A Risky Move

The two people locked in a stalemate were interrupted by sounds from downstairs. Feng Yanshan's voice on the phone carried up.

Jiang Li's eyes lit up. She hurriedly stood, gave Bai Yunsheng a deep look, and headed downstairs.

Of course, Bai Yunsheng knew what she intended to do.

He did not care, though a trace of mockery flashed through his eyes.

A stupid woman raised a stupid son.

Before Bai Yunsheng even reached the first floor, he heard Jiang Li crying. Her sobs sounded pitiful. Though she was already over forty, she had maintained herself exceptionally well; judging by her appearance, no one would have guessed her age.

The moment Bai Yunsheng appeared downstairs, he saw Jiang Li shrink fearfully into Feng Yanshan's arms.

Feng Yanshan asked, "What happened? You went out for a while, so why are you crying like this?"

Jiang Li said nothing. She merely looked at Bai Yunsheng through her tears. Feng Yanshan followed her gaze. "What happened?"

Watching Jiang Li, Bai Yunsheng struggled to hold back his laughter. Even if she had taken good care of herself, she was no longer suited to using the same methods she had used in her youth on Feng Yanshan. Even if she had influenced him at this very moment, that might not remain the case afterward.

"Yunsheng, you tell me."

Bai Yunsheng said, "Auntie thinks Second Brother's situation was because of me."

After hearing that, Feng Yanshan glanced at the person in his arms.

Jiang Li's muffled voice came from his embrace. "I'm your elder. No matter what, you can't lay a hand on me." She lifted her tearful face toward Feng Yanshan. "Yanshan, you have no idea. He... he actually tried to strangle me to death." Then she began crying again, her tears falling like rain on pear blossoms.

"I didn't," Bai Yunsheng denied. Then, as though reminding him of something, he continued in a choked, aggrieved voice, "Auntie suddenly slandered me and brought up my mother. I only talked back a few times. Besides, we're going to Mr. Meng's home today. I couldn't possibly cause something like this and give Auntie a reason to complain to Father, wasting his time for nothing."

"No?" Jiang Li sneered. "You dare to go crazy, but you don't dare admit it." Then she added with particular reasonableness, "Yanshan, I wouldn't lie about something like this. We're going to Chairman Meng's home today. Who knows whether Bai Yunsheng might suddenly lose his mind at the Meng Household?" She revealed her neck. "Look. Aren't there strangling marks? It's not like I strangled myself."

Sure enough, Jiang Li did not know why the Feng Household could visit the Meng Household.

She must have assumed Feng Yanshan had successfully latched onto that connection.

Bai Yunsheng's eyes reddened. "Auntie has dragged so many things into this. Is it because Second Brother couldn't go, so I'm not allowed to go either?"

Jiang Li could not be bothered to answer Bai Yunsheng. She waited for Feng Yanshan to lose his temper, preferably to teach Bai Yunsheng a lesson before bringing Tingfan out of the basement and throwing this bastard in instead.

After several minutes, Feng Yanshan finally spoke. "Yunsheng strangled you? Would he dare?"

Jiang Li froze, tears still in her eyes.

"Don't think I don't know what you've been doing all these years. If he wanted to strangle you to death, would you still be standing here crying to me? You don't want Yunsheng to go? Do you know that Yunsheng was the one who secured this connection? All you do all day is spend money and buy things, then pull this kind of low-class stunt."

Jiang Li was stunned by Feng Yanshan's rebuke. Several seconds later, she came back to herself. "What do you mean, he wouldn't dare? He dared plenty! Feng Yanshan, can't you see the marks on my neck?" Then she turned to Bai Yunsheng, but kept her tone restrained to preserve her fragile appearance. "Bai Yunsheng, you..."

"Enough! You don't need to go either. Get back to your room." Feng Yanshan's face was full of impatience.

Jiang Li stared at him in disbelief.

Ignoring the look Jiang Li gave him, Bai Yunsheng said, "Father, Mr. Meng said he would send a car to pick us up."

Hearing that, some of the irritation in Feng Yanshan's heart subsided. "Mm. You've done well. When the time comes, deliver the gift to Chairman Meng yourself. Go have breakfast first."

"Okay, Father."

Feng Yanshan nodded. Without even sparing Jiang Li a glance, he snorted coldly and walked past her.

Only after Feng Yanshan had left did Bai Yunsheng head toward the dining room. As he passed Jiang Li, she unexpectedly did not stop him, and he unconsciously frowned.

Breakfast had already been laid out on the table. Bai Yunsheng sat down, picked up a slice of toast, and spread some jam on it.

He really had failed to control his temper today.

Bai Yunsheng glanced toward the dining room entrance.

Feng Yanshan had seen his changes. Coupled with the strangling marks that had yet to fade from Jiang Li's neck, Feng Yanshan might not have disbelieved Jiang Li. It was only because Jiang Li, prompted by his subconscious suggestion, had brought up the Meng Household herself and reminded Feng Yanshan whose efforts had made this meeting possible.

It was a risky move, but he had no choice.

Though Feng Yanshan was selfish and self-serving, Bai Yunsheng was still afraid Feng Yanshan might feel differently toward Jiang Li. After all, since Jiang Li had married Feng Yanshan, he had not sought out other women.

Bai Yunsheng took a bite of toast. The cloying sweetness filled his mouth, a flavor he hated most. He casually tossed the toast onto his plate and took a sip of coffee to cut through the sweetness.

But this incident showed that Feng Yanshan was cold and heartless.

Even though he knew Jiang Li might not have been lying, he still took Bai Yunsheng's side for the sake of immediate profit.

Wonderful.

That would make many things much easier.

When Bai Yunsheng left the dining room, Jiang Li was pulling Feng Yanshan over to find him. He sensed that something was wrong, and then heard Jiang Li say, "I'm sorry, Yunsheng. Auntie lost her head. Seeing Tingfan locked in the basement made me so anxious that I said those things to slander you. I'm truly sorry. Can you forgive Auntie?" Jiang Li spoke with deep sincerity, even shedding several tears. "Yanshan never told me that you were the one who helped establish the connection with Chairman Meng. You really worked hard."

Bai Yunsheng's fist tightened slightly at his side. He looked at Feng Yanshan, who was looking back at him. A second later, Bai Yunsheng smiled. "Auntie, we're family. There's no need to apologize."

This woman reacted incredibly quickly. Over the course of one breakfast, she had already figured out all the twists and turns.

She had seen Feng Yanshan's attitude.

And understood the current situation.

Feng Yanshan said with satisfaction, "That's more like it. Why should a family quarrel? Let Tingfan out too. It's been a day. He should know he was wrong by now."

Jiang Li hummed twice, her voice thick with tears. "I was just too worried about Tingfan."

Feng Yanshan said, "Even if you were worried, you shouldn't have slandered Yunsheng like that."

"I lost my head."

Bai Yunsheng's smile remained in place. "Father, I'll go upstairs first. I forgot my phone up there. I'm afraid Mr. Meng might message me."

Feng Yanshan patted Bai Yunsheng's shoulder affectionately. "Go on."

Bai Yunsheng walked past them. The smile on his face vanished in an instant, leaving nothing in his eyes but a lifeless gloom.