“Dad, it’s not your fault, don’t blame yourself. I can still break up with him.” Lin Mei wasn’t saying this to make them feel guilty. “Chen Qi’s parents have arrived in Nanjiang and are on their way to the hospital. He must have already told his parents about the breakup and likely framed me and Senior Brother.”
“I never intended to stain your eyes with these photos,” Lin Mei told the elders her purpose.
Xiao Yue scoffed coldly upon hearing this, saying with disdain, “Chen Qi really takes us all for fools. I’d like to see what his parents have to say after looking at these photos!”
“It’s clearly Chen Qi who has been causing trouble since years ago, yet he’s the one shifting the blame and sowing discord. Your father and I almost believed him and wronged you!” Xiao Yue was filled with regret thinking about it. “Fortunately, your two friends came that day and enlightened your father and me. Otherwise, we’d still be blinded by Chen Qi…”
Xiao Yue and Lin Zhengde felt truly guilty, but Lin Mei didn’t blame them. Chen Qi was a good actor, and his parents were easily swayed. It was inevitable that they would be deceived over the years.
Lin Zhengde looked at the hospital room door and said, “Then let’s wait for them to arrive and have a good talk.”
Now that they had the evidence in hand, why should they fear the Chen family? These photos couldn’t possibly be faked!
—
Chen Jing took a taxi from school to Anzhen Hospital. She met up with Chen Qi and two elders in the inpatient department. As soon as they met, Chen Jing immediately cursed Lin Mei, “This vixen! She must have seduced Ming Zhou for help to get her dad transferred here!”
Chen Dong and Li Jin did not correct Chen Jing’s words as they usually did. Seeing the expressions on the elders’ faces, Chen Jing knew they also harbored suspicions about Lin Mei. Chen Jing secretly rejoiced. She had long disliked how her parents favored Lin Mei. Every time she said something about Lin Mei, she would be lectured.
No matter how good Lin Mei was, she was still an outsider. A daughter-in-law should act like one and dare to compare herself to her own daughter.
The Chen family soon arrived at Lin Zhengde’s hospital room. When Lin Zhengde and Xiao Yue saw the Chen family approaching, they did not greet them with their usual warmth and politeness. They merely glanced over and didn’t even say hello.
The cold attitude of Lin Zhengde and Xiao Yue displeased Chen Dong and Li Jin. Chen Jing, unable to contain herself, stepped forward and questioned Lin Mei, “Does your family have any manners? My parents traveled a long way to visit, and this is how you treat them?”
“Chen Jing!” Chen Qi feigned a scolding, saying, “Say less.”
Lin Zhengde didn’t spare Chen Jing a glance. He looked at Chen Dong and Li Jin and said, “Since you’re here, please sit down. We also have something to discuss with you both.”
Lin Zhengde and Xiao Yue were, after all, people of integrity. Even knowing what Chen Qi had done, they maintained their final decorum.
Chen Dong and Li Jin sat down. Li Jin began, “Lin Mei and Chen Qi have been together for so many years. They are on the verge of marriage, and it’s a shame to break up. If there are any conflicts, we elders can help mediate…”
Before Li Jin could finish, Xiao Yue interrupted her. Xiao Yue rarely behaved so rudely. “There’s no need. Why don’t you two ask Chen Qi what he’s been up to all these years first.”
Xiao Yue’s words made Li Jin and Chen Dong’s faces turn ugly. Just as Chen Qi had said, the Lin family intended to bite back.
It was Lin Mei who was restless and provoked other men, trying to climb higher, only to shift the blame onto Chen Qi. How could they tolerate such unreasonable behavior?
Chen Dong said, “I always thought you two were people’s teachers and wouldn’t confuse right and wrong or twist facts. Chen Qi might have his flaws, but I believe you’ve seen how he’s treated Lin Mei all these years.”
“Yes, his superb acting has truly made us believe he was sincere towards my daughter!” Although Lin Zhengde was hospitalized, his voice was still full of vigor. He looked at Chen Qi and said, “Chen Qi, why don’t you tell your parents yourself what you’ve done!”
Lin Zhengde’s attitude shocked Chen Qi. Could it be that Lin Mei had shown them the video? Wasn’t she afraid of stimulating Lin Zhengde?
Chen Qi couldn’t be sure if Lin Zhengde had seen the video. He could only deny it vehemently. “Teacher Lin, there seems to be some misunderstanding between me and Mei Hua. I’ve never done anything to wrong her. She’s occasionally muddled, but I can forgive her. I truly want to be with her.”
Lin Mei couldn’t listen any longer. She looked at Chen Qi and asked him coldly, “Are you still pretending at this point?”
“Who’s pretending?” Chen Jing took out her phone. She had wanted to show the video to the Lin family since she arrived. “Do you think we don’t have evidence of you seducing men?”
Chen Qi feigned to stop Chen Jing. Chen Jing shook him off and said emotionally, “Brother, it’s because you’ve always indulged her that she’s been seducing men behind your back!”
“Do you guys think your daughter is exceptionally pure and innocent?” Chen Jing opened the video and held up her phone.
Chen Jing stood in a position where all four elders could see the video on her phone. Chen Jing also turned the volume up to the maximum. Ming Zhou’s confession of love to Lin Mei was thus played out.
What’s more, the video also showed Ming Zhou holding Lin Mei in his arms, and Lin Mei did not reject Ming Zhou’s closeness, indirectly confirming the charge of “seduction.”
All four elders were seeing this video for the first time. Chen Dong and Li Jin were both angry and disappointed. They had always thought Lin Mei was chaste and pure, but they never expected her to be such an immodest woman in private. Such a woman who didn’t love herself, how could she be worthy of entering their family?
Although Lin Zhengde and Xiao Yue were seeing the video for the first time, they were not angry about the words or intimate actions in the video. In the video, although Ming Zhou had revealed his feelings to Lin Mei, Lin Mei had not given Ming Zhou a clear answer, and the embrace was initiated by Ming Zhou.
Moreover, watching the video, it seemed to have been filmed recently. By then, Lin Mei had likely already learned of Chen Qi’s infidelity.
Lin Zhengde and Xiao Yue did not believe Lin Mei’s actions had any moral flaws, nor did they believe such a video could serve as evidence of Lin Mei “seducing” Ming Zhou.
After watching the video, Li Jin became agitated and questioned Lin Mei, “Chen Qi saved your life, and you betrayed him like this! Lin Mei, I’m so disappointed in you!”
Chen Jing followed suit, cursing Lin Mei fiercely, “I told you, she’s just a vixen who can’t stand loneliness. She acts all aloof and cold in front of my brother, and then goes out to seduce men. She might have already been played by Ming Zhou, otherwise, how could she afford a good hospital room!”
Lin Zhengde and Xiao Yue were extremely angered by Chen Jing’s unrestrained insults. However, being cultured people, they were not good at arguing. Lin Mei’s patience reached its limit. She picked up the file bag and threw it at Chen Jing’s face.
With Lin Mei’s action, everyone in the hospital room was stunned.
Lin Mei glanced at Chen Qi and Chen Jing and said coldly, “Take a look at these things before you start barking.”