Free Web NovelChapter 266: Chapter 266: Marriage or Remarriage (Part 1)
The claim was rejected because Su Li was not the biological mother, had already divorced Tang Yuanxiao, and therefore lacked the standing to sue. The court ruled to dismiss the case in accordance with legal procedures.
Even if Tang Yuanxiao and Little Tang Mo were not biologically related, Su Li still didn’t meet the criteria for guardianship because she was single and still too young.
Tang Yuanxiao was unwilling to give up guardianship. Even with Mrs. Tang’s history of abuse, his rights couldn’t be forcibly revoked, since Little Tang Mo was the child born during his marriage to Cui Yun.
He had the means to provide for the child and had never done anything to harm Little Tang Mo himself.
When Su Li received the notice of rejection, she had just been in high spirits.
Just as she had hoped, Little Tang Mo’s condition was genuinely improving.
He was spending less and less time zoning out. Since he wasn’t going to school, Su Li had started teaching him again, successfully redirecting his attention and interests.
Thanks to her efforts, a faint smile finally appeared on Little Tang Mo’s face.
It was fleeting, and it only happened once, but Su Li saw it.
The moment she saw that smile bloom on Little Tang Mo’s face, Su Li nearly jumped for joy.
Her mind instantly flooded with plans, but unfortunately, a bucket of cold water was immediately thrown on her hopes.
After receiving the rejection notice, Su Li couldn’t stop herself and rushed straight to the courthouse.
A court employee was just about to leave for the day. Seeing Su Li clutching the notice, they looked resigned.
"If we do a paternity test, we can prove they aren’t biologically related. That would make it an adoptive relationship, which means I could adopt him too. I may be single, but I have the means and the ability to raise him."
The employee sighed. "We have to follow legal requirements. Leaving everything else aside, you don’t even meet the age requirement."
"This isn’t just a simple adoption case. I used to be his mother, his legally recognized mother."
The employee sighed. "But you’re divorced now. If you had fought for custody before the divorce, you might have had a chance."
Su Li felt her strength leave her. "Is there no other way?"
"Little Mo... the boy can’t speak now. He’s... you could say he’s deaf. Shouldn’t that make his case different from a normal one?"
Su Li had even brought up the fact that Little Mo was non-verbal, a reality that pierced her heart every time she had to think about it.
The employee, who knew the details of the case, could only shake their head helplessly.
"It does make things a little different. If the child’s father voluntarily relinquishes his guardianship, it’s possible for him to transfer it to you."
’If Tang Yuanxiao were willing to give it up, she wouldn’t have needed to file a lawsuit at all.’
"Besides that, is there no other way?"
The employee nodded. "No, there isn’t. Unless..."
Su Li pressed eagerly, "Unless what?"
The employee scratched their head before answering. "Unless... you remarry your ex-husband. Then you’d have guardianship rights..."
Seeing the look on Su Li’s face, the employee couldn’t bring themselves to say more.
"Heh... That’s impossible."
Su Li found it utterly absurd. "How can that be the only way..."
’Remarry? How could she and Tang Yuanxiao possibly remarry!’
The consultation had been fruitless. Su Li forced a smile and excused herself.
After Su Li and the employee had both left, Tang Yuanxiao’s figure emerged from around a corner just a few steps away.
He watched her retreating back and a smile more painful than a grimace twisted his lips.
When he’d heard the employee say the word ’remarry,’ his heart had given a heavy, uncontrollable thump, even though he knew it was impossible.
’Remarry... Remarry...’
Even after everything that had happened, hearing that one word still made his heart skip a beat.
’He must be going crazy.’
’Crazy.’
Tang Yuanxiao stood frozen for a long moment.
When Qin Shanshan told him that she’d gone to Su Li to ask for Little Tang Mo back, and mentioned that something seemed off with the boy, Tang Yuanxiao knew things were about to get worse.
So when the court staff contacted him again, he wasn’t the least bit surprised.
He just hadn’t expected to run into Su Li, much less overhear that entire conversation.
Remarrying. In the early days after the divorce, it was something he’d dreamed of, a goal he planned to work toward, something he’d even thought was possible.
But now, he hadn’t even let himself think about it.
And yet, he had just heard it, completely out of the blue.
Tang Yuanxiao clutched his chest, then suddenly gritted his teeth and dashed out.
He caught up to Su Li outside the courthouse and grabbed her arm.
"Su Li, we need to talk."
"Talk? Talk about what?" Su Li wrenched her arm free, unable to suppress the wave of disappointed anger that washed over her.
"There’s nothing for us to talk about."
Tang Yuanxiao blocked her path. "Su Li, you need to calm down."
"I can’t calm down! And please, stay out of my sight!" Su Li averted her gaze, taking a deep breath. "Why won’t you give it up?"
"Back then, to get me to drop the suit, you said you were willing to give up custody of Little Mo. If you could give it up then, why not now?"
’Su Li knew the circumstances back then had been unique, but it still proved it wasn’t completely impossible for Tang Yuanxiao to give up custody, right?’
"Su Li, even though I have legal guardianship, you can have the final say in everything concerning Momo. I’ll cooperate with you."
Tang Yuanxiao looked at her earnestly. "I chased after you just to tell you this."
"I can have the final say?" Su Li looked at him, defeated. "Those are just words. I don’t have guardianship, so nothing I do is convenient or legitimate!"
"Have you forgotten what I told you before? Have you forgotten what I went through?"
"When Little Tang Mo was snatched away, I was stopped from even calling the police! Have the final say? How am I supposed to do that? I have no say in anything!"
Su Li exhaled sharply. "Tang Yuanxiao, stop talking about cooperation. If you really mean I can have the final say in everything about Little Mo, then just give me guardianship."
"Little Mo has finally started to get a little better. He even smiled. I was so happy, so full of hope, and then..."
And then she received the rejection notice from the court.
"Little Mo smiled?" Tang Yuanxiao’s eyes lit up, and he couldn’t help but ask.
"Yes, he smiled once. But if you insist on holding onto his guardianship, I don’t know if he’ll ever be able to smile again."
Su Li let out a cold laugh. "I don’t have guardianship, so anyone can just waltz up, put in their two cents, and demand I hand over Little Mo."
"First it was your dear Shanshan, running up to demand Little Mo, telling me not to monopolize him and to give him back to you."
"In a few days, who knows who else will show up trying to snatch the child away. I have no idea."
When Tang Yuanxiao heard Su Li mention Qin Shanshan, a flash of resentment crossed his eyes.
"Su Li, Qin Caihua did that on her own. I’ve already chewed her out for it. She won’t dare do it again." freēwēbηovel.c૦m
"This was the first time, and it will be the last. I won’t let anything like this happen again."
Tang Yuanxiao promised.
Su Li watched him silently. "A promise?"
’Promise what? What could he possibly use to back it up?’
"Are you tied to Qin Shanshan at the hip every day, able to watch and control her? Or can you remotely control her and everyone else? Tang Yuanxiao, don’t be ridiculous. How can you possibly make promises on someone else’s behalf?"
’The last time? What a joke.’
’Qin Shanshan has legs and a mouth. She can come and say whatever she wants on her own. What’s Tang Yuanxiao going to do, keep her tied to his belt?’
’If she can act on her own once, she can do it a second and a third time.’
’And it’s not just her. Who knows who else might show up?’
