She was so self-righteous that it made Hu Jiasheng a little curious. "What do you mean?"
Mrs. Gao took a step closer to him, her tone earnest.
"I don't know if you know about Tang Nannan's past, but I think it's necessary to tell you."
"Her parents violated very serious laws, which will affect their descendants for three generations. Moreover, Tang Nannan has a mentally ill brother who will be a burden her entire life."
"Apart from a bit of beauty, there's nothing about her that deserves you. Open your eyes, A Sheng. Nan City is so big, and there are excellent girls everywhere. Even if you disregard background, you should at least find someone..."
Hu Jiasheng's rebellious streak was successfully ignited by her words. He interrupted Mrs. Gao and said with a cold sneer.
"Originally, I wasn't planning to get involved with Tang Nannan. But now, since she's so pitiful and so unwelcome by mothers like you, and it seems no one else will want her but me, I might as well take her."
"Now, to answer your question, Tang Nannan and I are boyfriend and girlfriend, and we'll be getting married soon. You're welcome to attend our wedding, madam."
"You!"
Mrs. Gao was almost angered to death.
"A Sheng, I know you're just saying that out of anger. You two haven't known each other long, and you don't have feelings for her yet. Don't do something you'll regret just to spite me."
"Who says we don't have feelings? Even Grandpa has approved of us. Why should I regret it?"
Hu Jiasheng said with a serious expression.
"Tang Nannan has no flaws except for being less cunning than you. She's more than good enough for me."
Mrs. Gao was extremely anxious. "A Sheng, I know Zhan Beijue and Jiang Nanfang are trying their best to encourage you two to be together, which has caused you to see Tang Nannan through rose-tinted glasses. She's very ordinary, but now you think she's outstanding."
"But think about it, have your feelings really reached that point? Does Zhan Beijue really need to bless you? Could this be his indirect way of trying to lower your standards?"
Hu Jiasheng was speechless at her words.
What kind of logic was this?
"As far as I know, if I'm not mistaken, Jiang Nanfang's background is no better than Tang Nannan's. What right does Zhan Beijue have to lower my standards in this matter?"
Mrs. Gao: "Jiang Nanfang's background is indeed not good, but they had a childhood engagement, and Jiang Nanfang's family has no criminal record. That's incomparable!"
"So, according to your logic, Tang Nannan deserves to be scorned because her parents are not worthy of a man, right?"
"There are still many men with poor conditions in this world, and many people who have no right to criticize Tang Nannan. Matching in social status is very important. She should be with people like them, so that there won't be conflicts in the future!"
After listening to her, Hu Jiasheng stared out the window speechlessly for two seconds, suddenly feeling fortunate that he didn't have a mother since childhood.
"I don't know what your father saw in you to be willing to abandon a woman from a prestigious family for you. But at least in my opinion, his decision was extremely absurd."
"Your own background isn't good either. If it weren't for your looks, would my father have noticed you? You yourself chose this path, but you don't allow Tang Nannan to? You're truly interesting."
"Tang Nannan said she's known you for a long time and that you watched her grow up. Given such a relationship, to be so malicious, I even have reason to suspect that your parents' misfortune is not unrelated to you."
Mrs. Gao was once again choked by him, and her heart trembled.
Although he had no proof, being suspected by his own son was truly painful.
"I know you're infatuated with her right now, and you won't listen to anything I say. Just like your father was with me back then... Fine, let's not talk about your matters, let's talk about something else."
Hu Jiasheng impatiently interrupted her.
"Anything else? I have nothing to say to you. Time is up, please move aside."
"No." Mrs. Gao spread her arms and blocked him.
"We have too few opportunities to interact openly. I must say everything today at once."
"A Sheng, I am your only biological mother. You are the only person in this world you can speak your true feelings to. Tell me honestly, have the Zhan family wronged you in any way? Do you hate them? Just nod, and I can make them disappear without a trace!"
Hu Jiasheng now felt she was a psychologically twisted lunatic.
"You think too highly of yourself. Do you think Zhan Beijue's head is filled with mush? Make him disappear without a trace? Go back and burn a few more incense sticks to bless yourself."
With that, he shoved her hard on the shoulder, making her stumble and almost fall onto the hospital bed. He then strode out of the ward.
Tang Nannan was waiting in the corridor not far away, standing tall and looking demure.
Hu Jiasheng walked over, grabbed her hand, and without a word, sped away with her to catch the elevator, as if fleeing for his life.
His strides were so large that Tang Nannan had to jog to keep up with him.
"Mr. Hu, what's wrong? What happened? Can you slow down a bit? I can't keep up."
Hu Jiasheng finally stopped and looked back at her.
Because of her hurried steps, Tang Nannan couldn't stop in time and bumped into his chest.
Her forehead hit his hard chin, causing her pain.
She subconsciously reached out to touch her forehead, and Hu Jiasheng covered it for her.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to. Does it hurt a lot?"
Since he apologized, how could she say it hurt?
Tang Nannan looked up and met his gaze, shaking her head.
"It's okay. Is your chin alright?"
"It's fine."
Although Hu Jiasheng had always known Tang Nannan was a beauty, with delicate skin, this was the first time he had observed her so closely today.
Her eyebrows were dark and curved, distinct and clear. Under the fluorescent light, they had a gentle glow, far better than meticulously drawn ones.
Her eyes were like a lake forgotten in a paradise, so blue, so clear, so large, and so bright.
His reflection in them seemed to shine brilliantly.
Her nose was high and delicate, her mouth small, with a slightly pouty upper lip that formed a beautiful curve.
Paired with her fair, flawless skin, she was truly impeccably beautiful.
Such a person had traveled from Sucheng to Nancheng behind his back.
She had said so many things, openly and subtly, about wanting to be with him. How could he have rejected her?
Thinking about what Mrs. Gao had just said, and imagining if Tang Nannan were to date someone else, even an ordinary person, their mothers would still dislike her background and her sick brother. How hopeless would her life be?
He suddenly felt a pang of sympathy for her.
Hu Jiasheng blew gently on her reddened forehead and rubbed it. Then, his hand moved to her chin, lifting her face.
"Can I ask you a question?"