<h4>Chapter 1343: Chapter 1356</h4>


    Tang Ran gazed at Xiao Manshu’s departing figure, biting her lip tightly. Momentster, her phone rang, and she nced at the number, suddenly bing alert.


    She looked around and, realizing there was no one around, answered, "Didn’t I tell you to call me?"


    "Oh darling, I adore you the most. How could I possibly be interested in that cold block of ice, Xiao Jingchen? I’m only staying by his side for his money, you know that!"


    "..." Having walked far, Xiao Manshu suddenly paused when she realized she had forgotten her wallet.


    "Don’t worry, Xiao Jingchen now believes that the girl who helped him out of loneliness years ago was me. He’s unwaveringly devoted to me..."


    Unaware of what was said on the other end, Tang Ran giggled.


    She turned her head and saw Xiao Manshu standing behind her, clearly furious. Her heart skipped a beat, and she hastily hung up the phone.


    "Tang Ran! Did you just say that Jingchen is with you because you once helped him out of loneliness?" Xiao Manshu narrowed her eyes, a dangerous sharpness fixed on her, her hands subconsciously clenching at her sides.


    Tang Ran quickly regained herposure, looking at her with a menacing expression, "So what if I did? So what if I didn’t?"


    Xiao Manshu bit her lip tightly, "The girl from back then wasn’t you!"


    Tang Ran froze for a moment, then suddenly chuckled, "So you were the girl from back then? What a shame, Xiao Jingchen now believes it was me and loves me deeply; he can’t do without me."


    Xiao Manshu pursed her lips tightly, her almond eyes ring at her, "Aren’t you afraid I’ll tell Jingchen everything?"


    Tang Ran slightly raised her chin, her gaze gently drifting off Xiao Manshu andnding behind her. Suddenly, she smiled radiantly, "Jingchen, you’re here."


    Xiao Manshu’s body stiffened. She turned around and saw Tang Ran’s frail figure leaning in Xiao Jingchen’s embrace. Despite repeatedly telling herself not to feel hurt, her heart still twinged slightly.


    She took a deep breath and stepped forward, "Jingchen, I have something to say to you."


    Next to the yoga room was a café, a prime location with many patrons already seated despite it not being mealtime.


    Xiao Manshu chose a window seat, raising her gaze to see Xiao Jingchen graciously pulling a chair for Tang Ran before sitting gentlemanly beside her.


    For those unaware, they might have thought they were a couple.


    Xiao Manshu suppressed her inner turmoil, casting a deep nce at Xiao Jingchen, then at Tang Ran.


    Tang Ran’s eyes were filled with provocation, as if to say that even if she revealed all the secrets to Xiao Jingchen, he wouldn’t believe it.


    Xiao Manshu red at her fiercely, then began, "Jingchen, do you know that actually the person who helped you out of..."


    "Smack!"


    Before she could finish, Xiao Jingchen took out some documents from his coat and handed them to Xiao Manshu, "Ranran is pregnant, we must divorce."


    "..." The words Xiao Manshu wanted to say were stuck in her throat, unable to emerge.


    Her gaze fell on the agreementbeled with the ring words "Divorce Agreement," stinging her eyes.


    "Xiao Jingchen, do you know that the person who apanied you out of loneliness back then wasn’t Tang Ran?!"


    Xiao Manshu nearly shouted the sentence, her voice loud enough to draw curious eyes from those around.


    In an instant, Xiao Jingchen’s face took on a shadowy expression, his tone cold and mocking, "Are you trying to say that the girl back then was you?"


    Xiao Manshu froze momentarily and instinctively nodded.


    Xiao Jingchen snorted, "If that’s what you want to talk about, don’t bother wasting your breath."


    "..."


    "Xiao Manshu, I never thought you’d resort to lying, huh."


    The hand Xiao Manshu had resting on her leg clenched. Suddenly, she thought of something, her almond eyes angrily fixed on Tang Ran. No wonder Tang Ran confidently imed Xiao Jingchen wouldn’t believe her; she must have preemptively told him something!


    Xiao Jingchen doesn’t trust her but trusts Tang Ran’s intentions of being with him for his money, as money is what hecks the least.


    "I’m not lying! Whether you believe it or not, the girl who helped you out of loneliness back then was me!" Xiao Manshu spoke with a fiercely determined gaze, stubborn yet with a righteous indignation, angry that Xiao Jingchen mistook her for someone else!


    Xiao Jingchen paused for a moment; it seemed like ages since he’d seen Xiao Manshu like this, a mix of familiarity and unfamiliarity surged in his heart.


    At this moment, a soft hand clutched his arm as Tang Ran leaned closer to him, "Manshu, I know you’ve cherished Jingchen deeply since childhood. Otherwise, three years ago, you wouldn’t have schemed to drug him and climb into his bed. But such impersonation can’t be allowed. Regardless, you’re considered half a daughter of the Xiao Family, and children from the Xiao Family naturallye with an aura. By doing this, you’re tarnishing the Xiao Family’s name."


    Tang Ran’s voice wasn’t loud, yet everyone around heard it clearly, pointing and gossiping about Xiao Manshu.


    Harsh and vulgar remarks were something Xiao Manshu was long used to.


    Tang Ran’s sole purpose was to disgrace her; the adopted daughter of the Xiao Family climbing into her brother’s bed was shameful even if it didn’t end her, it would drown her in disdain.


    Xiao Manshu coldly cast a nce at her, instantly feeling like the thief calling for the thief’s capture, "Tang Ran, you know deep down who’s truly impersonating!"


    Her lips curved into a sinister smile, "I will never agree to the divorce! Even if I die, I will cling to the position of Mrs. Xiao!"


    Xiao Manshuid down each word emphatically, "Tang Ran will forever be a homewrecker!"


    She absolutely cannot let Tang Ran destroy what Xiao Jingchen holds dear. That’s also her grandfather’s legacy!


    "Manshu! You!" Hearing others call her a homewrecker was what Tang Ran despised the most, her expression turning grim as she suppressed her anger and said, "I know you can’t let go of Jingchen for now, but love isn’t something you can force. If it’s not yours, keeping it won’t do any good."


    Tang Ran gently ced her hand on her belly, "Besides, I already have Jingchen’s baby. If you love Jingchen, you wouldn’t want his child to be born into an iplete family, would you?"


    Xiao Manshuughed in sheer anger, scoffing her disbelief, shaking her head, "Tang Ran, I, Xiao Manshu, may not have your depth of scheme, but that doesn’t mean Ick the brains! I didn’t lose to you; rather, someone is blind and can’t distinguish right from wrong!"


    Xiao Manshu stood up furiously, grabbing the divorce agreement from the table, telling Xiao Jingchen, "Xiao Jingchen, you’ll regret this someday!"


    The daughter raised by the Xiao Family always carries a sense of pride. Even though she loves Xiao Jingchen with all her heart, she has no choice but to let go now.


    She knows that Xiao Jingchen truly will never love her. When he decided Tang Ran was the girl in his heart from back then, she was left with no chance at all.