He Yan couldn't shake the feeling of resentment that brewed within her. "What have I done to deserve this?" she thought bitterly as she listened to the Old Lady's harsh words directed at her. It was evident to her that the Old Lady had a bias against her, a bias rooted in her humble beginnings compared to the more distinguished background of the Jian family. Although He Yan understood that she might never earn her mother-in-law's favor, hearing her belittled like this stung more than she expected.
The Old Lady sighed, attempting to clarify her previous remarks. "Little Ling has been quite stressed about her upcoming exams. It would be best if you didn't trouble her right now."
He Yan quickly plastered on a smile, trying to appease her mother-in-law. "Of course, Mother, I understand. But honestly, she shouldn't worry too much about the exams. We're not struggling for food or clothing. She doesn't need to put so much pressure on herself over grades." He Yan often preached this mantra to Jian Yiling, instilling the belief that she didn't have to work hard.
More than once, He Yan had told Jian Yiling that she could rely on her grandparents, parents, and eventually her husband, along with her brothers, to provide for her. "With all the property the elders will leave her, she'll never need to worry about a thing for the rest of her life," she would insist.
Jian Yiling tugged gently at Old Lady Jian's sleeve, her eyes wide. "I'm hungry," she admitted.
As soon as the Old Lady heard this, she rushed to instruct the servants, "Hurry up, bring the dishes out! Little Ling is hungry!"
Once they headed toward the dining room, He Yan's expression darkened. "This little brat," she thought, her mind racing. "She used to hang onto my every word. Why is she acting differently today? If she's really starting to behave, it's not good for me at all."
Taking advantage of the brief moment before dinner, He Yan slipped away to make a phone call. It rang for a while before connecting, and she heard a soft, cautious voice on the other end.
"Hello, Mo. What's going on? Why has Jian Yiling suddenly changed so much?" He Yan's tone dripped with accusation.
"Second Madam, I—I'm not entirely sure. I've been at the hospital looking after the Third Young Master these past few days, so I haven't had much contact with the young lady," the woman's voice replied, gentle and tentative.
"Have you continued to instill in Jian Yunzhao that his life is over, that everything is ruined for him?" He Yan pressed, frustration seeping into her voice.
"I have, but I'm worried. I'm really worried he might remember the details of that day. I spoke with the doctor, and they said that memories could sometimes come back more clearly after an emotional event. If he remembers, he'll know I've been lying to him!"
The woman's voice sounded weak, betraying her genuine fear.
He Yan tried to calm her down, "Don't panic. If he does start to remember, you can always say you were mistaken. Besides, it's been a while; he hasn't remembered anything yet, so he's likely to forget. When they were fighting, there was physical contact between them. With how dizzy he was after the fall, he wouldn't even be able to tell if he fell on his own or if Jian Yiling pushed him. You were the first one by his side after he fell, so as long as you say you saw it all, he won't suspect a thing. He'll only be angry that his beloved sister could be so cruel to him. Love breeds resentment; once someone loves or hates deeply, they can't think clearly. That's just how young people are."
The woman on the other end of the line fell silent, contemplating her next words.
After a long pause, she finally spoke. "Second Madam, I think we should let this go. Jian Yiling has learned enough of a lesson already. The master and mistress have been good to me. They even allowed my daughter to move in with me and gave me a raise. I don't want to make things difficult for them any longer…"
He Yan's expression shifted dramatically. "Mo, you better think this through! Who arranged for your daughter to attend Shenghua High School? Who ensured you got this generous job? You want to give it all up? Fine! But good luck figuring out how to pay for your daughter's university tuition!"
He Yan's voice was laced with a threatening edge, her desperation palpable. She knew how to play her cards and wouldn't let anyone slip from her grasp so easily, especially not someone she had helped build a life for. The stakes were too high, and she wasn't about to let anyone jeopardize her plans.