Nan Cheng stared at Jiang Youqian. “You seem to be really adamant about this. What are you scheming?”
“Don’t get me started on that! I’m not that kind of person!” Nan Cheng’s words made Jiang Youqian really triggered. Jiang Youqian began to suspect that Jiang Mohan had a poor impression of him all because of Nan Cheng.
Gosh, everything that this guy says is always targeted at us.
I just want to resolve my conflict with Jiang Mohan, and yet he sees it as a scheme?
“I’m nowhere as cunning and calculative as you,” Jiang Youqian smirked.
Nan Cheng called for security.
Alarmed, Jiang Youqian grabbed Nan Cheng hastily. “What are you? A dog? Why are you calling for security?” He complained.
“Please leave!” Nan Cheng said coldly. “And you’d better let go of my arm, or I’ll sue you for assault.”
Jiang Youqian’s hands froze.
“Alright, you can stop it there,” Jiang Mohan said, turning to stare at Jiang Youqian. “Go back and tell your parents that they have no business talking to me.”
“No, no way.” Letting go of Nan Cheng, Jiang Youqian kneeled before Jiang Mohan, and pleaded, “My mother knows that she did you wrong in the past, treating you so poorly and all that. You’ve also said that everyone makes mistakes, right? Can’t you just forgive us?”
Somehow, his questions had Jiang Mohan immersed in thought. Can the people who’ve made mistakes be forgiven?
He could not help but think of the mistakes he had made in the past.
Would Zong Yanxi act like this, and refuse to forgive me? Maybe she wouldn’t even give me a chance to repent.
“We are a family after all. Won’t you give us a chance?” Jiang Youqian continued upon seeing Jiang Mohan hesitate.
“If you go back home with me, and decide that you still can’t get along with us, I’ll promise to stay out of your life, okay?” Jiang Youqian sounded genuine.
After a brief moment of silence. Jiang Mohan looked into his eyes and said, “Alright then, I’ll go.”
“President Jiang… “ Nan Cheng was rather shocked.
Jiang Mohan raised his hand to cut Nan Cheng off. “It’s okay, Nan Cheng, you should go back first.”
He wanted to give himself another chance to apologize too.
“Thank you, thank you so much. Here, let me help you.” Smiling in delight, Jiang Youqian came over to push Jiang Mohan’s wheelchair.
Nan Cheng promptly mounted a ramp for Jiang Youqian to push Jiang Mohan into the car.
“President Jiang, do contact me if there’s anything you need.”
Jiang Mohan nodded.
As Jiang Youqian closed the doors, he told Nan Cheng, “Stop trying to act like you’re the only one he can depend on. Though we have different mothers, we have the same surname from the same father. You’d really think that I’ll do him any harm?”
Nan Cheng ignored him and walked off.
Putting his seatbelt on, Jiang Youqian said, “My mother is actually the one who sent me here today to find you. She really wants to apologize for what she’s done.”
Jiang Mohan looked dispassionate. As time passed, his memories of the unfortunate events of the past had become blurry. Nevertheless, he felt a deep-seated resentment towards interacting with his so-called family, because they did not share a single happy memory together.
Everything felt ill-fated.
Not getting a response, Jiang Youqian continued talking, “This time, we are genuine about fixing our relationship with you. Trust me.”
Truth was, Qiu Mingyan was rather aggressive about getting Jiang Youqian to see Jiang Mohan that day. She kept on pestering him, talking about how sincere she would be.
“My mother made a lot of effort to prepare a good meal, just for you.” Jiang Youqian simply would not stop talking.
Jiang Mohan remained silent – he was not going to buy into such a preposterous lie. There is no way that Qiu Mingyan has changed for the better.
He knew clearly that Qiu Mingyan was trying to ask him for a favor, since the incident at the hospital. It’s probably about getting Jiang Youqian to work at my company.
After years of living under the same roof, Jiang Mohan knew her character well, perhaps even more so than her own son, Jiang Youqian.
For Jiang Mohan, Qiu Mingyan’s apology or remorse were very much uncalled for.
He just agreed to visit for the sake of making peace with himself, for the wrong that he had done in the past.
His mind was haunted by his own sins of him hurting Zong Yanxi and causing her to lose her child. He wanted to change.
And then there was the deal with Jiang Youqian.
Though it would be a stretch to call Jiang Youqian a good, respectable man, he was nowhere as calculative or unpleasant as his mother. Jiang Mohan did not feel comfortable about shutting Jiang Youqian out just because of his dislike for Qiu Mingyan.
They arrived after a quick drive.
“Let me help you,” Jiang Youqian said, coming out of the car.
As he pushed on Jiang Mohan’s wheelchair, he asked, “Did the doctor tell you when you’ll recover?”
“Two months, probably,” Jiang Mohan replied.
“Will there be any adverse effects that are going to stick around?” Jiang Youqian’s concern sounded heartfelt.
“No.” Jiang Mohan kept his replies short and concise.
“Phew. If you need any help in the future, I’ll give you a hand if it’s within my ability to do so,” Jiang Youqian said, and quickly added, “Of course, I’m not saying that because I want anything in return, I’m just… “
“I understand, there’s no need to explain all that,” Jiang Mohan interrupted him. “There’s something else that I want to ask you. You don’t have a job right now, do you? Do you intend to waste your time fooling around forever?”
“Well, everyone knows that I was a playful kid. Didn’t do that well in school, you know? I can’t get a job without a degree,” Jiang Youqian replied sheepishly. “I’ll just play around and have fun for another two more years or something.”
“I can support you to study abroad if you want to.” Jiang Mohan was starting to speak like a true older brother, though he was not aware of it. “You should not waste your youth any longer. Go and study.”
Jiang Mohan’s change in attitude was so shocking that Jiang Youqian felt tears well up in his eyes. Pretending to be calm, he joked, “Hah… I think that I’m still pretty young.”
Jiang Mohan did not try to force an answer out of him. Instead, he said, “Do give it a thought, okay?”
“Yeah,” Jiang Youqian answered.
When they arrived at the door, Jiang Youqian walked over to open it.
Upon hearing the noises at the doorstep, Qiu Mingyan poked her head out of the kitchen. “Oh, you guys have finally arrived!” She said, beaming at Jiang Youqian and Jiang Mohan.
Jiang Mohan remained quiet.
Not wanting the atmosphere to turn too awkward, Jiang Youqian quickly said, “Is the food ready? My stomach is growling!”
“What are you, a hungry ghost? Go wash your hands, the food is ready.”
Jiang Youqian pushed Jiang Mohan toward the bathroom.
“I hope that my cooking matches your taste. I made the braised eggplants just for you! It was your favorite dish as a kid, do you remember?” Qiu Mingyan said as she placed the last dish of braised eggplants onto the table, right in front of Jiang Mohan.
Jiang Mohan’s face was still expressionless.
Not surprised by Jiang Mohan’s lack of interest, Qiu Mingyan said, “Mohan, I’m sorry. I’m sorry about what happened at the hospital last time. We shouldn’t have burdened you with our requests when you were so badly hurt.”
After making an apology, she gave her husband, Jiang Jun, a look to get him to do the same.
However, Jiang Jun was feeling rather upset about how he lost face during the incident at the hospital last time.
He forced an ugly smile, and said, “I should have thought it through before confronting you last time.”
Jiang Mohan could tell how unwilling Jiang Jun was to apologize.
Noticing that the air was turning tense again, Qiu Mingyan told Jiang Mohan, “Mohan, your Dad is just bad with words, don’t be mad.”
Jiang Jun glared back at her.
