself and the child? How will people look at me then?"
Cheng You: "…How can you not manage? You can raise the child alone, and Grandpa and Grandma will help you. Besides, even if you don't divorce, will your reputation be any better now?"
Even if her reputation suffered, it would be Feng Yaojie and Feng Xue who bore the brunt of it, not her, Zheng Lei.
Staying away from a scoundrel and a wretched woman was the best course of action.
Zheng Lei shook her head tearfully, feeling that Cheng You simply didn't understand her.
"If you put yourself in my shoes, if Qi Chengyan did something like this, would you divorce him?"
He was a military officer with a promising future. Who would be willing to let go of such a catch?
Cheng You found the hypothetical amusing. "That scenario wouldn't happen, because he wouldn't do such a thing. But I can tell you clearly, if my partner cheated, divorce would be the default action, regardless of who the partner is."
Zheng Lei scoffed. She was too young and didn't have children, so she couldn't possibly understand how difficult it was for a woman with a child.
"I came to beg for your help, not for you to lecture me!"
Cheng You now understood her request. She didn't want a divorce.
She wanted the elders to force Feng Xue to abort the child.
This was undoubtedly the ideal outcome. Some children were born into sin, and it was no one's fault.
If they were born, their lives would be tragic.
The problem was, even if the elders intervened, Feng Xue might not listen.
"Second Aunt, I think it's best not to trouble Grandpa and Grandma with the affairs of the younger generation. They are old and can't withstand such disturbances."
Zheng Lei's heart sank. It was precisely because the old couple wouldn't get involved that she had come to Cheng You.
"How do you know they won't listen to you if you haven't even asked? To put it bluntly, you all want me to die!"
These words were serious, and Cheng You's expression darkened.
Just as she was about to reply, Feng Xianxu emerged from inside.
"Second Aunt, Grandma and Grandpa want to see you."
Zheng Lei seemed to see a glimmer of hope and eagerly pushed past Cheng You to enter.
Feng Xianxu shrugged and looked at Cheng You. "Come in."
Cheng You reluctantly returned.
Fortunately, the elderly couple's stance was firm. They stated, "As long as you divorce, you will still be a daughter-in-law of the Feng family. I will pretend I never had such a son! But as long as we are alive, we will support you and the child. You will also have a share in the inheritance!"
Despite their words, Zheng Lei still refused to divorce.
She would rather endure the situation than let that wretched couple have their way!
The old lady had nothing more to say. "Since you've made your choice, there's no need to stay here any longer. You can go back!"
She had anticipated Zheng Lei's decision.
Just as Ruan Tianyang would certainly not let Feng Xue off easily.
The old lady had guessed correctly.
Feng Xue's seeking a donor for a child had also had Ruan Tianyang's tacit approval.
He had lost his fertility and, to save face, didn't want anyone to know.
But only if Feng Xue became pregnant could it prove he was normal.
Besides letting Feng Xue find someone else, he saw no other way out.
He never imagined that Feng Xue would approach his second uncle, whom she had known for over twenty years!
And that it would become known to the entire Feng family.
But divorce was out of the question. If he divorced now, he might not find a better woman than Feng Xue.
Feng Xue then embarked on a chaotic life of maintaining appearances at home while indulging in affairs outside.
In this twisted relationship, only Zheng Lei suffered.
As long as one was shameless, the wrongdoer would feel no guilt for their mistakes.
Cheng You even saw Feng Xue several times in the compound, brazenly visiting Feng Yaojie without a hint of shame.
Zheng Lei dared not escalate the situation because she had no intention of divorcing. If Feng Yaojie were to be dismissed from his post, she would gain nothing.
Cheng You sighed, witnessing it all.
"After the new year, let's have Grandpa and Grandma stay in Qili Village for a while."
Away from the troubles of Yancheng.
Qi Chengyan had no objections; the elderly did indeed need a peaceful environment.
Cheng You sat under the eaves, watching him clear snow outside.
Time passed so quickly. The year 1980 had arrived.
Qi Chengyan finished sweeping the snow and put the broom aside. He saw her staring into space.
"What are you thinking about?"
Cheng You rested her chin on her hand. "I feel that people are so complex, and love is also so complex."
"Oh?"
"When Zheng Lei got together with my second uncle, Grandpa and Grandma didn't approve. My second uncle must have loved her then, otherwise, he wouldn't have married her against all the gossip. But look, how long has it been…"
If love had an expiration date, it was too short.
Qi Chengyan smiled, leaned down, and kissed her.
"It's not love that is tainted, but people."