As Li Chen and Zhang Mei entered the room, the air instantly tensed, their presence disrupting the heated conversation between the Jiangs and Tang Ziyi. Li Chen’s expression darkened at the sight of the unwelcome guests, his brows furrowing in irritation.

"What’s going on here?" Li Chen’s voice was sharp, cutting through the tension in the room like a knife.

Tang Ziyi turned to face Li Chen, his expression troubled. "They’re asking about their missing daughter, Brother Chen," he explained, his tone tinged with frustration.

Zhang Mei placed a comforting hand on Tang Ziyi’s shoulder before addressing Li Chen. "Let me go and check on Madam Tang, honey. Call me when we leave," she suggested, her voice calm but determined.

Li Chen hesitated for a moment before nodding. "We still have to wait for the others, so take your time," he replied, his tone softening slightly.

But before Zhang Mei could leave, Madame Jiang’s voice cut through the room like a whip. "Stop right there," she commanded, her tone laced with authority. "I want to talk to both of you, and these boys can leave."

Li Chen’s jaw tightened at the audacity of Madame Jiang’s demand. "You’re in my home. You should show some respect," he retorted, his voice cold and controlled.

Master Jiang clenched his teeth but forced himself to speak civilly. "We apologize. Please, sit down," he offered, gesturing to the chairs.

Li Chen and Zhang Mei exchanged a wary glance before complying, taking their seats opposite the Jiangs.

Jiang Xiaofeng wasted no time in getting to the point. "Li Chen, I know you know where my sister is. Maybe your wife knows too," he accused, his eyes narrowed with suspicion.

Li Chen’s eyes flashed with indignation. "Your sister? I’m a married man, Xiaofeng. Why would I know anything about your sister?" he shot back, his voice tinged with frustration.

Madame Jiang’s patience wore thin, and she cut straight to the chase. "Cut the bull. I know she tried to drug you on the night before your wedding. And seeing that you married... this... wretched girl, she didn’t succeed. So what did you do to her?" she demanded, her tone dripping with disdain.

Li Chen’s temper flared at the insult to Zhang Mei. "Speak like that to my wife again, and I swear I’ll make you regret the day you were born," he warned, his voice low and dangerous.

Master Jiang intervened, attempting to defuse the tension. "I guess Sun Lixia never taught you how to speak to your elders, boy," he chided, his tone condescending.

Li Chen’s patience wore thin, his frustration bubbling to the surface. "What do you want?" he demanded, his voice clipped.

Madame Jiang wasted no time in laying out her demands. "I want my daughter back," she declared, her voice firm and resolute.

Li Chen’s gaze hardened. "I don’t know where she is. Now leave," he ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Master Jiang could sense that Zhang Mei knew something, and he turned his attention to Tang Ziyi, hoping to gain some insight. "Boy, that is your sister that is missing," he pointed out, his voice tinged with desperation.

Tang Ziyi’s expression remained impassive, but his eyes betrayed a flicker of uncertainty. "I don’t have a sister. It’s just me and Junjie," he replied, his voice steady but tense.

Madame Jiang’s confusion was evident, her frustration mounting. "What are you saying, hubby? How can Xiaolin be his sister?" she demanded, her tone tinged with disbelief.

Master Jiang hesitated, his gaze flickering between Tang Ziyi and his wife. Finally, he spoke, his voice heavy with regret. "Remember that child, twenty years ago?" he began, his words weighted with sorrow.

Madame Jiang’s eyes widened in recognition, a flicker of anger flashing in her gaze. "That child you had with a call girl... How can I forget?" she replied, her voice filled with bitterness.

Master Jiang turned his gaze to Tang Ziyi, a mix of emotions swirling in his eyes. "Look at this boy carefully, like really carefully, and tell me you don’t see anything?" he implored, his voice tinged with desperation.

Madame Jiang’s gaze darkened, her anger boiling over. "What did you do? What did you do, Jiang Honglin?" she demanded, her voice rising with fury.

Master Jiang sighed heavily, the weight of his past sins weighing heavily on his shoulders. "Remember that child, twenty years ago?" he repeated, his voice barely above a whisper.

Madame Jiang’s eyes widened in shock as realization dawned. "That child you had with a call girl... How could I forget?" she whispered, her voice trembling with rage.

Master Jiang turned to Tang Ziyi, his expression pained. "That child...

The revelation hit Li Chen like a punch to the gut. His eyes widened in shock as he processed Tang Ziyi’s words. Zhang Mei’s hand tightened on his, her own expression a mix of disbelief and concern.

"Your... father?" Li Chen’s voice was barely a whisper, his mind reeling from the unexpected revelation.

Tang Ziyi nodded solemnly, his gaze fixed on the floor. "Yes, Brother Chen. This man here... he’s my biological father," he confirmed, his voice tinged with bitterness. "The man who gave me away to Tangs because his wife didn’t want to raise an illegitimate child."

Li Chen’s jaw clenched as anger surged through him, a wave of fury threatening to overwhelm his senses. He shot a glare at Master Jiang, his fists tightening with barely suppressed rage.

"You abandoned your own son?" Li Chen’s voice was laced with contempt, his eyes burning with righteous anger.

Master Jiang’s expression remained stoic, but guilt flickered in his eyes. "It wasn’t as simple as that," he began, his voice strained with emotion. "My wife... she couldn’t bear the shame of raising a child born out of wedlock. We had to make a difficult choice..." 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Zhang Mei’s voice cut through the tension, her tone firm but compassionate. "No choice excuses abandoning your own flesh and blood," she stated, her eyes flashing with determination.

Jiang Xiaofeng watched the exchange in silence, his own emotions swirling inside him. He had never known about his father’s secret, and the revelation left him feeling a mix of disbelief and betrayal.