C13 For Your Own Good

Naturally, Lin Mengyao would not accept Yang Wenfeng's invitation.

Regardless of her naivety, she was well aware that Yang Wenfeng's invitation to his home was not for the sake of conversation.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Yang, but after the banquet, I need to return home to care for my husband. I must decline your offer."

Yang Wenfeng burst into laughter.

"Your husband? The madman? Does he even require care? Do you have any idea how many women would kill to share my bed, and yet I turn them down? I offered you this chance because you're attractive."

"You should realize that this opportunity doesn't come to everyone."

"What difference does your worthless husband make? He's nothing but a lump of clay, unable to even comfort his own wife. What's the point of a man like that living?"

"He's just a flower wasted on cow dung. And Mengyao, here's a piece of advice: if you don't capitalize on your youth now and plan for your future, when you're old and unwanted, you'll see just how worthless your man is."

Yang Wenfeng immediately began to belittle Tang Hao and Lin Mengyao.

Claiming to like her was merely a pretext for a self-serving transaction.

His interest was purely in Lin Mengyao's physical appeal.

To put it bluntly, Yang Wenfeng lusted after Lin Mengyao's body and nothing more. To him, she held no other significance.

While she was still a novelty, she could perhaps fetch a small sum, but once Yang Wenfeng lost interest, she would be worth nothing.

As Yang Wenfeng continued his tirade of insults towards Lin Mengyao and Tang Hao, Tang Hao kept eating, seemingly oblivious to the commotion. Yang Wenfeng's intentions were lost on him.

For a man to brazenly attempt to seduce another man's wife right in front of him was an egregious insult.

But Yang Wenfeng's audacity stemmed from his knowledge that Tang Hao was mentally ill.

He might get angry, or he might not even comprehend the situation.

But what difference did it make?

What could an enraged mental patient do?

With the financial power of the Qrapo Group, making someone disappear was all too easy.

There are plenty of ways to make someone vanish without a trace.

"Exactly, Mengyao. You've mentioned how Yang Wenfeng is dashing and debonair, not to mention wealthy and young. In today's world, that's hardly surprising. For a successful man, having a few mistresses is quite normal, isn't it?"

"Besides, you and Tang Hao are still married. Nothing's changed, except now you have an additional boyfriend, one who can provide you with a comfortable life. It's no big deal. Why overthink it?"

Lin Mengyao turned to Lee Wanqing with a frosty gaze.

She had always cared for the Lin family as if they were her own kin.

Even when faced with the malice of the old matriarch, Lin Mengyao had remained dutiful in her care.

Should any of them have faced a life-threatening situation, she would have generously offered her help.

But no matter how poorly they treated her, they were still just relatives.

Lee Wanqing, however, was her flesh and blood mother.

Was Lee Wanqing blind to Yang Wenfeng's true nature?

Another boyfriend?

How could she speak of it so lightly?

What kind of mother urges her daughter to get involved with a womanizer? It seemed that in Lee Wanqing's eyes, Lin Mengyao was nothing more than a chip to be cashed in for money.

Lee Wanqing was acting like a madam in a brothel, setting up her own daughter for her gain, ready to profit from the situation.

Lin Mengyao was expected to hand over every penny she earned directly to Lee Wanqing.

In that instant, Lin Mengyao's look became icy and distant.

Even Lee Wanqing felt a jolt of unease.

"Are you still my mother? Or do you see me merely as a means to make money? Does my honor and dignity mean so little to you?"

"Uh..." Lee Wanqing was taken aback, clearly uncomfortable.

She hadn't anticipated such a serious confrontation from Lin Mengyao.

"How could that be? What mother doesn't want the best for her daughter? I'm doing this for your own good. Look at your situation. You're married to a loser with issues. Do you think I won't worry about you for the rest of your life? Can you really count on him to take care of you?"

Lin Mengyao showed no regard for Lee Wanqing's feelings when she said,

"Even though I've only known him for two days, he has taken far better care of me than you ever did as a mother."

Her voice was tinged with indifference.

Lee Wanqing's face contorted with displeasure, as if she had swallowed something distasteful.

Lee Wanqing was after the Lin family's wealth, and Lin Mengyao was merely a tie between her and the Lin family.

As a child, Lin Mengyao was raised by a nanny while Lin Quansheng, the patriarch, was in charge.

Lin Quansheng provided more care for Lin Mengyao than Lee Wanqing ever did.

Once Lee Wanqing became the Lin family's matriarch, what was her focus?

She spent her days shopping with other wealthy wives, sightseeing, and indulging in spa treatments.

She never once accompanied Lin Mengyao to kindergarten; the servants took care of that.

Even the parent-teacher meetings were attended by Lin Quansheng, despite his hectic schedule.

As a result, Lin Mengyao grew up feeling isolated, which explains her innocence, kindness, and seeming vulnerability.

She had scarcely felt the warmth of parental love, particularly from her mother.

In many ways, Lin Mengyao regarded Lee Wanqing as nothing more than a stranger connected by blood, a mother in name only.

That was the extent of it.

Lin Mengyao's statement struck at the little soft spot Lee Wanqing had.

"Lin Mengyao, I need to make this clear: I am your mother, I always have been, and I always will be. Obeying your mother's commands has been your duty since birth. I've been patient and gentle with you until now."

"Don't push me, I'm warning you."

Tears welled up in Lin Mengyao's eyes.

Truly, in Lee Wanqing's eyes, Lin Mengyao was nothing more than a tool.

Her sole purpose was to be at Lee Wanqing's beck and call.

Witnessing Lin Mengyao being treated so harshly was something neither Lee Wanqing nor Tang Hao could stand for.

"Ms. Lee Wanqing, have you lost your sight?" Tang Hao challenged.

"Firstly, Yang Wenfeng is as wrinkled as a Shar-Pei. You're marrying your daughter off to someone like that and you call it happiness? You must have a serious misunderstanding of what happiness is."

"Seeing as you're so fond of this Shar-Pei, you might as well marry her. It seems you're quite taken with her, aren't you?"