3: Reality defeated love

Hearing what Lin Jiahua said, Zhang Chunhua lifted her head, wiped away her tears, and said with a firm tone, “Old Lin, you are right.

A daughter-in-law who can only share happiness but not hardship is not worth keeping.

Otherwise, even if she hadn't broken off the engagement this time, she would abandon our son later if he encountered difficulties.

The most important thing now is our son. You need to find someone and ask again! When exactly can our son come back? How serious is the situation?”

Just as Lin Jiahua was about to speak, his Flip Phone rang.

He opened it and saw it was Lin Zifeng's mobile number. He immediately said excitedly, “It's our son calling.”

Zhang Chunhua snatched the phone from Lin Jiahua's hand, pressed the answer button, and excitedly asked, “Son, where are you? The County Government staff informed Your Father and me that you were taken away by the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection staff to assist with an investigation.

Have you suffered any hardship?”

Facing his mother's barrage of questions, Lin Zifeng quickly said, “Mom, don't get agitated, listen to me slowly.

I just finished cooperating with the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection's investigation and have returned to work at the County Government.

I was afraid you and Dad would worry, so I called the two of you first to report that I am safe.

If there's nothing else, I'll go home after work.”

Lin Jiahua pressed his ear against the phone, so both husband and wife heard what Lin Zifeng said.

The couple simultaneously sighed in relief, as if a massive burden had been lifted.

“Son, so you don't have any problems?”

Zhang Chunhua pressed him.

“How could I have any problems, Mom? I am your son, don't you know me well enough?

I was just normally cooperating with the Discipline Inspection Commission's work, and the facts prove that your son can stand the test.”

To reassure his parents, he deliberately spoke in a relaxed tone.

Now, the couple completely set their minds at ease.

Zhang Chunhua thought for a moment and still told Lin Zifeng the entire story about the Chen Family coming to break off the engagement over the phone.

Lin Jiahua did not stop her, because after the recent engagement breakup, neither husband nor wife thought highly of Chen Xinxin anymore.

They were afraid Lin Zifeng might call Chen Xinxin without knowing the situation, leading to the two rekindling their relationship.

Zhang Chunhua finally added, “Son, you just ran into some trouble, and before the outcome was even clear, the Chen Family—all three of them—impatiently came to break off the engagement.

If you got married later and you encountered difficulties again, wouldn't she still divorce you without hesitation?

So, don't be sad over someone who isn't worth it. There are plenty of good girls out there, and I believe you will meet someone better in the future.”

Lin Zifeng didn't even know when he had hung up the phone; sitting in his office, he was completely stunned.

He never expected that things would change so dramatically in just three short days.

His fiancée of five years broke off the engagement just like that.

Their five years of affection turned out to be so fragile.

The beautiful memories he shared with Chen Xinxin over those five years kept replaying in his mind like a movie.

Before he knew it, his face was covered in tears.

He had loved Chen Xinxin for five whole years, yet he never expected such an ending.

Originally, after calling his parents, he had planned to call Chen Xinxin to report that he was safe, but now there was no need.

Finding his face covered in cold tears, he immediately reached out to wipe them dry, gave a self-mocking smile, and muttered, “Human hearts are truly unpredictable!

Chen Xinxin, I hope you don't regret this later. Since you are so heartless, let's cut all ties from now on!

As a dignified seven-foot man, how can I be hung up on romantic trifles and let her look down on me!”

Only then did Lin Zifeng realize that the sky had darkened. He had been sitting in the office for seven or eight hours straight, hadn't eaten lunch, yet he didn't feel hungry.

The staff of the County Party Committee and County Government had already left work, and it was quiet all around.

He composed himself, stood up, stretched his stiff body, and then walked out of the office.

While walking downstairs, he called home again, told his parents that someone was treating him to a meal, and that he would be back later, then hung up.

When he reached downstairs, he didn't go to the bicycle storage to retrieve his bike; instead, he walked directly toward the main entrance.

He walked aimlessly along the county town streets. Although he had decided to let go of his feelings for Chen Xinxin.

Five years of affection, however, could not be discarded just by deciding to do so. A faint sadness lingered in his heart, impossible to erase.

After all, Lin Zifeng, born in 1983 and only twenty-four years old, was experiencing his first romantic setback, and he couldn't just let go of everything instantly.

At this moment, Lin Zifeng's eyes seemed unfocused. Unconsciously, he arrived in front of the only somewhat decent hotel in the county town.

This Junyue Hotel had only opened half a year ago, offering comprehensive dining and accommodation services.

It was the preferred location for influential figures in Yushu County to host important guests.

The cost was also more than the average person could afford, so he had never actually come here to spend money before.

Someone had previously invited County Head Zhang Yuhao here, but Zhang Yuhao felt it was too ostentatious and had the venue changed.

Now, looking at the hotel's grand facade, he reached into his pocket, checked the two thousand plus yuan he had, and decided to splurge tonight, making a clean break with the past.

So he strode into the hotel.

Although the service staff found it a bit strange that a single person wanted to eat in a private room, seeing that he ordered four dishes and two bottles of baijiu costing over a hundred yuan each, they politely led him into a private room.

After the food and drink were served, he silently started drinking alone in the private room.

What he didn't know was that his immediate superior, County Head Zhang Yuhao, was currently sitting dejectedly in the private room right next to him.

Besides Zhang Yuhao, Zhang Yuhao's wife, Chen Yuqing, whom he had met once before, was also present.

Although Chen Yuqing was beautiful, she was like an unmelting Ice Beauty, her flawless face devoid of any excessive expression.

However, Chen Yuqing's younger sister, Chen Yuxi, was the exact opposite of her elder sister. She also possessed an angelic, beautiful face, but her large eyes darted constantly between the two people, making her look somewhat mischievous and playful.

Besides the three of them, there was also a refined man in his mid-thirties, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, sitting in the private room.

Judging by this man's attire, he was clearly a Person within the System (a government official).

“Zhang Yuhao, how could you be so careless? To actually be schemed against—this is completely inconsistent with your usual performance!”

The man was the first to break the silence.

“Brother Zhao, it was a moment of carelessness on my part. I never expected the methods of that local faction to be so despicable; they truly stop at nothing!”

Zhang Yuhao said with a bitter smile.

It turned out that the Brother Zhao mentioned by Zhang Yuhao was none other than Zhao Yulin, the Secretary of Chen Yuanhua, who was a Provincial Party Standing Committee Member and Executive Vice Governor of Huanan Province.

And Chen Yuanhua was the father of the two Chen sisters, Chen Yuqing and Chen Yuxi, making him Zhang Yuhao's nominal Father-in-law.

Why was he the nominal Father-in-law? Because since Chen Yuqing, who was only twenty-three, married Zhang Yuhao three years ago, the couple had not slept together once.

They only maintained a superficial marital relationship.

The reason was that the two had no emotional foundation whatsoever; it was a completely Political Marriage.