Chapter 6: If You Can't Beat Them, Join Them

Lin Xilan was momentarily taken aback, then smiled kindly. "Sure, come in."

In the living room, Lin Xilan sat on a single-seater sofa, while Song Qingli rested on the adjacent long sofa. A cup of hot water sat on the coffee table.

"Qingli, how is your health now? Are you recovering well?"

"Very well, thank you for your care."

Song Qingli lowered her head, hands resting on her knees, her fingers slowly tightening. The once heavily creased acetate dress now appeared even more wrinkled.

Lin Xilan glanced at her, raising an eyebrow. "Qingli, what is it you want to talk to me about?"

"I... I..."

Song Qingli stammered, unable to utter a word for a long while.

Lin Xilan moved closer, comforting her. "Qingli, don’t be nervous. Whatever it is, just say it."

...

Song Qingli looked up at Lin Xilan, tears streaming down her face.

"Xilan, I’m being tormented beyond endurance. You know how much I hate interfering in others’ relationships, yet here I am, entangled in your marriage with Zhou Yuheng. I’ve become the despised third party."

Her tears never ceased, falling drop by drop onto her dress.

"Don't put so much pressure on yourself. Zhou Yuheng loves you."

Lin Xilan picked up an orange, holding it beneath her nose to sniff.

---

Song Qingli nodded, clutching Lin Xilan’s hand tightly. "I know. I love him, too. So, Xilan, may I shamelessly ask you to let us be? Because I truly don’t want to be the other woman."

"I’m really helpless and in pain. I can’t sleep at night anymore."

Lin Xilan looked at Song Qingli’s tear-streaked face, unmoved.

In truth, she wanted to say: helpless? Pants don’t fall down by themselves.

"So, what do you want me to do?"

Lin Xilan asked.

Song Qingli replied, "Would you divorce Zhou Yuheng?"

Lin Xilan handed her a tissue to wipe her tears. "Qingli, my marriage to Zhou Yuheng isn’t up to me. It was personally arranged by his grandfather. You know he’s the head of the Zhou family; everything is decided by him. Over the years, who in the Zhou family has dared to defy his word?"

Lin Xilan spoke modestly, but it was a veiled boast—an invisible sword that pierced Song Qingli to the core.

"But I really can’t bear it."

Song Qingli was drowning in guilt. She and Zhou Yuheng had started dating in college but broke up due to a misunderstanding. She went abroad, and when she returned, Zhou Yuheng was already married to Lin Xilan.

Song Qingli had planned to leave this painful place, but her feelings got the better of her, and she ended up back with Zhou Yuheng.

She was a proud woman, refusing to become the vilified third party in everyone’s eyes.

...

Lin Xilan offered hollow comfort, but Song Qingli couldn’t hear it, only begging for her blessing.

---

In the end, Song Qingli knelt down before Lin Xilan.

"Xilan, I know I owe you. As long as it’s not Zhou Yuheng, I’ll give you anything you want."

Her hands gripped Lin Xilan’s jeans tightly. She lowered her head, her sobs heart-wrenching. Just then, Zhou Yuheng entered and saw this scene.

!

It was over!

Lin Xilan lifted her head, meeting Zhou Yuheng’s cold, furious gaze.

What to do now? Lin Xilan’s mind raced.

At this critical moment, Lin Xilan also knelt down before Song Qingli.

Following the principle of "if you can’t beat them, join them," she chose this approach. She could tolerate anything but losing out; she knew Zhou Yuheng very well.

...

Song Qingli was stunned. "Xilan, you..."

"I’m the one at fault, Qingli. Zhou Yuheng loves you."

Lin Xilan knelt only for the sake of the property at Emerald Lake. She was kneeling before the God of Wealth, not this shameless third party, Song Qingli!