"It’s all because of you." Fang Bingwen glared viciously at Song Qing, convinced that today’s events were all part of her premeditated plan; otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence?!

Song Qing was now unable to defend herself, but since things had already turned out this way, she felt a mix of fear and a hint of delight. Now Ye Qiu posed no threat to her at all. As long as she had time, she believed she could slowly win back Fang Bingwen’s heart. She held her son Fang Xu’s hand, as if it gave her courage.

Fang Bingwen didn’t know where Ye Qiu had moved to. He could only spy on her daily activities through live broadcasts or online forums, spending the rest of his time punishing Song Qing.

He knew it was impossible between him and Ye Qiu, so he didn’t stop Song Qing from moving in, but he wouldn’t let her use a single cent of his money.

Despite living in a mansion, Song Qing’s days were difficult. Fang Bingwen fired the maid, leaving all the housework for her. If she showed any slack, not only would Fang Bingwen speak coldly to her, even their son Fang Xu would look at her with suspicion. After all, Ye Qiu had done everything exceptionally well before, and she had moved in under the pretense of taking care of their child. Given her prior record, one could easily tell if she was slacking off.

She also harbored her own fantasy, feeling that as long as she worked hard, one day, Fang Bingwen would notice her sincerity. She couldn’t give up as easily as she had before.

But what she didn’t know was that Fang Bingwen’s obsession with Ye Qiu was no less than what he once felt for her, especially since Ye Qiu was someone who had given her love so freely. It was only after losing it did he realize how precious it was and how attached he was. The more time passed, the more he idealized that love.

Therefore, he was not at all moved by Song Qing’s current efforts. Instead, he felt this was what she deserved, that she brought this upon herself. Now she was merely putting on a pretense; she was just after his money!

As year after year went by, Fang Bingwen became more certain that Ye Qiu had feelings for him. She never sought out another man, which confirmed to him that Ye Qiu still had him in her heart, but he had gone too far back then, leaving her no way to return.

Regret grew stronger in his heart, making him increasingly disgusted with Song Qing. If she hadn’t returned, if she hadn’t pretended to be pitiful in front of him, perhaps he and Ye Qiu wouldn’t have divorced. Perhaps he would have slowly accepted his love and truly loved each other for a lifetime.

These thoughts echoed in Fang Bingwen’s mind every day, making his attitude towards Song Qing increasingly harsh. Endless arguments filled the villa daily.

Fang Xu slammed his room door shut, expression a mix of irritation and pain. He didn’t know how other people’s parents got along, but he knew it wasn’t like his home, always filled with sarcasm and endurance.

He knew his father was still hung up on Aunt Ye, and he knew his mother had twice abandoned him and his father. He also knew her motives for returning were impure. But knowing this, he was still in pain. They were his parents, after all—what could he do?

Recalling the time before his mother had returned, although his father never openly expressed his love for Aunt Ye, Aunt Ye was full of love for him and his father. Even when he and his father spoke coldly to her, she still managed everything for them and greeted them with a smile every day.

Even back then, when he was small, he could sense his father’s comfort. It’s no wonder he still missed Aunt Ye—not even now did it escape him to regret why he hadn’t treated her better back then? Why did he listen to his mother and wrong her? If he had been more honest and brave, maybe she wouldn’t have left in disappointment?

Only now did he understand how important it is to have someone set everything right!

With his father living in daily regret, after handing over sufficient money, he paid no further attention to him. As for his mother, she was constantly either busy currying favor with his father or conniving to swindle living expenses from him.

In such a family environment, even when he wanted to study hard, his efficiency plummeted.

Watching Dong Bo chatting on TV, he’d heard Dong Bo had already taken over one of the family’s subsidiaries and rapidly expanded it. Seeing him hailed as the "national husband" by netizens, Fang Xu could only watch enviously.

Then there was Cancan, once his carefree cousin, reportedly accepted into a prestigious foreign art college and successfully holding her own piano recital. On stage, she shone brilliantly.

They had once been his cousins, yet now they felt so distant. Looking at himself, he once had the opportunity to stand shoulder to shoulder with them, but now everything was unreachable. He no longer had the passion or resources of the past.

His good father had money and status, but now he was unambitious, wallowing in nostalgia every day. Sooner or later, these would be exhausted. He only provided money but didn’t arrange a path for him, leaving Fang Xu lost.

As for his good mother, once a university graduate, now all her cleverness was used in scheming against him and his father. She believed because he inherited good genes from both parents, he would succeed one day.

But she didn’t consider that living in this environment every day left him no mind for studying. He was mature beyond his years but that didn’t mean he had the thinking or means of an adult.

Every day he returned home, exhausted, mentally drained just by being in this house. To rise up? That was just a distant dream.

Ye Qiu didn’t know what had happened in the Fang family but she could guess some of it. After all, she had played her part the night Fang Bingwen and Song Qing rekindled their relationship.

She wanted Fang Bingwen to live daily in regret, wanted Song Qing to constantly scheme and fall into destitution, and wanted Fang Xu to live an unremarkable life because she would never forget how that family treated her in her past life.

Since leaving Fang Bingwen, her days had been full of excitement. She continued broadcasting online, happily holding lotteries for her viewers because she knew that family would always pay attention to her. The happier and more carefree she was, the more they’d regret and envy.

Later, she heard from her nephew Dong Bo about encountering Fang Xu once. Fang Xu had started working at one of Dong Bo’s subsidiaries, and on the day when Dong Bo was inspecting the company, he saw Fang Xu being scolded by his superior. The two former cousins only exchanged a distant glance. They once shared the same resources, but now they were worlds apart.

After that, the next time her nephew visited the company, Fang Xu was gone for good. No one knew whether he left of his own accord or was dismissed, and no one bothered to find out.