Chapter 4: One Family

By now, Zhou Jianghao finally understood why the Tan family had been snapping at her like rabid dogs lately, constantly sabotaging her jobs. It was all because of this.

How could she possibly marry into the Tan family?

Just as the Tan family would never stoop to eating street food, she could never get used to those fancy French meals. Their backgrounds were worlds apart, and so were their lifestyles and outlooks. They were people from two completely different worlds—how could they possibly live together?

Even if there were patient people in the Tan family, they wouldn’t indulge her forever. And she had no desire to step out of her own comfort zone.

Besides, if she actually married into the Tan family, Li Zhenyu and the others would never let her live in peace. It would be total chaos, never-ending drama.

Snapping back to reality, Zhou Jianghao looked up and met Tan Qingya’s heavy gaze. Only then did she realize her reaction had been a bit over the top. She didn’t dare offend Tan Qingya too badly, so she forced herself to hold back. Still, her tone came out stiff. “Sorry, President Tan. I have no plans to get married.”

No plans to marry at all, or just looking down on those juniors? Tan Qingya withdrew her gaze. The other woman had a righteous look on her face, nothing like her scheming mother.

After a pause, Tan Qingya smiled. “Fair enough. You grew up around the Tan family—you know exactly what those juniors are like. It’s normal not to want anything to do with them.”

Then she changed tack, still probing just a little. “But speaking of which, I’m part of the Tan family too. And I’m unmarried.”

The statement was so outrageous that Zhou Jianghao froze. Tan Qingya waited patiently, giving her plenty of time to recover.

“President Tan, don’t joke with me.” Zhou Jianghao clearly didn’t buy it. Her pretty face hardened, her tone turning icy. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going.”

Not taking the bait, huh?

Zhou Jianghao turned and left the moment she said it—nothing like the coy, playing-hard-to-get types Tan Qingya knew. She didn’t even give Tan Qingya a chance to respond before she vanished from sight.

Tan Qingya stood there stunned for a moment before bursting into laughter.

She couldn’t get away fast enough…

It seemed she really did dislike the Tan family.

Over the next few days, Tan Qingya grew busy. When Old Madam Tan called to check on the progress, she was surprised enough to ask, “Do they still just need to marry anyone in the Tan family?”

“What do you mean ‘anyone’?” Old Madam Tan sounded displeased. “Those useless brats might be worthless, but at least their family backgrounds are decent. How can you be so disdainful?”

With the Tan family backing them, what did it matter if they were useless?

The family could afford to keep a few deadweights around.

“Hmm.” Tan Qingya glanced down carelessly, her tone lazy and indifferent. “Maybe she looks down on the useless ones. We might just be wasting our time.”

“The household registry has already been delivered here. What’s there to look down on?” Old Madam Tan wasn’t happy about it. She was grateful for the kidney donation all those years ago, but this blatant emotional blackmail still grated on her. “They said any one of you would do. If not, we could even look at eligible men and women from other families.”

“Mom.” Tan Qingya frowned. “Is the Tan family running a matchmaking service?”

Old Madam Tan choked on her words, muttering a few curses under her breath. She realized it was a massive waste to have the head of the Tan family handling something like this. After a moment of silence, she sighed in defeat. “That kidney is in your big sister’s body. She can handle it herself.”

With that, she hung up before Tan Qingya could respond.

Tan Qingya: “…”

Her mind flashed back to Zhou Jianghao declaring she wouldn’t marry into the Tan family. Tan Qingya let out a soft sigh. Well then, it looked like the other woman had compromised in the end?

The hot potato was no longer in her hands, but her preoccupation with it hadn’t faded one bit. Unable to help herself, she patted Little Beauty’s head a few times and sighed impatiently.

The next day, she carved out some time to track down Zhou Jianghao.

This time, Zhou Jianghao was working a part-time gig at a tutoring center. Tan Qingya timed it perfectly, arriving right as her shift ended.

When Zhou Jianghao spotted her and immediately furrowed her brows, Tan Qingya frowned in turn.

She had been pampered like a princess her whole life. Aside from a few times Tan Yanxi had bullied her as a child, this was the first time anyone had reacted to her with such open rejection.

And she’d spent a sleepless night worrying about this girl.

Sigh. Young people could be so immature.

Tan Qingya saw herself as the senior here. After some mental pep-talks to herself, she managed to keep up her image as the gentle big sister. “Miss Zhou, could we have a word?”

The area was a lively snack street, buzzing with activity.

What was supposed to be a quick chat somehow drew a growing crowd around them.

…

Surprisingly, Zhou Jianghao took the initiative this time. “President Tan, is this about the marriage?”

Tan Qingya glanced at her in surprise. Had this girl changed her mind about avoiding the Tan family in just a few days?

She good-naturedly brushed aside their previous conversation and asked patiently, “Miss Zhou, do you have someone in mind?”

The question was perfectly ordinary, and Tan Qingya’s tone was mild. But for some reason, Zhou Jianghao felt mocked by it. Her face burned hot, making it hard to speak up.

Flip-flopping like this made her cheeks ache.

She had already lost so much face—what was the point of being thin-skinned now? She’d only suffer for it.

With that in mind, she took a deep breath and asked seriously, “President Tan, you said last time that I could pick anyone. Was that for real?”

“Of course.”

Tan Qingya nodded, suddenly growing curious about who Zhou Jianghao would end up choosing.

Everyone in the Tan family was fair game—including Tan Qingya herself.

She couldn’t help narrowing her eyes. If Zhou Jianghao actually picked a mom for Little Beauty, things could get complicated.

She studied Zhou Jianghao more closely.

Zhou Jianghao was strikingly beautiful, with a cool demeanor laced with unyielding resilience—like a plum blossom standing proud against winter’s chill. Bringing a bloom like that home didn’t sound half bad.

Then, out of nowhere, a somewhat unfamiliar name reached her ears.

“Li Tongan.”

“Who?” Tan Qingya froze.

Zhou Jianghao repeated the name earnestly.

She had planned to resist her mother’s pressure no matter what, refusing to give in to the emotional manipulation. But then she learned her mother had been diagnosed with terminal cancer. Time was running out.

After losing a kidney all those years ago, her mother’s health had never been robust. The recent checkup had revealed late-stage cancer. And yet, her mother still clung to the hope that she would marry into wealth and live a life of luxury.

It was a love too heavy to bear, like shackles she couldn’t escape. It left her suffocating.

But she had no choice. She had to reevaluate every member of the Tan family and select the best option. If married life became unbearable down the line, she could always divorce.

Li Tongan was Li Zhenyu’s half-sister from a different mother.

Unlike the domineering Li Zhenyu, Li Tongan kept a low profile. She was quiet and unassuming, easy to forget entirely.

Among those who had bullied her in the past, Li Tongan had been involved the least. If marrying into the Tan family was inevitable, Zhou Jianghao at least wanted her days to be tolerable.

Tan Qingya stayed silent for a long stretch. Zhou Jianghao pursed her lips and asked, a hint of disappointment in her voice, “Is that not allowed?”

A strange flicker passed through Tan Qingya’s deep eyes. She smiled. “Of course it’s allowed.”

Why wouldn’t it be?

If Zhou Jianghao was willing to pass over her to pick this person, how could Tan Qingya possibly object?

The snack street was thick with tempting aromas. Tan Qingya hadn’t eaten lunch. She glanced at Zhou Jianghao, who was keeping a safe distance, and smiled. “We’re going to be family now. No need to stand on ceremony. Let’s grab something to eat.”

Zhou Jianghao needed the favor, so of course she wouldn’t refuse.

But everything here was cheap eateries and street stalls—hardly a match for Tan Qingya’s refined aura. She hesitated, unsure what to suggest.

“Nearby, it’s all budget spots and street food,” she said uncertainly.

“Mm.” Tan Qingya nodded. She knew that perfectly well and had deliberately shed her imposing presence. She smiled gently, like a beautiful Persian cat. “I’m not that fragile. Street food is fine by me.”

In the next instant, Zhou Jianghao—who had been staring at the ground—looked up. A faint light gleamed in her eyes. “Really?”

For the first time, emotion cracked through that poker face. Tan Qingya’s gaze softened. “Of course.”