"Leave. Divorce. You voluntarily choose to leave with nothing."
His father-in-law spoke, steady, slow, but with absolute finality. "I agree. This is how you will apologize to Ruyi. I believe Ruyi will be able to accept this."
Qin Guan froze for an instant.
He never dreamed that this usually indecisive father-in-law, this meek man he knew inside out and held firmly in his grasp, would say such a thing.
For a moment, he thought his ears were playing tricks. "Dad, about Mom... it really wasn't me..."
"I am willing to believe that matter had nothing to do with you," his father-in-law cut him off, his voice icy. "But your affair with Qi Min is a fact. Betraying Ruyi, betraying this family—that is a fact, isn't it?"
His father-in-law's words held not a trace of hesitation. "Since it's a fact, and you admit it, and are willing to leave with nothing to atone for it, that's sufficient. I agree."
Qin Guan knelt where he was, like a stone.
Divorce? Leave with nothing?
In that split second, he forgot to keep crying, forgot to weep. All the muscles on his face that had just been performing agony now froze in genuine pain—was his father-in-law serious? Really demanding a divorce? Leaving with nothing?
Clearly, the old man wasn't bluffing—his father-in-law's expression was solemn and stern. The eyes fixed on him held none of the usual affection, mercy, or hesitation.
He was serious.
He was genuinely demanding the divorce.
But divorce—Qin Guan had never considered that word. Not before the affair, nor after. Not the first time, nor the second—how could he divorce? He was satisfied with every aspect of his current life. His wife's looks, education, family background—all impeccable, a perfect match for him. His in-laws' affluent family, respectable jobs, extensive connections—this comfortable, stable, wonderful life was his dream. How could he leave it?
He had just knelt! He had begged! A grown man making such a concession—how could he still demand divorce?
Divorce—didn't that mean after all his pleading, he would still lose everything?
Lose everything—the first thing Qin Guan thought of was the imposing house at Guanlan Court. He owned half of it. He'd have to sign it away voluntarily?
Not to mention the properties from the demolition, the shops, his father-in-law's savings, antiques, collections—all gone, irrelevant to him?
Leaving with nothing?
Wouldn't all his efforts over the years be completely wasted?
"Dad... Dad..."
Qin Guan was speechless. Usually eloquent, he suddenly didn't know how to respond—this was completely outside his calculations.
"Well? Didn't you say you wanted to apologize, to sincerely repent? Didn't you say you were willing to leave with nothing, to leave Ruyi and the child?"
His father-in-law's eyes were icy and resolute, tinged with the pain and regret of severing the past.
"Dad, yes... yes... I..." Qin Guan was utterly tongue-tied—he had said those words himself.
But how could he have expected his father-in-law to agree?
"I... I am... it's just..."
Qin Guan forced himself on—even though dense foliage shaded them overhead, he distinctly felt the scorching sun threatening to peel off his scalp, baking him in discomfort, agony, and helpless struggle.
"I... Ruyi... I... Little Pear..." Qin Guan babbled incoherently.
He tried to use Xu Ruyi and Little Pear to salvage the situation—"Little Pear is still so young... I think..."
But his father-in-law gave him no opening.
"Little Pear will adapt. Children need to learn to accept various setbacks as they grow. How can life always be smooth sailing and perfect? As for Ruyi—surely you don't want her to come here and hear these truths herself? Hear all the ugly details of your affair?"
His father-in-law's voice grew even more devoid of emotion.
It was over.
"Dad... Dad..." Qin Guan's mind went blank. Sweat, whether from fear or panic, beaded uncontrollably on his forehead. "Dad... I'm really... truly heartbroken... Can you give me one chance... I swear I will..."
"Say no more."
His father-in-law coldly cut off his pleas. "Right now, I don't know which of your words are true and which are false. But in any case, I can no longer trust you."
He turned his head away, decisively ending the conversation. "Ruyi's mother told me many things before. Ruyi told me some things today. I need time to digest it all! To think it over!"
He had switched to calling her "Ruyi's mother."
He used to say "your mother."
He was truly severing all ties, truly giving no more chances.
Just like... just like his crazy mother back then—
"That's right, I'm going to the school."
On that cold, dark night, his crazy mother stood before Qin Guan, leaning on her stick. Her hunched body was cold and unyielding, showing no hesitation, no retreat.
"I'm going to the school. I will tell your teacher everything you've done. I must let him, let the sponsor, know exactly what kind of child you are! A person can be poor, can even be uneducated, but cannot commit evil!"
"Mom—Mom—" Qin Guan burst into loud sobs, calling out that unfamiliar word for the first time in his life.
Though his tongue stumbled, the word difficult to form, he called out repeatedly: "Mom—Mom—"
He was genuinely panicked, genuinely scared.
He blocked her path, his legs weak. He reached out with both hands to hug her urgently—also the first embrace of his life.
He clumsily held the familiar-yet-strange woman. Her peculiar body odor mixed with the smell of medicine filled Qin Guan's nostrils.
But no matter how he called, how he hugged, his crazy mother remained as immovable as a mountain.
"You're only a child of a few years! To study, to achieve your goals, you can hack an innocent dog to death with a knife! You can incite your hot-tempered father to beat your mother! Then, to silence me, you can scheme to frame your own father, even plot to take his life—"
His crazy mother's body was bent, but her voice was terrifyingly firm. "Yes, you are my flesh and blood. Yes, I too hoped for your success, hoped you would be sponsored, hoped you would read more books, leave this place, live a better life! But it should never have been achieved this way!"
Her eyes were resolute. She pried Qin Guan's hands off her.
"I must go! They have the right to know! If they cancel your sponsorship after learning the truth, that is the punishment you deserve! You need to learn this lesson, to reform yourself! Your life still has chances later!"
With that, she left Qin Guan, who was nearly broken, turned, and limped onward into the darkness.