I Can't Fall for My Own Wife Again After Reincarnation, Right? (GL) - Chapter 39

Xu Yingran was stunned by Yao Jin’s words.

Of course, she knew about Yao Jin’s family situation. It wasn’t overly complicated, Yao Jin’s parents had entered into a business-arranged marriage when they were young, coming together without any real affection. At first, they could tolerate each other, with only minor conflicts here and there.

But after Yao Jin was born, the couple grew increasingly incompatible. They started quarreling right after the birth, fighting every single day. Eventually, it escalated to the point where the moment Yao Jin’s father came home, they would explode over the smallest things, throwing tables and chairs, leaving the house in complete disarray.

Later, Yao Jin’s mother stopped coming home often due to certain circumstances. At first, she would return once a month, but eventually, she only visited Yao Jin during holidays, leaving immediately afterward. Sometimes, she even deliberately arranged to meet Yao Jin outside just to avoid running into her father.

Yao Jin grew up in this environment, deprived of parental love. In kindergarten, she would cry for her mom and dad, but as she got older, she realized that not all mothers loved their children.

Because Yao Jin’s mother disliked her father, that hatred extended to Yao Jin as well, leading her to show little care for her own daughter.

Xu Yingran had once analyzed the situation with Yao Jin, it was likely that Yao Jin’s mother had suffered from mild depression during pregnancy, and with no emotional foundation between the couple, things had spiraled to this point.

But what did any of that have to do with Yao Jin?

It wasn’t as if she had forced her mother to give birth to her. If she wasn’t going to take responsibility, why have a child in the first place?

During elementary school, Yao Jin could still see her mother occasionally during holidays. But by middle school and high school, she barely saw her once a year.

And now, that woman had suddenly appeared before her, even acting intimately with another woman.

Xu Yingran didn’t know much about the details. She wasn’t the type to pry into others’ private lives, so she only had a vague understanding of Yao Jin’s family situation. Anything deeper, she wouldn’t know unless Yao Jin told her.

Now, the two of them stood there, watching the woman in the distance. Yao Jin’s mother had started her own company and become a CEO. She knew how to take care of herself, so she looked no older than her thirties, appearing very youthful.

The young woman beside her seemed to be in her early twenties. She was holding up an earring to Yao Jin’s mother’s ear, comparing it, and the older woman shyly lowered her head. Yao Jin’s mother smiled and whispered something to her.

Ordinary friends didn’t act like that when shopping together. Xu Yingran could tell from their subtle gestures and the ambiguous atmosphere between them.

Just as she was about to take a closer look, Yao Jin’s mother instinctively turned her head and spotted Yao Jin standing not far away.

The smile on the woman’s face faded, replaced by an icy indifference.

Yao Jin’s expression darkened as well, and she grabbed Xu Yingran’s hand, ready to leave.

“Ah Jin.”

At that moment, the woman suddenly called out to Yao Jin. “What are you doing here?”

Yao Jin stopped in her tracks. After a long internal struggle, she slowly turned around to face the woman walking toward her.

Lü Qing approached Yao Jin and looked her up and down before her gaze inevitably shifted to Xu Yingran. After studying her for a moment, she said, “This must be a new classmate from your new school, right?”

Yao Jin pursed her lips upon hearing this and fell silent.

Her mother knew she had transferred schools. She clearly knew everything, yet she couldn’t be bothered to come see her even once.

Counting back, it had been over eight months since Yao Jin last saw her mother, that was during the Spring Festival, when Lü Qing had come looking for Yao Jin’s father and had a huge argument with him in the study.

Yao Jin’s father was willing to divorce, but Lü Qing’s demands were simply excessive. It was as if she wanted to strip the company bare.

“If you want a divorce, fine. The company was built by both of us, but the problem is you’re taking all the assets and resources. What good is an empty shell left for me?”

“I’ve always contributed the most to the company. Most of the clients were brought in by me. I’m only taking what’s rightfully mine.”

“Have you even considered how A-Jin would feel about such demands? If you drain the company, what will she do when she grows up?”

“Children will find their own way. A-Jin doesn’t have to inherit the company. She can do whatever she wants. As her mother, I won’t let her starve.”

“Lü Qing, Yao Jin is your daughter too!”

Listening to her parents’ argument upstairs, Yao Jin’s expression remained eerily calm.

The chef had prepared a lavish New Year’s Eve feast just for Lü Qing’s arrival, but the moment she stepped through the door, she had gone upstairs with Yao Jin’s father. The shouting was so loud that even with the door closed, every word was crystal clear.

Soon, the sound of objects shattering came from the study. The household staff all glanced up nervously. Before long, Lü Qing stormed out of the study. As she passed the dining room, the nanny couldn’t resist asking, “Will Madam be staying for dinner?”

Lü Qing didn’t even acknowledge her. She slipped on her shoes, slammed the door with a deafening crash, and left.

Only after everything had quieted down did Yao Jin’s father emerge from the study. His face was grim. He had hoped for a peaceful family reunion on New Year’s Eve, but it had turned into this mess.

“A-Jin…”

Yao Jin’s father wanted to say something, but the girl sitting at the dining table interrupted him.

“Aren’t you coming to eat, Dad?” Yao Jin looked up at him. “The food will get cold.”

Yao Jin’s father felt a pang in his chest. He sighed deeply at the sight of the untouched feast and waved over the nanny and driver, who hadn’t been able to go home for the holiday, to join them at the table. Otherwise, all this food would go to waste with just the two of them eating.

That was the last time Yao Jin had seen Lü Qing, eight long months ago.

Now, Lü Qing bore none of the ferocity she had shown toward Yao Jin’s father. With her flawless makeup, she looked almost like a celebrity.

Xu Yingran, hearing the woman mention her, blinked and said, “Hello, Auntie. I’m Yao Jin’s classmate. My name is Xu Yingran.”

Lü Qing smiled. “Hello there. Are you out shopping with A-Jin today?”

She gestured at the shopping bags in their hands.

“Yes,” Xu Yingran answered honestly. “There were three of us originally, but the other one went to a tutoring class next door. We’re waiting for her to finish and just passing the time here.”

“I see.” Lü Qing turned to Yao Jin and said with a light laugh, “A-Jin has friends now.”

Yao Jin frowned slightly, staring at Lü Qing and said, “Do you have anything else? If not, we have things to attend to.”

But Lü Qing replied, “Ah Jin, aren’t you going to greet your mother?”

“Is that necessary?” Yao Jin’s expression darkened as she said, “I thought you’d already forgotten you had a daughter.”

“Ah Jin…”

“We really have things to do.” Yao Jin said firmly to Lü Qing, “You seem busy too, so we won’t disturb the two of you.”

The woman standing behind Lü Qing froze at these words, her gaze lingering on Yao Jin as if she wanted to explain something. But Yao Jin didn’t give her the chance, pulling Xu Yingran away by the hand.

Xu Yingran didn’t protest as she was dragged off. Glancing back, she saw Lü Qing sigh helplessly before linking arms with the woman beside her and whispering something. The younger woman lowered her eyes meekly and nodded weakly.

Upstairs, they found a hotpot restaurant. After informing the staff they were a party of three, the waiter led them to a table inside.

Once seated, Yao Jin first asked for a glass of ice water, then leaned back against the booth seat, absently pushing aside the stray strands of hair on her forehead.

Xu Yingran sent a message to Fu Qiao before cautiously asking, “Ah Jin, your mother…”

Yao Jin knew what she wanted to ask.

Her family situation was messy, and she usually avoided discussing it with others. At her previous school, she’d had many friends, but they’d only befriended her because of her parents’ status. Now that her parents’ divorce proceedings had become public knowledge, those supposedly “close” classmates had all disappeared.

People said university was a microcosm of society, but international high schools were no different, full of people who only sought advantage and avoided trouble.

Yao Jin glanced at Xu Yingran. Though they’d known each other for less than two months, she felt more comfortable with her than with any of her previous friends. Plus, since Xu Yingran had been with her when she encountered Lü Qing today, Yao Jin felt inclined to open up.

“The last time I saw my mom was during Spring Festival,” Yao Jin said after a moment’s thought. “She never really cared about our family. Today, she probably only came over to say hello because she didn’t expect to run into me.”

Xu Yingran hesitated before asking, “How are your parents’ divorce proceedings going?”

Yao Jin shook her head. “My dad never talks to me about these things. But legally, they’re still married. I don’t know when it’ll be finalized.” She added tonelessly, “I just hope it happens as soon as possible.”

Not knowing how to comfort her, Xu Yingran patted Yao Jin’s arm and said, “Don’t feel too bad. At least your father treats you well, right?”

Yao Jin nodded.

Xu Yingran then asked, “Who was that woman with your mom? She looked quite pretty up close.”

Recalling how intimately Lü Qing had helped the woman put on earrings, her eyes filled with unmistakable affection, it clearly wasn’t an ordinary friendship.

Could they be… lovers?

“That’s my mom’s assistant,” Yao Jin said, pouring herself a glass of water. “I’ve actually known about her since elementary school.”

Xu Yingran: “?”

Yao Jin said, “After my mom moved out, she had money and time to spare, so she started sponsoring girls from impoverished mountain regions who couldn’t attend school, helping them leave the mountains. That woman was one of the people my mom sponsored, apparently from middle school all the way through university. Later, she came to work as my mom’s assistant at her company.”

“I see… But the two of them seem very close.”

“…Yeah. I heard they’re already together.”

Yao Jin took a sip of ice-cold water, her tone turning frosty. “Ever since she appeared, my mom and dad’s relationship has gotten worse and worse.”

Xu Yingran chose her words carefully. “You mean…?”

Yao Jin said, “I suspect that woman seduced my mom, which is why my mom and dad’s relationship deteriorated.”

If she hadn’t seen the two of them acting intimately with her own eyes, Yao Jin wouldn’t have believed that a girl from the mountains could be so cunning.