For a moment, she was stunned, then remembered that perhaps Xia Wanfu had returned her money.
In the next second, Xia Wanfu sent a message.
"The money is returned to you, thank you."
Gong Zhi Jing replied, "Mhm, no problem."
She truly hadn't expected Xia Wanfu to repay the money. It seemed she had judged her too harshly; Xia Wanfu had truly changed.
After replying, Gong Zhi Jing continued to type, so engrossed that she lost track of time.
It wasn't until Ling Leyou could no longer be soothed that the nanny brought her downstairs.
"Madam, the young lady might be hungry..."
Ling Leyou's eyes were teary, her sobs continuous, looking utterly pathetic. Though reluctant, Gong Zhi Jing immediately stopped her work and went to pick up her daughter.
Upon smelling the familiar scent, Ling Leyou burst into tears of grievance, breaking Gong Zhi Jing's heart.
The nanny said cautiously, "I saw you were busy, so I kept soothing her. I only brought her down when I absolutely couldn't help it."
"No matter what I'm doing, if Leyou is hungry, you must bring her to me."
Gong Zhi Jing felt a pang of regret, blaming herself for forgetting the time.
Nourished by her mother's milk, Ling Leyou quieted down. Yet, seeing the tear tracks at the corners of her eyes, Gong Zhi Jing still felt a deep ache in her heart.
Glancing at the clock, it was nearly four in the afternoon. She had been engrossed for over two hours, no wonder her daughter had cried so much.
The nanny dared not speak, appearing as if she had done something wrong.
Gong Zhi Jing glanced at her and quickly added, "Don't be like that, I'm not blaming you. I'm the one who lost track of time. Leyou has always been very well taken care of by you."
The nanny, who had been feeling a little uneasy, was suddenly flattered.
"This is what I should do, Madam. Please rest assured, I definitely won't let this happen again."
"Mhm, thank you for your hard work. You can go down and rest now!" Gong Zhi Jing nodded at her with a composed expression.
After the nanny left, she sighed and gently stroked Ling Leyou's small face.
Her daughter had never cried so heartbrokenly since birth.
Having eaten and drunk her fill, Ling Leyou slept soundly.
Gong Zhi Jing's feelings of self-reproach and guilt began to ease.
...
After repaying the debt, Xia Wanfu felt a sense of relief. Otherwise, the lingering worry would have prevented her from finding peace.
Seeing her in good spirits, Han Wenjuan casually asked, "What's wrong? You seem so happy."
"I've paid back the million yuan I owed Zhi Jing. It's natural to be happy when you're no longer in debt."
As soon as she said this, Han Wenjuan's expression changed drastically. She retorted sharply, "How can you be so foolish! Does she still lack that little bit of money now?"
Xia Wanfu's joy immediately dissipated. She replied with embarrassment, "Are we not lacking that little bit of money? Why must you always harp on such trivial matters?"
Han Wenjuan fell silent, her head bowed like a child who had done wrong.
She was simply feeling unbalanced. A girl she had bossed around since childhood had suddenly become someone she could no longer reach.
And she had raised her! She would never forget the hardship of raising three children alone.
Seeing her bowed head and piteous look of being reprimanded, Xia Wanfu's heart softened. Her tone immediately became gentle.
"Mom, I know what you're thinking, but she doesn't owe us anything. If it weren't for the ten million yuan her father gave us,
we don't know where we'd be now!
The past is in the past. She doesn't dwell on it, so we shouldn't either. People always have to look forward."
Since learning the truth of the matter, Xia Wanfu had become increasingly ashamed.
Everything she had once believed to be true was merely her assumption. It turned out that all along, they were the ones who were ungrateful.
Gong Zhi Jing had never owed them anything from beginning to end.
"I understand, it's all Mom's fault," Han Wenjuan mumbled, her heart filled with complex emotions.
She couldn't quite understand her own state of mind. If she were to speak of hate or resentment, there wasn't any, perhaps just a touch of jealousy.
When Xia Wanfu mentioned repaying the money, her first thought was:
Gong Zhi Jing wasn't short of this amount anymore; it didn't matter if it was repaid or not, as a million yuan was nothing to her.
But for herself, it was different. She had almost nothing, and a million yuan was not a small sum.
Since being released from the detention center, she had been living in the apartment her daughter rented. She encountered constant setbacks when looking for work and couldn't earn a single cent, barely able to support herself.
She didn't dare to plot against Jiang Zexi either, for if she ruined things, her daughter's life would be ruined.
Xia Wanfu understood her anxiety and unease during this period, so she comforted her:
"Mom, don't think about anything right now. I can earn money. Stay here and rest assured, I'll handle everything!
But absolutely do not harbor any more misguided thoughts, or even I won't be able to save you."
Han Wenjuan lowered her head even further. How would she dare to have any further intentions now? That would be seeking her own destruction!
Xia Linfeng's fate was still vivid in her mind. Now, all she wanted was to live well and wait for her son to be released from prison.
Moreover, her daughter and the young master of the Jiang family were about to get engaged. At such a crucial juncture, she dared not cause any further trouble.
What she feared most was that the Jiang family parents would be displeased with her daughter's background and thus object to her marrying into the Jiang family.
Thinking of this made her anxious. The only solution was for her daughter to quickly conceive and bear a son, thereby solidifying her position.
Han Wenjuan suddenly grabbed Xia Wanfu's hand, her expression serious. "Wanfu, listen to your mother. You need to get pregnant quickly, then you'll definitely become the young madam of the Jiang family."
"Mom, don't worry needlessly. Zexi and I are about to be engaged."
Xia Wanfu didn't take her words to heart at all, as their relationship with Jiang Zexi didn't require a child to maintain.
Han Wenjuan said earnestly, "Men are fickle. Don't dismiss what your mother says. And children are always your own, understand?"
It was better to have one less complication. Xia Wanfu placated her, "Okay, I understand, Mom."
Naturally, she trusted Jiang Zexi unconditionally. After experiencing so much, if he wasn't trustworthy, then no one in the world would be.
She wouldn't bother to explain anything further; they knew their relationship best.
As for anything else, she had no more worries.
After the previous car accident, Jiang Zexi's parents' attitude towards her had undergone a 180-degree change. They no longer expressed any dissatisfaction, nor did they urge her to get pregnant.
She knew clearly that it was because they feared Jiang Zexi might act out as he had before.
Even so, she felt grateful and also wanted to conceive soon. However, such matters were a matter of destiny, not something that happened just because one wished for it.
"Alright Mom, I'm leaving. You stay here and rest assured. I'll visit you next time."
Having stayed here all afternoon, she needed to head back quickly.
Han Wenjuan tried to persuade her, "Stay for dinner! Mom will cook your favorite dishes."
Before Xia Wanfu could reply, her phone rang. It was Jiang Zexi.
"Zexi is calling. I have to go."
Hearing this, Han Wenjuan finally relented.