Persuasion

Chen Hai's wife was currently renting a place in a residential community, close to Qiaoqiao's school, making it convenient for her to drop off and pick up the child.

"Is Kui Zhu Yuan opposite the Seventeenth Primary School?" Ye Shuang asked while driving, as if recalling something.

The Seventeenth Primary School was its full name. Originally, the Chen family had planned to send Qiaoqiao to a prestigious international school, but Chen Hai and his wife had refused. The general idea was that it was unnecessary, and they didn't intend for their child to go abroad.

They preferred taking the child on overseas trips during holidays but had no plans for studying abroad. To put it bluntly, it was probably out of worry.

"Yes, I think that's the name of that community."

"Looks like I remembered correctly, even after all these years." Ye Shuang smiled.

Chen Qin, holding Qiaoqiao in the back seat, leaned forward, "Because you went to school there, right?"

Soon, the car entered the community. Ye Shuang noticed Chen Hai's deeply troubled expression. Clearly, this wasn't his first time here; he had faced many closed doors before trying to persuade his wife to come home.

He couldn't even see her face. A grown man, standing alone at the door, would occasionally receive strange looks from the neighbors—as if he'd been kicked out by his wife. Whenever that happened, Zhou Min would always comfort him carefully.

Standing at the door, Chen Hai would remember all the times his wife had been unkind to him. Getting a little angry, he hadn't come for a while.

"Hmm... this is the place, right?" After parking the car, Ye Shuang and the others got out.

"Speaking of which, why did you tag along?" Turning his head, Ye Shuang asked An Shiyu beside him.

"You're actually asking that? Of course, it's to eat... no, because I'm your assistant." An Shiyu declared righteously.

You almost let your true intentions slip there, didn't you?

After going upstairs, Ye Shuang and the others stood before a door. Qiaoqiao reached out and knocked, "Mom, I'm back."

Footsteps sounded from inside, and soon the door opened, "Sweetie, didn't you say you wanted your dad and didn't want me anymore?"

But immediately, the woman inside saw Ye Shuang and the others. She quickly pulled Qiaoqiao into the room and tried to slam the door shut!

"Wait, Feng Shan!" Chen Hai immediately reached out to block the door gap, but Feng Shan's strength was too great. The door edge slammed right onto Chen Hai's fingers.

"Ow, damn it!" Chen Hai's face instantly twisted in pain. That pinch was no joke, but thankfully, he had enough padding—even his fingers were well-armored.

Feng Shan's face was cold, "Let go!"

"Sis-in-law, let us in first." Chen Qin spoke up immediately, offering a friendly smile.

Feng Shan still replied flatly, "No need. Go back."

"Laozi shu dao san! (I'm counting to three!) Let go!"

At this moment, Ye Shuang immediately spoke up, "Sister Shan, are you actually afraid of that Zhou Min? You don't even dare to see us?"

"Afraid of her?!" Feng Shan's eyes widened, and she shoved the door open violently, "Afraid of a damn thing!"

Seizing the opportunity, Ye Shuang led the others inside. This provocation tactic worked well. Chen Hai's wife seemed stunned for a moment before resigning herself helplessly.

"Sis-in-law, we just came to have a proper talk. Don't be angry."

At this point, Qiaoqiao also tugged on Feng Shan's clothes, "Mom, don't be angry. Talk with Dad."

"Talk about what? Everyone bullies me." As Feng Shan spoke, a wave of grievance washed over her.

After much persuasion from the group, they finally all sat down.

Often, when women are upset, they're angry at the situation itself—it's an emotional outburst. Once they've vented, they usually become much easier to communicate with.

But if met with the cold shoulder, most women will get angrier and angrier, with no sign of calming down, and might even start overthinking.

"Sis-in-law, come home with us. It's not good for you and Qiaoqiao to live here, right? Look... there's no one around to help or look after you." Chen Qin said with a smile.

"It's fine living here." Feng Shan said.

"It's not fine. Mom and I often don't have enough to eat." Qiaoqiao chimed in.

She was met with a merciless swat on the bottom from her mother, scaring the little girl into hiding behind Chen Hai, clutching her rear.

"I've said it. Either that vixen leaves, or I leave." Feng Shan's stance was clear. She absolutely could not accept Zhou Min's presence, let alone the child in her womb.

"The house is so big; you'd hardly ever run into each other." Chen Qin said.

"Is this about running into each other? It's a matter of principle!" Feng Shan said angrily, "Would you share your husband with another woman?!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Qin's expression stiffened, and then a complicated look crossed her face as if she had thought of something.

She suddenly seemed a bit dejected, "Sometimes... there's just no other way..."

"If you insist on demanding everything, you might end up with nothing in the end."

"Then I don't want it! Why should I?!" Feng Shan's words left Chen Qin speechless and even began to doubt herself.

Ultimately, Feng Shan wasn't wrong. After all, who could accept their husband suddenly having an illegitimate child?

"Is it really impossible?" Ye Shuang spoke up at this point, "As long as you state your conditions."

"That Zhou Min gets kicked out."

"She's about to give birth, Sister Shan. You know the Chen family won't do such a thing when she's on the verge of delivery. I believe you wouldn't do that either, right?" Ye Shuang continued calmly, "Besides, the one at fault is Chen Hai. Zhou Min might be innocent too, don't you think?"

Chen Hai was stunned, feeling a pot being firmly placed on his head.

Chen Hai: "..."

Good brother, you...

"Taking a step back, Uncle Chen and Aunt Chen have been very good to you, right?" Ye Shuang smiled.

Feng Shan didn't argue. The Chen family had indeed treated her well.

"If Zhou Min really has some problem, aren't you worried she might deceive Uncle and Aunt Chen and do something bad behind the family's back?" Ye Shuang said.

Feng Shan: "Well..."

"And by running away like this, maybe Zhou Min is secretly calling you a coward behind your back, saying you're bringing shame to people from Sichuan and Chongqing."

"Bullshit!" Feng Shan slammed the table, "I'll scratch her face to shreds!"

"Ahem, no need for fighting. Sister Shan, think about it. The fault lies entirely with Chen Hai, but the Chen family has been good to you. To prevent Zhou Min from wrecking the Chen family, shouldn't you go back and keep an eye on her?" Ye Shuang said.

Upon hearing this, Feng Shan reconsidered and found some logic in it. Although Chen Hai was a scoundrel, the Chen family had truly treated her well over all these years, something she had always appreciated.

"Ye Shuang, you make sense. I should stay at home instead." Feng Shan crossed her arms.

"Right, and Qiaoqiao won't go hungry anymore. It'll be easier for you too." Ye Shuang said, "Besides, Chen Hai isn't home every day now. You won't have to look at his annoying face."

Chen Hai: "?"

Brother, you...

Are you on my side?