That's right, this is Mr. Jiang, named Jiang Kangsheng, the office director.
Suddenly seeing this playful scene between grandparent and grandchild, Mr. Jiang felt a bit blocked in his heart.
Once upon a time, his family was also like this; a certain spoiled little girl would banter in front of him, knowing sweet talk was insubstantial, but he would always be softened.
It's just that now those beautiful moments have become fleeting, leaving only annoyance and impatience.
While Mr. Jiang was in a daze, the door was already knocked.
The door was open, and just a glance up revealed the little girl who had been smiling like a flower below.
Mr. Jiang didn't let his face darken, inviting her in as if handling official duties.
Jiang Mingyue didn't hold back and sat straight over.
Seeing her so familiar, Mr. Jiang couldn't help but twitch his lips.
Just like before.
But he immediately denied this in his heart.
It's still different; the little girl before would come up to him first, carrying snacks to share with him, insisting he try what she liked.
But now, that intimacy and thoughtfulness are like bubbles, disappearing at a touch.
Collecting his thoughts, Mr. Jiang couldn't help but speak first.
"Awake? Is your body still feeling uncomfortable anywhere?"
Hearing this, Jiang Mingyue first felt relieved for the original owner.
But thinking the original owner's life was over, she held back.
She wanted to tell him: The little girl who used to coax you is dead! You'll never see her again.
But she couldn't say it.
Nodding, "Mm, all good. Dad, I've decided to go back to the countryside as you all suggested."
Mr. Jiang was obviously stunned, carefully observing the face in front of him, as if trying to discern truth from that familiar yet seemingly unfamiliar face.
"It's true; after this ordeal, I've thought it through. Zhenzhu has indeed suffered. I won't compete with her anymore. I'll return to where I should be, and you and mom can worry less, just like that."
Speaking so nonchalantly.
Instantly, Mr. Jiang's heart felt a sharp pang of regret, almost asking her to stay, but suddenly recalling last night's bedside talk, he held back.
After this month, he truly couldn't take it. At his age, he only sought a peaceful life; he didn't want to go through the previous turmoil again.
Regaining his composure, Mr. Jiang nodded, and then fished out... pulling out all the money from his pocket and stuffing it into Jiang Mingyue's hands.
Jiang Mingyue: Really wanted to refuse with pride, but thinking of the desolation in her space, oh well! Forget it.
Returning some, "Dad, keep some as private money; I just need a little."
Mr. Jiang was quite pleased, insisting even more on giving the rest back to Jiang Mingyue.
Well, it's hard to refuse such enthusiasm!
After enough preamble, it was time for the purpose of her visit.
"Dad, I'm here not just to say goodbye; there's something else I need to tell you."
The daughter's sudden seriousness gave Mr. Jiang a start, his heart hanging high.
"I'm not your biological daughter; this is for real. But you can't just claim Jiang Zhenzhu as your child because she looks like mom, right?"
Mr. Jiang took a while to grasp the meaning in Jiang Mingyue's words, his face instantly darkening.
But Jiang Mingyue didn't give him a chance to burst and quickly dropped another bomb.
"Also, have you ever suspected anything about Jiang Cheng?"
This time Mr. Jiang was beyond angered—he was shocked, because "Jiang Cheng" was taboo in the Jiang Family, so much so that none of the children knew they once had an elder brother.
Jiang Cheng was his child with his first wife. When she died of illness, the child was still young.
For the sake of the child, he married his second wife to take care of him.
But this son went missing shortly after that, only three years old, incapable of anything, and despite secret searching for years, there was no result. He finally concluded the child was likely lost forever, a pain in his heart that no one could touch.
But how did this girl find out?
"You really never suspected. Dad, Jiang Cheng didn't get lost on his own. If you don't believe me, investigate your current wife."
"How do you know this?"
"Oh! It's a coincidence. Once, when mom was delirious from illness, she babbled without knowing it, while I cared for her overnight, I accidentally overheard."
Found someone to take the blame.
But indeed, Jiang Cheng didn't disappear on his own, and Jiang Zhenzhu isn't Mr. Jiang's biological daughter either.
Jiang Mingyue dropped two bombs and didn't care if Mr. Jiang could handle it, blowing up and leaving.
At least she planted a seed of doubt.
If she had merely said Jiang Zhenzhu wasn't Mr. Jiang's biological daughter, Mr. Jiang certainly wouldn't have believed it.
Once Jiang Cheng was brought into the picture, things changed.
It's like the force of a tug-of-war; the red team that seemed sure to win suddenly reveals a mole... Well, morale falls apart, and it's like loose sand.
She wasn't here to cause trouble; she wanted justice for Jiang Cheng and Mr. Jiang, so they wouldn't live ignorant forever.
In the book, Jiang Cheng was recognized by Mr. Jiang on TV, suddenly realizing he'd been deceived by the one by his side for a lifetime.
By then, he was severely ill, and the sudden truth, combined with rage, meant he couldn't even recognize his biological son before passing away, leaving an everlasting regret.
Jiang Mingyue couldn't judge Mr. Jiang's feelings towards the original owner, but at least before Jiang Zhenzhu appeared, the father was wholly devoted to the original owner; just after...
No matter what the consequences are later, finding Jiang Cheng is believed to be this father's ultimate wish.
And Jiang Zhenzhu, no need to let that white lotus secure her position. She first undermines her backing; let's see how she continues her manipulations.
******
Meeting up with Jiang Zhenmei to leave, their stomachs grumbled simultaneously.
Jiang Zhenmei blushed, Jiang Mingyue: What is blush?
However... she seemed to have gone a day and a night without eating, now starved to the bone, needing to replenish energy quickly.
"Girl, are you leaving?" Grandpa Ma chased after them, handing her a paper-wrapped package.
Jiang Mingyue naturally placed it into Jiang Zhenmei's basket as if eating and drinking were the same.
Jiang Zhenmei: "..."
"Mm, Grandpa Ma, when I come to the city next time to visit, you must take care of your health, bye now!"
Before Uncle Ma could lament nostalgically, she was already out of sight like the wind.
Uncle Ma laughed and scolded, "Ungrateful little girl!"
Ten minutes later, the two stood in front of a state-run restaurant.
Jiang Mingyue glanced at the sign like looking at a gorilla, then went in anyway.
She almost forgot there were no five-star hotels here.
This was already the best restaurant in this small town.
Inside were a dozen tables.
Yet not a single guest... ah, no, there's one table.