My Straight Childhood Friend Successfully Pursued Me After The Breakup - Chapter 24

A Family of Three Steps into the Same Door After Many Years

A family of three stepped into the same door again after many years, but Zuo Xian’s vigilance towards Jiang Yuhai never wavered.

As for a happy and beautiful life for a family of three, Zuo Xian’s memory held only the man’s ugly face.

She only remembered his shameful behavior of shamelessly tricking her mother out of money for his career and company.

Disgusting.

Perhaps to reassure the mother and daughter, Jiang Yuhai was exceptionally well-behaved today. After the family of three finished their meal, Jiang Yuhai even volunteered to take Zuo Xian out for a walk to aid digestion.

Zuo Xian scoffed, “Are you trying to freeze me to death? It’s so cold outside, and you want to take me for a walk.”

Jiang Yuhai again dropped his eyes in a sickeningly pitiful manner and apologized humbly, “I’m sorry, XianZai, Dad wasn’t thoughtful enough.”

“Don’t call me XianZai.” Zuo Xian felt on the verge of vomiting.

Zuo Zhimi, watching Zuo Xian’s extreme resistance toward Jiang Yuhai, slightly frowned and said to Jiang Yuhai, “You’ve been an absent father for so many years. Why are you in such a hurry now? Can’t you see the child is completely unfamiliar with you?”

Jiang Yuhai apologized again and meekly promised he would change and try to earn the child’s forgiveness.

Zuo Xian watched Jiang Yuhai’s performance with cold eyes, finding him utterly hypocritical. She couldn’t understand why her usually shrewd mother couldn’t see through Jiang Yuhai’s clumsy act.

She couldn’t stand being in this place any longer.

Saying she needed to go back to her room to do homework, Zuo Xian left the two of them and returned to her bedroom alone.

Although Zuo Xian hadn’t returned to the villa for a long time, her room was tidied daily by the maid, so even after several months, it was no different from when she last left.

Zuo Xian lay on the bed. The large overhead lamp was a bit dazzling, and she squinted, glancing to the other side.

She happened to see a row of cotton plush dolls on the top shelf of the display cabinet.

They were all her favorites when she was little.

Crucially, they were the same type as the one Jiang Yuhai had brought out.

Holy cow.

At eight in the evening, Tao Ran finished work early today. Zuo Xian couldn’t resist calling her and complaining about everything that happened today.

After getting it off her chest, she felt better.

With a door separating her, Zuo Xian couldn’t hear the sounds outside. She sighed heavily.

“Ranran, you tell me, my mom is such a smart person, how could she fall for it just because Jiang Yuhai acted a little pitiful?”

Tao Ran was silent for a moment, seemingly thinking, and then she let out a soft sigh.

“Perhaps because in Aunt Zuo’s memory, there is also a little girl who loved playing with plush dolls.”

A buzzing sound echoed in Zuo Xian’s mind. She pursed her lips and fell silent.

After a long while, she mumbled, “But I haven’t liked dolls for a long time.”

Nor did she need any kind of paternal love.

Tao Ran on the other end chuckled. She rarely saw Zuo Xian looking so defeated and unable to vent.

If it were just Jiang Yuhai, Tao Ran had no doubt Zuo Xian would call security to throw the man out, the farther the better.

The problem, however, lay with Aunt Zuo.

Both mother and daughter, from their own perspectives, were blinded by their care for the other.

“Ranran, I wish you were here,” Zuo Xian murmured, her tone carrying a touch of clingy dependence and trust, which made Tao Ran unable to help but curl her lips.

Yet, she deliberately asked, “Does it make any difference if I’m here or not?”

“Of course! If you were here, I would move to your house. No matter how shameless Jiang Yuhai is, he wouldn’t dare squat at your place.”

Unfortunately, Tao Ran wasn’t around, and Jiang Ningxiu was usually busy with work, so Zuo Xian felt uncomfortable troubling Aunt Jiang.

Tao Ran narrowed her eyes, a hint of pleasure flashing in them.

Having teased Zuo Xian enough and heard what she wanted to hear, she finally got straight to the point.

“A Xian, you actually don’t have to force him to leave.”

Zuo Xian frowned, flipping over to sit up on the bed, “Ranran, what do you mean?”

“Stand still and see what he’s really up to. A Xian, someone with an agenda will definitely be the first to reveal a flaw. You just need to figure out his goal, and then find his weakness.”

Tao Ran smiled, “A Xian, you’re very smart. I believe this will be a simple task for you.”

“But I just find him disgusting.” Zuo Xian lay back on the bed, rolling around twice to find a comfortable position to nestle into.

She had absolutely no interest in defeating Jiang Yuhai; all she wanted was to drive him out and make him scram far away.

The difference in their approach to handling things became evident at this moment. Tao Ran smiled helplessly, but she also knew what kind of person Zuo Xian was.

When she cares about you, she will hold you close to her heart, but if you betray her love, she will also discard you as if you were dirt.

Even if the process is as painful as having her heart gouged out, she can be utterly cold and unforgiving when they meet again.

But this was all Jiang Yuhai’s fault; he gave up on Zuo Xian, and he deserved this treatment.

The topic didn’t continue. They chatted for a while longer before hanging up the phone.

Zuo Xian had been staying up too late lately. Knowing that school was on break, Tao Ran strictly forbade her from staying up, preferring to squeeze out time for herself during the day instead.

As soon as she hung up the phone, a knock sounded on the office door, and then the secretary walked in.

“Little CEO Tao, Mr. Tao’s assistant is outside. He says he’s here to pick you up.”

“Pick me up?” Tao Ran slightly frowned.

“Yes, he said Mr. Tao wants to see you.”

“Alright, I’m heading out now.” Tao Ran stood up and instructed before leaving, “The tasks I discussed with you this morning, arrange for them to be carried out as soon as possible.”

“Yes, Little CEO Tao.”

After instructing her work, Tao Ran walked out. When she reached the front hall, she saw Assistant Song waiting.

The man in the thin-rimmed glasses smiled slightly, “Little CEO Tao, Mr. Tao wants to see you.”

“Mhm.” Tao Ran tightly pursed her lips, following Assistant Song downstairs and getting into the car.

She had no idea what Tao Yizhang wanted to do. She had only been working at the subsidiary for just over half a month, and Tao Ran was still in the exploratory stage of everything, let alone achieving any results.

Under these circumstances, why would Tao Yizhang want to see her?

Tao Ran didn’t believe in any father-daughter affection. Her gaze landed on Assistant Song.

“Assistant Song, if my father is at the group headquarters, wouldn’t going over at this time be inconvenient?”

Assistant Song smiled, “Mr. Tao is at the villa in the East District. He’s specifically waiting for you, so it won’t be inconvenient.”

Tao Ran’s eyes flickered, “Are there guests at home?”

Assistant Song’s eyes, hidden behind his glasses, glanced at Tao Ran, “Little CEO Tao is smart.”

“There are a few other young masters and young ladies at home as well.”

The other illegitimate children were also summoned there. Tao Ran understood and nodded slightly, turning her gaze toward the window.

The sunlight was a bit glaring. She half-lowered her eyelids, and her slender lashes cast a shadow beneath her eyes.

Octagon cage.

She couldn’t help but think of this term.

Half an hour later, the vehicle arrived at its destination.

The weather had changed from sunny to overcast. Layers of clouds blocked the sunlight, making the ancient castle in front of her appear even more ominous and terrifying.

Tao Ran got out of the car and walked in. The gardeners in the flower garden all bowed and greeted her. She walked straight into the villa’s main door. In the living room, four young men and women, who appeared slightly older than her, were seated.

Instantly, their eyes collectively focused on her, with curiosity, scrutiny, and appraisal, but mostly malice.

“You must be… Tao Ran?” one of the men spoke, a hint of disdain in his eyes. He stood up and walked toward Tao Ran.

The man was tall, a good half-head taller than Tao Ran. He looked down at her, sizing her up, and then curved his lips.

He stretched out a broad hand, “Tao Wenbin, your elder brother.”