The Jiang Family's words fell, and the private room plunged into a rare dead silence. Jiang Jinsang rubbed his fingers, his gaze cloudy and obscure.
Tang Wan was even more stunned by the sudden news.
The Jiang Family stood there, looking as indifferent as a dead pig not afraid of boiling water, as if to say,
"We're just doing what we're told, it's got nothing to do with us!"
"Fifth Master, I'm just going to the restroom." Tang Wan grabbed her bag and phone, and immediately exited the room, finding a secluded corner to call her grandfather.
She knew her grandfather liked Jiang Jinsang a lot, but she hadn't expected he would actively bring him to their home.
At that moment, Old Tang had just finished lunch, leaning back in a wicker chair sipping tea, while the TV played opera. He squinted, tapping his knee to the rhythm, shaking his head in enjoyment.
His phone rang, he put on his reading glasses and squinted at the caller ID. "Hello—Wanwan."
"Grandpa, since when did Fifth Master plan to move to our house?" Tang Wan surely thought the Jiang Family's mention of moving to the Tang Family referred to the old house, not the city apartment.
"What? Didn't I tell you?" The old man feigned ignorance.
"When did you tell me?"
"Getting old, the mind isn't sharp, even got tricked when buying health supplements. Now my memory's gone, thought I told you."
Tang Wan twitched a corner of her mouth. How could her grandpa, at his age, hold grudges like a child?
"You said Xiaowu came to Pingjiang for you, and now he's sick with no one to rely on, staying in a hotel alone, if something happens, who will bear it? At our house, at least there are people to look out for him."
"His luggage is already sent, and I've arranged for someone to clean the room, just in the same courtyard as you."
Tang Wan's eyes widened. "What? Living in my courtyard?"
The Tang Family's old house was a three-part courtyard, with Tang Wan having her own separate courtyard where no outsider had ever stayed.
Even a fool could see what the old man was planning.
"Your courtyard is the biggest and the quietest."
"I'm getting old, if Xiaowu has any little sickness or pain at night, cries half the night, I might not hear due to my deafness. Even if I do, with my old arms and legs, it'd be hard to bring him a glass of water."
Tang Wan felt a headache, in truth, the old man had fallen seriously ill at the turn of winter and spring; he was perfectly healthy, his legs and feet were quicker than hers, just short of marching upstairs with a gas canister.
Previously, to get discharged early, every time the doctor checked, he'd say his legs didn't hurt, his eyes weren't blurry, nearly jumping out of bed to perform Tai Chi. Now, he was even using the excuse of hearing loss.
The old man, seeing her not speaking for a while, took a sip of hot tea and spoke.
"If you have any objections, just say it. If you don't want him living in our home, I can shamelessly chase him out."
"If something happens, the Jiang Family would only blame me for not taking good care, they wouldn't scold you."
"Anyway, I'm this old already, so I don't care what others say about me. If you don't like it, I'll be the bad guy."
Tang Wan smirked. You've said everything there is to say, now with the luggage already moved, what do you want me to say?
He clearly had an agreement with the Jiang Family, and now saying not agreeing to Jiang Jinsang moving in, even a fool would know it was her idea. What does he mean by "I'll be the bad guy"?
A classic case of taking advantage while playing innocent.
How had she not noticed her grandfather was such a drama king before, the world owed him an Oscar.
"Wanwan, why aren't you speaking?" The old man's tone was relaxed and cheerful.
"What else can I say?"
"If you don't have any objections, then it's settled. Remember to bring Xiaowu when you come home, and buy some Pine Nut Cake for me; I'm craving some."
"..."
**
While Tang Wan was making her call, Jiang Jinsang also called home, and his brother answered.
"Can't get through to Mom. She's not home?"
Someone glanced at his mother, who was sitting nearby playing with his son's models, and remained silent.
"What's going on? Moving my luggage to the Tang Family's?" The stuff had already been sent over; it wouldn't be appropriate to have it moved out now.
"Bro, you really don't know anything, do you?"
Someone lowered his voice, saying, "I was the one who had it done."
"Huh?"
"I had someone move your luggage, and I had the room canceled too. If you have any objections, talk to me."
His tone was like a cold, emotionless, forced-to-work machine.
Jiang Jinsang raised a brow, "Did Mom hold a knife to your throat?"
Being brothers, living together for so many years, he knew his brother's temperament well. This kind of thing was only something their mother would do.
If his brother did something like this, he would do it more drastically!
He might have bundled him up and sent him away directly while he was sick and asleep, without even giving him a chance to make a call.
"She didn't force me, she just wanted to introduce some girls to me." Someone unhesitatingly threw their mother under the bus. "If you don't want to stay, I could…"
Just then, Tang Wan happened to push the door open and enter. Someone hadn't finished speaking when Jiang Jinsang ended the call.
"Fifth Master, um…" Tang Wan hesitated, "Are you… coming home with me?"
Jiang Jinsang's earlier actions clearly indicated he wasn't aware; she still politely asked, suggesting he come with her directly. If rejected, it'd be too awkward.
The Jiang Family members lowered their heads against the wall, standing in a neat row, listening to their Master's tone during the call, hoping he wouldn't embarrass Miss Tang.
He only heard him softly say, "In that case, I'll trouble Miss Tang."
"You're too kind."
Tang Wan took a deep breath. How could she have known, those simple words of trouble…
entangled their lives forever.