Everyone was startled by my smooth movements, and even Lin Hui's kneeling seemed particularly comical.
No, I'm asking.
Is she seriously ill?
Those who knew thought she was kneeling. I saw her charging at me with such a fierce look, as if she was going to stab me in the back.
Sorry, I'm suffering from the aftereffects of being stabbed.
Everyone she sees wants to hurt me.
Only Lu Yanchen knew the reason for my reflex, and a hint of heartache filled his eyes.
He patted my back and soothed me softly, "Baby, it's okay."
Lin Hui calmed down for a moment before continuing, "Wanwan, this is all my fault. It's my mother's fault for not raising her well. I didn't teach her well that led to what happened today."
"I'll take responsibility for my mistakes, but Zhi'er is still young. If you want to punish her, punish me. Let me kneel."
I sneered. Jiang Zhi had been kneeling for so long anyway. She was trying to use a self-torture tactic, wasn't she?
Perhaps I still had a sliver of kindness in my past life, but after being stabbed once, I've learned the wickedness of human nature. Now, my heart is as cold as a RT-Mart fish-killing knife.
"Okay, just recognize your child."
I answered so readily, leaving Lin Hui stunned. She seemed surprised by my straightforward agreement.
After all, she's the elder, so how could I really let her replace Jiang Zhi?
She doesn't still think I'm the same cowardly Jiang Wanwan from before?
I curled my lips in a smile. "Go ahead. Kneel outside. It's cold out there, and it won't be an eyesore."
She looked at my mother again. "Sister, what do you say..."
As she spoke, her eyes were fixed on my mother's belly. Last time during dinner, my mother had gone to the hospital after dry heaving. After all, it was the Lu family's private hospital, and Lu Yanchen had already made arrangements, so Lin Hui couldn't find out whether my mother was pregnant.
My mother had been troubled by morning sickness lately, and her good temper had faded. Too lazy to deal with Lin Hui, she said in a flat voice, "Get away."
I'd expected her to beg Jiang Qing, but she didn't. Instead, she slowly stood up, looking aggrieved. "Yes, I'll kneel down now to atone for what I did earlier."
That figure from behind looked truly lonely and pitiful.
But right now, Jiang Qing's thoughts were entirely focused on my mother and the unborn child. How could a man who didn't love her care about her, now old and withered?
The only person he cared about was Jiang Zhi.
He ordered the servants to bring Jiang Zhi in to treat her injuries. He glanced at me as he said this, and was relieved when I didn't say anything.
After all, I still need her to work for me.
Jiang Zhi had been pampered for so many years, and she'd become incredibly spoiled.
Even kneeling for half an hour in such cold weather would have practically taken her life.
She cried and trembled as she complained, causing Jiang Qing to feel distressed. He complained, "Wanwan, you should calm down now. Your sister's been hurt so badly."
I was furious, and I wanted to pounce on him and fight him for three hundred rounds.
But then I thought, it wasn't worth wasting my breath on someone like him.
He might not have had any love for Lin Hui, but he had a genuine affection for Jiang Zhi, just like how I, even after being hurt so badly at the Su family, always considered them family.
I could understand his inability to sever his ties, but I absolutely couldn't agree that this ties existed at the expense of another mother and daughter.
A person like him wouldn't be a loser if he left.
The worse Jiang Zhi's condition, the more he couldn't help but care for her, pushing Mom further and further away.
I didn't answer him, but looked at Mom.
My Mom's eyes were a little empty, her expression wooden.
That's right. After twenty years of accumulated disappointment, she'd long since grown accustomed to it.
Perhaps she'd known Jiang Qing's true nature from the beginning. Without hope, there would be no disappointment. "Mom, go upstairs and rest for a while."
"Okay."
The mess in the room had been cleaned up, but the living room felt much emptier.
Jiang Qing hadn't considered the consequences of Mom getting frightened or accidentally hurt by Jiang Zhi. He kept saying he was changing, but in the end, it's hard to change a person's nature.
I felt bad for Mom and helped her back home.
"Mom, you've been wronged."
Mom smiled gently. "How could I be wronged? I have you, and now two little lives to keep me company. I'm already very happy. You, on the other hand, shouldn't worry about someone you don't care about."
Seeing such a gentle Mom, I made up my mind even more. "Mom, I'll definitely find a way to get you a divorce!"
"Okay, Mom's a little sleepy."
"Then you rest for a while. I'll keep you company."
Mom stared at me intently. Her gaze, so gentle, felt like a sharp knife piercing my soul, revealing my true self.
"Mom, why are you looking at me like that?" I felt a little uneasy. She sighed softly, hesitant to speak, "It's okay."
Then she closed her eyes. I tucked the blanket over her, and Mom grabbed my hand.
"My Wanwan..."
I shook her hand back. "Mom, I'm here."
She didn't respond, and I felt uneasy, wondering if she'd noticed something.
That couldn't be the case. Who in the world would imagine something so outrageous as a resurrection?
I watched Mom fall asleep before leaving.
I didn't notice the tears trickling down Mom's cheeks the moment the door closed.
Jiang Zhi's hand was bandaged, and her body gradually regained its warmth. She leaned against Jiang Qing, drinking ginger soup.
Seeing me approach, she gave me a provocative look. Jiang Qing checked his watch. "It's been forty minutes, Wanwan. Isn't this enough punishment? New Year's Eve is almost here. If someone dies while kneeling, we won't have a peaceful New Year."
I didn't want to argue with him anymore and simply said, "If you think it's enough, then it's enough."
As soon as he finished speaking, he was out the door. Jiang Zhi slowly walked towards me, a smug smile on her lips. She lowered her voice and said, "Jiang Wanwan, you see, Dad still has his heart on us. If Mom can snatch us away once, she can snatch us away again."
"Would you like to guess how long it will take for Dad to come back this time? Three months? Or a month? What does it matter if you transferred my property? As long as Dad recognizes me as his daughter, his property is mine..."
I looked at the smug face before me. "Wait until you live that long before we talk."
"Bitch, how dare you curse me!"
There was no one else in the living room, so she didn't care about her image at all. I chuckled. "You're such a pig-brained fool! You don't even know how you died. I won't be able to save you next time. You better take care of yourself."
"Jiang Wanwan, your complacency won't last long. Dad will be back with us soon."
"Then I wish you good luck in advance."
I turned back to my room. Lu Yanchen sat in his wheelchair, making a phone call, and I didn't disturb him.
I watched Lin Hui tearfully tugging at Jiang Qing in the snow not far away. Jiang Qing's expression was cold, as if he was trying to get her to leave.
The glass blocked out all the outside noise; I could only make out their words through their mouths.
Jiang Qing had his back to me, his figure icy.
Lin Hui cried and begged, but Jiang Qing had his bodyguards pull her away, and he and Jiang Zhi finally left together.
I felt like I was watching a pantomime, witnessing a bloody spectacle.
The electric curtains suddenly closed on their own. The moment they closed completely, Lu Yanchen had finished his phone call and hugged me from behind. "Wanwan, I smell sadness in you."
"I'm just lamenting that Jiang Qing can't let go of this or that. If he truly loves someone, would he have room for someone else?"
"No, it just means he doesn't love me enough. He's so unhappy. Do you want me to tell you something interesting?"
I turned around and put my arms around his neck. Only in this man's arms do I feel at peace.
"Hmm?"
Lu Yanchen gently stroked my cheek with his fingertips, his lips curled slightly. "Lin Hui's hiding a strange man."
"What!"
I admit I was excited. This was a huge piece of news!
Lu Yanchen raised his brow. "His flight just landed. If you go now, you might catch a good show. Do you want to go?"