Tang Wan had just finished washing the paint off her hands when her phone vibrated in her pocket. She hurriedly dried her hands and pulled out her phone, catching sight of the caller ID and quickly answering.
"Hello, Auntie—"
"Wanwan!" The voice was affectionate and teasing. "Am I bothering you?"
"No, not at all."
The call was from Jiang Jinsang's mother.
"I just wanted to ask about our Xiaowu's health today. He hasn't caused you any trouble, has he?"
"No, Mr. Wu is doing well."
"Look at you, still so polite. He's just three years older than you."
"Um..." Tang Wan was at a loss for ways to ingratiate herself with Jiang Jinsang. "Auntie, what does Mr. Wu usually like? What does he enjoy eating? What hobbies does he have?"
"Why are you asking that?"
"His health isn't very good, and he won't say anything about it. My grandfather said that, since he's a guest, we should make him comfortable." Tang Wan spoke with such composure that it seemed as if her grandfather had given her the burden of responsibility.
"Oh, I see. Actually, our Xiaowu..."
Mrs. Jiang shared a lot about Jiang Jinsang's "preferences," such as his particular fondness for carrots and cilantro.
After hanging up, her gaze swept over her eldest son, who was staring intently at her. "Why are you looking at me? Do you have a problem?"
The older brother adjusted his tie and prepared to go out. "You said so much just now, Tang Miss might not remember. You should write it down and send it to her, so she doesn't forget."
"..."
Tang Wan, after hanging up, frowned slightly. She vividly recalled that when Jiang Jinsang ate the small wontons, the cilantro on the clear soup remained untouched. Why did Mrs. Jiang say he particularly loved it?
When she was ready to go out, Jiang Jinsang was standing in the courtyard, clearly waiting for her.
"Mr. Wu, aren't you in the study reading?"
"Let's go together. Last night's incident involved me. I should go."
When they reached the front hall, the old man was standing under the porch feeding Hua Mei. Zhang Liyun and her daughter were sitting on the sofa; both had not slept all night and looked very worn out.
Especially Tang Mo, who exuded an aura of despondency and decline. Her eyes were red and swollen, and when she saw them coming, she flinched with fright.
After greeting them, Tang Wan sat down, and on the double sofa, Jiang Jinsang almost sat closely beside her.
Zhang Liyun nudged Tang Mo. "What are you standing there for? Speak!"
No matter how she tried to help, this useless thing was hopeless.
Tang Mo had spent the night at the police station. The police were law enforcers, not service staff, and didn't treat her kindly, which frightened her significantly. At this moment, she was still in a daze.
"Sis—" Her voice was hoarse.
"How are you? Are you okay? Yesterday, when the police wanted to take you away, there was nothing I could do. You don't blame me, do you?"
"No." Even though Tang Mo harbored resentment, she dared not say anything.
At that time, Tang Wan hadn't even given her a glance.
"That's good."
"Sis, I'm sorry." Tang Mo suddenly stood up, her body rigid, her words difficult. Clearly, this apology wasn't genuine.
"What do you have to apologize to me for?" Tang Wan feigned ignorance.
"I..." Tang Mo glanced at Zhang Liyun from the corner of her eye.
As soon as they left the police station, Zhang Liyun brought her straight to the old mansion to apologize to Tang Wan. Deep down, she knew that even though those people had instigated it last night, she too wanted to see Tang Wan embarrassed. It was indeed disgraceful to her.
Having been detained for a night, she figured it was enough to offset what she'd done. Why should she have to apologize?
"Speak!" Zhang Liyun was infuriated, thinking that whatever was said on the way had just gone in one ear and out the other.
"I didn't know that group would do that to you..." Tang Mo was also holding onto a grudge. Her words increasingly conflicted with her true feelings. "If I'd known, I wouldn't have called you to pick me up. I'm sorry."
"You didn't know?" Tang Wan smirked, her smile contemptuous. "If you don't want to apologize, you really don't have to force yourself."
Tang Mo already didn't want to apologize, and now, seeing her proud, disdainful face, anger surged within her. Her blood rushed to her head, and she blurted out,
"Didn't you also call the police on us?"
Meaning, after all, they owed each other nothing. Don't bully us too much.
Old Tang continued feeding Hua Mei without even lifting his gaze. However, Zhang Liyun panicked and shouted, "Tang Mo!"
"The police said someone called about me being held captive. Now they all think it was me who called the police." Entering the police station, they were definitely questioned in turn.
When talking about whether those people threatened her, urging her to call Tang Wan to pick her up, she didn't call the police, so it must have been Tang Wan. Anyway, it had everything to do with her, and she couldn't escape it.
"Tang Mo, shut your mouth!" Zhang Liyun was furious.
"Now I've ended up in a situation where I can't win on either side, I..." Tang Mo was anxious too. How did it all become her fault out of nowhere?
At this point, Jiang Jinsang interrupted her words. "You seem to have misunderstood the whole situation."
Tang Mo was extremely afraid of Jiang Jinsang. As soon as he spoke, her body trembled violently, and she clammed up.
"I was the one who made the call to the police."
When he said this, even Old Tang couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.
"When you called last night, Miss Tang was already prepared to pick you up. But you said you were being held and couldn't leave. I really don't understand. Since you could call your sister for help, why didn't you call the police?"
"What? You were the one detained, needing help, and now helping you is somehow wrong?"
"Were you really being coerced?"
Jiang Jinsang was ruthless, pointing out the heart of the matter with a single question.
"Your life was being toyed with. Knowing full well it was a pit, you still wanted to drag your sister into it?" He sneered. "Is it too much to ask you to apologize?"
Tang Mo's face turned crimson as she stood there, wringing her hands and gripping the hem of her clothes.
"I injured you before, and I always felt bad about it. When I heard you were in trouble, I helped by calling the police. If the police can't solve some problems, then what good would it do to send a girl like her?"
"Do I need to be any clearer?"
"Even so, she still went to get you personally. You owe her not just an apology but also a thank you."
After Jiang Jinsang finished speaking, the whole living room fell into a terrifying silence, the only sound the chirping of Hua Mei clamoring for food.
Tang Mo originally didn't want to apologize. Now, with Jiang Jinsang airing her dirty laundry in public, shaming her in front of everyone, and even demanding she thank Tang Wan—what kind of logic was that!
Jiang Cuo and Jiang Jiu stood outside. "Hey, that Tang lady isn't stupid. She knows to make that fool apologize, but unfortunately, she raised a useless daughter who doesn't know her place."
"Our grandfather's words can be deadly."
"He's very protective indeed. Offering himself up to be humiliated only to refuse kindness. How's she going to get off the stage now?"
...
Jiang Cuo saw there was no response from the person next to him and nudged him. Jiang Jiu moved a fraction to the side, his face full of disdain, as if saying,
Don't touch me!
Zhang Liyun also thought it was Tang Wan who called the police. When the police were disturbed, it was already late. Why were the two of them still together?
But she had no time to dwell on this now. She nudged Tang Mo's lower back. "Why are you still standing there? Didn't you hear Mr. Wu?"
Tang Mo genuinely felt aggrieved; everyone has a bit of temper. At this moment, she was stubbornly refusing to bow her head.
As the atmosphere thickened and tensions froze, a loud "bang—" was suddenly heard. Old Tang tossed the china plate holding bird food aside, scattering it everywhere.
Hua Mei was startled, flapping her wings with loud squawks, clearly frightened.
Jiang Jinsang raised a brow slightly. The show was finally about to begin.