Inside the flower shop.

Jiang Ming was still cursing and complaining.

"You’ve had it so hard all these years."

"Mom, Dad, and I all saw it."

"Even though you weren’t usually in the village, rumors about you were always spreading."

"Some people said you went out and sold yourself, got knocked up, and had two kids."

"Some said you were sold off to the mountains and barely managed to escape, but you couldn’t bear to abandon those two bastards."

"Others said you were a surrogate."

"You know how those gossips in the village are. They can’t wait to see someone pretty like you end up miserable."

"Especially some of the women your age. They’ve been jealous of you since you were kids. When they saw you raising two kids all by yourself, you can’t imagine how happy they were."

"Every time I heard those rumors, I’d get so angry I’d go door to door, looking for the people who started them."

"You know how long I caused a ruckus."

"Mom and Dad always defended you, terrified you’d be wronged in any way."

"Back then, I was only a teenager. I couldn’t advise you on whether or not to have the kids."

"But after you decided to have them, Mom and Dad stood by your side."

"And because of that one decision, the two of them aged so much."

"All of this, the cause and effect, it’s all because of that man just now."

With red-rimmed eyes, Jiang Ming choked out, "And now you’re telling me that everything you’ve done for the past twenty years was your decision alone and had nothing to do with him?"

Jiang Yixia knew her brother had suffered over the years. She walked over and hugged him. "Little brother, I know you’ve been wronged all these years. I know how hard it’s been for you, Mom, and Dad. But about the children... I really never told him. I left on my own back then, and he had no idea where I went."

"He’s definitely a bastard, a total scumbag, and yes, he cheated. But the consequences of the last twenty years were ultimately caused by my own decisions."

Tears streamed down Jiang Yixia’s face as she looked at Jiang Ming. "Little brother, if you beat him to death, what would Mom and Dad do? They’ve waited so long for you to grow up, to start your own family and career. If you end up in jail for assault, wouldn’t that just be making their lives even worse?"

Hearing this, Jiang Ming finally calmed down.

"It’s not worth risking the Jiang Family’s fate for a scumbag like him." Jiang Ming finally relented.

Then, he asked curiously, "So why did he show up here again?"

Jiang Yixia explained, "He saw Silu, found out I had a daughter, and then tracked me down here."

"So that means he’s been harassing you recently." Jiang Ming’s anger flared up again.

Afraid Jiang Ming would cause more trouble, Jiang Yixia replied diplomatically, "He hasn’t been harassing me. He just opened a steamed bun shop across the street, hoping I’d forgive him. But I haven’t."

After hearing her explanation, Jiang Ming finally breathed a sigh of relief.

He stared intently at the pastry shop across the street, then gritted his teeth. "Don’t let me catch you bullying my sister. If I do, I swear I’ll fucking kill you."

"Alright, alright, let’s not talk about him anymore. What did you come to see me for this time?" Seeing he was still so agitated, Jiang Yixia had to change the subject.

Jiang Ming replied, "It’s nothing, really. Mom and Dad just set me up with a girl, and I don’t want to go on the blind date. I was hoping you could talk to them for me."

"What’s there to talk about?" Jiang Yixia frowned. "You’re not getting any younger. You’ve been single all these years; it’s time to think about settling down and starting a family. Our parents are waiting for grandchildren, you know."

"What grandchildren? Aren’t their grandkids from their daughter the same? And they’re already so grown up," Jiang Ming said helplessly. "You think I don’t want to find someone? I can’t. My job only pays six thousand yuan a month. After rent and food, I can save one thousand five hundred at most."

"Saving fifteen hundred a month in a city this big... how long do you think it would take to save up for a house and a car?"

Hearing Jiang Ming’s words, Jiang Yixia grew dejected as well.

Ever since she stubbornly insisted on having Sifan and Silu, almost all the family’s income had revolved around the two children.

Even Jiang Yixia’s parents’ retirement money was used.

This was why their family couldn’t afford the down payment for a house in a big city now.

It was also why Jiang Ming was never willing to date.

Dating costs money. You have to be realistic. You have to talk about material things.

"Okay, I get it. I’ll talk to Mom and Dad about this. You should give them a call when you have time," Jiang Yixia said, comforting him.

Jiang Ming nodded. Before leaving, he added, "Oh, right. If he bullies you again, remember to call me right away."

"Alright, he won’t bully me," Jiang Yixia replied.

Jiang Ming sighed. "You still trust him. After he’s screwed you over so many times, how are you still not over him?"

"I am over him. Don’t worry, I won’t forgive him just because he apologized," Jiang Yixia said firmly.

Hearing his sister’s reply, Jiang Ming left the flower shop.

However, he didn’t leave the area. Instead, he walked straight to the pastry shop.

Lu Fan smiled as he watched his young brother-in-law, even though smiling hurt his bruised and swollen face.

Seeing Lu Fan smile, Jiang Ming didn’t hold back at all. He raised his fist and threatened again, "I’m telling you, don’t you dare bully my sister again. If you do, I’ll risk my own life to take care of you."

As soon as he finished speaking, Chen He took two steps forward.

He glared at Jiang Ming.

Jiang Ming’s momentum was instantly weakened by the tall, imposing figure.

But with the sister he needed to protect behind him, Jiang Ming steeled himself, clenched his fists, and made a couple of threatening gestures.

Then, muttering curses, he left.

After he was gone, Chen He looked at Lu Fan and said, "Boss, your brother-in-law seems like he’s going to be a handful."

Lu Fan smiled. "It’s fine. After all, from his perspective, I made his sister suffer for twenty years. That anger and emotion is what a younger brother should feel."

"So, what should we do next?" Chen He asked.

Lu Fan looked at him and explained, "You don’t need to do anything. You don’t really think my brother-in-law is going to fight me to the death, do you? Don’t worry."

With that, he started walking back toward the flower shop.

Jiang Yixia couldn’t believe this guy actually dared to come back again.

"Aren’t you afraid my brother will beat you up?" Jiang Yixia said, exasperated. "Why didn’t you dodge when he was hitting you just now? Are you an idiot?"

"Yeah, I am an idiot. All these years, I let such a beautiful girl slip away. I’m a total idiot," Lu Fan said with a smile.

But as he smiled, he sucked in a sharp breath of cold air.

Seeing this, Jiang Yixia’s brow furrowed with a hint of concern. She opened her mouth, as if about to ask how badly he was hurt.

But in the end, she just said coldly, "Serves you right."

"Yixia, I think you owe me for my medical bills. Your brother beat me so badly... Ouch, I can’t take it. My head hurts so much... I think I’m going to faint."

Lu Fan’s acting was instantaneous. He threw himself right into Jiang Yixia’s arms.