Ningwan did not expect that Mrs. Leng was not Old Mrs. Zhan's biological daughter. Thinking about the rumors Leng Linglong mentioned, she had someone investigate the Leng Family.
Regardless of whether the rumor is true or not, the Leng Family is likely connected to that car accident.
"Young Madam, Mrs. Lin is here, she wants to see you." The housekeeper knocked on the door and respectfully reported.
"Mrs. Lin?" Ningwan was slightly stunned, thinking they were referring to Ye Xuan.
Did that girl really dare to come find her?
"Alright, I'll go over immediately," Ningwan said.
She deliberately changed into prettier clothes and also wore jewelry given to her by Old Mrs. Zhan, making herself appear more radiant and dazzling as she went to see Ye Xuan.
However, when she arrived at the living room, she saw Fu Wenfang sitting there.
It turned out the Mrs. Lin mentioned by the housekeeper was not Ye Xuan but Lin Yuyang's mother.
"Auntie, you're here," Ningwan hesitated for a moment, then smiled and walked over.
Mrs. Lin looked up at her, watched her walk in gracefully, looking exactly like the Tang Xiaowan of old times.
Unintentionally, her hand slipped, and the teacup in her hand fell to the ground.
The "bang" sound startled Mrs. Lin.
She immediately panicked and apologized, "I'm sorry, my hand slipped."
"It's okay, Auntie. Someone, please clean this up." Ningwan called for the staff to tidy up the place.
Mrs. Lin felt even more ashamed, being a guest at someone's home and reacting so inappropriately. At her age, it was her first time.
But...
She gazed at Ningwan's face, her eyes welling up with tears, saying, "Ningwan, you look so much like your mother... Back then, your mother was also so dazzling, astonishing the entire Jiangcheng. So many were entranced by her, lovesick from missing her. It's a pity, beauty fades swiftly, she left so early."
Mrs. Lin brought it up herself, so Ningwan took the opportunity to ask, "What exactly happened with my parents' car accident back then?"
"Why are you bringing this up out of nowhere?" Mrs. Lin was surprised.
Ningwan said, "It's nothing, really. Yesterday, I went to the Leng Family with Hanjue. I overheard someone saying Mrs. Leng didn't have a good relationship with Hanjue. There are rumors outside linking Mrs. Leng to Hanjue's father's car accident. Auntie, you mentioned before that my parents' accident happened along with Hanjue's father's accident, so I was just curious."
Mrs. Lin was alarmed, quickly put her forefinger to her lips, signaling for silence.
"Ningwan, you mustn't speak of these things at the Zhan Family."
Ningwan nodded, "I know, Auntie, I'm just asking you."
Mrs. Lin looked her up and down and sighed softly, "Actually, Yuyang spoke to me after he returned. He said your face's injury healed a long time ago, and you were deliberately testing him. It's our family that didn't pass the test. Yuyang regrets it terribly, and he asked me to speak to you, hoping you would leave with me. But I scolded him, you both are married, how could you be together? It's his own foolishness, not living his life well, just daydreaming."
"He and my second sister are well-suited for each other, it's like destiny," Ningwan said.
Mrs. Lin shook her head, seeming well aware of her son and daughter-in-law's character, unwilling to comment.
"Seeing you doing so well now, I feel at ease. It means I haven't failed Xiaowan. I always felt guilty agreeing to her to take care of you well but failing to do so."
"Auntie, don't be sad. My mother wouldn't blame you, and neither will I," Ningwan held her hand.
Mrs. Lin's eyes were red, and she couldn't help but wipe her tears gently with the other hand.
"Auntie, I don't mean to bring up your sorrow. It's just that my parents' death is truly bizarre. I was too young then to understand anything. Now that I'm grown up, although it's been many years, I want to know the truth. Could you tell me everything you know?" Ningwan pleaded again.
Mrs. Lin said, "I didn't want to tell you because I feared it would create a barrier in your heart. In truth... in truth, there might be a possibility that your parents... were indirectly harmed by the Zhan Family."
"Indirectly harmed by the Zhan Family?"
Mrs. Lin nodded, "Back then, your parents were traveling with you. We had originally agreed to all go to a farmhouse in Lin City with the kids for a vacation. I had sudden personal matters to attend to, so I asked your parents to go ahead, planning to leave later myself. Unexpectedly, on the way, your parents encountered a large truck coming head-on while driving. A Zhan Family car was traveling alongside your parents'. In short, no one knows which car hit the truck first and caused others to be involved. Both cars fell into a deep pit. Your parents died on the spot. When you were found, half of your face was bloody and you were unconscious far away. Your parents' car had exploded, leaving no remains. The Zhan Family's car was also in a blast. Zhan Hanjue somehow emerged from it, taken away by his family, while you were sent to the hospital by the police. Later, there were rumors of internal Zhan Family conflicts. You mentioned Mrs. Leng, she was Zhan Hanjue's aunt and had conflicts with Zhan Hanjue's father. Some say Leng Family sent people to do it, but there's no evidence, they're siblings after all, perhaps it's just gossip."
Mrs. Lin finished her story, then seemed to suddenly remember something, hastily added, "Ningwan, all this has passed, you mustn't dwell on it. Those were rumors back then, but no one knows the truth. Don't let it make you suspect that your parents' deaths were related to the Zhan Family, which would strain your relationship with Zhan Hanjue."
Ningwan smiled slightly, "Auntie, don't worry. I'm not foolish. You've said it yourself, it's just a rumor, nothing is clear. It's been so long, I just wanted to ask."
Mrs. Lin finally breathed a sigh of relief, "As long as you're not pursuing it, that's good."
"Young Madam, the young master requires your presence," the housekeeper approached and reminded Ningwan.
Mrs. Lin quickly stood up, "Since you have things to attend to, I'll be leaving then. Seeing you well brings peace to my heart."
Ningwan felt slightly speechless. What did Zhan Hanjue want?
However, she didn't try to keep her, accompanied Mrs. Lin for a bit, and saw her off.
After Mrs. Lin left, as Ningwan walked to Zhan Hanjue's room, she asked Housekeeper Wu, "Do you know what the young master wants me for?"
"I don't know, the young master just asked for your presence," Housekeeper Wu replied respectfully.
Ningwan furrowed her eyebrows, walked to the door, knocked, and only after receiving permission did she push open the door to enter.
"You had something to discuss?" Ningwan asked.
Zhan Hanjue did not look up, coldly asked, "Did Fu Wenfang leave?"
"You mean Mrs. Lin? Yes, since you needed me, she left first," Ningwan answered.
"What did you two talk about?" Zhan Hanjue asked.
"Nothing much, just chatted, reminisced about old times."
"That woman's words are not to be trusted."