Reborn, I Became a Male God - Chapter 50

When Jiang Sijin called, Yunshu and her companions were scouring the famous food street in Qin City. Yang Xinyao spotted a mobile cart selling bo zai gou (steamed rice pudding) and went over to buy two—one blueberry and one strawberry. The translucent cakes were pale pink and pale blue, skewered together on a bamboo stick and held in one hand, while her other hand was holding a tofu roll. With both hands full, she couldn’t pay, so she turned around and called, “Landlord, come pay up!”

She clearly hadn’t forgotten last night’s Fight the Landlord game.

Jing Ling found it a bit amusing and walked over to pay for her. When he turned back to look at Yunshu, he saw her standing still in the bustling crowd, holding up her phone, her smile gone. Framed by the cheerful people around her, she looked somewhat lonely.

“What’s wrong?” he walked up and asked.

Hearing him, Yunshu looked up and then shook her head. She covered the phone’s microphone with her hand and said, “It’s nothing.”

Ahead, Yang Xinyao waved her snacks and shouted back, “Yunshu, come quick! I got something tasty for you!”

“Let’s go,” Jing Ling said. She nodded. The two walked side by side down the street surging with people. The calls of street vendors and the chatter of tourists blended into a vibrant scene. But as someone inside that picture, Yunshu couldn’t bring herself to feel part of it.

“Yunshu? Yunshu, are you listening?” Perhaps because she hadn’t answered in a while, Jiang Sijin called her name twice.

“Mm,” Yun Shu replied faintly, paused, and said, “No.”

“Huh?” The other side was stunned, then caught on. “I see. You two knew each other before, right? I remember you were together that day. If it wasn’t you, was it the other girl? Yunjin said Yunzhong didn’t know Jing Ling at all before this, so why would he go so hard on him for no reason? Did you say something to him?”

“Why do you assume I said something rather than consider that they might have done something wrong?” Yunshu asked softly.

“No matter what, you’re family. If something happens, you should sit down and talk it out calmly. And Jing Ling is an outsider—he wouldn’t get involved in your family matters lightly, right?”

Yunshu’s tone unconsciously grew colder. “So you’ve already decided I said something that clouded his judgment? You’re not just calling to ask about that, are you? What else do you want to say?”

“I know this is your family’s issue, but Yunzhong was my guest that day. He came to my house for my birthday party and ended up going home injured. I’m really sorry about that. Even if you didn’t hit him, this whole thing started because of you. Yunjin said you haven’t visited him since he was hospitalized—that’s kind of too much, don’t you think? Yunshu, I hope you’ll come see Yunzhong and apologize. As for Jing Ling, no matter what, hitting someone is wrong. I’ll be calling him too,” Jiang Sijin said gently over the phone.

“No—” Yun Shu was about to refuse when her mouth was suddenly covered—by Jing Ling’s hand, long fingers with cool fingertips. At the same time, the phone in her hand was taken.

Then his voice came from above her head, cold and indifferent. “No need to keep calling. I’m right here. Whatever you want to say, say it now.”

Clearly not expecting this coincidence, Jiang Sijin was stunned for a few seconds before replying, “Jing Ling, you’re here too? Perfect. I tried calling you earlier but your phone was off. About Yunzhong—I don’t know what misunderstanding you have with him. The Tan family may not be pressing charges, but you injured him badly. At the very least, you owe him an apology.”

“Miss Jiang,” Jing Ling said, “allow me to offer a hypothetical. If this had happened to you, would your family really let it go? Of course, I know your family would never let something like this happen to you, but let’s just suppose. Just tell me—would they pursue it or not?”

Jiang Sijin replied, “Of course they would! My brothers would be furious, probably want to kill someone!”

“Tan Yunzhong’s position in the Tan family isn’t any lower than yours in the Jiang family. So why do you think the Tan family would let it go?”

“If they were really pressing charges, you wouldn’t be here talking to me right now. Jing Ling, you don’t understand. Just based on how badly you hurt Yunzhong, if the Tan family wanted to, it would be easy to get you a few years in prison. You’d have no way to recover from that.”

“Then why haven’t they done it?”

“Do you even understand what it means to go to prison?! If you’re convicted, your whole life is basically over!”

“So I should be grateful they didn’t press charges?” Jing Ling chuckled lightly, his tone unconcerned. “Miss Jiang, I know you grew up pampered like a princess, living in an ivory tower, unaware of the world’s hardships. That’s not a fault—it’s just fate. But can I trouble you to stay in your lane and stop meddling in other people’s business, especially when you know absolutely nothing about it? Not everyone has the luxury to live carefree like you.”

“Tan Yunzhong was your guest, but wasn’t Yunshu your guest too? Didn’t you personally write her invitation? So why, after hearing Tan Yunjin’s side, do you automatically assume it’s Yunshu’s fault? Actually, compared to Tan Yunzhong and Tan Yunjin, you and Yunshu are closer—you were friends when you were kids, weren’t you? Or maybe you’ve forgotten already.”

“The person who called me that day wasn’t her, and the one who hit him was me. Yunshu had nothing to do with it. Hitting people is wrong—no arguing that—but there are always exceptions. If it had been someone else, I wouldn’t have acted without knowing the whole story. But the Tan family? They’re an exception.”

“Miss Jiang, you say you feel sorry for Tan Yunzhong’s injury, say I hurt him badly—have you actually gone to see him yourself? I always know how far to go. I know exactly how bad his injuries are. Unless the Tan family tampered with the medical report, it wouldn’t even count as minor injury. The so-called hospitalization is just for show.”

“Whatever,” Jiang Sijin finally replied after a long silence, then hung up.

After all, she was the Jiang family’s little princess, spoiled all her life, never having endured any real hardship. Being scolded face-to-face like that—almost outright accused of meddling—it was no surprise she couldn’t take it.

Jing Ling turned off the screen and was about to hand the phone back to Yunshu, but another call came in. An unfamiliar number, registered in Lanzhou. Jing Ling had a guess and narrowed his eyes as he answered.

A female voice came through the line. “Yunshu, it’s me, your sister.” It was Tan Yunjin. Her tone was unexpectedly calm. “Don’t hang up. I’m not calling to blame you. Yunzhong got hurt, and while our parents are furious, we don’t blame you—it wasn’t you who did it. But Mom fainted from the shock and sadness. The doctor said she needs rest. Dad’s always busy, and I’m doing my internship. Someone has to take care of the two patients at home. Take some time off and come back. Your grades are good—missing a few classes won’t matter.”

How familiar those words sounded.

Jing Ling couldn’t help but laugh. “Tan Yunjin, even you don’t believe what you’re saying, so where do you get the confidence to think Yunshu would? Let me say something blunt—if she really took leave and came back, would you even dare let her take care of Tan Yunzhong? Aren’t you afraid she’d do a little experiment with his food or drink?”

Tan Yunjin clearly didn’t expect a stranger to answer the phone and was stunned for a while before demanding sharply, “Who are you?”

Jing Ling laughed. “Weren’t you all dying to carve me up to vent your anger on behalf of Tan Yunzhong? Can’t even recognize my voice? That’s pretty unprofessional.”

“Jing! Ling!” Tan Yunjin quickly recognized him and practically gritted her teeth shouting his name. “So it was that two-faced bitch Tan Yunshu who told you to go after Yunzhong!”

Jing Ling was used to the Tan family’s lightning-fast switch from calm to hostility. “Didn’t you just say a moment ago that you didn’t blame Yunshu? Now you’re suddenly cursing her. Looks like you haven’t quite inherited Tan Kangcheng’s skill. If it were him, he’d still be chatting with me like nothing happened—might even invite me over as a guest. Honestly, I admire your family’s adaptability. Too bad all that cleverness is always used on dirty tricks and never anything proper. The Jiang family suppressed this incident and made it clear they didn’t want you bothering us, so your plan is to trick Yunshu into coming back, right? Then you can find some excuse to turn it into a family matter, and the Jiang family won’t be able to interfere.”

“You think the Jiang family can protect you and that bitch Tan Yunshu forever?” Tan Yunjin sneered.

“No need to worry. If you can think of that, why wouldn’t we? There are plenty of girls in the Tan family willing—proud, even—to be pawns. You, for instance. No shortage of them at all. Why cling to Yunshu?”

“And who do you think you are? A nobody from some godforsaken village, got lucky that Jiang Sijin noticed you and gave you a role in a movie, and now you think you’re a star? At best you’re just a third-rate actor! Who gave you the right to meddle in the Tan family’s business?” Tan Yunjin spat.

“I couldn’t care less about your filthy family. What happened in the past is too old for me to bother with. I only care about Yunshu now. Do me a favor and tell Tan Kangcheng this—before you try to mess with Yunshu again, go ask Old Master Jiang what I gave him in exchange for burying the Tan Yunzhong incident. Get your facts straight before you make your next move!”