"Zhan Lian, how do you usually teach Bingqing? How can you let her be friends with scum like Wei Donghai?! I heard he was one of the hoodlums in G City. It was because of your overindulge, she was like this. Just like eight years ago, how old was Ruolan at that time? She was only seventeen years old and how could you just watch a seventeen year old girl being taken away by those people? In any case, Ruolan was also Guanyu's daughter!"
Zhan An's dissatisfied words suddenly made Jiang Ruolan feel chill on her back.
Eight years ago... The incident when she was seventeen. Even though it was a long time ago, what had happened at that time was still fresh in her mind.
Jiang Ruolan sat stiffly on the couch. Old Man Xian, who was next to her, suddenly clapped her hands when he felt her uneasiness. "Spoiled girl, don't be afraid. Grandpa is here."
Jiang Ruolan looked at him. From his gaze, she could tell that Old Man Xian already knew what happened to her that year.
Seeing the comfort in the Old Man's eyes, Jiang Ruolan's heart immediately became warm as she smiled and nodded, "Thank you, grandpa."
Old Man Xian smiled contentedly. His eyes filled with love and heartache. "You, spoiled girl, no wonder you are usually so carefree. It turns out that all the storms in life have been experienced by you since you were young. In the future, the Xian Family will be your backer. What you didn't have when you were young, grandpa will definitely tell Zihao to compensate you."
Jiang Ruolan shook her head. She was so touched to the point that she wanted to cry. She had to endure it. She can't shed any tears in front of these people from the Jiang Family.
At this moment, Jiang Guanyu finally spoke up helplessly. "I was very busy with what happened that year and completely unaware of what happened to Ruolan. When I found out that she was in critical danger, she was already in her last breath."
"Ruolan, if dad knew what had happened to you, I would not let the bastard off! But I really did not know, you were unconscious at that time."
"After you woke up, you did not say a word. After that, you suddenly ran away from home. You disappeared for seven years. I …" Jiang Guanyu looked at Jiang Ruolan with a pained expression, as if he had only just learned the truth. "I'm sorry, child. Dad didn't expect Bingqing to be so immature at that time."
"Yeah, Bingqing was too young at the time. She was one year younger than Ruolan. At that time, she was only sixteen years old and was still in the rebellious phase. As parents, we didn't care about her and didn't know what kind of person she knew outside." Zhan Lian explained in a soft voice.
"You don't know?" Jiang Ruolan asked sarcastically with a smile. "Since you don't know, then why did you throw me, who had a fever with a temperature of 39 degrees to the front yard of the Jiang Family on the second day I was rescued?"
"Why did you let me, who was wearing a single thin garment, be frozen in the snow for nearly two days? So how can you not know? And why would you do that? That's because you want to make a false impression of my unfortunate death, to cover up the big mistake your daughter has made!"
Zhan Lian frowned and immediately explained. "You are wrong. Ruolan, you weren't in a good condition at that time and weren't suitable to receive an injection. I was also confused at the time and thought if I used an ice bag to cool the temperature, it was no different than using snow. So for that reason, I let you be exposed to the snow at that time. I did all this to cool your body temperature. It's just that at that time, Ruolan was too willful. She just laid in the snow and didn't move, making people think that her stepmother had mistreated her."
As if she knew that Jiang Ruolan never let this matter go and knew that her chances were low, Zhan Lian smiled and kindly said, "Ruolan, at that time, when you were in the Jiang Family, you often called me Aunt Lian. I treated you and Yijun as if you were both my own children. Even though you mysteriously escaped from home when you were seventeen, you have to remember, you had stayed in Jiang Residence since you were four."
"If I really want to do anything to you, why have I waited until you were seventeen years old and an adult before hurting you? Your dad and I are here to apologize to you for the harm Bingqing brought to you due to her ignorance."
"Bingqing was so spoiled since she was young and liked to bully you but we didn't expect she would do that. It was out of our control. If we knew about it sooner, we would stop her."
Jiang Ruolan didn't know why it had suddenly changed so much, but she knew it was probably because of Xian Zihao. Since when did he start to investigate this?
While he was busy every day, she had no idea that he had never forgotten to vent his anger to whatever had happened to her in the Jiang Family.
Had he always been secretly doing all of this for her?
Although Jiang Guanyu wasn't clear about that matter, ever since she ran away from home, he had never intended to investigate and never really saw her as his daughter.
This kind of relationship was enough to sever all relationships between a father and a daughter, and Zhan Lian's seemingly innocent words make Jiang Ruolan want to laugh.
Jiang Ruolan calmly asked, "Excuse me, but I don't understand the meaning behind those words. Why are events that happened in the past being mentioned out of nowhere? Did you two come here all of a sudden to tell us all how ignorant your precious daughter was when she was sixteen? Or do you both think that my scars were easy to pluck?"
Zhan Lian's expression froze, but Jiang Guanyu was a little helpless, "Ruolan, dad knows you hate Jiang Family, hate me, hate Zhan Lian, and hate Bingqing even more. But both of your bodies bleed the same blood, and you two are my daughters, so no matter which one of you is hurt, dad will still feel sad. Now, because of you, Bingqing was taken away by the enforcement department last night while the whole family was having a New Year's dinner!"
"We know that it was all part of Zihao's plan. Bingqing caused you such an injury during the Spring Festival eight years ago and left you almost dead. Eight years later, Zihao clearly wants Bingqing to feel the same way! After she was taken away, we received a call and found out what had happened. We booked a plane ticket this morning and rushed to meet Zihao, but he avoided us. We have no choice but to come to Xian Residence and plead for mercy on Bingqing's behalf."
Jiang Ruolan understood the meaning behind Jiang Guanyu's words in a few seconds. She had no choice but to admit that the ferocity of Xian Zihao's move was not limited to just herself. Don't ever think that despite his calm demeanor, he was not a ruthless person.
On this New Year's Eve, Jiang Ruolan was exceptionally happy. Xian Zihao had gifted her with the accomplishment of life last night, but she did not expect that the next day he would give her another gift by disturbing the peace in the Jiang Family. He was seeking justice for what happened to her eight years ago.
All of this was within his calculations. He remained calm and collected during this period, making her completely unaware of it.
A man like Xian Zihao, who was in control of the situation while being calm and collected, was utterly terrifying.
"Ruolan."
Seeing Jiang Ruolan remained silent, Jiang Guanyu sighed, with a sign of pleading in his eyes. "Can you save Bingqing for the sake of the relationship between us, father and daughter?"
Jiang Ruolan raised her eyes. Although she knew that Jiang Guanyu would ask for her help, but she did not think he was so direct.
There was a surprise in her eyes as she looked at him in disbelief.