"Bastard! Are you trying to drag me and Yoyo to hell with you?!"

Just as Ye Chen happily picked up Ye Yoyo, excitement lighting up his face, he hadn't even had a chance to speak before Chen Yinuo screamed in terror.

Yes, she had mistaken the scene in the rented apartment — which had been turned into a makeshift workshop — as evidence of Ye Chen manufacturing drugs.

And that explained how Ye Chen had gotten 300,000 yuan from Zhang Jingshan.

That money was likely drug money.

The story about finding rare antiques in the marketplace? Fake. All lies.

This scumbag liar had deceit ingrained in his bones, as unchangeable as a dog's nature to eat excrement.

If Zhang Jingshan knew the truth, not only would he be dumbfounded, but he'd probably go mad with rage!

He, Zhang Jingshan, leaving behind all the legitimate business opportunities in the world to engage in drug dealing with Ye Chen?

"Mommy, don't scold Daddy, please. Yoyo is scared!"

The smile disappeared from Ye Yoyo's face, replaced by tears.

"What do you mean?" Ye Chen was utterly stunned.

"As long as you sign the divorce papers and leave the apartment I rented, you can do whatever you want. I won't care or interfere. But if you manufacture drugs in my rented home, are you planning to drag me and Yoyo to our deaths before you're satisfied? And to think I actually believed your story about striking it rich in the antique market! It turns out that was drug money, wasn't it? I could imagine you risking it all for money, but I never thought you'd be crazy enough to stoop this low!"

As she spoke, Chen Yinuo's body trembled uncontrollably, her voice distorted with fear, her entire being overcome with panic.

Meanwhile, Ye Chen was utterly dumbfounded.

Drug money? Insanity?

Did she think he was making drugs?

Seeing the drastic change in Ye Chen's expression, Chen Yinuo became even more certain of her assumptions.

"What next? Are you going to silence me? Go ahead, kill both me and Yoyo! After all, your abuse over the years has made our lives unbearable. If you don't kill me, I'll report you to the authorities!" Chen Yinuo cried hysterically.

"Yinuo, have you been watching too many crime movies? Drugs? Silencing witnesses? Yes, I admit that in the past, I was a terrible person, scum, deserving of death. But I haven't lost my mind to the point of making drugs, let alone killing anyone!" Ye Chen said with a bitter smile.

Before Chen Yinuo could respond, he continued, "The 300,000 wasn't drug money from Zhang Jingshan. It really came from selling antiques I found at the market. Look at these materials closely — do you think they could possibly be used to make drugs?"

Chen Yinuo froze.

Though she still believed that Ye Chen wouldn't utter a word of truth, she cast her gaze toward the materials out of curiosity.

Upon closer inspection, she saw unfamiliar items among the materials, but also some she recognized: fresh aloe vera, opened pearl powder, peach leaves, vitamin E capsules, and some tonghua ginkgo nuts mixed with mung beans and goji berries.

For a moment, her expression turned into an awkward mix of complexity and embarrassment.

Indeed, these couldn't possibly be ingredients for manufacturing drugs.

"You've turned this rented apartment into a mess. What on earth are you doing?"

Although she realized she had misunderstood, Chen Yinuo's tone remained unfriendly.

"I'm trying to create an ointment to help remove your scars," Ye Chen explained.

"Using these things to make a scar-removal ointment?" Chen Yinuo sneered.

"Yes!" Ye Chen nodded, knowing she wouldn't believe him.

"Ridiculous!" Chen Yinuo scoffed. "Even if you did manage to make something that could remove scars, do you think it could erase the scars in my heart or the marks left by your years of abuse?"

Ye Chen said nothing.

He knew that no matter what he said now, it would be futile and meaningless.

"Hmph, there's no point in talking anymore. Twenty-five days from now, once you sign the divorce papers, that will be the greatest relief for me. I'll forever be grateful for your generosity in letting me go! Fine, carry on with whatever you're doing. I only came back to pack up my things."

With those cold words, Chen Yinuo headed toward the bedroom.

In a few swift movements, she packed her and Yoyo's clothes and daily necessities into a suitcase and walked out.

"Yoyo, let's go!"

For Chen Yinuo, even one more second in Ye Chen's presence was unbearable.

"Mommy, can we not leave? Can't we stay with Daddy?" Yoyo cried, hugging Ye Chen tightly.

"Are you going to listen or not?" Chen Yinuo frowned.

Yoyo fell silent, but she clung tightly to Ye Chen's neck.

"Yoyo, listen to Mommy for now. Go with her first. Later, Daddy will come to get you and Mommy, and then our family will be together forever!" Ye Chen said with a forced smile as he gently put Yoyo down.

"Really, Daddy?" Yoyo's big, bright eyes lit up with excitement.

"Of course. Come on, let's pinky promise!"

"Okay, pinky promise! Whoever breaks it is a little puppy!"

Nearby, Chen Yinuo remained silent, letting the father and daughter have their moment.

However, she was indifferent to Ye Chen's promises.

To her, there was no chance of reconciliation with Ye Chen. None.

Perhaps this was the last time she would ever return to this rented apartment.

"Daddy, come get Mommy and me soon, okay?" Yoyo said tearfully as she walked toward her mother.

"Of course, Daddy promises," Ye Chen replied, watching Yoyo reluctantly leave his side.

As she reached Chen Yinuo, Ye Chen stood up, a complex mix of emotions churning inside him.

"From the day we married until now, this is the first time you've acted like a decent human being," Chen Yinuo said, pausing at the door to deliver the statement.

Then she left, pulling Yoyo along.

"Yinuo, wait a moment!" Ye Chen called out as if suddenly remembering something.

Chen Yinuo ignored him and kept walking.

In a panic, Ye Chen grabbed a brand-new, unopened laptop and blocked her way.

"Yinuo, I sold your work computer before. This is to make up for that!" he said.

"I don't need it!" she replied, her face devoid of emotion, trying to push past him.

"If you don't take it, I won't let Yoyo go with you!" Ye Chen said hastily.

Chen Yinuo froze, her body trembling slightly.

She knew Ye Chen was shameless enough to follow through on such a threat.

Without a word, she took the laptop, grabbed Yoyo's hand, and walked briskly out the door.

At the entrance, she suddenly paused.

"I'll return the 100,000 yuan you paid for Yihao's settlement as soon as I can," she said without turning back.

With that, she left.

Ye Chen stood motionless, watching the mother and daughter disappear from sight. His heart was overwhelmed with conflicting emotions.

It wasn't until his phone rang that he snapped out of his daze.