At the Jiang family’s main entrance and in the living room, Madam Jiang’s favorite dwarf pine was still in place.
Lin Xiangwan sat by the coffee table, holding the lilies in her arms, staring absentmindedly at the pebbles inside.
After a moment, footsteps came from upstairs.
A neatly dressed woman descended, casting a glance at her with little expression.
“Madam has had digestive issues lately. She’s taken her medicine and gone to bed. You should leave.”
Lin Xiangwan nodded, handing the lilies to a servant. “Please take this bouquet to Madam Jiang.”
Then she sat down. “I’ll wait here for Grandma. You don’t need to mind me just treat me like I’m not here.”
The servants assumed she was about to leave and made gestures to escort her out, but froze when she spoke, looking to Tang Li for guidance.
Tang Li frowned, glaring at Lin Xiangwan with displeasure. “I thought you had some sense. Apparently, three years abroad hasn’t taught you anything, but it has made your face a lot thicker.”
She stepped down from the second floor, walking deliberately toward Lin Xiangwan, looking down on her. “Madam doesn’t want to see a traitor who ran away at the last moment. Leave the Jiang household!”
Lin Xiangwan lifted her gaze, curling her lips.
“Madam is so indignant looks like she’s protecting Jiang Shijing. A stranger might even think you’re his real mother.”
“You !” Tang Li’s face twisted, and she raised her hand to strike.
Lin Xiangwan grabbed her wrist, tightening her fingers, her voice cold. “Think I’m the same as three years ago? Don’t even think about slapping me around anymore!”
Tang Li was flung aside, and only the servants catching her prevented her from falling.
She stared at Lin Xiangwan in disbelief, unable to reconcile this woman with the Lin family heiress she once knew.
Back then, even with her wedding approaching, Lin Xiangwan couldn’t control Jiang Shijing. She knew they were at odds, yet foolishly tried to please him, attempting to probe his likes and dislikes.
Back then, Lin Xiangwan had endured being humiliated, twisted, and pushed around without a sound too afraid to complain to Jiang Shijing.
Now, Lin Xiangwan seemed like a completely different person.
Especially her gaze it was like a blade!
Tang Li quickly regained her composure and jabbed a finger at Lin Xiangwan’s nose. “You’re so brazen, coming here to stir trouble! You’re no longer Shijing’s fiancée. Even if I beat you and throw you out, no one would dare defend you!”
A few servants outside rushed in, surprised to see Lin Xiangwan, immediately forming a circle around her.
Lin Xiangwan coldly scanned them, fingers tightening.
She didn’t want to make a scene, but since Tang Li refused to let her see Madam Jiang, she had no choice but to alert the elder in the least dignified way possible.
She grabbed a teapot from the table, lifting it as if to strike the first person who dared touch her.
The situation became tense; the servants were afraid to advance, fearing she might go crazy.
Tang Li hurriedly signaled to the servants behind Lin Xiangwan.
Lin Xiangwan tried to swing backward, but the front servants were already prepared. The moment she turned, they pounced, holding her shoulders firmly.
One person can’t fight six. That was certain.
Yet Lin Xiangwan hadn’t expected to be restrained before making any real commotion.
The Jiang villa was large, with excellent sound insulation.
Such a small commotion would not reach Madam Jiang.
Tang Li walked over, pinching Lin Xiangwan’s chin to examine her face, sneering. “Three years and you’ve gotten prettier annoying just to look at. What, you think this face will lure Jiang Shijing back to you?”
Lin Xiangwan remained immobile, expressionless. “If you touch my face, I’ll hire people to watch the Jiang estate and be ready with acid for you.”
Tang Li’s face changed, startled by Lin Xiangwan’s piercing gaze and words.
Her fingers curled, yet she pinched Lin Xiangwan’s chin harshly. “Relax, I won’t ruin your looks. I just want to make sure you can’t see Madam Jiang, can’t enter the Jiang household!”
Lin Xiangwan’s skin was fair and delicate, and the pinch left two red marks.
The servants, strong as they were, tried to drag her away.
Lin Xiangwan’s voice rang out firmly: “Tang Li, you have no right to stop me from seeing Grandma! If she herself says she doesn’t want to see me, I won’t bother again. But today, I must see her.”
“I won’t allow it. What are you going to do?”
Tang Li’s expression darkened. She and the servants pushed her downward.
Lin Xiangwan could only shout upstairs: “Grandma! Can you hear me? Wanwan has come to see you!”
Tang Li angrily pulled out a handkerchief to cover her mouth.
As the cloth was shoved into Lin Xiangwan’s mouth, a voice outside sneered:
“Did I miss a good show?”
Hearing Jiang Shijing, the servants froze, unsure how to react and loosened their grip on Lin Xiangwan.
She spat out the handkerchief, quietly pressing her lips, eyes on the newcomer.
Jiang Shijing seemed to have just returned from an engagement, smelling of alcohol. He was casually playing with his car keys, yet his presence was so imposing that Tang Li’s face changed, and she became cautious.
She smiled lightly. “Shijing, you haven’t been home for days. Why the sudden return today?”
Tang Li glanced at Lin Xiangwan, her eyes showing clear doubt and fear.
“This is my home. Is it a problem if I’m gone for a few days or return suddenly?”
Jiang Shijing tossed the car keys onto the coffee table and stepped in front of Lin Xiangwan.
A single glance from him and the servants immediately released their hold.
Lin Xiangwan rubbed her sore shoulders, freeing herself.
Jiang Shijing’s gaze landed on her chin, eyes deepening, and he smiled lightly. “Lin, you’re visiting the Jiang household but didn’t tell me? So I could have had a table prepared to welcome you.”
“I came to see Grandma,” Lin Xiangwan said, not wanting Jiang Shijing to know her true purpose.
She picked up her bag and lowered her head to leave.
Suddenly, someone grabbed her wrist.
Jiang Shijing pulled her back, half-smiling, half-serious, looking at Tang Li: “Aunt Li, why are you stopping Miss Lin from seeing Grandma?”
Tang Li’s face changed. “I ”
“This household has always had clear rules. You should know your place,” Jiang Shijing interrupted, taking the lilies from the servants and handing them to Lin Xiangwan.
She took them, confused, feeling the warmth where he had held her wrist.
“Grandma is in the backyard,” Jiang Shijing said, hands in his pockets, still casual.
Lin Xiangwan’s heart stirred slightly. Before she could think further, he teased, smiling lightly:
“I’m very curious how you’ll explain your departure three years ago to Grandma.”
Lin Xiangwan hugged the lilies tightly, her eyes darkening. Calmly, she said: “I’ve said it before. I left because I no longer loved you.”
With that, she turned and walked away.
The smile in Jiang Shijing’s eyes vanished instantly, his gaze following her all the way.