Ling Nuan didn't do anything to Xun Cong.
She just took him to the mall to buy clothes.
"Sis, how do I look in this outfit?" Xun Cong asked excitedly, apparently quite satisfied with what he was wearing.
"Not bad at all," Ling Nuan complimented.
Hearing this, Xun Cong checked himself out in the fitting - room mirror again and again, admiring himself to his heart's content. Ling Nuan didn't interrupt him. Instead, she took a photo of Xun Cong.
Then, she picked up another set of clothes nearby and handed it to Xun Cong. "I think this one looks good too. Go and try it on."
Xun Cong trusted Ling Nuan's taste very much.
He took the clothes and went into the fitting room again.
Ling Nuan carried Xun Cong's schoolbag and his phone. She walked over to a sofa and sat down. Then, she calmly sent the photo of Xun Cong she'd just taken to Zhao Shuting, adding a message: "I haven't seen Xun Cong for a while. I didn't expect him to have grown so much taller."
No one would find anything wrong with this message.
However, upon seeing the photo Ling Nuan had sent, Zhao Shuting's face changed drastically.
She immediately called Xun Cong's phone.
Ling Nuan watched the phone vibrate but didn't move. She just let it ring until it stopped.
When the first call went unanswered, Zhao Shuting called a second time, then a third.
She even rushed out of the door, intending to look for Ling Nuan.
On the fourth try, the call went through.
Ling Nuan answered it.
"Auntie, I've got Xun Cong's phone. What's up? Do you need to talk to him?" Ling Nuan's tone was as gentle as water, as if she really had a close relationship with her aunt, Zhao Shuting.
Zhao Shuting felt as if her throat had been grasped.
She didn't dare to shout and scream as she usually did. Instead, she carefully asked, "Ling Nuan, what are you up to? Xun Cong is from the Xun family. You can't hurt him."
Ling Nuan smiled. "Auntie, what are you talking about? Xun Cong is my dear cousin. How could I ever hurt him? I'm only too happy to be good to him. You know what? How about I take him abroad for a vacation when he has a holiday?"
Ling Nuan, of course, didn't mean it out of kindness.
"India or Myanmar? Auntie, which one do you prefer?" Ling Nuan asked, her voice full of anticipation.
If there hadn't been recent news about human trafficking in these two places.
Ling Nuan was threatening Zhao Shuting.
Both of them knew it well.
"Ling Nuan, you wouldn't dare!" Zhao Shuting was furious, but her attitude was much more subdued than usual.
Ling Nuan feigned surprise. "Auntie, I just want to take Xun Cong on a trip. Why wouldn't I dare? Auntie, do you have some misunderstanding about me?"
Seeing that Ling Nuan wouldn't listen to reason and unable to reach Xun Cong herself, Zhao Shuting finally lost her composure.
"Ling Nuan, what on earth do you want?" There was a hint of crying in Zhao Shuting's voice.
Xun Cong was her life.
After Zhao Shuting married Xun Yao, they tried many ways to have a child, and finally had Xun Cong. They doted on him like a precious gem. Ling Nuan could even guess what Zhao Shuting had been trying so hard for.
It was to save more money for Xun Cong so that he could have a good life.
Ling Nuan smiled and said, "Auntie, what could I possibly do? Xun Cong is Grandma's only grandson. I wouldn't harm him even if I harmed anyone else. I don't have any grand wishes in this life. I just hope Grandma can live a happy life."
"Auntie, can you understand my filial piety?"
Ling Nuan's tone was sincere.
She was really such a filial granddaughter.
Even if Zhao Shuting wasn't very smart, she could hear the threat in Ling Nuan's words.
As long as Grandma could live a good life, Ling Nuan wouldn't touch Xun Cong. But if they did something, Ling Nuan might take action against Xun Cong.
Zhao Shuting completely lost her temper. "Ling Nuan, who do you think you are? This is a society ruled by law! You can't..."
Ling Nuan didn't give Zhao Shuting a chance to talk nonsense. She just hung up the phone and left Zhao Shuting to figure things out on her own.
Knowing that the phone was in Ling Nuan's hands, Zhao Shuting didn't call Xun Cong again. Instead, she contacted Xun Yao.
But the couple had no idea where Ling Nuan had taken Xun Cong. When Xun Cong was on his way home, they were extremely worried. They thought of all the possible things that could happen and scared themselves half to death.
As for Xun Cong—
"Sis, did you strike it rich? You bought me so many clothes!" Xun Cong was shocked as he looked at the shopping bags in his hands.
Before Ling Nuan could say anything, Xun Cong shook his head. "Sis, I mostly wear my school uniform at school. Just keep one set. Return the rest. It's not easy for you to earn money, and you still have to support Grandma."
It was really hard to believe that such a good - natured boy could come from Xun Yao and his wife.
Ling Nuan wouldn't blame Xun Cong for his parents' mistakes.
She smiled. "I recently changed jobs. I'm working at the Huo Corporation now. The salary is quite good."
Hearing this, Xun Cong didn't refuse anymore. He just murmured, "Grandma depends on you to support her, and now you're even buying clothes for me. Sis, I might as well just call you Mom from now on."
Ling Nuan was amused. "I don't want a son as old as you."
Xun Cong was in a great mood. He was even humming a song when he got home.
But as soon as he walked in, Zhao Shuting rushed up to him, slapped him hard on the shoulder, and with red - rimmed eyes, questioned him, "Xun Cong, you've really gotten bold! How could you just go with Ling Nuan? Can't you use your head as you grow up?"
Xun Yao also warned him from the side, "Don't contact Ling Nuan again."
After being scolded like this out of the blue, Xun Cong slowly came to his senses.
"Ling Nuan is my sister. How could she harm me?" Xun Cong retorted. Then he hit the nail on the head. "Did you do something to make Sis angry again?"
"You don't need to worry about these things. Just remember to keep your distance from Ling Nuan next time," Zhao Shuting instructed.
Xun Cong rolled his eyes. "Sorry, I can't do that. She's my sister."
"I'm your mom!" Zhao Shuting was angry.
Xun Cong smiled. "It's okay. I'm sure Sis doesn't want to be my mom, but she's definitely willing to take on the responsibilities of a mom."
Zhao Shuting: "..."
Xun Cong just played the rascal. "Dad, Mom, you'd better listen to Sis obediently and stop causing trouble. Otherwise, I'll run away from home, cut off all ties with you, and go to live with Sis. I'm sure Sis will welcome me."
Zhao Shuting was speechless with anger.
Xun Yao was so angry that he wanted to hit someone, but Xun Cong was too agile.
By the time Xun Cong ran into his room and locked the door, Xun Yao was out of breath and hadn't even touched him.
Looking at this situation, Zhao Shuting felt as if the sky was falling. "That damned Ling Nuan! She actually threatened me with Xun Cong!"
The couple cursed Ling Nuan all night.
But the next day, they didn't dare to go to the hospital.
They were absolutely sure that Ling Nuan would do what she said, especially since their silly son whole - heartedly believed in Ling Nuan.
Just thinking about it made the couple's chests ache.
Ling Nuan didn't witness what happened later, but she heard a live account from Xun Cong.
As a result, she was in a great mood when she went to work the next day.
Then, when she went into the office to report her work to Huo Linsheng, she was caught red - handed.
"In a good mood?" Huo Linsheng asked.
Ling Nuan vaguely sensed a hint of danger. She answered euphemistically, "Just a little."
Huo Linsheng let out a soft laugh. "Well, I'm in a really bad mood, Secretary Ling."
Secretary Ling: "..."
Huo Linsheng tapped his fingers on the desk and seriously asked, "Secretary Ling, if I get troubled because of your tricks, will you take responsibility?"
She was in a good mood, but Huo Linsheng was going to settle scores with her.
A frustrated and annoying situation.
Secretary Ling didn't understand. Secretary Ling had no idea.