Qin Jiao could tell her aunt really liked Sun Jianhua. Her aunt mentioned he was studying hard at night school while also working during the day. He was saving up so that once he had enough, he could start another business and make a comeback.

’He seems like an ambitious person.’

While Qin Jiao was busy with her aunt’s affairs, Shen Yi and Du Liya had already returned to North City. They were staying in a large, lavishly decorated house. Du Liya murmured, "This place is so much bigger than our house in Ping’an Town, but for some reason, I feel really uncomfortable."

Shen Yi felt uncomfortable too.

Because Qin Jiao and Grandpa weren’t here.

He said calmly, "Mom, this hasn’t been our home for a long time. Next year, after I finish my college entrance exams, I’ll bring Grandpa over. The three of us will be a family then."

"You’re right! But your grandpa has never been willing to come back." Du Liya was long past the stage of intense pain and suffering. She had spent decades loving Shen Zhengfeng with all her heart. She could have accepted him not caring for her, or even him being intimate with other women. What she couldn’t accept, however, was that Shen Zhengfeng already had a child with someone else.

Especially since that child was about the same age as her own son!

’What did that prove?’

’It was highly likely that Shen Zhengfeng had gotten out of Li Xiaomei’s bed and climbed right into mine.’

’Shen Zhengfeng was certainly fair, wasn’t he? He gave his heart to Li Xiaomei and his body to me. Then, while Li Xiaomei was busy bearing him a son, I was idiotically spending my money and pulling strings to help him set up his business.’

Her heart had turned cold in an instant.

In truth, Du Liya had always lived a comfortable life and never cared much for money. She had been thinking she would just have Shen Zhengfeng return the initial investment she gave him for his business, and that would be the end of it.

However, Shen Yi brought up the agreements Grandpa had made Shen Zhengfeng sign. He said, "Mom, the money you gave Shen Zhengfeng for his business was from years ago. A hundred thousand yuan back then would be worth several million now. Of course we have to get that money back, but he also signed agreements. He has to repay what he owes you and what he owes me. Mom, I know you don’t have a good grasp of money, but think about Grandpa, and think about me. I’ll convince Grandpa to come back to the provincial capital, but his medical treatments will cost a lot. Plus, I’m about to go to college. After I graduate, I’ll want to start a business, get married, and raise a family. All of that requires money. Mom, won’t you think about my future?"

Shen Yi had no intention of relying on his family, but this was money Shen Zhengfeng owed him and his mother. They had to get it back.

Looking at her son’s determined gaze, Du Liya suddenly remembered something. "Oh, right! You have a girl you like. Have you told her? What did she say?"

"Not yet. I was thinking I’d wait until after the college entrance exams."

"That makes sense. The exams are the most important thing for you right now." Du Liya thought about it carefully. Back when she was dating, her dad had practically emptied the family coffers for her. Although she was still young, she needed to start putting money aside for her son to get married in the future.

’That girl wasn’t even interested in Xiao Yi to begin with. What would happen if he ended up so poor he couldn’t even afford a house?’

’Right, the house!’

Du Liya said, "I have to get this Western-style house from Shen Zhengfeng!"

Shen Zhengfeng had four properties in his name. This particular building was a Western-style house with two units per floor, both of which belonged to him. The two units had been knocked through to create the large apartment where Du Liya and Shen Zhengfeng lived. Of course, Shen Zhengfeng’s parents, as well as his sister and her family, also lived there.

But Shen Yi said softly, "Mom, let’s not ask for this house. We’ll ask Shen Zhengfeng for that courtyard house instead."

Du Liya frowned. "But that courtyard house is just a bunch of single-story buildings. The yard is a mess, overgrown with weeds. Shen Zhengfeng is just using it as a warehouse right now."

"Mom, we want the courtyard house."

He knew the potential appreciation of that courtyard house would one day be worth more than all of Shen Zhengfeng’s other properties combined.

Du Liya wasn’t a scheming person. Now that she was disappointed in Shen Zhengfeng, her son had become her backbone.

She did whatever her son said.

She nodded and said, "Alright, then we’ll take the courtyard house!"