He was too calm.
The Ling family had always produced devoted lovers. Ling Yuchen shouldn't be reacting like this if Xia Wantang was dead.
He should have gone mad, broken down, or raged.
Back in the ward, Situ Jing was still crying.
Old Madam Situ sat by the bed and said impatiently, "Alright, stop crying."
Situ Jing's sobs quieted down.
Su Yishen stroked her back and said, displeased, to Old Madam Situ, "Mom, Jingjing is heartbroken, let her vent!"
Old Madam Situ glanced at her and said sternly, "What do you know? Go ask the doctor when Jingjing can be discharged."
Su Yishen frowned, wanting to say more, but was pulled away by Situ Chuanqi.
The relationship between a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law had always been the hardest to reconcile. He was always caught in the middle. Now, seeing the two about to bicker again, he could only stop them before their words escalated.
Then, he led Su Yishen out of the ward.
Although Su Yishen was reluctant, she ultimately said nothing.
Once the two left the ward, the sorrow on Situ Jing's face immediately vanished. She quietly wiped away her tears, her eyes exceptionally cold.
She looked at Old Madam Situ and asked, "Grandma, what do we do now?"
Old Madam Situ's cloudy eyes shifted slightly, her eyebrows raised, her face full of malice and cunning.
"This Ling Yuchen is acting strangely. Are you sure Xia Wantang was in the private room on the second floor?"
Situ Jing's expression changed slightly, a hint of panic in her voice, "Grandma, what do you mean? Is Xia Wantang not dead?"
"Not sure," Old Madam Situ shook her head and said, "I feel this is not simple. Ling Yuchen's reaction is too calm."
"You're definitely overthinking it," Situ Jing said firmly. "Xia Wantang had no suspicions at the time. Why would she leave the theater when everything was normal? This only proves that Yuchen didn't like Xia Wantang that much."
Old Madam Situ remained silent, her gaze fixed on the window, her suspicion unallayed.
"The objective has been achieved. We can probably let Aunt Ling out now!"
Situ Jing couldn't help but curve her lips into a smile, her face full of longing.
With Xia Wantang dead, everything would return to how it was before, wouldn't it?
"No, let's wait a bit longer."
Old Madam Situ's expression was solemn, her wrinkled old face, coupled with her eyes full of schemes and calculations, made her look sinister enough to send shivers down one's spine.
Situ Jing only felt she was overthinking. How could it be so complicated? Besides, she didn't really want to harm Zhu Yunfei.
So she persuaded, "Grandma..."
Old Madam Situ interrupted her, stating unequivocally, "Enough, listen to me."
Situ Jing could only swallow her words.
...
On the way back to the Ling family's residence.
Old Madam Ling sat back in the rear seat, tears flowing incessantly, unable to control her grief.
She sighed, "How will I explain this to your grandfather! My poor Tangtang!"
Seeing that the time was almost right, Ling Yuchen took her hand and tried to speak in a calm tone.
"Grandma, please don't get agitated. Actually, Tangtang is fine. She's safe and sound in the hotel right now."
Old Madam Ling abruptly turned to look at him, her eyes filled with surprise and hope. Simultaneously, her heart rate quickened, and she became uncontrollably excited.
She gripped Ling Yuchen's hand tightly, her nails digging into his flesh.
Ling Yuchen quickly soothed her, "Grandma, don't worry, don't get excited, listen to me first."
"How can I not be anxious?" Old Madam Ling began to cry again uncontrollably.
She shouted impatiently, "I can handle it, tell me quickly, is Tangtang okay, is she?"
Ling Yuchen quickly replied, "Yes, yes, she's fine, she's very well."
"Really, you're not lying to me?"
"Really."
After confirming several times, Old Madam Ling, while crying, began to smile again, murmuring, "She's fine, really fine, my precious granddaughter-in-law is fine."
Ling Yuchen gently patted her back, calming her emotions.
After a long while, when she had calmed down, she stared sharply at Ling Yuchen and asked, "Tell me, what exactly happened? Don't hide anything."
Ling Yuchen knew he couldn't hide anything, so he confessed everything.
Old Madam Ling became increasingly calm as she listened, her sharp eyes like hooks, her brows and eyes full of fierceness.
She said coldly, "Things are probably not that simple. That old witch is not so easily fooled. Just you wait, your mother won't be back anytime soon."
Ling Yuchen frowned and immediately asked, "Grandma, do you mean we made a mistake somewhere?"
Old Madam Ling glanced at him and said impatiently, "You are the biggest mistake."
Ling Yuchen immediately realized the problem, feeling annoyed. He was indeed smart in many ways but foolish in this instance.
He was still young, how could he possibly deceive someone as experienced as an old fox?
"I thought your reaction was a bit off back then. I could tell, and others could too."
Ling Yuchen's mind raced, and he said calmly, "It doesn't matter, Situ Jun is still in my hands."
"What do you mean?" Old Madam Ling's eyes flickered, her mind racing with thoughts.
"Yes, Grandma, don't worry, Mom and Tangtang will be safe and sound."
Old Madam Ling nodded helplessly, "Jun Jun is a good child. For his sake, we should leave some room."
"Don't worry, Grandma, I know what I'm doing."
As long as Xia Wantang and Zhu Yunfei were safe, Ling Yuchen would not easily tear down the bridge.
But if it came to that, the Situ family, one of the four great families of the capital, would cease to exist.
Back at the Ling family residence, Old Master Ling was still pacing restlessly indoors.
Even though he knew his granddaughter-in-law was safe, he couldn't be at ease, as his daughter-in-law was still in their hands.
When Ling Yuchen returned, he sat back on the sofa, his face tight with a look of weathered coldness, his eyes like shards of ice.
He exuded an aura of authority, making one dare not approach.
Upon seeing this, Ling Yuchen didn't even dare to sit, standing before him like a well-behaved student awaiting reprimand.
His grandfather had educated him since he was young, and he had an ingrained fear of him.
But ever since he took charge of the company, his grandfather had never interfered in his affairs.
Today, his grandfather was truly furious.
Old Madam Ling slowly sat beside him and said impatiently, "Alright, why are you giving your grandson such a hard time? Can he be blamed for this?"
Old Master Ling's imposing aura immediately subsided significantly, but he was still displeased.
"Hmph, it seems Ling Chengfeng is old. I can't believe they dare to provoke me. The Situ family, very good!"
Ling Yuchen, with his head bowed, didn't dare to say a word, as if he were standing at attention.
"Don't throw your weight around at home. Our daughter-in-law is still in their hands, what do you intend to do?"
The anger in the old man's eyes flared, and he struck the ground heavily with his cane.
"Summon that old scoundrel Situ Qingshu. I want to ask him directly if his Situ family wants to remain in Kyoto."