CHAPTER 292: CHAPTER 292 WORK BADGE

After returning to the master bedroom on the second floor, Tang Xiaowan yawned and changed into her pajamas. She got straight into bed without washing up because she was simply too tired.

Soon after, the door was gently opened by Tang Mei, who held a small wooden box in her hand.

Her deep eyes carried a hint of a smile as she gazed steadily at Tang Xiaowan, "Hmm, it seems this incense is quite effective, much better than the pills!"

"It’s good you’re wearing a camisole; it saves grandma the trouble of taking it off for you."

"Tangtang, have sweet dreams."

As soon as she spoke, Tang Mei gently inserted a silver needle into Tang Xiaowan’s back, followed by a second, and then a third...and finally, into her head.

Then, something magical happened.

Tang Xiaowan seemed to be talking to herself, yet it also seemed like she was conversing with someone else.

She laughed for a while and then cried.

"Mommy, mommy? Where are you, mommy? Have you started looking for Tangtang yet?"

"Hide well, grandma has started."

"No, no, it must be mommy, or else you can’t leave, Tangtang won’t let you go."

"Okay, hide well, mommy is coming to find you."

A series of familiar yet unfamiliar scenes flashed rapidly through Tang Xiaowan’s mind, filling the gaps in her memory.

They were like puzzle pieces, regularly and precisely placed in their rightful spots.

Since the age of five, Tang Xiaowan had been taken by Tang Mei to run fast, jumping over various obstacles, until Leng Lingxiao kept her company and she gradually accepted the fact she didn’t have a mother—each and every detail emerged one by one.

She remembered designing Lingxiao Manor with Leng Lingxiao in Chicheng.

She remembered their happy past.

Next, she remembered sneaking out to meet someone because of an unknown phone call, and coincidentally saving Li Zishen, who was being surrounded by thugs.

She remembered Li Zishen investigating her, following her, and suggesting to help her find her mother as a pretext to ask her out.

The hospital, the orphanage, the train station—she had been to many places within a year, and they took a photo together at each location, which Li Zishen said was for a memorial.

Indeed, she did not love Li Zishen; the one she loved was Leng Lingxiao, whom she had a crush on since junior high.

She remembered all this.

Suddenly, an image of a red house appeared out of nowhere, all other images halted in their assembly, and time immediately spiraled backward.

From before the summer break when she took the final exams to Leng Lingxiao taking her out to the ski resort for fun.

These memories rapidly retraced themselves.

Tang Xiaowan suddenly felt a tightness in her chest, and a number of fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead.

"Don’t be afraid, trust me, come on!"

"No, it’s not okay, I’ll fall, ah! Too fast, Huahua, save me!"

"Tangtang, are you alright?"

"Hahaha, I was just fooling you."

"Oh, you little rascal, you actually fooled me?"

"Oh, right, silly Huahua!"

After the laughter subsided, Tang Xiaowan gradually calmed down and then entered a deep sleep.

...

Meanwhile, at Nanfeng Mansion.

In the study, an antique desk lamp cast a soft glow.

Wang Jinhui, wearing reading glasses, sat at the desk, his veined hands deftly moving between tools, intermittently creating the sound of clinking metal.

He was making a triangular plum blossom hairpin.

This hairpin, crafted from pure silver and carefully polished, had a smooth and delicate texture. On one end of the pin were two life-like triangular plums, the petals lively and beautiful.

Wang Jinhui carefully wound a piece of fine silver wire around one end of the hairpin and then used pliers gently to bend it into a perfect arc.

Next, he took up a small hammer and tapped the silver wire to make it cling tightly to the curves of the hairpin.

This utilized the flexibility of the silver, making the structure of the hairpin both solid and beautiful.

Finally, he took two pieces of pink crystal and carefully set them into the hearts of the triangular plums. They looked like a pair of bright eyes, adding a touch of spirit to the blossoms.

At five o’clock in the morning, it was finally completed.

Wang Jinhui placed the silver hairpin into a wooden long box, then nodded in satisfaction, his face brimming with joyful happiness.

For a whole day and night, he had been immersed in the process of making this silver hairpin.

He wanted to give Tang Mei a little surprise.

"Dad, where are you planning to go?"

At the corner on the first floor, Wang Jinhui was caught up by Wang Junchen, who had followed close behind.

He turned around quickly, his eyes burning as he looked at his son, and then replied unhesitatingly, "To see Aunt Tang."

"You’re serious about marrying her?" Wang Junchen glanced at the wooden box in his father’s hand.

"Yes."

"Ah Hua really likes that child Xiao Wan."

"Didn’t we already talk about this the night before last? I have no say in this matter; you need to visit in person and ask for Tang Mei’s opinion. She is Xiao Wan’s grandmother, and it’s also a matter of respecting your elders."

"I have nothing to say to her, please convey this on my behalf."

"No, that would be too disrespectful."

"I see you’re still quite protective of her, I wonder... when my mother was alive, did you ever consider matters this carefully?"

"Son, I know you hate me, but I really was out of town on business those two days. I had no idea you would be born prematurely, and I certainly didn’t expect your mother to..." He sighed, "As for what the nanny said, it’s all nonsense."

"Is it? I don’t think so."

As Wang Junchen said this, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a slightly yellowed ID badge.

"The nanny said it was this woman who killed my mother, it was she who injected a clear liquid into the IV bag, and not long after, my mother died of massive blood loss."

Wang Jinhui’s eyes fell upon hearing this.

After a pause, he looked up at the ID badge his son handed over, his eyebrows suddenly furrowing.