Chapter 18 - 1#

“Third Master! Aiy—! Old Madam, let’s talk this over properly!”

Ru Po cried out in alarm, blocking Old Madam Ren’s path. Uncle Jing, who had been standing behind Third Master Ren, now silently moved to the front, forming a human wall between Old Madam Ren and Third Master Ren.

“Talk properly? Properly?! When have I not talked properly with him—!”

Old Madam Ren raised a trembling hand and pointed ahead, unable to be stopped even by Zhang Ma and Ru Po together.

“It’s precisely because I talked properly with him that we’ve ended up like this! I suspected something was wrong long ago—too wrong, far too wrong, utterly too wrong! Fine—the son I gave birth to is truly too wonderful, too special! And in the end, all my painstaking efforts have been turned against me!”

Old Madam Ren’s hair was disheveled, her teeth clenched like a madwoman. I had never seen her in such a completely unmannerly state before.

Perhaps from exerting too much force, Old Madam Ren slumped back into her lounge chair with a weary expression, sweeping the tea and pastries from the side table onto the floor with a loud crash.

Finally, as if making a concession, Old Madam Ren’s tone softened slightly. “Mother knows you care for him, are grateful to him, even feel guilty… Mother knows you blame me for not stopping Xiaoyang…”

“But, San’er, even so, that absurd notion of yours is only because you want to make it up to him—like this, Mother will arrange it for you. You’ve met the Shan family’s daughter too… San’er, whatever kind of girl you like, Mother will find her for you, alright?”

The marks on Third Master Ren’s jade-like face looked somewhat glaring, and his already lackluster eyes seemed even darker now. His hands were clasped together on his lap, his brows tightly furrowed as he slowly raised his gaze.

“Don’t force me.”

Those words came out as if his throat were being squeezed.

Third Master Ren suddenly raised a hand to tightly cover his eyes, bending over as if in extreme pain, but saying, “Don’t… force me.”

“Third Master, Third Master…” Uncle Jing called out anxiously, quickly pulling a medicine bottle from his pocket. Perhaps his hand trembled and he lost his grip, the cylindrical bottle clattering to the floor and slowly rolling to a stop before me.

At that moment, everyone in the hall fell silent, all eyes turning to look this way.

I stepped forward a few paces and picked up the medicine bottle from the floor. Bai Junrui followed behind me and patted my shoulder, as if trying to smooth things over. “Qiri took me out for a lot of fun today, and I thought I’d drop by to see Old Madam before heading back. So many people gathered in the hall—discussing something important? Oh, perhaps I came at a bad time.”

Old Madam Ren let out a somewhat embarrassed reply, and Zhang Ma had already turned to have someone clean up the mess in the hall.

Bai Junrui, being a tactful person, glanced back at me and took his leave.

Having an outsider witness something like this would be awkward for either side.

Holding the medicine bottle, I walked slowly over to Uncle Jing. Just as I was about to hand it to him, Uncle Jing bent slightly and said, “I’ll go get some warm water for Third Master.”

I nodded reluctantly, my footsteps heavy as I approached Third Master Ren. “Third Uncle…” Even my fingertips were trembling.

His body trembled slightly, and the hand covering his eyes lowered with excruciating slowness. Even the motion of lifting his head was stiff.

Uncle Jing brought the water but pressed it into my hands. With difficulty, I accepted it, swallowing nervously. “Third Uncle, it’s time for your medicine.”

Seeing that he made no move to take it, I had no choice but to unscrew the cap, pour the pills into my palm, and holding the cup of warm water, try to soften my voice. “Third Uncle, please take your medicine…”

Third Master Ren remained silent. Whether it was my imagination or not, the corners of his bloodless lips seemed to slowly lift. His hand came to rest over my palm, then slowly closed around it. That icy sensation made me want to shake it off in fear.

Watching Third Master Ren take the medicine, everyone seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.

“Riwa.” Just as I was about to find an excuse to go upstairs, Old Madam Ren suddenly called out to me.

Today, I felt that Old Madam Ren’s aged face looked even more gloomy than usual, and my heart sank halfway.

“Riwa, come here, come to Grandma…”

She beckoned to me.

I had barely taken a step when someone grabbed my hand. Turning back, I saw Third Master Ren’s icy gaze fixed straight ahead. That hand with its distinct bones was as strong as I remembered—and I was suddenly reminded of a scene long ago when someone, drunk, had mistaken me for another. A wave of indescribable melancholy washed over me.

Last time it was drunkenness; this time… I shot a suspicious glance at Uncle Jing. Could it be—he’d taken the wrong medicine?

Old Madam Ren let out a laugh. “San’er, are you afraid I’ll eat Riwa?” She habitually touched her emerald bracelet and said flatly, “After all… Riwa is still this old woman’s grandson, isn’t he?”

Third Master Ren hung his head in silence.

“Riwa, look at your Third Uncle like this—heh heh—” Contrary to her earlier ferocious demeanor, Old Madam Ren smiled amiably, then, as if remembering something, chuckled. “Riwa, how have things been going with Uncle Shu’s daughter these past few days?”

Here it comes! Finally!

Alarms blared in my mind, and a tidal wave of crisis washed over me.

I forced the corners of my mouth up. “Shu Yuan… we get along well, like a sister. Wang Zheng really likes her too…”

Old Madam Ren shook her head and laughed. “San’er, listen to this child. Clearly, he likes her, but he insists on dragging Zhengzheng into it.”

No! Heaven as my witness, absolutely not!

“Riwa, Grandma knows you’re shy. How about this—let Grandma make the decision for you first. You’re almost eighteen; these things are best decided early—”

I froze.

Old Madam Ren took a cup of ginseng tea from Zhang Ma. “Riwa, don’t worry. Grandma will take care of it for you…”

I…

I steadied myself. I don’t know where I found the nerve, but after thinking it over, I spoke. “Grandma, it’s too early to talk about these things. Besides… Shu Yuan and I aren’t really suitable.”

“Whether you’re suitable or not isn’t something you can say now. Grandma has seen enough; I won’t be wrong.”

“Riwa, Grandma knows you’re the most obedient.”

“And a girl as beautiful and talented as Uncle Shu’s daughter is hard to find with a lantern.”

“Riwa, can you understand Grandma’s good intentions?”

I twisted my fingers together.

Third Master Ren’s hand tightened slightly. I felt a sharp sting and looked down to see his nails almost digging into my flesh.

— “Riwa, now… you’re the only one I can count on.”

— “This girl, Grandma thinks she’s good. She suits you. Be good, Riwa. Choose her; there are only benefits.”

— “Riwa, Grandma really means well for you…”

— “Ren Qiri, do you think that old woman really has your best interests at heart? Don’t be naive. She wants to consolidate the Ren family! What does the Shu family have? They’re the biggest overseas timber shipping company! It’s all for the Ren family!”

“Grandma, I… I don’t want to.” The words finally slipped out.

I looked at Old Madam Ren. Since the words were already out, I mustered some courage, steeled myself, and said directly, “Grandma, I want to decide things like this for myself.”

The conflict between Old Madam Ren and Third Master Ren over this period… I think I could roughly understand.

She must have wanted Third Master Ren to marry a girl from a well-matched family, and the two of them had argued over it. In my past life, it must have been the same.

Third Master Ren had long had Wang Zheng in his heart. How could Old Madam Ren, so shrewd, not see it?

Thinking along these lines, at least everything could make sense…

But I really didn’t want to become a sacrificial victim in the conflict between them, especially not as a punching bag.

It made me feel a kind of grievance even greater than Dou E’s.

Old Madam Ren looked at the emerald table as if indifferent. “You’re still young; you don’t know how to make decisions.”

I was about to argue further, but to my extreme surprise, Third Master Ren suddenly stood up. As if in a fit of anger, he grabbed my hand and strode forcefully and hurriedly upstairs.

I didn’t even have time to react before Old Madam Ren roared in fury, “What—! Ren Xiaoyun! Are you going against me today—?!”

Third Master Ren didn’t look back, dragging me along to the foot of the stairs.

“You—!! Wretch!! What? Can’t stand to hear it anymore?!! Get back here! Go! If you dare to leave—ah—!!”

“You! Bastard!!”

This time, Old Madam Ren was truly enraged. The cup in her hand was hurled fiercely, grazing my foot. She didn’t stop, grabbing whatever was at hand and throwing it this way like a madwoman.

I felt Old Madam Ren’s aim was lacking.

The direction always seemed to be aimed at me.

The scene was incredibly chaotic. Suddenly, someone pulled me, and my vision went dark, my nose filled with that unpleasant sandalwood scent.

“Old Madam! Old Madam!! Stop throwing!”

“Third Master is hurt! That’s enough! Old Madam—!”

One hand pressed firmly against my head. I struggled to look up, but could only see part of it.

Third Master Ren’s arm was tightly wrapped around my shoulder. Everything around was a blur, but what was clear was the blood slowly trickling from the corner of his forehead.

Gradually, it stained his brows and eyes.

He gripped the stair railing, looking at me, his furrowed brows slowly relaxing. He released me slowly, and Uncle Jing quickly came forward to support him, hoarsely shouting, “Call the doctor! Third Master can’t be hurt!”

The surroundings seemed even more chaotic.

At that moment, Uncle Jing stared at me intently. That look felt familiar.

In my past life, Zhang Ma had once looked at me the same way.

— “You—tell me, just how many more people are you going to harm!”

— “No one who stays by your side has a good ending—!!”

————————

Earlier, I had heard Zhang Ma mention that Third Master Ren had been ill since childhood. It was said that his condition had once been very critical; he had undergone a tracheotomy as a teenager. Moreover, Third Master Ren was born with a malignant blood disease. Adding up all the major and minor surgeries, it was already a miracle he had lived to this age.

I had no real concept of any of this.

From the time I became aware, Third Master Ren’s condition had already improved somewhat. Fortunately, a suitable donor had been found back then, and with continuous medical advancements, he was now under the care of the medical authority Xu Changsheng.

In simple terms—he wasn’t going to die anytime soon.

However, Old Madam Ren’s throw had left a dent in Third Master Ren’s forehead. Strictly speaking, it wasn’t a major issue, but the sight of blood seeping out was indeed somewhat unnerving.

Although I felt it wasn’t much of my doing—since Third Master Ren had suffered because of me, I bore some responsibility. As my mother used to say, “He’s your Third Uncle. You’ll rely on him in the future. If anything happens to him, a hundred of you couldn’t make up for it!”

When I remembered those words, it suddenly hit me.

So my biggest fault was that I hadn’t been a good shield; instead, I’d let Third Master Ren become my human protective covering.

This bloody incident had a very long-lasting negative impact.

In the early hours of the morning, Wang Huizheng also arrived with Wang Zheng. To be fair, the Wang family’s biggest business was in pharmaceuticals, and they owned a hospital. When Third Master Ren was injured, the hastily called medical team was from Wang’s hospital. It must have been hard for them to rush over in the middle of the night.

“Qiri!” Wang Zheng looked unusually tense. He came up to me and quickly asked, “How did this happen? What’s wrong with Third Master?” There was a hint of reproach in Wang Zheng’s tone.

I rubbed my eyes.

Ah, he cared too much; his temper was bound to be a bit sharp.

Besides, the injured person was Third Master Ren; it was natural for him to be nervous.

“The doctor said the bleeding has stopped. He should be fine.”

Wang Zheng’s face looked somewhat weary, as if he had traveled a long distance. He paused abruptly, seemingly aware that his tone had been poor, and then bent slightly, speaking to me in an almost gentle manner. “And you? How did Old Madam suddenly lose her temper? Did you… say something to upset her?”

“Zhengzheng, come in and take a look at Third Master.” Wang Huizheng called to Wang Zheng before entering the room.

In this life, Wang Zheng was much more conscientious. He looked at me with a somewhat worried expression before following inside.

Third Master Ren probably only felt better when he saw Wang Zheng.

After quite some time, the father and son came out. Uncle Wang smiled at me and said, “Young Master is indeed filial. Why haven’t you gone to rest yet? You’ve kept watch all night.”