Chapter 16: Departure
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Ye Siran watched her mother’s eyes darting wildly, knowing she was scheming again. But her mother was a paper tiger—intimidating only at home—and one poke would shatter her.
She didn’t want to resort to harsh measures and let her stepfather and half-sister watch the spectacle, so she turned to Ye Jianping with a gaze as cold and merciless as a hawk locking onto its prey.
Startled by Ye Siran’s piercing look, Ye Jianping blurted out, “Song Chunhua, I’ve already prepared the letter of severance. Hurry up and sign it.”
“Darling, how about we wait until Yueyue gets her marriage certificate before I sign?” her mother cunningly offered a pretext.
“What nonsense are you spouting? You don’t even trust your own daughter. Then who else can you trust? Sign it now!”
Ye Jianping was genuinely furious. When he married Song Chunhua, it was because of the Ye family’s connections.
The Ye family cared about only one person—the granddaughter Ye Siran—not Song Chunhua, the former daughter-in-law.
Anyone slightly close to the Ye family knew Song Chunhua was the one who had ruined the third son of the Ye family.
He never doubted that Ye Siran was her biological daughter; on their wedding night, he found out she was still a virgin, which nearly scared him to death!
His great-grandfather and Ye Siran’s great-grandfather were cousins two generations removed.
In short, it was only because his surname was Ye that he had the chance to become Ye Siran’s stepfather.
After the wedding, he really wanted to treat his stepdaughter as if she were his own ancestor, providing for her generously. But Song Chunhua made the little girl work hard and secretly tormented her.
When he discovered this, he was nearly terrified. Yet the stepdaughter was very different from what he imagined—she willingly obeyed Song Chunhua’s orders.
Although the stepdaughter obeyed Song Chunhua without question, he only dared to pretend he didn’t know.
Occasionally, when he caught them, he would scold his wife and daughter, but he never dared to reprimand the stepdaughter, fearing she would hold a grudge when she grew up and that the Ye family would cause him trouble.
His timidity made the little girl depend on him a bit more, but Song Chunhua was narrow-minded and even jealous of a little girl.
So Song Chunhua became increasingly cruel, beating and scolding the girl, and he could only pretend not to see it. He knew that woman had saved more than just He Yongchang back then.
When they first met, he had made an agreement with the Ye family to spend ten years convincing Song Chunhua to give up custody of her daughter.
After the ten years, the Ye family would come to take Ye Siran home. But before the ten years were up, the entire Ye family was sent away.
Still, he dared not mistreat the stepdaughter, leaving two slices of meat for her at meals, only for Song Chunhua to give them to her own children.
“Dad, Mom isn’t wrong. Who knows…”
“Smack!” Before Ye Ruyue could finish, she received a sharp slap from her father.
Accompanied by Ye Jianping’s roaring voice, “What’s wrong with you all? Is Ranran someone you can bully at will? Do you think I’m dead?”
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“Heavens above...”
“Smack!” Song Chunhua opened her mouth to scream but was harshly slapped by Ye Jianping.
“I’m going back to my room first. Each of you sign and stamp the letter, then bring it to me for my signature,” Ye Siran said coldly.
“You wretched child, stop right there!”
Ye Siran walked away without looking back, knowing Ye Jianping was a ruthless man who understood the times.
She would return to Jing City soon.
Ye Jianping watched Ye Siran’s retreating figure and hissed in a low voice, “Shut up! Are you trying to get yourself killed?”
“What am I afraid of?”
“Smack!” Song Chunhua was slapped again.
“Fool, do you think Ye Siran is still your daughter to be beaten and scolded? Didn’t you see that even Director He doesn’t dare force her?”
“...”
Song Chunhua trembled, frightened by her husband, and asked, “Darling, even if the Ye family is unlucky, that bastard wouldn’t dare report us.”
“Do you think she’s afraid now? If she finds out the truth, you might as well wait for death!”
“Hmph! I wasn’t afraid back then—I won’t fear a little girl with yellow hair…” *smack, smack* Song Chunhua tried to continue bullying but was slapped twice more by Ye Jianping.
“If you want to die, don’t drag me down with you. We’re getting a divorce this afternoon.” Ye Jianping’s ruthless words shocked Song Chunhua.
She obediently signed and stamped the papers, then went quietly to cook, cursing Ye Siran’s ancestors in her heart.
She hadn’t cooked for over ten years and planned to torment the wretched girl relentlessly whenever Ye Jianping wasn’t home.
Ye Ruyue and Ye Weiguo, siblings, were also scared by their father’s fierce demeanor, too afraid to cry or speak, and even more afraid to cause trouble for Ye Siran.
It was only the second day since Ye Siran’s rebirth. Although she had drunk the spiritual spring water and bathed in it, her hearing was only slightly better than ordinary people’s.
She only heard the sound of slaps and Ye Jianping’s thunderous roars, but not what they said in lowered voices.
Ye Siran never would have imagined she was not Song Chunhua’s daughter. If she had known, what need would there be for a letter of severance?
When Ye Jianping held the letter of severance signed by all four family members and stamped by the neighborhood committee, Ye Siran gave him a sweet smile in return.
The next morning.
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He Yongchang personally came to take Ye Siran to the train station, handing Ye Jianping the marriage certificate of He Hongwen and Ye Ruyue along the way.
Ye Ruyue and Song Chunhua were so happy they lost their composure in front of He Yongchang, almost wanting to laugh out loud.
They saw Ye Siran carrying a large army-green canvas bag. Although curious about where she was going, they dared not ask.
“Ranran, give the bag to Uncle,” He Yongchang took the heavy bag from Ye Siran’s hands.
He sat in the passenger seat and glanced at Ye Ruyue, who could hardly suppress her smile.
He recalled yesterday afternoon when his son hurried home and said eagerly, “Dad, I’ve made up my mind. I want to marry Ye Siran.”
“Son, are you sure?”
“Dad, I’m really sure.”
“Too bad it’s already too late!”
He Yongchang’s father said as he handed the marriage certificate on the table to He Hongwen.
“Dad, how can you do this? That’s feudal patriarchy! I won’t accept it.”
He Hongwen stared wide-eyed, unable to believe his and Ye Ruyue’s names were on the certificate.
Seeing that his father remained calm, he asked with difficulty, “Dad, haven’t you always liked Ranran? Why do this?”
His father said gravely, “Hongwen, you’re an adult now and must take responsibility for your own recklessness.
The greatest arrogance is to think you can control another person, to fantasize about controlling their love and thoughts.
Likewise, you must never overestimate someone’s love for you, nor underestimate the unpredictability of the human heart.
Actually, Ranran is very smart. She is fragile yet strong, sensitive yet tolerant, weak yet stubborn.
When she loves you, you can treat her any way you want. But when she doesn’t like you, she cuts ties more decisively than anyone.
I truly didn’t expect her to sever her love for you so swiftly and resolutely!”
He Yongchang had also believed that Ye Siran would remain forever by his son’s side.
Even if she wanted to break free, she would never truly leave. Yet, unexpectedly, she resolutely chose to go to the countryside...