Tang Li watched all this unfold, unwilling to accept it, and gritted her teeth with a smile. “Shijing, you’re being foolish. That woman has betrayed and abandoned you, yet you’re even helping her meet Madam Jiang…”
Before she could finish, Jiang Shijing shot her a glance.
It was cold, utterly devoid of warmth like a frozen ancient tale that sent shivers down one’s spine.
Tang Li instantly fell silent.
In the backyard, Madam Jiang dozed in a plain-colored nightgown, a cup of steaming tea by her side.
Lin Xiangwan stepped lightly, approaching and opening her mouth, but for a moment didn’t know what to say.
Should she apologize for betraying Grandma’s care and trust, or simply greet her after so long and ask about her health?
Over the years, she had wronged no one except Madam Jiang.
Back when she was engaged, she thought she and Jiang Shijing were truly compatible, and Madam Jiang had insisted on her as her grandson’s bride, opposing the marriage arranged by his father and stepmother.
But in the end, Madam Jiang’s painstaking efforts were all in vain.
She must be very disappointed now.
As Lin Xiangwan hesitated, the rocking-chair creaked, and Madam Jiang, without her noticing, had already opened her eyes and smiled, waving to her.
“Wan, my girl, you’re here?”
Lin Xiangwan froze. The lilies in her hands had already been taken.
Madam Jiang bent to smell them, satisfied. “After all these years, the lilies you bring are still the ones I love most.”
“Grandma…” Lin Xiangwan fumbled, clutching her sleeve, fear in her eyes.
Madam Jiang’s tone was natural and familiar, as if she had been visiting and bringing lilies all along, with no barrier between them.
But she had heard from Wen Qian more than once that after the wedding, Madam Jiang had stepped in to calm things down and hadn’t gone out to see anyone for three full months.
“Sit down, have some tea.”
Madam Jiang poured a cup and handed it to Lin Xiangwan with a warm smile.
Lin Xiangwan took it but didn’t dare to drink, and after a moment, struggled to speak. “Grandma, I know you’re angry at me. When I went abroad back then…”
“The past is past. In my heart, you’re still the Wan I love. Don’t bring up back then,” Madam Jiang interrupted, with no trace of resentment.
Lin Xiangwan could hardly believe Madam Jiang’s generosity. Then she realized that this had always been her nature so magnanimous that, despite others’ strong opposition, she had agreed to Lin Xiangwan’s marriage to Jiang Shijing.
A pang of guilt and self-reproach rose within her.
Madam Jiang cared for her, yet her visit today was still for the company’s sake not a personal call.
“Wan, have you seen Shijing?” Madam Jiang asked gently.
Lin Xiangwan snapped back to reality and nodded obediently. “Yes, I have.”
“And you two…” Madam Jiang hesitated, then shifted the topic. “You came to see me was it for something important?”
Lin Xiangwan could not bring herself to speak.
Madam Jiang’s forgiving attitude made it impossible to voice her true request.
Two thoughts battled in her mind:
One said she had returned for revenge and should stop at nothing how could she act noble now?
The other said the person she owed most was Madam Jiang; having already received forgiveness without wrongdoing, she shouldn’t trouble her further.
In the end, Lin Xiangwan shook her head, forcing a smile. “I came to see you. You’re healthy and in good spirits, and still talk to me as usual that’s enough for me.”
She stood and bowed. “Thank you, Grandma, for your care and love. I won’t be coming often to the Jiang household now, but if you ever need anything, I will do my best.”
She dared not look at Madam Jiang’s reaction, nor linger to reveal her purpose for coming, and left hurriedly.
Madam Jiang watched her go and sighed softly.
Her steward muttered with some pity, “Miss Lin feels guilty and doesn’t want to trouble you.”
“That silly girl I’ve treated her like my own granddaughter. She shouldn’t be so formal with me,” Madam Jiang said, her expression complex.
She suddenly noticed someone arriving at the garden entrance.
Jiang Shijing sat opposite her, raising the cup of tea Lin Xiangwan hadn’t drunk and finishing it in one sip.
“Good tea.”
He half-closed his eyes, enjoying it. “Grandma’s Da Hong pao is still the richest and most fragrant.”
“Cut the smooth talk,” Madam Jiang said, picking up the lilies and fondly examining them. “Wan is facing a bit of trouble help her out.”
Jiang Shijing didn’t reply, fingers tracing the cup’s patterns, expression calm.
The steward cleared his throat. “Young Master, will you do as Madam says or not?”
“Grandma, if Lin Xiangwan wants my help, she should ask me herself. She dumped me can’t expect me to rush to help her, right?” Jiang Shijing’s smile was half teasing, half unreadable.
Madam Jiang frowned. “What if I insist you help her?”
“Then she’d have to ask me herself. If she won’t see me, I won’t help.”
Jiang Shijing set down the cup and walked off.
Outside the Jiang house, Yan Jing was waiting in the car.
Seeing Jiang Shijing, he poked his head out excitedly. “I just saw Miss Lin! Shijing, did she come to see you? She finally managed to reach you?”
Jiang Shijing lifted an eyebrow, displeased. “Mentioning the wrong thing at the wrong time.”
Yan Jing shrank back, saying nothing.
Clearly, Miss Lin had more self-control than he imagined.
Jiang Shijing got into the car. “Call my cousin.”
Half an hour after Yan Jing’s call ended, Huafeng called Lin Xiangwan.
It was the general manager of Huafeng Group, speaking indirectly, with polite but loaded remarks.
Lin Xiangwan understood the implied meaning: the old master was fiercely protective; without Jiang Shijing and Madam Jiang’s personal approval, he would never negotiate a partnership with her.
Lin Xiangwan spent the entire afternoon alone in the office, not even eating.
Xiaoxue, worried about her stomach, brought a bowl of warm chicken soup.
“Lin, if you really can’t bring yourself to speak, maybe we should find an excuse to postpone?”
Lin Xiangwan lifted her eyes, a touch of fatigue showing on her usually radiant face. “How can I do that? I’ve said it I must follow through. I can’t give up easily, especially since Lin Xijun and his family are waiting to see me back down.”
“Then what do we do? The old master of Huafeng requires Madam Jiang’s approval, and also Jiang Shijing’s. You could forcefully ask Madam Jiang, but what about Shijing?”
Xiaoxue had worked with Zhong Jie for a long time, and her words had his directness blunt but precise.
Lin Xiangwan exhaled slowly.
She suddenly remembered Tang Li’s words.
Jiang Shijing hadn’t been home for days and happened to appear at the Jiang household today, conveniently helping her gain access to Madam Jiang.
Whether coincidence or connection, it seemed unavoidable.
Lin Xiangwan stood and handed two documents to Xiaoxue. “Get the sales department to sign these. I’m going out.”
Downstairs, she had Qin Ou accompany her.
“Go to the Jiang estate.”