Chapter 114

Chapter 114

"Hello—this is Zhai Hongyi. Who's speaking?"

The familiar voice came through the phone, bringing Tang Qingqing a sense of reassurance.

Zhai Hongyi's voice now was deeper and more composed than it had been a few years ago when he left. When he returned previously, Tang Qingqing had noticed the changes but not as clearly as she did over the phone.

Tang Qingqing cleared her throat. "Brother, it's Qingqing."

Upon hearing Tang Qingqing, Zhai Hongyi's voice tightened. "Qingqing? Is something wrong?"

Long-distance calls were expensive, so they usually communicated through letters. This was their first phone call.

Tang Qingqing laughed. "Can't I call if there's nothing wrong?"

"That's not what I meant."

Tang Qingqing valued money, and the store owner was listening intently. She didn't tease him further, turning away to avoid the owner's gaze and quietly recounting today's events.

"Brother, why didn't you tell me? If not for this incident, I wouldn't have known about all this."

Zhai Hongyi asked, "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine. I exercise every day now and can protect myself better than before."

"Beware of hidden dangers; when you focus, you tend to forget your surroundings. Let them follow you. They're skilled, and only you would notice anything unusual. It won't affect your daily life."

Tang Qingqing not only immersed herself in crime scene investigations but also habitually observed footprints, walking postures, and vehicles on the street. Whenever she encountered something new, she became very focused.

The urban environment differed greatly from the countryside, making Tang Qingqing even more observant and collecting various materials.

"Brother, thank you."

Tang Qingqing accepted his kindness with gratitude, unsure of what else to say.

She had many people who cared for her, but only Zhai Hongyi was as considerate and thoughtful.

Everyone said that during the years she was swapped, her luck was terrible, but Tang Qingqing felt incredibly fortunate to have met so many good people.

"What are you thanking me for?" Zhai Hongyi said unhappily. "If we start saying thanks to each other, it'll never end."

Tang Qingqing felt embarrassed. "I just feel like I can't help you much right now."

Not only did she think so, but Wang Heizi often sighed in his letters.

Zhai Hongyi had risen too high, always looking out for him and informing him about current situations, helping him make money. He had nothing valuable to offer in return.

In the past, they exchanged favors naturally, but now Zhai Hongyi was doing most of the giving.

Though their relationship was strong, it still felt unbalanced.

"Who said that? You've helped me a lot."

Tang Qingqing was surprised. "Really?"

"The skills you taught me, I used them recently."

"The skills I taught you?" Tang Qingqing was even more puzzled.

"Tracking. I was planning to write to you about it."

Zhai Hongyi briefly recounted how their office was stolen from, and he used tracking skills to catch the thief and recover the losses.

While he wasn't as skilled as Tang Qingqing, having been her assistant for a long time, he had learned quite a bit.

"Thankfully, I acted quickly. Otherwise, if that guy had escaped, it would have been useless! See, without you, I would have lost a lot."

"You did well yourself."

"You, as my teacher, deserve credit too."

Tang Qingqing smiled.

Zhai Hongyi continued, "Besides, even without this incident, you've always been a great help, even more important than these things. So no need to be polite."

"Really?"

"If I started listing everything, it would take days. Do you want to continue?"

Tang Qingqing checked the time, mindful of the expensive call charges, and reluctantly said, "No, anyway, I won't be polite with you regardless."

After hanging up, the store owner kept smiling at Tang Qingqing.

"Qingqing, were you calling your boyfriend?"

Tang Qingqing's ears turned red. "Auntie, don't joke. I was calling my brother."

"Your real brother?"

"Not exactly..."

"Well, then, what's the difference? Brother and sister, it's the same thing. Your aunt here knows a thing or two!"

Tang Qingqing blushed and paid, rushing out.

Boyfriend?

This wasn't the first time Tang Qingqing had been misunderstood, but she thought she had become immune to such thoughts.

Feeling a bit embarrassed by the teasing, her mind wandered for a moment.

Last time Zhai Hongyi came over, he was noticeably different from how he was a few years ago.

The way they interacted had also changed, especially now that Wang Heizi wasn't around, adding an indescribable tension between them.

But the time was too short; before Tang Qingqing could think much about it, Zhai Hongyi had already left.

Tang Qingqing rubbed her face, pushing away all the cluttered thoughts, and headed to the local police station to give her statement.

The case was solved quickly, and the culprit behind the scenes was caught soon after. Although they didn't reveal the true mastermind, everyone with eyes could see what was going on.

This also accelerated Tang Jianguo's efforts to clean house, and opposition to his actions diminished significantly.

Indeed, after such an incident, anyone who still tried to speak up for those people would be seen as part of the same group.

During this period, Tang Zhenzhen became like a ghost in the Tang household, leaving early and returning late every day, no longer interacting with anyone at home.

She knew the Tang family's attitude toward her, and at this point, she didn't want to expend any more effort to please them. If not for wanting to maintain some dignity in front of the male lead, she would have already left the house.

After all, she was going to marry the male lead, starting a new life. It would be nice to have the Tang family's affection, but it wouldn't affect anything if she didn't have it.

Seeing this, the Tang family felt a strange sense of unease. Their coldness toward her was one thing, but seeing a girl they had pampered for so long treat them with such indifference, without a hint of guilt or remorse, felt entirely different.

The atmosphere in the Tang household became very peculiar, with silence during meals, making it obvious to anyone that something was off.

Tang Jixue tried to lighten the mood, but it didn't have much effect.

When Tang Qingqing and Tang Zhenzhen occasionally crossed paths, Tang Zhenzhen no longer pretended, giving Tang Qingqing a disdainful look, showing her true feelings openly.

Finally, the day arrived when Tang Zhenzhen was to leave, and Mu Weidong came early in the morning to pick her up.

After much consideration, Su Rong ultimately decided to keep the dowry she had prepared, not letting Tang Zhenzhen take it with her.

However, Su Rong returned all the betrothal gifts Mu Weidong had given, not keeping a single cent.

Even so, the amount of things Tang Zhenzhen was taking was surprising, even to Su Rong.

She thought that without a dowry and with the betrothal gifts being money that wouldn't be displayed, Tang Zhenzhen might leave in embarrassment. She had even prepared herself for gossip from neighbors, but what she saw was completely different.

Because they were in a cold war, Su Rong hadn't helped Tang Zhenzhen pack, so she had no idea how much stuff could come out of her small room.

Tang Jixue whispered to Su Rong, "Mom, do you still feel like you've wronged Zhenzhen?"

Other girls' dowries couldn't compare to the amount of things Tang Zhenzhen was taking without a dowry, and many of these items weren't cheap.

A coat costing hundreds of dollars was something Su Rong used to buy for Tang Zhenzhen.

Su Rong glared at him irritably, "Don't be so stingy as her older brother."

Tang Jixue smiled at her, knowing she was just saying that.

Su Rong ignored him and maintained a polite demeanor when facing Mu Weidong, neither embarrassing Tang Zhenzhen nor showing excessive motherly affection.

Mu Weidong sensed the awkwardness in the household, knowing from Tang Zhenzhen's previous accounts that she was in an uncomfortable position. Therefore, he only maintained surface-level politeness toward the Tang family.

As they were about to leave after packing everything, Su Rong politely offered, "Why don't you stay for a meal before you go?"

Before Mu Weidong and Tang Zhenzhen could respond, someone called out from the gate, "Is anyone home?"

Su Rong responded hastily, "Who is it?"

Everyone looked outside and saw a tall, handsome young man standing at the gate, holding a cute little boy in overalls in one arm and a bag of fruits and canned goods in the other.

"May I ask who you are?" Su Rong sized him up, feeling a sense of familiarity.

The young man put down the little boy and greeted her with a smile, "Are you Aunt Su? I'm Gao Zixiu, here today to thank and apologize to you."

Su Rong immediately recognized him, "You're Little Gao! Please, come in."

Tang Zhenzhen had planned to make a grand exit, wanting everyone to envy her departure. But an unexpected visitor interrupted her plan.

Especially hearing that name, she found it very familiar.

Tang Zhenzhen looked outside and saw a tall, young man whose appearance rivaled the male lead's.

At the sight of him, the phrase "a gentleman like jade" flashed through her mind.

He stood at the gate, exuding a gentle glow, drawing everyone's attention.

The chubby little boy in his arms gave him a touch of earthly charm, making him seem more approachable and less distant.

Tang Zhenzhen stood frozen, amazed by his looks and bewildered by the fact that there were so many men who could rival the male lead.

Feeling a strange gaze beside her, Tang Zhenzhen tensed up, almost forgetting that the male lead was right next to her!

She quickly shifted her gaze, feigning indifference, and looked at Mu Weidong with admiration.

He was the real male lead, the best man in this world.

What did it matter if this man looked good? In every other aspect, he was far inferior to the male lead.

Gao Zixiu, the young boy, walked in and said, "It should have been my elders who came to express their gratitude, but because of Xiao Bao's disappearance, my parents have not been in good health recently. Since Xiao Bao's parents are not around, I am here to represent them and thank you."

Su Rong and Tang Jianguo exchanged glances, both confused by these words.

"What does this mean? Why are they thanking us?"

Gao Zixiu was the one who was supposed to meet Tang Zhenzhen for matchmaking, but he had something urgent and stood her up, which led to Tang Zhenzhen coincidentally meeting Mu Weidong.

"Aunt Su, Uncle Tang, you didn't know about this, did you? It’s quite a coincidence. This is my nephew, Xiao Bao, who was kidnapped before. The reason I couldn’t go to the matchmaking that day was because of this incident. Later, it was thanks to Comrade Tang Qingqing assisting the Public Security Bureau that the kidnappers were caught and Xiao Bao was brought back.

If it weren't for Comrade Tang Qingqing's keen eye, recognizing that the kidnapper was disguised as a woman, the Public Security officers would have found it hard to catch him. Xiao Bao might have been sold off to some remote place by now!"

Gao Zixiu looked around. "Excuse me, is Comrade Tang Qingqing at home? I want to thank her in person."

No one present could believe such a coincidence.

Everyone knew that Tang Qingqing had helped the Public Security Bureau find a child, and that it was a leader's child. They also knew that the kidnappers were caught and the children were returned, which had been big news.

This gang had abducted over thirty children and twenty women. If they had succeeded, countless families would have been destroyed.

Tang Qingqing was commended again; without her clues, the Public Security Bureau would not have been able to narrow down their investigation and quickly identify the suspects. Many children and women would have been trafficked away.

At the time, no one thought it would be such a coincidence that everyone knew each other.

Tang Jixue, being quick-witted, hurried upstairs to call Tang Qingqing.

Tang Qingqing did not expect someone to come personally to thank her, so she came out of the room.

She had not wanted to appear today, not knowing why. Even though the protagonist had already settled with Tang Zhenzhen, being under the same roof still made her uncomfortable.

This made her even less inclined to come out, focusing instead on her studies.

Seeing Tang Qingqing, Gao Zixiu, accompanied by the little boy, bowed deeply to her.

The little boy spoke softly, "Thank you, Auntie."

Tang Qingqing couldn't help but smile at the sight of this adorable child, completely ignoring the presence of the person she didn't want to see.

She gently touched the little boy's chubby face. "Xiao Bao, be good in the future and don't run off with strangers."

"Okay!"

Xiao Bao nodded vigorously, almost losing his balance from the effort, making everyone chuckle.

Gao Zixiu said, "Comrade Tang, I am very grateful to you. Without you, our family wouldn't know what would have happened."

His parents were old and could not withstand such a shock. After the child was found, they collapsed, having held on only by sheer willpower.

Since the outcome was positive, they just needed rest. But if the child hadn't been found, it would have been a different story.

Gao Zixiu didn't know how to explain to his brother and sister-in-law, having promised to take care of the child when they left.

"I only did what I should have done. Besides, it wasn't me who found the child, so there's no need to thank me."

Tang Qingqing was not being modest; she indeed did not participate in the subsequent investigation and capture. Claiming credit would be unfair to the Public Security officers who worked tirelessly.

"You're too humble. The Public Security officers speak highly of you."

After thanking Tang Qingqing with Xiao Bao, Gao Zixiu turned to Su Rong and said:

"I'm very sorry for not showing up that day. It was my fault."

Only then did Tang Zhenzhen realize who this excellent man was.

She never imagined her matchmaking partner would be so outstanding!

In the original story, there was no specific description, just that she was stood up and ended up with the protagonist by chance.

Although reality deviated slightly, the result was the same.

Moreover, according to the information in the original story and descriptions from friends, her matchmaking partner was supposed to be mediocre. She never expected him to be so impressive.

In the original story, there was no such scene.

Su Rong waved her hand. "Finding the child was the priority. Let's not talk about the past. It's good that the child was found."

Tang Jixue sized up Gao Zixiu and glanced at Mu Weidong.

Both were equally impressive, but Mu Weidong currently held a higher position, while Gao Zixiu was younger with limitless potential.

If Mu Weidong didn't have a child, it would be hard to choose between them, but the reality was different.

Though choosing a partner isn't that simple, Tang Jixue still felt Tang Zhenzhen was making things unnecessarily difficult.

Tang Zhenzhen sensed Tang Jixue's meaningful gaze. After years together, she knew exactly what he was thinking.

She lifted her chin, giving him a look that said, "You don't understand anything."

No matter how good Gao Zixiu was, he was far inferior to Mu Weidong.

Despite everyone doubting her, she was determined to prove them wrong and live a remarkable life.

However, this was supposed to be a small triumph, where the heroine marries someone everyone envies and leaves in glory.

Now it has unexpectedly become a low point, and everyone feels that she didn't marry well, choosing the wrong person out of blindness. This makes Tang Zhenzhen feel very uncomfortable.

Gao Zixiu's behavior also surprised Tang Zhenzhen. He is not a playboy; his words and actions reveal excellent manners, indicating he comes from a good family and has some education himself.

Previously, her focus was entirely on the male lead, so she paid no attention to these side characters. Thus, she didn't care about Su Rong's introduction of him, especially after being hurt by blind dates, making her even less interested in remembering details about him.

While Gao Zixiu was chatting with Su Rong and Tang Jianguo, she discovered that his background was surprisingly prestigious: his father is a provincial committee member, his mother a university professor, and his brother a diplomat currently stationed abroad.

He himself is proficient in several languages and was originally going to join the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. However, with all his siblings gone, he stayed behind to be near his parents.

Seeing Su Rong and Tang Jianguo becoming increasingly impressed with Gao Zixiu, their occasional expressions of regret deeply stung Tang Zhenzhen.

Tang Zhenzhen couldn't help but interject, "I heard you had a girlfriend before. Why are you still here for a blind date?"

This sudden remark silenced everyone, and Mu Weidong couldn't help but frown at Tang Zhenzhen.

Tang Zhenzhen felt a jolt inside but, having already spoken, she had to continue.

She held Mu Weidong's hand and gently pressed it, trying to reassure him.

Gao Zixiu looked surprised. "May I ask who told you that? I don't have a girlfriend."

Tang Zhenzhen gritted her teeth. "I, I heard it from someone."

"That's a rumor. If I had a girlfriend, I wouldn't agree to a blind date. Perhaps they mistook my cousin for my girlfriend. She used me as a shield once when someone pursued her, but it was just that one time."

Tang Zhenzhen hadn't cared much about him before, dismissing the gossip without further investigation. She had no idea about the specifics.

Moreover, Su Rong and Tang Jianguo now looked displeased. This matter was already in the past, and there was no need to bring it up now to cause embarrassment.

Su Rong quickly tried to smooth things over, saying, "Zhenzhen mentioned this to warn you about unfavorable rumors outside. Such talk could make people think you have issues with your conduct."

"Thank you for the warning. I'll clarify it later."

Gao Zixiu didn't stay long and left with Xiao Bao.

Xiao Bao cried loudly as he left, reaching out unwillingly to part with Tang Qingqing.

Ever since Tang Qingqing arrived, Xiao Bao had been playing with her constantly.

Tang Qingqing had experience with children, knowing how to entertain them. The two played together happily, and the little one's clear laughter filled the air, calling "Auntie, Auntie" incessantly.

Tang Zhenzhen's attention was focused on Gao Zixiu, not noticing Mu Weidong's occasional glances toward Tang Qingqing and Xiao Bao.

After Gao Zixiu and Xiao Bao left, the house became noticeably quieter.

Even if Tang Zhenzhen and Mu Weidong had anything to say, the interruption made it difficult to continue.

Before leaving, Tang Jianguo looked at Tang Zhenzhen and said only one thing, "Take care of yourself from now on."

Tang Zhenzhen looked at the group she had known for years. Even though she had always considered them mere NPCs, the reality of their interactions and their genuine concern for her were not cold words but actual actions.

At this moment, Tang Zhenzhen realized she was no longer an aloof observer holding a phone, but had become part of everything.

Her mind was clear, yet in reality, she couldn't separate herself.

A wave of melancholy and bitterness welled up inside her, far from the outcome she wanted.

Tang Zhenzhen forcefully suppressed this indescribable feeling and stubbornly raised her chin:

"I will be happier than all of you, better off than any of you!"

The Tang family fell silent, and Tang Jidong, who had been quiet, finally spoke:

"Zhenzhen, life is what you make of it. I hope you won't regret any step you take."

Tang Zhenzhen smiled. "How could I possibly regret anything?"

Tang Zhenzhen left with Mu Weidong, brushing past Tang Qingqing with a victorious and proud demeanor.

As they walked out of the factory, she faced everyone's gazes with satisfaction and pride.

Although the joy dissipated somewhat after a day of travel, thinking about seeing the two adorable future tycoons lifted her spirits again.

Everyone thought she was crazy for agreeing to be a stepmother despite such good conditions.

But they didn't know that being a stepmother depends on the children!

The male lead's two children would become great figures in the future, each more outstanding than the last!

Tang Zhenzhen would have children without the pain, and they would be the best children anyone could wish for—something many women dream of.

She would have her own children, and these two would help raise them, freeing her from worry. Everyone would treat her like a princess, giving her everything effortlessly.

"Tired? Sorry for making you work so hard," Mu Weidong said, feeling guilty seeing Tang Zhenzhen's slightly weary face.

Tang Zhenzhen shook her head. "Not tired. Thinking about seeing the children soon makes me forget about being tired."

Hearing this, Mu Weidong felt a warm surge of emotion.

He recalled the heartwarming scene of Tang Qingqing playing with Xiao Bao and imagined Tang Zhenzhen wouldn't be any different. He could already envision a beautiful future.

However, this anticipation was shattered shortly after they received the children.

Though the children were over a year old, Mu Weidong had only seen them once, shortly after birth, and had never personally taken care of them. They were strangers to him.

He had never cared for his younger siblings either; it was always his eldest sister who did that while he worked.

Tang Zhenzhen had never played with children before. In reality, she didn't actually like children; her previous fondness for stories about cute kids was nothing more than an armchair preference.

Especially since the children's condition was far from what she had imagined. Though she had prepared herself, the children today were unkempt, thin, and pitiful, shocking her with their appearance.

Their ugliness aside, they even had lice in their sparse hair! They were filthy, barely better than beggars, and likely infested with fleas as well.

Moreover, the two children had been crying nonstop since they were brought over, showing a strong aversion to her.

Especially when facing Tang Zhenzhen, she saw disgust in the eyes of these little ones.

Tang Zhenzhen dreaded the sound of children crying, finding it deafening.

She had never been a patient person. Since the exchange, she had been pampered at home.

Outside, being the daughter of the factory director and attractive, she had always been the center of attention.

She had never needed to work hard to win others' favor; a few words would suffice to gain their trust.

These habits clearly couldn't be applied to these two children, only making them more averse.

And that wasn't all. When Tang Zhenzhen went to bed that night, she suddenly felt a chill from the quilt and woke up to find that the two children had wet the bed—and it had soaked to her side!

Looking at the sleeping Mu Weidong, Tang Zhenzhen gritted her teeth, turned away from the children, and continued sleeping as if nothing had happened.

Unexpectedly, the next day, they fell ill.

Not only did the children catch a cold and develop a fever, but they also had diarrhea.

Their pants were filled with both urine and feces, the stench making Tang Zhenzhen want to vomit.

And it wasn't just one child; it was both!

Facing Tang Zhenzhen were two choices: either clean their bodies or wash their pants—both options involved contact with their excrement.

The gentle mother image Tang Zhenzhen had maintained yesterday crumbled instantly, and she wanted nothing more than to stay a hundred meters away from these troublesome kids!