Chapter 3188 — The Incensed Tang Yuqi: Shen Yushu Knew Tang's Mother and Secretly Exchanged a Glance with Her, Yet Did Not Go Over to Greet Her

"Ling Shan, Auntie—it seems you both know that man from just now?" Tang Yuqi said, growing rather puzzled about Wei Zhao's identity.

"He's the very man I told you about..." Qiu Lingshan said. "Didn't you notice? The girl beside him in the sunglasses and pink coat—that's Xu Shilan... Oh, that's right, you've come back from overseas, so it's only natural you wouldn't know Xu Shilan."

"Xu Shilan? I've heard of her—she's quite famous..." Tang Yuqi said, then suddenly knit his brows. "Your boyfriend is him?"

In front of Tang's mother, admitting that she had any connection with Wei Zhao still left Qiu Lingshan somewhat embarrassed, and just then Tang's mother's expression had turned a little odd as well. Wei Zhao might no longer remember Tang Zhi, but Tang Zhi still liked Wei Zhao! So anyone around Wei Zhao was something Tang's mother took especially seriously.

And at that moment Tang's mother suddenly understood as well why Qiu Lingshan had been so courteous to her. Now it seemed that Qiu Lingshan must have been treating herself as a junior of the family.

"Not really a boyfriend—I just like him and haven't confessed yet. He actually has a girlfriend, only she's gone away, so at most I count as the other woman..." Qiu Lingshan said.

Qiu Lingshan's words delighted Tang's mother at once—so Qiu Lingshan was quite self-aware after all! Tang's mother was not afraid of Wei Zhao taking a second, third, fourth, fifth, or sixth woman; after all, Tang Zhi had tacitly permitted it. What she feared was some woman without self-awareness trying to take Tang Zhi's place.

And Tang's mother was thoroughly satisfied with Qiu Lingshan's behavior; she began to find her altogether agreeable to look at. Only toward her nephew Tang Yuqi could she do nothing to help.

"What?! You're only the other woman?" Tang Yuqi was instantly furious. "Is this man really that wonderful? I can't hold back any longer—I'm going to challenge him right now! Ling Shan, I'll show you that men more outstanding than him still exist!"

Tang Yuqi could hardly be blamed for getting so worked up. When he heard that Qiu Lingshan was actually willing to be the other woman, how outstanding must this Wei Zhao be? So he refused to accept it—he even forgot the uncle and aunt beside him, his whole heart set on settling who was superior with Wei Zhao!

"But surely we should finish eating first?" Qiu Lingshan did not try to stop him. She knew perfectly well that unless Tang Yuqi was allowed to challenge Wei Zhao, he would never give up; only by losing so thoroughly that he was convinced at heart would he let it go!

So challenging Wei Zhao as soon as possible was a good thing—only just now they were in the middle of a meal with Tang's mother's family, so how could they reasonably break off to go challenge him?

"I'm sorry, Uncle, Auntie, I've made a spectacle of myself..." Woken up by Qiu Lingshan's words, Tang Yuqi grew a little ashamed, realizing that this was a family reunion—how could he rush off to a challenge in the middle of a meal?

"It doesn't matter. Though Auntie has only just met you, what Auntie wants to say is that some things come down to fate. If there is affinity but no destiny, forcing it is useless," Tang's mother said to Tang Yuqi.

"Ah..." Tang Yuqi was slightly taken aback. He glanced at Qiu Lingshan, and his heart gave a sudden pang. There and then he vowed in his heart that he would prove himself stronger than Wei Zhao!

That topic was left there, touched upon and no more, and Tang Yuqi did not pursue it further. Instead he asked, "Uncle, Auntie, I heard you say just now that you belong to Snow Valley? What is this Snow Valley?"

"Yuqi, Ling Shan tells me you're a cultivator too? You belong to the Overseas Cultivators' Association, so you've surely heard of the ancient sects?" Tang's mother asked.

"That's right, I have. There are some ancient sects on this side—could Snow Valley be one of them?" Tang Yuqi was no fool. Though he did not know exactly which ancient sects existed here, Tang's mother's way of putting it made it plain that Snow Valley was one of them.

"Yes. The daughter of your uncle and me is an elder of Snow Valley. I suppose I count as something like a steward there—ordinarily your Uncle Tang and I stay there keeping your cousin company," Tang's mother explained.

"I see. Doesn't that mean you can't leave Snow Valley freely in ordinary times?" Tang Yuqi was rather disappointed. If so, then even if his father came back, he could not see Tang Jucheng's family whenever he liked, and would still have to live all alone—and here he knew nobody at all. What was the point?

But Tang Yuqi also knew that these great sects had strict rules that no single person could change at will. This meeting alone, he feared, would be hard to come by.

"We can leave, as it happens." Tang's mother saw Tang Yuqi's worry and smiled. "But ordinarily we simply prefer to keep your cousin company—she's a girl there with no one to rely on, after all. Still, the best plan would be for you to have your father come back and live in Snow Valley too. That way, when you miss us you can go to Snow Valley to visit, and in ordinary times you can still go about your own affairs."

"That would work too!" Tang Yuqi was both surprised and delighted. Even when he had been abroad, he had not often seen his father—he was a famous detective, after all, forever rushing to crime scenes everywhere on commission, and the time he spent at home was pitifully little. This was precisely why his father was minded to seek out his younger brother: old people without companions are truly lonely.

Tang Yuqi knew his own weak point—that he often went a month or two without coming home—and that was just why he had thrown himself into coming here to find his father's kin. "But Snow Valley is a great sect with so many rules—can my father go and live there?"

"Of course he can. Don't underestimate your cousin—apart from the Grand Elder, she is the only senior elder in the sect, someone who stands on equal footing with the Valley Master of Snow Valley. And your aunt here holds an extraordinary position in Snow Valley as well; ordinary folk must all watch your aunt's face before they act. So rest assured, once your father arrives, living there will be no problem at all—and it happens we could use the company!" Tang's mother explained.

"That's wonderful, then. I'll have my father come back at once and go with you to Snow Valley. Now the old man won't be lonely at last, and whenever I have time I can go see you all—no more worries," Tang Yuqi said hurriedly.

"Very well. Get in touch with your father, then—we'll be here waiting for him," Tang's mother said.

Tang Yuqi had not expected matters to be settled so smoothly. The great stone weighing on his heart was finally set down.

……………………

Over on Wei Zhao's side, Xu Shilan and Cheng Yiyi had not asked about the business with Tang's mother either. Xu Shilan had caught little Shu's look and understood in tacit agreement that the matter was somewhat complicated, so she did not press further, and turned her attention to the food before her.

Shen Yushu, for her part, was eating with great gusto, which rather puzzled Wei Zhao! Little Shu was usually a terrible gossip—by rights she should long since have been asking him what on earth was going on. Yet she had not asked a thing. Could it be that the food before her was more enticing? RS