That night, my mother didn't come back to sleep.

Today, the head of the Chen family was entertaining guests at home, and the sound of drinking grew louder. I thought my mother would be busy serving for a long time, so I didn't pay much attention and continued working on my test papers in the room.

Suddenly, a scream pierced through the night in the garden.

I recognized it as my mother's voice and immediately dropped my pen and ran outside.

In the garden, the driver, Lao Wang, who brought us here, was sitting on the ground with a flushed face, looking somewhat dazed.

Not far away, my mother, disheveled, was leaning against a man, trembling.

I knew that man, he was Chen Xinxin's father and the head of the Chen family, Chen Guoxing.

He had just finished entertaining guests, still dressed in the black suit from the banquet. My mother leaned against him, looking like a frightened deer.

I stood there, suddenly at a loss.

Chen Guoxing was the first to react. He helped my mother up, took off his suit jacket and draped it over her, then looked at the still-sitting driver and frowned, saying, "This is the Chen family, not some chaotic place. Lao Wang, you've been working for my family for several years. I thought you were an honest and decent person, but I didn't expect you to behave like this!"

Lao Wang sat on the ground, still confused. Suddenly, as if understanding Chen Guoxing's meaning, he quickly stood up to defend himself, "I didn't, Mr. Chen... I really didn't... Xiaoxia and I truly love each other."

As he spoke, Lao Wang looked at my mother, "Xiaoxia, please explain to Mr. Chen."

Chen Guoxing looked at my mother, but she kept her eyes downcast, saying, "When did I ever love you? You've been pestering me, threatening that if I didn't be with you, you would have the boss fire me... I had no choice but to follow your orders. But now, you want to forcefully possess me, I absolutely refuse..."

My mother looked at Chen Guoxing with a look of grievance, "If I have to do this to keep this job, then I'd rather leave."

Chen Guoxing immediately spoke up, "You don't need to leave. The one who should leave is him."

Lao Wang didn't know what he had done wrong. He wanted to plead, but didn't know how to start. Suddenly, he saw me standing on the side and hurried over, "Yuyu, you can testify for me, right? I've always been good to your mother, haven't I?"

I opened my mouth, but couldn't say a word.

Even without looking in my mother's direction, I could feel the gaze she cast upon me.

It was at this moment that I suddenly understood what my mother meant by the beautiful life she talked about, the one that would make Chen Xinxin never smile again.

So this was my mother's plan.

Uncle Wang, who took us away from the village, was just a part of her plan.

But what about me? If she insisted on taking me away, where did I fit into her plan?

Lost in my thoughts, Chen Guoxing had already walked over. This was the first time we faced each other and spoke.

He didn't look as stern as usual. He gazed at me and asked, "Is what he said true?"