Ming Chuyan had no desire to call Ming Zheng at all.
He knew very well.
No matter what he said.
Ming Zheng would only humiliate him.
But looking at Ming Mu's hands.
He had no choice.
He could only make this call.
Ming Chuyan's heart was also conflicted and complicated.
On one hand, he didn't want to admit that Ming Zheng had the ability, an ability that even his teacher, Old Lu, was helpless against.
On the other hand, he hoped that Ming Zheng could resolve this matter quickly, otherwise Ming Mu's temper would likely become increasingly strange.
The concert was starting next week.
If Ming Mu wasn't allowed to attend.
Ming Mu would surely be displeased.
But if Ming Mu were to go.
It was highly likely to affect... the Zither Master's decision to take Rou'er as a disciple.
After all, if Rou'er's mother was disabled.
She would undoubtedly face much criticism.
The news that the matriarch of the Ming family was disabled would also be detrimental to the Ming family's reputation.
Therefore, Ming Mu's hands had to be cured quickly.
Thinking this, Ming Chuyan took a deep breath and spoke again, "Ming Zheng, don't waste each other's time. Just tell me, what do you want?"
"I want..."
Ming Zheng's tone was flippant, with a hint of casual mockery, "You, to kneel and beg me, how about that?"
"Ming Zheng!"
This was outright humiliation!
He, and Ming Zheng, to kneel?
Impossible!
What right did a mere bitch have to make him kneel?
"Kneel? Ming Zheng, you wish!"
Ming Mu, listening from the side, was instantly furious, "How could I have given birth to a jinx like you? I am your mother! You've reduced me to this! And now you want your sixth brother to kneel to you? Can you afford to bear that?"
Ming Zheng pulled the phone further away, a wry smile playing on her lips, "Oh? Is this how the Ming family asks for favors?"
She drawled lazily, raising her tone, "Since you have no sincerity, don't call me again. I find it disgusting."
"Ming Zheng!"
This roar was filled with anger that made his voice tremble.
"Sis... Sister..."
Ming Zhi Rou's soft voice, carried from the other end of the phone.
Ming Zhi Rou took the phone, her tone laced with pleading, "Sister, you want Sixth Brother to kneel before you'll save Mom, is that it? Then... then I'll kneel for you, okay? I'll kneel and beg you... please, stop tormenting Mom."
"If you want to torment someone, torment me... You hate me, you dislike me... I'll kneel and beg you..."
As she spoke, her voice was choked with sobs.
Ming Zheng knew, without even looking, that Ming Zhi Rou was surely crying prettily, evoking pity.
The curve of her smile deepened, and then...
Amidst Ming Zhi Rou's repeated pleas of "Please, torment me, I'll kneel for you,"
She said, "Fine."
Ming Zhi Rou's voice instantly caught.
She probably hadn't expected Ming Zheng to actually agree.
Even less did she expect...
That Ming Zheng would be so easy to talk to?
This left her in an awkward position.
Yet, Ming Zheng continued in her nonchalant tone, "Alright, you kneel and beg me, and I won't torment Chairman Ming's wife, but I'll torment you instead, to fulfill your filial piety."
As she said this, she muttered again, "Let me think, should I torment your hands, or your legs? Or perhaps... turn you into a mute?"
Ming Zhi Rou's face instantly turned pale.
Her five fingers gripping the phone subconsciously tightened.
She had merely understood Ming Zheng's personality.
And deliberately acted virtuous in front of Ming Mu!
How could she possibly kneel to Ming Zheng?
How could she possibly be tormented by Ming Zheng in place of Ming Mu?
To be turned into a cripple like Ming Mu?
She absolutely refused!
Ming Zhi Rou's slightly lowered gaze shifted, her peripheral vision glancing towards Ming Mu.
Ming Mu was clearly stunned by Ming Zheng's words.
She looked at her own arms.
And then her gaze fell on Ming Zhi Rou.
As if truly considering Ming Zheng's words.
Ming Zhi Rou's face grew even paler, the fingertips of her phone-gripping hand turning white.
But when she spoke again.
Her voice was laced with tears and fear, "Okay... Anything! As long as it helps Mom, you can do anything to me."
As she spoke, she kept glancing at Ming Mu's expression.
She began her dramatic performance with full emotion, "You can torment me with anything! At worst, I'll stop pursuing music! Stop singing! Stop chasing my dreams! As long as Mom can recover, I'm willing to die for it!"
As she spoke.
She deliberately emphasized the words "music, singing, chasing dreams."
As expected, Ming Mu's expression changed.
And at this moment, Ming Zheng spoke again in her languid, lazy voice, "Oh, then go die."
"Bang!"
Ming Mu suddenly kicked the coffee table, making a loud noise.
Her face darkened, and she said sternly, "Why beg her? She's just a good-for-nothing, what power does she have to harm me? She's just playing games with us, putting on a show here!"
"Old Lu and the president of the Chinese Medicine Association couldn't treat my hands, what could she do?"
"Rou'er, there's no need to kneel to her! Next week you will be accepted as the chief disciple by the Zither Master at the concert hosted by the president of the International Music Association. Your hands and your voice are meant for music and to benefit humanity!"
"Why talk so much to her? Ming Zheng has no heart at all!"
Ming Zheng tutted.
Ming Zhi Rou's lackluster performance.
Only the Ming family would believe it.
She knew it would turn out like this.
"Chairman Ming's wife is indeed a heroic woman."
Ming Zheng's voice was casual, clearly laced with mockery, "I hope Chairman Ming's wife can maintain her pride and stop bothering me, and don't let your sons bother me either. It would be very troublesome for me."
After saying that.
She hung up the phone.
She got up and walked to the door.
Indeed, she saw a delicate insulated food container placed outside the door.
Trouble-makers, sometimes...
Aren't that troublesome.
-
Ming Family.
Ming Zhi Rou held the phone, which had been hung up, and turned to look at Ming Mu.
Her long, thick eyelashes were dotted with crystal tears.
Her eyes were red, making her look pitiful and delicate.
She said in a soft, gentle, and tearful voice, "Mom... Sister might really have a way to help you... Just let me go find her, I'll go and kneel for her... It's okay..."
Initially, seeing Ming Zheng actually hang up the phone.
Ming Mu's heart skipped a beat.
After all, she was the one with crippled hands now.
She still held a sliver of hope.
But the moment she saw her own sweet little darling, with red eyes and a look of obedience as if she were going to apologize and kneel to Ming Zheng.
Ming Mu's heart immediately ached.
"Rou'er, Mom is fine! Mom is used to this now, you don't need to worry about Mom, just prepare well for next week's concert."
Ming Zhi Rou cried and shook her head, "But... but I don't want to see Mom like this, there must be other ways, right?"