Xu’s mother kept crying. "Daughter, I don’t know what to say. We’ve always let you down... But in the end, you’re the only one we can rely on... Those two damned beasts... Sigh..."

Xu Xiaoya simply patted her hand.

"Daughter, will you still visit in the future?"

Seeing her mother’s pleading eyes, Xu Xiaoya couldn’t bring herself to be cruel. After a moment, she nodded. "Mom, don’t worry. I’ll make the payments regularly and visit you every week. Don’t worry too much about money. Eat whatever you like; don’t skimp."

Only then did Xu’s mother release her daughter’s hand.

As they walked out of the hospital gates, Xu Xiaoya could no longer hold back her tears. They streamed down her face.

Yan Xixi didn’t know what to say, so she silently handed her a tissue.

The car started, and she quickly wiped her tears away. "Xixi, I don’t understand why, but I’m not saddened by my father’s condition at all. I even secretly take pleasure in his suffering, feeling like this is his retribution. Tell me, does that make me a bad person?"

Yan Xixi patted her hand, simply relieved that they had both managed to escape that quagmire.

In the distance, they saw the car parked in front of the boutique.

"Xixi, look, the Third Young Master is here to pick you up again. Sigh, I never would’ve believed he’d treat you so well. He’s not like other men. No matter how much they claim to love you, they would at best just give you some money. But look at him—he opened this great boutique for you and sent you to university. A man like him is truly one in a million; you have to cherish him."

Yan Xixi remained silent as she got out of the car and walked straight toward Wan Donglin.

Once the car was moving, he asked cheerfully, "Silly girl, what do you want for dinner?"

She gazed at him, a sudden sense of security and peace washing over her heart.

Yes, even if we lack parental love, sibling affection, or widespread acceptance—having this one person is enough.

When they stopped at a red light, she placed her hand on his, their fingers intertwining.

He grasped her hand. "Well, this is new. Silly girl, why are you being so sweet and coy today?"

She sighed. "Oh, you big brute, what am I going to do? I feel like I’m not getting stronger; I’m actually getting weaker. I’m so useless..."

He chuckled. "Silly, only unhappy women feel the need to become stronger. How could a happy woman be so tough?"

She paused, taken aback.

Yes, adversity, setbacks, trials... only great misfortune breeds great resilience. Like her earlier experiences of displacement and hardship; she had become almost immune to everything.

But someone who is exceedingly happy, deeply cherished... how could they ever become truly strong?

She lowered her head, fiddling with her fingers. "But if I’m like this, how will I face the Empress Dowager? She definitely won’t like me anymore."

He said nonchalantly, "You’re not being asked to save the world, nor to become a president or a female spy. Why must you be strong? Besides, what does ’strong’ even mean? Killing someone in three steps? Scheming and plotting? That’s not becoming strong; that’s becoming wicked, malicious, and warped. And is it even interesting to be that strong? A woman like that isn’t even like a woman anymore."

"..."

"Actually, if you really want to become ’strong,’ it’s very simple: study hard and get top marks in every exam. That will definitely impress the Empress Dowager and make her see you in a new light."

She laughed. "Hey, that’s my forte! Absolutely no problem."

Her laugh was like the first bloom of spring flowers.

Wan Donglin gazed at her, his heart filled with immense satisfaction. Yes, this was exactly it—this was the ideal state he had always longed for. He loved her, not because she was formidable, but quite the opposite; it was precisely this gentle tenderness, like flowing water, that he adored.

After a moment, she asked, "Hey, you big brute, why are you so good to me?"

"..."

"Come on, tell me, you big brute, why are you so good to me?"

He put on a serious expression and said, word by word, "I respect you... for being such a ’man.’"

She was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing.

He also roared with laughter.

Just then, his phone rang.

She tried to hand him his earpiece but couldn’t find it right away, so she hit the speakerphone button instead. Rina’s voice, even more captivating than Lin Zhiling’s, purred through the speaker, "...Donglin, I’m waiting for you at Club One..."

Yan Xixi was instantly reminded of the huge diamond ring—the "pigeon’s egg"—on Rina’s hand and that beach photo of them together. Her eyes widened like saucers. Good grief! She hadn’t even settled the score with him yet, and Rina was already openly arranging a rendezvous! How brazen!