“Ran, you… you don’t remember your mother?”
The woman named Wang Die took a step back, her hand hanging in the air as she looked at Jiang Ran with a stunned expression.
Jiang Ran, meanwhile, had her hands in her pockets and an indifferent expression.
She had just noticed the woman was intentionally avoiding eye contact, her gaze lingering on the surrounding flowers and grass.
‘More importantly, if she really cared about me, why didn’t I see her even once while I was in the hospital?’
“What… are you looking for me for?”
Jiang Ran’s tone was calm, neither loud nor hysterical, and her eyes held little warmth.
Wang Die lowered her hand and scratched her head awkwardly.
“Your father blocked me. I haven’t been able to see him. He said the money went toward your schooling, so his bank card must be with you, right? Can you give Mother a little bit of money? Not a lot. My job is just a bit unstable, and I need some money for food. Precious daughter, you surely don’t want to see your mother suffer, do you? You used to be the most well-behaved little angel.”
Jiang Ran looked up, her gaze falling on her ‘mother’s’ colorful hair and the massive pendants hanging from her earlobes.
She felt an indescribable sense of disgust.
“If you don’t have money, you can work. I’m just a student. Where would I get money? Besides, do you really think a person like Father would leave his bank card with me?”
“But… he said…”
“If you want to hear what he has to say so badly, go find him. Why are you pestering me?”
Jiang Ran did her best to distance herself from her, worried about catching some disease.
“Ran, how can you talk to your mother like that? You weren’t like this before…”
The hesitation in Wang Die’s eyes was plainly visible on her face.
She nervously scratched her face before reaching out to grab Jiang Ran, only for Jiang Ran to sidestep and avoid her.
“I… don’t want to be your tool anymore.”
Jiang Ran moved past Wang Die, preparing to walk away.
Realizing Jiang Ran was about to leave, Wang Die hurriedly stepped forward to block her path.
“Just lend Mother some money. If I go back today without any, they really will beat Mother to death.”
As Wang Die spoke, she couldn’t help but cry.
Being so close, Jiang Ran saw that her mother had piercings on her cheeks; the tears flowed down her face and seeped into the metal studs.
A wave of nausea swept through Jiang Ran, and she backed away even further.
“So you want to push me into that pit of fire as well?”
Wang Die looked up blankly, the confusion in her eyes deepening.
“No… I didn’t. I… I just want to borrow some money so Mother can get something to eat.”
Jiang Ran gave a forced smile.
“Is that so? One moment you say you want to eat, and the next you say you’re afraid they’ll beat you. I… I’ve had enough. When you were willing to marry Father, did you never imagine this day would come?”
Wang Die’s sobbing expression froze.
Looking at her daughter’s back, she felt a profound sense of estrangement.
In the past, her daughter would have at least cooked a meal for her.
In truth, she wasn’t lying.
She was currently hungry and exhausted.
If she went back empty-handed, she would be punched and kicked by her friends.
After all, only those who could bring back ‘money’ were fit to be a Dog for the Master.
In their SM circle, there was a rule that if one couldn’t bring back enough money, they weren’t worthy of eating with the Master, or even eating at all.
“Jiang Ran, what are you saying? I… I was also forced into this with no other choice. Your father was the one who cheated first. I’m only… I’m just looking for a way to survive.”
“Then why should I have to pay for your mistakes?”
Jiang Ran’s voice was cold.
Even though she had prepared herself, seeing her relative kneeling on the ground in such a pathetic state while neighbors occasionally stopped to watch made her cheeks burn with shame.
More dangerously, she had only just recovered from a serious illness and couldn’t afford to get angry.
If she fainted again, her hospital stay might be even longer this time.
‘The hospital stay cost my own money, and getting angry only hurts my own health. My parents didn’t even visit me once in the hospital…’
But Wang Die remained persistent, seemingly believing that throwing a tantrum would earn her forgiveness.
In this regard, she was quite similar to her ‘father.’
Jiang Ran remembered the footage on the phone Su Nian had shown her.
Father had only asked how selling his daughter would affect him.
Once he learned there would be no repercussions, he had signed the Contract immediately.
He had likely wanted to get rid of her, his “burden,” for a long time.
Or perhaps the money Su Nian gave was truly a vast amount.
Based on what Jiang Ran knew of the two, if she didn’t still have a role to play in the plot, her parents would have probably cashed her out as a bride price long ago.
Wang Die didn’t seem to understand what Jiang Ran was saying.
She just moved her body mechanically and suddenly raised her voice.
“How about this, Ran? Come with me. Mother knows many friends over there. Your health is poor, so they can all take care of you.”
Jiang Ran frowned and looked at the woman crawling forward in a huddle as if she were a monster.
She never expected her mother to say such a thing.
‘With the kinds of lowlife friends Mother keeps, I’d be better off tying myself up and mailing myself to the yandere right now.’
“I don’t need it. Besides, I don’t have any money, and I’m not going with you. If you insist on blocking me, I’ll call the police.”
At the mention of the word “police,” the terror in Wang Die’s eyes intensified. But before she could get angry, a figure blocked the space between the two.
Wearing a black trench coat, Gu Ge showed a kind expression and gently reminded her, “Madam, is it really right to pressure a child like this?”
“Who are you? This is a family matter. What… why are you interfering?”
Wang Die began to act out on the ground, the malice in her eyes unbearable to look at.
She was one step away from foaming at the mouth and feigning an injury to extort her.
Unfazed, Gu Ge took a photograph out of her pocket and showed it to Wang Die.
With just one glance, the sound of Wang Die’s wailing came to an abrupt halt.
Her eyes widened, and her mouth trembled.
“How do you have…”
In the small photo in Gu Ge’s hand, Wang Die was engaged in unspeakable acts with a man in a hotel.
“Madam, you must be careful about your reputation. You wouldn’t want Jiang Ran to know you’re this kind of mother, would you?”
Gu Ge’s voice wasn’t loud, but it made Wang Die’s ears ring.
She didn’t dare look into Jiang Ran’s eyes again.
Perhaps it was a final shred of dignity that supported her as she stumbled away.
The other neighbors who were watching the spectacle also began to disperse.
Once the crowd had vanished, Gu Ge turned around and gently rested her palm on top of Jiang Ran’s head.
“Ran, why didn’t you call your sister when something like this happened? It’s inherently unsafe for you to walk alone.”
“I… I’m fine. Today was an accident. Thank you, Sister Gu Ge. If it weren’t for you, I’m afraid my only option would have been to call the police.”
“Why are you still thanking me? Tell your sister the truth. Is the reason you want to move because of your parents?”
The tenderness in Gu Ge’s eyes hadn’t faded at all after what had just happened.
It was like a dandelion; with a single gust of wind, it blew right into Jiang Ran’s eyes.
As their gazes met, Jiang Ran was the first to look away.
“Yeah, a little bit.”
‘I really can’t talk about the matter of becoming someone else’s daughter. I can only swallow the truth.’
“You’ve had a hard time. It’s not my place to pry into your family matters, but she doesn’t look like she’s completely given up. Why not stay the night with your sister? My room is quite large.”
Jiang Ran looked up, meeting Gu Ge’s unyielding gaze, before lowering her head once more.
“No… I shouldn’t. It would be too much trouble for Sister Gu Ge. I’ll just lock the door. I’m the only one with the keys, so they can’t get in.”
Gu Ge paused and looked at Jiang Ran’s small hand hidden behind her back.
“Then at least let’s go upstairs together. Give me your hand?”
“This…”
Jiang Ran was still hesitating, but Gu Ge didn’t give her the chance and grabbed it.
“No more ‘buts.’ Let’s go.”
Gu Ge took Jiang Ran’s small hand and started walking toward the stairs.
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