Chapter 16: The Watch, Cause and Effect (Please Continue Reading)
Tang Tianxing’s eldest son, Tang Mian, was abroad on a business trip, while his second son, Tang Guan, was at the company.
Seeing his father return, Tang Guan took a fruit plate from the secretary and entered the chairman’s office.
Tang Tianxing flipped through some documents, glanced up briefly, and took a piece of watermelon.
His eyes caught the Rolex watch on his son’s wrist.
After Tang Guan finished his standing report, Tang Tianxing, with a cool and indifferent tone, said a few words and then took off his own watch.
“Give me that one.”
“?”
What’s the worth of that cheap yacht? Tang Guan was a bit puzzled but dared not ask and complied.
After Tang Tianxing put on the “new watch,” he examined it with satisfaction.
Pointing to the old watch in Tang Guan’s hands, he said, “This was bought by Shen Wei in Macau last year, right? I appreciate the thought. Since it belongs to your wife, it’s better you wear it.”
...
A son understands his father’s nature best.
Tang Tianxing, who had become much calmer in recent years but also more eccentric, remained unchanged in one aspect—he never wasted effort on useless matters.
This watch exchange left the second son puzzled for hours without finding any meaning.
Tang Guan knew well that his wife, Shen Wei, was merely a timid, fragile ornament.
She was pretty, yes, but of humble origins.
If he hadn’t fought hard for her when they married, she would never have entered the Tang family.
Shen Wei... the watch... Macau...
Tang Guan summoned his assistant and handed over the watch.
“Have it inspected.”
An hour later.
Seven months pregnant and staying at Zhao Yuling’s house, Shen Wei received a call from her husband, Tang Guan.
Zhao Yuling was the only daughter of Zhao Zhijing, director of neurology at the Central Hospital and an honorary professor at the National Medical University.
Thanks to her father’s close ties with the province’s wealthiest man, she was accustomed to mingling among the second-generation elite and was a well-known socialite.
She especially enjoyed interacting with the naïve and simple Shen Wei, daughter-in-law of the Tang family.
Every word and deed shared with Shen Wei gave Zhao Yuling a sense of intellectual superiority.
Noticing Shen Wei’s somber expression after hanging up, Zhao Yuling hurriedly asked why she was leaving so suddenly.
Shen Wei pursed her lips, shook her head silently, and seemed unusually anxious.
Lowering her voice and winking playfully, Zhao Yuling teased,
“Could it be something with Bai Xiaonian again? You two slept together? Got addicted or what?
“Well, it’s almost eight months now, so it’s normal to be craving.
“I’ll tell you, at this stage, you don’t even need protection.”
Shen Wei blushed deeply, embarrassed and flustered:
“Don’t say nonsense. I haven’t seen him since Macau.”
Shen Wei was a country girl; even after marrying into a wealthy family, she remained soft and cautious in everything she did.
In truth, her husband doted on her and introduced many friends to help her become more outgoing, including Zhao Yuling.
Last Christmas, Zhao Yuling invited Shen Wei on a seven-day trip to Hong Kong and Macau.
Usually hesitant to leave home, Shen Wei was reluctant but was persuaded by her husband that travel would broaden her horizons.
He even gave her some money to pick out a nice watch as a birthday gift for his father, hoping to soften her reserved nature and make her more likable.
So, Shen Wei nervously embarked on her first trip.
But upon arrival, she discovered two friends Zhao Yuling had never mentioned were already waiting in Hong Kong.
They accompanied them, played along, and carried bags.
Shen Wei was innocent and had never been close to any other men before.
She took them as genuine friends of Zhao Yuling.
Until one drunken night, she woke to find herself naked in bed next to the handsome Bai Xiaonian.
Terrified, she resisted, but after his repeated coercions, Shen Wei felt as if a new world had opened before her.
She realized that being a woman could bring such pleasure.
One day, drunk and drunk, Bai Xiaonian dragged her to a casino, where she lost nearly a million, left with only five thousand.
The Nautilus watch meant as a gift for her father-in-law was a cheap Guangzhou brand, worth only three thousand.
These sordid events from last year had never come to light.
Until today... until just a few hours ago.
When Shen Wei was slapped by her usually doting husband Tang Guan, she still did not know that the entire Christmas trip was a scheme.
The dear friend Zhao Yuling and those two “little ducks” had made tens of thousands from her.
She blamed herself for her unfaithfulness and felt deeply guilty.
At that moment, as Shen Wei reached the door, Zhao Yuling called out to her.
Generously, Zhao Yuling handed her the flower pot she had been admiring all day.
“Too shy to ask? Fine, take it.
“But my dad said this is called mandrake, poisonous. Be careful.”
...
Shen Wei arrived home at two a.m.
By three a.m., she was crying as she confessed everything about Bai Xiaonian.
...
Three months later, a paternity test showed that the newborn boy was not related by blood to Tang Guan.
Nor to the Tang family at all.
Soon after, Bai Xiaonian was captured in Chaoshan by men sent by Tang Guan, his three legs broken, and abandoned in the mountains of southern Yunnan to die.
...
Four days after the scandal, Zhao Zhijing returned home with Lin Jiajia and the research team.
But it wasn’t long before they noticed the mandrake plant had disappeared.
-----------------
At this very moment,
A small butterfly fluttered among the dappled shadows of the street, tightly embracing Tang Wan.
“I’ve given you a few sips of honey as a sweet reward. On the days I don’t see you, I will miss you.”
After speaking, Tang Wan turned and walked away.
That night, Xia An, like many others influenced by him but unknown to him, barely slept.
The next morning, he was awakened by his vibrating phone.
On the other end, Le Ning said, “Come pick me up. Let’s go to Chi’ao’s graduation banquet together.”
Psychologically, Xia An instinctively wanted to avoid Le Ning.
But hearing “come pick me up,” still groggy, he subconsciously replied,
“All right, wait a moment.”
Throughout their long acquaintance and brief marriage, whenever Xia An picked up Le Ning, he always answered, “Okay, wait a moment.”
Then, no matter the weather or time, Le Ning never pressed him and simply waited quietly.
Scratching his head, Xia An sighed and got up to wash.
With foam at the corner of his mouth, staring at his reflection, he felt a strange emotion.
Why could he accept Tang Wan with relative gentleness, but not Le Ning?
Was it subconscious guilt?
As memories of his past life surfaced, Xia An grew distracted and stepped out.
...
...
Le Ning came from a scholarly family of good standing.
She was skilled in music, calm and reserved, highly disciplined, and strong-willed.
Only a life of material abundance could nurture a girl with such a refined temperament.
Xia An found Le Ning’s residential complex according to memory.
It was a gated community with new buildings and elevators.
The greenery was well maintained, with a security guard and underground parking.
Heavy rain fell in the early hours but stopped by morning, cooling the recent oppressive heat.
The bright sun, green trees, and fragrant grass of midsummer suddenly felt refreshing.
After sending Le Ning a text, Xia An stood in the shade across the street, waiting.
Soon, he spotted a graceful and elegant young woman walking along the path beyond the gatehouse.
Suddenly, Xia An’s eyes lit up.