The Substitute Bride and the Cripple

After getting into the car, Jiang Shaocheng used an egg to soothe the red handprint on Tang Qiu’s face. “Does it still hurt?”

Tang Qiu smiled and shook her head, but her brows creased when the hot egg rolled over her cheek. It was obvious that she was enduring the pain.

Jiang Shaocheng felt a tinge of pain. “I told you, Qiu, you don’t have to put on an act in front of me. You can laugh if you’re happy, and cry if you’re uncomfortable.”

Tang Qiu blinked rapidly. “I’m not sad.”

Jiang Shaocheng was helpless. “Maybe, but you don’t look happy either.” He pulled her into his embrace, as if his arms alone could shield her from the world. “Will you be angry if I ask you to cut ties with your grandmother?”

Tang Qiu bit her lip and shook her head. “I have the Tang family’s surname, but I know I’m not one of them. My mother ruined someone else’s marriage, and I have to pay the price. I harbor no resentment over it; it doesn’t matter if they bully me. I’ve learned to protect myself and survive, and I think I’m managing just fine.”

“That’s not true.” Jiang Shaocheng’s tone was serious. He lifted her chin. “You know deep down you want to fight back, and that you shouldn’t have had to endure what you have. You’re my wife, Qiu. Your place–your home–is with me. We’ll be happier together than you ever were.”

Tang Qiu stared at him, unblinking, teary-eyed.

Jiang Shaocheng wiped her tears, but they kept flowing. He lowered his head and kissed her eyelids. “I’ll always be with you. No one can bully you, not with me protecting you. You can share your happiness and pain with me.”

Tang Qiu was touched. She leaned on his shoulder, unable to stifle her sobs. “I hate my mother. I really hate her! I know I’m horrible, but… Why did she give birth to me in the first place? Why didn’t she take me away? I’ve been living in misery all these years… I’d be better off dead…”

Jiang Shaocheng patted her back comfortingly, listening in silence. When her cries drew to a close, he said, “Maybe there’s more to your mother’s disappearance than it seems.”

“What do you mean?” Tang Qiu looked at him suspiciously. Everything she knew about her mother came from her grandmother; she had said that Tang Qiu’s mother wasn’t brought up well and went to ruin other people’s families for money. She had also given birth to Tang Qiu solely for money. In fact, she didn’t even know what her mother looked like.

“I asked He Lei to look into your past. He found something strange. Your mother—”

“What about her?” Tang Qiu stared at him intently.

“Your mother… was a mute. Did you know that?”

Tang Qiu was shocked; she hadn’t known that. “Where did you learn that?”

“Her former classmates told me. Your mother was mute, but she was very good at her studies. After something happened to her, she suddenly dropped out of school and got pregnant not long after. She gave birth to you prematurely and vanished completely.” Jiang Shaocheng had long realized that something was wrong, but from then on, there had been absolutely no news of the woman.

Tang Qiu wiped away her tears. “So there was more to my mother’s pregnancy than I thought?” ƒ𝘳𝗲𝑒𝒘𝐞𝚋𝚗𝐨v𝘦l.𝒄o𝐦

“Yes, that’s why this matter needs to be investigated further. As for your grandmother, don’t listen to her. You’re mine. No one can force you to divorce me, not while I live,” Jiang Shaocheng assured her.

Tang Qiu’s attention was diverted, and her mood improved a little. “I won’t divorce you. I still want to have a baby together after you recover.”

Jiang Shaocheng stared at his pink-cheeked wife and thought of that night, when he had stopped himself from claiming her like he had wanted. He exhaled, unable to resist tasting her. He lowered his head and kissed her fiercely.

The two of them waited for a long time before He Lei returned, face stormy.

“Is the old lady causing trouble again?” Jiang Shaocheng asked.

He Lei’s jaw clenched in frustration. “She said that she would look for the young mistress at her school if we wouldn’t let her see her granddaughter. I had to give her money before she quieted down.”

Tang Qiu’s brow pinched in surprise. It was possible she hadn’t heard him clearly. “Money?”

“For her travel expenses back to the nursing home, Young Mistress,” He Lei added carefully.

“Oh. I see.” Tang Qiu gnawed on her lip.

***

Afterwards, Jiang Shaocheng brought her to lunch. Seeing that Tang Qiu was in a much better mood, he sent her back to class.

In the car, Jiang Shaocheng asked He Lei, “The old lady wouldn’t have run out of the nursing home all of a sudden. Who went there to meet her?”

“According to the people in the nursing home, Feng Yao visited there yesterday. I’ve also gotten someone to investigate Madam Tang. She has two children: a son and a daughter. The daughter is mute, but she’s talented and smart, not to mention very beautiful. The son is a gambler who got sent to prison. The Feng family is paying for Madam Tang to stay in the nursing home.”