Chapter 24 Suit
The nanny placed the last broken piece of porcelain in a trash bag and tiptoed out of the living room. Sunlight slanted in through the French windows, casting mottled shadows on the carpet, but it couldn't dispel the dullness that permeated the air.
Ling Shen leaned back on the leather sofa, his Adam's apple trembling slightly with his breathing, and the strands of hair on his forehead were soaked with cold sweat, casting a messy shadow under the warm yellow floor lamp.
He reached out and pressed his throbbing temples. The icy cracks that flew when the celadon teacup shattered were still burning his retina.
He never knew that in Jiang Qichen's heart, Jiang Yi's life-saving grace had become a bargaining chip to threaten him and the Ling family at will.
“You’ve been trapped for too long.”
He suddenly remembered that when Lucas said this, he was shaking the ice in the whiskey glass. The water droplets condensed on the wall of the crystal glass looked very much like the cold sweat oozing from the back of his neck at this moment.
Yes, because of this favor, he allowed Jiang Yi to act recklessly around him and allowed the Jiang family to expand step by step under the banner of the Ling family.
Compared to Ling Shen's exhaustion, Ling's father, who had been furious, was unusually calm. He began to recall Jiang Qichen's last expression and words.
That unnatural expression, the evasive look when he mentioned Jiang Yi saving Ling Shen, the words "I just helped..." Helped what? Could it be that it wasn't Jiang Yi who saved Ling Shen back then, and Jiang Yi was just helping Ling Shen back home?
Father Ling was shocked by his own thoughts. He looked deeply at his son with his eyes closed, and his Adam's apple rolled violently. If everything was really as he thought, then their Ling family would be the biggest joke in the world.
Ling's father quickly made a decision. No matter what happened, he had to get to the bottom of it. This was not only for the Ling family, but also for Ling Shen.
Because of Jiang Yi, his son had been trapped there for too long, as if he had never been rescued. And because of this incident, the Jiang family arrogantly threatened their own son.
Before this, Ling Shen couldn't know any of this. Ling's father knew that if Ling Shen knew Jiang Yi wasn't the one who saved him, given his temperament, he would definitely confront Jiang Yi directly. Then, they would lose the initiative to control the Jiang family, and the Jiang family might even hide everything that happened before.
Thinking of this, Ling's father looked at Ling Shen again, his eyes becoming firm and cold. Since the Jiang family and Jiang Yi dared to plot against the Ling family, they should be prepared to accept the Ling family's revenge.
Jiang Qichen, having left the Ling family, had no idea how much trouble his momentary negligence had caused them. His father, whom he had thought was harmless, turned out to be a dormant beast, and his previous gentle appearance was simply because his bottom line had not been crossed.
"What happened?" Ling's mother saw the father and son staring at each other in silence. "Jiang Qichen is gone?"
Confused, Ling's mother sat on the sofa and curiously asked Ling's father who was flipping through his phone.
Ling's father didn't want Ling's mother to know about these upsetting things, so he patted her hand gently and said, "It's okay. There's nothing to do at home. Why don't you let Ah Shen go out for a walk with you?"
Looking at Ling's father's expression, Mother Ling knew he must be hiding something from her. However, after years of marital rapport, she knew very well that Ling's father didn't want her to be involved in these matters. She was also confident that her husband would be able to handle it, a trust that came from the bottom of her heart.
She did not ask any further questions, but just placed her cold palm on the back of her husband's warm hand. The couple smiled at each other, and everything was said without words.
Ling Shen looked at his parents' affectionate appearance, thinking that there was really nothing to do at home, and since he hadn't been with his mother for a long time, he naturally agreed.
Ling's mother took Ling Shen's arm and drove towards the mall. Ling's father stood at the window and watched the car gradually disappear at the end of the road. "Go and find out what happened that year. No matter what method you use, you must pry open the mouths of those who know the truth."
The butler who appeared behind Ling's father at some point nodded silently and left quietly.
"Jiang family, Jiang Qichen. It's best that you are ready." Ling's father stroked the jade necklace on his wrist, and the emerald green beads reflected dazzling light in the sunlight.
"Mrs. Ling, you are here. There is a Suzhou embroidery exhibition today. Would you like to take a look?" The sales manager walked quickly forward in ten-centimeter high heels, her pearl earrings swaying slightly with her movements, and her professional smile was just the right amount of warmth.
The palace lanterns on the display stand behind her illuminated the Suzhou embroidery exhibits with radiant light, and the peonies outlined with gold thread appeared vivid on the silk.
Ling Shen tilted his head to gaze at the dazzling array of Suzhou embroidery pieces in the exhibition hall. The warm yellow light stained the brocade fabric amber. He reached out to support his mother's slightly bent back, the watch face gleaming coldly from the cuff of his suit. "Mom, let's go take a look. I think there are a few pieces that would suit you."
Ling's mother smiled as her son spoke, fine lines forming at the corners of her eyes. In her youth, she had been a renowned cheongsam beauty, and even now, despite her frosted hair, her every move still carried the elegance of a lady from an aristocratic family.
The salespeople had received the news early, and three or five of them surrounded Ling's mother to introduce the newly arrived Suzhou embroidery garments. When the silk fabrics were unfolded in their hands, a faint sandalwood fragrance was emitted.
Ling Shen could only sit on the carved mahogany sofa, feeling somewhat bored, the golden nanmu armrests showing a warm patina.
The brochure in his hand was thick, emblazoned with the words "Jointly Designed by Suzhou Embroidery Masters" in gold-stamped font. As he flipped through the pages, a single image caught Ling Shen's attention: a beautifully tailored white suit, embroidered with vibrant wintersweet blossoms on the shoulders and hem. The stitching was as fine as moonlight drifting on a snowy night, and the crimson petals, seemingly soaked in morning dew, exploded with a breathtaking burst of color against the pristine white background.
Ling Shen's Adam's apple rolled unconsciously. He closed his eyes, and Su Nian's cold eyes immediately appeared in his mind.
If he wore this dress and stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window drinking coffee, he would probably be like cinnabar suddenly jumping out of an ink painting - alienated and fiery, isolated and independent.
Thinking of this, his fingers unconsciously stroked the edge of the brochure, and he didn't even notice the curve of his mouth.
At that moment, Ling's mother came out, having changed into a navy blue cheongsam. The cheongsam was embroidered with gold brocade to depict a blooming lotus, and the jade buttons at the collar trembled with her movements.
She watched her son, lost in thought, poring over the brochure and raising her hand to signal the salesperson who was about to approach her to leave. She had no idea what Ling Shen was thinking, nor did she know what had happened at home.
But at least now, she hopes Ling Shen's happiness can last a little longer.
When Ling Shen came to his senses, he turned around and saw his mother's loving eyes. The light behind him cast a soft glow on his mother.
Ling Shen touched his nose a little embarrassedly, put the brochure aside, stood up and walked towards Ling's mother.
Ling's mother smiled and nodded. She took Ling Shen's hand and gently patted the back of his hand. "See something you like? If you like it, then decide on it."
Before he finished speaking, Ling Shen had already taken the off-white cashmere shawl from the salesperson and gently passed it around his mother. The cashmere fibers were fluffy and soft, making Ling's mother's silver hair look even softer.
"I'm here with you today, how can you just take care of yourself?" When Ling Shen lowered his head to adjust his shawl, he smelled the familiar jasmine scent in his mother's hair.
Looking up at the mirror, the off-white cashmere shawl made Ling's mother look even more graceful. "This one is very beautiful. Wrap it up. You can pick out a few more. I will accompany you today."
The salesperson stepped forward at the right moment, with just the right amount of compliments in his tone, "Mrs. Ling is so lucky. Mr. Ling is so thoughtful."
Ling's mother turned half a circle in front of the dressing mirror. Her reflection remained straight and tall. She sighed softly, her fingertips tracing the hibiscus petals on her cheongsam. "I actually hope he brings me someone more considerate." Her tone trailed off with a hint of resentment, but the anticipation in her eyes couldn't be concealed.
Ling Shen watched his mother enter the fitting room, his fingers unconsciously tapping the armrest of the sofa. He beckoned the salesperson over. As the brochure was opened, the wintersweet pattern shone brighter in the warm light. "Pack this dress for me."
As the salesperson unloaded the dress, Ling Shen's fingers paused in mid-air for a moment. The real thing was even more stunning than the picture. The unique double-sided, different-color embroidery technique of Suzhou embroidery made the wintersweet delicate on the front and elegant on the back. His fingertips brushed over the finely stitched petals, as if touching Su Nian's cool fingertips.
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