My Straight Childhood Friend Successfully Pursued Me After The Breakup - Chapter 25

The man had a thick scent of cologne on him, so strong it made one frown. Tao Ran lifted her eyes and gave him a faint look.

She left his raised hand hanging in the air, brushed past his shoulder, and walked away, taking a seat on a single sofa nearby.

Her legs were crossed, her posture casual but not sloppy. Despite her young age, she already possessed the aura of someone in a position of authority. She glanced at the remaining three people and nodded slightly.

The so-called “big brother” behind her froze, his face as if he’d been violently slapped. His breathing became heavy, but he quickly composed himself.

“Hahahaha…” A hearty laugh came from the second floor.

Tao Ran looked up and saw Tao Yizhang standing on the stairs. He was wearing a neatly buttoned waistcoat, holding an unlit cigar, and slowly descending the steps.

Tao Ran understood immediately, glancing at Tao Wenbin. No wonder he was so eager to show off; there was an audience.

But a contender who couldn’t keep his composure like this wouldn’t last long enough to truly display his talents; he would become the first to stand out and be shot down.

“I called you all here because I want you to get properly acquainted,” Tao Yizhang walked behind Tao Ran, placing one hand on her shoulder. He looked around at his children as if they were his own creations, a smile appearing on his face.

“This is your younger sister, Tao Ran, who just celebrated her sixteenth birthday not long ago. As her older brothers and sisters, you must take good care of her. Do you understand?”

Hearing this, the siblings nodded. Tao Wenbin walked back to the sofa with a dark expression and sat down, only to be immediately called out by Tao Yizhang.

“Wenbin.”

“Father.” Tao Wenbin immediately put on a smile, happy that his father had acknowledged him.

However, Tao Yizhang’s next words dashed his elated heart into the abyss, and the smile froze on his face.

“As the eldest brother, how can you fail to be liked by your younger sister?” Tao Yizhang said flatly. “If you can’t even manage to maintain a good relationship with your own sister, how can I trust you to interact with the business partners of our group?”

In that instant, the air seemed to condense into ice, freezing everyone in place, making the hairs on their arms stand up.

At the same time, the looks they cast toward Tao Ran held a hint of apprehension and a deeper hostility.

“Tao Ran, Father will introduce these few to you. Eldest Brother Tao Wenbin, Second Sister Tao Ningting, Third Brother Tao Wenbiao, Fourth Sister Tao Ningxue,” Tao Yizhang patted her shoulder and chuckled. “From now on, you must get along well with your older brothers and sisters, understood?”

Tao Ran’s cold gaze swept over the older siblings one by one, fully accepting their animosity. Only on Tao Ningxue did her eyes linger for a moment.

This Fourth Sister’s demeanor was distinctly different from the other three. Instead of hostility, there was more of a playful amusement. After meeting Tao Ran’s eyes, she merely raised an eyebrow in a provocative manner.

Tao Ran didn’t give her much attention.

“In the future, please guide me,” she said.

“Xian, come, I specially asked the servants to make steamed Eight Treasures Fish. I remember you liked it the most when you were little.” Jiang Yuhai solicitously placed a piece of fish on the plate in front of Zuo Xian.

Zuo Xian didn’t even look at it, casually tossing the bones from the meat she had just eaten onto the fish.

Jiang Yuhai lowered his head and sighed, appearing utterly humble.

Zuo Xian was clenching her chopsticks so hard they were nearly snapping. She kept taking deep breaths, trying to suppress the annoyance, and suppressing it further.

She couldn’t suppress it.

She must drive this damned Jiang Yuhai away!

After dinner, Zuo Zhimi was busy working in her study when a knock suddenly came at the door. Zuo Zhimi looked up. “Come in.”

The door was pushed open, and Zuo Xian walked in. Zuo Zhimi smiled. “Xianzai, what is it? Do you need Mother?”

“Mother.” Zuo Xian pursed her lips, walked up to Zuo Zhimi, and stared at her. “Let’s kick Jiang Yuhai out. I can’t even eat when I see him.”

Zuo Zhimi paused. “But Xianzai…”

“Mother, do you really believe what he’s saying?” Zuo Xian was completely bewildered. She propped her hands on the desk and accused, “Have you forgotten what he did before? He’s a hypocrite, a villain, trash!”

“Xianzai.” Zuo Zhimi rubbed her temples, distressed about how to explain so that Zuo Xian could empathize.

She paused, then said softly, “When you were little, he really loved you. You were very attached to him back then, and you’d climb onto his lap and make him hold you even when he was working.”

“Mother!” Zuo Xian interrupted. “How long ago was that? More than ten years! Do you really believe he still loves me after all these years?”

Seeing Zuo Zhimi still struggling, she simply straightened her back, pressing her lips together.

“Anyway, I hate him, I really hate him. Kick him out, I don’t want to see him. I don’t have any messy childhood trauma, I’m perfectly healthy—physically healthy and mentally even more so. I don’t need his compensation.”

Zuo Xian’s lips trembled. She glanced at Zuo Zhimi, then looked away, whispering, “And I don’t need your compensation either. I’m fine, very healthy, and I love you very much.”

The three instances of “very” slammed hard into Zuo Zhimi’s heart, causing her heartache and distress, yet also making her feel softer.

“…Will you go for a walk with Mother?” Zuo Zhimi stood up, taking Zuo Xian’s hand.

Zuo Xian knew Zuo Zhimi’s stance was softening. She pursed her lips and followed her mother out.

At that moment, a figure flashed past the study door, immediately hiding in the corner’s blind spot.

Only after seeing the mother and daughter leave the study did the figure sneak into the room. They left about ten minutes later.

Meanwhile, in the villa’s garden, Zuo Zhimi looked at a swing set, a trace of nostalgia crossing her eyes.

“You were only three or four years old then, and you loved playing on this swing the most. But I was too busy back then; it was mostly Jiang Yuhai who played with you. After we divorced, you never played on it again.”

Zuo Xian looked at the swing set, fragmented memories flashing through her mind.

It was true that Jiang Yuhai had looked after her more when she was little, but only slightly more than Zuo Zhimi. So, she didn’t feel much emotion inside.

However, Zuo Zhimi didn’t see it that way. She always regretted having deprived Zuo Xian of a lot of companionship.

Yet, even if she could turn back time, she would still choose her career over staying home full-time with her daughter.

Because of this, the guilt in her heart would not lessen; it would pile up higher and thicker.

With no way to compensate, she was grasping at straws.

Zuo Zhimi closed her eyes. “There are too many memories like this in this villa, Xianzai, Mother…”

She didn’t miss Jiang Yuhai or the time they were a family of three. The only thing she couldn’t let go of was the little girl in her memories. She desperately wanted to make amends, and when Jiang Yuhai appeared with his remorse, he also brought out Zuo Zhimi’s obsession.

“Then let’s move.” Zuo Xian looked at Zuo Zhimi, her eyes full of determination. “If you can’t forget, then move. Move to a new place and create new memories. Mother, rotten flesh must be cut out to heal. After cutting it out, throw it far away, or it will only rot and stink.”

“But this is where you grew up, after all. Your Aunt Jiang’s house is right next door, and you have memories with Ranran here too.”

Zuo Xian: “Ranran and I will make new memories. If she knew I was moving, she would only support me.”

The wind was strong today, carrying a biting chill that made Zuo Zhimi’s mind clear.

The mother and daughter faced each other for a long time, and finally, it was Zuo Zhimi who yielded. She lowered her head and sighed, “Mother will make him leave. Xianzai, you are much more decisive than your mother.”

It was ruthlessness.

Zuo Xian pressed her lips together. She carried Jiang Yuhai’s genes; she was his child, after all, and there would inevitably be a slight resemblance.

But Zuo Xian didn’t think that this slight resemblance meant she was the same kind of person as Jiang Yuhai.

The two didn’t say anything more. Zuo Zhimi returned to the study to continue working, while Zuo Xian sat on the sofa, feeling a bit down.

If she could, she wouldn’t have wanted to speak to her mother with such an attitude.

“Xianzai, have you seen Jiang Yuhai?” Suddenly, Zuo Zhimi came out of the study, her brows furrowed with urgency and a hint of anger.

“No, I haven’t.” Zuo Xian stood up. “What’s wrong?”

Zuo Zhimi’s eyes darkened. “Someone’s been on my computer.”