Chapter 1210: Chapter 1210: Why are you trying to take my daughter!! (4)

“Miss Shu.” Aunt Liu emerged, looking noticeably older than two years ago. Her condition seemed poor, and when she smiled at Shu Jiao, it seemed more like her skin was being pulled than a genuine smile.

She gestured for Shu Jiao to come in, with a double entendre: “Please come in, my mistress has been waiting for you for a long time.”

Shu Jiao let out a snort of laughter. Even though she was brought here forcibly, she showed no sign of fear, walked in with her chest held high.

As soon as she stepped through the villa door, Shu Jiao smelled a strong aroma of incense, so intense it seemed to have permeated the entire house.

Shu Jiao frowned, and Aunt Liu, as if understanding her thoughts, explained in a low voice, “My mistress is compassionate and devout, but her health is not good, so she can only burn incense inside these years.”

Compassionate?

Shu Jiao smiled sardonically. Indeed, compassionate, using the hospital as a cover, doing such morally bankrupt things just to ease her conscience, that indeed is compassionate.

Aunt Liu seemed displeased upon seeing the sarcastic smile on Shu Jiao’s lips, and her face hardened as she said, “Miss Shu, you are not my mistress; you have no idea of the suffering she has endured over the years!”

“Is that so?” Shu Jiao questioned lightly, her indifferent attitude making Aunt Liu more uncomfortable. She wanted to say more, but the voice of the old Mrs. Yuan came from the room.

“Aunt Liu, is that Xiaojiao?”

Only then did Aunt Liu withdraw her attitude, bowed her head, and respectfully invited her inside.

As Shu Jiao reached the stairs, her gaze paused for a few seconds on the most striking painting.

Yuan Manman.

Perhaps as an outsider, she couldn’t see any traces of Yuan Manman in her daughter. She really couldn’t understand why the old Mrs. Yuan was so convinced that her Jiaojiao could be her daughter.

Walking outside, Shu Jiao felt the heavy scent of incense in the living room, and it wasn’t until she entered the old Mrs. Yuan’s room that she realized, comparatively, it was nothing outside.

In the old Mrs. Yuan’s room, not only was the incense heavier, but thin smoke floated around. Seeing the old Mrs. Yuan leaning on the bed in her twilight years, Shu Jiao felt a faint surprise in her heart.

When she saw the old Mrs. Yuan a few years ago, she was still full of vigor, but now… Shu Jiao felt she could clearly sense life slipping away from her, and she might not have much time left.

The once bright eyes had now turned murky, yet they noticeably sparkled a bit when she entered.

“Aunt Liu, you may go out first.” The old Mrs. Yuan’s eyes fixed on Shu Jiao, but she addressed Aunt Liu.

Aunt Liu glanced at Shu Jiao, hesitated for two seconds before turning to leave, closing the door behind her.

With Aunt Liu gone, only Shu Jiao and the old Mrs. Yuan remained in the room, one lying down, the other standing.

Thin smoke lingered around them both, and neither spoke first.

The atmosphere was quiet and oppressive.

It was as if they were each waiting for the other to speak, but ultimately it was the sound of the old Mrs. Yuan coughing that broke the silence.

Looking at her, the old Mrs. Yuan gave a bitter smile: “At your age, few have such composure.”

Shu Jiao said nothing, and the old Mrs. Yuan probably didn’t expect her to speak. She touched the quilt covering her with her dry hand, it was a pure hand-embroidered brocade quilt with the pattern of Five Sons Winning the Prize.