"I leave you alone for a bit, and you injure yourself again," Yan Jue said.
Her leg, fractured again so soon.
Tang Xiaomin recalled a tea-inspired meme she'd recently seen on her phone and, in the next second, began to employ a similar tactic.
"You have a girlfriend, and you're still carrying me like this. Isn't that inappropriate?"
Yan Jue paused his steps.
"What are you talking about?"
"If your girlfriend saw you carrying me, wouldn't she be angry?"
...
"Oh dear, your girlfriend is so petty. Unlike me, I only feel heartache for you."
*Smack!*
Tang Xiaomin's backside was struck.
"You..."
Verdict: He couldn't take a joke.
"Your leg is broken, and you still have the energy to joke."
Yan Jue was both angry and concerned, feeling incredibly frustrated.
Their internal worlds were on completely different wavelengths.
After saying this, Yan Jue's lips curved upwards unconsciously, a change he himself didn't notice.
Tang Xiaomin, on the other hand, acted as if nothing had happened, utterly nonchalant.
"Don't you think this situation is romantic?"
Tang Xiaomin's thought process was, as always, unpredictable.
"Calling a broken leg romantic, only you could say something like that."
"Minmin, don't run around recklessly anymore. It's too dangerous."
"Okay, I'll be good. I'll never leave your side again."
Yan Jue shook his head helplessly. She always said such things, but she had never truly kept her word.
...
Tang Xiaomin, after repeatedly investigating the incident where Zhang Meiyu was hypnotized into jumping off a building, discovered a suspicious individual.
Unfortunately, the person vanished after leaving the mall, leaving no evidence whatsoever.
The next day at noon, Zhang Meiyu arrived at the office carrying a thermos.
"Xiaomin, Aunt Zhou (your adoptive mother) and I went out early to buy fresh pig trotters to make soup for you. Drink it while it's hot."
As Zhang Meiyu spoke, she poured the soup from the thermos.
The familiar aroma wafted out, stimulating Tang Xiaomin's appetite.
"Here, drink it quickly."
Zhang Meiyu even brought the bowl to Tang Xiaomin's face, as if afraid she wouldn't drink it.
Tang Xiaomin took a sip, then another.
"It tastes very good."
"If you like it, I'll learn to make this soup properly and stew it for you every day. Or tell me what else you like to eat, and I can learn."
Tang Xiaomin was surprised to find that Zhang Meiyu seemed like a different person now.
No longer the arrogant and extravagant wealthy wife, nor the pitiful woman broken and depressed after years of betrayal by her husband.
It was as if she had suddenly found something she wanted to do and was proactively moving forward.
Even her complexion was improving.
"This soup is quite troublesome," Tang Xiaomin said.
"It is a bit troublesome, but I have plenty of time now. It's not that troublesome, really, as long as you like it."
"As long as you don't mind the trouble."
Not long after lunch, afternoon tea was delivered, and even dinner was prepared...
Zhang Meiyu spent the entire day busy with the three meals, and she seemed to be enjoying it.
Watching her, Tang Xiaomin felt like she saw her past self.
Willingly and without regret, doing things that weren't particularly important.
Because she had experienced it herself, she could understand Zhang Meiyu's current feelings.
All she could do was respond.
Even a simple compliment, saying her cooking tasted good or that her culinary skills had improved, would bring a satisfied smile to Zhang Meiyu's face.
What she desired now was such simplicity.
...
"By the way, why aren't the others staying with you?"
It was strange. Even Tang Ye, who was the most timid and lacked backbone, hadn't come.
Zhang Meiyu pondered for a moment and then said, "Your eldest brother is still in the hospital for rehabilitation treatment. Tang Ye sold a couple of songs earlier and said he was going to travel to find inspiration."
Tang Yan had encountered difficulties recently, and Zhang Meiyu deliberately didn't mention him to Tang Xiaomin.
As for the others, they all had their own plans.
Tang Xiaomin's anger flared when she thought of that fool, Tang Yan, selling her meticulously designed new energy vehicle plans to President Pan at such a low price.
"Meihuan was designed by me after years of overcoming various technical hurdles, but that idiot Tang Yan sold it to President Pan at a bargain price."
Tang Yan was the youngest of her sons and spent the most money, yet earned the least.
Therefore, Zhang Meiyu had always controlled his spending.
Not only did this fail to restrain Tang Yan, but it also pushed him onto the path of "poverty breeds cunning."
Zhang Meiyu felt both helpless and remorseful about this.
"It's my fault for not raising Tang Yan properly, which led him to steal your designs. No matter how you choose to retaliate, Mom won't have any objections, as he wronged you first."
"He stole my things. His life is spared, but he can't escape punishment," Tang Xiaomin said coldly.
Hearing this, Zhang Meiyu looked at Tang Xiaomin with excited eyes.
"I knew you were kind-hearted. As long as you don't harm him, any punishment he receives will be deserved."
"I've also indulged him too much. He truly needs a harsh lesson, otherwise, he won't learn."
Gradually, Zhang Meiyu's thoughts aligned with Tang Xiaomin's, and they even began discussing how to punish Tang Yan.
If Tang Yan knew that his most trusted mother was encouraging Tang Xiaomin to bully him,
He would probably be heartbroken and cry.
The New Year had just passed, and work had not yet resumed. For now, let him enjoy a few more days of happiness.
After Zhang Meiyu left, Tang Xiaomin idly browsed her phone.
On her WeChat Moments, Liu Feng and Qian Lili had posted some updates.
In the video, Ye Lingyun was thoroughly drunk, seemingly troubled by something.
Ye Fengxing was going to marry Nangong Shanshan, and the Nangong family would strongly support Ye Fengxing.
This dashed Ye Lingyun's hopes, so it was understandable that he was drowning his sorrows in alcohol.
Tang Xiaomin casually gave it a like and turned off her phone.
Shortly after, Ye Lingyun called.
"Hello."
"Xiaomin... I have something to tell you... Your mother... she might not have jumped to her death by her own will..."
"Within the Nangong family... there is... a skilled hypnotist... I accidentally heard news of her return not long ago... You must believe me..."
Before Ye Lingyun could finish, Liu Feng snatched the phone away.
"He's drunk and talking nonsense, Xiaomin. Don't listen to him."
"I just saw your Moments. Please try to reason with him."
Tang Xiaomin hung up the phone and carefully considered Ye Lingyun's words.
Given their past relationship, she should trust him.
However, one must always be wary of others.
Following the clue Ye Lingyun provided, Tang Xiaomin asked Lu Xing to focus on investigating the hypnotist within the Nangong family.
In truth, whether it was Nangong Shanshan or Ye Fengxing who was responsible, it made no difference.
News of Ye Fengxing and Nangong Shanshan's impending marriage spread throughout Modu.
Their wedding was rushed, set to take place in just one month.
From the timing alone, it was evident how eager Ye Fengxing was to secure the Nangong family's support.
Tang Xiaomin looked at her leg, re-cast in plaster, and a burning hatred began to ignite within her.
Tang Xiaomin called Tang Ye.
"I need Lu Ze's phone number. You must have it."
Tang Ye, currently in a hotel at a resort area, breathed a sigh of relief when he heard Tang Xiaomin only wanted a male celebrity's number.
"What do you need his number for? Are you planning to hit on him?"