Chapter 514 - 515: She Resembles Our Daughter [3 - s in One]
"Have you cut ties?" Tang Huai Zhang looked at Shi Mei.
Shi Mei nodded, "Yes."
"How did they turn you into a fool?" Tang Huai Zhang asked curiously, then realized that he was unusually patient with this girl.
Shi Mei’s face showed little emotion as she said, "At that time, I was in a car accident, and they were unwilling to pay for my hospital fees, so they removed my oxygen mask, trying to let me fend for myself."
"The oxygen mask was removed, and nobody noticed?"
"Yes, the doctor noticed, so I was resuscitated," Shi Mei said with a hint of irony in her eyes, "They even blamed the doctor for meddling. Later, someone warned them that it amounted to attempted murder, so it just faded away."
Tang Huai Zhang frowned, "What degenerates!"
Xia Country is too big, society too chaotic, and the quality of its citizens uneven; all kinds of people exist.
This wasn’t the first time Tang Huai Zhang had heard of such a thing. He felt somewhat disappointed, then relieved as he said, "You did the right thing. Such people should not be indulged. But did they agree to it?"
"Whether they agreed or not, my household registration was already transferred to the Shi Family when I got married before. After the divorce, it became an independent registration." Shi Mei shrugged indifferently, "After all these years, though they have the merit of raising me, I’ve given them a lot too—billions in money alone. In the end, I gave them sixty million, which was quite generous."
Sixty million!
Such a large amount startled both Tang Huai Zhang and Jian Yun.
Jian Yun glanced at Shi Lingyan and asked, "Is that alimony?"
"Yes," Shi Mei smiled, "Alimony. Now I even get dividends from their company every month. Over a year, that adds up to a huge sum. Ah, Mr. Shi is really generous."
Shi Lingyan glanced at her sideways, taking her hand, "I’m so generous, and you still don’t plan to marry me?"
"We’ve already divorced, let’s just leave it at that," Shi Mei pushed his hand away, "Right now, I’m focused on developing my career and don’t have time to take care of a family."
"Our family doesn’t need your care. We have grandparents at home and I’m at the company; you can go ahead and chase your own career, it’s fine." Shi Lingyan didn’t care that Tang Huai Zhang was there. He leaned towards Shi Mei and whispered in her ear, appearing quite intimate.
Shi Mei snorted lightly, "No, blame yourself for giving too much alimony. Now that I have money, what do I need you for?"
Shi Lingyan couldn’t help but grin, "You ungrateful little thing!"
Tang Huai Zhang felt somewhat uncomfortable seeing Shi Lingyan and Shi Mei being so intimate.
Years ago, Shi Lingyan was almost his son-in-law. Although later his daughter was gone, seeing him after so many years, he couldn’t immediately step out of the role of prospective father-in-law, whereas Shi Lingyan had moved on with someone else.
It seemed, from the looks of it, deeper than what he had with Tang Wu.
This scene made Tang Huai Zhang see reality more clearly.
Nothing could go back to how it was.
Everyone needs a new life, Shi Lingyan needs it, and he and Jian Yun do too.
The takeout arrived shortly.
Ye Tiao went to pick up the takeout, while Tang Jingming brought out his homemade dishes.
Everyone ate together. During the meal, Jian Yun purposefully introduced Shi Mei to her husband. With the synergy between Tang Jingming and Ye Tiao, the meal actually made Tang Huai Zhang feel somewhat fond of Shi Mei.
But having already been busy all day, Tang Huai Zhang became more and more sleepy after eating.
Seeing the tiredness between Tang Huai Zhang’s brows, Shi Mei discreetly withdrew her gaze and said, "Aunt Jian, you must have gotten up early today too, didn’t you? Are you tired?"
Jian Yun was about to say she wasn’t tired but suddenly, turning to see her husband’s exhausted appearance, she understood Shi Mei’s intention. Surprised and touched by Shi Mei’s thoughtfulness, she quickly nodded, "Yes, my eyelids are fighting each other. Husband, let’s go home."
"Alright." Tang Huai Zhang sighed in relief, patting his legs and standing up.
"I’ll walk you out. It will help me digest the meal." Shi Mei had already stood up and affectionately linked arms with Jian Yun, "Just so I can learn the route. Next time, I can come for a visit."
Jian Yun was more than willing, "Yes, and about that video, I just mentioned to you, I can send it to you. You can practice it when you have time. It’s very good for flexibility..."
Tang Huai Zhang was about to decline the offer, but seeing Jian Yun’s enthusiasm, he didn’t want to dampen her spirits.
Watching the two women walk ahead, Tang Huai Zhang helplessly followed.
Naturally, Shi Lingyan had to follow them too.
They stepped off the elevator and out onto the street, greeted by the spring wind, carrying the unique tranquility of the night.
People on their night runs slowly ambled past; Shi Mei and Jian Yun, immersed in some lively conversation, laughed, carried to Tang Huai Zhang by the wind. His expression softened considerably as he watched their linked silhouettes, scenes from the past surfacing in his mind.
There was a time when the mother and daughter he remembered also often chatted happily, hand in hand.
Like old friends with endless topics.
And he could only ruefully follow behind, exchanging glances with Shi Lingyan, the two men both averting their gazes.
Apart from the young girl who had changed, everything else was not much different than before.
"They get along very well," Shi Lingyan suddenly said, "Don’t you think so?"
"Indeed."
Jian Yun hadn’t been this happy in a long time; since Tang Wu left, she rarely smiled like this.
Shi Lingyan took a step forward and said softly, "Since they get along, there’s no need to reject her. She is very much like Tang Wu, both in personality and talent."
"You chose her because she resembles Xiao Wu?" Tang Huai Zhang furrowed his brows, obviously displeased, "Shi Lingyan, although I am no longer your superior or your father-in-law, we still know each other, and I am your elder. I must give you a piece of advice here."
Shi Lingyan turned his face and noticed Tang Huai Zhang’s temple gray hair was more evident from this angle, paused a moment, then said, "Go ahead."
"Everyone is their own person, and no one wants to be someone else. If you just see her as a replacement for Xiao Wu, I advise you to clarify things with the young lady."
Shi Lingyan lowered his eyes and chuckled lightly, "She indeed resembles Xiao Wu, you noticed it, didn’t you? At dinner, I saw you constantly watching what she ate. Perhaps you also noticed what she likes and dislikes. When we left the dining table, it seemed like you even glanced at what was left on her plate."
Caught in his small movements, Tang Huai Zhang felt a bit embarrassed.
His stern face immediately became rigid, saying, "Being picky is indeed not good."
"But she happens to dislike the same things Tang Wu didn’t like, don’t you find that coincidental?" Shi Lingyan spoke up.
"Did you tell her that?"
Shi Lingyan shook his head, "I hadn’t thought that much about it, but as we spent more time together, I found more and more similarities with Tang Wu, even her way of speaking, especially after she became lucid, after our divorce, she changed how she addressed me."
"Changed how she addressed you?"
"In our marriage, she called me ’husband,’ and after the divorce, she called me ’Ah Ling.’"
Ah Ling.
This title made Tang Huai Zhang’s brows tighten, and he couldn’t help but picture Tang Wu’s face.
She always held her cheeks with both hands, tilting her head and calling out with a laugh, "Ah Ling, Ah Ling."
Tang Huai Zhang had never heard anyone else call him that.
Shi Lingyan continued, "Does this seem like fate’s arrangement?"
Tang Huai Zhang frowned, "This isn’t a reason to treat her as a replacement..."
"She is not a replacement," Shi Lingyan interrupted him, "She is Tang Wu."
Tang Huai Zhang’s face turned abruptly grim, "I think you’re drunk!"
He had only had a couple of drinks at the table, nowhere near enough to get drunk.
Shi Lingyan didn’t care and chuckled lightly, "Why don’t you try calling her Xiao Wu?"
Tang Huai Zhang looked at him angrily, then turned away and left.
Ridiculous!
Tang Huai Zhang quickly caught up with Jian Yun and Shi Mei, quickly surpassing them.
Both women quickly sensed something was off with Tang Huai Zhang and turned back to look at Shi Lingyan.
Shi Lingyan slightly curved his lips and shrugged.
After bringing Jian Yun and Tang Huai Zhang home, Shi Mei noticed that their building was older than theirs, and there were more elderly people moving around.
After going up, Jian Yun copied the dance video for Shi Mei before reluctantly saying goodbye.
After sending them to the elevator, Jian Yun reluctantly returned to her apartment.
Tang Huai Zhang had already taken off his uniform, which was neatly folded on the sofa. Seeing his wife coming in, he asked, "Why do you care so much about the Senior Sister?"
Hearing this, Jian Yun walked towards Tang Huai Zhang, her steps a bit quick and her tone somewhat cheerful, "Don’t you think she resembles our daughter?"
Tang Huai Zhang furrowed his brows, "Absolute nonsense, you all have been bewitched by her!"
Seeing this, Jian Yun knew Tang Huai Zhang was somewhat angry and quickly tried to calm him down, "Look at you, what’s wrong? Have a glass of water."
She poured him some wolfberry and date health tea from the thermos, Jian Yun said, "You know me, I don’t like anyone being compared to our daughter, but Huai Zhang, you know what, she really..."
"Enough," Tang Huai Zhang drank a glass of water with a straight face, "Don’t talk like that in the future. You all treat her as a replacement for Xiao Wu. What do you think she feels? You’re approaching her because of Xiao Wu; this would be hurtful to any normal person, don’t you understand that!"
But if it was an act this girl deliberately put on, that would be another matter!
Thinking she might be using Tang Wu’s image to trick them into closeness and trust, Tang Huai Zhang’s barely formed good impression of Shi Mei completely dissipated at that moment.