Chapter 35 Confidence

Although the situation was far from ideal, Yan Xue nearly laughed out loud at Chen Qing’s choice of words. Indeed, having a husband who cheats during the most vulnerable period of pregnancy—when a woman is most in need of her partner—is one of life’s great misfortunes. Yet countless women, bound by the presence of a child, endure such betrayals in silence, swallowing their disgust and pain for the sake of preserving the family.

During her internship, Yan Xue had witnessed a man caught red-handed having an affair with another woman’s wife. The husband confronted them, and a violent altercation ensued. The man, outmatched, was badly beaten—his face bruised and swollen, utterly humiliated. The commotion drew the attention of neighbors who called the police, resulting in both parties being taken to the station.

The woman caught in the act, though disheveled and bearing some marks from the scuffle, was contrite and admitted her fault, understanding her husband’s anger. The husband, however, was resolute. He declared that such a wife was intolerable—a single infidelity could never be forgiven, and divorce was the only option.

Following protocol, the police contacted the adulterer’s wife to come and handle the formalities. Yan Xue joked with her senior mentor about how the man would probably get another beating when his wife arrived, and that divorce papers might follow the next day.

Her mentor laughed and shook his head. “You’re too naive. We see this all the time. That man and his wife have a seven-year-old child. When we called her, she already knew what had happened. She was dodging the elders at home, not wanting them to find out. Divorce? Not likely. When she arrives, expect a scene—crying, yelling, the whole drama. After that, life goes on as usual. If she’s really determined, she’ll endure it. If not, she might even consider having another baby to ‘strengthen’ the marriage.”

At the time, Yan Xue dismissed his words utterly. No one would accept such a betrayal; even in exclusive relationships, infidelity meant immediate breakup, let alone in marriage, a legal bond.

When the wife finally arrived, she rushed to her bruised husband, crying, scolding, pushing, and hitting him—then they left together. Because they lived in the local jurisdiction, about six months later, as Yan Xue was finishing her internship, she happened to see the couple again. Their familiarity stuck with her, and from afar, she recognized them instantly. Embarrassed to face them, she quickly turned away and bought a bag of ice cream to share with her mentor at the station.

Experience, she realized, was invaluable. Her mentor’s prediction had been spot on. The couple was now laughing and chatting, the woman’s belly showing a small, gentle curve. She walked with her hand on her hip, a delicate gait that, though somewhat exaggerated, clearly marked her as pregnant.

After officially entering the workforce, Yan Xue gradually understood that once a woman enters marriage—especially with children involved—she often sacrifices her own well-being to preserve the family. She endures, tolerates, and compromises more than she should.

Armed with this understanding, Yan Xue admired Chen Qing’s decisiveness when confronting her husband’s infidelity. Chen Qing had pulled away the veil immediately, refusing to give him any chance at reconciliation, opting instead for a swift divorce without compromise. Her firm adherence to her principles and refusal to settle for less won Yan Xue’s deep respect.

“I think you’re right. A complete family is important for a child, but only if both parents are truly fit to provide a healthy environment. Otherwise, a chaotic home filled with constant strife is worse. Eventually, the child might even wish they had grown up in a single-parent household,” Yan Xue said, half in conversation, half in reflection.

“Exactly! That’s exactly how I feel!” Chen Qing’s eyes brightened, thrilled to have found a kindred spirit.

As they spoke, Kang Ge drove into Chen Qing’s residential complex. Having registered the day before and with the emergency involving the child still fresh, the security guards recognized their vehicle and let them through without hesitation.

At Chen Qing’s home, she settled Yan Xue and Kang Ge in the living room before going to put her child to sleep in the bedroom. After a while, she returned, hastily bringing them drinks.

The apartment was modest but comfortable—about eighty square meters with two bedrooms. The décor was not particularly modern but exuded warmth and coziness. On the wall behind the three-seater sofa where Kang Ge and Yan Xue sat, a rectangular outline suggested a large wedding photo had recently been removed.

Looking around, Yan Xue noticed the absence of any sign of a male presence. The house was slightly untidy, understandable given the recent chaos and the presence of a young child, but nothing excessive. The overall impression was clear: Chen Qing was resolutely determined to expel Shi Shugao from her life and had prepared herself to embrace single motherhood.

Chen Qing handed them two glasses of juice, then pushed a bulging envelope toward Kang Ge.

“I’m really sorry. I know cash is hardly used these days, but this is the only way I can repay you for the medical expenses you covered yesterday,” Chen Qing apologized awkwardly. “I’m divorcing Shi Shugao, and a friend warned me to prevent him from secretly transferring assets when he’s cornered. So I’m taking out the money and keeping it safe at home. He’s at fault, and whatever the court awards him, I’ll give him only that—nothing more.”

“My account now has just a little left, not enough to repay you fully, so I hope it’s okay if you take the cash and deposit it yourself,” she added with a hint of embarrassment.

“No problem at all,” Kang Ge nodded, accepting the money. “Just be careful to keep the cash hidden. With only you and the child at home, it wouldn’t be safe if others found out.”

How Chen Qing and Shi Shugao divided their assets and guarded against transfers was none of Kang Ge’s concern, so he refrained from commenting—only offering advice from a security perspective.

“Don’t worry. I haven’t even told the friend who gave me this advice. Since you’re police officers and I have to repay you in cash, I explained it to you so you’d understand. I know what I’m doing,” Chen Qing sighed. “Honestly, I’m less worried about strangers with ill intentions nowadays and more about keeping Shi Shugao in the dark. I’ve already changed our locks, packed up his belongings, and sent them to his parents’ place through a courier. My biggest wish now is to win custody of my child and finalize the divorce, so I can live peacefully.”

“Since your health issues and caring for the child mean you’ve lost your job, will you be able to support yourself and your child after the divorce?” Yan Xue asked with genuine concern.

If Cong Fangfang’s death had been a crime of passion, there would be fewer complexities to consider. But this was clearly a premeditated murder, born of a deep and uncontrollable hatred stemming from a profound impact the victim had on the killer’s life. Such cases often arise from an irrepressible grudge demanding retribution.

Chen Qing’s late-stage pregnancy was invaded; she was pushed to the ground, nearly harming her unborn child. She lost her job, faced divorce and asset division, and now stood alone against the financial and emotional burdens of child-rearing. The harsher her path, the deeper Chen Qing’s hatred toward Cong Fangfang would grow. Though Yan Xue still maintained Chen Qing was not a prime suspect, everything must be confirmed or ruled out rigorously.

“That’s not really an issue,” Chen Qing replied, seemingly unaware of Yan Xue’s underlying intent, taking the question as simple concern. “Before the pregnancy, I was competent at work and earned a good salary, so I managed to save some money. Once the child is older, returning to work won’t be too difficult.”

“Plus, my family’s financial situation is decent. During the divorce, Shi Shugao kept harping on my lack of income, so my parents transferred a commercial property they own to me. The rent from that shop is roughly equivalent to a salary, so even if I can’t work right away while caring for the baby, I can still cover living expenses.”

“My parents have already planned to hire a reliable nanny once the child turns one. They’ll assist me, so I won’t have to wait long before returning to work.”

“Oh, and the apartment we’re in—I bought it before marrying Shi Shugao. It’s in my name. If he hadn’t cheated and we stayed married, it would be his too. But since he broke a fundamental trust and we’re divorcing, the property isn’t subject to division. I don’t have to worry about losing my home.”

Chen Qing’s tone was steady, a quiet assurance underpinning her words—a woman resolute in reclaiming her life and safeguarding her child’s future.