Xu Tingyu lowered her eyes.
She had been slapped, and the loose hairs in front of her forehead were in disarray. With her head down, she gradually burst into laughter.
Liu Ning looked at her in surprise, and her originally smug expression gradually turned into annoyance.
"What are you laughing at? You're on the verge of ruin and still don't know your place."
That slap of hers was extremely hard.
But Xu Tingyu could no longer feel the pain.
These days, she had been in so much pain that she had become numb.
"I'm laughing at your guilty conscience. You can only bluff by acting tough," she said as she supported herself on the stairs and stood up. In her bloodshot eyes, complex emotions were surging rapidly.
But soon, her gaze at Liu Ning became calm.
It was as if she were looking at an insignificant person.
"You think the Xu family has declined, so you see me as a burden and a disgrace," she said.
"You're eager to get rid of me but afraid that the outside world will say the Qi family is heartless, so you want me to back down voluntarily.
"However, back then, you said that Qi Shifeng and I were a perfect match. It was the old master of the Qi family who personally brought him to our house to propose marriage.
"The Qi family can't have all the good things, can they?
"If Qi Shifeng wants to divorce me, then please let him come and talk to me in person. Now, I have something to deal with and don't have the time to play this mind - game with you."
She stood upright.
Actually, she really wanted to ask them if she had ever made the slightest mistake in the past three years as a wife and a daughter - in - law.
But when the words reached her lips, she felt extremely bored.
The obedient shell that had been on her for the past three years was her sincerity towards Qi Shifeng and this marriage.
It had also become a shackle that confined her.
They had all forgotten that she was not actually a weak person.
To achieve such success in dance, apart from talent, it was also inseparable from the tenacity and ambition deep in her bones.
Liu Ning was also intimidated by her.
For a moment, she just stared at her and couldn't say a word.
Xu Tingyu didn't give the other woman another look. She picked up her things and strode out of the door.
Aunt Zhang was standing in the corner and didn't dare to get involved in this "mother - in - law and daughter - in - law battle" at all.
But she really felt sorry for Xu Tingyu.
In the past three years, Aunt Zhang had seen clearly how much Xu Tingyu had loved Qi Shifeng.
Now that something had happened to her family, the Qi family couldn't wait to sever the relationship, which was really chilling.
If Aunt Zhang felt so heart - chilled, not to mention Xu Tingyu, the person involved.
But she really didn't have the time to be sad now.
She entrusted a third - party to send her bags and jewelry to a luxury goods recycling store and received nearly 2 million yuan.
Actually, if she sold them herself, the price would be a bit higher.
But she was really not suitable to "show up" now.
It wasn't for the sake of the Qi family.
It was just that there had been enough turmoil in her family.
At this critical moment, she couldn't create more news and become the talk of others.
As soon as the money arrived in the account, she immediately took the card with 5 million yuan and went to the bank.
However, after negotiation, the other party still said that 5 million yuan was not enough.
There was also a professional lawyer who came with Xu Tingyu.
After being rejected by the bank, the lawyer also gave his opinion.
"Miss Xu, I know your difficulties, but from a professional perspective, I would recommend that you give up this property," the lawyer said.
"Although this property is in your mother's name, your father has multiple debts. Now that your father... as his wife, your mother will definitely be sued later."
The lawyer's words were very euphemistic.
But the meaning was very clear.
The Xu family had multiple debts, and they would not disappear with the debtor's death.
As a wife, Zhang Qiu would bear these debts.
All of her property would be seized.
Even if Xu Tingyu really managed to raise 18 million yuan, she would ultimately not be able to keep the house.
This 5 million yuan was just a drop in the bucket for their family's debts.
It would be better to keep it as a foundation for future life.
Xu Tingyu didn't say a word.
She understood all the reasons. Even when the bank came to their door, she had anticipated this result.
But emotionally, she still couldn't accept it.
Fifteen glasses of spicy liquor that burned her stomach, forced smiles, being treated as a thief...
After all kinds of struggles and efforts, she still failed.
The huge sense of frustration shattered her forced calm.
"Isn't there any other way?"
She looked at the lawyer with a habitual smile on her face.
However, pain and struggle were faintly visible in it. She was beautiful yet vulnerable, pale and powerless.
The lawyer felt a bit sorry for her.
After hesitating for a moment, he gave an answer. "Maybe, asking President Qi could turn things around."
Although the Xu family's debts were numerous, as long as the Qi family intervened, it would be easy to keep this house.
Xu Tingyu was obviously stunned and then fell into a dejected silence.
So, Qi Shifeng was her last resort?
Would he help?
If she begged him, would he help?
She wasn't sure, and she didn't even have the courage to try.
Because she had no chance of success.
If Qi Shifeng refused to help, then the last bit of dignity she had in this marriage would be completely gone.
She didn't say anything else, and the lawyer didn't say much either.
After separating from the lawyer, she sat alone in a coffee shop for a long time.
She wavered between the thought of whether to ask Qi Shifeng for help or not.
Just then, she received a call from Qi Ye.
"Tingyu, I have some news about what you asked me to find out. Your paintings have been found," Qi Ye's gentle voice came through the phone, which immediately cheered Xu Tingyu up.
This was the best news in the past few days.
All she could think about was that she could still save her home.
So she didn't notice the hesitation and worry in Qi Ye's tone.
"Where are those paintings now? I'll go and pick them up right away."
She stood up, continued to answer the phone, and strode out.
With 18 million yuan, the lawyer would surely find a way to save her home.
"Don't be in a hurry. Where are you now? I'll send someone to pick you up," Qi Ye was silent for a moment, and his voice returned to its usual gentle and steady tone.
But Xu Tingyu couldn't wait for his people to come. She asked for the address and took a taxi there directly.
It was at an appraisal institution.
When she arrived, Qi Ye was waiting for her at the door.
As soon as he saw her, he keenly noticed the faint palm print on her face that hadn't completely faded.
"What happened to your face? Who hit you?"
A flash of sharpness passed through his usually gentle eyes, and he took two quick steps towards her.
Xu Tingyu shook her head. It wasn't appropriate to tell him that it was his mother who did it.
Moreover, this wasn't the time to talk about this. The paintings were more important.
Seeing that she didn't want to say more, Qi Ye didn't force her. Instead, he looked at her with more worry.
"Tingyu, listen to me. There's been an accident with the paintings. I've already sent someone to find an expert in this field..."
He chose his words carefully, but his words still made Xu Tingyu's face turn pale instantly.
"What kind of accident?"
She took a step towards him. Her face was so pale that it was almost transparent, as if she would shatter like a crystal the next moment.
Qi Ye looked at her, sighed slightly, and announced the result apologetically. "Those paintings... are destroyed."
It turned out that the paintings had indeed been found, but they were already in pieces.