“You colluded with human traffickers to kidnap Xingxing and Yueyue. The law will deal with you as it sees fit.” Sheng Xinhao’s voice was cold and unyielding.
At that moment, Fang Manping, who had remained silent and pale-faced, suddenly stepped forward and knelt before Sheng Xinhao.
“Uncle, please don’t.”
“I beg you, for the sake of the years my mother has spent by your side, go easy on her.”
“Can you… not report this to the police?”
Tear stains covered Fang Manping’s face as she pleaded with Sheng Xinhao.
She knew that if her mother were arrested, she would surely go to prison.
Her mother was getting older, and after years of living in comfort, how could she endure such hardship?
And as her daughter, how could she stand by and watch her suffer?
Fang Wanrong stared in shock at Fang Manping, who was kneeling and begging on the floor.
It was as if a bolt of lightning had struck her, jolting her awake.
She had been wrong.
Truly wrong.
In her obsession to have a son, she had driven a wedge between herself and her daughter.
In her obsession to have a son, she had descended into madness step by step.
She had forgotten her original intentions.
Forgotten that when she divorced her ex-husband and took Manping with her, it was so that Manping could live a good life—free from worries and constraints.
Yet all these years, she had forced Manping to do so many terrible things.
Manping had awakened long ago, while she alone remained stubbornly deluded.
And now, Manping was kneeling and begging Sheng Xinhao for her sake.
Perhaps, in this world, the only one who truly loved her was Manping.
Fang Wanrong slowly walked over and helped Fang Manping up.
“Mom…”
“Manping, don’t beg him. I, Fang Wanrong, will take responsibility for my own actions. As for you…”
Fang Wanrong reached out, using her fingers to wipe the tears from Fang Manping’s face. “Don’t cry. You must live well. Manping, it’s Mom who dragged you down. From now on, you must be happy.”
“Mom…” Fang Manping sobbed and hugged Fang Wanrong tightly.
In the end, Sheng Xinhao showed no mercy. He chose to divorce Fang Wanrong and reported the matter to the police.
The police immediately arrested Fang Wanrong.
As for how the law would judge her, that was up to the authorities.
However, before being taken away, Fang Wanrong made one final request.
She looked at Sheng Xinhao and said, “I know that once I’m arrested, I’ll surely go to prison. I ask for nothing else, only that you do one thing for me, for the sake of our years as husband and wife.”
Sheng Xinhao pressed his lips together and said, “Speak.”
“Please don’t let my arrest affect Manping’s college entrance exam.”
Fang Wanrong was terrified that having a mother with a criminal record might prevent Fang Manping from taking the exam.
She knew how much preparation and effort Manping had put into this exam.
She also knew how much Manping was counting on it.
“I know you can make this happen.”
Sheng Xinhao replied, “I promise you.”
In truth, Sheng Xinhao had never blamed Fang Manping for what happened.
Though Fang Manping had failed to report her mother’s plan to kidnap Xingxing and Yueyue, she had not conspired with Fang Wanrong either.
Whether it was writing the anonymous letter or later trying to rescue Xingxing and Yueyue, it proved that Fang Manping still had a moral compass.
Over the years, Sheng Xinhao had treated Fang Manping as half a daughter.
Now, he naturally wouldn’t hold her responsible.
The news of Fang Wanrong’s divorce and arrest quickly spread throughout the capital.
After all, Fang Wanrong was Sheng Xinhao’s wife.
Given their status and influence, any incident involving them was bound to attract widespread attention.
Xingxing and Yueyue returned to the Sang family.
Meanwhile, far away on Huansha Island, Sheng Zexi learned of his father’s decision.
For the first time in all these years, his father had not taken Fang Wanrong’s side or shown her favoritism.
Had the old man finally seen through Fang Wanrong’s true nature? Had his judgment finally cleared?
Sheng Zexi thought to himself that, this time, he was somewhat satisfied with his father’s handling of the matter.
At least it proved the old man still had some redeeming qualities.
Of course, had the outcome displeased him, Sheng Zexi would have personally ensured justice for his children.
…
Meanwhile, although Gu Jianing had received Sheng Zexi’s response in her dream, she still couldn’t fully relax.
It wasn’t until the system confirmed that Xingxing and Yueyue were safe that she finally let out a sigh of relief.
How did the system know?
As a “Childbirth System,” Xingxing and Yueyue were its primary subjects of monitoring and protection—so naturally, it could track their status.
Now that the children were safe, Gu Jianing threw herself wholeheartedly into finalizing the exam papers.
As time passed, the team of exam-setting teachers worked tirelessly, and soon, the finalized test papers were dispatched from the courtyard to every corner of the nation.
On a certain day in late December, the first college entrance examination since its reinstatement officially commenced nationwide.
Countless examinees arrived early at their respective test centers.
In Huaihua Village, two members of the Gu family were taking the exam—Gu Yunzhou and Yang Manman.
Gu Yunnan specially borrowed a tractor from the grain station to drive them to the examination hall.
Of course, many other educated youths and local students from Huaihua Village were also taking the exam, but they were transported collectively by the village’s ox-drawn carts.
Though not as comfortable as a tractor, having an ox cart was still far better than walking.
Even in the biting cold of late December, the excitement and anticipation on the examinees’ faces were unmistakable.
For them, success in this exam would mean a new chapter in their lives—a chance at a brighter future.
Liu Yuan was driven to the exam site by her father’s car.
Coincidentally, she spotted Gu Yunzhou on the tractor.
The moment she learned that Gu Yunzhou was taking the exam, Liu Yuan had thrown herself into studying as well.
She, too, wanted to take the exam—to follow Gu Yunzhou, preferably to the same university.
But she wasn’t sure if it was possible.
Liu Yuan thought that this might be her last chance to be with Gu Yunzhou.
If they didn’t get into the same school, the likelihood of them ever being together would be slim.
Still, she had to try—for the sake of her feelings.
Meanwhile, on Huansha Island, Zhang Qiumei sat confidently in her brother’s car, heading to the exam site.
Watching others walk while she rode in a car made her feel superior.
Zhang Qiumei was brimming with confidence about the exam.
Her academic performance had always been decent, and her brother had tipped her off about the exam’s reinstatement early, giving her a head start in preparation.
She was certain she would get into her dream university.
And once she did, she planned to confess to Sheng Zexi—to convince him to divorce his rural wife and be with her instead.
Yes, at first, Zhang Qiumei hadn’t known Sheng Zexi was married.
It was only later that she discovered he not only had a wife but also two children.
Even after learning the truth, Zhang Qiumei struggled but ultimately couldn’t let go of Sheng Zexi.
To her, he was perfect in every way—exactly the kind of man she had always dreamed of.
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