Read Novel Full Chapter 121 Part 2 – A Blushing Jiang Xiao Li (II)
Chapter 121 Part 2 – A Blushing Jiang Xiao Li (II)
Extra chapter (1/1) from us, AerialRain! Buy us a ko-fi for more chapters. Thank you for your support!
Tong Xu felt he’d been extraordinarily unlucky lately. Not only had two secured deals inexplicably fallen through, but four of the five projects he already had going also ran into problems. At this rate, let alone turning a profit this year, he’d be lucky if he didn’t lose all the money he’d made in previous years.
He’d always taken a cautious and steady approach to investments and projects. While he hadn’t made huge profits, losses had been rare. One project going wrong was understandable—but several at once? That was suspicious.
He called in his assistant and asked with a frown, “Has the Feng family figured out that we’re the ones who spread those rumors?”
The assistant was caught off guard. “They shouldn’t have, right? If they heard those rumors, shouldn’t they be investigating your cousin first? Even if they eventually find out that Jiang Zhou’s incident had nothing to do with him, it would take time to trace the source of the rumors.”
If the Feng family so much as looked into Tong Yi, they’d quickly see that Lin Zhao—the college kid who almost had his kidney stolen—was his close friend. That alone was enough to either pin the blame on Tong Yi or at least make him a prime suspect. So if the Fengs weren’t digging into Tong Yi and instead jumped straight to the source of the rumors, then something was definitely off.
Seeing his boss’ gloomy face, the assistant cautiously guessed, “Could this be Second Young Master’s doing? After you publicly confessed to Miss Jiang Li, he did threaten you—said he’d snatch your projects.”
Just thinking about those failed projects made Tong Xu’s head ache. He started pacing the room. “Go investigate immediately. Find out exactly why our projects are falling apart. If you can’t figure it out, don’t bother showing your face again!”
If the Feng family were targeting him, they likely had more moves coming. This wasn’t something that could be settled easily!
The assistant nodded quickly. “Understood, sir. Let me go check right away. I’ll get the results as soon as possible.”
Suddenly, the office door burst open. Both men turned in shock as Tong Bingran stormed in, his face twisted with fury.
“You bastard! I told you long ago—you could pursue Jiang Li if you liked her, but don’t do anything inappropriate or make her uncomfortable! What did you do instead? Did my words just go in one ear and out the other?”
He burst in, pointing at Tong Xu and cursing. His face was flushed with anger. If the assistant weren’t present, he might have already thrown a punch.
Seeing his father this angry, Tong Xu panicked. “Dad, calm down. Maybe things aren’t as bad as they seem. The Feng family probably misunderstood—”
“You still have the nerve to bring up the Feng family? If you hadn’t acted without considering the consequences, would they be retaliating against us? You think they’re just doing it for fun?”
Realizing he couldn’t hide it anymore, Tong Xu turned to his assistant. “Didn’t you say the Feng family wouldn’t trace it back to us?”
The assistant quickly defended himself, “I was very careful—”
Tong Bingran cut him off. “Careful? No matter how careful you are, anything you do leaves a trail. Don’t you understand that?”
Tong Xu and the assistant exchanged looks but dared not say another word. With Tong Bingran this furious, anything they said would just make it worse.
But seeing his son staying silent only made Tong Bingran angrier. “You’ve really outdone yourself, huh?! All these years, obsessed with Jiang Li just because you were infatuated with her as a teenager. Now you’re even using Jiang Zhou’s case to manipulate the Feng family. Do you really think that family’s a pushover?”
Tong Xu muttered, “That Lin Zhao who almost got his kidney stolen really does have a close relationship with Tong Yi…”
“If even a stupid guy like you can find that out, you think the Feng family doesn’t know? If they know and haven’t done anything, then either they’re already certain Tong Yi had nothing to do with it, or they just don’t care about Jiang Zhou! So what the hell were you thinking, inserting yourself into the mess? Thought they needed a scapegoat, and you’d generously volunteer?”
The more Tong Bingran spoke, the angrier he became. He couldn’t help but smack the back of Tong Xu’s head. “How did I end up with a useless son like you—always making trouble for me!”
Tong Xu finally realized he’d been too impulsive. “Dad, I messed up, I admit it. But I really don’t understand—why did the Feng family react so strongly?”
After all, their families are still in-laws!
Tong Bingran sneered, “You don’t understand why? Then do you at least understand how much that family values Jiang Li?”
Tong Xu nodded. “Of course I know that. But this whole thing had nothing to do with Jiang Li. I just wanted the Feng family to think Jiang Zhou’s incident was connected to Tong Yi, so Old Master Feng would oppose Jiang Li being with him.”
Tong Bingran shouted, “You know how close Tong Yi and Jiang Li are—how could she not know if he was really involved in Jiang Zhou’s case?”
Tong Xu’s eyes widened. “You mean…”
Tong Bingran cut him off. “If the Feng family had believed the rumors you spread, don’t you think they’d start suspecting Jiang Li too? With your pea-sized brain, you have the nerve to say you like her? You’ve got a grudge against her or something?”
“I… I never meant to hurt Jiang Li, I…”
“Even if you did, you couldn’t hurt her. You say you like her, but do you think she’d ever like you back? Even if she lost her mind and did, the Feng family would never allow the genes of their offspring to be polluted by someone like you!”
Tong Xu: “…”
It had been years since he’d been scolded like this by his father—and he couldn’t even say a word in defense.
He had only wanted to break up Tong Yi and Jiang Li. It hadn’t occurred to him that the Feng family might turn their suspicion on Jiang Li, too. If they really did that, they would no longer dote on her like before!
Just the thought of that possibility made Tong Xu break out in a cold sweat. He’d never wanted to hurt Jiang Li—he cared about her too much. How could he bear to hurt her?
But Tong Bingran wasn’t finished. “You know the Feng family isn’t to be messed with, and you think Tong Yi is? Two of your confirmed projects went up in smoke. You really haven’t figured out who torpedoed them?”
Tong Xu stared in disbelief. “Dad, you mean… Tong Yi…”
Tong Bingran said mockingly, “Yes, Tong Yi. And now you’re probably thrilled and want to rush off to tell Jiang Li the good news, right?”
Tong Xu: “…”
If the Feng family already knew what he’d done, then Jiang Li most likely knew as well. Would she hate him?
Seeing the lost look on his son’s face, Tong Bingran felt his blood pressure spike again. But this was still his own son, so in the end, he sighed and said, “Starting today, don’t come to the company. Go home and reflect on what you’ve done. Come see me again when you figure it out.”
“Dad…”
“Don’t call me Dad. I don’t have a dad like you… I mean, a son like you! Idiot.” Tong Bingran was too angry to speak coherently.
Tong Xu stayed silent for a long time before finally saying, “I’ll go apologize to Jiang Li and ask for her forgiveness.”
“Apologize to Jiang Li? You think she cares about your apology? If I were her, just seeing your face would make me want to vomit.”
Tong Xu: “…”
He realized that no matter what he said, his father would shoot it down. He honestly didn’t know what to say or do anymore.
Tong Bingran sighed again. “You’re coming with me to the Feng family right now. We’re going to apologize in person. Even if they don’t want to see you, we still need to show some sincerity.”
Jiang Li had already clearly rejected this foolish son of his, which meant she had no interest whatsoever. And now, with this whole mess, she probably couldn’t stand even the sight of him. If he went to apologize personally, it would only make things worse.
But apologizing to the Feng family was necessary. He had no desire to sever ties with them entirely because of his son’s stupidity.
If he brought his son to apologize and promised they wouldn’t bother Jiang Li again, then judging by the Feng family’s way of handling things, they probably wouldn’t push it any further.
Since his sister married Feng Yang, the two families had been relatives. The Fengs would likely still give him that much face.
Just as Tong Bingran was about to leave with Tong Xu, he happened to glance at the phone left on his son’s desk—and spotted the wallpaper.
His eyes widened. “Why do you have a photo of Jiang Li on your phone?”
Tong Xu looked awkward. “I… I took it before…”
“A secret shot, huh?” Tong Bingran looked at him with utter scorn, like he could see straight through him.
Tong Xu: “…”
His phone had a lot of pictures of Jiang Li. Some he had secretly taken during school anniversary events, and some he had downloaded from the school forum.
He didn’t think there was anything wrong with it. But his father looked at him like he’d just kicked a puppy.
Tong Bingran roared, “Delete them. Right now! If the Feng family sees this, they might actually break your legs!”
< >