Madam Tang’s gaze bore into Yang Mei, her voice laced with skepticism. "How did you find him? After so many years, how did you know where to find Tang Ziyi?"

Yang Mei paused, her eyes darting around the room as she formulated her response. "I have resources now," she declared, her tone tinged with a hint of superiority. "Back then, I was just a nobody, scared of Madam Jiang’s wrath. But now, well..." She trailed off, a smirk playing on her lips as her gaze swept over the opulent surroundings.

Li Yanyan’s eyes narrowed, her expression one of disdain. "You came to find him because the Jiangs are all dead," she stated, her voice dripping with accusation.

Yang Mei’s mask of feigned innocence slipped ever so slightly as she met Li Yanyan’s piercing gaze. "I don’t have anyone else to fear," she confessed, her words laced with a twisted sense of relief. "I can be with my son without fearing what Madam Jiang will do to me."

Sun Lixia arched an elegant brow, her lips curling into a slight smile that held no warmth. "Hmm, I see. Well, you came at the wrong time. They are not here."

Yang Mei’s brow furrowed, her composure faltering for a brief moment. "When will he be back?" she demanded, her tone edged with impatience.

Sun Lixia shrugged, her nonchalance only serving to further agitate the interloper. "I don’t know," she replied, her voice infuriatingly calm. "I’m sure a few more hours won’t hurt, right? You’ve waited twenty years."

A tense silence descended upon the room as Yang Mei forced a smile, her expression strained. "Yes, yes, yes, I will wait. A few hours won’t hurt."

The women exchanged knowing glances, resuming their leisurely afternoon tea as if the presence of the unwelcome guest was a mere inconvenience. Yang Mei fidgeted in her seat, her gaze darting around the opulent villa, her disdain for being ignored palpable.

After two arduous hours of waiting, Yang Mei’s patience finally snapped. "I am surprised that you have so many staff here, but they can’t even give a guest a drink, not even a glass of water," she sneered, her words laced with thinly veiled contempt.

Sun Lixia met her gaze, unfazed by the woman’s audacity. "Oh, my bad, I didn’t realize you wanted something to drink. Juice, water, wine, or tea?"

Without hesitation, Yang Mei responded, "Wine."

A knowing smile tugged at Sun Lixia’s lips. "My thought exactly."

Yang Mei’s eyes narrowed, her suspicion piqued by the subtle jab. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"I can tell you’re the type of woman who prefers wine," Sun Lixia replied, her tone laced with thinly veiled disdain. "Red, right?"

"Yes, please," Yang Mei ground out, her jaw clenched as she issued the terse response.

As Sun Lixia instructed a staff member to fetch the requested wine, Li Yanyan couldn’t help but notice the greedy glint in Yang Mei’s eyes as the glass was placed before her.

The sound of laughter and chatter heralded the arrival of Cen Yuhuan, Zhang Mei, and Zhang Meixui, their arms laden with shopping bags. Mu Lingling greeted her daughter with a warm smile. "Zhang Mei, when did you go shopping?"

Cen Yuhuan’s eyes sparkled with mischief. "I dragged them out, and we shopped for some baby clothes."

Li Yanyan chuckled, her gaze sweeping over the numerous bags. "By the time the twins are born, they’ll have clothes that fill out a whole room."

"Of course, they should be spoiled," Sun Lixia declared, her tone brimming with indulgent affection.

Zhang Mei’s brow furrowed as her gaze fell upon the unfamiliar woman seated among them. "You seem to have a guest. We’ll be in the room if you need us," she murmured, her tone laced with uncertainty.

Cen Yuhuan’s eyes danced with excitement. "Can’t wait to properly see the baby clothes!"

Sun Lixia’s expression softened as she met her daughter-in-law’s gaze. "We hope that soon we’ll be shopping for your baby too."

A becoming blush stole across Cen Yuhuan’s cheeks as she ducked her head shyly. "We’ll see, mom. Xinjie and I are not in a rush."

As the young women retreated, the living room once again descended into an uneasy silence, punctuated only by the occasional sip of tea or the clink of china against saucers.

Another hour ticked by, the daylight fading into dusk, before the sound of laughter and mirth heralded the return of the men. Li Chen, Li Xinjie, Zhu Fengrui, Tang Junjie, and Tang Ziyi entered, their arms laden with shopping bags.

Li Chen’s eyes twinkled with amusement. "I think we’ve done enough shopping for the wedding now."

Li Xinjie chuckled, his tone laced with affection. "Don’t let Cen Yuhuan hear you say that. She wishes we could empty out the whole bridal shop."

A chorus of laughter filled the air, and Li Yanyan’s gaze softened as she regarded her son. "Let the girl enjoy planning her special day. She deserves it."

Li Xinjie’s expression was one of pure adoration. "And everything more that comes with being Madam Li." 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Zhu Fengrui’s gaze fell upon the unfamiliar woman, and he cleared his throat. "You have a guest. We should leave you."

Sun Lixia shook her head, her expression resolute. "That won’t be necessary. Please call the others. This woman here has something to say I think we all need to hear it."

Li Chen’s brow furrowed as he took in the tense atmosphere, and with a nod, he instructed the butler to summon Zhang Mei and the others. Once everyone had gathered, a hush fell over the room, and Madam Tang’s gaze settled upon her son.

"Ziyi, my son," she began, her voice betraying a tremor of emotion. "This woman here has something to say to you."

Tang Ziyi’s brow creased in confusion as he met the stranger’s gaze. "Me? Do I know you?"

Yang Mei’s lips trembled, and she sniffled, her eyes brimming with crocodile tears as she unleashed her performance. "My boy..." she whimpered, her voice thick with feigned sorrow.

Tang Junjie and Tang Ziyi exchanged bewildered glances, their confusion palpable as the woman continued her charade.

"My boy, it’s mummy," Yang Mei whispered, her words laced with an artificial tenderness.

Tang Ziyi’s eyes widened, his features etched with stunned disbelief. "I don’t know you," he murmured, his voice laced with uncertainty.

Yang Mei’s expression crumpled, her tears flowing freely as she reached out a trembling hand towards him. "I know you don’t," she sobbed. "I last saw you when you were born. You look like my father."

The room held its collective breath as Yang Mei’s proclamation hung in the air, the weight of her words casting a pall over the gathered families.

Tang Ziyi’s brow furrowed, his gaze darting towards Madam Tang, the woman he had known as his mother for as long as he could remember. "What is she talking about?" he demanded, his voice edged with a desperate need for answers.

Yang Mei seized the opportunity, her tears temporarily forgotten as she launched into her carefully crafted tale. "You were born to me and your father, Jiang Honglin," she began, her words laced with a twisted sense of maternal pride. "But his wife, that wretched woman, demanded that you be cast aside. She threatened to kill us both if she found out about you."

Tang Ziyi’s eyes narrowed, his expression one of skepticism as the woman’s story unfolded. "So you abandoned me at the hospital?" he challenged, his voice laced with a mixture of disbelief and hurt.

Yang Mei’s gaze shifted, her expression one of feigned remorse. "I had no choice, my darling boy. It was the only way to keep us both alive."

Tang Ziyi’s jaw clenched, his eyes blazing with a mixture of anger and disbelief. "And you expect me to believe that?" he spat, his voice laced with contempt. "After all these years, you suddenly show up claiming to be my mother?"

Yang Mei’s crocodile tears resurfaced as she reached out a trembling hand towards him. "Please, you have to understand. I’ve lived with the guilt every single day since. But I’m here now, and I want to be a part of your life."

A derisive snort escaped Tang Ziyi’s lips as he regarded the woman before him, his gaze hardening. "You’re nothing but a stranger to me," he declared, his words cutting like a knife. "And you know what? I’m grateful you left me at that hospital."

Yang Mei recoiled as if struck, her eyes widening in shock as Tang Ziyi’s words washed over her. "What?" she breathed, her composure faltering.

Tang Ziyi’s expression was one of steely resolve, his love and loyalty to the family who had raised him evident in every word. "If you hadn’t abandoned me, I would have never known the love and guidance of Madam Tang and the rest of this incredible family."

He turned towards Madam Tang, his eyes shining with a depth of emotion that rendered Yang Mei’s performance utterly insignificant. "You are my mother, the woman who raised me with unconditional love and nurturing. This stranger means nothing to me."

Madam Tang’s eyes glistened with unshed tears as she reached out to embrace her son, her heart swelling with pride and love. "Oh, Ziyi," she murmured, her voice thick with emotion.

The gathered families exchanged knowing glances, their respect and admiration for Tang Ziyi’s unwavering loyalty evident in their expressions.

Yang Mei, however, was not so easily deterred. "But I’m your flesh and blood!" she protested, her voice rising in desperation. "Surely that has to mean something to you!"

Tang Ziyi met her gaze, his expression one of pity laced with disdain. "Blood means nothing without love and nurturing," he declared, his words ringing with conviction. "You may have given birth to me, but you are not my mother. That title belongs to the woman who raised me, who guided me, who loved me unconditionally."

A hush fell over the room as Tang Ziyi’s words hung in the air, their weight and truth undeniable. Yang Mei’s carefully constructed facade crumbled, her tears mingling with the harsh realization that her ploy had failed spectacularly.

Li Yanyan’s voice cut through the silence, her tone laced with barely concealed triumph. "I think it’s time for you to leave, Yang Mei. Your presence here is no longer welcome."