Li Yue returned to the country a month ago, and that night, Li Ran sat alone in the living room for a long time.

I knew well that Li Yue was like an idealized love in Li Ran's heart.

But so what? After all, Li Ran had married me, and we were expecting a child together.

I loved Li Ran and accepted everything about her past. As long as she stayed by my side, I could forgive anything.

Time would prove everything; eventually, she would let go of Li Yue and fully embrace our life together.

Yet, reality was cruel, and I was quickly proven wrong.

The day after Li Yue returned, he called Li Ran out.

I was initially unaware of this, as my son insisted on having fried chicken, so I took him out.

It was then that my son spotted Li Ran with Li Yue and asked, "Isn't that Mom?"

Only then did I realize they were tightly embracing each other. Li Ran's face was filled with a love I had never seen before; she clung to Li Yue as if he were a long-lost treasure.

I felt as if struck by lightning, frozen in place.

My son, still innocent, asked why Mom was hugging another man.

I couldn't find the words to answer, so I sent him to check if the fried chicken was ready.

Li Yue spoke passionately about his love for Li Ran, claiming he couldn't let her go and that there were reasons for their breakup and his departure abroad.

Despite how insincere and even perfunctory his words seemed, Li Ran believed him.

Before Li Yue could explain his reasons, Li Ran was already kissing him through her tears.

Watching Li Ran like this, my heart felt like it had been overturned, a mixture of bitterness and sourness.

I followed them as they went into a hotel, agonizing over the whispers behind closed doors as they eagerly entered a room without even bothering to close the door properly.

The more I listened, the more my heart ached.

After marrying Li Ran, our intimate life had been sparse—I thought she was just not interested.

But hearing Li Ran's sweet voice now, I realized she was only uninterested in me.

For a month, Li Ran and Li Yue were inseparable. I followed them, watching Li Ran's complexion grow more radiant, like a blossoming flower.

I wanted nothing more than to end their lives, thinking that would stop anyone from taking Li Ran away from me.

But seeing my son's innocent eyes, my murderous intent vanished instantly.

One night, Li Ran lay beside me like a distant stranger, each of us under separate blankets.

I indirectly brought up our son, still hoping to give Li Ran a chance to come back to us.

That night, I talked about our son's childhood, and I noticed a thoughtful look in Li Ran's eyes.

I was overjoyed, thinking she might return to us and live happily together.

But the next day, she ran off with Li Yue again. Despite my heartbreak, I followed her and collected evidence—I was determined to fight for custody of our son.

Yet, Li Ran's words shattered me completely.

She clung to Li Yue, casually mentioning, "Soon, I'll bring Xiao Yang over so you can bond with him. After all, you're his biological father."

I crouched beside a flowerbed and cried my heart out. Through my tears, I saw a tissue being offered to me.

Looking up, I saw a well-dressed woman.

Embarrassed, I took the tissue and thanked her.

As I wiped my tears, the woman left without a word.

When I returned home, I saw Li Ran sitting on the couch with a cold expression. As soon as she saw me, she threw a teacup in my direction.

I dodged it, and seeing me avoid it only made her angrier. "You dare to dodge?" she yelled.

I sat across from her, noticing her immaculate makeup and a glaring hickey on her neck.

Li Ran's fair skin made it stand out even more.

I blinked, holding back my tears.

"I've already signed the divorce papers, " I said. "This house was bought by my parents, and I only want to keep it."

Li Ran's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Zhang Ze, I told you, we were both drunk when it happened!

And my health is poor; if I abort this child, I'll never be able to have another."

I remained silent, looking at this unfamiliar version of Li Ran.

She was no longer the person I once knew.

Coldly, I replied, "Science says that when people are drunk, they don't have sexual instincts.

Does your health really matter? You never planned to have a child with me after our son was born."

My words were sharp and direct, leaving her speechless.

Her eyes shifted, and then she defensively said, "Is blood relation really that important? Just because he's not your biological child, does that mean you deny your feelings for him?"

I sighed and lit a cigarette.

Having quit smoking because Li Ran hated it, the sudden smoke made me cough.

Calmly, I said, "If I don't even want you anymore, why would I care about that child from another relationship?"

As soon as I finished speaking, a noise suddenly came from the doorway. Li Ran and I turned to look.

Our son stood there, white as a ghost, his body trembling. Tears welled in his eyes as he looked at me before turning to run.

He dashed onto the road, and at that moment, a car suddenly appeared, speeding straight toward him.

Seeing this, Li Ran screamed, calling out our son's nickname, collapsing to the ground in shock.

Our son was frozen in fear on the road, while I sprinted desperately... but all I could do was watch helplessly as the car was about to hit him.

Just in time, a person appeared beside him, pulling him back forcefully.

Seeing our son safe and out of danger, my legs gave way, and I knelt on the ground.

The person who saved him turned out to be the woman who had handed me a tissue the other day. She had a high ponytail and was dressed in a tracksuit.

My body felt weak, and I couldn't stand up no matter how hard I tried. The woman held onto our son with one hand and pulled me up with the other.

I looked at my son, still shaken, my heart pounding in my chest. I took a few deep breaths, "Thank you... thank you."

The woman smirked slightly, "Zhang Ze, why is it that every time I see you, you're in such a sorry state?"

I looked at her in confusion, and she smiled, "I'm Meng Shuang."

I remembered her—she was the girl who competed with me for first place in university. She had changed a lot since then; she was no longer the simple, rustic girl she once was, but rather confident and radiant, like a shining star.

And me...

Our son looked at me timidly, his small body trembling. He wanted to run into my arms but hesitated.

The sight was heartbreaking. Li Ran ran up, embracing our son, "Xiao Yang, thank goodness you're okay. What would we have done without you?"

I managed a bitter smile.

The innocence and purity that once graced our son's face were gone. He whispered in Li Ran's arms, "Mom, my dad is Zhang Ze, right?"

Hearing his words felt like a knife stabbing into my heart, leaving me breathless with pain.

Li Ran laughed awkwardly, "It's just like the uncle I took you to meet the other day; he's your real dad... but Zhang Ze is also your dad. You have two dads, you..."

Before she could finish, Xiao Yang pushed her away forcefully, shouting, "I don't want that uncle to be my dad! I only want my dad!"

Li Ran was furious. She raised her hand and slapped Xiao Yang, "What are you saying! If it weren't for Li Yue, you wouldn't even be born! How can you not acknowledge him!"

Xiao Yang held his face, stunned.

Realizing what she had done, Li Ran quickly covered his face, nervously checking him over, "Does it hurt, baby? I was impulsive, but you shouldn't speak about your dad that way. He loves you."

Xiao Yang brushed her hand away, looking at her with resentment.

He was at a loss, glancing at me cautiously before lowering his head and walking back.

Li Ran watched his retreating figure with sadness, then turned to me, questioning, "Zhang Ze, what did you say to Xiao Yang? Why does it always have to be about blood relations?"

I was about to speak when Meng Shuang interjected with a laugh, "If Zhang Ze had a child that wasn't biologically yours, would you raise it?"

Li Ran denied it without a second thought, then glanced at me with a complicated expression.

Meng Shuang rolled her eyes and teased Li Ran a few more times.

Seeing that I wasn't defending her as I used to, disappointment flashed in Li Ran's eyes, and she stomped her foot before turning to leave.

Meng Shuang crossed her arms, commenting indifferently, "So that's the kind of person Li Ran is."

I smiled bitterly, "Sorry for the spectacle."

Meng Shuang raised her eyebrows, smiling openly, "How about treating me to a coffee?"

I looked at Meng Shuang and nodded, taking her to a newly opened café nearby.

Melodic music flowed through the café, and Meng Shuang stirred her coffee with her long fingers.

She was completely different from before. Throughout my life, I had always been top of my class, top of the college, with the highest GPA in school.

Meng Shuang was in the same major but in the neighboring class. Every exam, she was right behind me, and sometimes we even tied.

At first, she was a girl from the mountains, and when I first saw her, she was extremely reserved, sitting there like an ugly duckling.

Now, the ugly duckling had transformed into a swan... and I, for the past ten years, had willingly revolved around my family for the sake of love.

Meng Shuang's smile was bright, "You haven't changed a bit; I recognized you immediately."

I asked, "Do you think I'm pathetic, giving up my career and having such a messy life?"

When we graduated, a Fortune 500 company offered us positions. But at that time, Li Ran was pregnant, so I gave up the opportunity to care for her.

When I made that decision, Meng Shuang asked me why I was giving it up.

What did I tell her back then?

I said, "Meng Shuang, people's dreams differ. Mine is simply to take care of the one I love. I'm willing to be her support."

After Xiao Yang was born, Li Ran wanted to work and become an independent woman, and I supported her, becoming a stay-at-home dad.

Now, sitting in this café, wearing a cheap white T-shirt from a discount store, my hair a mess, I felt worlds apart from Meng Shuang and Li Ran.

Meng Shuang took a sip of her coffee, speaking candidly, "When we graduated, I thought you were pathetic, giving up your career for love."

"Back then, I thought city folks didn't care about material things, that we were different."

"But after struggling in society, I can understand your perspective. Everyone has different dreams and priorities. There's some regret, but I can support it."

Listening to Meng Shuang, my eyes felt a bit sore.