Tang Jingming exploded with rage, shouting loudly, "How am I dirty-minded? I’ve been pure, okay! I’ve never even touched a girl’s hand from childhood to now, what gives you the right to slander me!"
Ye Tiao eyed him with disdain, her expression skeptical as she sized him up, "Pure? You?"
Tang Jingming straightened his back, "Yes, me!"
Suddenly, Ye Tiao reached out and pulled at his hand, "Nice watch, by the way."
Upon hearing this, Tang Jingming boasted proudly, "Good-looking, right? It’s the latest model..."
"Look, you said you never even touched a girl’s hand!" Ye Tiao pulled his hand over to the back of her own hand, her face donning the expression of catching a culprit red-handed, accusing him, "Hey hey hey look at that, you big liar!"
Tang Jingming was dumbstruck, immediately withdrawing his hand, his speech crumbling in frustration, "You you you you... This is too cunning, clearly it was you who pulled my hand, you you you you..."
"So are you admitting you touched, or not?"
"No no no, you’re not a girl, I consider you a bro, you don’t count as a girl!"
Ye Tiao glared at him, rolling up her sleeves threateningly.
Tang Jingming quickly dodged, immediately saying, "Don’t you have any awareness of visiting a patient anymore? If you keep up this disturbance, Shi Mei would kick you out!"
Ye Tiao was about to speak when suddenly someone knocked on the door.
Aunt Chen glanced at them and said, "Miss, your parents are here to see you."
Tang Jingming and Ye Tiao stopped their horseplay and exchanged glances.
Shi Mei tilted her head and said, "Shi Mei has no parents, Shi Mei’s parents are dead."
Aunt Chen appeared a bit embarrassed, "It’s Mr. Shi and Mrs. Shi, the woman you hit last time, remember?"
Shi Mei was about to send them away, but then suddenly thought of Old Lady Shi’s birthday banquet the day after tomorrow.
Their visit must surely have something to do with the upcoming banquet.
It was unclear what they intended to do.
Shi Mei exchanged a glance with Ye Tiao, and shortly after, she made up her mind.
With hands on her hips, Shi Mei declared defiantly, "I can’t let them into my room; I’ll meet them outside!"
Aunt Chen quickly nodded, "Then let me dress you, don’t catch a cold."
Tang Jingming had already tactfully stepped outside, Aunt Chen picked up a coat to put on Shi Mei but Ye Tiao took it from her.
Ye Tiao smiled, saying, "Let me do it. Aunt Chen, could you please shut the door?"
Aunt Chen let out an ’ei’ and quickly left.
As Ye Tiao dressed Shi Mei, she whispered, "Did they adopt you?"
Shi Mei hesitated for a moment, then nodded, "Yes."
Ye Tiao asked again, "Did they save you?"
Shi Mei answered, "No."
Ye Tiao frowned deeply, unable to make sense of their relationship.
Simply dressing her and asking one last question, "Friend or foe?"
The moment Shi Xuebai saw Shi Mei, tears filled his eyes instantly, he almost wanted to rush toward her, shouting, "My Shi Mei, my poor daughter."
Held by Ye Tiao, Shi Mei retreated timidly, seeming almost scared, and hid behind Ye Tiao.
With tears streaking down his face, Shi Xuebai said, "Daughter, daddy has heard everything. You missed me so much you got a fever, and Mr. Shi wouldn’t even let you visit your maternal home, truly unaware of how to cherish someone else’s daughter!"