Chapter 12: Hypocrisy

No matter what Wei Zhitao becomes in this life, Ning Ruyun no longer wishes to have any connection with him. There is no possibility of marrying Wei Zhitao.

Wei Zhitao is already entangled with Feng Qingsnow; Ning Ruyun simply has no interest in such a scoundrel.

After the engagement is called off, everyone will go their separate ways, and she has no intention of paying any more attention to Wei Zhitao’s affairs or wasting her time and energy on him.

Since Wei Zhitao is so deeply infatuated with Feng Qingsnow, utterly captivated by her, it remains to be seen whether he will still care about what happened today between Feng Qingsnow and Zhao Dacheng. Will he possess the magnanimity to forgive and forget, and continue proudly to wed Feng Qingsnow?

A man like Wei Zhitao is far from what Ning Ruyun desires.

What she is somewhat curious about is, after Wei Zhitao truly marries Feng Qingsnow, how will the relationship between Zhang Lanya and Feng Qingsnow—mother-in-law and daughter-in-law—play out?

Both women are self-serving and unafraid to forsake their principles. Living together, it’s hard to imagine who will end up tormenting the other.

Thinking of this, Ning Ruyun almost chuckled.

Deciding to ignore the farcical scene unfolding by the shore, Ning Ruyun told Aunt Chen and the others a brief word and quickly grabbed her bag to head home, as if none of it concerned her anymore.

Ning Ruyun’s sudden change in attitude puzzled Aunt Chen and the others.

After all, Ning Ruyun and Wei Zhitao were engaged, yet when they met here, it seemed as if they were strangers—barely even exchanging greetings.

They had all heard that this time, Wei Zhitao and Zhang Lanya came to Houwan Village specifically to visit the Ning family, presumably about the marriage.

But the reactions of the two involved left the onlookers bewildered.

Ning Ruyun paid no mind to any of this and hurried home.

---

As she neared her doorstep, voices drifted from the courtyard.

The speaker was a woman’s voice, slightly sharp. Ning Ruyun recognized it immediately—it was her former mother-in-law, Zhang Lanya.

“A Hong, I truly feel ashamed to bring this up, but I have always cared deeply for Xiaoyun and sincerely hoped she could become my daughter-in-law. I wanted to treat her well, yet I cannot bear to deceive my conscience. I don’t want Xiaoyun to suffer after marrying in, or become a resentful couple with Zhitao.”

“Zhitao really loves Xiaoxue. I’ve told you before, he has always regarded Xiaoyun as a sister. Marriage would be a difficult transformation for him to accept. I’ve spoken to him many times, but I cannot change his mind.”

“All of this is Zhitao’s fault, not Xiaoyun’s, not yours. But I have tried my best. I don’t want Xiaoyun to insist on marrying him only to be unhappy. That’s why I came here to discuss this marriage situation with you.”

Zhang Lanya spoke earnestly, with genuine emotion, as if truly concerned for Ning Ruyun.

Seeing Ning Zhengan and Xu Xiuhong across from her remain silent, apparently displeased, Zhang Lanya pressed on: “I know that when a woman marries, she seeks someone who truly understands her, so she can live a good and happy life.”

“But Zhitao sees Xiaoyun as a sister and cannot overcome that barrier. He doesn’t love her and cannot view her as his wife.”

“A forced marriage is never sweet. I fear Xiaoyun will suffer, and Zhitao will be disappointed in the family because of a forced union.”

The more she spoke, the more confident Zhang Lanya became, convinced she was right. She believed that her kind-hearted visit and these words should suffice to satisfy the Ning family.

Pausing for a moment, she assumed a solemn demeanor and added, “If Xiaoyun really marries Zhitao and becomes part of the Wei family, then I will be her mother-in-law and can help her and treat her well. But if Zhitao truly doesn’t love Xiaoyun, forcing this marriage upon them would be utterly unfair to both of them.”

“I only wish Xiaoyun a good life. If she separates from Zhitao, she won’t be hurt anymore and can find a man who genuinely loves her. That’s why I came to apologize and discuss this matter with you.”

“Luckily, Xiaoyun and Zhitao grew up together like siblings; they have always had a good relationship. That bond can continue. As for the marriage, many have speculated, but we could say it was a misunderstanding. Zhitao and Xiaoyun have no such engagement.”

“Handling it this way will be better for Xiaoyun; she won’t have to gamble with her youth or feelings.”

---

Hearing Zhang Lanya’s words, all ostensibly for her well-being, Ning Ruyun only felt bitter irony.

This woman was Wei Zhitao’s widowed mother, a fiercely controlling figure not easy to get along with.

Though Zhang Lanya appeared agreeable and thoughtful, she despised Ning Ruyun, believing that after her disfigurement, she no longer deserved Wei Zhitao, nor his outstanding and dutiful son. She was deeply dissatisfied with the engagement and deemed it void.

In the previous life, Zhang Lanya came at this same time to call off the engagement. But when Ning Ruyun fell into the water and was saved by Wei Zhitao, their plan failed. Under pressure, Wei Zhitao had no choice but to marry her.

That was the tragic beginning of her past life.

Zhang Lanya believed Ning Ruyun had deliberately fallen into the water, or that being saved by Wei Zhitao was intentional—meant to avoid breaking the engagement and to marry into the Wei family to steal Wei Zhitao away. Naturally, her impression of Ning Ruyun was extremely poor. She subjected her to cold violence, subtle mockery, and relentless demands under the guise of filial piety, forcing her to do all manner of hard labor and making her life miserable.

She even forbade Wei Zhitao from sharing a room with Ning Ruyun at night, enforcing strict surveillance.

With Feng Qingsnow fanning the flames behind the scenes—stirring trouble, sowing discord, twisting facts—Ning Ruyun’s time in the Wei family was pure torment.

In such a twisted mother-son relationship, Wei Zhitao believed Ning Ruyun had deliberately destroyed the love and marriage arrangement between him and Feng Qingsnow. He remained cold and disdainful toward her, never allowing her close.

Thinking back to those days now, Ning Ruyun felt nothing but disgust.

But in this life, she did not fall into the water; she avoided Feng Qingsnow’s schemes and the ensuing troubles. This marriage can now be called off directly, right here and now.