After hesitating for a long time, she clenched her fists and finally mustered the courage to remove the mask from her face, revealing a fair and delicate face marred by a hideous scar.
"Tsk tsk..."
Seeing Shi Ran's appearance, Tang Mu clicked her tongue and shook her head, "Look, how pitiful. Such a delicate face, how could it be ruined like this? Don't you plan to get cosmetic surgery?"
Facing the woman's imposing presence, the pressure made Shi Ran dare not look up, or perhaps it was her ingrained inferiority complex that robbed her of the courage.
"I... I do have plans. But the wound hasn't healed yet, it will take some time." She answered truthfully.
Tang Mu nodded slightly, gazing at Shi Ran, "Do you like Tang Si?"
A blunt question.
"Yes."
"Do you plan to marry Tang Si?"
Such a direct question startled Shi Ran. She looked up at Tang Mu in a panic, but the powerful aura of the well-maintained, still graceful, slightly plump noblewoman before her pressed her head down. "I... I am... I do think so."
"Good."
The noblewoman did not refuse; instead, she readily agreed.
Shi Ran knew things wouldn't be that simple. She pursed her lips, repeatedly encouraged herself, and forced herself to look up at Tang Mu, waiting for her to continue.
"Then let's talk about my son," Tang Mu said concisely. "Although Tang Si appears dashing and uninhibited to outsiders, as his mother, I know he's only been in two relationships, no, including you, that's three. His first was mistaking infatuation for love when he was young, and then he fell deeply for Zhao Wuyan. He and Zhao Wuyan were together for a full eight years, but they broke up over a small mistake."
"After the breakup, Zhao Wuyan went to Country C and got married, but the man she married was not someone she truly loved; she did it to spite Tang Si. But my son is also stubborn. Knowing Zhao Wuyan was married, he felt resentful, which is why he gradually grew to like you. To put it bluntly, with you..."
She examined Shi Ran from head to toe, her gaze like that of a merchant appraising goods. "You're not his type, you don't fit the kind of woman he likes. He's probably just using you to provoke Zhao Wuyan, and seeing that Zhao Wuyan beat you, he felt guilty, plus you were disfigured, he just pitied you."
Tang Mu's words were sharp, each one piercing Shi Ran's heart, causing her to bleed internally, yet she still endured.
She had to respect the person before her, for she was Tang Si's mother.
"However, if you're not afraid of being toyed with by him and truly want to marry him, I won't stop you." The woman glanced at her phone and said, "In two days, it's his grandmother's birthday. There will be a banquet for dignitaries and celebrities from all walks of life. If you dare to attend without makeup, I think... maybe his grandmother will agree."
As she spoke, Tang Mu seemed to recall something. "Oh, right. I forgot to remind you, Tang Si inherited his father's bad habit of caring greatly about appearances."
After speaking her mind, without waiting for Shi Ran's reply, Tang Mu turned, got into her car, and drove away.
Shi Ran stood where she was, watching the car recede, her heart sinking lower and lower.
Although Tang Mu's words weren't overly harsh, Shi Ran understood. Firstly, because she was disfigured, Tang Si's father would absolutely not agree. Secondly, Tang Si was a well-known figure in Lancheng, and like his father, he cared greatly about his reputation. If she attended his grandmother's birthday banquet without makeup, it would not only cause Tang Si to be ridiculed but also bring shame upon the entire Tang family.
Ding—
At this moment, her phone chimed with a new message notification.
Distraught, Shi Ran picked up her phone and opened the message. It was a video with audio. The video showed Meng Jingwei and Qing Muye chatting in the office of Li Mei at the plastic surgery hospital.
Meng Jingwei asked, "Sister Mei, my sister has a scar constitution. Is there really no way?"
Li Mei shook her head and sighed, "The scars on her face are too deep, and with her scar constitution, even with multiple repairs, the effect will be minimal."
Clang!
Shi Ran's body went weak, and the phone slipped from her hand, falling to the ground.