118 118 A black wok
Tan Jing was stunned for a moment. She rolled her eyes as she thought of an excuse.
She pretended to smile shyly and deliberately raised her voice so that Tan Rou could hear her. “My brother just got back. He said he wants me to take him for dinner. I haven’t been looking well recently, so I don’t want him to worry. My brother loves me the most.”
Tan Rou heard it and looked up at Tan Jing. She knew that she was deliberately saying it for her to hear and wanted to see her panic.
However, she was afraid that she would be happy for nothing. The change in her relationship with Tao Qi was something that Tan Jing would never have expected.
As a result, Tan Rou glanced at Tan Jing and ignored her.
Tan Jing rolled his eyes and wanted to continue provoking Tan Rou. “My brother is perfect in every way but just that he’s too clingy. He’s been clamoring to see me the moment he came back and he even wants to wait for me at the school gate today!”
When the people around heard Tan Jing’s words, they were all very interested. However, some people were also puzzled. “That’s not right, Jing Jing. Aren’t you the only daughter in the Tan family? Where did this younger brother come from? Is he a cousin? It’s rare to see someone so close to my big sister.”
When Tan Jing saw that someone had finally asked this question, she was overjoyed and quickly explained, “Of course, I’m the only daughter of the Tan family. This younger brother is from the Tao family. After all, we grew up together. Although I’ve returned to the Tan family, our relationship will never change. I also treat him as my biological younger brother.”
The people around them finally understood. It turned out that the younger brother of the Tao family was still making a fuss about coming to find Tan Jing. It seemed that Tan Jing must have treated her younger brother very well in the past, which was why her younger brother was so reluctant to part with her. Even though he knew that she was not his biological sister, he still missed her so much. What about Tan Rou? She was his biological sister, but she didn’t seem to be close to her own brother.
Seeing that he had achieved his goal, Tan Jing smiled slightly and deliberately shouted at Tan Rou, “Tan Rou, Tao Qi was the one who contacted me first. You wouldn’t mind it, would you? He’s still a child, so don’t bother with him. Why don’t you come with us?”
Tan Rou raised her head and looked at Tan Jing with a smile. Tan Jing really liked putting hidden messages in her words.
Wasn’t Tan Jing just trying to make others feel that she treated Tao Qi badly, bickering with him and being jealous of their relationship? And he even hypocritically invited her to go together, bla bla bla~
However, the gazes of the people around them did change because of Tan Jing’s words. They felt as if they had learnt something interesting.
It seemed that Tan Rou didn’t get along well with her family after returning to the Tao family. It must be because Tan Jing had been too outstanding. In contrast, the Tao family still preferred their previous daughter. Tan Rou must be feeling unhappy about it, right?
Tan Rou didn’t care what the others thought. They were just a bunch of fence sitters, but Tan Jing’s smug expression made Tan Rou very unhappy.
Tan Rou smiled faintly. “I won’t. According to what you said, Tao Qi doesn’t like me but you’re inviting me now? Aren’t you just trying to make us fight? If I go along, how are you going to talk about those secrets together?”
Tan Rou emphasised the word ‘secret’ and looked at Tan Jing meaningfully. Tan Jing’s expression froze. She didn’t expect Tan Rou to tear down everything between them and even hinted that Tan Jing would provoke Tao Qi.
Tan Jing’s lips curled up. So what if Tan Rou knew that Tan Jing had been doing this on purpose? Tan Rou had no choice but to silently endure Tao Qi’s rebellion.
In order to not get outdone, Tan Jing automatically ignored the deeper meaning in Tan Rou’s words and changed the topic. “That’s good. We should allow Xiao Qi to have a pleasant dinner. But, Tan Rou, I still have to advise you that our families have a special relationship. Both parents have been kind to us, so we should be more filial. You should treat Xiao Qi better as well as those from the Tao family. That way, our parents won’t be sad. Also, you haven’t been back to the Tan family for a long time. Mom really misses you.”
Tan Jing’s words were very comprehensive. On the surface, she was just persuading Tan Rou, but behind it, there was a lot of meaning in her words. Everyone around could understand her easily.
Tan Rou did not get along with her brother in their new home and had made her parents unhappy. Moreover, it was a bit too much for her to forget the kindness of her foster parents for raising her. Even if they were not her biological parents, she should at least visit them.
Tan Jing was different. Even after returning to the Tan family, she still missed the relatives of the Tao family so much and even treated her little brother wholeheartedly. She was obviously a good daughter and sister.
The people around them all sighed. “Tan Jing, you’re such a considerate person. The relationship between the two families must have been great. No wonder your brother is so close to you.”
Tan Jing pretended to sigh. “It’s a pity that I’m not their biological daughter nor Tao Qi’s biological sister. There will always be times when I can’t take care of them. I still need Tan Rou to work hard on this.” She had casually shifted the blame of causing the chaos in the Tao family over to Tan Rou.