The cold rebuke made both Jiangg Ning and Jiangg Yao flinch.

Jiangg Ning’s gaze swept over her sister’s cheek, a little shocked. ‘She’s really daring…’ How could a daughter so casually discuss an elder’s private affairs? Especially since Jiangg Ruxue was particularly sensitive about this topic. It would be a miracle if she wasn’t angry after hearing that.

“Mommy…” After a moment of shock, Jiangg Yao’s face paled as she said softly, “I was just trying to help. You said you had no one to keep you company.”

Yaoyao was genuinely scared, even though she had prepared herself.

But having been scolded so many times in the past, her palms still couldn’t help but sweat.

Still, she mustered her courage, mumbled what she had planned in her head, and looked at Jiangg Ruxue in a panic.

Right now, she looked like a poor little white rabbit, trembling with fear.

After shooting Jiangg Yao a venomous glare, Jiangg Ruxue realized she had lost her composure again. She took a deep breath, trying her best to make her expression peaceful. If they started arguing right away, she wouldn’t be able to say what she wanted to later. To achieve her goal, Jiangg Ruxue could only endure it for now.

Besides, it seemed like an unintentional slip on Jiangg Yao’s part.

‘How would she have the courage to use this to mock me?’ Jiangg Ruxue thought.

The truth was, over the years, Jiangg Ruxue had considered finding someone to start a family with again. Plenty of men coveted her beauty and were infatuated with her wealth, but whenever they heard her nickname, “the poisonous woman,” and learned more about the widely circulated story from twenty years ago, they all kept a respectful distance.

The wealthy have always cared about their reputations, especially at Jiangg Ruxue’s level or higher.

Those men would rather marry a respectable woman who wasn’t as beautiful, as long as she was of a similar social standing, than turn their attention to Jiangg Ruxue.

The braver ones who got to know her to a certain extent were also scared off by her personality. Moreover, her own standards were incredibly high, and she was extremely picky.

So, as she grew older, she became more and more disappointed in relationships, or rather, disappointed in “men.”

The lack of success in her love life, coupled with the various scandals circulating outside, meant that even employees at Jiangg Ruxue’s own company knew the original story. They had woven all sorts of sensationalized versions, which she herself found absurd when she heard them.

Over time, Jiangg Ruxue grew to detest any mention of “starting a family.” It seemed to have become one of the painful wounds in her heart that she was unwilling to touch.

But you could be happy without starting a new family, couldn’t you? As the president of a company, she had countless young men at her beck and call. She ate her fill, slept soundly, and could swap one for another after a while without anyone knowing.

The only thing missing was a man of the house, at least on the surface.

After hearing her daughter’s words, Jiangg Ruxue felt like she was being mocked. She thought Jiangg Yao was sneering at her for “needing a man,” so her expression changed in an instant.

“I don’t need one,” Jiangg Ruxue said coolly, lifting her chin proudly. “Ever since your father passed away, my only wish has been to fulfill his dying wish: to raise you two into adults and see you have families of your own. That way, my job as a mother will be complete, and I will have done right by him.”

At the mention of their father who had been gone for many years, both Jiangg Ning and Jiangg Yao’s expressions darkened, and a mix of emotions welled up inside them.

Although their father had been unreliable, he had at least genuinely loved his two daughters. It was only after he passed away that Jiangg Ruxue had become increasingly tyrannical.

“Mommy, you’ve already done a great job. We’ve grown up healthy and strong, haven’t we?” Jiangg Ning said with a small smile.

She deftly dispelled the strange, tense atmosphere.

“I’m glad you think so,” Jiangg Ruxue said, her expression anything but pleasant as she picked up a porcelain spoon and blew on the steam rising from it.

Seeing her mother act this way, Yaoyao snorted inwardly.

She was no longer the naive little flower she once was, easily manipulated. If Jiangg Ruxue wanted to casually crush her again, she’d better be careful not to get pricked.

How many people are born lively and innocent, only to be forced to evolve ways to protect themselves, vowing never again to be a bullied child.

“Tomorrow, go with your sister to your uncle’s place. Take the gift with you. In the afternoon, if I have time, I’ll go with you to see your grandparents.”

“Understood, Mommy.”

“Oh, and just bring one gift. He wouldn’t be able to enjoy any more than that; that wretched woman would just sell them all off anyway.” A mocking smile touched the corner of Jiangg Ruxue’s lips.

The image of her sister-in-law’s uncouth, worthless appearance surfaced in her mind.

Her eyes were filled with disdain.

“…” Jiangg Ning didn’t reply. She had heard too many of her mother’s caustic remarks.

She was already used to it.

“For the New Year this time, you two should visit a few more relatives. In previous years, I just had someone deliver the gifts directly, which always seemed a bit negligent in terms of etiquette. Now that you’re both here together…” Jiangg Ruxue paused. “Right. Since you’re back, and Ningning has quit her job, don’t leave after the New Year.”

As she spoke, Jiangg Ruxue lowered her head, parted her cherry-like lips, and sipped her tea.

She delivered her true intention so easily, as if passing a sentence.

She didn’t even leave any room for discussion.

Jiangg Yao and Jiangg Ning were about to nod out of reflex when they suddenly realized something was wrong with that statement.

Before her sister could even speak, Yaoyao abruptly lifted her head, her hands freezing in mid-air as she cried out, “No!”

Her reaction was too hasty.

It made Ningning frown, realizing this was bad.

Hearing the jarring note of dissent, Jiangg Ruxue turned her head. “What’s ‘no’?”

“Us staying in Mingzhu City, of course…” Yaoyao said in a small voice. “My sister and I already agreed we’re going back. We still have a lot of things to take care of there.”

“You two agreed?” Jiangg Ruxue’s eyes crinkled in a smile as she looked down on her daughters condescendingly. “Such a deep sisterly bond. So now, you decide everything with a single word between the two of you, without any need to consider your mommy. Is that right?”

Yaoyao really wanted to jut out her chin and say, ‘Yes, that’s exactly right! Who do you think you are, always trying to control us?’

But she just puffed out her lips and didn’t dare to say it.

“It’s not like that. It’s just that Yaoyao and I planned to make other arrangements after her illness has completely healed,” Jiangg Ning said.

“She looks pretty much recovered to me. She can recuperate here at home.”

“But…”

“I don’t want to,” Yaoyao refused with a frown. “I’m happy with my sister in Lanjing. I have my own life now. Coming back here means having to readjust all over again. In short, I just can’t accept it.”

“Life? What do you know about life? Besides, what is there to ‘readjust’ to at home? You lived here for twenty years. Are you telling me you’ve come back as a guest!?”

“I don’t care! I’m leaving after the New Year!” Yaoyao lowered her head, giving up on arguing.

“Jiangg Yao!”

BANG—

Jiangg Ruxue slammed her hand on the table and said icily, “You’re getting bolder and bolder. Last time you yelled at Mommy on the phone, and Mommy didn’t hold it against you. Now you dare to talk to me like this to my face, is that it!?”

In an instant, the temperature in the entire living room seemed to drop by several degrees.

Seeing the argument break out, the maids all retreated, pretending to be invisible as they moved toward the side hall.

The once somewhat harmonious family atmosphere had now dropped to a freezing point.

Jiangg Ruxue’s eyes narrowed. She felt more and more that Jiangg Yao was becoming utterly lawless!

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep