Jiang Ruiling widened her eyes. "She did? Even though cousin Wei erased sister-in-law's memories?"

Mrs. Zhang smiled. "I know it's hard for a mother to accept a son-in-law like this. She didn't even tell me about it, but...I could see it in her eyes. Mei wasn't just thinking about the mistakes Wei made. She carefully considered the whole situation before giving her nod for their marriage. I don't know what she was thinking, but I know one thing for certain that she liked Wei for Lihua."

Jiang Ruiling suddenly felt a little suffocating on behalf of Wei.

To think that for this whole time, Wei's every interaction and behavior with Lihua was monitored by her own brother to prove that he deserved Lihua, and all of this without his knowledge..

One slip, and he would have lost the favor of his in-law's family forever.

historical

Now, she felt how it felt to be spied upon.

"Then how does Mrs. Cheng feels about their divorce?"

She sighed. "She didn't comment on that. She only said that it's Lihua's decision."

"I see...and about her pregnancy?"

Mrs. Zhang beamed. "Of course, everybody is thrilled here. Mei will not show in her expression, but she is just as excited to become a grandmother. Xue is just like her. He doesn't express it, but he has already secretly bought some toys and clothes for his niece/nephew."

Her eyes were cold.

I don't want to hear about that bastard at all! I cannot believe that my sister-in-law would have such a heartless and insane brother! They are so opposite!

Mrs. Zhang asked, "Do you want to head out in the garden for a walk? You must be bored sitting in the room for so long."

Jiang Ruiling's gaze dimmed. "How can I leisurely take a walk in the garden when my family must be suffering because of that bastard Jiang Zhen? I don't even know what is happening right now."

She patted her hand. "Don't worry about your family, dear. They will be okay. Jiang Zhen wouldn't hurt or kill them so quickly. He wants to take his own sweet time of torturing them. And before he could go any further, we will stop him."

"H-How..?"

Mrs. Zhang smiled. "Trust us. He has taken away the daughter of the Cheng family. We are not going to let him go so easily. They are a bunch of disgusting sadists. If I am right, once they learn about Lihua's pregnancy, Jiang Zhen will be even more ecstatic because her child will be like a toy to hurt Wei. Mei is sure that he would wait until the child would be born so that he could hurt Wei the most at that time."

Jiang Ruiling was horrified. "You.."

"I know. It feels cold-hearted to say this, but that's how we work. We are spies. We gather information. And more than just information, we become tuned to study our enemy's personality too. Which enemy is rash, which one is patient, which one is more vulnerable and exploitable, and which ones are cold and calculated - we study everything.

The Cheng family is never involved with killing anybody. We simply spy and gather intel. The killing part is always up to the Jiangs, Yangs and the Lus. But.." she narrowed her eyes, "we don't kill doesn't mean we can't. Jiang Zhen has threatened Lihua and her baby's life. We won't stay on the sidelines anymore. We are ready to stain our hands with his blood."

Jiang Ruiling felt a shudder run through her spine. The warm Mrs. Zhang could also speak in such an icy tone..

The warmth returned. "Anyway. Let's go to the garden!"

---

Mrs. Zhang said, "You take a stroll while I will bring some tea for you!"

Jiang Ruiling stepped into the beautiful and lush green garden that was blooming with different, colorful flowers. The light fragrance in the air reached her nostrils, and strangely, she felt quite calm and peaceful.

She saw someone's back, and she gingerly walked up to that figure. Her eyes widened, and her expression turned frosty as she recognized Cheng Xinyue. He was gently digging up the soil to pour some compost for the lilies.

He jerked his head suddenly and narrowed his eyes.

Jiang Ruiling was stunned. "You are... gardening?"

He smiled. "Any problem, Miss Jiang?"

She was quite stunned to see that despite his cold and harsh demeanor, his hand work while tending to the flowers was really delicate and gentle.

"Is it so shocking to see me gardening?"

Jiang Ruiling coldly said, "If people hear the way you talk, they would definitely feel it's so contrasting to see you taking care of delicate flowers."

"Well if you think it like that, then aren't you so contrasting too? You are a politician's granddaughter and such an intelligent couple's daughter, but are you smart yourself since you were dumb enough to choose Shen Yang?"

The top of her lid was close to bursting out. "How dare you! You are humiliating Shen Yang again!"

"No. I am humiliating you because I just mocked your intelligence. And Shen Yang?" He sneered. "He is trash, who is not even worth humiliating anymore. It will be just a waste of my precious words. On the contrary, the curses would feel insulted if used upon him."

Veins popped on her forehead that she had an urge to grab that shovel lying on the ground and stab him with it.

She smiled. "You should really stop feeling jealous of Shen Yang."

"And you should stop being delusional. Not good for your health. Now, leave. You are disturbing my beautiful flowers with your irritating voice. They are crying in despair."

Her jaw dropped. She clenched her fists. "As if I want to tolerate your face anyway!"

Jiang Ruiling stomped with heavy steps towards the opposite direction. In the fit of her anger, she didn't see where she was walking and bumped hard into someone.

"Oh, I am really sorry! I wasn't watching my way..."

She lifted her gaze and saw a man worn in ragged and dirty clothes, stained with soil and carrying a trowel in his hand.

Oh, the gardener!

She awkwardly smiled.. "I am sorry."