Feng Ru (36)

All sorts of sh*ttiness happened after Feng Ru rampaged around using Tang Lan's body. However, once done observing a bit of the commotion, Jiang Li slipped out of the venue. He was not with the other boys. They were too engrossed by the amusing sight to notice him leaving.

"Mom, I'll be there." As he walked down the road after taking the left turn, he called Mother He. His body was very tired yet he couldn't just shake off the urge to see how his family was doing.

"I'm nearby, Mom. There's a row of food stalls in front of the park opposite the oncology center, right? Would you like me to get you anything? Squid balls or spicy noodles, perhaps?... Haha, no problem... Don't worry much about me. Anyway, I'll be there in a bit so you'll see how well I'm doing... Okay... See you there."

Time was 10:12 pm when he reached the place with a plastic bag in hand. Jiang Li wiped the sweat on his forehead. The night was cold and the walk was not very far since the restaurant was just actually two hundred meters away. But because his body, or rather, the remnant part of the Original disliked hospitals so much, he ended up being tired mentally. Fighting against that annoying impulse to run the opposite way all this time was quite the ordeal.

"You're here, son." The smiling face of Mother He greeted him as he entered the private room. She was the only one occupying the three vacant stools there, so he asked, "Is that brat, He Song, in the mini-chapel, or simply not around?"

"Not here. His final exam is approaching. I reckon it will be easier to concentrate in his own room so I had him go back to our house. In any case, it will be better than here. What the eyes can't see, the heart doesn't grieve. There won't be much distraction."

He nodded, busying his hands with laying the food he bought on the small round table. "Come, eat. Late-night snacks."

Mother He glanced at the cup of fried noodles and the chopsticks he passed her and smiled. "Thank you, son. The timing is just right, I'm feeling quite hungry. Did they give you an extra pair of chopsticks? It would be great if we could share in this."

"No extra. But I'm already full so there's no need to worry about me. Before going here, I and my buddies ate outside to celebrate."

"I see. That's good then. How're your studies by the way..."

The woman was obviously weary for having to accompany and nurse his bedridden father all day, but Jiang Li never saw her complaining. For an hour, all they talked about was his and his brother's studies. She was thrilled knowing he had become a part of an official band, but still reminded him not to neglect school.

For her, what mattered most was her sons' future. Most likely, this was the reason why she never brought up Father He's exact condition. She was thankful that his sons were only here either when the older man was seemingly in high spirits, or sleeping. In her mind, ignorance was bliss. She had no idea it was she who didn't know her eldest son could easily grasp any information with just a tap of his finger. 

'I only managed to clarify everything about me and Tang Lan at the last minute.'

Jiang Li sighed as he marched out of the place. This mother was a very kind soul, ever resilient yet gentle even though each day worries about her other half was plaguing her mind. This was one of the reasons why he hated such a good person being lied to for a very stupid reason. Though actually, even if he takes this reason out, there would still be nothing to regret about what he did to Tang Lan.

'Tomorrow, the female will know what happens once I'm pissed off. When tomorrow comes, Tang Lan will awaken to a world which now knew everything she did in order to churn out all the published stories she contracted with her publisher. How is she going to face everyone after that? How high is the chance that she would suck it up and confess? Would she even dare to admit anything?'

Answer? Probably no. After all, she was a female lead, used to being worshipped and having everything working in their favor. Why would she do something which would nail her reputation and social life inside a coffin? Wouldn't she also get despised by Gu Feng then? 

'It's always easy to bury the past, but to wear it takes a lot of courage. This old saying is crazy, but it could not get any truer.'

"Hmm?"

Jiang Li's train of thoughts was suddenly interrupted when he reached the center's entrance. And no, it's not because he saw his favorite ghost Feng Ru there.

The villainess was still wreaking havoc in the restaurant. She discovered that she had actually let off one of the main culprits why that Yang Sisi, somebody she had 'helped' before, fell into depression. Her anger couldn't be expressed into words this time. Until she ensured Tang Lan would be hated and later on hunted down by those aristocratic people, she wouldn't be going back anytime soon.

There were a few people going in and out of the door. Jiang Li was also about to walk out of the place when a skinny pale and almost translucent arm stretched out to stop him. His steps paused, eyes turning to the left seeing a familiar dainty figure standing there with his jacket in her hand....