As soon as the words left his mouth, embarrassment flashed across Tan Jing’s face.
But it lasted only a moment.
Then, He Siheng personally witnessed just how strong Tan Jing’s mental fortitude was and how thick his skin could be.
He watched wide-eyed as Tan Jing lifted his casted leg off the ground again, continuing to feign a limp.
The fake cripple said with dead seriousness, “You saw wrong.”
“…”
He Siheng walked over with a blank expression, lifted his long leg, and kicked hard at the calf of Tan Jing’s uncasted leg—
Tan Jing bent over with a muffled grunt. His “lame” leg instantly healed, while his good leg suddenly became the lame one.
Watching his pained expression coldly, He Siheng pulled out a mocking sneer. “Look at that—a medical miracle.”
He tossed out those words and left, slamming the door shut behind him.
Tan Jing paused, his joking demeanor fading a bit.
That kick had been so hard—he was really angry.
He Siheng was indeed furious. He stormed back home in a rage and spotted Boss He in the living room. He marched right over. “Dad, have you been competing with the Tan Family on any business lately? Snatch their deals hard!”
He Yunlang, who usually loved going against the Tan Family, wasn’t as excited as usual. Instead, he looked bitter. “My son has ambition, but before that, there’s something even more urgent.”
“What is it?”
As soon as He Siheng asked, he caught a whiff of a strange smell and wrinkled his nose. “What’s burning?”
Just then, Shu Qiu emerged from the kitchen with a ladle in hand, an apron tied around her waist. “Heng Heng’s back! Perfect timing—my medicinal meal is almost done.”
He Siheng’s eyelid twitched hard. “Mom, why are you… in such high spirits today?”
Shu Qiu said enthusiastically, “I saw you had such heavy dark circles when you got up this morning, and it’s the weekend, so I specially made some medicinal meal to nourish you.”
He Siheng’s alarm bells blared as he backed up two steps.
This wasn’t nourishment—eating this might cost him half his life.
He Yunlang perked up at the words, like he’d found a lifeline. “Oh, it’s for nourishing little Heng? Then I won’t fight little Heng for it.”
He Siheng quickly grabbed him. “Dad, didn’t you always teach me from childhood that good things should be shared? I’m thrilled to eat with you—how could I say you’re stealing it?”
He Yunlang gave a stiff smile. “This is your mother’s love for you.”
He Siheng smiled back just as stiffly. “Mom’s love is for you too.”
Shu Qiu carried the medicinal meal pot out of the kitchen. “You two stop passing it back and forth. Don’t worry, I made a big pot—eat as much as you want, plenty for everyone.”
“…”
He Siheng and He Yunlang exchanged a silent look, seeing only despair in each other’s eyes.
Just then, the doorbell rang.
He Siheng, with his youthful reflexes, beat everyone to it. “I’ll get the door!”
He Yunlang gritted his teeth behind him. Brat, making your old man take the heat. No conscience.
However, He Siheng’s triumph didn’t last long.
The moment he saw who was at the door, his face fell. He wished he hadn’t opened it.
He Siheng glanced at Tan Jing’s right foot, now free of its cast, and let out a sarcasm-laden hum. “You got that cast off pretty quick.”
“Sorry.” Tan Jing got straight to the point. “I shouldn’t have lied to you.”
The apology was swift and direct, stunning He Siheng for a moment.
But it didn’t douse his anger.
“One ‘sorry’ and it’s over? Then why bother having police stations?”
Tan Jing went along with it. “How about you shoot me then?”
He could bend and stretch, even using polite language.
But He Siheng’s grudge ran deep. “If I had a gun, you’d be the first I’d blast, you big liar with your mouth full of lies.”
At that moment, Lady Shu Qiu’s voice came from inside. “Heng Heng, who’s there?”
He Siheng was about to say no one when Tan Jing beat him to it. “Aunt Shu, it’s me.”
“Oh! It’s little Jing.” Shu Qiu sounded delighted. “Have you eaten? If not, come in and eat with us.”
Tan Jing didn’t refuse. “Thanks, Aunt Shu. I won’t stand on ceremony then.”
He started to step inside, but He Siheng blocked him with a straight arm.
He Siheng glared irritably. “You still have the nerve to come eat at my house?”
Tan Jing wasn’t in a hurry. He calmly countered, “Are you sure you don’t need my help solving it?”
He paused, then added, “Aunt Shu’s skills have improved a lot—I can smell it from here.”
He Siheng fell silent.
A few seconds later, he withdrew his blocking arm.
Since this medicinal meal was unavoidable anyway, he might as well drag someone else down with him.
Tan Jing’s lips curved slightly as he followed him inside. Spotting He Yunlang in the dining room, he greeted him steadily, “Uncle He.”
He Yunlang never had a good face for Tan Family folks and gave a light hum. “The Tan kid’s here. Sit.”
Once they were all seated, Shu Qiu brought out two bowls of medicinal soup from the kitchen. “Come try the medicinal meal I made.”
He Yunlang’s face changed instantly. He reached out instinctively to take them but pulled back upon seeing the two full bowls of black sludge. “I’ll serve myself. Give little Heng more—he’s weak and needs the nourishment.”
He Siheng ground his teeth inwardly. This is father-son mutual destruction. Good thing he’d brought in reinforcements.
He took the fullest bowl from Shu Qiu and immediately passed it to Tan Jing, redirecting the damage. “This one’s for Tan Jing. He’s weaker than me—needs more nourishment.”
Tan Jing calmly accepted the bowl of pitch-black, thick soup. “Thanks, Heng Heng.”
He Siheng shot him a covert glare and hissed a warning. “Don’t call me that.”
Tan Jing’s lips curved faintly. He scooped up a spoonful, took a sip, and found the other three staring at him intently.
He Siheng and He Yunlang looked anxious, their faces practically screaming: Will he keel over in a few seconds?
Shu Qiu looked hopeful. “How’s the taste?”
Tan Jing’s expression didn’t change. “It’s great—very flavorful.”
Shu Qiu let out a relieved breath and smiled happily. “Glad you like it. I wasn’t too confident since it’s my first time making this.”
Tan Jing smiled. “Won’t you try some?”
At his question, the He father and son duo’s eyes widened.
Well played—have the chef taste her own dark cuisine.
Shu Qiu waved it off mysteriously. “This medicinal meal is specially for boys—I can’t drink it.”
She turned to He Siheng and He Yunlang. “You two, why are you just watching? Drink it while it’s hot—it’s no good cold.”
He Siheng and He Yunlang both fell silent.
