"Madam, backbiting is not a sign of good upbringing!" Tang Sese's words had barely fallen when a sharp horn blared from behind her.
Su He, who had been watching the surveillance feed inside, couldn't stand the woman's rudeness and baseless accusations. She pressed the intercom button and politely but firmly retorted.
Tang Sese jumped, a cold sweat breaking out on her back.
"This damned girl!"
"Madam, shall we continue to wait?" the driver asked softly, seeing her get the worst of it.
Tang Sese let out a cold snort and glared back viciously. "Tang Jiaojiao is being uncooperative. She'll regret it later! Let's go!"
"Yes." The driver stepped forward and opened the car door for her.
Inside the house, seeing Tang Sese’s discomfiture, Tang Jiaojiao raised her eyebrows triumphantly.
She patted Su He's shoulder approvingly. "My daughter, indeed!"
"She said her name is Tang Sese and she's your sister," Su He said, looking curiously at her adoptive mother, as if awaiting an explanation.
Tang Jiaojiao had never mentioned her family before, nor did she intend to in the future. "There's nothing to say. From now on, just pretend you've never seen them."
Su He hummed in acknowledgment. "However, I don't think they'll give up that easily."
"We'll face whatever comes our way," Tang Jiaojiao said with a philosophical air. "They're coming to us now simply because they see we're wealthy and want to get something out of it."
"Heh, they really think I'm a fool. When I was down and out, they ignored me; now that my husband is successful, they remember me. What a great plan they have!"
"Miss Tang seemed quite stylish. Does her family have good standing?" Su He played with the fruit knife in her hand, expertly peeling an apple.
"The Tang family is doing alright in C City. She married into a well-matched family, and they live comfortably," Tang Jiaojiao said of her sister as if she were a stranger, her tone calm and devoid of emotion.
Despite being blood relatives, they had been at odds since childhood.
Tang Sese was sweet-mouthed and good at coaxing people, but Tang Jiaojiao disdained such tactics to get what she wanted. Being the second child, Tang Jiaojiao was always overlooked.
Even though her grades were better than her brother's and sister's, she never received any praise when she brought home awards. Her father, Tang, considered her proud and arrogant and constantly suppressed her. Her mother always advised her to be more low-key and not to hurt her siblings' self-esteem.
They were all his children, yet he doted on his eldest son and youngest daughter, never seeming to notice her. Thus, Tang Jiaojiao developed a rebellious streak at a very young age.
Her parents wanted her to be obedient and sensible; she insisted on being unique. Her parents wanted her to study medicine; she chose business administration. In short, she did as she pleased.
Because of this, her relationship with her family became increasingly strained, and she was labeled an "unfilial daughter" by her parents.
Who wouldn't want to be the apple of their parents' eye? Tang Jiaojiao had wanted that too, but reality did not permit it.
Recalling this, Tang Jiaojiao's expression turned resolute once more.
She had no regrets about leaving that suffocating home.
Over the years, the Tang family had publicly disowned her and said many unkind things, but she could overlook it all. After all, her heart had been broken into a thousand pieces long ago.
Her relationship with Su Dazhi was merely the last straw.
Others thought she had been blinded by love, but only she knew that she had simply accumulated enough disappointment to leave without hesitation. Since she had chosen to leave, she would never go back.
Furthermore, the feud between her and Tang Sese could not be resolved with a few words.
Tang Sese, in her quest for favor, had learned to lie from a young age.
"Mom, Sister stole my homework and got me scolded by the teacher!"
"Mom, I saw Sister go into your room at noon..."
"Mom, I fell by accident; it has nothing to do with Sister!"
Such incidents were countless.
Tang Jiaojiao was not so magnanimous as to forgive someone who had slandered her repeatedly.
However, the other party seemed determined to see her.
Three days later, on an evening, Su Dazhi's business partners organized a gathering and insisted on bringing their spouses. Su Dazhi therefore brought both Tang Jiaojiao and Su He.
Somehow, the Tang family had pulled strings and ended up at the same reception.
When the two parties encountered each other, Su Dazhi instinctively looked at his wife beside him. "Perhaps we should leave?"
Tang Jiaojiao pursed her lips and said, "Leaving now would make it seem like I'm afraid of them, wouldn't it?"
"But you don't like seeing them?" Su Dazhi asked hesitantly.
"Disliking them is one thing; running into them is another," Tang Jiaojiao said, holding her head high, ready for battle.
Indeed, the next second, the partner led those people over. "Old Su, let me introduce you..."
"No need for introductions, we know each other," Tang Sese said, a smug smile playing on her lips. "Long time no see, my dear sister."
"Miss Tang Sese, although we share the same surname, please refrain from making baseless claims of kinship," Tang Jiaojiao said, flashing the large diamond ring on her finger and fluffing her hair. "Besides, I look much younger than you. Hearing you call me 'sister' feels quite strange!"
Over the years, Tang Jiaojiao had been doted on by Su Dazhi, her appearance seemingly frozen around thirty years old, making her look significantly younger than the scheming Tang Sese.
The smile on Tang Sese's lips faltered, and she almost ground her teeth. "I didn't expect you to still be so sharp-tongued after all these years."
"Alas, I'm afraid I'm out of practice. I don't get enough exercise," Tang Jiaojiao said with a charming smile, though it didn't reach her eyes. "However, it's more than enough to deal with you."
When it came to arguments, she had never lost.
"Tang Jiaojiao, watch your words," Tang Ren, unable to stand Tang Jiaojiao's sarcastic tone, jumped out to accuse her. "Sese is your sister. Is that how you speak to your sister?"
"Whose sister?" Tang Jiaojiao said, picking at her ear. "I'm an only child; I don't have a sister!"
"You!"
"Ah, and who might you be, sir? And what right do you have to point fingers at me?" Tang Jiaojiao glanced at him coldly, clearly not taking him seriously.
This Tang Ren, relying on being the only son in the family, had caused her no end of trouble.
He was just as annoying as Tang Sese.
"I'm your brother!"
"Sorry, I don't have a brother who points at my nose and curses at me the moment we meet!" Tang Jiaojiao retorted ungrudgingly.
"Jiaojiao, don't get angry. If you get sick, no one will take care of you," Su Dazhi said, noticing her chest heaving. Fearing she might get too upset, he gently soothed her. "If you don't want to see them, just have someone throw them out. There's no need to waste your breath."
"Who are you going to throw out? I'm a guest invited by Mr. Zhao!" Tang Ren had never acknowledged this brother-in-law before, and he disliked him even more now.
"Old Su, this... isn't it a bit inappropriate?" Mr. Zhao, the partner, looked troubled by the tense atmosphere.
"Our cooperation ends here." Su Dazhi already had many reservations about his partner. Now, with this disgusting group of people brought in, he had even less desire to continue the partnership.
"I'll settle the company shares as soon as possible. If you don't want the company to change its name, please buy back my shares at market price as soon as you can," Su Dazhi said, then put his arm around Tang Jiaojiao and turned to leave.
Su He: ...
She hadn't even had a chance to show off yet, and they were leaving?
Still, her adoptive father's words were incredibly powerful!
A true domineering CEO!