CHAPTER 439: CHAPTER 439: COUSIN, PLEASE HAVE SOME SELF-RESPECT!

During the following period, Chen Bin spent his days basking in the tender warmth of Hao Wenjing and her daughter.

Until mid-May, when He Beibei called to tell him that she was pregnant and planned to marry Xiong Wubing in June.

Chen Bin congratulated her and sent a 10,000-yuan red envelope.

He had absolutely no intention of attending the wedding.

After exchanging pleasantries for a couple of sentences, He Beibei didn’t say much else.

It felt as if an invisible rift had formed between them.

Just as Chen Bin’s emotions grew complicated, Xu Ruoxuan arrived in Beihuang County.

Accompanying her was her one-year-old son, Xu Sicheng.

Inside the room at the Beihuang Hotel, Xu Ruoxuan told Chen Bin she no longer harbored any hopes of convincing Yuan Qian.

Despite the child being born, Yuan Qian still refused to approve of the relationship between the two.

Holding Xu Sicheng in her arms, Chen Bin asked doubtfully.

"My parents don’t oppose us being together—why is your cousin interfering? And you seem to be quite afraid of her."

With a sigh, Xu Ruoxuan appeared helpless.

"It’s because of issues from the previous generation. My aunt prohibits my cousin from interacting with our family, so she doesn’t even know what my parents think. My cousin manages me, but it’s actually for my own good—after all, you’re such a philanderer."

Scratching his head awkwardly, Chen Bin pressed further.

"What exactly happened? I’m a little curious."

At that, Xu Ruoxuan revealed the secrets of the previous generation.

It turned out that Yuan Qian’s mother had risen to her position by being a mistress, which humiliated Xu Ruoxuan’s grandparents to the extent of casting her out.

Following the family’s arrangements, Xu Ruoxuan’s mother severed contact with Yuan Qian’s mother, which led to the estrangement between the two families.

Chen Bin was in shock upon hearing this. "Oh god, I didn’t expect your aunt to be that kind of person."

Xu Ruoxuan quickly explained, "Actually, my aunt had the child first; it’s my uncle’s fault for maintaining relationships with two women—he married another woman—and that’s why my cousin uses our aunt’s surname."

Nodding his head, Chen Bin finally understood the complex connections.

"Your uncle must have been something; he kept your aunt waiting for so many years."

Xu Ruoxuan shot a resentful glance at Chen Bin, her expression tinged with blame.

"You’re just like my uncle—all heartless playboys!"

Laughing awkwardly, Chen Bin quickly changed the subject.

"By the way, where does your uncle work?"

"In the Imperial Capital. I heard he’s in politics, but I’m not sure what position he holds."

At her words, Chen Bin felt his chest tighten.

It dawned on him that Xu Ruoxuan had an influential background.

Leveraging it could surely bring him great success.

Coupled with his advancing age, Chen Bin began contemplating marriage.

"Sis, if only I could work in Tianhai, then it’d be much easier for us to meet up regularly."

Xu Ruoxuan took a deep breath, resolve flashing across her beautiful face.

"If it really doesn’t work, I’ll ask my cousin’s husband to find a way to transfer you to Tianhai."

Chen Bin’s heart filled with joy, but he asked in a doubtful tone.

"Is that even possible?"

Intertwining their fingers, Xu Ruoxuan nodded firmly.

"I’m not that familiar with Mayor Fu, but he is my cousin’s husband. I refuse to believe he wouldn’t help with such a small favor."

"Why don’t we get right to it and head to Tianhai tomorrow to find him?"

Seeing Chen Bin’s eager expression, Xu Ruoxuan ultimately agreed.

After a night of passionate intimacy, Xu Ruoxuan was pampered by Chen Bin to the point of complete satisfaction.

The former looked like a parched field finally nourished, her whole demeanor exuding the charm unique to a mature woman.

Chen Bin called Hao Wenjing to request time off, and then he and Xu Ruoxuan, carrying the child, set off.

After arriving in Tianhai, they casually found a place to eat.

Catching a taxi ride, they arrived at Yuan Qian’s home, where Xu Ruoxuan rang the doorbell.

Soon, the door opened.

"Ruoxuan, why are you here? Hurry and come in."

As she spoke, Yuan Qian reached out to take the child from Xu Ruoxuan’s arms.

But the moment she saw Chen Bin, her expression turned unpleasant.

"You’re still pestering Ruoxuan? Get out—you’re not welcome here!"

Forcing a polite smile, Chen Bin said meekly.

"Cousin, please don’t..."

Before he could finish speaking, Yuan Qian tugged Xu Ruoxuan inside and was about to close the door when the latter stopped her.

"Sis, Xiao Bin is Sicheng’s father. For the child’s sake, let him come in."

Glancing at the child in her arms, Yuan Qian finally snorted coldly.

Without saying a word, she headed into the living room and sat on the sofa.

Seeing this, Xu Ruoxuan quickly pulled Chen Bin inside.

Before he could sit down, the child started crying.

Yuan Qian swiftly handed the child back to Xu Ruoxuan, speaking calmly.

"The child might be hungry. Go feed him quickly."

Xu Ruoxuan looked at the child, then at Chen Bin, and hesitated.

"Sis, don’t give Xiao Bin a hard time, please?"

Seeing Xu Ruoxuan’s pleading expression, Yuan Qian suppressed her anger and nodded.

"Alright, hurry up!"

As the guest bedroom door shut, Yuan Qian’s gaze turned icy as she stared at Chen Bin.

"Do you have any shame left? Why must you keep hounding Ruoxuan?"

Trying to appease her, Chen Bin replied, "Cousin, please don’t be mad. I’ve changed—I’m planning to be fully devoted to my sister now and will never have anything to do with other women again."

"You can save that talk for fools!"

Influenced by her father, Yuan Qian firmly believed no man in this world was truly faithful.

The memories of her mother’s tragedy were still vivid; there was no way Yuan Qian would let her cousin follow the same path.

Seeing that placating her wasn’t working, Chen Bin began to speak more boldly.

"Dean Yuan, after all, you’re just her cousin. Why must you control her? Doing this kind of thing to break us apart—isn’t it beneath your dignity?"

"I’m her sister, and I must look out for her! She’s in her thirties and still being duped by someone like you, a scumbag. Chen Bin, let me make myself clear: if you continue to hound Ruoxuan, I promise to end your political career right here and now!"

Yuan Qian was clearly very emotional, her beautiful face full of fury.

Sensing trouble, Chen Bin quickly clasped his hands together in a plea.

"Dearest Dean Yuan, I beg you to give me another chance. I promise to treat my sister well."

As the weather had grown warmer, Chen Bin was dressed in short sleeves.

Bowing his head, his chest became exposed.

When Yuan Qian saw the crescent-shaped birthmark there, she froze.

Faced with her unwavering stare, Chen Bin panicked and said hurriedly.

"Dean Yuan, please restrain yourself—I’m not that kind of man who’s easy to get."

Yuan Qian’s heart was already in turmoil, leaving no room for jokes.

Her enchanting eyes locked onto Chen Bin as she questioned him urgently.

"What are the names of your parents, and where is your hometown?"

"I’ve been an orphan since childhood and grew up with my grandfather, who has since passed away. My hometown is in Sparrow Village in Xinchuan City."

"Sparrow Village? I’ve never heard of it."

Frowning deeply, Yuan Qian continued asking.

"Other than Chen Bin, have you ever used another name? Do you know someone named Chen Ao?"

"Chen Ao? I’ve never heard of them. My name was given by my grandfather and has never been changed."

Yuan Qian then continued asking more details about Chen Bin’s family.

Though perplexed, Chen Bin answered truthfully, without overthinking.

To Chen Bin, Yuan Qian was acting like someone assessing a prospective son-in-law’s family background.

After hearing Chen Bin’s account of his upbringing, Yuan Qian went straight into the room.

She dialed a phone number and, with tears streaming down her face, said emotionally.

"Old Chen, we’ve found him—I think I’ve found my brother!"