Without work, Lin Ke’s new battlefield became home.

Usually, after seeing the father and daughter off in the morning, she would return to the room to study. At four-thirty in the afternoon, she would go to the kindergarten outside the residential complex to pick up Si Xiaotie, treating it as exercise and a chance to relax.

Si Xiaotie was very well-behaved. If Daddy wasn’t home, she would quietly sit in the living room watching Animal World or cartoons by herself. If Daddy was around, she would drag him into her room to play with her.

The days of exam preparation were ordinary and routine, but many things still happened during that time.

The conflict between Si Yun and Qin Ru grew deeper and deeper.

At first, Si Yuming had wanted to hide it from Lin Ke so it wouldn’t affect her mood, but after she kept pressing him for answers, he finally told her.

There was now solid proof that Qin Ru had cheated.

Si Yun showed absolutely no mercy. She gathered complete evidence and submitted it directly to the university where Qin Ru worked.

A married man cheating with his own student completely violated the ethics expected of a teacher. Using her own connections, Si Yun had him stripped of both his position and his professional title.

Qin Ru regretted it bitterly and begged Si Yun for forgiveness.

In response, Si Yun simply threw a divorce agreement at him demanding he leave with nothing.

As Lin Ke listened, the corners of her lips slowly lifted.

Si Yuming noticed her expression and raised an eyebrow. “Happy?”

The woman instantly smoothed away her smile.

After that night, the relationship between the two of them had eased somewhat, though they still couldn’t be considered close. In fact, whenever they were alone together, things felt awkward rather than natural like before.

But Lin Ke didn’t have time to care about awkwardness right now.

“He deserves it,” she said fiercely. “He’s lucky she didn’t drown him in a pig cage.”

Then she became worried. “What about Manman?”

At the mention of this, Si Yuming’s expression also darkened, and he fell silent for a moment.

After thinking for a while, Lin Ke looked up at him. “Bring him over to stay here. The situation at home is too damaging for him.”

“You’re preparing for exams.”

“The kids are at school during the day, so it’s fine. Besides, Manman’s very well-behaved. He won’t make noise.”

Si Yuming considered it for a while before nodding. “We’ll see. If it gets too noisy then…”

Even he found himself at a loss halfway through the sentence.

Where else could the child go?

His grandparents sided with his father, and his mother’s home was all he had left.

Lin Ke sighed softly as well. “Just let him stay here. It won’t affect anything.”

Perhaps the topic was too heavy.

In the darkness, the husband and wife didn’t speak again.

The next afternoon, Si Yuming picked up Si Xiaotie from kindergarten first before heading to the elementary school to pick up Qin Mancheng. His luggage had already been brought over earlier by the housekeeper, and the small bedroom Aunt Chen usually used had been tidied up for him.

On the way there, Si Yuming warned his daughter in advance, “Your brother’s in a bad mood these days. Xiaotie can play with him, but don’t make too much noise and disturb Mommy.”

The little girl, who had originally been about to excitedly share something with Daddy, immediately stopped and asked sadly, “What happened to Brother?”

Si Yuming patted her head. “Nothing too serious. Auntie and Daddy will handle it. Xiaotie just needs to stay with your brother.”

“Mhm! Xiaotie understands!”

When they arrived at the elementary school, Si Xiaotie got out of the car early to wait. Spotting a vendor selling candied hawthorn skewers near the school gate, she begged Daddy to buy two.

While waiting, she kept swinging them around in her hands, and every now and then the syrup stuck to her yellow down jacket.

By now, her clothes were covered in sticky sugar stains.

Qin Mancheng hadn’t known his uncle and little sister were coming to pick him up. The moment he saw them, he ran over quickly.

“Xiaotie.”

“Brother, this is for you!” Si Xiaotie handed him a candied hawthorn skewer.

Qin Mancheng accepted it.

Looking at his little sister’s bright smile, his mood finally improved a little. “Thank you, Xiaotie.”

Si Xiaotie switched the skewer to her other hand before grabbing his hand. “Come on, let’s go home~”

Qin Mancheng wasn’t quite sure what that meant, so he looked up at his uncle.

Si Yuming explained, “Manman will be staying at Uncle’s house for a while.”

This time, he understood.

The smile that had just appeared on his face slowly faded again.

“Uncle… my mom…”

“Your mom’s fine. Let’s go home first.”

Lin Ke was waiting at home too.

When the little boy arrived, she brought out the small slippers she had prepared for him and gently patted his hair. “Manman’s here.”

Qin Mancheng obediently greeted her. “Auntie.”

“Mhm. Come on, let’s go see your room.”

Si Xiaotie had already dashed ahead at full speed. “Brother’s room!”

Qin Mancheng looked around as he walked inside.

Uncle’s house was so small.

There were things everywhere. Xiaotie’s toy dinosaurs and dolls nearly filled the entire sofa.

If his mother were here, she would definitely be upset.

But he liked Uncle and Auntie’s little home.

He didn’t like the large empty house where nobody was ever around.

Noticing her brother hadn’t followed, Si Xiaotie screeched to a stop.

“Brother!”

“Coming.”

Lin Ke went back to the kitchen to stir-fry the final vegetable dish, and Si Yuming followed her in.

After Si Xiaotie happily showed her brother around, Si Yuming sent his daughter away and stayed behind alone with Qin Mancheng to talk.

“How are your parents doing now?”

The moment Qin Mancheng heard that, tears immediately spilled down his face like pearls.

“Mom and Dad were arguing two days ago. They were yelling so loudly. Then Dad slammed the door and left… and never came back.”

“What about your mom?”

“Mom told me everything was fine, but I heard her secretly crying in her room…” The little boy trembled, choking on sobs. “I’m scared, Uncle… Are Mom and Dad getting divorced? If they divorce, they won’t want me anymore, right? Uncle, I’m scared… They don’t want me anymore…”

Si Yuming pulled the seven- or eight-year-old boy into his arms, heart aching for him.

“No. Your parents will handle their problems themselves. Maybe they’ll separate, but they’ll always be your parents. Your mother will always stay by your side. And you still have Xiaotie, Uncle, and Auntie too. Don’t be afraid, Manman.”

“Waaaah…”

The little boy’s cries gradually grew louder until he finally broke down completely.

Si Xiaotie, who hadn’t gone far, pushed the door open a crack. When she saw her brother crying in Daddy’s arms, tears immediately rolled down her own cheeks too.

Si Yuming beckoned her over, and the little girl instantly rushed inside.

Throwing her tiny body around her brother, she burst into loud sobs with him.

The crying of the two children nearly shook the ceiling apart.

After crying for several minutes, they finally exhausted themselves.

While wiping away her own tears and then her brother’s, Si Xiaotie said hoarsely, “Brother… Xiaotie hungry.”

Qin Mancheng, also worn out from crying, nodded. “Mm. Let’s eat.”

That evening, after dinner and baths, Si Xiaotie accompanied Qin Mancheng in his room while he did homework.

She sat obediently beside him without saying a single word.

Qin Mancheng’s emotions had eased somewhat by then.

He turned around and looked at the little girl sitting on the bed hugging a stuffed toy, her head drooping lower and lower as she struggled to stay awake.

After staring at her for a while, he climbed down from his chair, gently laid her flat on the bed, and covered her with a blanket.

After thinking for a moment, he took off his shoes, climbed into bed too, and hugged his little sister while falling asleep.

When Si Yuming later pushed open the guest bedroom door again, both children were already sleeping soundly.

Si Xiaotie’s domineering little foot had kicked away the blanket and was currently planted across Qin Mancheng’s body.

He quietly walked over, moved her foot back into place, turned off the lights, and softly closed the door behind him.

……

The next day after work, Si Yuming returned to the old family residence.

Si Yun was in the living room making a phone call. Hearing him enter, she only glanced back briefly before finishing her conversation and walking over.

“How’s Manman?”

Si Yuming replied in a low voice, “You shouldn’t have argued in front of him.”

Leaning against the sofa, Si Yun tightened her grip on her phone.

She hadn’t wanted to affect her son, but when emotions overwhelmed her, she failed to hold herself back.

Guilt filled her voice. “I’ve already filed for divorce. If things move quickly, it should be finalized within a month. Let Manman stay with you for a few more days. Once I finish handling things here, I’ll bring him back.”

“What did Qin Ru say?”

“What else could he say? He regrets it. Says he’s cut things off completely.” Si Yun let out a cold laugh. “He thinks I’ll forgive him after doing something like this? What does he take me for, some pathetic idiot?”

“Every asset and honor he has came from me and the Si family. Since he dared to do it, he should bear the consequences. The damage I’m causing him now isn’t even one ten-thousandth of the pain he caused me and Manman. I’d rather tear him into pieces!”

Hatred and fury burned in Si Yun’s eyes.

Not a trace of their former affection remained.

After listening quietly, Si Yuming only warned her, “Be careful not to push him too far. If he snaps and loses his mind, nobody knows what he might do. You and Manman both need to stay alert.”

Si Yun hadn’t considered that possibility before, and the thought startled her.

“I understand.”

Si Yuming pulled out his phone and tapped the screen a few times before handing over an already connected video call.

On the screen, the little girl was sprawled across her brother’s head while staring directly into the camera with wide eyes. The “Daddy!” that nearly escaped her mouth immediately changed into a sweet, cheerful—

“Auntie!”

Seeing the two children, some of the gloom in Si Yun’s heart finally eased. “Hi, Xiaotie.”

Her gaze shifted toward her son beneath the little girl. His eyes were slightly red as he stared fixedly at her.

Guilt filled Si Yun’s chest.

She forced a smile. “Manman, did you miss Mommy?”

Si Xiaotie shouted loudly, “Brother missed you sooo—”

Qin Mancheng instantly covered the little girl’s mouth.

There wasn’t the slightest trace left of last night’s sobbing breakdown. Looking very serious, he asked, “Mom, have you eaten yet?”

“Not yet. Did you and Xiaotie eat?”

“Not yet. Auntie’s studying, and Grandma Chen is cooking for us.”

Studying?

Si Yun glanced at the man beside her before looking back at the phone. “Then you and Xiaotie should go eat soon. Your uncle will be back shortly.”

That wasn’t what Qin Mancheng wanted to hear.

Pressing his lips together, he quietly called out, “Mom…”

Si Yun understood the unfinished words in her son’s voice, and her heart ached even more.

“Manman, give Mommy a few more days, okay?”

Qin Mancheng sniffled, his voice growing heavier. “Okay… Mom, I’ll miss you.”

“Mommy will miss Manman too.”

The call ended.

Si Yun’s hand holding the phone dropped weakly as she let out a long sigh.

Si Yuming took the phone back and sent Lin Ke a message saying he’d return later.

Watching him type, Si Yun guessed who he was messaging.

“What’s Lin Ke studying?”

“She has an exam at the end of the month.”

Si Yun didn’t understand. “What exam? Another doctorate?”

“No. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs Translation Department.”

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs?” After a pause, Si Yun seemed to think of something and let out a short laugh. “If I remember correctly, Meng Jing works at the Ministry too, doesn’t he?”

Si Yuming slowly raised his eyes.

The woman on the sofa met his gaze.

After a long moment, as if making some kind of decision, she said, “Yuming, do you know why she wants to join the Ministry of Foreign Affairs?”

The air seemed to freeze for a second.

The man’s brows slowly tightened. “What do you mean?”

Si Yun walked to the refrigerator, took out a bottle of red wine, poured two glasses, and carried them back.

After taking two sips herself, she glanced at him calmly.

“You thought the reason I opposed you marrying Lin Ke back then was only because of Chengyin?”

Naturally, Si Yuming couldn’t answer that question.

Si Yun took another sip of wine and gazed out toward the estate now shrouded in night.

“You’ve been married for years now. Xiaotie’s almost four. I thought Lin Ke had already settled down, and because of that I’ve actually felt quite guilty recently.”

Her heart had softened during this period.

As long as there wasn’t some major issue of principle, perhaps Lin Ke wasn’t entirely unacceptable after all. The Lin family wasn’t impossible to tolerate either. Divorce would hurt the child too much, and Si Xiaotie was still so young.

There was no need for her to become another Manman.

“This shouldn’t have been my place to tell you,” Si Yun continued, “but sooner or later you were going to face this anyway. Better to prepare yourself earlier.”

Having gone days without proper sleep, her thoughts were somewhat disorganized, though still clear enough.

“The first reason I didn’t agree to her marrying into the family was because of the Lin family. That kind of in-law family wouldn’t help you at all. If something happened, they might even drag us into trouble.”

“Yuming, you said you didn’t like Chengyin, but that girl at least genuinely liked you. After marriage, if one side takes the initiative, feelings can slowly grow over time.”

“At the time…” Si Yun smiled bitterly. “Even though my own ending turned out to be a complete disaster, back then I believed my own love life was successful. I hoped you could have both love and a happy marriage too.”

“And Lin Ke? How many years had it been since you two even saw each other? How much did you really know about her? She was only twenty-three when she married you. Did you know who she liked? Who she loved?”

Si Yuming’s breathing grew heavier.

The corners of his eyes tightened as he stared directly at her.

“So I signed a five-year agreement with her. Five years. I hoped she would come to love you. I hoped she would genuinely want to live a real life with you. But I never expected that after all these years, she would still want to take the Foreign Ministry exam.”

In the silence, the air slowly shattered apart.

Not with some sharp explosion, but through a slow and continuous collapse.

Something invisible pressed against the man’s chest, squeezing tighter and tighter until he could barely breathe.

Slowly, he pieced together every thought.

Every scene from his life replayed through his mind.

The person who had always stood protectively in front of her whenever she avoided him as a child.

The “older brother” he had never heard before.

The familiar stories Jin Yang once mentioned about the two of them—and the other half he had deliberately avoided discussing.

“Meng Jing… right?”

The words that emerged from his throat seemed to carry the taste of blood.

“And what agreement?”

“An agreement marriage. Divorce after five years.”