CHAPTER 456: CHAPTER 456: TEARS OF JOY

Lin Chuxia did not mind her attitude and patiently explained her purpose for seeking her.

Upon hearing that Lin Chuxia was in cahoots with Wang Tianxue, Tang Lili instantly knew why she felt annoyed the moment she saw this woman.

She sneered, "Why should I help you? What does it matter to me whether Wang Tianxue wants the child or not? Isn’t she the one wanting a divorce? She’s been talking about it for so long, all bark no bite. I think she is playing hard to get. Since you are here, help me relay a message to Wang Tianxue— if she wants a divorce, just do it quickly. Yang Rui doesn’t love her anyway. Dragging it out is pointless. Didn’t she find Yang Rui impure? Isn’t she acting all noble? Just don’t end up being a hypocrite in the end."

"I don’t know if Wang Tianxue is noble or not, but I do know, Comrade Tang, that you cannot afford to be noble, and are even despised by others."

Lin Chuxia came to negotiate with her not as a lesser person, nor would she agree with Tang Lili just because she sought her help.

Tang Lili’s eyes widened in shock, "What are you talking about?"

"Isn’t it true? You knowingly engaged in an affair with a married man during his wife’s pregnancy, intruding into their marriage. A few years earlier, and your actions could have been considered criminal."

She came to negotiate with Tang Lili, but that didn’t mean she would indulge her.

A morally corrupt woman had no right to criticize anyone else for being noble.

Tang Lili’s eyes nearly spat fire, "What criminal? Yang Rui and I are truly in love. Yang Rui doesn’t love Wang Tianxue at all. Their marriage was arranged by their parents, a remnant of feudal society. Ultimately, she is the one usurping the nest. We are merely correcting this mistake."

She abruptly stood up and turned to leave, "Mr. Lin, don’t forget you came begging to me today. Since you’re not sincere, I don’t need to waste my time here."

"Who said I’m not sincere? Helping you get rid of trouble is the greatest sincerity. Don’t you want Yang Rui to get a divorce quickly?"

Tang Lili’s steps halted abruptly, "What did you say?"

"Just like my earlier suggestion, you persuade Yang Rui to give up the child’s custody rights. I assure you, as long as Wang Tianxue gets the custody, she won’t stand in your way anymore."

The condition Lin Chuxia had just negotiated was for Tang Lili to convince Yang Rui to give up Xiao Long’s custody rights.

Out of everyone, only Tang Lili had the capability to do so.

Seeing Lin Chuxia circle back to her earlier point, Tang Lili sneered, "Why should I listen to you?"

Tang Lili knew very well how much Yang Rui wanted his son; persuading him to give up his child’s custody rights was nearly impossible.

She had brought it up once before, only to be rejected by Yang Rui.

Lin Chuxia continued, "You aren’t listening to me, this is mutually beneficial, isn’t it? You should understand the difference for Yang Rui to remarry you with or without this child. You certainly don’t want to marry him just to become a stepmother, do you?"

She saw Tang Lili’s reluctant gaze and continued, "Wait until you two have your own children. If it’s a boy, he would still be overshadowed by this child as a younger brother. If it’s a girl..."

Lin Chuxia didn’t continue.

Tang Lili’s mind suddenly shook—why else would Yang Rui cheat on her, if not thinking Wang Tianxue was carrying a daughter.

If he really obtained custody rights, not only would she have to be a stepmother, but if she later had a daughter, would there even be a place for them in the home?

Ultimately, she would be raising another woman’s son, aiding someone else’s marriage.

But then...

Lin Chuxia’s voice rose again, "If you can persuade Yang Rui to give up the child’s custody, once Yang Rui and Wang Tianxue divorce successfully, I will give you two hundred yuan as a bonus for decorating."

Just to keep you despicable couple together forever.

At that moment, Tang Lili hesitated no more, "Alright, I agree, I will try my best to persuade Yang Rui to give up the child’s custody rights."

...............

Following that, Wang Tianxue and Lin Chuxia were gathering court evidence of Yang Rui’s affair while waiting for news from Tang Lili.

During this period, Yang Rui even went to Qin’s Restaurant, where he knew Wang Tianxue worked, and demanded that she hand over the child to his mother.

It was then revealed that Yang Rui had brought his mother from his hometown to the city to convince Wang Tianxue to give up the child’s custody.

Remembering that in the past, Wang Tianxue’s child was lost due to Yang Rui’s mother, Lin Chuxia feared that Wang Tianxue would waver.

Fortunately, not only did Wang Tianxue not falter, but she also drove Yang Rui out of the restaurant.

With Qin Juan and Jia Liang around, Yang Rui could not take any advantage at Qin’s Restaurant.

During these days, Wang Tianxue had become familiar with the people at Qin’s.

Especially Qin Juan, who could deeply empathize with Wang Tianxue’s plight and even offered her courtyard for them to live when Wang Tianxue expressed concerns about the child affecting the residential quarters.

Finally, the day of the court hearing arrived, and Lin Chuxia also received news from Tang Lili. Yang Rui agreed to give up the child’s custody, although he hadn’t explicitly said so, but there was a slight shift.

Any shift was a good sign.

They also collected quite a bit of evidence of Yang Rui’s infidelity.

His affair with Tang Lili was almost common knowledge in the Department Store, making gathering such evidence quite easy.

Since the divorce was against her family’s wishes, Wang Tianxue’s parents did not attend the court.

Her younger brother, Wang Tianyu, wanted to take leave to come, but Wang Tianxue refused.

Her brother’s studies had already been affected because of this issue; she couldn’t distract him further.

As Wang Tianxue’s friend, Lin Chuxia had to be present, and Zhang Guilan, heavily pregnant, also came, along with Qin Juan who took leave to attend.

Even Old Mrs. Jia, holding a child, was sitting in the audience.

Furthermore, Qin Jianjun had also helped in getting his teacher to serve as Wang Tianxue’s defense lawyer.

With the support of this teacher, the trial went smoother than they imagined, and despite Yang Rui not fully giving up on the child, the lawyer’s defense coupled with various pieces of evidence proved that Wang Tianxue, as the biological mother, was more suitable to raise the child.

An hour later, the court ruled in favor of Wang Tianxue’s divorce petition, and the custody of Yang Xiaolong was granted to her.

Hearing this verdict, Lin Chuxia, Qin Juan, and others stood up and applauded, Wang Tianxue was moved to tears.

The past half a year had been extremely tough for her.

She had prepared for the worst; if she couldn’t secure her child’s custody, she’d unwillingly divorce that man and reapply for custody when financially able.

But everything changed after meeting Lin Chuxia.

Tearfully looking at the audience, she now had friends like Lin Chuxia, a sister in misfortune like Qin Juan, and a kind neighbor like Aunt Jia.

These people were not her relatives but were more than family to her.

Her gamble on these friendships paid off; what could taking her life mean compared to this?

Looking at Lin Chuxia, she finally broke into a tearful smile.