Ling Ling’s expression flinched slightly as she tried to withdraw her hand.
"Don’t move." Ji Wei’s tone was exceptionally stern, and Ling Ling dared not move again.
The bruises on Ling Ling’s body were clearly not limited to her arm. Before Ling Ling could react, Ji Wei swiftly pulled down the collar of her shirt, revealing purplish-blue marks on her chest as well.
Ji Wei’s pupils contracted sharply, and she asked in a grave voice, "These were done by Nan Huiru’s men, weren’t they?"
Ling Ling hurriedly reached up to pull her shirt collar tightly, her head lowered, remaining silent.
Even though Ling Ling said nothing, Ji Wei already understood what was going on.
Other than Nan Huiru’s bodyguards, who else would dare treat Ling Ling ? Ling Ling was her personal assistant; Nan Huiru’s overt targeting of her was clearly meant as a warning to Ji Wei.
A warning to know when to back down and to leave Gu Moqian?
Absolutely impossible!
Ji Wei suppressed the fury boiling inside her and said to Aunt Zhu, "Call the family doctor immediately to examine Ling Ling."
Aunt Zhu hesitated, her expression conflicted. "But Mrs. Nan doesn’t allow it. If—"
"I’ll take responsibility for anything that happens. You two have nothing to fear!" Ji Wei said firmly with a resolute expression.
"Alright, I’ll call right now." Aunt Zhu left immediately after saying that.
Ji Wei looked at the purplish bruises on Ling Ling’s arm, feeling as though something was pressing heavily against her chest, rendering her breath stifled and painful.
After a few seconds of silence, she instructed, "Ling Ling, just rest well for the next few days. There’s no need to follow me to work for now." She tucked the corner of Ling Ling’s blanket and then stood up.
After taking a few steps, Ling Ling’s voice sounded behind her. "Madam, I’m really fine. These bruises will fade in a few days... You should still try to talk calmly with Mrs. Nan."
Ji Wei knew Ling Ling was worried about her worsening relationship with Nan Huiru. After all, Gu Moqian was caught between them, and the only one truly feeling torn would be him, as a son.
But the fact that Nan Huiru had treated her and Ling Ling so harshly upon returning—expecting her to let this slide—was difficult for Ji Wei to accept.
Ling Ling, still injured, thinking only of her well-being, made Ji Wei’s eyes suddenly redden. Striving hard to keep her tone steady, she answered, "Hmm, I’ll handle this appropriately. Don’t worry about me."
With that said, she didn’t look back and left the bedroom quickly.
Upon leaving Ling Ling’s room, Ji Wei did not see Gu Moqian.
Oddly, they hadn’t seen Nan Huiru when they returned either.
Could she still be in bed?
Thinking this, Ji Wei unintentionally glanced toward Nan Huiru’s room upstairs.
She had a hunch that Gu Moqian was already up there, so she headed up.
Nan Huiru’s room door was slightly ajar. Through the crack, Ji Wei saw the long legs clad in dark trousers and the clean, white-shirted back of Gu Moqian.
She was just moving closer when, suddenly, a loud crash rang out!
Something like porcelain smashed violently onto the ground!
Ji Wei’s heart jolted. Without a second thought, she quickly strode forward and pushed the door open.
Inside the room, Nan Huiru was seated at her dressing table, her face furious.
On the floor around Gu Moqian’s legs lay the shattered remains of a delicately crafted porcelain vase.
The lilies Ji Wei had personally arranged yesterday were strewn messily across the floor, while the water from the vase had splashed out and soaked Gu Moqian’s pant leg.
Those few lilies stung Ji Wei’s eyes in an instant. Because Nan Huiru liked them, Ji Wei had gone out of her way to pick them herself from the greenhouse.
The hope of harmonious relations with Nan Huiru shattered at that moment.
Ji Wei instinctively bent down to pick up the lilies, but before her hand could touch them, a forceful sweep sent her hand flying away.
Her fingertips scraped against the jagged edge of a nearby porcelain shard, leaving a long cut that immediately oozed blood.