Jiang Pingyang arrived ten minutes early.
He felt restless all afternoon because he was about to meet with Ding Rou and was not interested in his work, so he simply took a leave of absence and drove around aimlessly until the time was near when he arrived at the appointment.
What Jiang Pingyang did not expect was that Ding Rou had already arrived.
Seeing him, the woman didn't have much emotional reaction, just nodded and said lightly. "Sit down, order food first and let's talk."
Jiang Pingyang was noncommittal.
After only one scan, the man quickly ordered the French Duck Breast Stew Set, then closed the menu and returned it to the waiter.
Ding Rou also quickly chose the meal.
When the waiter left, there were only two people left. The mother and son who were supposed to be the closest but looked at each other silently, and the atmosphere was very unnatural.
Ding Rou looked at Jiang Pingyang.
When was the last time she saw Jiang Pingyang, even Ding Rou herself couldn't remember how long ago it was, but this son looked just like Jiang Huaide, a man she had deeply loved and hated in her life.
They have been together since their school days, experienced many stories and created many memories.
Ding Rou had known for a long time that Jiang Huaide loved scientific research and could even lock himself in the laboratory for two whole days to do his work without sleep and still maintain energy. Ding Rou used to be fascinated by Jiang Huaide's fascination, especially when the man talked about those difficult things. When the theories were difficult to understand and the formulas were dazzling, the sparkle in his eyes was always imprinted in Ding Rou's heart.
Handsome.
But at that time Ding Rou didn't know that such a man could be loved but not married.
At least, he was not suitable for marriage.
Jiang Huaide was so busy that she could harsly see him even once a year when he was carrying out research projects involving national security. Ding Rou, who was alone at home, gradually developed resentment and unwillingness, anger and hatred in the boundless loneliness.
When she needed him, her husband was always absent.
Sometimes Ding Rou felt that her identity was not Jiang Huaide's wife, but just a housekeeper who looked after the big house for him.
Later, they quarreled every time they met.
Jiang Pingyang was conceived at this time.
When the couple's relationship dropped to freezing point, a rough sex was comparable to two beasts tearing each other, and gave seed to an unexpected life. Later, because of the abnormal fetal position, the process of the baby coming out of the birth canal was extraordinarily difficult. This difficulty, Ding Rou has never experienced such pain in her life. That kind of pain tore at her body, her will, and at the same time wiped out her last hope for Jiang Huaide.
Although she was not a child born in a wealthy family, she was also the daughter of a well-off family who was pampered by her parents. Ding Rou, who has never suffered any setbacks since she was a child, was dazed in love when she was dating Jiang Huaide. Although she knew the man's personality was good, but the series of problems she has encountered since entering the marriage made Ding Rou realized that she was not that strong.
She wanted to rely on and she wanted to be loved.
This was something Jiang Huaide couldn't give him.
After giving birth to Jiang Pingyang, Ding Rou began to change her life. She applied for a job as a secretary in Xue Wangui's company, while being entangled with several men outside.
Ding Rou enjoyed this life very much.
She was a professional secretary during the day and a free woman at night. Because Jiang Huaide was basically not around, Ding Rou's "comfortable" days lasted for a long time.
As for her son Jiang Pingyang, she basically left him to the care of his nanny, so she could not see him.
However, it turned out that there was no airtight wall in the world. If played too much, there would be trouble.
She was pregnant, and the object was just a college student.
Ding Rou loved his goodface and his care. When the two were intimate, Ding Rou felt that she was the princess that the other side was carefully holding in his palm and taking care of. Ding Rou has no doubt that if she told the other side that she was pregnant, he would be responsible for sure.
But a woman who has already passed the dreaming age knew in her heart that life without love would be sour, and life without money would stink. Not to mention Jiang Huaide's at least materially satisfied Ding Rou, and Ding Rou couldn't for some vague emotions give up everything to accompany a child who did not know the complexity of human feelings and hadn't experienced life.
So they broke up.
At first, Ding Rou wanted to simply abort the child, but after the doctor's assessment of her physical condition, she hesitated.
After this hesitation, it was delayed until Jiang Huaide came back again, and the two had a relationship.
Since there was not much time difference, Ding Rou had a very bold idea in her heart.
Pass off fish eyes for pearls. [T/N: 鱼目混珠 (yúmùhùnzhū): to pass off fish eyes for pearls / to pass off fake products as genuine (idiom)]
It was unexpectedly successful.
Whenever she saw Jiang Anyang's white and tender face, Ding Rou would remember the college student who has graduated and gone to work abroad. Ding Rou herself caouldn't tell whether she loved him or not, but it was undeniable that the other party had left a deep ink in her heart.
Unlike Jiang Ping Yang's birth, which brought Ding Rou pain, Jiang An Yang's caesarean section was like a gift from heaven. Since his birth, Ding Rou's life has been very smooth, and she has received the favor of her boss, Xue Wangui.
Ding Rou naturally knew the background of her boss.
Many people say that Xue Wangui was just a nouveau riche who got an opportunity to make a fortune under the protection of his ancestors, but Ding Rou, as the man's secretary, knew his means and strength all too well.
A man who was like a hero, his ex-wife died early, and he loved his daughter like his life.
Although she had an affair with many men, the only one who really had sex with Ding Rou was the college student. The college student had many advantages, young and strong, humorous… But in the face of reality it did give Ding Rou thoughts of divorce.
It wasn't until she found out that Xue Wangui had a good opinion of her that Ding Rou started to think and had an idea.
She quickly made the decision to divorce Jiang Huaide, and then slowly figured out Mrs. Xue's position.
Although it was certain that Xue Wangui's appreciation for her was just the boss's affirmation of the subordinate's ability, the process was still longer than Ding Rou expected, especially from the time they became involved until she finally got her name printed on Xue Wangui's account book.
Just when Ding Rou was about to give up, an opportunity came, and there was a glimmer of hope. A business dispute caused her to block Xue Wangui. Although it was only a small wound on her arm, it succeeded in giving Ding Rou the key to enter the door of Xue's house.
People love to compare.
In the past, she only thought that the material life given by Jiang Huaide was good enough, but compared with the daily life after becoming Mrs. Xue, it was nothing.
This was how greed gradually took root.
But this time, she was more patient. As her husband, Xue Wangui satisfied the woman's vanity very well in terms of face and stature, even though she knew that she was inferior to his deceased wife and daughter in the man's heart, but it was precisely because of this that Xue Wangui, a man with a hard appearance and a soft heart, would feel guilty.
The most advantageous bargaining chip was that she didn't fight nor compete.
Ding Rou knew this very well, so she just needed to play the role of Mrs. Xue and wait slowly.
How good would it be to wait for Xue Mi, who loved her son, and the husband who owed her, to automatically bring everything in front of her and An Yang, and sit on the mountain of gold and silver without any effort?
Ding Rou's wishful thinking has been going on for a long time, so it was impossible for her to watch others sabotage her plan.
Even if that other person was her other resentful son.