Chapter 11: Madam Tian

"WHAT THE HELL JIANG YANNNN!"

Jiang Yan pulled her phone away from her ears as soon as she heard the screaming.

She had just left the room, to attend the call, but who would have thought that the caller on the other side would be so loud? The people in the corridor were looking at her.

Embarrassed, Jiang Yan quickly made her way to the roof.

"What happened Hua Mei?" Jiang Yan asked, cautiously, this time keeping the phone slightly away from her.

As she waited for the scream, she heard a sobbing voice.

"Are you breaking up with me Jiang Yan?" Hua Mei felt aggrieved.

Previously, Jiang Yan had asked Hua Mei to keep her identity hidden, and despite her reluctance, Mei Hua had agreed. When they had a video call to discuss their plans further, Mei Hua was shocked to discover that Jiang Yan was still a high school student. But even more surprising was her elegance and beauty, which immediately caught Mei Hua's attention. She pestered Jiang Yan to become her muse and model her work, but Jiang Yan heartlessly refused.

Today, Mei Hua received a message from Jiang Yan that she won't be attending the upcoming fashion show. They have been preparing for months and Jiang Yan's designs had been a last-minute addition, which would be showcased under their studio Grace. Jiang Yan's designs were the showstopper. To Mei Hua's dismay, Jiang Yan refused to show her face at the Fashion show.

"What happened Mei?" Jiang Yan asked.

"You are asking me what happened? How can you refuse to come to the Fashion show. Your designs will be the showstopper, and how can my muse not attend my first fashion show of this year?" Hua Mei felt distressed.

"You know I don't want any unnecessary trouble. I would be soon attending college," Jiang Yan said, trying to reason with her.

"But...but...you look so elegant and beautiful! I thought you would at least show your face on the when we showcase your designs!" Mei Hua gushed.

Jiang Yan chuckled, "Thank you, Mei Hua. But I'm still a student, and my studies come first."

Mei Hua pouted, "Fine, but can't you at least come for the show? It's in two months!"

Jiang Yan sighed, "I'll see what I can do, Mei Hua. But I can't promise anything."

"Please, Jiang Yan! You're my muse, my inspiration! Without you, my show is nothing!" Mei Hua begged.

Jiang Yan chuckled again, "Okay, okay. I'll try my best to come. But you owe me one, Mei Hua!"

Mei Hua let out a squeal of delight, "Yes, yes! Thank you, Jiang Yan! You're the best!"

As the call ended, Jiang Yan couldn't help but smile at Mei Hua's antics. She may be a talented designer, but her new friend had a knack for drama. And somehow, Jiang Yan always found herself getting roped into it.

***

The opulent mansion was filled with the sound of crashing objects as a furious woman hurled things at the floor. The servants cowered in fear, watching their mistress with wide eyes as she vented her anger.

Just then, Aunt Chen, the loyal servant of Madam Tian, burst into the room with urgent news. "Madam," she said, her voice shaking slightly. "Young Master Jun has returned from his travels."

Madam Tian paused her rampage, turning to face Aunt Chen with a raised eyebrow. "Tian Jun? My brother?" she asked, her voice tinged with surprise.

Aunt Chen nodded quickly. "Yes, Madam. He is waiting for you in the study."

Madam Tian's anger dissipated, replaced by a sense of excitement at the thought of seeing her brother again. She straightened her dress and composed herself before heading towards the study, the servants following behind her with timid steps.

Tian Jun was her closest ally, and she knew that he would be able to help her make sense of her frustrations. As she walked, she tried to shake off the anger that had consumed her just moments before, knowing that her brother's calming presence would help her regain her composure.

As she entered the study, Madam Tian saw her brother sitting in one of the plush armchairs, looking up as she approached. He stood up to greet her, a warm smile on his face.

"Welcome back, Tian Jun," Madam Tian said, embracing her brother tightly. "It's been too long."

"I've missed you, sister," Tian Jun replied, returning her embrace. "I heard about your outburst. Are you alright?"

Madam Tian's frustration grew as she recounted the details of her failed plan to kidnap her step-daughter, Jiang Yan. "I had everything planned out perfectly," she seethed. "How could those idiots mess it up?"

Tian Jun listened to his sister's rant, but he could sense that something was amiss. "Sister, have you heard from the kidnappers?" he asked cautiously.

Madam Tian shook her head, her anger quickly turning to fear. "No, and that's the problem," she replied. "They've gone missing. And now the leader isn't even picking up her phone."

Tian Jun's eyes widened in alarm. "You need to be careful, sister," he cautioned. "If someone finds out about your plan, it could bring shame to our family. And if the Old Master Jiang were to find out..."

Madam Tian cut him off with a sharp gesture. "I know, I know," she said, her voice low. "But what am I supposed to do? Jiang Yan is a threat to our family's honor. I can't just sit back and let her get away with it."

Tian Jun placed a hand on his sister's shoulder, trying to calm her down. "I understand, sister," he said. "But we need to be careful. We don't want anyone to get hurt. Let's take a step back and reassess our options."

Madam Tian nodded, her anger subsiding slightly. "You're right," she said. "We need to be smart about this. But we can't just let Jiang Yan get away with what she's done."

Tian Jun noticed his sister was still furious after mentioning Jiang Yan, and he decided to change the subject. "How is my beloved niece doing?" he asked, a smile on his face. "I heard she's been busy with her acting career."

Madam Tian's face relaxed as she spoke of Jiang Yixuan. "Yes, she's doing well. She called earlier today to say that she'll be returning home soon after the filming ends."

Tian Jun's face lit up with pride. "That's wonderful news," he said. "She's always been so talented and hardworking. I can't wait to see what she'll accomplish in the future."

Madam Tian nodded in agreement. "Yes, she has always been hardworking since she was a child," she said. "And I'm so grateful to have her as my daughter."

For a moment, the siblings were able to forget about their troubles and focus on the positive things in their lives. It was a welcome respite from the tension that had been building up in the mansion in recent weeks.

As they continued to talk about Jiang Yixuan, Madam Tian felt a sense of pride and happiness wash over her. Despite the challenges that lay ahead, she knew that she could count on her daughter to support her, no matter what. And that was a comfort in itself.

***

Jiang Yixuan had been in the middle of filming a dramatic scene when her assistant Qin Rui's phone rang. Qin Rui answered the call and spoke in hushed tones, her face growing increasingly concerned as the conversation progressed.

After the shot was over, Jiang Yixuan sat down and waited for Qin Rui to update her on the situation. "What's going on?" she asked, her voice tight with worry.

Qin Rui hesitated for a moment before speaking. "It's your mother," she said. "She's had another outburst. Apparently, she's been throwing things around the house again."

Jiang Yixuan's heart sank as she listened to the news. She knew that Madam Tian had been under a lot of stress lately, but she never imagined it would escalate to this level. "Is anyone hurt?" she asked, her voice shaking slightly.

Qin Rui shook her head. "No, no one was hurt. But the servants are all scared."

"Is everything okay now?" Jiang Yixuan asked, hoping for some good news.

"Yes, it seems like everything has calmed down for now," Qin Rui said. "But there's something else. Your uncle has come back from abroad and is currently visiting your mother."

Jiang Yixuan's eyes widened at the news. She hadn't seen her uncle, Tian Jun, in months, and she was curious about what his sudden return meant.

"Really?" Jiang Yixuan's voice was laced with intrigue. "That's unexpected. I wonder what he's doing here."

Qin Rui nodded in agreement. "I'm not sure," she said. "But I have a feeling that something interesting is going on. You know how your family can be."

With all the recent drama in her family, Jiang Yixuan couldn't help feeling excited about the prospect of finding out what was happening. Qin Rui noticed her friend's trance-like state and asked, "Miss Jiang, what are you thinking?"

Jiang Yixuan shook her head and said, "Nothing." But then she suddenly smiled mysteriously.

***