No matter whose daughter she was, whether Jiang Mi's or a stranger's, he simply couldn't bring himself to dislike this child. In fact, his heart ached so much it felt like it would burst!
Seeing Jiang Jingxiu's fearsome gaze, the two girls flinched back in fright and dared not speak.
"Did you beat her into this state?" Jiang Jingxiu looked at Jiang Tian with immense disappointment.
"I already said she bit me first. If she hadn't bitten me, I wouldn't have hit her! Look at my hand!" Jiang Tian angrily thrust her hand forward.
With a sharp "Slap," Jiang Jingxiu struck Jiang Tian across the face. Jiang Tian's head snapped to the side, her expression one of disbelief. She slowly turned back, tears streaming down her cheeks in a display of hurt. "You hit me! How dare you hit me! I hate you, you're not my uncle anymore!"
Jiang Tian turned and fled. Tang Xinran tried to call her back, but Jiang Tian was already gone. Tang Xinran didn't leave. She turned to look at Jiang Jingxiu and said with a serious expression, "Brother-in-law, I know Jiang Tian was wrong to hit that child, but I am also responsible. I didn't stop her. Blame me if you must, hit me too... But we just thought you should know about Jiang Mi giving birth secretly, you can't let her deceive you."
"You have nothing to do with me, so I can't hit you... But I think you're right. Since you couldn't dissuade Jiang Tian, then stay away from her! Our Jiang family's affairs don't require your concern!" Jiang Jingxiu said coldly, then turned his gaze back to the emergency room, not looking at her again.
Tang Xinran couldn't believe how heartless he was towards her. What he meant was that both Jiang Tian and Jiang Mi were Jiang family members, related to him, and he had an obligation to manage them. But she herself was not a Jiang family member and had no relation to him, so whatever happened to her was none of his business.
How could Tang Xinran accept such an outcome?
"Brother-in-law, when I was in trouble, you were the one who helped me and allowed me to return to the Tang family. I must repay your kindness. I have an obligation to look after you in place of my deceased sister," Tang Xinran stated firmly.
Jiang Jingxiu had no time to listen to her words now. All he wanted was to know how Mian Mian was doing.
"If anything happens to the child, you and Jiang Tian will both be punished!"
"I know it's all my fault. I didn't stop Tian Tian, and I'm willing to bear all the consequences. Whether you want to kill me or flay me, I have no complaints!"
As long as she had some connection to him, she didn't care about anything else. Him being willing to punish her meant he would still see her, which was better than before when he wouldn't even see her at all.
Jiang Jingxiu said nothing more, merely pursing his lips and looking towards the emergency room.
...
Jiang Mi was distraught, unable to find her daughter. Before she could break down completely, she received a call from Jiang Tian. Jiang Tian was furious that Jiang Jingxiu had hit her for the sake of the bastard child Jiang Mi had given birth to. So, she called to verbally abuse Jiang Mi.
"Jiang Mi, what do you think you are? You're just a dog raised by our Jiang family, and your bastard child is just a little dog of our Jiang family! So what if I beat that bastard to death! She deserved it! Who told her to be born to a mother like you!"
Hearing Jiang Tian's words, Jiang Mi felt like killing someone. She forced herself to calm down and demanded, "Where is my daughter! Where did you take her!"
"Dead, I beat her to death! A sickly child, a few hits and she stopped breathing. She really couldn't take it! Far worse than you. I remember back then, no matter how hard I hit you, you wouldn't die!" Jiang Tian, having been slapped, was too angry and deliberately provoked Jiang Mi.