Chapter 75: Stepping Stone

Chapter 75: Chapter 75: Stepping Stone

She turned to look at Shen Zhenwu, her voice growing a little quieter. "He risked his career and put his life on the line to protect you... In all these years, have you ever once truly looked at him? Have you ever seriously listened to a single word he’s said? Do you just see him as an ATM and a meal ticket?"

Shen Zhenwu swayed violently, stumbling to grab the back of a chair for support. His knees buckled, and he slowly sank down, burying his head in his hands.

Watching him, Yao Yuzhen’s heart inexplicably tightened. Her palms began to sweat, and she swallowed without realizing it.

’She was all too familiar with the sight of Shen Zhenwu backing down.’

’Too used to him giving in, shutting up, and just nodding along.’

’She was used to putting on airs in front of him, used to his constant compromises. Afterward, he would always look up and speak gently, as if nothing had ever happened.’

So even though she felt a pang of guilt, she didn’t back down.

"He did it because he wanted to! I didn’t hold a knife to his throat and force him! Besides, if the Yao family hadn’t fallen back then, would someone like Shen Zhenwu have even been worthy to stand before me and propose? Would he have been worthy of making me, Yao Yuzhen, lower my head or bow down even once?"

’What she really wanted to say was:’

’You were the one who insisted on marrying me. Everything you did, you did willingly.’

’Now you want to kick me to the curb for that girl, Song Yao? So, do your promises from back then still count for anything?’

But the words were stuck in her throat; she didn’t dare say them out loud.

She only glanced at Shen Zhenwu from the corner of her eye, hoping he would understand, hoping he would be the one to speak.

Shen Zhenwu didn’t even glance at her.

His hands were clamped tightly around his head, his body trembling. He clenched his jaw so hard that his teeth were grinding.

Song Yao could tell at a glance. ’Dad’s world is being turned upside down right now.’

And listening to what Yao Yuzhen had just said was like having ice water poured down her back, a chill running from her head to her toes.

She strode over and gently placed a hand on her dad’s shoulder. Her eyes were fixed on Yao Yuzhen, unflinching and void of courtesy.

"Comrade Yao Yuzhen," Song Yao said. Her voice wasn’t loud, but every word was crystal clear.

"You dote on Song Shuangshuang. You raised her for over a decade, and I understand that. You hate me? Fine. I don’t need you to like me. But what about my dad? He protected you, put you on a pedestal, treated you like the most precious person in the world. And you? You’ve taken all of his kindness completely for granted, haven’t you?"

Shen Zhenwu’s body jolted. He subconsciously opened his mouth, but it felt as if a hand were squeezing his throat, choking off his words.

Yao Yuzhen’s expression didn’t show a hint of being moved.

Instead, she sneered, her eyes full of resentment.

"It’s not your place to lecture me! Outsiders could never understand the bond I share with Shuangshuang! Are all of you ganging up on me, trying to tear her away from my side? Not a chance! Shuangshuang is my life! If anyone wants to harm her, they’ll have to do it over my dead body!"

"Then let’s get a divorce!"

Shen Zhenwu suddenly threw his head back and roared, his voice making the entire room buzz.

Yao Yuzhen’s face fell. She stared at him intently. "Shen Zhenwu, I’ll ask you one last time. You’re going to divorce me over Song Yao?"

"Divorce!"

His voice was even louder this time. His eyes were completely dry, without the slightest glint of moisture.

The moment he looked up, he had fiercely wiped his face with his sleeve. ’I can’t let my daughter see me cry.’

"Let’s do it, Comrade Yao Yuzhen."

Song Yao added, "But let me make one thing clear. For Song Shuangshuang’s sake, you’re the one pushing away the person who genuinely loves you, and you’re abandoning your own biological daughter. From now on, whatever your life with Song Shuangshuang becomes, we won’t get involved. And as for the time she stabbed me with a knife, I won’t bother bringing up old scores."

’That was the most minor of her offenses.’

’Song Yao had long been keeping a tally in her heart of all the debts from her past life.’

’And after the scene Yao Yuzhen made today, she’d just added it to the bill—principal and interest included.’

With both of them having said their final words, Yao Yuzhen was completely floored.

She froze on the spot, so stiff that not even her fingers twitched.

’Only she knew that she didn’t actually want a divorce at all!’

’Threatening Shen Zhenwu with divorce had always been just a bluff, a tactic to get a quick result.’

’A real divorce?’

’With no family money, no skills, and no one to support her, how would she even survive?’

’Even if she didn’t starve, her quality of life would be worlds apart from what she had now.’

Song Yao spoke slowly, a faint smile on her lips. "Are you... having regrets?"

"Actually, if you’re willing to change, there’s still a path forward."

She paused, her gaze sweeping over Yao Yuzhen’s pale face.

"Cut off all contact with Song Shuangshuang. Devote yourself to this family and to my dad. With so many years of history between you, it’s not as if he can’t give you one more chance."

The words were like a knife to Yao Yuzhen’s heart. How could she bear it?

’If she actually agreed, wouldn’t that be the same as admitting defeat and begging Shen Zhenwu to take her back?’

’The moment her knees bent, her dignity would shatter into pieces.’

’From now on, would she have to grovel and walk on eggshells around him?’

’Would she not even be allowed to hear her daughter’s voice? Would she have to sneak around just for a simple greeting?’

’No! Absolutely not!’

Yao Yuzhen’s eyes were rimmed with red as she stared at Shen Zhenwu. "Shen Zhenwu, if you’re really dead set on this divorce, don’t you dare come crying to me with regrets in the future!"

At her words, Shen Zhenwu’s heart turned to ice.

His eyelids drooped, and his Adam’s apple bobbed.

"Fine. I won’t regret it. We’ll go get the divorce papers first thing tomorrow morning."

After he spoke, his gaze swept over Song Yao before quickly looking away.

’A wave of relief washed over Yao Yuzhen. It worked!’

’He was just putting on a brave face. For all his tough talk, he’s still scared of divorce.’

’He said tomorrow?’

’That means there’s still room for negotiation tonight... ’

She quietly let out a breath, her fingernails slowly uncurling from her palms.

Song Yao’s voice cut in unexpectedly. "No need to wait until tomorrow, Dad. Didn’t you want to transfer ownership of the house to me? Since we have time now, let’s just get it all done at once—the divorce and the transfer."

Getting a divorce wasn’t as simple as just saying you wanted one. A report had to be filed, followed by mediation from the organization.

Countless couples had reached this stage in the past, but once their military unit intervened to persuade them, nine out of ten would end up reconciling.

Yao Yuzhen dared to be so defiant because she had calculated all of this. The worst-case scenario was dragging things out until the organization got involved. Then, she would just have to shed a few tears, change her story, and say she didn’t want the divorce, and everything would go back to how it was.

"Don’t be afraid, Dad. I’ll be here with you every day from now on."

Song Yao gently patted the back of Shen Zhenwu’s hand.

’What was the point of keeping a wife like Yao Yuzhen?’

’To have her slam doors in the middle of the night?’

’To have her talk back to him in public?’

’To have her not cook a single decent meal for him in three years?’

"She despises you, so much that she’d rather ruin your reputation and sabotage my future! She doesn’t have a single genuine feeling for you! Dad, you deserve someone who will actually love you, protect you, and treat you with respect—not some ’good wife’ who only uses you as a stepping stone!"

After speaking, Song Yao turned to glance at Yao Yuzhen.

Her expression was calm, devoid of both provocation and warmth.

Hearing Song Yao fan the flames right to her face, Yao Yuzhen finally exploded.

"Song Yao! From the day you came back, you’ve done nothing but try to drive a wedge between us! Before you showed up, we were fine! We lived in peace for so many years, and he never once complained about my attitude!"

"What, the moment you appear, he suddenly starts finding fault? This is all your fault!"

She began to wipe away tears as she spoke, her shoulders shaking. She turned to Shen Zhenwu, her voice thick with sobs.

"And you still wonder why I don’t like her? You tell me, how could I possibly like a daughter who is trying to tear our family apart?"

Shen Zhenwu shot to his feet, just about to speak.

But Song Yao spoke first. "When you love someone, you naturally care about the people close to them. If you truly cared about Dad, then even if you favored Shuangshuang after learning I was your biological daughter, you wouldn’t have been so ruthless in trying to crush me!"