"Jingjing, although what your uncle did was wrong, he wouldn't have been driven to desperation if it wasn't for your aunt's illness," Aunt Mu said cautiously, seeing her daughter's indignant expression.
Mu Linjing found the words grating. Her eyebrows furrowed. Did her mother mean she was blaming her for not paying her aunt's medical expenses?
"You think it's appropriate for a grown man, perfectly capable, to ask me for money?" Mu Linjing's eyes held a hint of mockery. She let out a sarcastic scoff.
Aunt Mu was speechless. She sat beside Mu Linjing, flustered, a hint of embarrassment on her face.
Mu Linjing's lips turned down. She threw the remote control, radiating displeasure.
Aunt Mu pondered for a few seconds, then, observing her daughter's expression, she spoke earnestly.
"Yes, your uncle was wrong, and now he's been punished."
Mu Linjing responded reluctantly, her gaze flicking indifferently towards Aunt Mu, waiting for her to continue.
"But your aunt's illness cannot be delayed. With your uncle gone, we are her only remaining relatives. We should help her," Aunt Mu conceded, reasoning with Mu Linjing.
Mu Linjing fell silent for a moment. She lowered her head, her cascading hair obscuring her expression. She bit her lip, a shadow darkening her eyes.
Her uncle had caused a scene at the company precisely because of her aunt's medical fees. If she yielded now, wouldn't the trouble she'd endured from her demotion be in vain?
"I've already helped their family enough. If Xin Yi hadn't gone too far and crossed my bottom line, and if they hadn't insisted on falling out with the Zhan family, I wouldn't have cut ties with them!"
Mu Linjing spoke self-righteously, not looking at Aunt Mu, her eyes fixed on the soap opera on the television. Sometimes, soap operas were more engaging than certain people or their words.
Aunt Mu sighed repeatedly. She knew her brother's family was in the wrong this time, but she couldn't just watch her sister-in-law be driven out of the hospital in such a state.
"Jingjing, even for the sake of blood relations, help your aunt. Do you really want neighbors pointing fingers at us and gossiping?"
Aunt Mu held traditional views. The thought of rumors spreading through the streets made her uncomfortable.
"You know how much these rumors affect our reputation. And your aunt is not of sound mind; she needs to be hospitalized immediately. We can't just watch her die, can we?"
Aunt Mu pleaded earnestly with Mu Linjing, and seeing her daughter's attention still on the TV, she reached out and patted her hand.
Mu Linjing sighed inwardly, a sense of helplessness washing over her. She turned to face Aunt Mu, noticing a few strands of gray at her temples.
Her mother had come all the way from their hometown, determined to persuade her. Her words weren't entirely wrong; her aunt truly had no other relatives but them. Morally, she couldn't stand by and watch her aunt die.
"I understand. I'll pay for my aunt's medical expenses so she can focus on her treatment." Mu Linjing finally relented, a heavy feeling in her chest dissipating. She glanced at the apple on the coffee table, its flesh oxidized to a faint brown. Mu Linjing swept it into the trash.
"That's good, that's good! My good daughter. When your uncle gets out, I'll give him a good talking to." Aunt Mu, having achieved her goal, breathed a sigh of relief and patted Mu Linjing's back reassuringly.
Mu Linjing nodded indifferently. She didn't put much stock in her aunt's words. Habits die hard, and people rarely change. If her uncle's family were capable of change, they wouldn't have clung to them from the start.
Aunt Mu's face brightened slightly. Suddenly, she remembered something and leaned closer to Mu Linjing.
"Also, Xin Yi still hasn't been found. Is there anything you can do about that..."
As her aunt's words grew increasingly outlandish, Mu Linjing couldn't suppress her rising temper. She placed her cup down on the coffee table with a resonant clatter.
"Mom! Zhang Xin Yi tried to seduce my husband. How long are you going to indulge her? If they want to find her, they should report it to the police!"
"I was just saying. Don't get angry, or you'll get wrinkles." Aunt Mu quickly stopped speaking. She put her arm around Mu Linjing's shoulders, trying to calm her daughter down.
Mu Linjing felt extremely vexed. She mumbled a reply to her aunt and then retreated to the study to handle work matters.
Aunt Mu's worries weren't unfounded. For over ten days, Zhang Xin Yi's whereabouts remained unknown. Her husband had been detained for six months, and now her daughter was missing. Liu Xin was burning with anxiety and had fallen ill again.
Day and night alternated, time flew by, and another half a month passed.
One day, bank employees arrived at the apartment Zhang Xin Yi had rented. They knocked loudly, but there was no response for a long time.
"Who are you looking for? This family hasn't been back in a long time," a neighbor, hearing the commotion, came out to explain.
"We're looking for Zhang Xin Yi. Do you know where she's gone?" The bank employees exchanged glances and politely asked the neighbor.
"I don't know. She hasn't been back for a very long time," the neighbor replied, shaking her head.
"Thank you." Having found no trace of Zhang Xin Yi, the employees prepared to leave.
Not far away, a woman hiding in a corner watched these people intently. She had overheard their conversation and looked confused. She didn't recognize these people. Why were they looking for her?
Zhang Xin Yi pondered for a moment, then her eyes lit up. Perhaps her parents, unable to find her, had been pestering the Zhan family day and night, and the Zhan family, exasperated, had sent someone to find her!
Hmph, this time, no matter what, she would make the Zhan family compensate her a large sum for emotional distress and to make up for her suffering these past few days!
Thinking this, Zhang Xin Yi puffed out her chest and swaggered over to the group, blocking their path.
"Is there something you need?" The people in front of her, a woman heavily veiled, exchanged glances and asked.
"That's what I should be asking you. Why are you looking for me? Is it the Zhan family..."
Zhang Xin Yi let out a soft scoff. She removed her oversized sunglasses, a triumphant smile on her face.
"It seems Ms. Zhang has a misunderstanding." The bank employees recognized Zhang Xin Yi immediately and exchanged amused smiles.
They had indeed searched high and low and found her without effort!
"What? Is it not?" Zhang Xin Yi, seeing the group surround her, clutched her sunglasses nervously and looked at them warily.
"Ms. Zhang, we are from the bank, collecting a debt. The substantial amount you owe our bank remains unpaid," the employees cleared their throats and stated seriously.