Cheng You feigned sudden realization, "So you want to come back to work for me. You should have said so earlier."
Pan Yunping was overjoyed, "Are you agreeing?"
"Dream on? Director Pan, I don't look like a fool, do I? For you to come back and boss me around, and try to trick me again? I didn't hold you accountable for what happened with Cai Tiangui before, not because I'm magnanimous, but because I knew you'd eventually face the consequences."
She didn't need to lift a finger; Pan Yunping would realize how foolish his actions were.
Pan Yunping's face turned ashen, likely because Cheng You had always been so polite to him before, making it difficult for him to accept her current attitude.
He realized now that Cheng You's gentle demeanor was only for her own people.
"Boss Cheng, even if you don't take me back, please take in these people behind me. I was the one who led them away, and they were implicated by me."
Cheng You let out a scoff, "Implicated by what? Did you force them to leave? My place never takes traitors. Once you leave, don't even think about coming back. Yancheng is a big city; it's not hard to make a living. Why insist on working for me?"
With that, she got into the car.
She might have a soft heart, but she never sympathized with those who betrayed her. She wasn't masochistic.
On the way back, the car suddenly braked hard, nearly making Cheng You smash into the front.
"Sister-in-law, someone is blocking the road ahead."
Cheng You rolled down the window to look. A dishevelled woman had fallen in front of the car. She couldn't see her face clearly.
Then, she saw a man grab the woman and say apologetically to Cheng You, "I'm so sorry, my wife has a mental illness."
Cheng You said nothing. "Drive on."
As soon as she spoke, she heard the woman cry out, "I don't have a mental illness, I don't! And he's not my husband, save me!"
Cheng You slapped the dashboard and said sternly, "Wait!"
The brakes screeched again. Cheng You looked at the woman through the car window.
The figure, the voice, it all looked like Feng Xue.
"Sister-in-law, should we get out and help?"
Cheng You shook her head, "I won't get involved. You drive to the nearest police station and report it for her."
She didn't know who this man was, and it was best to let the police handle it. She wouldn't meddle.
As for what happened next, it wasn't her concern.
After reporting it to the police, Cheng You went home as usual.
Song Qinglan was waiting for her with the baby in her arms. Seeing her return, she walked out holding the child.
"Why did you take so long?"
Cheng You washed her hands and took the baby.
Smelling her mother's familiar scent, the baby started to smack its lips.
"Something happened on the way, it caused a delay."
She briefly recounted the incident with Feng Xue to Song Qinglan.
Song Qinglan exclaimed in surprise, "What happened after you reported it to the police?"
"I didn't stay to see the outcome. The result depends on Feng Xue's luck."
Cheng You did it purely to clear her conscience.
If it were about old grudges, she wouldn't have helped Feng Xue at all.
Song Qinglan nodded, "Then tell the old lady later. Whether they decide to get involved is up to them."
Feng Xue's elderly parents were now fully focused on Cheng You and the baby, and didn't really want to deal with Feng Xue.
However, the old man still sent someone to inquire.
The police station also provided a response.
It turned out Feng Xue, with money in hand, had tried to find relatives from her old home, intending to find a free place to stay and someone to look after her.
However, those relatives were shrewd and wouldn't be taken advantage of.
They had treated her well for a while, then started playing the victim.
Every day they pestered Feng Xue until she couldn't stand it and opened her wallet to give them money.
Once Feng Xue revealed her wealth, they began to extort her even more fiercely.
They squeezed her dry and, not forgetting to extract her last bit of value, sold her to a simple-minded man as his wife.
The encounter Cheng You had was when Feng Xue had painstakingly escaped, only to be caught again midway.
When the police investigated, they found that Feng Xue and the simple-minded man had already registered their marriage.
Once married, it became a domestic issue between the couple, and the police could only mediate.
Despite the man's limited intellect, he didn't hit or scold Feng Xue and treated her reasonably well.
Most people in such a situation would advise reconciliation rather than separation.
Hearing this, the old man said no more.
It was all her own doing; no one to blame.
Cheng You had long since put Feng Xue's matter out of her mind. She was fully occupied with her daughter's full moon banquet.
It was originally planned for earlier, but Song Qinglan said they hadn't picked an auspicious date yet, and a slight delay wouldn't matter.
Conveniently, it was New Year's Day, and people's units had holidays, so everyone could attend the banquet.
Qi Shengwen and Song Qinglan's relatives and friends alone occupied over a dozen tables, not to mention Cheng You and her husband's guests.
The entire Dong Shun Tower was booked, filled to capacity.
This was the first grandchild for Qi Shengwen and Song Qinglan, and the scale of the event showed how much they valued it.
Cheng You only needed to host her friends. Song Qinglan, being more adept at socializing, handled the guests better, much to Cheng You's relief.
Fang Yunbao and Cao Yanyan also came, but were disappointed not to see the baby.
Cheng You laughed, "There are too many people here. You can come to my place later to see her."
After sitting for a while, they spotted Qiu Yingxun. He had come with Old Mr. Song and Zeng Xiuyun.
Cao Yanyan and Fang Yunbao looked displeased.
"Why is he here? Did you invite him?"
Cheng You hadn't seen much of Qiu Yingxun since his breakup with Pei Lanlan.
"He probably came with Chengyan's maternal grandfather," Cheng You said indifferently.
Although unwelcome, she wouldn't start a scene at such an occasion.
Qiu Yingxun also saw her and walked over proactively.
"Congratulations, Cheng You."
Out of politeness, Cheng You simply smiled and nodded.
Qiu Yingxun didn't push his luck. After offering his congratulations, he left.
Before long, Zeng Xiuyun came over again.
Cheng You was growing impatient and glanced at Song Qinglan nearby.
The intentions of Zeng Xiuyun and Old Mr. Song were understandable. Feeling they were getting old and had no one reliable, they thought it best to curry favor with their daughter, Song Qinglan.
By building a good relationship with her, perhaps their future elderly care would be secured.
"Cheng You, isn't Xiao Lele here?"
Cheng You smiled, "She's at home, being looked after by my maternal grandmother."
Zeng Xiuyun nodded, glanced at Cheng You's chest, and asked, "Is the baby still drinking formula?"
"Yes, formula is fine too."
"That won't do. Formula is never as good as breast milk. I have a prescription here from an old traditional Chinese medicine doctor in the countryside. After drinking it a few times, you'll definitely start lactating."
She pressed the prescription into Cheng You's hand and earnestly advised, "I've been through it, I know this better than you. Look at the people here, how many of them weren't breastfed? Formula really lacks nutrition."
Cheng You's expression had already soured, but she managed to restrain herself and didn't argue with Zeng Xiuyun there.
She didn't believe formula lacked nutrition, nor that her child wouldn't be raised as well as others. She disliked people interfering in her life.
However, seeing that the timing was inappropriate, she chose to endure.
"Okay, I understand."