Chapter 223: Chapter 218: On Ruthlessness, Who Is the Most Heartless? (Part 1)
"Show mercy on me?" Tang Ruan murmured, red-eyed and incredulously staring at Rong Mochen, "You killed my child, and you say you’re being merciful to me?"
"But you’re still alive."
One sentence, and it was as if Tang Ruan’s heart had been plunged into an ice cellar!
"Yes, I’m still alive, but do you know that because of losing this child, these past few years have been a living hell for me?" Tang Ruan stared blankly at Rong Mochen, tears falling silently.
Four years ago, less than three months into pregnancy, she unfortunately miscarried, and the doctor immediately declared that she might never be able to bear children again.
Rong Sinan was Fang Jingyi’s treasured baby, and Rong Sinan liked Tang Ruan. Coupled with the fact that Tang Ruan’s family background was well-matched with the Rong Family, she always spoke kindly to Tang Ruan, and although she couldn’t compare with Rong Sinan, she never let Tang Ruan suffer grievances.
But once Fang Jingyi learned that Tang Ruan could no longer have children, her attitude towards Tang Ruan plummeted.
Open and hidden sarcasm was secondary. She even brought other women into the Rong Family right in front of Tang Ruan, ostensibly for a casual visit, but in reality, she was matchmaking for Rong Sinan, hoping that Rong Sinan would fancy one of those rich daughters and divorce Tang Ruan.
Enduring Fang Jingyi’s harshness was one thing, but Fang Jingyi also repeatedly brought Fang Jingting and a group of wealthy ladies to "visit," staying the whole day, requiring Tang Ruan to personally serve them tea and water, and any omission would result in cryptic scolding.
It was only a belief she held onto these few years that kept her alive until today!
Rong Mochen lifted his cold, sharp black lashes, his dark eyes cool, "This was your own choice!"
Tang Ruan covered her face, tears streaming through her fingers, her whole body trembling as if struck by lightning. Deep down, she still couldn’t believe he could be so heartless to her?
"But it was Sinan’s child too! Mochen, how could you be so cruel?" Tang Ruan’s voice was filled with intense pain, yet there wasn’t a hint of hatred, only overwhelming sorrow and heartbreak.
At the mention of Rong Sinan, something quickly flashed in Rong Mochen’s cold eyes, and his solemn face became even colder, "Is this what you call cruelty?"
"..." Tang Ruan’s back trembled. She slowly put her hands down, swollen red eyes looking at his unfathomable black pupils with doubt, a sudden unease rising in her heart, "Mochen, what do you still want to do?"
Rong Mochen squinted his eyes tightly, "To give back everything you owe her, little by little!"
"..." Tang Ruan clenched her fingers, her pupils contracting rapidly, "I don’t understand what you’re talking about?"
Rong Mochen’s lips curled coldly, clearly unwilling to waste more words with her. He stood up from the sofa, his immaculate trousers wrapping his strong legs as he stepped coldly past her.
Tang Ruan watched him walk toward the door, unable to stop herself from standing up abruptly, clenching her fists, and crying, "Mochen, don’t go, you..."
However, the man left her with only a cold and indifferent back.
Tang Ruan clutched her chest, looking at the emptiness of the doorway, "Don’t go. It’s not, not like that. How did we end up like this..."
Gu Yan glanced at Tang Ruan’s sobbing figure, his lips curled coldly, leaving her with a sentence, "Miss Tang Ruan, don’t cry just yet. Why don’t you call your family first... There’s still time to cry later."
Tang Ruan’s tear-reddened eyes widened, looking frantically at Gu Yan, her voice hoarse to the extreme, "What, what do you mean?"
Gu Yan gave her a "friendly" smile, said nothing, and with a flamboyant tug on his suit, drifted out of the hotel room in two or three steps.
After Rong Mochen and Gu Yan left the suite, Tang Ruan stood paralyzed in place for a long while before suddenly rubbing the tears from her face, picking up the phone from the sofa, and dialing a number.
The call was quickly answered.
But before Tang Ruan could speak, the other side spoke first, "Ruan Ruan, Ruan Ruan, where are you? Come back quickly—your dad, your dad’s not well."
Mrs. Tang almost finished her words in tears.
Tang Ruan’s legs gave out, and she collapsed onto the sofa, her lips pale, unable to say a word.
"Ruan Ruan, Ruan Ruan, what do we do—your dad, what do we do with him? Sob sob..." Mrs. Tang continued to cry.
Tang Ruan closed her eyes in despair, her voice weak, "Mom, what’s the situation this time?"
"What else but the usual, your dad relapsed and went back to using. It’s not just that he used again; he got caught and taken into the police station. The media somehow got the news. As soon as your dad got into the police station, he was surrounded by reporters... Oh right, Ruan Ruan, don’t watch the news now, it’s unbearable." Mrs. Tang sobbed as she spoke.
Tang Ruan’s tightly clenched fingers turned white, the veins on her tense neck standing out, as she bit her lip hard, speaking in a raspy voice, "When did this happen?"
"Maybe an hour or two ago. Your dad is so unlucky, how could he not be more careful..."
"Mom!" Tang Ruan suddenly shouted, as if she had reached her limit, "How many times have I told you not to make excuses for his self-indulgence! If it weren’t for your continuous indulgence and cover-ups, would he be like this now?"
"Ruan Ruan, don’t be mad, mom... You know mom’s nature, and with your dad, I don’t know what else to do either..." Mrs. Tang’s gentle nature had left Tang Ruan never hearing a harsh word from her all her life!
Towards Mrs. Tang, Tang Ruan’s feelings were complicated, a mix of love and resentment.
If it weren’t for her weak nature, she wouldn’t have been bullied by Fang Jingyi for the past four years!
"Any news from the police station?"
Upon hearing Tang Ruan’s question, Mrs. Tang cried again, "No, since your dad was taken in, there’s been no news, but there’s a lot of it online. Some are outrageous, even claiming he’s not only using but hiding drugs, saying the quantity is alarming and that he might not come out."
Hiding drugs?
Tang Ruan remembered Gu Yan’s warning before he left, a chill spread through her heart, her voice trembling almost imperceptibly, "I’ll be right back."
Then she hung up the call, quickly packed up, and headed straight to the airport.
Downstairs of the hotel, Gu Yan, sitting in the car, saw Tang Ruan rushing out of the hotel with a worried expression, getting into a taxi and leaving. He smiled slightly, looked at Rong Mochen, and said playfully, "Boss Rong, you’re really willing to let her go. She was your first love, after all."
Rong Mochen glanced at Gu Yan expressionlessly, "Isn’t my first love Little Mo?"
"...Pfft." Gu Yan burst into laughter, slapping his thigh hard, "Boss Rong, honestly, when it comes to being ruthless, if you claim second place, no one dares to claim first."
Rong Mochen furrowed his brow, "Enough with the nonsense, have you handled what I asked you to do?"
"Rest assured when I’m handling things. Our big brother is already on the flight to Bali Island now."
The "big brother" Gu Yan was referring to is Rong Sinan, who was sitting on the plane heading to Bali Island.
As soon as Rong Sinan left Z City, Tang Ruan was truly powerless and beyond salvaging!
That’s why Gu Yan said Rong Mochen is ruthless!
Gu Yan stroked his chin thoughtfully, as if he suddenly remembered something, and blinked at Rong Mochen, "By the way, Boss Rong, Liang Yi has arrived in S City."
A flicker of coldness passed through Rong Mochen’s dark eyes, "When?"
"On the second day after Miss Gu arrived in S City," Gu Yan replied.
Rong Mochen squinted his dark eyes and said deeply, "Go to Yu Yang Apartment!"
Going again...
Gu Yan twitched his mouth and kindly reminded him, "Boss Rong, don’t you think you’ve been going too often these past few days?" Little Mo Mo is clearly very unwelcoming and really doesn’t want to see you, doesn’t she?"
Rong Mochen was noncommittal, "I don’t think so!"
He wished he could stick with her every day, seeing her once or twice a day is far from satisfying!
Gu Yan was speechless.
Jin Jumo bought a black-boned chicken and some shiitake mushrooms from the supermarket, and had just started stewing the chicken when the doorbell rang again.
Jin Jumo frowned lightly, wiped her wet hands on her apron, left the kitchen, and walked to the door.
She looked through the peephole at the entrance.
The mature and determined face she saw made Jin Jumo curl her lips reluctantly.
Turning away, unwilling to pay attention.
"Little Mo Mo, I saw you, don’t pretend you’re not home, okay?" Gu Yan spoke to Jin Jumo in the same tone he uses with Xixi and Hanhan.
Jin Jumo paused, her brow furrowed with annoyance, and she gritted her teeth before turning to open the door, looking separately at Rong Mochen and Gu Yan standing at the doorway, her tone not pleasant, "Why are you here again?"
Wasn’t it agreed that he wouldn’t come to her without giving her a response? Was he ignoring her wishes?
Gu Yan looked gleefully at Rong Mochen’s darkened face, rubbing his hands and grinning at Jin Jumo, "Little Mo Mo, I haven’t been here for several days."
Jin Jumo didn’t pay him any mind.
Standing at the door, refusing to let them in.
But of course, she was faced with someone thick-skinned; Gu Yan didn’t mind Jin Jumo’s coldness at all, sniffing around and leaning towards Jin Jumo, "What are you cooking, Little Mo Mo, it smells delicious..."
Watching Gu Yan’s nose just about to sniff her face.
Jin Jumo’s eyes twitched with restraint, she couldn’t hold back, she shifted aside.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, Gu Yan slipped in like an eel, naturally heading to the kitchen.
Seeing this, Jin Jumo hurried to catch up, "Gu Yan..."
Managing one thing but neglecting another was Jin Jumo’s most genuine feeling at that moment.
Halfway there, Jin Jumo frowned with frustration, turned back to look toward the doorway, and saw someone had indeed already come in, facing her with a slight smile.
His faint smile seemed like a provocation to Jin Jumo!
Refusing him entry didn’t work, and now trying to kick him out was clearly impossible!
Poof–
As Jin Jumo was distracted, she heard a "bang" from the kitchen.
Next came Gu Yan’s "scream".
Jin Jumo was startled, hurriedly taking big strides to the kitchen doorway, "You..."
Just as the word "You" escaped her lips, Jin Jumo suddenly didn’t want to say anything more.
She glanced at the black-boned chicken, shiitake mushrooms, and broth splattered everywhere, feeling a nameless fire rising slowly in her throat.
Gu Yan spread his hands, looking innocently at Jin Jumo, "Little Mo Mo, my mom used to tell me I wasn’t suited for the kitchen because the kitchen always brings me disaster, ouch ouch ouch."