Lu Shufen put down the phone, her heart burning with anger. Her precious daughter had been crying so sadly that it shattered her heart, yet she still wouldnât say who that boy was.
If she found out who he was, sheâd tear him apart for daring to mistreat her daughter!
It wasnât until she finished work that Lu Shufen hurried home. Dinner was already prepared on the dining table by the housekeeper, who greeted her respectfully with a "Madam!" upon her arrival.
Lu Shufen handed over her coat to the housekeeper and walked towards the living room where her husband and son were present. On the European-style sofa, one was reading the newspaper, and the other was lounging improperly.
"Old Chiang." Lu Shufen flopped down onto a seat.
"Youâre back!" Jiang Conghe didnât look up from his newspaper, instead flipping to the next page.
"Oy, youâre still reading the paper while big troubleâs brewing!" Lu Shufen clicked her tongue.
A pair of sharp eyes appeared from behind the newspaper. "What big trouble?" asked Jiang Conghe, who was only in his fifties but already had thinning hair combed back, revealing a tall figure with fine features indicating that he must have been a good-looking man in his youth.
Chiang Tian, also known as Chiang Qingâs brother, took over the conversation. "Dad, my mom makes a big fuss over nothing. What big trouble could it be? Just listen to her and thatâll be enough!"
"You little rascal, sit up straight!" Lu Shufen smacked him on the head.
As the director of the Cultural Work Troupe, Lu Shufen herself boasted a fine figure and presence, only in her late forties, but she looked as if she was just in her early forties due to good care. She wore her hair in electric curls, with a tweed cashmere skirt and a wool sweater.
"Mom, Iâm already in my twenties and a businessman now; youâre still smacking my head," Chiang Tian complained as he straightened up, clearly displeased.
With the good looks inherited from his parents, he had charming, peach-blossom eyes, a trendy western haircut, donned dress pants and a vest, with his thin lips a rosy hueâevery inch the appearance of a young noble.
"Doing business hasnât matured you one bit," Lu Shufen rolled her eyes and turned to her husband. "Iâm talking about a real problem. Itâs Qingqing. She called me at noon, and what do you think, she was crying on the phone!"
Jiang Conghe was startled.
Chiang Qing was his eldest daughter and his pride. Both he and his wife doted on her to no lesser degree than on their son, Chiang Tian. Hearing that his daughter had been crying was indeed strange.
His daughter was always so proud, what could have made her cry?
"What happened?"
"I couldnât get it clear over the phone. I asked her, but she wouldnât say, just crying sadly, as if she said some boy had bullied her," Lu Shufen frowned.
"What? Who dares to bully my sister? Iâll kill him!" Chiang Tian rolled up his sleeves immediately, as the Chiang Family was known for its protective nature.
Lu Shufen gave him a stern look. "Iâm saying we should have her transferred back here, but she absolutely refuses. Old Chiang, do you think our daughter might have taken a fancy to some boy in Qing City?"
"Could it be? My sisterâs standards canât be that low, can they? How could she find someone in such a godforsaken place?" Chiang Tian exclaimed dramatically.
"Shut your mouth!"
Jiang Conghe frowned. "What you said could be true. At first, when she asked to go to Qing City for grassroots work, it was her own choice."
The couple exchanged glances. So, was it a premeditated plan, and Chiang Qing was truly mistreated there?
"Who is it? Who dares to mistreat my daughter like this?!" Lu Shufen was furious.
"The New Year is coming up. When she gets back, weâll know once we ask. If she doesnât want to come back herself, it means the situation isnât too serious. You trust your son but not your daughter?" argued Jiang Conghe.
Chiang Tian protested.
With no choice but to calm down, Lu Shufen indignantly said, "If I find out who it is, I wonât let him off unless he kneels and apologizes!"