Chapter 164 – Was It Because You Hate Me Or Because You Were Afraid Of My Mother

"Aiyo, this is really like in a Chinese drama scene."

"Sigh, who said that marrying a rich family is definitely a good thing. I can see that there are a lot of things there. I saw some news from other media this morning, you know, I saw a picture in it. It's from last night's welcoming banquet. Editor Jiang and Xian Family stood not far away, but Old Man Xian and Xian Jian acted as if they didn't see her at all! Tsk tsk."

"Really? Xian Zihao seems to be very nice to Editor Jiang. I saw President Xian's Land Rover parked outside our company this morning and he even gave Editor Jiang a very sweet kiss. I'm so jealous of her!"

"Maybe he did that because he saw his beloved ex-girlfriend coming back and was afraid that his wife would be too suspicious. He intentionally coaxed her and then openly went to meet his ex-girlfriend."

Jiang Ruolan finished her lunch quickly. Then she got up from the table and left the cafeteria. However, as she passed by her colleagues' tables, she stopped and turned around to glance at them.

Those who had noticed her passing by immediately quieted down and lowered their heads to eat. When they noticed her gaze, they immediately raised their eyes to look at her and smiled. "Greetings, Editor-in-Chief Jiang."

Jiang Ruolan smiled friendly, then she said, "The company's Reporting Department has been very busy lately. Instead of busy thinking about work, you interns are more likely to spend time gossiping. You will definitely get good internship results. When the internships end, you will probably continue to be an official employee."

Everyone knew that even though this company was just a company invested under Qin Group, it was still one of the country's most important media companies.

Many university students were sent over for internships by famous schools. However, internships were only internships, and being able to be expropriated by the company was the most practical goal of these people who came over to practice.

When she said this, those interns immediately bowed their heads, repeatedly saying sorry.

Jiang Ruolan wasn't actually blaming them. Gossip was a woman's nature. If it weren't for the fact that no one disliked the news, people in the media would have starved to death.

Although her words weren't heavy, it was enough for them not to dare to discuss these things behind someone else's back anymore, especially when the matter involving her.

Since Jiang Ruolan had already achieved her goal, she didn't want to stay any longer. She politely smiled at them and said, "Eat well." With that, she turned around and left.

"Heavens, why was that smile on Editor Jiang's face just now like she was gritting her teeth in anger? It can't be that she really heard what we just said, right?"

Behind her, a lower voice could be heard faintly. It was faintly, but it still could be heard clearly in the ears of an attentive person like Jiang Ruolan.

Although she had some confidence in herself now, it was still impossible for her to be completely unaffected. Xian Zihao had said that he wanted her to fight for their relationship, and even though Zhou Shufen had a strong sense of purpose, she did not reveal her edge and had not made a move yet.

Or perhaps, even if she did make a move, Jiang Ruolan would not be able to see it now.

What could she do? She had no choice but to wait and observe.

Jiang Ruolan had no other choice but to calm down and continued to live her life wholeheartedly.

When she got off work, Jiang Ruolan suddenly received a call. It was from an unfamiliar number. When she picked up the call and heard the voice, her face changed slightly.

****

Half an hour later, in H City, Beidou Avenue, in an elegant and secluded teahouse…

Jiang Ruolan didn't know why Zhan Lian would choose such a place to meet with her, but from her understanding of Zhan Lian, she knew that she had always been disdainful of her.

Jiang Ruolan knew that Zhan Lian came alone to H City to meet her and of course, her sudden appearance was without Jiang Guanyu's knowledge.

When she arrived at the teahouse, she saw Zhan Lian sitting in the second floor's plum blossom room.

Zhan Lian was indeed a woman who knew how to enjoy herself.

Jiang Ruolan snickered as she followed the waiter's lead. Once they entered the room, she then met with Zhan Lian's eyes.

The last time they saw each other was in G City and her daughter, Jiang Bingqing, had insulted her in public. But now, Zhan Lian was sitting here, saying she wanted to have a meal together.

What kind of plot is this?

Jiang Ruolan didn't refuse because she really wanted to know what this woman, who had treated her so ruthlessly in the past, wanted to do.

"Sit down." Seeing Jiang Ruolan entered the room, Zhan Lian didn't have much of an expression on her face. She gave her an indifferent glance and then motioned for her to sit down.

A pot of jasmine tea was already placed on the table. It was a very simple and plain tea, suitable for a woman like Zhan Lian who often dressed elegantly. The waiter, under Zhan Lian's gaze, left the room.

Jiang Euolan sat down and put down her bag. Only then did she slowly raise her head and look at Zhan Lian.

Zhan Lian smiled faintly, but the smile was not in the depths of her eyes. She quietly sized Jiang Ruolan up and down with a calm demeanor and nodded her head, saying, "You've really grown up."

Her tone was not one of an elder who doted on a child but was instead one of a sigh.

"Since Auntie Lian is already half a century old, of course, I will not be a child anymore." Jiang Ruolan didn't have any expression on her face. There was no edge to her voice, but neither was there any warmth. She stretched out her hand to pour herself a cup of jasmine tea and calmly drank it.

"Yeah, your dad and I are already old." Zhan Lian pursed her lips, but her gaze was still locked onto her.

Jiang Ruolan took a sip of tea and held the teacup, twirling it in her hand as she played with it. She looked straight into Zhan Lian's eyes and smiled lightly. "Auntie Lian traveled all the way from G City to H City and even specially arranged to meet me. It can't be that you wanted to treat me tea, right?"

"What is it? Are you afraid that I'll poison this tea?" Zhan Lian glanced at her. There wasn't a shred of kindness in her eyes, but it wasn't as cold as when she was young.

Jiang Ruolan also put down her teacup without leaving a trace, then poured herself another cup of tea. She blew on it with her lips and said, "Auntie Lian must be joking. If you want to poison me, you don't need to wait until seven years. For the past fourteen years I've been in the Jiang Family, you'll have a lot of time and opportunity."

"Jiang Ruolan, since it's like this, then I will be straight-forward to you." Zhan Lian looked at her sternly. "You have grown up too. Let's have a good chat. You and Yijun have always been a thorn in my side, and you have been stubborn since you were young. You look gentle and quiet, but in reality, your thoughts are even deeper than that dead mother of yours."

Jiang Ruolan did not retort.

She didn't even know how to protect herself when she was young, so how could she have any tricks up her sleeve? At most, she would have learned how to endure it. However, since Zhan Lian was honest with her, she was too lazy to argue with her. She only smiled and quietly sipped her tea, not saying anything.

"I really don't welcome you and Yijun. In the first two years after you were accepted into Jiang Family, I argued with your father, smashed things, and forced him to send you away, but your father, huh. He is someone you understand as well. In this family, he doesn't have much of an opinion on things, no matter what I do to you, he knows that I am just venting my anger." Zhan Lian's voice was calm, and every word she spoke revealed all her ruthless thoughts.

Jiang Ruolan calmly looked at her, waiting for her to continue.

"So after so many years and I hit you too many times in front of Bingqing, she might have learned to take care of you in her shallow awareness. Even though Bingqing is the apple of the Jiang Family's eye, in the end, she was still spoiled by me to the point of being domineering. As for you, Jiang Ruolan, I hate you and your mother to the bones. In those years, sometimes, even when I slept, I would suddenly wake up because of those nightmares she brought upon me. I really want to use all the methods I have to make you disappear from this world, disappear from my sight. But I never did. I hate you, but in my heart, I also know that you are just a child. You and Yijun are both innocent, not to mention that you both have Guanyu's blood on you.

Her explanation made Jiang Ruolan burst into laughter.

All she knew that every time she had listened to those fairy tales when she was very young, she always linked Zhan Lian as a bad stepmother, a witch, and all the characters of the wicked.

At least Zhan Lian knew what she was doing and could even come up with a good excuse.

Jiang Ruolan put down her teacup and stared quietly at Zhan Lian's reminiscing eyes. "Was it because you hate me or because you were afraid of my mother?"

Zhan Lian looked at her with a slightly drowsy expression. She seemed to understand the meaning of her words, but she also felt that it was unlikely.

"Every time you see Yijun and I, you will remember what method you used to steal someone else's husband, right?" Jiang Ruolan laughed softly. Her tone was as if she was talking about a normal meal, but it instantly caused Zhan Lian's gaze to stiffen slightly.

Jiang Ruolan mockingly said, "You must want to know, how did I know? Even if my mother died twenty years ago, it does not mean that she did not have any friends when she was alive. Even if the reason why you brought me back to the Jiang Family was to hide from others, to prevent those people from coming into contact with me, no matter what, there would still be times when you miscalculated. At the age of sixteen, during our school's summer camp outing, I managed to escape your sight for an entire week, and during that week, I met some people and learned a lot of things."

Zhan Lian didn't say anything. It was as if she just realized that this little girl who had been growing up for fourteen years could actually hide everything so deeply.

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