Chapter 149

Chapter 149: Burning Bridges The moment those words were spoken, everyone present was taken aback. Jiang Yi's expression darkened. "Everyone sitting here is family, Shi Xu. What do you mean by that? Are you saying that one of us would leak information to an outsider to harm you?" Elder Mrs. Jiang also spoke up. "That's right, Shi Xu. Before you left, you specifically instructed us not to call the police. I may be old and forgetful, but I'm not forgetful to that extent. We didn't call the police. Since your life was at stake, we would never have leaked information to outsiders." Ruan Shaodong said, "I can guarantee that your Aunt Yang and I absolutely did not leak any information. Tangtang is still in their hands. If we had leaked anything, both Tangtang and you might not have survived. Your Aunt Yang and I would never take that risk. Even after Jiaojiao went missing shortly after you left, we kept in mind your repeated instructions not to call the police." Lin Yueying also strongly disagreed with Jiang Shixu's words. "There must be some misunderstanding in all of this." Xu Jingxuan said, "Yes, brother, there must be a misunderstanding. Could it be that one of Sister Ruan's friends or colleagues accidentally let something slip, and someone with ill intentions overheard and deliberately called the police to harm you?" Before Jiang Shixu could speak, Ruan Chutang suddenly laughed. She curled her lips, her eyes as cold as ice. "Xu Jingxuan, the person who called the police was Gu Zechuan. You're the one who leaked the information to him, aren't you?" Xu Jingxuan's face turned pale. "Sister Ruan, what are you talking about? How could I possibly..." Smack! A crisp, resounding sound. Before Xu Jingxuan could finish her sentence, Ruan Chutang slapped her across the face. The slap was fast and vicious. Ruan Shaodong and the Jiang family members were all stunned, clearly caught off guard. Xu Jingxuan clutched her face, tears welling in her eyes, and said with grievance, "Sister Ruan, I know you've never liked me, but you can't just accuse me without knowing the facts at a time like this..." With that, Xu Jingxuan turned to Elder Mrs. Jiang, still holding her face. "Grandma, you must stand up for me!" Elder Mrs. Jiang's expression suddenly turned grim. "Ruan Chutang, how dare you slap Xuanxuan right in front of us! You have absolutely no upbringing! Is this how your parents taught you? Resorting to violence at the slightest disagreement? You call yourself a refined heiress who knows propriety and etiquette? I think you're nothing but a shrew!" Jiang Yi's expression was equally sour. Xu Jingxuan was, after all, his adopted daughter—a member of the Jiang family. Ruan Chutang slapping Xu Jingxuan in front of the entire Jiang family was nothing less than a slap in their faces. Jiang Yi's face darkened as he said with displeasure, "Tang, this is going too far. If you have something to say, say it properly. Why resort to hitting..." "Tangtang, don't get so worked up..." That was Lin Yueying. Unlike the rest of the Jiang family, Jiang Shixu's first reaction was to step forward and shield Ruan Chutang behind him, afraid that Xu Jingxuan might retaliate and hurt her. Of course, given Xu Jingxuan's skill level, she was no match for Ruan Chutang at all. But even so, Jiang Shixu still moved to protect Ruan Chutang first. This gesture was like a knife twisting in Xu Jingxuan's heart, causing her face to turn even paler with pain. Ruan Shaodong hadn't reacted at first, but when he heard Elder Mrs. Jiang cursing his daughter, he threw all notions of respecting the elderly and maintaining decorum out the window and shot back. "Elder Mrs. Jiang, I've treated you with respect because you're the matriarch of the Jiang family, yet you dare to publicly call my daughter a shrew? You have the nerve to call Tangtang a shrew—then what does that make your Xu Jingxuan? At the banquet, she slandered Tangtang, and without knowing the facts, you took Xu Jingxuan's side and helped her humiliate our Tangtang. Tangtang checked the surveillance footage, and you were too afraid to look at it. Have you forgotten all that? Is this how you teach your granddaughter? Given all of your granddaughter's behavior, Tangtang's slap must have been well deserved!" Ruan Shaodong was burning with rage as he continued in a stern voice, "And this time—Tangtang was kidnapped because she got tangled up with your Jiang family! Jiaojiao has been taken to Country A by your family's illegitimate son, and her life is hanging in the balance! If it really was your adopted daughter who leaked the information, forget a slap—I'd have the heart to kill her! A slap is getting off easy!" "You—! Ruan Shaodong, you—!" Elder Mrs. Jiang's chest heaved violently as she pointed at Ruan Shaodong, her finger trembling. "You're out of control! In broad daylight, you dare to say you want to kill Xuanxuan? Is there no law anymore? Believe me, I'll call the police right now and have you arrested!" "Hah, call the police?" Ruan Shaodong let out a cold laugh. "Go ahead! Let the police investigate thoroughly and find out what really happened with Tangtang's kidnapping!" "You—!" Elder Mrs. Jiang's face turned ashen, her breathing becoming labored, looking as if she might pass out at any moment. "Quick! Get the old lady her medicine!" Jiang Yi shouted at the servants. A servant hurriedly ran to fetch the medicine. At the same time, Jiang Shixu spoke. "Since Grandma wants to call the police, then let's call the police. I also want to know who exactly leaked the information, why Fu Yuanzhou knew about Tangtang's whereabouts, and why he knew the real purpose behind my breaking off the engagement with her." At this point, Jiang Shixu stared coldly at Xu Jingxuan. "You—stay put and wait for the police to arrive." Xu Jingxuan looked as if she was about to cry from grievance, her big eyes welling up with tears, looking utterly pitiful. "Brother, you actually don't believe me... This concerns your life and death—how could I possibly leak information to an outsider..." "Ruan Shaodong, get out! Get out of here! The Jiang family doesn't welcome you..." Elder Mrs. Jiang was so furious her eyes blazed as she glared fiercely at Ruan Shaodong. Jiang Shixu spoke coldly, "Grandma, say less." Though he called her "Grandma," his tone was one of unyielding command, full of authority. Seeing her precious grandson defend Ruan Chutang so fiercely and speak to her in such a tone, Elder Mrs. Jiang felt her heart turn ice-cold. "Well, I'm not leaving." Ruan Shaodong shot Elder Mrs. Jiang a contemptuous glare and said angrily, "Call the police! I want to wait for the police to get to the bottom of this!" Jiang Yi stepped in to mediate. "Alright, alright, we're all family. Let's all say a little less." Ruan Shaodong retorted, "Don't even go there. Who's family with you? I can't afford family like you—being related to you people could cost a life!" Jiang Yi sighed, looking helpless as he turned to Elder Mrs. Jiang. "Mom, don't get angry. Don't give yourself a heart attack. Why don't you go upstairs and rest? Shixu and I can handle things here." "Yes, Mom, go rest first." Lin Yueying chimed in. "I'm not going!" Elder Mrs. Jiang said loudly. "I'm waiting for the police to come and get to the bottom of this, so Ruan Chutang can apologize to Xuanxuan." Hearing this, Ruan Chutang gave a cold smile. "Apologize? Absolutely not." Xu Jingxuan's tears fell silently as she wept like a pear blossom in the rain. "Grandma, I don't know what I did wrong. Sister Ruan dislikes me so much, but I really didn't leak anything... sob sob sob... Mom, Dad, do you believe me?" Seeing his daughter cry like this, with a red handprint still visible on her face, Jiang Yi's heart softened. He comforted her gently, "Don't cry. You've been wronged, child." Lin Yueying, however, furrowed her brow. Her gaze rested on Xu Jingxuan, lost in thought. Ruan Chutang stepped out from behind Jiang Shixu and stared coldly straight into Xu Jingxuan's eyes. "Stop pretending, you deadly green tea. Aren't you disgusted with yourself?" These words infuriated Elder Mrs. Jiang even more. Seeing that Elder Mrs. Jiang could barely catch her breath, a servant quickly fed her some medicine. Jiang Yi frowned at Ruan Chutang. "You should say less too..." Ruan Chutang snorted coldly. "I'm no longer your daughter-in-law. Why should I listen to you?" This retort left Jiang Yi speechless. "Nobody's calling the police, huh?" Ruan Shaodong pulled out his phone. "I'll do it."