Chapter 204: Chapter 204: Are You Here to Atone?

Xue Xingyao didn’t want to associate with Shen Mingji; it felt awkward and uncomfortable.

But that didn’t mean Chen Shujing could do as he pleased in the Xue Family home.

"Heir Chen, whatever your purpose for coming here, please leave my home at once."

Her expression was distant and cold. The moment she spoke, it was to drive him away, showing no mercy.

And she had called him Heir Chen.

Chen Shujing was suddenly reminded that she had switched to that formal address right after she lost their child.

’She must have already lost all hope back then, hadn’t she?’

A bitter taste filled Chen Shujing’s heart. He knew he had been wrong, yet he had still resorted to forcing Ah Yao’s hand.

’He had been so, so wrong.’

Chen Shujing didn’t know what madness had possessed him. The moment he heard her mention divorce, he had lost all reason.

He regretted every single thing that happened afterward.

He never meant to hurt Ah Yao, but everything he did had wounded her beyond repair.

Now, it was too late for regrets.

He couldn’t turn back time or erase what had happened. The only thing he could do was make it up to Ah Yao.

’If she saw his sincerity, surely Ah Yao would forgive him, right?’

They had been married. They had even had a child together.

’Their bond was so deep...’

Chen Shujing was panicking inside, but he didn’t let it show on his face, maintaining his gentle and refined appearance.

Pretending not to have heard her order to leave, he forced a smile. "Ah Yao, today is your mother’s birthday. I’ve brought gifts."

Attendants stood behind Chen Shujing, each holding stacks of gift boxes.

She couldn’t see what was inside, but Xue Xingyao didn’t care, nor was she curious.

She reminded him coldly, "You and I are divorced. We have nothing to do with each other anymore. Heir Chen, please conduct yourself with dignity. My mother’s birthday does not require your attendance. Please leave immediately."

If Ling hadn’t been there, Xue Xingyao would have told Chen Shujing to get lost, but she didn’t want to set a bad example for a child.

They hadn’t just had a fight or a disagreement—they were divorced!

Reaching this point proved that the marriage was rotten to the core, beyond saving. There was no need to prolong the agony.

And she would never look back!

Xue Xingyao’s eyes grew even colder. She stared at Chen Shujing without a word, her rejection palpable.

She had absolutely not been expecting him, and her expression showed no flicker of emotion, as if he were a complete stranger.

The bitterness in Chen Shujing’s heart intensified. He didn’t dare to look Xue Xingyao in the eye.

His fingers curled into a fist, digging into his palm to keep from losing his composure.

His chest rose and fell as he took a subtle breath. He bent down, intending to touch Ling’s little face. "It’s been so long. She’s grown so much."

The last time he was in Jiangnan, Ling was just a baby in swaddling clothes.

In the blink of an eye, she could now hold an adult’s hand and walk, wobbly as she was.

No wonder people say children shoot up like weeds. It was true.

Chen Shujing didn’t want to leave the Xue residence, so his only option was to start with the child.

If Ling wanted to play with him, he would have a legitimate reason to stay.

Pei Yan had used this trick before.

It was humiliating, but it worked.

Chen Shujing was ashamed. ’I shouldn’t be using a child,’ he thought. But there was no other way. Ah Yao refused to see him or have anything to do with him.

If he didn’t seize this chance to rebuild his relationship with Ah Yao, it would only become more difficult to win her back as time passed.

Mei Wanying scooped up her daughter, giving Chen Shujing no quarter. "She’s shy around strangers."

Standing beside Xue Xingyao, it was clear she was backing up her good friend.

Chen Shujing hadn’t forgotten the last time he was in Jiangnan. He had asked Mei Wanying to put in a good word for him, but she had mercilessly torn into him instead.

Judging by her actions now, she probably wouldn’t help him this time either.

Even Ling clung to Mei Wanying’s neck, leaving him with a view of the back of her head, as if she really were shy around strangers.

Shunned by everyone, Chen Shujing’s facade of composure began to crumble, revealing the helplessness in his eyes.

He had genuinely come to seek reconciliation.

But Ah Yao was ignoring him. How was he supposed to take the next step?

"Ah Yao..."

Xue Xingyao cut him off coldly. "A move once made cannot be taken back, Heir Chen. Let’s leave each other with some dignity."

Everyone has a past. She could understand that Chen Shujing, in the first bloom of love, had been attracted to the exceptionally talented and beautiful Shen Mingxiao.

If Chen Shujing had been more open about it, she might have even considered him a man of loyalty and honor.

Even without romantic love, a life of mutual respect would not have been impossible.

But he had not only deceived her and abandoned her time and again, he had even used the Chen Family’s power to crush her.

Chen Shujing had never given her a choice. How arrogant he was!

How heartless!

She was a living, breathing person. It was a basic instinct to seek comfort and avoid pain.

Did he really think a few empty words and a handful of gifts would be enough for her to take him back?

The atmosphere grew tense. Shen Mingji grabbed Chen Shujing’s arm. "Let’s go."

Today was Mrs. Xue’s birthday. If this stalemate continued, it would disrupt the main event.

Chen Shujing refused to leave.

He had specifically timed his nonstop journey to Jiangnan to coincide with the elder’s birthday.

He wanted to make a good impression on the elders so they would help him persuade Ah Yao.

Marriage was no laughing matter.

He must have lost his mind to have agreed to the divorce back then.

Chen Shujing regretted it deeply. If he hadn’t signed the divorce paper, they would still be husband and wife.

He could have worn her down slowly, and eventually, Ah Yao’s heart would have softened.

Chen Shujing didn’t look at Shen Mingji. "Go back to the barracks. And in the future, you are forbidden from disturbing the Xue Family."

Shen Mingji said, "You’re coming with me."

Chen Shujing’s eyes showed his displeasure. "Ah Ji, you’re not a child anymore. Be more sensible. Don’t cause trouble at a time like this."

Shen Mingji didn’t want to argue and forcibly dragged Chen Shujing away.

His grip was powerful, a strength honed in the military barracks. Chen Shujing had no choice but to be pulled along.

It was only then that Chen Shujing suddenly realized Shen Mingji was no longer the pampered playboy he once was.

He looked closely at Shen Mingji’s expression. The wildness in his eyes was still there, but the impatience and confusion were gone, replaced by resolution.

Shen Mingji’s face was impassive, yet it radiated an unmistakable aura of toughness.

His training in the barracks had paid off. It seemed he no longer needed anyone to protect him.

Chen Shujing felt a little dazed.

Shen Mingji could now stand on his own two feet. He felt he had fulfilled his duty to Shen Mingxiao.

But Shen Mingji’s transformation had been too quick, which proved he must have suffered greatly in the barracks.

He had been severely injured not long ago, nearly losing his life.

Chen Shujing asked himself, ’By choosing such a difficult and dangerous path for Ah Ji, would Xiaoxiao truly be satisfied?’

As his thoughts churned, Shen Mingji pulled Chen Shujing out of the residence.

Standing at the entrance of the Xue Family home and looking at the small courtyard, Chen Shujing felt like he had been punched in the gut.

Ah Yao had never endured such hardship.

Yet she would rather live in this small house than return to the Chen Family to be his heir’s wife.

’Was the mistake I made so unforgivable?’

’Will she really never come back?’

"You’re already divorced. If you feel you’ve wronged her, then stop pressuring her."

Shen Mingji’s voice reached his ears, pulling Chen Shujing from his thoughts.

He didn’t reply.

Instead, he asked Shen Mingji, "Did you come to the Xue residence to atone for sins?"

Ah Ji could be mischievous, but he would never intentionally harm anyone. Chen Shujing grew frustrated with himself. He shouldn’t have attributed such malicious motives to Ah Ji.

’He didn’t come here to sow discord.’

’Then there was only one other possibility: Ah Ji felt he had wronged Ah Yao and had come to atone on his behalf...’