After Mrs. Ling had been in the hospital for two days and her condition had stabilized, she was discharged and returned home.
During these two days, the online buzz continued to ferment.
Even the news that Han Wenjuan had saved Mrs. Ling exploded online.
Everyone was anticipating how the Ling family would handle the situation.
Would they let bygones be bygones and repay the kindness, or would they harbor resentment and selectively ignore it? Both sides argued vehemently.
Some said:
"What's past is past. Since Han Wenjuan saved the old lady without holding a grudge, the Ling family and Gong Zhi Jing shouldn't hold onto theirs either."
While the other side felt:
"It's true that Han Wenjuan saved a life, but she did make mistakes before. We can't overlook her past wrongdoings just because she did one good deed. This can only be considered atonement for her previous actions."
Many netizens, with a clear head, analyzed Han Wenjuan's motives and intentions, suggesting she didn't genuinely want to save the old lady.
Ling Yuchen had anticipated the heated online debates and verbal sparring. All he could do was let the situation unfold, leaving it to time to pass. The buzz would eventually fade.
This matter had caused a significant stir. Now that Mrs. Ling had recovered and returned home, many friends and relatives came to visit her.
However, as she was still recuperating, too much excitement would be detrimental to her health, so most invitations were declined. Only people from the four major families were invited to liven things up, serving as a welcome back for Mrs. Ling.
There was another purpose: to have Xia Wanfu bring Han Wenjuan over. Regardless of whether Han Wenjuan saved the old lady sincerely or not, she had indeed saved a life, and expressing gratitude was necessary.
Once this matter was settled, Gong Zhi Jing's wedding would proceed as planned.
...
On the way to pick up Han Wenjuan, Xia Wanfu's mood was exceptionally complicated and even anxious.
She knew her mother best. Could she really be so kind? What she feared most now was that her mother would exploit this favor for personal gain or have ulterior motives.
Seeing her worried expression, Jiang Ze Xi teased, "Tsk, with that look on your face, one would think the sky was falling!"
Xia Wanfu glared at him, annoyed. "If she causes any trouble, it might as well be the sky falling. Wouldn't it be better if life just went on smoothly?"
Jiang Ze Xi shook his head with a laugh, unconcerned. "Do you think your sister is a pushover? Even if she is, Ling Yuchen is there. Do you think your mother can stir up any significant trouble?"
Xia Wanfu froze. Thinking about Jiang Ze Xi's words, she realized they held truth. From beginning to end, no matter what schemes her father or mother had concocted, they had never succeeded.
Yet, she still worried that her mother would court disaster and bring about her own downfall. If she caused any more trouble, it was unlikely anyone could save her.
Seeing her still frowning, Jiang Ze Xi continued to persuade her. "Don't overthink it, and don't think of your mother too badly. Maybe she genuinely wanted to save someone. Or perhaps she wanted the Ling family's favor. Regardless, she won't harm you."
Xia Wanfu sighed and turned to gaze out the window, lost in thought.
Whatever her mother's motives, she had at least saved a life, and that was the right thing to do. No matter who it was, saving a life could only be beneficial. As for everything else, they would wait and see.
A luxurious, opulent car parked at the base of a slightly run-down residential building, a stark contrast to its surroundings. Xia Wanfu got out of the car and headed straight upstairs. Jiang Ze Xi, on the other hand, waited in the car.
Xia Wanfu had already called Han Wenjuan before coming, so Han Wenjuan was currently meticulously getting ready. She had specifically put on the most expensive outfit Xia Wanfu had bought her, coordinating it with a handbag and shoes. Standing before the full-length mirror, she hummed a happy tune, her eyes filled with smugness.
There was a million-dollar reward online. If it weren't for her, that old lady would have surely died. She was just running out of money, and this million would last her quite some time. Although Xia Wanfu provided for her, she felt uneasy always relying on her daughter's money.
Lost in her pleasant thoughts, she heard a knock at the door. Han Wenjuan immediately beamed and called out, "Coming!" She was certain it was her daughter, and her heart swelled with delight. When she opened the door and saw Xia Wanfu, her smile widened even further.
"Wanfu, you're here. I'm all ready, let's go!"
Xia Wanfu's brows furrowed deeply, her face etched with impatience. "Tell me the truth, do you have an ulterior motive for saving Mrs. Ling? I'm warning you, don't act rashly. Daring to provoke the Ling family or Gong Zhi Jing would be courting disaster!"
Han Wenjuan's smile gradually faded, and she looked at Xia Wanfu with immense disappointment. "Is this how you think of your mother? I saved someone and I did it wrong?"
Xia Wanfu felt a pang of guilt at the disappointment in Han Wenjuan's eyes. "Mom, that's not what I meant. I..."
"I know what you mean. You don't need to lecture me like this. Even if I'm living off your earnings now, I'm still your mother. You have no right to speak to me like that. Even if I have a motive, it won't implicate you!"
Xia Wanfu's heart grew more anxious at her words, her voice choked. "Mom, that's not what I meant. I'm not disrespecting you. And I'm not afraid you'll implicate me. I'm just afraid something will happen to you. If something happens to you, I'll lose my mother too..."
Her emotions began to break down, stemming from being misunderstood and not being comprehended.
Seeing her daughter's distress, Han Wenjuan's heart finally softened, and her voice became gentler. "Don't worry, I saved her because of you."
Xia Wanfu didn't understand what she meant, her eyes filled with confusion. Han Wenjuan didn't elaborate but turned to go back inside. Some things were not suitable to be said outside, as walls could have ears.
Seeing this, Xia Wanfu followed her in. The mother and daughter sat down on the sofa. Han Wenjuan said coldly, "You guessed right. According to my initial inclination, I would have definitely not saved her. If that old woman had died, Gong Zhi Jing would have been devastated. However, I weighed the pros and cons, and saving her was more beneficial than not. I now have a life-saving favor from that old lady, which can only bring you benefits, not harm. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have saved that old lady even if it meant risking my own life."
Xia Wanfu finally understood her mother's reasoning and felt a wave of relief. However, she still couldn't help but advise. "Actually, Gong Zhi Jing has never harmed us. On the contrary, we have wronged her many times, and she has let it go. There's no need for us to dwell on the past. Why not let her go, and let ourselves go too? From now on, let's call it even, and stop resenting each other, okay?"
Han Wenjuan took a deep breath and said calmly, "I understand. I'm not an idiot. Why would I deliberately provoke her?"