Chapter 19: She Was About to Do Something Bad

Old Madam Mao, realizing she couldn’t break free from Li Juan and Aunt Chang’s grasp, seized an opening and suddenly spun around, aiming to scratch Tao Yu with her blackened nails.

Tao Yu’s face turned cold as she reached out and firmly seized Old Madam Mao’s hand, stopping her nails from scratching her face.

Ignoring everything else, Old Madam Mao pushed Tao Yu hard, trying to force her back.

Tao Yu, surprisingly, stumbled backward. She had underestimated the strength of Old Madam Mao, and despite her improved health, she was still far weaker than before. It was a miscalculation.

Li Juan and Aunt Chang, seeing Tao Yu being pushed back, hurried to intervene, but Old Madam Mao continued to shove Tao Yu toward the door.

With a final, forceful push, Tao Yu stumbled backward and nearly crossed the threshold. But just as she was about to lose her balance, she suddenly felt a broad, warm chest pressing against her back.

A pair of strong hands immediately grasped her arms, stopping her from falling.

A familiar, musky scent enveloped her, calming her as the hands effortlessly stabilized her.

Tao Yu turned her head.

“Are you okay?”

The low, warm voice was soothing.

Tao Yu shook her head. “I’m fine.”

The hands on her arms withdrew, and the person behind her stepped back with graceful manners.

Thank you, Director Song.”

Tao Yu simply thanked him, then turned to look at the courtyard.

To her surprise, Old Madam Mao had already freed herself from Li Juan and Aunt Chang’s hold and was running around the yard, trying to escape.

Suddenly, Old Madam Mao grabbed the firewood stick from the ground and rushed into the main room, clearly intending to smash the two sewing machines inside.

“Li Juan! You broke my new basin, so I’ll smash your broken sewing machines!” she shouted.

That’s right, smash them! How dare this poor woman have a sewing machine! She didn’t deserve it!

“You and your little mental case daughter should just stay in the old compound forever!”

Li Juan and Aunt Chang’s faces turned red with anger.

At some point, Song Hecheng, with a raised eyebrow, signaled, and another fast figure swiftly passed Li Juan and the others, grabbing Old Madam Mao’s arm before she could cause any harm.

It was Xiao Zhang.

Li Juan and Aunt Chang watched as Xiao Zhang quickly subdued Old Madam Mao with ease.

Tao Yu, recognizing the skill, realized that Xiao Zhang must have received military training.

Soon after, the shift change sentries arrived, and together they took Old Madam Mao to the police station.

Li Juan and Aunt Chang were left shaken, still in shock at how bold and vicious Old Madam Mao had been.

They realized they needed to be more careful going forward.

Tao Yu, on the other hand, had already regained her composure and calmly watched the tall figure of Song Hecheng, who had unknowingly walked off. A faint, cold smile played at the corner of her lips.

“Little mental case?” she mused. Old Madam Mao really liked calling her that.

Song Hecheng must have heard it, especially since she had shouted it so clearly and loudly.

What would he think when he heard it?

As Tao Yu thought about her next steps, a slight excitement bubbled inside her. This was getting more interesting…

As for Old Madam Mao, if Song Hecheng hadn’t been there today, how would Tao Yu have handled things?

It wouldn’t have been hard.

Even though Tao Yu wasn’t as strong as before and hadn’t gotten the firewood stick from the yard, when she stepped out of the yard, she had already spotted a sharp stone on the ground.

If she had attacked from behind…

Perhaps Old Madam Mao wouldn’t have been taken away so easily. Instead, she might have ended up with a bloody head injury…

At dinner, Xiao Zhang couldn’t resist Li Juan’s hospitality and stayed along with Aunt Chang, making it a gathering for four.

“The matter of the house”

After hearing this, Xiao Zhang immediately had an epiphany and swore,
“No! Mr. Song, I guarantee no one has said anything! I only mentioned it to Uncle Yu, and I said Uncle Yu was planning to rent out the house…”

Although in the end, Mr. Song didn’t say anything and just got out of the car,
Xiao Zhang couldn’t quite figure out Mr. Song’s thoughtful expression.

So, this time, he kept his mouth shut even tighter and didn’t dare to babble.

After wolfing down his meal, Xiao Zhang even started chatting with Aunt Chang.
Li Juan looked at the boy and couldn’t help but feel more and more satisfied.
He could eat! He was articulate!
He had good fighting skills!
He really was the perfect son-in-law candidate!

Li Juan was very pleased and was about to ask about Xiao Zhang’s family background,
but the thick-skinned Xiao Zhang suddenly remembered that he still had to go back to wash the car.

He didn’t dare to chat anymore, hurriedly said goodbye, and left quickly,
which left Li Juan somewhat regretful.

At the Song family’s courtyard

After Xiao Zhang belched and hummed a song as he returned,
he went to the courtyard and was about to go to the back to wash the car.

“Was the food good?”
A deep, emotionless voice suddenly sounded.

Xiao Zhang, being his usual oblivious self, saw that it was Mr. Song sitting in a rocking chair reading a book,
so he immediately brought a chair over and sat next to Mr. Song.
Then he started talking about everything he had learned while eating at Tao Yu’s house.

“Tao Yu’s family is just her and her mother. I heard her old man secretly sold the house and ran off with the money.”

“Eh, Tao Yu’s really pitiful. No wonder she sells vegetables and clothes, and still has to work as a food server in our cafeteria.”

“By the way, their food is pretty good, though.”

Then Xiao Zhang went on to list what dishes Tao’s family had served that night and which was the best.
He looked like he still hadn’t had enough, so embarrassed.

For the next 15 minutes, Xiao Zhang didn’t stop talking.
He was truly a big mouth…

Even when Mr. Song furrowed his brows from the chair, Xiao Zhang didn’t notice.

Eventually, Mr. Song stood up, his patience worn thin.

He left Xiao Zhang with only one sentence:
“The car, wash it three times.”

Xiao Zhang watched Mr. Song’s retreating figure, stunned.
Wasn’t it usually just one wash? Why three times today?
Oh heavens! What time would he be able to sleep tonight…

Late at night, the house at the alley’s entrance

In Tao Yu’s room, it was just her alone.
At this moment, she lay comfortably on the bed, wearing light clothing,
and through the old flowered window, she looked up at the moonlight outside.
The moonlight fell on her forehead, enhancing her allure.
If anyone could see her, they might mistake her for a seductive creature absorbing moonlight.

Tao Yu ran her hand through her once-dull long hair.
After some time of recovery, miraculously, her hair had become smooth and shiny,
it could now rival the finest black satin.
Soft and smooth, it cascaded down her shoulders.

It was exactly where Mr. Song had supported her earlier today.

Tao Yu, in a rare good mood, found that her previously sudden mood swings had disappeared quickly after meeting Mr. Song,
and the scent of Du Heng on him helped her to calm down even more.

It was strange.
Her usually indifferent heart seemed to be growing more interested in Mr. Song.
Finally, something could excite her!
She definitely couldn’t let go of it.

It seemed she could no longer suppress it.
She was going to do something bad.