A man and a woman, both in their forties, sat beside them, their faces full of bitterness.
"Qinghan, listen to your mother. I can't bear to part with Jing Si, but if we find her a good family to foster her, then you won't have to worry about her anymore, and you can marry the young master of the Zhang family. Your life will be better," Yang Yu advised with a heavy heart.
Yang Yu was the wife of Qin Guangnan's second son, Qin Zhi. Over the years, she had endured many humiliations and hardships for Qin Qinghan. Her daughter had been violently assaulted, and she had given birth to the child of that assailant amid the scorn and curses of everyone.
Thus, Yang Yu hated the criminal who assaulted her daughter and also loathed this granddaughter who should never have been born. There were times when she even considered abandoning the child.
Qin Qinghan gently placed a piece of vegetables in Jing Si's bowl, then looked up and said, "Mom, I accept my fate, but if it means giving up Jing Si, I'd rather live on the streets."
Seeing that Qin Qinghan was still so stubborn, Qin Zhi sighed. "Qinghan, Jing Si is a good girl, but... she's the daughter of a rapist. You can't keep her forever."
Upon hearing this, Qin Qinghan's face darkened. She frowned and said, "Dad, how could you say that? I know Jing Si's biological father was a monster. I don't even know what he looks like or what his name is. But Jing Si is my daughter. I brought her into this world. She has a bad father, but does that mean I should also be a heartless mother?"
As she spoke, tears of sadness fell from her eyes. No one could understand the pain she had endured over the years.
She had been assaulted, rejected by friends, and mocked by her family. All she had known was endless shame and scorn. She had even considered ending her life, but Jing Si's birth had given her new hope. So, despite everything, she endured it all, just to raise her daughter, even though she hated the rapist and blamed him for ruining her life.
The little girl's lips pressed tightly together. Though young, she was very perceptive and could sense that everyone, except her mother, despised her.
The little girl pulled out a tissue and handed it to Qin Qinghan, her voice shaky. "Mom, I made you sad again. It's all Jing Si's fault. Please don't send me away. I'll be good."
Upon hearing her words, Qin Qinghan could no longer hold back her tears. She tightly embraced Jing Si and sobbed, "No, I won't. I will never leave you."
At that moment, a voice rang out from the main seat of the banquet. "Everyone, please be quiet. We now have an announcement from Old Master Qin."
Everyone quieted down, and a middle-aged man stood up. It was Qin Guangnan's eldest son, Qin Fei. Qin Fei had a son named Qin Shou, who was now casting a mocking glance at Qin Qinghan's family.
Qin Qinghan, though a fallen woman, was still known as one of the most beautiful women in Haihua City. If she weren't his cousin, Qin Shou thought, he would have tried to woo her himself.
The hotel suddenly became silent as the elderly Qin Guangnan, dressed in a Tang suit, slowly stood up and smiled. "Today is my birthday, and I thank everyone for attending. On this occasion, I would like to announce a marriage for my granddaughter, Qin Qinghan."
He then looked toward a frail-looking man around thirty years old sitting at a neighboring table. "Young Master Zhang, I must thank you for not minding my granddaughter's past. I am entrusting her to you from now on."
Zhang Ge hurriedly stood up and smiled. "Old Master Qin, you are too kind. I am honored to be able to marry into the Qin family. However..."
Zhang Ge's gaze turned toward the corner where Qin Qinghan sat. For a moment, he was lost in admiration. He had long admired Qin Qinghan, and now, under Qin Guangnan's arrangement, he was about to marry her.
However, as Zhang Ge's eyes fell on Jing Si beside Qin Qinghan, a look of distaste flashed across his face. He immediately added, "Old Master Qin, my father has agreed that we can accept Qinghan's past, but we cannot accept this child... She cannot be part of the Zhang family."
The moment Zhang Ge's words fell, Qin Qinghan's face turned red with anger. She had already opposed this marriage. Her grandfather had forced her into it. She could endure it as long as Zhang Ge treated Jing Si as his own, but if he couldn't accept Jing Si, then she would rather live on the streets than agree to this marriage.
Qin Guangnan smiled and reassured Zhang Ge, "Don't worry, I've already promised your father. This child won't be coming to live with you. I'll find her a foster family."
"Thank you, Old Master Qin." Zhang Ge replied quickly, his eyes gleaming with unspoken excitement.
Though Qin Qinghan had been assaulted and humiliated, her beauty was still renowned far and wide. Marrying such a woman would be a great honor, and Zhang Ge was thrilled at the thought of it.
As Qin Guangnan finished speaking, Qin Qinghan's face turned cold with fury. She stood up and said, "Grandfather, my fate is not for you to decide. I have one condition: If Jing Si is taken from me, I will leave the Qin family."
"How dare you!" Qin Guangnan slammed the table and shouted angrily, "Haven't you brought enough shame to the Qin family? The young master of the Zhang family doesn't mind your past, the Zhang Group is willing to tolerate you. You should be grateful!"
He then turned to his grandson, Qin Shou, and ordered, "Go, take that little b*st*rd away from her. Send her to a foster home."
Qin Shou licked his lips, a cruel smile on his face. "Leave it to me, Grandpa."
As Qin Shou strode over, Qin Qinghan's face turned pale with fear. She immediately clutched Jing Si in her arms, and the little girl instinctively clung to her.
"Grandpa is doing this for your own good. Let me take her," Qin Shou said as he reached Qin Qinghan. He grabbed Jing Si's arm roughly and began to pull her away.
"Let go of my daughter! Let go!" Qin Qinghan screamed, wildly striking at Qin Shou's arm. But her frail hands were no match for the power of a tall, muscular man like Qin Shou.
"Don't resist. Let go of her." Qin Shou sneered, pulling even harder. He yanked Jing Si so violently that the little girl was thrown to the ground several meters away.
Qin Qinghan stumbled and crashed into her mother, Yang Yu. As she tried to lunge toward Jing Si, Yang Yu held her down firmly and urgently said, "Qinghan, this is for your own good. Don't let this child drag you down."
"Did you hurt yourself?"
Just as Qin Shou prepared to pick up Jing Si, he suddenly turned and saw a tall, handsome man squatting down. The man gently helped Jing Si to her feet.
The sudden appearance of Ye Fengwu made the entire banquet room fall silent. Even Qin Qinghan's face turned pale as she looked at this stranger who was holding her daughter.
Jing Si's eyes filled with tears, but she held back her pain and didn't cry out. She looked at Ye Fengwu and shook her head, saying, "I'm not hurt."
"What's your name?" Ye Fengwu asked gently, his tone soft as he tried to comfort the little girl.
"My name is Qin Jing Si," the little girl replied sweetly.
Ye Fengwu smiled and continued, "Where are your parents?"
Jing Si shook her head. "I don't have a father. This is my mother."
She pointed at Qin Qinghan, who was being restrained by Yang Yu.
Then, Jing Si added, "They say my dad was a bad man, but my mom says he was a hero."
"Who do you believe?" Ye Fengwu asked with a smile.
"I believe my mom," Jing Si answered without hesitation.
Ye Fengwu's lips curled into a soft smile, his expression warm. A kind mother would never let her child suffer any emotional burden, even if she hated the man who fathered her.
Ye Fengwu was very fond of this little girl, but he wasn't yet certain if she was truly his and Qin Qinghan's daughter.
Then Qin Shou sneered and mocked, "A hero? What a joke! Your father was a rapist, and you call him a hero?"
The moment the word "rapist" was uttered, Ye Fengwu's expression instantly turned cold. His gaze became as chilling as that of a hungry wolf.
This sudden change in his demeanor caused Qin Shou to instinctively take a step back in fear.
Ye Fengwu slowly turned to Jing Si and asked softly, "Is your mother's name Qin Qinghan?"
Upon hearing this, Jing Si nodded and said, "Uncle, do you know my mom?"
"Just as I thought..." Ye Fengwu's icy eyes flickered with a hint of warmth, followed by a deep sense of guilt. But in an instant, that guilt turned to cold, bone-chilling killing intent.