The Subtle Seduction of My Ex-Girlfriend’s Aunt - Chapter 38

Chapter 38: Lin Jixin! Do You Want to Sell Your Daughter…

When Xia Mo asked Tang Ran for her address, Tang Ran, acting on some inexplicable impulse, gave the address for Shengming Mansion instead of the family home she had been staying at for the past few days.

“Nineteenth floor reached.”

The electronic announcement rang out, and Song Zhixu stepped slowly out of the elevator. As her finger pressed against the door lock, she turned to look at the door directly opposite.

Ding-ling, ding-ling.

The electronic unlocking sound chimed. Song Zhixu calmly withdrew her gaze and pushed the door open to enter. The night wind tossed the sheer curtains, and a layer of warm yellow light spread across the balcony floor—the glow emanating from next door. Song Zhixu paused while removing her high heels, reached out to pick up her phone from the foyer, and swiped to unlock it.

Next door.

Tang Ran held her phone horizontally, her thumbs tapping rapidly on the screen. The big boss opposite her had only 5% HP left; one more ultimate move would result in a KO. Her finger moved toward the charge button.

A message notification popped up on the screen.

Sister Song: It’s still early. Do you want to come over and look at the course materials?

Tang Ran was momentarily distracted. A monster’s roar erupted from the screen. In the next instant, the game interface turned a dark, blood-red.

“YOU DIED.”

Tang Ran gritted her teeth. Song. Zhi. Xu.

Tossing her phone aside, Tang Ran suddenly leaped off the sofa and walked toward the door barefoot. She pulled it open with force. The strong night wind swept through the hallway, hitting Tang Ran full in the face and making her shiver from the cold. She shuddered and slammed the door shut.

Running back to the sofa, Tang Ran picked up her phone and tapped out a line of text. After sending it, she felt it wasn’t enough to vent her frustration, so she deleted the words “Sister Song.”

She re-entered the contact name: Next Door Neighbor.

Song Zhixu reached back to unfasten the invisible clasp of her dress and pulled down. The cream-colored long dress fell naturally to her sides, revealing flawless, snow-white skin and a back curved in a sexy silhouette.

The phone on the vanity lit up. Unhurriedly, she bent down to step out of the dress and picked up the phone. The vanity lamp cast a soft, warm light. In the mirror, her gentle face was lowered, her gaze light as she looked at the phone. When she saw the message, a shallow smile overflowed from the corners of her lips and spread.

Biting Little Creature: Sorry, Miss Song, I’m not free tonight.

After sending the message, Tang Ran immediately turned on “Do Not Disturb” and dove back into battle. Putting on new equipment, she launched a fierce attack and directly KO’d the monster from before.

Tang Ran glanced at the time. Less than half an hour had passed. Her finger involuntarily swiped out of the game interface. There was a red notification icon on WeChat. Tang Ran clicked it directly.

The top row showed a “99+” notification for the small group chat Xia Xin’er had started. Below was the dialog box without a red mark, showing the message she had sent: Sorry, Miss Song, I’m…

Tang Ran lowered her eyelids, swiped away WeChat, and returned to the game. Her finger hovered over “Continue Game.” Suddenly, she lost interest. She tossed her phone to the side and headed to the bathroom.

As soon as the sun came out, the cicadas in the trees chirped incessantly; it was another scorching day.

Tang Ran’s mood was not beautiful. Looking in the mirror, she found a pimple on her forehead. She applied soothing gel and then foundation, completely covering the red mark before she was barely satisfied. She heated a sandwich and milk for breakfast.

Her phone chimed.

Next Door Neighbor: [Image].

Tang Ran arched an eyebrow. She took a sip of milk; the sweet fragrance spread between her teeth. Her mood instantly brightened. Lifting her neck slightly, she seemingly nonchalantly clicked the app. Song Zhixu’s second message arrived.

Next Door Neighbor: Miss Tang, it’s time to water the sunflowers.

The colorful buds were slightly curled and a bit withered. Tang Ran set down her unfinished sandwich, jumped down from the barstool in a hurry, and trotted to the balcony. The last time she watered them was before her business trip; it had been over ten days. The soil in the pots was dry, so it was no wonder they were wilting.

The phone rang again.

Next Door Neighbor: Just water them thoroughly.

Tang Ran followed the instruction, went inside to fill a whole pitcher of water, and poured it over the sunflowers. She stopped only when she saw water overflowing into the drainage tray. She touched the little flowers apologetically, then suddenly froze.

She bit her lip and looked toward the balcony next door with a hint of defiance. The wall was full of vibrant, pleasing flowers, but their owner was nowhere to be seen. Tang Ran’s puffed-up cheeks immediately deflated.

Coming home after work, the driver asked if she was going to the family home or the apartment. Tang Ran bit her cheek and said to go to Shengming Mansion. After dinner, she received another message from Song Zhixu.

Next Door Neighbor: It’s still early. Do you want to come over and look at the course materials?

Exactly the same ten words; even the punctuation hadn’t changed. Hah! Tang Ran scoffed. She swiped up, found the message she sent yesterday, clicked copy, pasted it into the dialog box, and sent it.

“Sorry, Miss Song, I’m not free tonight.”

The same exchange repeated over the next two days.

Thursday at work.

Tang Ran bumped into a clearly displeased Manager Yu in the elevator. Guessing the cause, Tang Ran took the initiative to ask, “What happened?”

Since it was just the two of them, Manager Yu didn’t hide it. She sighed and said, “Taivo changed to a public tender.”

Originally, the cooperation between the Song Group and Taivo was about to enter a preliminary intent phase. Changing to a public tender meant another competitor had appeared. Hearing this, Tang Ran knew her provocation at “The Crane” that day had worked. Sun Jiaojiao moved fast. If she couldn’t steal Song Wuqi, she could only vent her anger by stealing clients.

Sure enough, Manager Yu added, “I looked into it. Shengtang’s quote is four points lower than ours.”

Generally, the profit margin for food processing is around 10-15%. To cooperate with a major brand like Taivo, Tang Group had squeezed their profit to about 8%. Shengtang dropping it by four points showed they were determined to steal the big client through low pricing. If Tang Group wanted the deal, they would have to lower their price even further. Taivo’s requirements were strict and their payment cycle was long; if there was only a 2-3% profit, they would essentially be processing for free.

“You have their pricing already?” Tang Ran was surprised. If Manager Yu knew Shengtang’s quote, it meant she had a mole there too.

“Giving them a taste of their own medicine,” Manager Yu sneered. Having had several clients stolen and the incident at the convention center, Manager Yu had been holding a grudge. After years in the business world, it wasn’t that she didn’t know underhanded tactics; she just didn’t like using them.

Tang Ran gave her a thumbs up.

“The profit is too low,” Manager Yu sighed heavily again. Even if they won the deal, the work would be suffocating.

Tang Ran spoke up: “Taking on this kind of cooperation is a thankless task.”

Manager Yu caught her meaning but hesitated. “Give up directly?” Although the profit margin was low, Taivo’s endorsement would add prestige to Tang Group’s brand.

“Not exactly.” Tang Ran shook her head with a smile. She didn’t want to take this “mine” of a deal, but she couldn’t let Sun Jiaojiao take it comfortably either.

Manager Yu was puzzled as to why the young mistress could still smile after losing a major client. Tang Ran explained: “Even if we can’t do it, we can’t let Shengtang be too triumphant.”

Manager Yu understood. Her furrowed brow relaxed, and she said with a cold laugh, “It’s time to put our ‘traitor’ to use.” She hesitated, feeling it was necessary to report this to President Lin. “I still need to discuss this with President Lin.”

Friday.

Tang Ran suddenly received a call from her mother, Lin Jixin. She and Tang Wanru had already returned to the country, but there was a minor accident on the way. Tang Wanru had suddenly fainted on the way home from the airport.

Hearing this, Tang Ran’s heart skipped a beat in fear. In her previous life, Tang Wanru died of a sudden heart attack after being overly grief-stricken.

She rushed to the hospital in a panic. The moment she saw Tang Wanru, Tang Ran couldn’t stop her eyes from welling up. Tang Wanru sat up from the hospital bed and pulled her close, heart aching for her. “Ranran, don’t worry. Mommy is fine. I’m just a bit tired from the connecting flights.”

Tang Ran sniffled and hugged Tang Wanru tightly. Beyond worrying about her health, Tang Ran’s tears were mostly from joy. In her previous life, she had dreamed of Tang Wanru countless times, only to wake up alone. She had prayed for her mothers to return. Perhaps the heavens heard her, giving her the chance to hug them again. The body she held was warm and soft, with a reassuring heartbeat. Tang Ran’s tears flowed like an opening dam.

“Don’t cry, it’s Mommy’s fault for worrying you,” Tang Wanru comforted her, patting her back. Tang Ran tried to stifle her sobs, but tears overflowed uncontrollably.

“Tell Mommy, did someone wrong you?” Tang Wanru rubbed her back. Tang Ran had cried a lot as a child, but as an adult, she had been independent and strong, never crying.

“No,” Tang Ran sniffled, shaking her head. “I just missed Mommy so much.”

“You’re so big and yet still such a crybaby,” Tang Wanru touched her head dotingly. Seeing her daughter cry so hard, Tang Wanru asked tentatively, “How have things been with Wuqi lately?” She had always thought the two were very affectionate. But looking at her daughter, it didn’t seem that way.

“It’s alright.”

She already had evidence of Song Wuqi’s cheating, she just hadn’t decided how to expose it yet. The matter of rebirth was too bizarre. Tang Wanru’s health wasn’t good, and Tang Ran didn’t want to tell her these things and make her worry.

“Did you two have a fight?” Tang Wanru took her hand.

Tang Ran shook her head and frowned, as if acting out a small tantrum. “I just feel like she doesn’t actually like me that much.”

Song Wuqi didn’t just “not like her”—Tang Ran felt Song Wuqi hated her. Song Zhixu’s words that day had also woken her up. A 5% stake wasn’t worth Song Wuqi’s elaborate schemes to marry her.

These past few days, she had tried hard to recall everything she could. She realized that besides the shares, Song Wuqi gained something else from her: Harm. The harm Song Wuqi inflicted upon her.

Tang Group’s bankruptcy, the destruction of her family, her total isolation. Looking at the starting point from the result, Tang Ran recalled many details she had ignored. She hadn’t wanted to go to work; Song Wuqi indulged her, saying a “Mrs. Song” didn’t need to work and she could support her. When Song Wuqi had friction with two friends in the group chat, Tang Ran reduced her contact with them to spare Song Wuqi’s feelings.

In all such matters, Song Wuqi had been subtly and gradually shrinking Tang Ran’s social circle. Finally, when the disaster struck, she was like an isolated, captive animal with no power to resist, left to be slaughtered.

She understood all this, but there was one thing she couldn’t figure out: Why? They didn’t have much contact before they started dating, and even less after. She had never done anything to hurt Song Wuqi. Tang Ran couldn’t find a single reason why Song Wuqi would hate her enough to destroy her family.

Tang Wanru sat up straighter, carefully observing her daughter’s expression. She asked gently, “Why would you think that?”

Tang Ran’s sobs contained intense grievance and sadness. Tang Wanru knew her daughter well. Tang Ran wasn’t a sensitive person who constantly worried about gains and losses. She would act spoiled over small things, but when facing real trouble, she was the type to endure. The more sad or wronged she felt, the less she would complain.

“I think she’s just having a young mistress tantrum.”

Lin Jixin walked in at that moment, holding a hospital report. She looked at Tang Ran with a playful, scolding smile.

“Mom,” Tang Ran said, leaning into her arm. Having already cried once, her emotions had settled significantly upon seeing Lin Jixin.

Lin Jixin placed the report on the cabinet, sat on the edge of the bed, and looked tenderly at her wife. “The doctor said it’s just a bit of low blood sugar. It’s my fault for making the itinerary too tight and exhausting you.” As she spoke, she reached for Tang Wanru’s hand.

Tang Wanru leaned back, seemingly naturally missing the gesture. Tang Ran keenly noticed this and was surprised. In her memory, her two mothers had always been very affectionate, but Tang Wanru’s movement just now showed a clear resistance toward Lin Jixin.

Lin Jixin’s expression didn’t change. She turned her head and continued the conversation with Tang Ran: “Is it because Wuqi has been busy with work lately and hasn’t had time for you, so you’re unhappy?”

Song Zhixu wasn’t married, and Old Master Song intended to groom Song Wuqi. There was a high chance Song Wuqi would take over Song Zhixu’s position. Lin Jixin thought very highly of this future daughter-in-law.

“What kind of talk is that? Ranran isn’t someone who makes trouble out of nothing,” Tang Wanru said, displeased with Lin Jixin’s remark.

“I just want the two of them to have a good relationship. I’m afraid Ranran might misunderstand Wuqi,” Lin Jixin explained with a smile.

“You don’t even know what happened, so how do you know it’s a misunderstanding? Maybe Wuqi is being bad to Ranran,” Tang Wanru retorted.

“Alright, alright, I’m wrong,” Lin Jixin raised her hands in surrender. Tang Wanru pulled Tang Ran close, her expression serious. “If Wuqi is not good to you, Ranran, don’t force yourself to endure it.”

“You’re—” Lin Jixin frowned in disagreement, but her next words were silenced by a glance from Tang Wanru.

“Mhm.” Hearing Tang Wanru’s words, Tang Ran’s throat felt tight again. Although it wasn’t said explicitly, Tang Wanru’s meaning was clear: she would support Tang Ran. Even if Tang Ran wanted to separate from Song Wuqi, she would agree without hesitation.

Tang Ran pulled away from Tang Wanru’s embrace, wanting to move past the topic. “Mommy, weren’t you coming back next week?” Tang Wanru’s recuperation program only ended last week; she was supposed to rest for another half month before returning.

“It was all for your sake,” Lin Jixin cut in as Tang Wanru was about to speak.

“My sake?” Tang Ran’s first thought was whether something had gone wrong with the company.

“What a scatterbrain. Not caring about such a big matter—how will you manage the company in the future?” Lin Jixin looked at her daughter dotingly. Tang Ran was completely confused. Tang Wanru saw her reaction and noted it.

She took her daughter’s hand, her voice soft. “Ranran, Auntie Jiang told me the Song family intends to have you and Wuqi get engaged. What do you think?” Upon learning of the Song family’s intention, they changed their tickets and flew back early.

In Jiangcheng tradition, an engagement was a grand affair. They had to pick a date, exchange gifts, send wedding cakes to relatives, and hold an engagement banquet. It required at least a month of preparation.

Tang Ran panicked. Last time, when Song Wuqi asked, she had said she would ask her “Mommy” first. Tang Ran didn’t want to get engaged and hadn’t mentioned it to Tang Wanru at all. She hadn’t expected Song Wuqi to bypass her and have Auntie Jiang call directly.

“What else would she think? Ranran probably wants to set the wedding date immediately,” Lin Jixin joked.

“Mom~” Tang Ran called out reproachfully. “I think you and Mommy are the ones who can’t wait for me to get married so I’m not a ‘third wheel’ at home.”

“Mommy can’t bear for you to marry so early,” Tang Wanru pinched her face.

“Then let’s push the engagement back a bit.” She tugged at Tang Wanru’s arm acting spoiled, finding a plausible reason. “It’s so hot in the summer; we can’t have a ceremony in a beautiful castle garden. I don’t want to get engaged now.”

She had to delay until she found a way to expose Song Wuqi and Ye Xiaoyu. Then there would be no need to talk about engagement at all.

Tang Wanru observed her daughter’s expression. “Alright, then we’ll talk about it in a few months.”

Lin Jixin wanted to say something else but was glared back by Tang Wanru. “You just keep spoiling her,” Lin Jixin shook her head with a smile.

After confirming Tang Wanru was okay, they went home. Having not eaten with her mothers in a long time, Tang Ran ate a bit too much and hadn’t digested it by late night. Unable to sleep, she went downstairs to find a digestive tablet.

“Ranran, she…”

Passing by her mothers’ room, she seemed to hear her name. She stepped back quietly and pressed her ear to the door.

“I don’t care,” it was Tang Wanru’s voice. She deliberately lowered her tone. “If Ranran doesn’t want to be with Wuqi, you are not allowed to force her.”

“I don’t want to force her, but I told you about the company. If we fall out with the Song family, our cooperation will definitely be affected, and all the initial investment will go down the drain.”

“Lin Jixin! Do you want to sell your daughter?” Tang Wanru’s voice rose.

“No, keep it down, don’t let Ranran hear you. I didn’t mean it that way. I’m just saying this as a precaution. You know the company’s situation—national policies are tightening, and the bank’s second loan hasn’t been approved. I was planning to discuss borrowing some turnover funds with the Song family. If things between the kids really go south, how can we open our mouths?”

“Then it’s still selling our daughter! I firmly disagree!” Tang Wanru’s voice dropped significantly. “Before Father passed away, he specifically told you not to be reckless. He’s only been gone a few months and you signed such a huge project. I advised you then, but you insisted on taking the risk. If it weren’t for this central kitchen project, we wouldn’t be in this position today.”

“What’s the point of saying that now? How could I have known it would turn out like this?”

“If the loan won’t go through, we’ll sell our assets,” Tang Wanru said.

“The real estate and stock markets are at a low point; it’s not like we can just liquidate whenever we want.”

“Then sell the jewelry! We can’t let Ranran be wronged.”

“Sigh, if you want a quick sale, you have to sell at a low price. How much could that even raise? And if others find out, what will they think? Won’t they all think Tang Group is going bankrupt? How will we do business then? For one, Shengtang will definitely kick us while we’re down.”

“This won’t work, that won’t work—you just want to sell your daughter, don’t you!”

“Don’t rush, I’ll think of another way.”

Hearing her mothers’ words, Tang Ran was stunned for a long time. It turned out Tang Group’s loan issues didn’t start with the final installment two years later. There were problems as early as the second installment. And in her previous life, she hadn’t heard a single word about it. The sudden bad news threw Tang Ran into total disarray.

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