Tao Ran knew perfectly well that the scumbag wouldn’t dare tear things open with Tang Ran right now. So, no matter how bitter the loss, Xiao Ai had no choice but to swallow it.
And she was absolutely right.
The always-gentle wife had suddenly turned aggressive and even hung up on him — Fang Ming panicked.
He immediately sent five text messages in a row, coaxing Tang Ran.
Watching from the side, Xiao Ai’s fury exploded. She called Fang Ming back on the spot.
A scumbag would always be a scumbag. Since he still needed Xiao Ai for now, of course, he had to spend some effort sweet-talking her.
So once again, he began whispering his honeyed lies.
Burning with resentment toward Tang Ran, Xiao Ai turned on the speakerphone. Fang Ming’s greasy voice filled the room:
“Xiao Ai, just help me cover the cost for now, okay? I’ll pay you back once I’m back. Come on, we’re close — I’d never let you suffer a loss, right? Tang Ran just had surgery, you don’t need to stoop to her level. You know how spoiled she’s always been…”
Tao Ran stayed silent. Perfect.
Let the scumbag promise to repay her — she certainly wouldn’t be the one footing the bill.
“Xiao Ai, I’m really counting on you to look after Tang Ran for a few more days. I’ll come back as soon as possible. I owe you big time for this, and I won’t forget it. Oh, and I bought you a little gift — just wait for the surprise, okay?”
His syrupy tone worked like a charm. Xiao Ai’s expression softened, and she finally agreed with a pitiful sniffle.
As soon as the call ended, Tao Ran got to work driving her away.
“Well, since you’re here to take care of me, I won’t hold back then,” Tao Ran said weakly. “Please boil me some hot water first, then come help me wipe down my body. After that, make me some porridge and turn on the TV.”
Xiao Ai froze, her face twisting in disgust. Boil water? Wipe her body?
She stank!
Wasn’t she supposed to be in pain? Why was she acting like some spoiled empress dowager? What a disgusting woman!
Tao Ran couldn’t help smiling at her expression.
“Go fetch me a blanket. It’s a bit cold on the couch.”
“Did you close the window?”
“Oh, and take the quilt out for a bit of sun. Water the flowers on the balcony while you’re at it.”
“Bring me my slippers.”
“Check the bathroom — I think there are still some dirty clothes. Thanks.”
“And while you’re out, drop by the supermarket. Buy some milk, fruit, eggs, chicken, fish, shrimp, vitamins — and plenty of toiletries too.”
“What are you standing there for? Write it down!”
“On your way back, buy me some flowers. The doctor said keeping a happy mood helps recovery. Maybe two goldfish, too.”
“Oh right, turn off the TV. The doctor said I shouldn’t watch it.”
“So grab me a few newspapers and magazines when you go out.”
“I’m hungry already. Hurry up! Or maybe warm me some milk first?”
“…”
Xiao Ai’s teeth ground audibly. She crossed her arms and sneered.
“You’re treating me like your maid? You want me to buy all that — with my money?”
Serving this woman was worse than death.
“Of course! You promised Fang Ming you’d take care of me and front the money, remember? Didn’t you hear him just now? Or should I have you call him again to confirm? What are you waiting for? Either do it obediently, call Fang Ming, or I’ll ask the landlady to come help me instead.”
Three seconds later, the front door slammed so hard the sound echoed through the apartment — even Tao Ran clutched her chest in startlement.
…
Now the apartment was blissfully quiet.
Only Tao Ran remained, and she didn’t feel like getting up at all.
Tang Ran’s body was so weak that even she felt exhausted inhabiting it.
Reaching into Tang Ran’s bag, she pulled out a small mirror and examined the face staring back at her.
This was the face Fang Ming had constantly belittled as “plain at best.”
The skin was sallow and dull, the hair dry and thinning, pulled into a low ponytail with no care.
At a glance, she did look rather ordinary — even three years older than her actual age.
But the flaws were clearly due to pregnancy, malnutrition, and long hours working without rest. All of it was fixable.
And who else but that shameless scumbag was to blame?
The enlarged pores — from cheap makeup and bad skincare.
Those once-beautiful big eyes now dulled by dark circles and eye bags.
The more Tao Ran looked, the more she saw Tang Ran’s potential. With proper care, this face could easily become striking. With her own touch in makeup, styling, and presence, she could look every bit as dazzling as that money-polished Lu Sitong.
“Scumbag!” Tao Ran cursed again.
He had deliberately worn Tang Ran down, gaslighting her into self-doubt — making her believe she was unworthy, keeping her trapped as his obedient little money machine.
The thought made her chest tighten. Exhausted, she decided to take a long nap.
…
An hour later, a panting Xiao Ai returned, lugging two big bags.
The moment the door opened, Tao Ran hurled a cushion at her.
“You scared me half to death! Don’t you know I’m weak? You did that on purpose, didn’t you? And what took you so long? Trying to starve me? You’re so cruel!”
Even as she spoke, Tao Ran found the whole act amusing — wasn’t she sounding more and more like a typical villainess from a novel?
The cushion hit Xiao Ai squarely in the face. Her expression turned stormy.
She bit her lip, barely holding back her temper.
“I bought everything. There’s food and supplies. I have class now — I’ll come by later when I can. If anything happens, call Liu Jie!”
She slammed the door behind her. Another minute here and she’d go insane. As long as Tang Ran didn’t starve, she’d done her part for Fang Ming.
Tao Ran let out a long, satisfied sigh.
Finally, both plagues were gone.
She got up, locked the door, and looked at the shopping bags Xiao Ai had brought.
That hateful girl — as expected, nothing decent.
Though there were two full bags, everything inside was dirt cheap — maybe thirty dollars total.
No eggs, no milk, no vitamins. The “newspapers” were free subway handouts. As for the food? Two baguettes and a pack of soda crackers.
A few basic toiletries, and that was it.
Judging from the supplies, that woman probably wouldn’t show up again for at least two days.
Perfect.
Tao Ran couldn’t have been happier.
Only an idiot would want her to stay. Good riddance — finally some peace and quiet.
Her first order of business now was to call the landlady.
Time to change the locks.
Fang Ming had given Xiao Ai a spare key — under the excuse of having her “take care” of Tang Ran.
No way was Tao Ran going to let anyone barge into her place.
“Yes, my husband lost his key, and I’m afraid someone might’ve picked it up,” Tao Ran told the landlady gently. “We don’t have anything valuable here, but you still have your appliances inside, right? Could you help me contact a locksmith? Thank you so much. I’ll visit you soon to thank you properly.”
Tang Ran had always gotten along well with the landlady.
She kept the apartment spotless and often brought the woman homemade dishes, so the landlady liked her a lot — never raised the rent and even reduced the deposit from the original one thousand to just a token hundred.
True to her word, the landlady quickly called a locksmith. Within an hour, he arrived and quoted just thirty dollars for the job.