The CEO's Substitute Ex-Wife
Chapter 205: A Painful Truth

Chapter 205: A Painful Truth

Still, resentment was resentment, and insults were insults. She couldn’t stand by idly and accept her unjustified abuse.

"If it weren’t for your appearance, Shuwen and I wouldn’t have broken up." Tears welled up in Zhao Yuning’s eyes. "You’re also a woman, how can you be so cruel? Do you want to build your desires on the suffering of others?"

"What do you want?" Chen Xueru asked.

"Leave Shuwen. I know the child is your bond, and Uncle and Auntie Tang also like him. If he stays, I will treat him well and won’t let him suffer." Zhao Yuning thought there was a turning point, and her eyes showed anticipation.

Wen Nuan shook her head. She didn’t believe that Zhao Yuning would treat Xiao Nian well.

She’d definitely be a wicked stepmother from Snow White.

"Zhao Yuning, what are you dreaming about in broad daylight?" Tang Mandong couldn’t stand it anymore and said in a low voice, "Do you really think that without sister-in-law and Xiao Nian, you could successfully marry my brother? That’s delusional. Your Zhao family and our Tang family already have a grudge. My mom would never accept you. If my mom doesn’t accept you, my dad definitely won’t agree. You dream of marrying in? In your dreams."

"I..."

"Stop dreaming. Go home, wash up, and get some sleep. Give up on my brother. The daughter-in-law my parents recognize is my sister-in-law. You have no chance. Yes, you’re very pitiful. You and my brother were deeply in love and suddenly separated. I know you’re very unhappy, but, Miss Zhao, you were the one who left my brother back then, and you didn’t get back together for long after you returned. Why are you suddenly so desperately in love? If you liked each other so much, why did you break up in the first place? If you two had stayed together, there wouldn’t be my sister-in-law and Xiao Nian. Oh, speaking of which, your breakup was very wise. To be honest, I don’t really like you either. If you were to marry in, there would definitely be many mother-in-law and sister-in-law issues, and my brother would eventually be driven mad." Tang Mandong was a fierce girl and very direct in her speech. Zhao Yuning’s face turned green then pale as Tang Mandong spoke, and Wen Nuan, watching from the side, was worried that Miss Zhao might faint on the spot.

Chen Xueru shook her head, gesturing to Mandong not to push too hard. Zhao Yuning was indeed a victim too.

She seemed to see herself from a few years ago, having also been so helpless, so desperate, and so pained.

But she had never stooped so low as to beg Han Bi, begging her to leave Gu Rui.

When she loved, she loved cleanly. When she didn’t love, she ended it cleanly, not blaming anyone, and never letting that past love become humble or pathetic.

Zhao Yuning looked at Chen Xueru with tears in her eyes. "You really won’t leave Shuwen? Can you truly be at peace with him?"

Anyone would find it hard to refuse her tears.

There was always an urge to protect her.

Frail women always seemed to ignite a man’s protective instincts.

"Miss Zhao, I’m very sorry."

"There are so many men in the world, why did you have to steal Shuwen?"

"Miss Zhao, that’s not really stealing, is it? Besides, who stole whom is still debatable," Wen Nuan couldn’t listen anymore and couldn’t help but interject. If their identities were reversed and Chen Xueru’s boyfriend was stolen, she would slap the third party twice without a word.

However, people are always protective of their own.

Zhao Yuning might be pitiful, but Sister Xueru wasn’t necessarily happy either.

"What did you say?"

Wen Nuan smiled faintly. "Miss Zhao, didn’t Brother Shuwen tell you? They’ve already registered their marriage. Legally, they are legitimate husband and wife. So it’s not right for you to say Sister Xueru stole your man. The man was unmarried, and the woman was unmarried; everything was a personal choice. You weren’t Brother Shuwen’s wife, so how can you say Sister Xueru stole your man?"

"Registered..." Zhao Yuning seemed not to hear Wen Nuan’s words. All her thoughts were stunned by the word "registered." She trembled on the verge of tears, mumbling to herself, as if she would faint in front of them at any moment.

Chen Xueru frowned. Zhao Yuning suddenly looked up, trembling, at Chen Xueru. "Is what she’s saying true? You’ve already registered?"

Chen Xueru nodded. "Yes, Miss Zhao."

Zhao Yuning looked as if she had suffered a great shock, repeatedly saying, "It’s not true, it’s not true." Her appearance was quite frightening. Xiao Nian couldn’t help but ask, "Mommy, what’s wrong with Auntie?"

Chen Xueru stroked her son’s head, signaling him to be silent.

Xiao Nian didn’t understand the adult atmosphere, pursed his lips, and concentrated on eating his cake.

Zhao Yuning’s tears fell like rain, her gaze turning desolate as she looked at Chen Xueru, filled with resentment, blame, anger, and grievance. When her gaze swept past Xiao Nian, it was like a venomous snake.

Chen Xueru frowned, feeling uneasy, then grew angry. "Miss Zhao, I have nothing more to say to you. Please leave. The person you should be looking for is Tang Shuwen, not us."

Zhao Yuning’s gaze towards Xiao Nian made her very uneasy.

Perhaps she believed that Xiao Nian’s appearance had stolen everything from her.

Zhao Yuning angrily stood up, sneering coldly, "Chen Xueru, you won’t be happy. You took my happiness, so don’t expect to find happiness either."

She suddenly picked up the scalding hot mocha and threw it at Xiao Nian.

Chen Xueru had shielded Xiao Nian with her body the moment Zhao Yuning picked up the coffee. Zhao Yuning sneered coldly and quickly left. Tang Mandong was furious, but she couldn’t deal with her. Thankfully, it was winter and they were wearing coats, so only a little coffee splashed on Chen Xueru’s neck, causing some pain but no serious harm. Xiao Nian burst into tears, and Chen Xueru hurriedly comforted her son.

The coffee shop erupted in chaos. The manager came to handle the situation. Tang Mandong didn’t want to blow things up. Chen Xueru and Wen Nuan were public figures, and many people had already recognized them, so it was best to leave quickly.

Wen Nuan’s face also turned pale with anger. Zhao Yuning was truly too much.

It was winter, and the coffee had just been served, so it was very hot. If she had thrown it at Chen Xueru, one could say she lost her mind, as a legitimate partner might react to a third party. But she threw it at Xiao Nian.

A child’s skin is delicate and tender. If it had gotten on his skin, the consequences would have been unimaginable, and she had thrown it towards Xiao Nian’s face.

Xiao Nian was frightened and cried for a long time. Chen Xueru finally managed to soothe him. The group returned to the Tang family home. Tang Si and Wen Lan were back, and Tang Shuwen was also home, looking weary.

Tang Mandong was furious. She stepped forward, about to hit Tang Shuwen. "Brother, this is all your doing! Why did you go to see Zhao Yuning? Xiao Nian almost got scalded!"

"What did I do now?" Tang Shuwen looked bewildered. Wen Lan saw Xiao Nian’s red eyes and quickly took him into her arms. Chen Xueru pulled Tang Mandong, frantically shaking her head, signaling not to talk about it.

Tang Si frowned. "Mandong, what happened?"