Although it pained him, and although he regretted the plain, uneventful days they had spent accompanying each other, he had weathered decades of storms. He was not about to remain hung up on a woman who had failed to win him yet still had his son in her heart.
“Yes, Dad. Get some rest.” Jiang Yifeng drove his wheelchair away slowly.
Hu Tingxue ignored the pain in her palms and shins and struggled to get up, wanting to push Yifeng’s wheelchair, but Mrs. Ge shoved her away with one hand.
Feeling wronged but not daring to resist, she could only follow silently behind them.
The room fell quiet. Not long afterward, Butler Lin entered and personally cleaned up the broken porcelain scattered across the floor.
Old Master Jiang slumped weakly against the back of his chair, his fingers interlaced over his stomach as he murmured, “What exactly is Jiang Yifeng’s motive for sending that woman to my side?”
Butler Lin gave no answer. After silently gathering the broken pieces, he closed the study door.
On the first floor.
With the show over, everyone returned to their seats.
Jiang Chuling was the first to offer her commentary. “I can’t believe Fourth Uncle really managed to smooth things over. He insisted that he brought Hu Tingxue here to show filial piety to Grandpa, and no one can really fault him for that.”
Jiang Linzhi clicked his tongue. He had never witnessed a scene like this in all these years!
“But Grandpa was clearly still suspicious in the end. And, to be fair, that phone call came at a remarkably convenient time.”
Jiang Chuling glared at her brother. “Is it possible that this was exactly Fourth Uncle’s plan to escape by shedding his shell? Hu Tingxue was practically crying when she called. I don’t believe Fourth Uncle failed to notice something was wrong. He must have made preparations in advance.”
Jiang Yihua said, “Exactly. We’ve been sending people to look for that contractor for ages. Finding him under those circumstances was simply Jiang Yifeng’s good luck.”
Qiuyun added, “But given Old Master’s temperament, he’s only setting the matter aside for now because there’s too much going on. Once he has time to think it over, Mr. Jiang’s intentions won’t remain hidden.”
That was indeed the case.
In a situation like today’s, was Old Master really supposed to go and ask Jiang Yifeng, “Did you deliberately send your woman here to seduce me?”
That would be far too undignified, tasteless, and beneath him.
Yu Xiang expressed her concern. “Now that Technician Hu has gone with them to Xihe House, I wonder what the Fourth Brother plans to do to her.”
Qiuyun reassured her, “Don’t worry, Madam. Little Hu was sent there by Old Master. Even if Mr. Jiang is angry, he wouldn’t dare take it out on her. After all, if he lost his temper with Technician Hu, it would prove that he had ulterior motives. I imagine he’ll follow Old Master’s instructions and truly treat her as nothing more than a masseuse.”
Jiang Lin’an said, “But after what happened today, I doubt Granny Ge will be very pleasant toward her.”
Jiang Linzhi said, “Like Xiaoqiu said, even if Granny Ge is angry, she won’t dare make it too obvious. Whew, today has really been an eye-opener.”
Wasn’t it just?
The gossip had been consumed, the fruit platter had been polished off, and the post-game analysis had concluded, yet everyone still felt a little reluctant to leave.
After all, what could promote family harmony more than a family gathering around to enjoy some juicy gossip?
Qiuyun called Xiuxiu up to clear everything away. In a solemn tone, she then reported to the master and madam, “We’ve just received word that Mr. Jiang hurried to the main house. When he returned to Xihe House, he brought a woman with him.”
“A woman?” Jiang Yihua played along, feigning surprise. “What are Old Master and the Fourth Brother up to?”
Xiuxiu gathered the things and left. Jiang Chuling ran to the door and waited until Xiuxiu was well out of earshot before bursting into laughter. “Sister Xiaoqiu, you changed expressions so quickly! There wasn’t even a hint that you were acting!”
Qiuyun modestly replied, “Practice makes perfect. Do it a few more times and you’ll get the hang of it.”
Jiang Yihua praised her as well. “Someone as versatile as Xiaoqiu is hard to find.”
He had completely forgotten about this matter. He hadn’t expected Xiaoqiu to remember it and arrange for Cao Xiuxiu to come upstairs and deliver false information to the Fourth Branch.
Qiuyun said modestly, “You dangled such a big carrot in front of me, sir. Naturally, I have to do my utmost to consider your interests.”
Jiang Yihua immediately said, “You handled this very well. I keep my promises. Once it’s a working day tomorrow, I’ll have Secretary Zhu take you to transfer the title.”
With such a huge thorn buried in Old Master’s heart, it would only grow larger with time. And since it didn’t dirty their hands, it was a win-win situation!
Qiuyun’s face lit up with delight. “Thank you, sir!”
In the capital, where every inch of land was worth a fortune, owning a courtyard worth seven hundred million yuan was practically the pinnacle of life goals.
Jiang Linzhi leaned over and whispered to his sister. After learning that Assistant Qiu had actually received a siheyuan from their father, he was so envious that he nearly drooled. “I’ve never even seen the rare, high-value assets my dad has. Assistant Qiu, when you go to collect the property, could you take me along so I can broaden my horizons?”
Jiang Chuling slapped his hand away. “You’ll have to wait behind me. I haven’t even made that request yet!”
“Our relationship is so good. We can go together.”
“Who says we’re close? Stop trying to ride on my coattails!”
Unlike the happiness and harmony in the First Branch, the atmosphere in the Fourth Branch was shrouded in gloom.
The moment they entered Xihe House, Mrs. Ge could barely restrain the urge to slap the wretched woman across the face. “My son told you to take care of Old Master, and what did you do? You turned around and tried to seduce him!”
Hu Tingxue’s eyes were red-rimmed. “I didn’t! Mrs. Ge, I really didn’t!”
“Mom!” Jiang Yifeng interrupted wearily. He turned to Hu Tingxue and said gently, “Go back and pack your things first. I’ll explain everything to my mother.”
Hu Tingxue looked at her lover’s haggard face and softly replied, “Mm,” before turning away.
Jiang Yifeng slumped limply in his wheelchair. “Mom, take me to the study. Tell me in detail what happened.”
Mrs. Ge answered, “All right.”
Ten minutes later.
After learning the full story, Jiang Yifeng’s expression became extremely—and profoundly—ugly.
Without his knowledge, Hu Tingxue’s move had already succeeded! It had succeeded so completely that it could genuinely have changed Old Master’s decision. Yet he had never expected his mother and his uncle to destroy it so thoroughly!
Destroy it!
Mrs. Ge noticed that something was wrong with her son’s expression. “What is it, son? Is something wrong?”
They had spent so long laying the groundwork. That rare, brilliant move had practically already succeeded!
Jiang Yifeng snapped furiously, “Who told you to go after her? Why didn’t you discuss it with me first? She’s nothing but a masseuse, and Dad is already eighty. Even if he had the inclination, he wouldn’t have the ability! You’re already so old—why are you still worrying about things like this?!”
Mrs. Ge was stunned. “Why would we need to discuss it with you? Besides, she’s not just a masseuse. When has your father ever changed his mind for the sake of a masseuse?”
Jiang Yifeng’s chest heaved rapidly with anger. Even his completely insensate legs began to ache with phantom pain.
He hurriedly maneuvered his wheelchair to the desk. With trembling hands, he pulled out a small porcelain bottle, poured the pills into his palm, and swallowed them all in one gulp.
Mrs. Ge finally began to understand. “Could it be that this Hu Tingxue really was someone you arranged to place beside Old Master?”
The panic and shortness of breath gradually eased. Jiang Yifeng picked up the glass of water beside him and drained more than half of it in one go.
“That’s right. In fact, this move of mine had already succeeded.”
“Ah!”
Only then did Mrs. Ge fully grasp what had happened. Judging by the way that woman was hopelessly in love with her son—how she had dared to say things like “You’re old” and “I have a boyfriend” right in front of Old Master—it was obvious that she loved her son to the point of madness.
Once Old Master grew feeble with age, who knew how much influence Hu Tingxue’s words might carry?
And just like that… had she destroyed everything herself?
