Jiang Zhou’s expression changed dramatically, “M-mom, you… you still doubt Dad…” He had already noticed, with growing sensitivity, that his mother’s way of addressing Ruoruo had changed, and her tone when speaking about her had become cold.
“Don’t you also doubt it? Don’t you want to know if Jiang Ruo is truly related to you by blood?” Feng Yun tilted her head, looking gently at her son.
Without waiting for Jiang Zhou to answer, she suddenly clapped her hands and laughed, “If Jiang Ruo really is Jiang Huai’s daughter, that would mean your father swapped your real sister with the daughter of his mistress, and then watched as you fell in love with your biological sister. Isn’t that a bit like the play Thunderstorm? Quite melodramatic, isn’t it?” 1
Jiang Zhou clutched his head in pain, “Mom, please stop.”
“Why?” Feng Yun looked puzzled, but then she quickly smiled again, “I get it. Using Thunderstorm as an example might not be quite appropriate. Jiang Ruo isn’t like Sifeng. Sifeng was just a servant girl in the Zhou family, while Jiang Ruo is the young lady of our family, right?”
Jiang Zhou knew that his mother’s mental state was no longer normal. Until the paternity test results were in, she wouldn’t be able to dispel her suspicions and would likely continue to believe that Ruoruo was the result of his father’s infidelity. Jiang Zhou himself was also conflicted. He wanted to avoid the situation, but he knew all too well that as long as the appraisal results were pending, he wouldn’t be able to face Ruoruo with a clear conscience.
After a long silence, he finally made up his mind, “Mom, I’ll go get Ruoruo’s sample now. Wait for me. I’ll be back soon.”
With that, Jiang Zhou headed straight to Jiang Ruo’s room.
As soon as Jiang Ruo saw him, her face lit up with joy, “Brother, you’re back!” She walked over to Jiang Zhou, intending to take his arm as usual, but Jiang Zhou suddenly looked startled and quickly stepped back, avoiding her touch.
“Brother, what’s wrong?” Jiang Ruo looked puzzled.
Jiang Zhou’s eyes avoided hers, “N-nothing… I just came to… to tell you…”
“Jiang Li refused to donate her kidney, right?” Jiang Ruo appeared particularly calm. “I expected this all along, so I’m not surprised at all, really.”
Although she couldn’t stop herself from harboring a sliver of unrealistic hope, Jiang Ruo knew deep down that the probability of Jiang Li agreeing to donate her kidney was practically zero. So, while she felt a bit disappointed, she wasn’t surprised.
Jiang Zhou looked at her, unable to say a word. Just as he was at a loss for how to find an excuse to take a few strands of Jiang Ruo’s hair, Feng Yun suddenly came over. She looked at Jiang Ruo with a very gentle expression and asked, “Ruoruo, why aren’t you asleep yet?”
Feng Yun’s smile sent chills down Jiang Zhou’s spine. Although Jiang Ruo also felt that something was a little off, she didn’t think much of it.
“I’m chatting with my brother.” As Jiang Ruo said this, she subconsciously glanced at Jiang Zhou and flashed a sweet smile.
Feng Yun ignored this and looked at Jiang Ruo’s fingers. “Ruoruo, your nails are too long, they need to be trimmed.”
Jiang Ruo was taken aback, then replied, “Ah? Oh, okay. I’ll cut them tomorrow.”
Feng Yun shook her head. “Better to cut them today. Mom will cut them for you.”
After saying this, Feng Yun took out a nail clipper, grabbed Jiang Ruo’s hand, and started trimming her nails, cutting them right down to the base. Feng Yun cut three of Jiang Ruo’s nails, and while cutting the third one, she accidentally clipped Jiang Ruo’s finger, causing her to cry out in pain.
Feng Yun looked at her. “I didn’t do a very good job. You should cut them yourself.”
Jiang Ruo felt that her mother’s expression was particularly strange today, but she could only nod instinctively. “I… I can do it myself.”
Feng Yun stared at Jiang Ruo for a few seconds but ultimately said nothing as she then walked away with the three nail clippings.
Jiang Ruo looked at Jiang Zhou with some fear. “Brother, what’s wrong with Mom?” She subconsciously reached out to grab the hem of Jiang Zhou’s shirt, but he avoided her once again.
Jiang Ruo looked at Jiang Zhou with a face full of confusion. “Brother?”
At this moment, Jiang Zhou’s mind was in such disarray that he couldn’t offer any comfort. He only said, “I’ll go check on Mom,” and left like a gust of wind.
Jiang Ruo: “…”
What exactly happened?
Why did Mom and Brother suddenly become so strange?
…
After Jiang Zhou left Jiang Ruo’s room, he went downstairs and saw Feng Yun sitting in the living room, seemingly in a daze. When she noticed her son, she waved a small plastic bag containing three fingernails at him. There was an unusual flush on her face, but her voice was especially gentle, “A’Zhou, come here quickly and clip a few of your nails for Mom. They need to be cut down to the base, otherwise, it won’t work.”
Jiang Zhou forced a bitter smile, “Mom, didn’t we just agree that I would take Ruoruo’s sample without her noticing? Why are you…”
“A promise can be broken, you know!” Feng Yun smiled gently. “Besides, I no longer trust anyone. You can understand that, right?”
Jiang Zhou showed a pained expression, “You don’t even trust your own son?”
Feng Yun nodded without hesitation, “You’re not just my son, you’re also Jiang Huai’s son. Why should I trust you?”
Seeing Jiang Zhou fall silent, Feng Yun smiled again, “Unless you dare to make an oath—if you ever lied to me, Jiang Ruo would have rejection problems even if she finds a compatible kidney.”
“Mom!” Jiang Zhou’s voice was sharp.
“Shh!” Feng Yun frowned, “Keep your voice down. Hurry up and clip your nails for me. I don’t like delays.”
Jiang Zhou sighed, then walked over to Feng Yun, picked up the nail clipper, and clipped three of his nails.
Feng Yun said, “A’Zhou, you’re such a good boy,” and then left with the three nails.
After his mother had gone, Jiang Zhou gradually came back to his senses. He was about to go after her when Jiang Ruo suddenly ran out, looking surprised, “Brother, where are you going so late at night?”
Jiang Zhou was startled, then shook his head, “I’m not going anywhere. You should go back to your room and rest.”
Jiang Ruo: “…”
Brother, why is your tone so harsh when speaking to me?
…
On the way to the company, Jiang Huai immediately called in his subordinates to come to the office and contacted some people he had worked with before, intending to sell all his shares. But just as he had reached an agreement, he suddenly received news that his company shares had been frozen.
At that moment, Jiang Huai felt the world spinning, and then he collapsed straight onto the sofa behind him, causing the surrounding people to exclaim in shock.
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Author’s Note:
Q: How many times has Jiang ‘Slag’ Huai fainted now?
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