Chapter 13: Tang Zhishu Fell into Her Memories Looking at the Photo

Tang Zhishu, staring at the jade bracelet in her hand, didn’t notice the flicker of guilt and hesitation on her grandfather’s face.

Frowning at the aged bracelet, she said, “It’s not like I suddenly remembered. A certain stingy person asked about it, so I got curious and decided to ask you.”

Grandfather Tang didn’t pay attention to who this “person” might be. When Tang Zhishu wasn’t looking, his cloudy eyes darted to the three old friends sitting across and beside him.

The three old men instantly understood the signal.

Grandfather Tang cleared his throat awkwardly and forced a smile. “There’s no story behind it, really. I just won it from a sly and annoying old scoundrel back in the day. The jade is old and valuable, so I thought it’d be good for you to keep it safe.”

“A sly old scoundrel? If you didn’t like him, why would you give the bracelet to me and tell me to take good care of it?” Tang Zhishu looked up at him, confused.

Under her questioning gaze, her grandfather immediately felt guilty.

“You don’t understand, girl. The man might not have been great, but the bracelet is priceless. Since your grandpa told you to keep it safe, just wear it and don’t lose it,” one of his old friends quickly chimed in, rescuing the situation.

Hearing this, Tang Zhishu nodded in understanding.

But for some reason, she still felt something was off.

Her intuition told her that Yan Kui definitely knew about the bracelet. He might even know its origin. Otherwise, given his personality, there was no way he’d randomly ask her those questions.

However, since her grandfather had already said what he did, she couldn’t be bothered to ask further.

Noticing that Tang Zhishu had dropped the subject, Grandfather Tang let out a silent sigh of relief, casting a grateful glance at his old friends.

Tang Zhishu stood up, walked over to the other side, and picked up her grandfather’s beloved teapot. She poured him a cup of tea, took a sip, and praised, “Grandpa, your tea-making skills are getting better and better.”

Relieved by the change in conversation, Grandfather Tang laughed heartily. “Of course! If you like it, drink as much as you want. If you finish it, Grandpa will brew more for you.”

Tang Zhishu grinned widely.

Suddenly, a sharp and raspy voice rang out from not far away.

“Tang Zhishu! How dare you come here to see Grandpa! Grandpa, you have to stand up for me…”

Tang Xin approached, her face swollen like a pig’s, crying pitifully in front of Grandfather Tang.

Behind her stood Chen Jingqi, whose face was also bruised. Seeing her daughter crying, she lifted her hand to wipe away her own tears. But as soon as she touched her eye, the pain twisted her features into a grotesque expression. The sight of the two was both pitiful and somewhat comical.

Grandfather Tang’s brow furrowed, his face becoming stern. His once sharp eyes, now slightly clouded with age, glanced at the two women. His voice, though old, carried a cold edge: “What happened?”

Tang Xin immediately began to cry, “Grandpa, it was Tang Zhishu who beat me and my mom like this. My face is ruined! How are we supposed to face anyone now? Grandpa, you have to stand up for me!”

Hearing this, Grandfather Tang’s brow furrowed.

The three old friends sitting with him saw the situation unfold and knew it was time to leave. After exchanging a few words with Grandfather Tang, they stood up and left.

Throughout the entire exchange, Tang Zhishu remained completely relaxed, sitting lazily on the stone stool. She held a teacup in her slender hand, sipping tea casually as if Tang Xin’s complaints had nothing to do with her.

Grandfather Tang looked at his granddaughter’s unbothered attitude, noting that she lacked the expected poise of a young lady from a respectable family. His frown deepened.

With a stern face, he said, “I know Zhisu’s temper better than anyone. She wouldn’t hit you for no reason. Did you do something to provoke her?”

Chen Jingqi, clearly unhappy, quickly interjected, “Dad, Xin didn’t do anything. She was just curious and went into Tang Zhishu’s room. That’s all. But for such a small matter, they beat us like this. You can’t be biased, Dad. You must stand up for us.”

As soon as Chen Jingqi said this, Grandfather Tang’s expression turned cold.

Realizing her outburst had crossed a line, Chen Jingqi quickly lowered her head in fear, her face turning pale. Yet deep inside, she felt resentment and even a hint of hatred towards the old man. In his eyes, only his daughter and granddaughter mattered. He never cared about her Xin or her son.

Grandfather Tang had always been displeased with his eldest son’s wife. Not only did she fail to set a good example as a mother, but she also raised two children in such a manner.

“Are you sure all you did was enter my room and nothing else?”

At this point, Tang Zhishu, who had been silent, spoke coldly, her clear, pleasant voice cutting through the tension.

Before Tang Xin and Chen Jingqi could come up with a defense, Grandfather Tang furrowed his pale brows and asked in a deep voice, “Zhishu, what’s going on?”

Tang Zhishu placed her teacup down, stood up lazily, and stretched. Then, with eyes full of icy sharpness, she looked directly at Tang Xin and said, “Grandpa, she entered my room and burned the photos of me and my brother. If I didn’t chop off her hands, it’s only because of respect for you.”

With that, Tang Zhishu turned and left, not bothering to listen to the annoying voices of the two women any longer.

As soon as Tang Zhishu left, Grandfather Tang’s face darkened completely.

His aura, cultivated over decades of authority, was enough to make even his two sons lower their heads in fear, let alone these two women.

Tang Xin and Chen Jingqi turned pale, trembling with fear.

Grandfather Tang’s old voice carried a cold finality as he said, “I will let Qingyu handle this matter.”

As those words fell, the old man picked up his cane and left without another word.

Tang Xin and Chen Jingqi, upon hearing that, burst into tears.

“Grandpa, please don’t tell Dad! If he finds out, he’ll break my legs!” Tang Xin cried as she tried to chase after him, only to be stopped by the guards.

Meanwhile, Tang Zhishu returned to her bedroom. She carefully retrieved the photo of Tang Weiwen she had placed back in the cabinet.

The corner of the photo had been burned.

Looking at the picture, which had yellowed with age, it was clear that it had been through a lot of years.

The photo showed two children around four years old, their appearances strikingly similar.

As Tang Zhishu stared at the picture, she slowly fell into her memories…