My Lady, To Defeat Scumbags You Must Start Early

Wan Quan spoke her mind, “Stop seducing Mu Cidian, he won’t be with you.”

“I’m well aware.” Xin Zaozao nodded.

Even though she wasn’t fond of Wan Quan’s choice of words, she felt there was no need for her to challenge her.

“You understand yet you’ll still do it?”

“I will, but I assure you, your son won’t.” Xin Zaozao stated the obvious.

She would never actively approach Mu Cidian, but she couldn’t predict whether he would come looking for her.

“I can ensure my son will stay away from you in the future.” Wan Quan was sure.

Xin Zaozao raised her eyebrows.

“For instance…” Wan Quan suddenly displayed a cold smile.

Just as Xin Zaozao didn’t comprehend that instance,

Wan Quan’s facial expressions suddenly changed. She looked at Xin Zaozao in horror as if she was terrified of her. Shaking all over, she blurted, “No, no way, I can’t have terminal cancer. How can I only have 2 months left to live? You’re lying to me, Xin Zaozao, you’re deceiving me!”

Xin Zaozao was taken aback by Wan Quan’s allegations. Just as she was trying to understand Wan Quan’s tricks, a man appeared behind her, holding Wan Quan in his arms, “Mom, what happened?”

“Xin Zaozao, Xin Zaozao said I… said I have terminal cancer, and there’s no hope for me. She said I only have 2 months left. Is it true, Mu Cidian? Is it!” Wan Quan was hysterical.

Her despair was palpable. Tears were streaming down her face.

“No, it’s not true. Don’t overthink it. The doctor said you still have a long life ahead,” Mu Cidian tried to soothe her anxiously.

Wan Quan didn’t believe him. She looked at Mu Cidian with suspicion, “You’re lying to me. I am dying, I’m dying! I might as well jump off the building right now.”

Pushing Mu Cidian away, she was unable to accept her fate.

“Mom, calm down. Xin Zaozao is lying to you, she said that just because she hates you.” Mu Cidian hastily said.

Wan Quan seemed to regain her composure at that moment.

She stared at Mu Cidian, then turned her sharp gaze to Xin Zaozao.

Mu Cidian knew his mother wanted confirmation from Xin Zaozao.

Turning to Xin Zaozao, he asked, “Xin Zaozao, you have no clue about my mom’s health, how could you say she won’t live long?”

Xin Zaozao looked at Mu Cidian coldly.

Seeing Mu Cidian’s anxiety and his pleading eyes wishing she’d spare his mother, she asked, “Do you believe I said that?”

Mu Cidian chose to remain silent.

Xin Zaozao smirked, “Mu Cidian, I was initially going to clarify things, but now I think all explanations are redundant since you’re already convinced. Yeah, Wan Quan. Since you want to know the truth so badly, let me tell you straight. Mu Cidian told me you only had 5 months left when he moved out of my house. By my calculation, you probably have a little over 2 months.”

“Xin Zaozao!” Mu Cidian called out to her.

“He also said, he’ll be back once you’re gone.”

Mu Cidian’s eyes reddened.

Upon hearing Xin Zaozao’s words, Wan Quan completely lost it, “Mu Cidian, tell me, am I the only one who doesn’t know about my illness? Do all of you know, watching me like you’re spectators at a circus?”

Mu Cidian remained silent.

Wan Quan, on the verge of a breakdown again, turned to Lei Qian, “Lei Qian, tell me, do you know too…”

“Aunt, I, I…” Lei Qian didn’t know how to play along.

She seemed a bit startled.

She didn’t know that the reason Wan Quan had sought Xin Zaozao out today was to stage this entire drama, just so Mu Cidian would despise Xin Zaozao.

At that moment, mutely accepting Wan Quan’s gaze, she hurriedly said, “Aunt, don’t listen to Xin Zaozao. She purposely said you only have 2 months left. It’s really, really all intentional.”

Xin Zaozao just looked at Lei Qian. She was learning fast, no longer as naive as she used to be under Wan Quan’s guidance.

She asked, “Lei Qian, did I mention Wan Quan is in the late stage of cancer, with only 2 months left to live?”

Lei Qian stopped short.

“Before Mu Cidian came, did I say this?” There was a palpable pressure in Xin Zaozao’s question.

Lei Qian looked a little scared.

“Xin Zaozao, Lei Qian has always been timid, don’t threaten her.” Said Wan Quan defensively.

“I just wanted her to be a witness.” Xin Zaozao locked eyes with Lei Qian.

Put plainly, she wanted to ascertain what kind of person Lei Qian really was.

Lei Qian looked at Xin Zaozao and then glanced at Mu Cidian, she said, “If you hadn’t said so, Aunt wouldn’t have been so shocked.”

So.

She wasn’t a good person.

Xin Zaozao didn’t bother to defend herself.

After hearing Lei Qian’s words, Wan Quan immediately said, “Xin Zaozao, you’re so heartless. You’ll get what’s coming to you!”

“At least you won’t see it.” Xin Zaozao got up and said casually, “After all, you only have 2 months left.”

“Xin Zaozao.” There was a chilling coldness in Mu Cidian’s voice, “Enough.”

Xin Zaozao glanced at Mu Cidian, unfazed. She turned to Wan Quan and said, “Don’t fall for the lies of Mu Cidian and the others. What I said is the truth…”

“Xin Zaozao!” Mu Cidian grabbed Xin Zaozao’s arm.

His grip was tight.

So tight that Xin Zaozao could feel the palpable pain.

“Let me go!” She scowled.

“Stop talking!” Mu Cidian said sternly.

“Let me go!” Xin Zaozao struggled to free herself.

Mu Cidian released her.

Xin Zaozao rubbed her arm. The pain in her arm was probably equivalent to the anger Mu Cidian was suppressing.

She didn’t care, she said to Wan Quan, “But rest assured, the thing you’re worried about, me being with Mu Cidian, I can assure you, it won’t happen. This news should allow you to die in peace… Ah…”

Xin Zaozao shrieked.

Because at that moment, Mu Cidian forced her out of the private room.

Xin Zaozao resisted.

But to no avail.

Mu Cidian was physically strong and firm in his steps.

Mu Cidian dragged her out of the coffee shop and into the elevator.

“Let me go!” Xin Zaozao tried to free herself.

Mu Cidian didn’t let go.

“Mu Cidian, let go, I know how to walk!” said Xin Zaozao through gritted teeth.

Still, Mu Cidian didn’t let her go.

Xin Zaozao bent down and bit Mu Cidian’s hand.

Mu Cidian winced in pain.

Xin Zaozao tasted coppery blood, she released Mu Cidian, snarling at him.

Mu Cidian seemed to be numb to the pain. He led Xin Zaozao to the first floor lobby of the cafe, walked out the lobby door, and hailed a taxi. He opened the car door for Xin Zaozao to get in.

Only in the moment Xin Zaozao stepped into the car did Mu Cidian release her.

Xin Zaozao’s face was unwell.

She felt as if she was being driven away by Mu Cidian.

“Try not to show your face to me again. Keep an eye on your mother, the next time I encounter her, I won’t be courteous!” Xin Zaozao said through her clenched teeth.

Mu Cidian remained silent.

He closed the car door and gestured the driver to drive away.

The sedan left.

Mu Cidian just watched as Xin Zaozao disappeared into the distance.

At this moment, Lei Qian led Wan Quan out, following Mu Cidian’s gaze.

Mu Cidian glanced back.

He said, “Let’s go back home.”

“Mu Cidian, don’t lie to me anymore. Am I really only going to live for two more months…” Wan Quan gripped his arm, asking him.

Mu Cidian was silent.

“It turns out that Xin Zaozao was telling the truth… oh, it’s true…” Wan Quan murmured.

She was still in disbelief.

“Mom, that’s just medical speculation. It’s not guaranteed to happen within that time frame. I believe you’ll live for a long time. I believe that as long as you maintain a good mental state, we can achieve a longer life… Mom…” Mu Cidian looked tense.

Wan Quan’s face turned deathly pale, suddenly fainted.

“Auntie, auntie…” Lei Qian was frightened.

“I’ll get the car, Lei Qian, watch my mom.”

“Okay, okay.”

Mu Cidian quickly brought his car around. Lei Qian had called him, saying his mom had arranged a meeting with Xin Zaozao. She feared something would go wrong and asked him to secretly come. The moment he arrived, he witnessed Wan Quan discovering her final diagnosis. He didn’t know if it was true, or if there had been some misunderstanding. All he knew was his mother and Xin Zaozao should avoid meeting.

He put Wan Quan into the car, driving while dialing the hospital.

Wan Quan was rushed to the emergency room again, pulled back from the brink of death again, but her condition continued to worsen.

The doctor advised that she should remain at the hospital if she wanted to live a bit longer.

With her current condition, they suspected that she might not survive a week after leaving the hospital…

Mu Cidian stayed in Wan Quan’s ward.

He felt a genuine sense of fear.

The horrifying thought of his mother dying seemed to become reality.

He held her hand, holding the skin-and-bone hand that remained.

Wan Quan woke up from unconsciousness.

She looked at Mu Cidian, seeing the red around his son’s eyes, quietly accompanying her. The moment she woke up, he whispered to her. “Mom, are you awake?”

Wan Quan nodded, “Cidian, my days are numbered.”

“Mom, don’t say that.”

“Had it not been for Xin Zaozao, I might have believed that as long as I follow the treatments, I could live. Others around me have survived many years after getting cancer. Why must I die so soon after discovery…”

Mu Cidian’s eyes began to well up.

“Cidian, if I die, promise me to bury me next to your father. I refuse to be buried in the Xin family graveyard in this life.”

“Okay.” Mu Cidian nodded.

“Cidian, if I die, could you stop seeing Xin Zaozao? Don’t be with her. I beg you…”

“Okay.” Mu Cidian nodded again.

“Even now, Xin Zaozao still won’t leave you alone. Do you think she has a good heart? I’m afraid of you being manipulated by Xin Zaozao, I’m afraid of her controlling you…” As Wan Quan spoke, she began to cry again.

She cried miserably.

Mu Cidian wiped away her tears, “Okay, I promise. Don’t think about it anymore. Just rest now. Rest well.”

“Cidian, I know I’ve gone too far. Forcing you to marry a woman you don’t love… But I’m truly afraid that once I’m gone, you’ll be with Xin Zaozao. So…” Wan Quan trailed off, gripping Mu Cidian’s hand, “Would you marry Lei Qian? Could you get married before I die?”

Mu Cidian looked at Wan Quan.

Looking into her longing eyes, he couldn’t refuse her after things had reached this point.

He said, “Okay.”

Wan Quan seemed incredulous, “Really? Really?”

“Indeed.”

“Then obtain your marriage certificate immediately. Immediately.”

“Mom, once you feel a bit better…”

“I’m already at my best. I want it done now.” Wan Quan insisted with growing agitation.

Mu Cidian swallowed.

He looked up at Lei Qian.

At this moment, her eyes were also red.

He said, “Do you consent?”

“I…” Lei Qian gazed at Mu Cidian, then slowly nodded.

“Then go home today and inform your parents. Bring your household registry and ID as well. We’ll go get our marriage certificate this afternoon,” Mu Cidian said.

“Okay.” Lei Qian nodded quickly.

Upon Mu Cidian’s immediate consent, Wan Quan’s face lit up with a smile. She said, “That way, I can die peacefully.”

Mu Cidian only tightened his grip on Wan Quan’s hand, remaining silent.

In the afternoon.

Mu Cidian and Lei Qian went to the Civil Affairs Bureau.

Obtained the marriage certificate.

Mu Cidian drove Lei Qian back home.

Lei Qian felt like she was in a dream.

How did she end up married to Mu Cidian?

Disbelievingly, she gazed at the marriage certificate.

Mu Cidian parked the sedan in the hospital parking lot. He said, “Lei Qian, once my mom passes, we’ll get a divorce.”

Lei Qian rigidly stared at him.

Mu Cidian said, “I hope you won’t let my mom know.”

With that, Mu Cidian got out of the car.

Lei Qian’s eyes welled up.

So she had been excited for nothing?