“Also?”
Tang Zhiyuan immediately caught the key word in Du Qingfeng’s statement, while Zhang Xiuli looked at Du Qingfeng with undisguised hostility.
“Yeah. My family was robbed too.”
Du Qingfeng didn’t mention that not only had they been robbed, but the note left behind had nearly caused her and Xu Zhi to divorce. Even now, her face still burned from the slap she had received.
“We reported it to the Public Security Bureau, but they couldn’t find anything.”
“It must have been Tang Jin!”
Tang Meiyu didn’t know why, but she was absolutely convinced that Tang Jin was involved. Tang Zhiyuan, however, shook his head.
“Impossible. She couldn’t have done it alone.”
There had been too many valuable belongings and pieces of furniture in the house. Even if Tang Jin had recruited two or three women to help her, it would have been impossible.
“Where’s Xiao Jin?”
Too embarrassed to admit she had come to demand money from Tang Jin, Du Qingfeng tried to sound casual. Tang Zhiyuan, however, could easily guess her purpose. His face darkened.
“Our house was robbed the day before yesterday. After she left yesterday morning, she never came back.”
“How could this happen?”
Du Qingfeng was shocked.
“She’s a young woman staying out all night. Why aren’t you doing anything about it?”
“You’ve got some nerve saying that. When have you ever actually cared about her?”
Zhang Xiuli immediately shot back.
“Can’t you see the mess our family is in? Who knows where she’s off fooling around? If you want to find her, do it yourself.”
Du Qingfeng considered herself a civilized person and refused to argue with Zhang Xiuli. Instead, she turned to Tang Zhiyuan.
“Xiao Jin is just angry with us. There’s nowhere outside that would take her in. Once she calms down, she’ll come back on her own.
Think about it. Do our two families have any common enemies?”
Otherwise, it was impossible to explain why only their two households had been targeted.
Tang Zhiyuan shook his head.
“I have no idea.”
The two looked at each other in silence before parting on bad terms. Only Tang Meiyu remained concerned about Tang Jin’s whereabouts.
“Mom, we have to find Tang Jin and make her marry Wang Bin.”
“Fine. I’ll look for her.”
Meanwhile, as soon as Song Yunli and Tang Jin sat down, Song Yunting and Wenfang took seats beside them.
Song Yunli’s face darkened.
“Song Yunting, are you ever going to stop?”
“Come on, Brother, don’t be angry.”
Song Yunting shamelessly smiled.
“Wenfang and I traveled all this way to see you. It’s not too much to ask to have a meal together, right?”
“Brother Yunli, we brought our own food coupons and money.”
Wenfang gazed at Song Yunli with her gentle, watery eyes.
Unfortunately for her, Song Yunli had already gotten up to buy food.
The moment he left, Song Yunting turned to Tang Jin.
“I called my mother yesterday.
She said my brother’s future wife has to come from a family that matches ours in status. Comrade Tang Jin, on behalf of my mother, let me ask—what do your parents do?”
“No comment.”
Tang Jin’s simple four-word reply left Song Yunting embarrassed.
“Looks like your family background isn’t very impressive.
No matter how much my brother likes you, if my mother doesn’t approve, you’ll never enter the Song family.”
“Yunting, don’t say that. Maybe Comrade Tang Jin just doesn’t want to tell us.”
Wenfang secretly rejoiced.
She had been worried Tang Jin came from a powerful family and might win Auntie Song’s favor. Now it seemed unlikely.
“Sister Wenfang, you’re just too kind.”
Certain that her brother had lost his mind, Song Yunting continued their coordinated attack, expecting Tang Jin to feel humiliated.
Unfortunately for them, Tang Jin was no ordinary young woman.
Ever since awakening to the truth of the novel’s plot, her brain seemed to have finally started working properly.
“Finished?”
Tang Jin smiled mockingly.
“Only children like to drag their parents out to threaten people. How childish.”
“You—!”
Song Yunting choked on her words.
Just then, Song Yunli returned carrying a bowl of plain noodle soup.
“Would something light make you feel better?”
He had noticed that Tang Jin threw up whenever she ate meat dishes, so he deliberately bought lighter food.
Tang Jin nodded.
“Thank you.”
Song Yunli then brought himself a bowl of spicy vermicelli noodles and ordered two vegetable dishes.
As expected, he made no effort to include Song Yunting or Wenfang.
Song Yunting and Wenfang: “…”
Wenfang regretted her earlier words immediately.
“Brother, you’re so stingy.”
Pouting angrily, Song Yunting went to buy two bowls of noodles herself, blaming Tang Jin even more.
Tang Jin, however, had no interest in dealing with her.
After a few bites, she felt nausea rising again and quickly drank some of the well water she had brought with her.
One sip of water, one bite of noodles.
She ate slowly.
Fortunately, Song Yunli was considerate and never rushed her.
Her movements were graceful and refined, nothing like a country bumpkin’s.
Wenfang kept watching her.
The longer she looked, the more alarmed she became.
And the stronger her sense of crisis grew.
“I’m done.”
Tang Jin took out a handkerchief and carefully wiped her mouth.
Unable to hold back, Song Yunting snorted.
“Hmph. So pretentious.”
“Apologize.”
Song Yunli shot her a cold glare.
Wronged, Song Yunting protested.
“I’m not wrong! The way she acts, anyone would think she’s some capitalist young lady!”
“Wiping your mouth after eating means she’s clean and well-mannered.”
Tang Jin rolled her eyes.
“Your heart is dark, so everything you see looks dark too.”
She was beautiful to begin with.
Even her eye-roll looked adorable to Song Yunli.
Turning to his sister, he repeated,
“Apologize.”
“No need.”
Tang Jin smiled faintly.
“Song Yunli, just like before, she doesn’t actually think she did anything wrong. Any apology would be insincere.”
“I’m sorry you had to go through that.”
Song Yunli’s eyes were filled with guilt.
His gaze toward Tang Jin grew even softer.
For the first time, Song Yunting felt like she was actually helping the wrong side.
“Brother, I’ll apologize, okay?”
“No need.”
Song Yunli looked at her coldly.
For some reason, the glance made her scalp tingle.
Soon afterward, Song Yunli and Tang Jin picked up their things and left.
Wenfang comforted the dejected Song Yunting.
“Yunting, don’t be too upset. I’ll stay with you.”
“Sister Wenfang, my brother always takes her side.”
Song Yunting found herself wavering.
“I can tell he’s serious this time. Maybe we should just let it go?
Even if we force my brother and you together, they probably wouldn’t be happy.”
Wenfang’s heart jumped.
She immediately put on a sorrowful expression.
“But Yunting, I’ve liked your brother for so many years.
If you hadn’t always treated me like your future sister-in-law, I wouldn’t have become so determined.
Now even you think Tang Jin is a better match for your brother than I am?”
“Sister Wenfang, don’t be sad! I never said I wouldn’t help you.”
Unable to bear her pitiful look, Song Yunting hurriedly reassured her.
“I was just speaking casually. Don’t worry—I’m still on your side.”
“Really?”
Wenfang instantly brightened.
“I knew I hadn’t made a mistake befriending you.
Your brother and that Tang Jin still seem rather unfamiliar with each other. I think they only just started dating, which means I still have a chance. Don’t you agree?”
“Exactly!”
Song Yunting nodded enthusiastically.
“They’re only dating. People break up all the time!”
“Sister Wenfang, let’s go. We have to make my brother change his mind.”
The two hurried outside, only to discover that Song Yunli and Tang Jin were long gone.
Song Yunli had already driven Tang Jin back to the guesthouse.
“I’m going to check on the housing application and see when it can be approved.”
After a brief pause, he added,
“Tang Jin, you handled yourself very well today. If my sister or the others dare to offend you again, don’t worry about my feelings.”
In fact, he found this fierce, sharp-tongued version of Tang Jin rather adorable.
At least she knew how to protect herself.