I'm back, but it looks like there's some kind of party going on at my mother-in-law's house?

Five years had passed, yet Qin's mother remained as graceful as ever, her appearance almost unchanged.

Years of military life had not drastically altered Yang Chen's features, but his spirit and energy had undergone a tremendous transformation. To Qin's mother, Yang Chen was a man who should have been dead, which made her both shocked and furious upon seeing him again.

"Mom! It's me!"

Yang Chen's face broke into a gentle smile. This time, he had returned solely to make amends to Qin Xi.

"So it really is you, you good-for-nothing!"

Qin's mother finally confirmed that the man before her was indeed Yang Chen. She placed her hands on her hips, adopting a shrewish demeanor, and shouted angrily, "You couldn't have come back at a worse time! Qin Xi is about to remarry, and here you are, back to stir up trouble!"

At that moment, Qin's father rushed over. Seeing Yang Chen and hearing his wife's words, he didn't hesitate. He threw a punch at Yang Chen, roaring, "You bastard! How dare you come back!"

"Smack!"

A burly figure swiftly intervened, catching Qin's father's arm mid-swing. The man, Ma Chao, who had fought alongside Yang Chen for years, was tall and imposing, with a fierce appearance. His sudden presence immediately intimidated Qin's father, who looked on in fear.

"Get out!" Yang Chen's voice was as cold as ice, his sharp gaze falling on Ma Chao.

Though reluctant, Ma Chao would never disobey Yang Chen's orders. He released Qin's father's arm and said, "I'm sorry, Brother Chen!"

"If you know you're wrong, then get out. From now on, don't interfere in anything without my command," Yang Chen said coldly.

At that moment, Yang Chen's aura subtly shifted, and even that slight change made Qin's father and mother realize that the man they once considered a useless son-in-law had indeed changed after disappearing for five years. However, this thought was fleeting, and they quickly dismissed it, still convinced that Yang Chen was worthless.

After Ma Chao's intervention, Qin's father and mother no longer dared to lay a hand on Yang Chen.

"You think you're tough now, huh? How dare you lay a hand on me! Get out! Get out right now!" Qin's father shouted, though he was clearly wary of the burly man who had just intervened.

Yang Chen's anger burned within him, but the thought of the woman he had missed for five years helped him suppress his rage. He reminded himself that he had returned to make amends to Qin Xi, and he could endure anything for her sake.

"This good-for-nothing can't leave. He's come back just in time. Today, he and Qin Xi will finalize their divorce, and tomorrow we'll arrange Qin Xi's engagement to Wang Jian. We won't even need to go through the trouble of getting a death certificate," Qin's mother quickly grabbed Yang Chen's arm, afraid that if he left, they might never find him again.

Qin's father also realized the opportunity and grabbed Yang Chen's other arm. "My wife is right. Once Qin Xi gets back, you two will go and get divorced."

Yang Chen was forcibly dragged into the courtyard. To an outsider, it might have looked like his in-laws were warmly welcoming their son-in-law home.

Inside the house, a large banquet table was set up in the living room, surrounded by Qin's mother's relatives. Among them was a stranger, a young man dressed in designer clothes, who casually flashed an expensive Rolex on his wrist. The relatives seemed to be gathered around him, vying for his attention.

The young man, Wang Jian, narrowed his eyes as he watched Yang Chen being "welcomed" in by Qin's father and mother.

On the table was a large cake, suggesting that someone was celebrating a birthday. However, Yang Chen couldn't recall anyone in the Qin family having a birthday today. Whose birthday was it?

Just moments ago, the relatives had been discussing how to get a death certificate for Yang Chen, and now the man himself had appeared. Everyone was initially shocked, but soon their eyes lit up with excitement, eager to see how the drama would unfold.

"Yang Chen? Wasn't he missing for five years? How did he suddenly come back?"

"He couldn't have picked a worse time. Just as Young Master Wang is about to marry Qin Xi, he shows up. He must have some ulterior motive."

"Ulterior motive? In front of Young Master Wang, he's just a useless nobody. Does he really think he can compete with Young Master Wang?"

The relatives whispered among themselves, though their voices were loud enough for everyone to hear, including Wang Jian, who pretended not to notice.

Wang Jian turned to Qin's mother and asked, "Auntie, who is this?"

Qin's mother sneered and glanced disdainfully at Yang Chen. "This is the good-for-nothing who disappeared five years ago. I was just about to get a death certificate for him, and now he's suddenly shown up. But don't worry, his return is perfect timing. We won't need to go through the trouble of getting a death certificate. We can just have him and Qin Xi get divorced today."

Qin's mother made no effort to hide her desire for Qin Xi to divorce Yang Chen. After speaking to Wang Jian, she turned to Yang Chen with a smug expression. "Yang Chen, this is Wang Jian, the eldest son of the Wang family in Jiangzhou. In a few years, he'll inherit the family business. I advise you to give up any thoughts of Qin Xi. Their marriage has our full support."

"If you have any sense, you'll go and finalize the divorce as soon as Qin Xi gets back. Don't stand in the way of her happiness."

The relatives chimed in, each eager to curry favor with the wealthy young master by putting Yang Chen down.

A glint of sharpness flashed in Yang Chen's eyes.

These relatives were truly detestable. If it weren't for Qin Xi, he could have taught them a lesson with a single gesture.

Wang Jian was pleased with the situation. Leaning back in his chair, he swirled a glass of red wine and smirked at Yang Chen. "So, what have you been doing for the past five years?"

Yang Chen glanced at him calmly. "I was in the military."

"The military? You weren't just raising pigs for five years, were you? Haha..."

Before Wang Jian could respond, one of the relatives burst out laughing, and soon the entire table joined in, mocking Yang Chen.

Yang Chen remained silent.

Wang Jian's lips curled into a smile. He pulled out a check, signed it, and slid it over to Yang Chen. "You must have noticed that the Qin family doesn't welcome you. You've come back for money, right? As long as you're willing to divorce Qin Xi, you can fill in any amount on this check. It'll be honored at any bank in Jiangzhou."

The relatives' eyes gleamed with envy, wishing the check was meant for them.

"Wang, there's no need to give him money! Qin Xi is my daughter. If I say they're getting divorced, they'll get divorced. Why should we give him money?" Qin's mother glared at the check as if it were her own money being handed over to Yang Chen.

Wang Jian's eyes flickered with disdain, but he maintained a polite smile. "Auntie, to me, money is just a number. I don't want any complications. I just want Qin Xi to be single as soon as possible."

Hearing this, Qin's mother didn't dare say more, but her gaze toward Yang Chen grew even colder.

Under the envious eyes of the relatives, Yang Chen picked up the check.

"Rip!"

Just as everyone thought he would accept it, Yang Chen tore the check into pieces.

He then looked calmly at Wang Jian. "If Qin Xi wants a divorce, I won't stand in her way. But if she doesn't, no one can interfere in our affairs."

If any of Yang Chen's comrades from the Northern Frontier were present, they would know that this calm demeanor was when Yang Chen was at his most dangerous.

Wang Jian's eyes narrowed slightly. The young man before him gave off an unsettling pressure, and he didn't like it.

The others watched with glee, thinking that Yang Chen had just signed his own death warrant by offending Wang Jian.

Just as tensions were reaching a boiling point, the sound of high heels clicking against the floor echoed through the room. Two figures appeared—a woman and a little girl. It was Qin Xi and her daughter.

"Wang Jian, what are you doing here again? This is my home, and you're not welcome. Get out!" Qin Xi's face darkened the moment she saw Wang Jian, and she immediately ordered him to leave.

Hearing that familiar voice, Yang Chen's body trembled violently.

He had imagined countless scenarios of reuniting with Qin Xi and had rehearsed what he would say countless times. But now, faced with the reality, he found himself unable to turn around and look at the woman he had missed and felt guilty about for five long years.

"Daddy!"

Before Yang Chen could turn around, a familiar voice called out from behind him. His body shook again as he turned to see a little girl running toward him with a joyful expression.

It was the same little girl who had clung to him at the airport, calling him "Daddy."

Yang Chen crouched down and naturally scooped the little girl into his arms.

It felt so natural, as if he had held her countless times before.

At that moment, Qin Xi also saw Yang Chen. Their eyes met, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still as they gazed at each other.

Over the past five years, Qin Xi's image had appeared in Yang Chen's mind countless times. His longing and guilt for her had been the driving force behind his relentless self-improvement. He had endured countless hardships just to become someone worthy of her.

Qin Xi's eyes were fixed on Yang Chen, her beautiful face reflecting a whirlwind of emotions.

"Qin Xi, I'm back," Yang Chen finally broke the silence.