When a "Sea King" is Bound to a System [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 72

Gu Tang shook off Qiao Ling’s hand and chased after the two women without even stopping to put on her shoes. The elevator was just closing. When Mother Jiang saw her, she snorted and turned her eyes away.

Jiang Yan wanted to say a few more kind words, but Mother Jiang was too enraged; she thought her daughter was making excuses for Gu Tang. Hugging Jiang Yan’s head, she consoled her, “My poor daughter, you absolutely cannot forgive this kind of cheating scumbag! Your father opposed your relationship back then, and I thought he was too rigid, but now it seems he saw early on that this Gu Tang was no good, which is why he was unwilling for you to marry her.”

Jiang Yan felt it was unnecessary to attribute everything to Gu Tang. Wasn’t the real reason for their opposition back then because Gu’s company was nearly bankrupt? Gu Tang herself, aside from that, was a person with no faults.

Except for not loving her, she had no other shortcomings.

Jiang Yan sighed just as the elevator reached the ground floor. When the doors opened, Ji Qiong was standing right in front of them.

A flicker of light crossed Ji Qiong’s eyes. Feigning surprise, she said, “I just came down a little while ago. Auntie, why are you leaving in such a rush?”

Mother Jiang’s impression of Ji Qiong was neutral. She replied flatly, “We came at a bad time. We’re heading back now.”

Jiang Yan could only offer an awkward smile; the situation was complex, and she did not know how to explain things to Ji Qiong.

Watching the two women’s retreating figures, Ji Qiong smoothed the wisps of hair from her forehead. She was about to step into the elevator when the doors on the opposite side opened, and Gu Tang rushed out, dressed in a loose pajama set and running barefoot.

“Did you see Yan Yan?”

Her voice was anxious, and her face looked terrible. Ji Qiong pointed outside, and Gu Tang hurried away.

Ji Qiong raised an eyebrow, a slight unease settling in her heart. Had the joke gone too far? Should she not have let Qiao Ling inside?

Gu Tang ran out, but Jiang Yan and her mother had already gone a long way. In her desperation, Gu Tang rushed straight toward them, her foot pierced by a sharp object, leaving a trail of blood on the ground.

“Yan Yan, listen to my explanation!”

Jiang Yan turned around, and seeing Gu Tang’s rather disheveled state softened her heart.

Even if it wasn’t for the mission, seeing Gu Tang like this would make her feel pity. Such a proud, aloof person had run out dressed like this just to try and keep her, and the anxiety in her eyes did not seem fake.

Mother Jiang was not a truly cruel person either; seeing her daughter-in-law in this state made her expression hard to describe.

“Gu Tang, did you or did you not betray Yan Yan?”

Gu Tang looked at her, her gaze instantly firm. To make her words more convincing, she even raised her hand to take an oath.

“I, Gu Tang, swear to the heavens that I have absolutely, unequivocally not betrayed Yan Yan. Not in the past, not now, and not ever in the future. I only like Yan Yan and want to spend the rest of my life with her.”

Jiang Yan felt that the Gu Tang in front of her was a stranger. Was this still the person she remembered—the one who presented the original host with the divorce agreement and asked her to sign it?

Liking her? Really?

Apart from that one statement, Jiang Yan believed everything else Gu Tang said. Given her personality and current status, there was no need for her to lie.

If she truly had rekindled her old relationship with Qiao Ling, she would have happily signed the divorce papers when Jiang Yan first mentioned it, instead of putting herself through this mess.

Mother Jiang was still hung up on what she had just witnessed. She said with a cold face, “Not now doesn’t mean not in the future. You were unwilling when you first married Yan Yan. Her father and I didn’t want this marriage, but my foolish daughter was determined to marry you, so we reluctantly agreed. You two have been doing well these years, and we were happy to see that. Miao Miao told me Yan Yan wanted to divorce you, and I harshly criticized her, then dragged her along to get you two to reconcile. But now…”

Mother Jiang did not finish, but Gu Tang knew she was furious. She quickly said, “Mom, I drank too much last night. Ji Qiong brought me back. I don’t know how Qiao Ling got in, but I can tell you very clearly: I truly have no relationship with her whatsoever.”

Mother Jiang still wanted to say something, but Jiang Yan suddenly cried out in surprise.

“What’s wrong with your foot?”

She hadn’t noticed it before. After standing there for so long, blood was flowing out. Although it wasn’t a lot, it was still shocking against the backdrop of her fair skin.

Gu Tang lowered her head to look, seemingly oblivious to the pain, and said carelessly, “It’s nothing, just a small scratch.”

“We should still go up and treat it. What if you get tetanus?”

Jiang Yan asked this out of concern. Gu Tang looked at her, and a hint of flattered surprise flashed in her eyes.

[The Blackening Value of the Target has decreased by five. The Current Total Blackening Value is ninety-five.]

Although the mechanical voice was still icy, Jiang Yan was incredibly happy. It seemed this mission was not as difficult as she had imagined.

“I won’t go up. You two solve your own issues, but if you dare to bully my daughter, I will absolutely not let you off!”

Mother Jiang warned Gu Tang with a slight threat. Gu Tang immediately pledged her loyalty: “Mom, please rest assured. I will absolutely not let Yan Yan suffer any wrong.”

You’ve made me suffer enough wrong in the past, Jiang Yan thought to herself. Saying this now is only fooling a mother who doesn’t know the truth. If she knew the full story, she probably would have advised me to divorce you long ago, not specially come here to mediate a reconciliation.

The two watched Mother Jiang leave before slowly walking back. After all this commotion, Jiang Yan felt a bit awkward facing Gu Tang. Although they were walking side-by-side, the distance between them was enough to fit another person.

Gu Tang watched her out of the corner of her eye. Feeling that this wouldn’t do, she started walking with a noticeable limp.

Jiang Yan glanced at her foot and asked, “Does it hurt a lot? Can you walk by yourself?”

Gu Tang forced a brave smile and replied, “It doesn’t hurt much.” The moment the words left her mouth, she stumbled, and if Jiang Yan hadn’t quickly held her, she would have fallen face-first.

“If it hurts, say so; don’t try to be tough,” Jiang Yan said, supporting her and slowly walking inside.

Gu Tang’s voice softened, and she uncharacteristically threw a tantrum: “It actually hurts a lot, but I was afraid you’d think I was being delicate if I said so.”

Jiang Yan turned to look at her, saw the unusual glint in her eyes, and quickly looked away. She calmly scooped her up and carried her over her shoulder.

They were about the same height, and Gu Tang was relatively slender, so Jiang Yan didn’t have to exert much effort.

This was the first time Gu Tang realized her wife was so strong, which led her to wonder:

If she’s this bold normally, why is she so soft in bed? She starts crying and begging me to stop before I’ve even really done anything.

Is this what people call ‘contrast charm’?

Jiang Yan carried her into the elevator. Gu Tang, worried about tiring her out, said, “Put me down. I can just lean on you.”

Jiang Yan ignored her, staring straight ahead at the changing floor numbers. When they reached the door, she told Gu Tang, “The key is in my pants pocket.”

Gu Tang reached down to feel for it, patting both sides but finding nothing.

“Wife, I can’t find it.”

She looked up at Jiang Yan, her eyes filled with the sadness of not finding what she sought, like a child who had not been given candy. Jiang Yan’s heart inexplicably skipped a beat. She quickly averted her eyes and said matter-of-factly, “Then ring the doorbell. Someone’s home to open the door.”

Gu Tang knew what she meant and immediately stopped being playful. She obediently rang the doorbell. It was Ji Qiong who opened it.

“Oh, what performance is this now?” Ji Qiong mocked, crossing her arms and looking at the two women with interest.

Jiang Yan stepped past her and into the apartment, her mood souring again when she saw Qiao Ling sitting on the sofa.

She unceremoniously dropped Gu Tang onto the sofa and said coldly, “Since someone else is here to help you apply medicine, I’ll be leaving first.”

Gu Tang was dazed from the fall. By instinct, she grabbed Jiang Yan’s hand and just stared at her, like a large, pitiful dog.

Qiao Ling, unwilling to be ignored, leaned in and said to Gu Tang, “Tang Tang, your foot is injured. Let me help you apply the medicine.”

Gu Tang clearly felt Jiang Yan getting even more upset. She grew increasingly disgusted with this ‘meddling stick’ Qiao Ling, and her voice became icy: “Didn’t I tell you to get lost? Why are you still lingering in my home? You like it here? Should I sell it to you?”

Qiao Ling was stripped of all dignity by her triple question and immediately burst into tears.

“I was only worried about you! Was it necessary to say something so hurtful?”

Ji Qiong added fuel to the fire from the side: “Exactly, exactly! Old Gu, be a little gentle with girls. Qiao Ling came here out of kindness to see you. Saying that is a bit ungracious.”

Gu Tang glanced at her, her tone sharp: “Since you care about her so much, then take her home and dote on her yourself.”

Ji Qiong dared not cross Qiao Ling. She awkwardly rubbed her nose. “Well, I suddenly remembered I have something to do at home. I’ll be heading back now.”

She scurried away faster than a dog. Only the three of them were left in the room, and the atmosphere plunged into awkward silence, where only Qiao Ling’s muffled sobs could be heard.

“Wife, it hurts—” Gu Tang pointed to her still-seeping foot, looking pitiful.

Jiang Yan knew she was being deliberate, yet she fell for it every time. Gu Tang clearly understood this, which is why she used this trick repeatedly.

Without saying a word, she fetched the first-aid kit. Cleaning the wound, disinfecting it, and bandaging it—it was all done in one fluent, practiced motion.

“My wife is so amazing!” Gu Tang hugged her neck as she rose and kissed her on the lips, completely unconcerned about the third person present.

Jiang Yan stood up with the first-aid kit, glanced at Qiao Ling, who remained motionless, and said flatly, “Miss Qiao, are you short on money for food, so you ran to my house to mooch a ‘dog food’ meal?”

Qiao Ling looked up at her, tears welling in her eyes: “Miss Jiang, why must you be so aggressive? I was only worried about Tang Tang, so I came to check on her.”

“Well, you’ve seen him now, so why aren’t you leaving? Are you waiting to stand by the bed and watch how affectionate we are?”

Qiao Ling finally lost her temper and shot up to her feet, looking fragile and vulnerable toward Gu Tang. However, Gu Tang didn’t even open her eyes, but instead looked at Jiang Yan with a proud expression.

My wife looks so beautiful even when she’s arguing; I’m in love, I’m in love.

Is she jealous? It must be. My wife loves me so much.

The above thoughts were from Gu Tang, the aloof CEO who had suddenly found a new perspective on the world.

Jiang Yan gave Qiao Ling a faint glance, then turned to put the first-aid kit back in its place, maintaining the demeanor of the mistress of the house throughout, which made Qiao Ling seem ridiculous.

Qiao Ling still wouldn’t give up. She tugged on Gu Tang’s arm, hoping Gu Tang would speak up for her. Gu Tang looked at the spot where she had been touched, filled with distaste, wishing she could immediately strip off her clothes.

“Why haven’t you left yet? Do you really intend to stay at my house and mooch a meal?”

Qiao Ling’s expression froze on her face, and tears streamed down uncontrollably. A few seconds later, she covered her face and ran off.

With the annoying person gone, Gu Tang could finally do whatever she wanted without reservation. When Jiang Yan walked over, she pulled her into her arms and started kissing those red, soft lips like a young girl tasting desire for the first time, completely without finesse.

Jiang Yan was suffocated by the kiss and finally managed to push the person pressing down on her away.

“Gu Tang, are you a dog?!”

Gu Tang lowered her eyes, staring at the angry person, and slowly replied, “I’m not, but if my wife likes it, I don’t mind my wife treating me like a dog.”

Jiang Yan mentally screamed “Holy sh*t!” but before she could say anything, the person she had pushed away wrapped herself around her again.

What possessed Gu Tang? It felt like some magical switch had been flipped!