Lu Sisi was first startled, then hesitated, wriggling uncomfortably.
"Do you know something? Tell me quickly."
Zhang Guo'er excitedly grabbed Lu Sisi's arm. In her excitement, she was rather rough, causing Lu Sisi to frown in pain.
"Tell me quickly, was it Tang Xiaomin? Was it her?"
"Was it?"
"Oh, think about it yourself. Who would hold a grudge against you and have the ability to do so?"
Lu Sisi broke free from Zhang Guo'er's grasp.
"My abilities are limited. This is all I can help you with. I'll be leaving now. You should try to cope."
To the very end, Lu Sisi did not reveal who it was.
Yet, Zhang Guo'er's heart already had an answer.
Someone who had a conflict with her and possessed great ability – besides Tang Xiaomin, she couldn't think of anyone else.
She had been betrayed by everyone, her family destroyed, and brought to this point.
Now that her mother had passed away, Tang Xiaomin was obstructing her even from borrowing money to arrange her mother's funeral.
At this moment, Zhang Guo'er's hatred for Tang Xiaomin reached its peak. She gritted her teeth and roared.
"Tang Xiaomin, I will not rest until one of us is dead!"
She closed her eyes heavily, then reopened them. Zhang Guo'er's gaze was sharp, sinister, and extremely dangerous.
With trembling hands, she opened the envelope Lu Sisi had just given her. Inside was a thick stack of cash, estimated to be ten thousand.
Currently, this was the only money Zhang Guo'er could control.
After spending a portion of the money to pay for the storage of the body and to give her mother a simple funeral, Zhang Guo'er was from then on entirely alone.
...
In the office of Xianfu Group, Lu Xing reported respectfully.
"Miss Tang, for these past days that Lord Yan has been in the Underworld, he has been living a life like an immortal, eating, drinking, and playing. He has paid no attention to the affairs of the Underworld. This behavior of his is truly abnormal. Could there be some conspiracy?"
Back then, although they had seized control of the Underworld, they had been helpless against Lord Yan and could only cast him into reincarnation.
Now, Tang Xiaomin had returned a peaceful Underworld to Lord Yan. Anyone who wasn't a fool wouldn't dare to stir up trouble.
"As long as he doesn't interfere with me, then let him be."
"That may be so, but the surveillance on him must not be relaxed," Lu Xing said.
"Mm."
After Lu Xing withdrew, Tang Xiaomin sat in Yan Jue's former seat, lost in thought.
On the desk lay their joint photo.
The photograph captured their past moment of warmth.
At that time, she had thought it was an ordinary moment, but now it had become the past she most longed for.
In the blink of an eye, Tang Xiaomin's twenty-first birthday was approaching.
This became the most joyous occasion for the Tang family.
Since Zhang Meiyu's divorce, she rarely attended social events.
Now, for Tang Xiaomin's birthday, she became busy.
From the grand arrangements for the birthday banquet to the invitations, she meticulously planned everything. Most importantly, she covered all the expenses.
"Xiaomin, the sample invitations have been sent over. What do you think?"
"Your birthday dress has also been custom-made. You can go try it on this afternoon."
Tang Xiaomin casually glanced at the invitation and nodded.
"Very good."
Seeing her indifferent demeanor, Zhang Meiyu's mood was also affected, and she became dejected.
"Xiaomin, you've been unhappy lately. Your mom is really worried about you."
"Your birthday is a significant event. Although our family is not what it used to be, I still want to hold a grand celebration for you. You should cheer up."
...
Zhang Meiyu rambled on, repeating herself countless times.
Tang Xiaomin listened silently, not saying a word.
Feeling uninspired, Zhang Meiyu stopped speaking.
"Is the meal ready?" Tang Xiaomin asked.
Zhang Meiyu slapped her forehead.
"Look at me, I've been so busy with your birthday, I forgot to cook."
As Zhang Meiyu picked up her apron, she received a phone call. After a few words, she shouted upstairs.
"Tang Xu, Xiaomin is hungry. Come down and cook."
After shouting, she muttered, "They're all like they're infected, staying in their rooms all day. I don't know what they're doing."
"Xiaomin, the hotel manager called me. I have to go out. I'll have Tang Xu cook for you. I have to leave now."
"Oh."
After Zhang Meiyu left, about ten minutes passed, but Tang Xu still hadn't come down.
Tang Xiaomin couldn't help but go upstairs and knock on his door.
Tang Xu opened the door, his eyes dark circles, looking very tired.
"What are you doing in there?" Tang Xiaomin asked.
Tang Xu vaguely replied.
"Nothing."
Tang Xiaomin didn't believe Tang Xu at all. She leaned in to look into his room.
The room was decorated in a gray and white style, and everything was neatly organized.
On a table by the bed, a computer was placed.
From this distance, she couldn't see what was on the screen.
"What are you secretly doing?"
"I was just playing games all night. It's nothing."
Tang Xu's evasive behavior clearly indicated he didn't want Tang Xiaomin to know.
What Tang Xiaomin hated most was Tang Xu's insincerity. He always gave her the feeling of deception and conspiracy.
The sight of Tang Xu ignited her anger.
If it weren't for the fact that she wanted Tang Xu and Tang Yiyi to experience a tragic separation, she would have already taken Tang Xu's life.
"What time is it? Aren't you going to cook yet? Do you want me to starve!" Tang Xiaomin said sternly.
"I'm telling you, this family doesn't support idlers. If you dare to slack off in your room again next time, I'll kick you out!"
Tang Xiaomin's tone was as if she was ordering Tang Xu around like a servant, not a family member, perhaps even worse than a servant.
Servants received wages, but what about Tang Xu?
He had nothing but resentment.
"Xiaomin, I was..."
"I don't want to hear your excuses."
Tang Xiaomin didn't give Tang Xu a chance to explain and left in a rage.
Tang Xu ran a hand through his short hair, feeling wronged and with nowhere to turn.
He was searching for Yan Jue's whereabouts day and night, exhausting himself.
He wasn't just hiding in his room being lazy.
But he hadn't found Yan Jue yet, and even if he said something, Tang Xiaomin wouldn't believe him.
Because she had never trusted him.
Even the fact that she accepted his medicine was merely an extreme action taken out of her negative emotions.
Depression was a terrible illness, and its ultimate goal led people to death.
Her acceptance of his medicine might have been because she thought he would harm her with it.
And she happened to have suicidal thoughts.
After understanding all this, Tang Xu became desperate to find Yan Jue. After all, a heart ailment requires a heart remedy.
After this period of recuperation, although he no longer needed a crutch, Tang Xu still limped when he walked.
He tied on an apron and silently walked into the kitchen to cook.
It took nearly an hour to prepare four dishes and one soup.
"Xiaomin, the meal is ready. Come and eat."
Tang Xiaomin slowly walked to the dining table. The moment she looked, her expression changed.