The mother-in-law was the first in the family to propose making a "will".
Qin Guan heard it with his own ears - that day in the hospital, the mother-in-law pulled her husband and Xu Ruyi aside, saying earnestly: "There's something I need to get off my chest!"
"We must make a will. All our properties, every single asset, needs notarization..."
Qin Guan abruptly halted his steps at the hospital door.
On the surface, this stemmed from the lingering discomfort over Shi Jie's case. But deep down, Qin Guan knew this was inevitable - his mother-in-law's affection and trust had always been conditional. She never truly accepted him as family, always keeping her guard up.
She saw him as an "outsider" - he'd overheard her telling Xu Ruyi this during their house renovation.
Qin Guan didn't push the door open. What's the point of stopping them now? Could he prevent it forever? When someone's determined to distrust you, resistance is futile.
Ironically, the same woman who'd warned him never to upset Xu Ruyi during pregnancy was now spilling everything herself.
"Do you know how he won Shi Jie's case? You think it was skill? No! He bribed witnesses! Fabricated evidence!" The mother-in-law's voice trembled with emotion. "Do you know what kind of scum Shi Jie is? A complete bastard! I saw it myself at his so-called company - a shell company! He groped the receptionist's butt right in front of me!"
"If you'd been there, you'd understand how I felt. My heart's been broken since that day!" She gasped for breath. "He defended that monster! Knowing exactly what he did! The victim worked at my florist shop - a married woman with kids! She was raped!"
"But Shi Jie counter-accused her of prostitution and extortion. Qin Guan helped him fake evidence, set traps! That poor woman walked right into it. Now she's branded a whore and extortionist for life! She begged Qin Guan on her knees, but do you know what he said? 'Can you pay more than Shi Jie? Then maybe I'll help you!'"
"See? Money-grubbing! No morals! We raised him, paid for his law degree - for this?" Her hospital gown rustled as she gestured violently. "I know you don't believe me, but check for yourselves!"
Qin Guan stood frozen, every word hammering his chest. Yet he remained calm - panic solved nothing. He'd handled countless crises before.
His real concern was Xu Ruyi and her father's reactions. And he knew them well.
As predicted, both dismissed the accusations. The honest father-in-law frowned: "Impossible! His law firm partner praises him constantly. You must be mistaken."
Xu Ruyi was more vehement: "Mom, who fed you these lies? Losers often slander winning lawyers! The world's full of such people - don't be gullible!"
This was exactly Qin Guan's calculation. But the mother-in-law persisted.
After several minutes' argument, she snapped: "Fine! No evidence! But go ask Shi Jie yourself - though he's surely been coached now!" She glared at her stubborn family. "Forget debating. I just want the will notarized - including their Guanting apartment..."
"But... won't this hurt Qin Guan's feelings?" The father-in-law hesitated.
"Let him hate me then! I'm securing my daughter's future - what's wrong with that?" The mother-in-law insisted. "Life's unpredictable. What if their marriage fails? What if he's hiding worse?"
"Mom!" Xu Ruyi's voice cracked. "He loves me! We're having a child!" Her devotion mirrored her rebellious college days when she'd defied parents' objections: "I choose him!"
The father-in-law naturally sided with his daughter.
But Qin Guan wasn't idle. Soon after, he staged an elaborate show - inviting the father-in-law over while arranging Shi Jie's "impromptu" visit. Dressed humbly to hide tattoos, Shi Jie brought cheap local products, tearfully recounting how he'd "almost lost his family", portraying himself as victim.
Then came the clincher - "leaked" photos of the florist woman partying late with men, clothes revealing. "See how promiscuous she is?" The naive father-daughter duo exclaimed. They dismissed all her online posts thereafter.
Qin Guan finally relaxed - he'd won this shadow war.
The evidence-less mother-in-law had lost.
Just as he reached for the door handle, he heard her rasp: "We need that will... something I must tell you..."