Chapter 18: Driven to the Storage Room

Yu Wanqin’s expression also turned cold.

Leaning back on the sofa as if she owned the place, she cast a cold, sidelong glance at the other party and said expressionlessly, “What? Are you trying to drive us mother and daughter out to make room for your little mistress and your bastard child?”

Little Tongtong also narrowed her eyes, standing protectively in front of her mother, glaring fiercely at Scumbag Dad.

Lin Zhiguo was so angry his face flushed purple, and he gritted his teeth. “Don’t talk nonsense! I—I’m innocent with eldest sister-in-law!”

Shen Wei also covered her face and began to cry. “Wanqin, I swear to heaven, your eldest brother passed away early, and Brother Zhiguo has just been helping out a bit more with us mother and children. How could you slander me like this!”

Seeing her cry, Lin Zhiguo’s heart ached again.

He turned and glared fiercely at Yu Wanqin. “Apologize to eldest sister-in-law now!”

Yu Wanqin raised an eyebrow, casually tossing the melon seeds in her hand onto the coffee table with a clatter, and said calmly, “I was just saying it offhand, don’t get so worked up. Whether the two of you have something going on or not, you know best.”

Her cold, penetrating gaze swept over them.

Lin Zhiguo’s eyes darted around nervously, and he guiltily looked away.

Shen Wei secretly cursed Lin Zhiguo for being useless. Clenching her teeth, she stepped forward and said in a helpless tone, “Sister Wanqin, Zhiguo is only doing this for us mother and daughter. If you’re angry, take it out on me, but please don’t make things difficult for him.”

Lin Ruihu also jumped out. “Don’t bully my dad!”

Despite being warned, Lin Ruihu insisted on calling Lin Zhiguo “Dad.”

He stared hatefully at Tongtong, his eyes venomous.

In his heart, he thought it was this wretched girl who had taken his house, his delicious food, and his fun toys, and now she was trying to take his dad away too.

Lin Jiaojiao, nestled in Shen Wei’s arms, also looked pitifully at Lin Zhiguo, her eyes filled with admiration.

Lin Zhiguo’s heart instantly swelled with warmth.

He felt that all his efforts over the years had not been in vain.

The last trace of hesitation faded from his heart, and he said coldly and harshly, “When I tell you to move, you move! Stop all this nonsense!”

“Jiaojiao has a weak constitution, and the doctor said living in the storage room is bad for her respiratory system. Since the two of you are so understanding, you’ll just have to endure it for now…”

Lin Jiaojiao, leaning on her mother’s shoulder, gave Tongtong a smug smile, her chin slightly raised.

Yu Wanqin was so angry she laughed.

Rage surged in her eyes.

So, because Lin Jiaojiao was in poor health, her own daughter should suffer instead?

Tongtong’s dark, lively eyes darted around. Suddenly, she clutched her chest, her little face turning pale as she leaned against her mother, putting on an exaggerated performance.

“Mom… Tongtong isn’t well either… my chest hurts so much… the storage room is dark and damp… if Tongtong moves in, I won’t last three days…”

A flicker of understanding passed through Yu Wanqin’s eyes. She immediately hugged Tongtong and began wailing at the top of her lungs, hoping the entire building could hear.

“My poor daughter… Lin Zhiguo, are you trying to kill us mother and daughter!”

Tongtong also burst into loud sobs, melodramatically adding to her act: “Mom… Tongtong wants to write a will… if Tongtong dies, it’ll be because of Dad and eldest aunt… you must give it to Godfather… tell him Tongtong died so tragically… and read it out loud during the meeting…”

Although Yu Wanqin knew her daughter was pretending, hearing her say this still made her heart tremble, and she held her daughter even tighter.

The mother and daughter wailed so loudly that neighbors from both sides came to ask what was happening.

Aunt Zhu was the most proactive. Before Yu Wanqin and her daughter could even speak, she confronted Lin Zhiguo.

“Deputy Battalion Commander Lin, how can you bully your wife and daughter again for the sake of an outsider?”

Lin Zhiguo: “…”

Before he could even speak, Tongtong took over the conversation.

The little girl’s long eyelashes were still dotted with glistening teardrops, her small mouth trembling with each sob, looking utterly pitiful.

“Auntie Zhu, my dad wants to kill me and Mom…”

“What! How could such a thing happen! That’s truly heartless!” Auntie Zhu immediately exclaimed.

“Deputy Battalion Commander Lin, you’ve gone too far. This is a new society now—if you can’t make the marriage work, you can get a divorce. How could you harm someone!”

Yu Wanqin covered her face and sobbed, offering no explanation.

Inwardly, she sneered—Lin Zhiguo was nothing but a coward. He wouldn’t dare divorce her even if he could!

Lin Zhiguo was overwhelmed by the crying, especially under the neighbors’ probing gazes, which made it impossible for him to save face.

Shen Wei was seething with anger.

Her gaze toward Tongtong turned icy and sinister.

“Tongtong, I only asked you and your mom to move out for a while. It’s not as serious as you’re making it out to be!”

Tongtong continued to sob, her little voice growing hoarse, deliberately misinterpreting his words.

She paid no attention, fully immersed in her act.

Weakly collapsing into her mother’s arms, she cried, “Daddy… you’re so cruel… you don’t even care if your own daughter lives or dies…”

Yu Wanqin glared at him with furious, reddened eyes. “Lin Zhiguo! What are you scheming, kicking us mother and daughter out so your own sister-in-law can move in with you!”

Her accusation sent a jolt through Lin Zhiguo, breaking him out in a cold sweat.

Especially under the neighbors’ increasingly blatant stares from outside.

“Oh my! What’s going on? How could anyone drive his own wife and child into the storage room to make room for his sister-in-law?”

“Tsk! What sister-in-law? I bet they’ve been carrying on for a while now!”

“Who knows? Nurse Shen has been living here for so long… a man and a woman alone under one roof…”

The clamor of voices fell like raindrops.

Lin Zhiguo’s face turned ashen.

Just what he feared had come to pass.

He dreaded anyone bringing this up. Before Yu Wanqin arrived, he could play the fool.

But now, that was no longer possible.

This was a critical period for his promotion… He had no choice but to grit his teeth and accept it.

Lin Zhiguo clenched his jaw bitterly, forced to compromise. “Fine! Fine! You stay here. I’ll take Sister-in-law and the others to live in the storage room!”

Shen Wei couldn’t believe it. “Zhi Guo!”

“It’s settled!” Lin Zhiguo didn’t dare look at her, turning and hurrying away instead.

Yu Wanqin smiled cheerfully, completely ignoring Shen Wei’s sour expression, and struck up conversations with the neighbors at the door.

Tongtong cleverly offered a handful of sunflower seeds to share with everyone.

These were all good people who had spoken up for their family!

Seeing no room left for her to intervene, Shen Wei stormed off in a huff.

That evening, inside the storage room of the compound.

There were only two rooms—a bedroom and a living area—containing a bed, a cabinet with a broken door, and a chipped, worn-out table.

Even after cleaning all afternoon, the musty, aged smell lingered, impossible to dispel.

Lin Jiaojiao and Lin Ruihu, who had never suffered such hardship before, burst into tears as soon as they entered.

Shen Wei stamped her foot angrily. “Lin Zhiguo! Are you really so spineless that you can’t even control your own wife and child?!”

Lin Zhiguo was also simmering with frustration. “What do you know! That damn girl has the Division Commander backing her now. What could I do?!”

Shen Wei’s eyes reddened. Without another word, she began crying pitifully.

She knew Lin Zhiguo was weak to this.

Sure enough, Lin Zhiguo softened.

Glancing at Lin Jiaojiao and her brother, who were crying together, he sent them off to bed first.

He continued to coax her gently, “Just bear with it a little longer. I’m in the critical period for promotion, and the selection for Battalion Commander will be decided in a couple of days. Do it for me, just endure a bit more…”

His voice was soft and persuasive.

Shen Wei also knew she couldn’t push too hard. Half-resisting, half-yielding, as they spoke, the atmosphere gradually grew ambiguous.

Lin Zhiguo’s breathing quickened, “Don’t worry, you’re the only one in my heart. I’ll always be on your side…”

After saying this, he eagerly began to pull at Shen Wei’s clothes. Before long, suppressed gasps echoed in the room.

Tongtong stood expressionlessly outside, her face wooden as she said to Grandpa Tree, “Are you ready?”

[Ready! Little one, just wait and see!]

The Old Ginkgo trembled with excitement, its leaves rustling wildly.