After filling their stomach with good food, the mother and daughter prepared to leave the burger joint.
Just as Fang Ruoye was about to pay, three tall and handsome men walked through the door, drawing the entire restaurant's attention at once.
The first one was an imposing man in three-piece suit, his black hair a glossy slickback. Behind the pair of clear-rimmed glasses he wore, his grayish-black eyes held a sharpness that could slice steel. His shiny black shoes made intimidating tapping sounds when he walked. He was Jiang Wei, the CEO of a multi-billionaire company that operated globally, Phoenix Trading International.
The second man sported reddish-blond hair and the same grayish-black eyes as the former, but his gaze was rather gentle, bordering on seductive. Dressed in a branded white turtleneck hoodie and bright blue jeans, he exuded the air of a privileged young man. He was Jiang Yue, an up-and-rising actor who appeared in two out of five commercials and starred in three box office movies and seven dramas that aired in the past three years.
The third one came in a brown bespoke suit and a leather bag, with the same eyes as the other two. The last but not least of the famous Jiang brothers, Jiang Cheng was a senior partner in the most prestigious law firm in the city. Armed with persuasive prowess and a razor-sharp eye for detail, he routinely crushed his opponents in court. No one in their sane mind would want to pick a fight with him.
The three men looked around the busy burger joint, obviously trying to find someone. Or some people.
Just like everyone else in the burger joint, Fang Ruoye could not help but marvel at these three men's appearance. Her lips fell open in astonishment not because these men were too handsome, but because she knew very well who they were.
And yet, before she made the decision to call out to them, the little girl in front of her jumped from her seat and cried out in delight, "Uncles! We are here!"
The three Jiang men snapped their heads in Luo Xianxian's direction right away.
Relief spread on their faces as they made their way to Fang Ruoye's table.
"Ruoye."
Jiang Wei was the first one to arrive. He immediately took Fang Ruoye into his arms and squeezed her.
"But… Brother Wei, why are you all here?" Fang Ruoye asked in astonishment while draping her arms around Jiang Wei's broad shoulders.
Before long, she was dragged off Jiang Wei's arms and fell into Jiang Yue's embrace. Jiang Wei, meanwhile, went on to hug Luo Xianxian. The little girl shrieked in delight. "Uncles, you are all so handsome and cool! Even more so than in your pictures!"
"Why are we all here? Ruoye, you are so stupid," Jiang Yue complained. "The moment you find out that your husband is divorcing you, you should have contacted us."
Fang Ruoye sighed into Jiang Yue's shoulder.
"I know, Brother Yue, it's just that… I am so ashamed. I planned to contact you, I mean it. I merely wanted to wait several days."
"Why wait for so long? Haven't we waited enough?"
Jiang Cheng pulled at Fang Ruoye's waist and dragged her away from Jiang Yue. Once Fang Ruoye was safely cocooned in his embrace, he rubbed his cheek against Fang Ruoye's silky hair affectionately.
"Now, let us go back to that house and teach your ex-husband some manners. Apparently, his father failed to teach him."
Jiang Wei and Jiang Yue cracked their knuckles in agreement, their faces grim and their eyes shining with lust for vengeance.
"Oh, no, no need, Cousins," Fang Ruoye cheerfully said. "Unless I am mistaken, they should be in the hospital right now."
Fang Ruoye waved her phone in front of the Jiang brothers, who leaned closer and squinted their eyes to take a better look at the screen.
There had been no less than twenty text messages and five phone calls, all of them from Hong Yinling.
Hong Yinling : "Fang Ruoye, seriously? Did you really poison the cake?"
Hong Yinling : "Fang Ruoye, come back this instant. What am I supposed to do? Brother Luo is in so much pain!"
Hong Yinling : "Are you doing this because you don't want Brother Luo to marry me? Fang Ruoye, you are truly the worst!"
Hong Yinling : "And what kind of nuclear waste did you make for dinner? Are you trying to kill me and the baby in my stomach???"
Hong Yinling : "Fang Ruoye! Are you going to answer the phone or not?"
Jiang Cheng blinked at Fang Ruoye in bewilderment. "Ruoye, did you really poison your ex-husband? If you tell me, I won't be able to represent you in the court!"
"No, of course not. I merely forgot that the bakery uses peanut butter in their recipe. Since Luo Yanming is allergic to peanut butter, shouldn't he pay more attention to the taste before wolfing everything down? How is that my fault?"
Fang Ruoye was not sorry at all, and neither were the three Jiang brothers. They even grinned in satisfaction.
"Serves him right."
"I hope he dies."
"What a stupid asshole."
Once the Jiang brothers started cursing someone, they wouldn't stop until the object of their hatred fell to their death. In consideration of so many families with little children in the burger joint and the good reputation of the brothers, Fang Ruoye tactfully suggested to find a quieter place to talk.
"Great. Let us all go to my penthouse," Jiang Wei replied.
Once they were outside, a problem presented itself.
Three luxurious cars stood outside. A black limousine, a vibrant red sports car, and a sunny yellow roofless sedan.
The three Jiang brothers each went to their cars and opened the passenger doors like three perfect gentlemen.
Jiang Wei stood by his black limousine, Jiang Yue by the sports car, and Jiang Cheng by the roofless sedan.
Fang Ruoye and Luo Xianxian stared at the three luxurious cars, one more impressive than the other.
Jiang Wei frowned at his brothers.
"Obviously, Ruoye and Xianxian are coming with me. You two can follow us in your cars."
Jiang Yue and Jiang Cheng both clicked their tongues in displeasure.
"But Big Brother, we all miss Ruoye and Xianxian dearly. You must not monopolize them just because you are older!" Jiang Yue exclaimed.
"That's right!" Jiang Cheng readily agreed.
Jiang Wei rolled his eyes and scoffed.
"Either way, they are going to stay at my penthouse tonight. I will not take no for an answer."
Jiang Wei walked around his limousine and began dragging the two suitcases into his car.
The driver, aghast, gasped in utter bewilderment.
He quickly stepped out to help Jiang Wei with the suitcases.
"Mommy, I have never ridden a limousine before!" Luo Xianxian exclaimed in excitement.
Jiang Yue and Jiang Cheng scowled at each other. If they had known that it would turn this way, they would have brought their own limousines as well!
And so, Fang Ruoye and Luo Xianxian climbed into Jiang Wei's limousine and head toward the eldest Jiang brother's luxurious penthouse in the city's central commercial district.
"First of all, I want to know how you all find out about my divorce," Fang Ruoye said once they were comfortably seated inside the penthouse. Luo Xianxian was curled up against her mother's lap like a kitten.
"How? Well, Xianxian sent us a video recording of you, your ex-husband, and his mistress tonight," Jiang Wei answered.
"Huh???"
Fang Ruoye stared at her daughter, who beamed at her with an innocent smile on her face.
"Mommy, don't be mad," she said. "I didn't know what was going to happen, so I took a video just in case Daddy tried to hurt you and you needed a piece of evidence."
Jiang Cheng reached out and rubbed Luo Xianxian's head.
"Smart girl, smart girl! You have inherited Uncle Jiang Cheng's eye for detail!"
Jiang Wei cleared his throat.
"Jiang Cheng, you are not his father."
"Honestly, how do you all even stay in contact with my daughter? When did this start?" Fang Ruoye was genuinely baffled.
Luo Yanming was a jealous man. He did not like seeing Fang Ruoye around other men, not even her cousins.
Therefore, Fang Ruoye took the initiative to cease contact with the Jiang brothers to appease her husband. Looking back, it was a great mistake on her part. Luo Yanming turned out to be a disloyal spouse, not deserving of her love and devotion.
Having pushed the Jiang brothers aside in favor of his worthless husband, Fang Ruoye was overcome with guilt and shame. This was why she hesitated to ask for the Jiang brothers' help, no matter how many times they told her that she could always contact them whenever she needed them.
She preferred to put her life back together before resuming contact with the Jiang brothers
Having known Fang Ruoye since they were young children, the Jiang brothers easily guessed Fang Ruoye's train of thoughts.
They thus decided to keep in touch with the only other person in this world who always stayed by Fang Ruoye's side – her daughter.
"We simply found out her phone number and introduced ourselves," Jiang Wei explained. "At first, Xianxian is very suspicious of us. She even blocked our phone numbers ten times in total!"
"But then Uncle Jiang Wei sent pictures of Mommy and the other uncles from many years ago," Luo Xianxian piped up. "And I also saw their pictures in Mommy's laptop."
"Oh, you…"
Fang Ruoye shook her head with a smile. She then gave her daughter a flick on the forehead.
"Why didn't you tell me any of these?"
"Because we don't want you to forbid her from talking to us," Jiang Cheng explained. "That's why we had to sneak around behind you."
"Basically, it's all your fault, Ruoye," Jiang Yue summarized. "If only you ignore your stupid and jealous ex-husband, you won't be in this situation right now. Divorced, your best years wasted on a scum."
Fang Ruoye laughed.
"Awww, it isn't that bad, is it? Look at the bright side. I have a cute daughter by my side, and three handsome cousins who came to my rescue the moment I lost a roof above my head."
The Jiang brothers exchanged a round of glances with each other.
"It's late," Jiang Wei said after a while. "Ruoye, Xianxian, the guest room has already been prepared. Why don't you both rest for the night?"