Elder Sister, Forgive Me for Betraying You—It Was Out of Helplessness!

Seeing Chen Yinuo's frozen expression, Chen Yihao scratched his head in embarrassment.

This was because Chen Yinuo had told him before: "If Mom and Dad ask, you must not tell them where I live."

"What betrayal? What nonsense are you talking about? We raised her and fed her all these years; are you telling me we're not even allowed to find her?" their mother, Liu Xueqin, said, snorting stubbornly.

"You don't plan to let us in?" their father, Chen Jianguo, asked, clearly displeased, staring at Chen Yinuo.

"Dad, Mom, please come in."

Left with no choice, Chen Yinuo exhaled deeply and stepped aside, letting her parents into her home.

"How can you live in a place that's worse than a doghouse?"

The moment Liu Xueqin entered the cramped, shabby single-room apartment, no larger than ten square meters, she frowned in disdain.

Although their family wasn't well-off, Liu Xueqin had always had a knack for making sharp, pretentious remarks.

"Then let my sister move back home!" Chen Yihao retorted upon hearing her tone.

"And who asked for your opinion? Why are you shouting?" Liu Xueqin snapped at him. However, she refrained from expressing further disdain.

"Dad, Mom, there aren't many chairs. You can sit on the bed to talk," Chen Yinuo said.

"No! Bad grandpa and grandma!" Little Yuyou immediately climbed onto the bed and took up space, clearly unwilling to share it.

"Hmph, what an ungrateful brat!" Liu Xueqin snorted heavily through her nose.

"Yuyou, hurry and move. Apologize to your grandparents!"

Panicking, Chen Yinuo pulled Yuyou off the bed.

Then she said, "Dad, Mom, Yuyou doesn't know better. You two—"

Before she could finish, Liu Xueqin waved her hand dismissively. "Enough, I don't want to hear it! And forget your bed. We're not sitting there or on any chairs. We're here to talk about your future."

"My future?"

Chen Yinuo frowned, sensing her parents' intentions but unwilling to face them.

At this point, her father, Chen Jianguo, spoke directly:

"Let's not beat around the bush. Your mom has found you a great match. He owns a company and makes two or three million a year, no problem. He's a decent man, in his forties, and his wife and kid died in a car accident a couple of years ago. Your situation has been explained to him—he doesn't mind that you have a child. He even said he'd treat your child as his own. What do you think? If you're fine with it, move back home with the kid for now. We'll arrange a meeting for everyone to get to know each other properly."

Before Chen Yinuo could respond, Chen Yihao exploded.

"What the hell? What did you tell me before we came here? Now you're talking about arranging a second marriage for my sister? Are you kidding me? Forty-something and widowed? What are you even thinking? My sister doesn't need to settle for someone like that!"

"Does this have anything to do with you? Stay out of it!" Liu Xueqin yelled.

She then continued, "You think your sister has any better options? A single mom with a child—she should count herself lucky someone like him is even interested! Sure, I'd love a young, rich, and filial son-in-law, but do you think people like that would even look at her? At least if she marries him, she'll have a stable life. It's way better than her current half-dead existence! If she marries him, we could also benefit. Your brother-in-law could get you a manager's job, maybe even a car. Wouldn't you like that?"

"Why not just ask him to give me part of his wealth and company while you're at it?" Chen Yihao sneered.

"You ungrateful brat! So what if we want some money? Is there anything wrong with that? How do you expect us to live without money? Your dad and I have worked hard our whole lives to raise you two. Is it wrong to hope for some comfort in our old age? I'm telling you now—if your sister refuses this marriage, then she's no daughter of mine! I'll cut all ties with her!"

Like a shrew, Liu Xueqin screamed at the top of her lungs, leaving Little Yuyou trembling in fear.

The child clung tightly to her tearful mother, Chen Yinuo.

"Dad, Mom, it's true that I've failed to repay your love and care over the years. I've failed to give you a better life, and I admit that. But if you expect me to repay you by agreeing to this arranged second marriage, I'm sorry—I can't do it! Whether or not Ye Chen signs the divorce papers, I won't remarry. I believe I can raise Yuyou on my own and still repay you for raising me!"

Wiping away her tears, Chen Yinuo forced herself to maintain a calm demeanor despite her heartbreak.

"With what? Your measly salary? You can't even support yourself! Look at this place—no proper furniture, no decent space. You call this living? You call this repaying us?" Liu Xueqin spat venomously.

"I've been promoted. I'm now the team leader of the company's business department," Chen Yinuo replied.

"Oh, a team leader? Big deal! I thought you'd been promoted to manager or something. What's the use of being a team leader? How much more can you earn? Aren't you still stuck in this half-dead situation?" Liu Xueqin's insults became even harsher.

"I don't care what you think of me, but I will never agree to this marriage. Never, not even if it kills me!"

Fighting back her tears, Chen Yinuo spoke with an empty, numb expression.

"You ungrateful girl! I should've never given birth to you!"

Liu Xueqin raised her hand, intending to hit her, but Chen Yihao quickly intervened, blocking her hand.

He grabbed his parents and forcefully dragged them toward the door.

"You little bastard, let go of me! Let go! I'll teach that ungrateful girl a lesson!"

Their parents' furious shouting mixed with Yuyou's frightened cries, drawing the attention of curious neighbors.

"Have some shame at your age, will you? Get out now!"

Ignoring their protests, Chen Yihao dragged them away, shouting back to his sister:

"Close the door, Sis! I'll handle them!"

Chen Yinuo stood frozen, unresponsive, until the sounds of shouting faded.

She then walked like a zombie to close the door.

Sitting on the bed with Yuyou, she held the child tightly and whispered:

"Don't cry, Yuyou. Don't cry. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

Her strong facade finally crumbled. Tears streamed uncontrollably down her face as the mother and daughter embraced, abandoned by fate and clinging to each other amid their sorrow.