Driving down to the garage, Shen Mingshan returned home.
At that moment, Wang Xueru was in the kitchen preparing breakfast for her daughter. Hearing the sound of the door opening, her heart skipped a beat, and she hurried out of the kitchen.
“Xueru, you forgot to lock the door.”
Shen Mingshan knew his wife had the habit of locking the door, but she obviously forgot last night as he had entered using his fingerprint.
“Ah, it seems I did.”
Right now, Wang Xueru’s heart was still somewhat panicked. If Yang Hao had left ten minutes later, they would likely have bumped into each other.
Wang Xueru wasn’t really scared, but the upcoming divorce proceedings meant it would be difficult for her to claim a larger portion of the assets.
Shen Mingshan hadn’t noticed Wang Xueru’s flustered demeanor—in fact, he hardly paid any attention to the “plain housewife” at home. The actresses at Club K were all younger than Wang Xueru and knew how to have fun; he felt quite drained at this moment.
“My clothes got dirty from entertaining last night. Have them dry-cleaned when you get a chance.”
Shen Mingshan took off the clothes he was wearing and threw them onto the sofa, then headed straight to the bedroom to find a new outfit in the walk-in closet. Just as he stepped into the bedroom, he caught a whiff of a familiar scent.
Shen Mingshan furrowed his brows and hurriedly checked the wastebasket by the bed. It only contained a few used tissues and no contraceptives; he searched around the room and didn’t find any traces of a third party, which eased his mind slightly.
His own frequent indulgences had taken a toll on his health, leaving him unable to satisfy Wang Xueru, which he was aware of. He had noticed before that Wang Xueru had her own ways of dealing with her needs.
Therefore, he assumed that last night, with him not being home, Wang Xueru might have taken care of herself again!
After all, their daughter was still at home; it was impossible for her to bring a man over.
It seemed he would have to make some effort occasionally.
As Shen Mingshan mused over this, he changed into a new set of clothes in the walk-in closet.
He had intended to see his daughter, but the door to her room was still closed and he assumed she was sleeping, so he didn’t disturb her.
“Xueru, I’m leaving.”
Li Manshu had messaged him on the way back to have breakfast together, so he was in a hurry to leave and pick her up.
“Hmm.”
Back in the kitchen and busy at work, Wang Xueru casually responded.
In her mind, she was contemplating the move.
She had already discussed the matter with her lawyer yesterday, and today she would go to court to file for divorce.
Within five working days, the court would notify Shen Mingshan.
When it came to the matter of divorce, Wang Xueru didn’t want to discuss it with Shen Mingshan herself, because she knew him too well. He would most likely resort to the same tactics as last time, getting on his knees and begging, using all sorts of dramatic and rowdy stunts, and even causing a scene at her parents’ place.
Therefore, Wang Xueru decided not to face it personally. She would leave it all to the lawyer and had already communicated with her parents in advance; this time, they fully supported her.
“Mommy, what’s for breakfast?”
Just as Wang Xueru was pondering whether to move out today or tomorrow, the voice of her daughter, Shen Yino, suddenly sounded at the kitchen doorway.
“Nuonuo, you’re awake. We’re having sandwiches this morning.”
Since she was quite tired from last night, Wang Xueru didn’t prepare anything too elaborate this morning. She fried two eggs and some bacon to make two handmade sandwiches, accompanied by milk.
“Yay, I love the sandwiches Mommy makes the most.”
Shen Yino’s face lit up with a radiant smile, and then she suddenly asked, “Mommy, did you have a nightmare last night?”
“Hm?”
“No, why?”
Wang Xueru shook her head in confusion, wondering why her daughter would ask such a sudden question.
“But you screamed so loudly—I’m sure it was really scary!”
Concern was evident on the young face of Shen Yino.
As for Wang Xueru, her face flushed with embarrassment, and she awkwardly wriggled her toes inside her slippers—it wasn’t just about the three-bedroom apartment anymore, she almost made it sound like a townhouse.
Meanwhile.
Yang Hao had bought three portions of breakfast from his regular breakfast shop before returning to his rental home.
“Daddy, you’re back!”
“Wow, Daddy also bought breakfast!”
At this moment, Li Manni was sitting on the couch brushing Xixi’s hair as the well-behaved little girl stood in front of her aunt. However, she couldn’t stay calm at the sight of the breakfast in her father’s hands.
The little foodie licked her lips eagerly, her gaze locked entirely on the breakfast her father held.
“You can eat a bit at home, but remember to eat less when you get to kindergarten.”
Yang Hao hadn’t intended to bring breakfast for Xixi, but he knew his little foodie daughter all too well. If he didn’t bring her some, she might just put her hands on her hips and say with a pout, “Daddy, you don’t love Xixi anymore.”
At such a young age, she had her old father wrapped around her little finger.
“Mhm, I’ll eat a little bit at home, and then eat a little bit more at kindergarten!”
Xixi nodded obediently.
However, once she started eating, her “little bit” turned into two big meat buns and a bowl of century egg porridge—her appetite had caught up with Li Manni’s.
Seeing this, Yang Hao quietly took out his phone to send a message to Jiang Yuqi: Xixi has already eaten at home; just give her some milk at kindergarten!
“Manni, let’s go drop off Xixi together, and then I can take you to work.”
After breakfast, as the trio was heading downstairs, Yang Hao said to Li Manni, who was preparing to squeeze onto the bus.
“No need to trouble yourself, it’s very congested during rush hour.”
Li Manni didn’t want to inconvenience Yang Hao.
“It’s no trouble at all, I don’t have much else to do.”
“What do you say, Xixi?”
Yang Hao coaxed his precious daughter with a pout.
“I want Auntie to take me…”
“Auntie, you come with Dad to drop me off at kindergarten!”
Xixi immediately said to Li Manni, who was holding her little hand.
“Err, okay then.”
“So Auntie will take you to kindergarten.”
Li Manshu had no choice but to nod in agreement, unable to say no to the little girl.
A few minutes later, the U8 arrived at the kindergarten gate. Since it was peak time for dropping off children, there was no place to park, Yang Hao had to temporarily stop to let Li Manni and Xixi out, then drove ahead to turn around. When he came back, he would just pick up Li Manni.
So, today, it was Li Manni who ended up taking Xixi to Jiang Yuqi.
Seeing Li Manni, Jiang Yuqi couldn’t help but be curious about the identity of this beautiful woman.
“Xixi, who brought you here?”
After Li Manni left, Jiang Yuqi asked out of curiosity.
“Mrs. Qiqi, she’s my auntie!”
“The two braids were done by Auntie,” said Xixi with a beaming smile.
“Oh, the braids are very pretty!”
Jiang Yuqi smiled and complimented, as the flames of gossip ignited within her. Xixi’s previous remark, “I don’t have a mom anymore,” had led Jiang Yuqi to mistakenly believe Xixi’s mother had passed away.
But now Xixi suddenly had a young and beautiful aunt!
That was highly likely to be a stepmom, right?
Based on the timeline, Xixi’s mother had been gone for only two or three months.
And her father had remarried so quickly!
How hasty he was!!
Indeed, all men are so heartless and unfaithful!
Jiang Yuqi thought about her own dad who had run off with another woman, and recalled a news story she had seen not long ago. An old man’s wife of forty years had passed away, and in less than half a month, he was anxious to have his children find him a new partner.
Jiang Yuqi had initially had a good impression of Yang Hao, the good father. But now, all that goodwill had been wiped clean—turned into a negative value, even.
“Mrs. Qiqi, Auntie stayed over at our house last night!”
Xixi boasted as if showing off.
She really liked her auntie, so for her, Li Manni’s sleepover was a very joyful event.
Therefore, she was eager to share it with Mrs. Qiqi, someone she also really liked.
However, to Jiang Yuqi, this statement confirmed her impression of Yang Hao as heartless and unfaithful!
Although he was a good father, he was also a scoundrel!!
Jiang Yuqi inwardly labeled Yang Hao in her mind.