Ji Xixing did not move, but her eyes remained filled with scrutiny.
She seemed to have a vague memory of the name Tang Yue.
In her memories, she had called this woman Aunt Tang, but for some reason, she had disappeared from her side and they had never seen each other again.
She had once asked her mother why the aunt who often played with her had suddenly vanished.
Back then, her mother had looked evasive and merely comforted her, saying that Auntie had things to take care of and would come back after some time.
Seeing the wariness in Ji Xixing’s eyes, Tang Yue wiped away her tears.
“I watched Young Miss grow up since she was little. Later, I left because of some circumstances. It’s only natural that Young Miss no longer remembers me.”
“Please come inside first, Young Miss.”
Tang Yue stepped aside and made room. Although Ji Xixing’s instincts told her something was strange, she still entered.
Beyond the door was a small courtyard. It was spacious, and a towering tree stretched high into the sky. This must have been the tree her grandmother had mentioned, the one beneath which the iron box had been buried.
Tang Yue led Ji Xixing inside the house. She prepared a pot of fine tea to entertain her, and her humble, almost reverent demeanor made Ji Xixing lower her guard for the moment.
Seated on the sofa opposite her, Tang Yue held Ji Xixing’s hand affectionately and said, “Young Miss came here today because of the things the old madam left behind, didn’t she?”
“Yes.” Ji Xixing lowered her eyes in acknowledgment.
That matched.
Tang Yue had guessed why she had come, which meant she was probably someone left behind by her grandmother.
It wasn’t that Ji Xixing was overly suspicious. It was simply because not a single person in that household wished her well.
Some people and some matters demanded caution.
“I’ve already prepared everything and have been waiting for Young Miss to come and collect them.” Tang Yue stood up. “Please wait here for a moment.”
Not long afterward, she returned with a black velvet box.
Handing it to Ji Xixing, she said, “Everything the old madam left for Young Miss is inside.”
Ji Xixing accepted the box and opened it briefly.
Inside was a card and a slip of paper. She only glanced at them before closing the lid.
Putting the box away, she smiled gently.
“Thank you, Aunt Tang.”
“No trouble at all, no trouble at all.” Tang Yue looked at her, hesitating as though she wanted to say something.
“Aunt Tang, do you have something to tell me?” Ji Xixing immediately saw through her.
“Young Miss should go home,” Tang Yue said after a moment of hesitation.
“What do you mean?” Ji Xixing narrowed her eyes, openly scrutinizing her.
The guard she had just lowered instantly rose again. Yet Tang Yue said nothing. She merely lowered her head and stood nervously beside Ji Xixing, allowing herself to be examined.
“You unfilial daughter, are you determined to anger me to death before you’ll stop?”
The living room door was forced open from outside, and dozens of bodyguards lined up on both sides. Surrounded by them, Ji Lifeng strode in, his face full of dissatisfaction toward Ji Xixing.
Upon seeing him, Tang Yue respectfully greeted him.
“President Ji.”
Ji Xixing looked at Tang Yue, then at Ji Lifeng. At that moment, what was there left not to understand?
She laughed in exasperation.
So in the end, she’d still been played by that old bastard.
She couldn’t understand how this man managed to haunt her like a lingering ghost.
Still, she maintained an innocent expression.
“Dad, what are you talking about? How exactly have I angered you?”
Without waiting for Ji Lifeng to speak, she continued.
“Did you come here today because you were worried about me and wanted to bring me home, or are you here like me, reminiscing about Mom and remembering the past?”
The moment those words left her mouth, Ji Lifeng’s expression darkened further. The anger lodged in his chest seemed unable to go up or down.
Anyone with eyes could tell he had come neither out of concern for Ji Xixing nor to mourn his deceased wife.
“You unfilial daughter, and you still dare mention your mother? If her spirit still exists, you’d make her come back to life from sheer anger!”
“You’d better go home and clean up the disgraceful mess you’ve made.”
Ji Xixing merely smiled and answered casually.
“The person who cheated on my mother wasn’t me, so why would Mom be angry at me?”
Her words were sharp and merciless.
Only then did Ji Lifeng truly begin examining his daughter.
Her beautiful features carried an edge to them. Combined with her bright eyes, she looked innocent and cheerful at first glance, but after staring longer, one would only feel that hidden within those dark pupils were sharp blades, without the slightest trace of a smile.
Ji Lifeng suppressed his anger slightly and threatened her.
“Ji Xixing, let me tell you this. Your mother may be dead, but with or without her, I am still the master of this family.”
“But she wasn’t just my mother. She was also your deceased wife,” Ji Xixing interrupted and corrected him.
Ji Lifeng was rendered speechless for a moment. Once he recovered, he snapped angrily.
“You’ve become so disrespectful. Since when does a junior like you get to point fingers at your elders?”
Ji Xixing was speechless.
She had merely said a few extra words, and this man had already lost his composure. Sure enough, old age really did affect one’s mentality.
It would be best if she could anger him into the hospital and have him kick the bucket. That way, she wouldn’t have to be irritated by him every day.
“Having the wrong attitude when receiving your elders’ scolding is also unacceptable,” Ji Lifeng continued. Originally, he had intended to let the matter slide after seeing her remain silent, but when he noticed her practically rolling her eyes at him, his anger flared once more.
“Father is right,” Ji Xixing replied politely, withdrawing her eye roll.
“Take this unfilial daughter back with me,” Ji Lifeng ordered the bodyguards beside him, no longer wanting to waste words.
Receiving the command, several bodyguards quickly surrounded Ji Xixing.
Just as they were about to restrain her arms, Ji Xixing curled her lips and stopped them.
“Don’t touch me. I’ll walk on my own.”
The bodyguards immediately looked toward Ji Lifeng. Seeing that he said nothing, they halted.
At the very moment Ji Xixing stepped out through the gate, her gaze landed directly on Tang Yue, who was still standing where she had been.
Tang Yue happened to raise her head and meet her eyes, only to shiver from the icy look in them.
Young Miss’s lips moved soundlessly, forming several words.
Tang Yue subconsciously whispered them aloud. Only afterward did she realize what they meant, and all the color drained from her face.
Startled, she accidentally knocked over the teacup on the table. The scalding tea spilled onto the back of her hand, but the pain could not compare to the overwhelming panic in her heart.
Are you an accomplice?
Had Young Miss already begun to suspect something?
Tang Yue had no answer.
Endless fear engulfed her. In a panic, she hurriedly wiped up the spilled tea, hoping the water stains could be erased completely.
As though, if they were wiped away, then some things had never happened and she had never done them.
But the more she wiped, the more the stains seemed to spread.
At last, she collapsed onto the floor and burst into tears.
After crying until she was exhausted, she suddenly remembered something. Feeling around for her phone, she dialed an overseas number.
Sobbing, she asked, “Young Miss seems to know already. Will she investigate those things?”
The person on the other end remained silent for a moment before replying calmly,
“Only the dead are absolutely obedient.”