CHAPTER 462: CHAPTER 462: THE SCAPEGOAT

"Could it really be...not?"

In her memory, the old lady had never shown her mother a kind face.

It was the same for her in the past.

The relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law was like they were enemies in a past life.

Old Lady Yan sighed again, "Ah... there are some things that I shouldn’t tell you, but actually I never disliked your mother, she was very filial and treated me well."

"She was an outstanding child. Your father finding her in his life was a blessing from his past life. If it weren’t for her turning the tide, Yan Group would have collapsed in your father’s hands long ago."

"Your mother and I were merely being stubborn with each other. When she died in that car accident, I shed quite a few tears."

Yan Qianyi asked, "Is it because of my brother’s existence?"

Old Lady Yan was surprised, "How did you know? Did your father tell you?"

"I found out myself."

"Then... does your brother know?"

Yan Qianyi shook her head, "I didn’t tell him, but I think he must already know, otherwise he wouldn’t have left home for so many years."

"Ah... back then I wanted your mother to abort your brother; she was only three months pregnant. But she insisted on keeping your brother, which is why I’ve been stubborn with her all these years."

"So, my mother didn’t hide my brother’s identity?"

She had thought that her mother made Yan Hong the fall guy, and after Yan Hong found out, he couldn’t take it and that’s why he had an affair with Han Yarong.

"There was no hiding, your mother was an upfront person. She also made it very clear to your father—it was your father who shamelessly wanted to be the fall guy."

Speaking of this matter made Old Lady Yan angry, "Originally, I disagreed with your brother’s birth because I was worried it would cause trouble later on. Your father, in order to keep your mother, agreed to everything verbally, but once your brother was born, he never treated him like his own son. Later on, your parents argued a lot over it, until it got to the point where your brother couldn’t even stay in this house anymore; what was the point of all that?"

Yan Qianyi fell silent.

Suddenly feeling very sorry for her brother.

When they were young, she was the most favored, and her father was very strict with her brother.

At that time, she had thought it was because he was a boy, and her father’s strictness was to ensure her brother’s future success.

But it turned out...

She didn’t know when her brother had found out.

From his teens, he left the Yan Family and drifted alone, surely having endured much hardship to achieve his status today.

"I truly regret it now..." said Old Lady Yan, her reddened eyes turning towards Shu Meng’s belongings, "If only I hadn’t been so stubborn with your mother back then, she was really a good daughter-in-law, I was just too obstinate before..."

"Grandma, it’s all in the past."

Ever since her mother’s death, the old lady had been much nicer to her, probably because of guilt, too.

"Qianyi, do you blame Grandma?" asked Old Lady Yan.

"I don’t, it’s all in the past, and you shouldn’t dwell on it. My mother was a very kind person; she certainly wouldn’t blame you."

Although the old lady could be bad-tempered, at critical moments, she was much more reliable than Yan Hong.

So she knew that Old Lady Yan’s intentions weren’t actually bad.

"Right, you still haven’t told me, what are you looking for?"

"I’m looking for my mother’s diary, or her work records, I remember she liked to write things down on paper."

"Yes, she left behind many notebooks, and I don’t know what’s in them. They were moved out of the study and put here, but there might be some trouble finding them among all these things."

Yan Qianyi looked at the mountainous pile of belongings in front of her and pondered for a moment before saying, "Let’s do this, have the driver take my mother’s belongings over to my place, and I’ll sort through them slowly when I get back."

"Okay, they’ll all be sent over to you," Old Lady Yan hurriedly took Yan Qianyi’s hand, "Then you better go, there’s too much dust here. I’ll have the kitchen whip up something delicious for dinner tonight, and you can leave after eating."

"No need, I have things to take care of when I go back," Yan Qianyi refused.

She really didn’t want to see Yan Hong’s detestable face.

Old Lady Yan guessed what she was thinking and asked, "Can’t you truly forgive your father?"

"There’s nothing to forgive or not forgive. The money earned by the Yan’s belongs to him, and I won’t take a penny less of what is his."

"You are, after all, his biological daughter."

Yan Qianyi frowned slightly, "When he sold me off, he certainly didn’t think about us being father and daughter. Don’t try to persuade me, if it wasn’t for my mother’s last words, he wouldn’t be getting a dime right now."

"What did your mother leave behind as her last words?"

"She had Aunt Xue tell me, to forgive Yan Hong no matter what he does in the future."

Old Lady Yan sighed, "Your mother was a good person."

"Too bad good people don’t get good returns," Yan Qianyi said coldly.

"Well, I know you feel wronged in your heart, and what your father did before was indeed inexcusable. I hope you two can mend your relationship because... Yan Ruyi has been released."

"She got out so soon?"

"Yes, Han Yarong took the fall for all the charges, and Yan Ruyi was locked up for only a few months." Old Lady Yan gnashed her teeth, "That’s letting her off too easy!"

"What does it have to do with me if she’s out?"

"I discovered she has been secretly meeting with your father, and I’m worried they might conspire together again, causing trouble. That’s why I’ve been hoping for you and your father to reconcile, so that Yan Ruyi won’t have any opportunity to exploit."

Yan Qianyi asked, "Is she planning to return to the Yan Family?"

"No way! I would never agree to that!"

"Then that settles it. She’s nothing but a stray dog, not worth mentioning. I’ve already sidelined Yan Hong, even if the two of them join forces, they won’t be able to stir up much trouble."

Old Lady Yan nodded, "You’re right, but I still need to keep an eye on them. Don’t worry about it. You are pregnant now, try to minimize your stress."

"Yeah, I’m heading back now, just remember to have someone send these things over to my place later."

As Yan Qianyi passed through the living room, Yan Hong was still sitting on the sofa, completely ignoring her.

Once Yan Qianyi had left, he immediately asked Old Lady Yan, "What does she want with her mother’s belongings?"

Old Lady Yan rolled her eyes, "If you want to know, why don’t you ask her yourself?"

"If I ask her, she won’t tell me."

"You blockhead!" Old Lady Yan scolded in frustration, "With a daughter as outstanding and capable as Qianyi, you still don’t know to win her over a bit. When you get old, who else will you rely on but her? Surely you can’t expect to depend on Yan Ruyi?"

"Why bring Ruyi into this?"

"Don’t think I don’t know you two met secretly. Yan Hong, let me make myself clear: if you continue to associate with Yan Ruyi, then you can forget having me as your mother! I’ll have Qianyi kick you out of the group, and you can go live with that malicious Yan Ruyi!"

With those words, Old Lady Yan stormed off furiously.

The worst thing in her life was giving birth to such a worthless son like Yan Hong!

She felt that she must have made a mistake when she was young, and as punishment, the heavens gave her such a son.