Part 2
Jiang Shulu nodded.
The new home wasn’t far from the school selected for Tang Mian; it was a detached villa.
When Jiang Xiujun found out Jiang Shulu bought it with full payment, he was shocked for a while, foolishly asking Liang Yi, “Didn’t they say he was living off Xiao Yue?”
Liang Yi: “And you believed that?”
Jiang Xiujun: “The fans are too convincing. They scolded Jiang Shulu so badly, how could I not believe it?”
Tang Yueās comeback went very smoothly. Contrary to the worries of his fans, he wasn’t “frozen” or blacklisted because of the Jiang family.
Chengkong Media completed a thorough separation from the Jiang family, causing the Jiangs to lose that segment of the market completely. In the online rankings of wealthy families, they fell out of the top five.
But a starving camel is still bigger than a horse. Some were still watching to see how the Jiang family would develop under the new heir.
It was said that next month, Jiang Jinan would attend a meeting for one of the Jiang family’s overseas projects. If the orders went through smoothly, it would be his first step in surpassing Jiang Shulu.
Now, Jiang Xiujun and Liang Yi were congratulating Tang Yue and Jiang Shulu on their housewarming, and no one mentioned the Jiang family at the dinner table.
After Liang Yi left, and Tang Yue and Tang Mian finished two rounds of Ludo, Tang Yue finally realized Liang Yiās question had been a bit strange.
He took out his phone. Since his Weibo account had been taken away, Tang Yue had moved his little love diary to a side account.
He didn’t show his face, only posting cropped photos. It was peaceful, and he only had one followerāa system bot.
The avatar was gray, labeled User 568986.
Because of the new song release, the studio hadn’t pressured Tang Yue to update any new content. They just intermittently sent over some preparation plans for the new album for him to look at.
The dishwasher was running. Jiang Shulu was boiling peanut milk for Tang Mian. The little guy was very picky and insisted on milk boiled with freshly ground peanuts.
Before long, a fragrance drifted from the milk pot.
The man in loungewear had broad shoulders and a narrow waist. One hand rested on the counter while the other stirred, looking very focused.
Tang Yue secretly took a photo of Jiang Shuluās back, cropped a corner, and couldn’t resist posting a new Weibo.
@MieMieMieMie9787: [Image] A little bit of happiness.
After posting, he finally clicked on the trending section and saw many stars he didn’t recognize.
Of course, he also found posts pushed by marketing accounts.
The first was a deep analysis of Tang Yueās new song Lily of the Valley in the Attic, complete with long diagrams for proof.
Tang Yue lay on the sofa reading it, completely forgetting about the second round of Ludo with his son.
Xiao Mie didn’t mind; he picked up a picture book and collapsed into Tang Yueās arms to read.
When Jiang Shulu came over with the milk, he saw the two of them nestled together like nesting dolls.
Tang Yue was reading very seriously, his brow furrowed. It was easy for Jiang Shulu to judge whether he was reading a novel or not.
This state definitely wasn’t novel-reading.
He leaned in. Tang Mian turned his head slightly.
Tang Yue was still immersed in the screenshots of the various PR articles from the Jiang family shared by the marketing account. His eyebrows were knitted, and he was a bit angry, unaware that he was biting his lip.
Jiang Shulu glanced at Tang Yueās screen and saw the keywords.
Jiang Shulu: “No need to be angry.”
Tang Yue was startled and nearly threw his phone. The picture book in Tang Mianās hands was knocked to the floor.
Tang Mian: “Is Baba reading a ghost story?”
Tang Yue: “I suppose you could call it that.”
Jiang Kaicheng was truly a piece of work!
Even though he knew about it before, it was infuriating every time he read it.
Jiang Shulu: “Xiao Mie, your milk is ready.”
Tang Mian said thanks and hopped off the sofa to drink it.
Once Jiang Shulu sat on the sofa, Tang Yue reached out and hugged Jiang Shuluās waist, saying indignantly, “How can they talk about Mom like that?”
Immediately after, Tang Yue asked, “Have you found your grandparents? Shulu-ge, will they refuse to acknowledge you? I’m a little worried.”
To netizens, the content of these long articles was just gossip to consume.
But to Tang Yue, it was connected to the person he loved. He didn’t realize his tone was tinged with anxiety.
“Netizens are so good at talking; they can deduce so much from a photo.”
“But none of them know how sad you were back then.”
“Someone said Mom’s oxygen tube was pulled. Is that true?”
Tang Yue looked at Jiang Shuluās waist, his face pressed against the man’s chest, listening to Jiang Shuluās steady heartbeat.
Jiang Shulu stroked Tang Yueās hair and nodded. “It’s true.”
Tang Yue: “Then they are too hateful.”
Jiang Shulu: “Don’t worry. They will pay the price.”
There was no sorrow in his voice, only reassurance for Tang Yue.
The past was long gone. The dead would not return. Jiang Shulu still remembered Zhou Maiyin telling him to live well.
But his days in the Jiang family couldn’t be called living. He possessed much, but in reality, none of it was his.
Only the person currently leaning in his arms belonged to him.
Tang Yue was his whole world.
Tang Yue: “Is it difficult? I feel like I can’t help with anything.”
Jiang Shulu: “Isn’t your song helping me?”
Tang Yue: “When I wrote it, I just wanted to commemorate Mother Maiyin.”
Jiang Shulu: “Uncle said you were a great help to me.”
Tang Yue: “Really?”
Jiang Shulu kissed his forehead. “Really.”
Jiang Shulu: “For the coming period, you must have someone pick you up and drop you off when you go out. If anyone invites you somewhere, absolutely do not agree, understood?”
Tang Yue: “I’m always with Xiao Mie, we won’t separate. It’s just that Xiao Mie said he wants horse riding lessons.”
Jiang Shulu: “I’ll arrange it.”
Tang Mian: “Baba doesn’t want to ride a horse?”
This sentence triggered painful memories for Tang Yue. He shook his head rapidly. “No.”
Tang Mian: “Why?”
Jiang Shulu also asked, “Why?”
He was clearly asking despite knowing the answer.
Back on a variety show, Tang Yue couldn’t handle horse riding and was nearly shaken to the point of vomiting, for which Yao Lixin teased him for a long time.
That activity, along with amusement park rides like the giant pendulum and pirate ship, were Tang Yueās most hated items. They brutally shattered his fantasies about amusement parks. So, when the company offered to book a whole park for his nineteenth birthday, Tang Yue flatly refused.
Only years later did Tang Yue realize that the “booking” was all Jiang Shuluās special favoritism.
Tang Yue said to Jiang Shulu, “You know why, stop pretending.”
Tang Mian blinked. “Is it a secret between you two?”
Jiang Shulu made a noncommittal sound. “If he says it is, then it is.”
Tang Mian expressed his understanding.
The next second, Tang Yue leaned into Jiang Shuluās ear. “Then, can I do that later?”
Jiang Shulu smiled and shook his head. “I wasn’t born in the Year of the Horse.”
ā ćCurling Ironć
A fan was scrolling through short videos, And scrolled past a familiar-looking child. Looking closer, they realized the child was straightening hair. Looking again, ID: Tang Yue mie
ćWhatās the situation! Xiao Mie, you’re only in first grade, stop playing with curling irons!ć ćIs Tang Yue making his son cover his livestream shift again!ć ćWuwuwu Xiao Mie is so cute!ć ćLook at his movements, heās actually quite skilled.ć
Tang Mian: “This is a kid’s version. Baba had it custom-made.” Tang Mian: “I use it often, everyone don’t worry about me.”
The little boy shouted off-screen: “Right, Xiao Yue!”
The next second, the hem of a shirt appeared in the frame, and the child was carried away.
Jiang Shulu: “I told you the livestream is his task, stop helping him all the time.”
Tang Mian: “Baba, are you off work?”
Jiang Shulu: “I come home and see a child working illegally.”
ćDying of laughter.ć ćIt is nature’s law for a child to spoil his dad!ć
Tang Mian: “It’s not like you can refuse Xiao Yue either.”
He reached out to grab Jiang Shuluās hair. “Let me try it on you!”
That night, Tang Yue posted a photo of Jiang Shulu and Tang Mian with straight hair. They both looked very high-cold (aloof).
ā What are you showing off for! ā Stop posting those happy emojis! ā So, can you tell me where to buy that curling iron? ā @Liu Xichao, I want to see a photo of your husband with straight hair within the hour.
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