The car drove towards the Jiang family villa. The closer they got to their destination, the more Jiang Nanfang wanted to retreat.
It wasn't because she was afraid of them, but because of over a decade of painful experiences. After having her child, she had finally forgotten, and she really didn't want to deal with those people anymore, not even to glance at her stepmother's hideous face.
She swore that once her mother's inheritance matters were settled, she would never see them again, ever!
To prevent her current life from being exposed and Jiang Zhenjun from sticking to her like a persistent leech, Jiang Nanfang took a taxi back.
She thought things could be settled quickly and asked the driver to wait at the entrance.
Taking a deep breath, she pressed the intercom button on the gate.
The housekeeper recognized Jiang Nanfang and was astonished to see her on the monitor.
As she opened the door, she exclaimed with surprise, "Miss, where have you been all these years? You never visited, I thought you weren't in Nancheng anymore."
"Mr. and Mrs. miss you terribly. They'll be so happy to see you. Come in quickly!"
Jiang Nanfang entered the living room and scanned around, finding all the furnishings the same as six years ago.
Besides a few beautiful potted plants, there were no new pieces of furniture. It seemed Jiang Zhenjun hadn't been doing too well these past few years.
"Where is he? Where is my father now?"
"The master might be at work, he hasn't returned yet. The mistress has gone upstairs to change. Please have a seat and have some water, I'll call the mistress down."
Zeng Jiahui was upstairs? That was perfect. Jiang Nanfang didn't want to see her anyway.
"No need to call her down. Tell me my father's phone number, I'll go find him."
Jiang Nanfang had intended to avoid Zeng Jiahui and talk directly to Jiang Zhenjun, but fate played its tricks.
As soon as she spoke, the sound of high heels clicking on the stairs could be heard from above.
Zeng Jiahui's familiar and sharp voice drifted down, "Sister Zhang, who are you talking to? Has the master returned?"
Sister Zhang took a couple of steps towards the stairs and, looking up, replied with a smile, "Madam, it's the young lady who's back."
"Young lady? Which young lady?"
"Who else could it be? It's Nanfang, of course. Come and see, Miss has grown so beautiful."
Clack! Clack! Clack!
The elegant clicking of heels turned into angry stomping.
Accompanied by the grating sound of high heels, Jiang Nanfang soon saw a face emerge from the stairs, impeccably made up, yet garishly so.
Zeng Jiahui was still the same, even in her pajamas, she would put on the heaviest makeup to meet people.
The two met again.
Seeing that it was indeed her, Zeng Jiahui paused, then her expression changed.
"It really is you! I saw videos taken by others on my phone and didn't believe it..."
"You good-for-nothing Jiang Nanfang, not only are you not dead, but you've also gone for plastic surgery. That's impressive. You must have earned quite a lot of money these past few years!"
This venomous woman, every time they met, all she did was insult her or talk about money. After all these years, nothing had changed.
Looking at her fierce face, Jiang Nanfang couldn't help but think of her mother.
Her mother was so gentle, so beautiful, so kind. If she were still alive, her first words upon seeing her now wouldn't be like this.
Suddenly, she didn't want to argue with her anymore.
In just over a month, she would be able to openly leave Nancheng with her child and never return.
Her mother and child would surely not want her to be a shrew who only knew how to fight.
There was no need to waste words on such a scumbag.
Thinking this, Jiang Nanfang told herself that Jiang Zhenjun was the one who caused all the trouble. She would just talk to him.
Since he wasn't here, she would go to his company tomorrow and didn't need to stay any longer.
Giving Zeng Jiahui a mere glance and saying nothing, after her rant, Jiang Nanfang turned to leave.
Clack! Clack! Clack! Zeng Jiahui chased after her from the stairs.
"Stop! I'm talking to you, are you deaf or mute!"
It turned out Jiang Nanfang wasn't suited to being gentle.
With just that sentence, her newly formed resolve instantly changed.
"Zeng Jiahui, don't push it. I ignored you when you said a few things, but now you're cursing?"
She stopped and turned back, looking coldly at her stepmother.
Zeng Jiahui shot towards her like a firecracker and, catching her off guard, raised her hand and slapped her hard.
"Ignoring me is one thing, but you want to leave without saying a word? What do you mean by that? Who do you think you are looking down on?"
"Jiang Nanfang, don't forget who raised you! You ungrateful wretch!"
Damn it.
Was she treating her like a three-year-old? She even dared to lay hands on her?!
Jiang Nanfang grabbed her wrist and, with a crack, slapped her back.
"I came to find my father, I don't want to argue with you. Zeng Jiahui, stop being so relentless!"
"You hit me? Your son is no match for me, and neither are you. Don't you want your old bones anymore? Try being arrogant with me again!"
She hadn't expected her to fight back, and her stepmother froze.
A couple of seconds later, she jumped up in a rage, "You call me Zeng Jiahui? You ill-bred thing, how dare you hit me?"
"I raised you since you were little, I'm your savior! What's wrong with hitting you a few times! You've gone too far!"
Saying this, she raised her hand with bright red nail polish and tried to hit Jiang Nanfang again.
Jiang Nanfang tilted her head back slightly, causing her to miss, and sneered, "Just like your son, you only grow older, not smarter."
"You're an old woman now, do you still think it's ten years ago? You're past your prime, but I'm growing taller. Zeng Jiahui, I'm not the child who let you hit and scold me anymore. Touch me again, and I'll send you to the hospital immediately!"
"Hmph! Such a big mouth! I guess you got a good settlement after divorcing Zhan Beijue, and now you're feeling emboldened." Zeng Jiahui retorted with venom.
"I told your father you're a scheming little slut, but he didn't believe me. He'll understand when he sees your face later."
"Your plastic surgery was quite successful. You must have hooked up with many other men using your looks these past few years. Your life is getting better and better, isn't it? Dare to look down on the person who raised you, I knew you were no good!"
Tsk, what a foul mouth.
Jiang Nanfang glanced at Sister Zhang.
"Sister Zhang, you saw it all. It wasn't me who wanted to hit her, she forced me."
"Since you're so sure I'm no good, then I don't need to pretend anymore. I'll show you how bad I can be right now."
With that, she slapped Zeng Jiahui again.
Then, she grabbed her hair and lifted her entire head.
"From childhood to adulthood, I've taken so many slaps from you. Zeng Jiahui, do you think I've forgotten? I've been keeping a record of every single one."
"You raised me? That's a bloody insult. Don't forget how you married into our family, and how my mother died."
"If it weren't for you, would I need plastic surgery? Seeing your face makes me sick. I really want to disfigure your old face too."
"Ah! It hurts! Jiang Nanfang, you're looking for death! You dare to hit me again, let go of me!"
Still talking back?
Remembering how she used to pull her hair and beat her when she was little, not even allowing her to make a sound, Jiang Nanfang used both hands and slapped her several times in quick succession.
"Still talking back? Didn't I tell you not to speak when you're being beaten? Try saying another word."
"Ah! Jiang Nanfang, you're going to die! Your father never hit me all these years, and you dare to hit me..."
I'll make you stop!
Slap, slap! Jiang Nanfang gave her two more slaps.
"Doesn't this scene feel familiar? Zeng Jiahui, this is exactly how you used to hit me. If you're not afraid of pain, keep talking. I won't stop hitting you until you're convinced today, or else I'll write my name Jiang Nanfang backward!"