“Oh dear, it fell off?” Jin Yan stood up, picked up the orange, placed it aside, and picked up another one, peeling it for Ye Anran.
Ye Anran couldn't eat it at all.
She ate a piece perfunctorily. It was sweet, but hard to swallow.
Ye Anran took a deep breath before smiling and asking, “Auntie, do you still think of your previous adopted daughter? They say Auntie favors the Nuan Nuan you found later?”
Jin Yan felt a bit unhappy hearing this. “My own daughter, who else should I be good to? Although Yi Yi wasn't born to me, she grew up with my love. Is the affection I have for her any less? Those outside don't know the truth and just talk nonsense, slandering Nuan Nuan.”
Jin Yan got angry whenever this matter was brought up, as if someone was always slandering Nuan Nuan.
“If I find out who is slandering Nuan Nuan behind her back, I will never let them off,” Jin Yan said, gritting her teeth in anger.
Nuan Nuan was a sensitive child, and she had always taken great care of this child.
Nuan Nuan was the kind of child who would rather suffer herself than disturb others.
Ye Anran's eyes held a deep cold sneer. She still only cared about her own biological daughter.
“Ran Ran, you're here.” Lu Jinyan came downstairs.
He wore a white shirt and black casual pants. His tall figure was captivating. A gentle smile played on his refined handsome face. Seen from afar, his gentle eyes held a purity that was detached from the worldly hustle and bustle.
“Yes, to go play in Xicun, we need to set off earlier.” Ye Anran said with a smile.
“Alright! We'll go now.”
Lu Jinyan looked at his mother and said, “Mom, I'm going out to play.”
Jin Yan was taken aback, a little worried that her naive son wouldn’t be a match for Ye Anran, who had returned from abroad.
“Just the two of you?”
“Yes, Mom, we're leaving.” Lu Jinyan was very happy, completely oblivious to his mother's worried expression. He happily took Ye Anran and left.
“Alas… this…” Jin Yan was very confused. Looking at the silly boy’s demeanor, it seemed like he was in love.
Jin Yan couldn’t help but shiver. Xiao San and Ye Anran?
“No, no.” Jin Yan murmured, shaking her head. She and Mrs. Ye were mortal enemies.
Their children couldn't possibly become lovers. Moreover, Mr. Ye wasn't a good person; his character had major issues.
Jin Yan sat on the sofa in a daze, eating an orange to calm her emotions. After twenty minutes of thought, she still couldn't remain calm. After much deliberation, she sent a message to her son.
[Xiao San, Mom won't stop you from pursuing your happiness, but Ye Anran is not okay. You can't be together. I don't get along with her mother.]
After sending the message, Jin Yan nervously awaited her son’s reply.
Meanwhile, Ye Anran and Lu Jinyan had just arrived at a gas station.
Lu Jinyan got out to refuel and to buy some mineral water. His phone was in the center console storage box.
The phone screen lit up, and he happened to see the content of Jin Yan's message.
Ye Anran sneered. Was she already starting to control her son's emotions?
It was precisely because she knew Lu Jinyan’s habits that she was able to successfully gain his favor. How could she let Lu Jinyan go so easily?
She wanted to bring ruin to the Lu family.
She watched Lu Jinyan put the items in the trunk, then lowered her head to look at her phone.
After Lu Jinyan got into the car, he immediately drove off.
“Jinyan, let's go eat Jiao Ma Fish today. I checked near Xicun, and Jiao Ma Fish is the most delicious.”
Lu Jinyan liked to eat fish. She had done her research for several days to find out that the Jiao Ma Fish here was very famous.
“Okay, okay, okay. Just thinking about it makes my mouth water.” Lu Jinyan's mouth watered at the thought.
Ye Anran looked at him, her eyes curving into smiles. She knew Lu Jinyan liked it.
…
Jiang Nuan returned home at noon. Ye Anran's medicine had to be prepared as soon as possible. If Ye Anran had a strong will to survive, she would wake up in three months, or half a year if she took longer.
But when she entered the living room, she saw her mother sitting on the sofa, lost in thought.
She walked over, but her mother didn't notice her return.
After she slowly sat down, she softly called out, “Mom.”
“Ah…” Jin Yan was startled.
“Nuan Nuan, you're back?” Jin Yan’s complexion was still a bit off.
Jiang Nuan looked at her with confusion. Seeing her mother’s distracted state, she was very concerned. “Mom, what’s wrong? You seem so out of it.”
Jin Yan was very worried. “Nuan Nuan, what should we do? Your third brother seems to like Ye Anran.”
Jiang Nuan frowned and looked at her mother. “Mom, how do you know?”
Jin Yan recounted Ye Anran’s visit that morning to Jiang Nuan.
Jiang Nuan thought about the recent coincidences. Ye Anran had visited alone several times. Could there really be a bug?
She was back for revenge, so everything had to be in order.
And Ye Anran’s leg was injured, yet she invited her third brother out to play. Why?
Jiang Nuan took her mother outside. Jin Yan looked at her with confusion. “Nuan Nuan, what is it?”
Jiang Nuan looked around to make sure no one was there before saying, “Mom, I have something to tell you, and you absolutely cannot let it slip.”
Seeing her daughter’s serious expression, Jin Yan placed her hand on her heart and swore, “Darling, Mommy will never let it slip.”
Jiang Nuan was amused by her mother's reaction. “Ye Anran is Lu Qiaoyi.”
“Ah!” Jin Yan exclaimed in surprise, then quickly covered her mouth with her hand, her eyes wide in disbelief as she looked at her daughter.
Jin Yan suddenly remembered how Ye Anran had eaten oranges that morning. These sweet oranges were Lu Qiaoyi's favorite. And she had asked about Lu Qiaoyi, which had made her very unhappy at the time.
Jin Yan came back to her senses and looked at her daughter worriedly. “Nuan Nuan, how did you know she was Lu Qiaoyi?”
Jiang Nuan didn't want to hide it from her mother, fearing she would be tricked by Ye Anran. “I suspected it from the beginning. Jiang Muyu said she had a car accident abroad and lost her memory. Later, I found many suspicious things about Ye Anran, and I was sure it was her.”
“Oh heavens.” Jin Yan was so anxious she was getting upset.
She hurriedly took her daughter’s hand. “Nuan Nuan, then call the police and have her arrested!”
Jiang Nuan had also considered this. If they called the police and had Ye Anran arrested, then they would never catch the mastermind behind it all.
“Mom, not yet. We still need to find the people behind her.” Jiang Nuan had two suspects in mind: Mu Yunfeng and Your Excellency.
Number One's suspicion was also her suspicion.
“Then what about your third brother?” Jin Yan wanted to strangle that foolish boy. She couldn't let Lu Qiaoyi deceive him.
Jiang Nuan originally wanted to play the long game to catch a big fish, but she was afraid her third brother would get hurt.
She gave her mother a reassuring smile. “Mom, don't worry. I'll talk to third brother. Don't tell anyone else for now. Only when Lu Qiaoyi makes a move can I find the mastermind faster.”
Jiang Nuan withheld some information. She was also conducting a test.
Jin Yan nodded slightly, and her phone rang. “It’s your father.”
Jin Yan was still somewhat shaken. “Darling.”
“Madam, it’s me. The chairman had a car accident.”
Jin Yan's pupils suddenly trembled. “How could that happen? Where are you?”