C8 Mother

Tang Yan nodded, then quickly shook her head.

"Actually, it's not just about standing up for you; I'm also looking out for myself. Since we're both stepping in for others in this marriage, instead of fighting each other, why not unite against those waiting to see us fail? What do you think?"

She guessed that Xi Pei was also pressured into this marriage by Xi Yan, and the reason the Xi family so openly revealed Xi Pei's status today was likely to provoke her.

Too bad she's not Tang Li.

Not only was she unfazed, but Tang Yan also saw this as a great opportunity. Compared to the scheming Xi Yan, she found this illegitimate son in front of her much easier to get along with.

"Are you suggesting we work together?"

Tang Yan nodded emphatically. "Yes!"

A playful smile appeared on Xi Pei's face. Every move this woman made surprised him.

But she had a point. He was already at the mercy of the Xi family, and dealing with a wife he was forced to marry would only add to the hassle.

Collaboration seemed like a good option.

After a brief consideration, Xi Pei nodded in agreement.

"Alright, I agree."

Tang Yan breathed a sigh of relief. Great! She no longer had to pretend in front of Xi Pei.

"By the way, do you have time now? Could you take me to the First People's Hospital?"

Once they were in the car, Xi Pei finally had a moment to ask her, "Why did Tang Li want you to marry in her place?"

Tang Yan herself wasn’t sure. By all accounts, Xi Yan seemed like a great match, so it was puzzling why Tang Li would refuse and instead use their mother’s illness to pressure her into marriage. Could Tang Li know something she didn’t?

"I don’t know, but my mother is seriously ill and needs treatment. Tang Li can help me with that, so when she asked me to take her place, I agreed."

Her mother was Tang Yan’s only source of warmth, and with Tang Li using her mother’s illness as leverage, Tang Yan couldn’t refuse.

Xi Pei glanced at her through the rearview mirror. "Your mother must mean a lot to you."

Once, his own mother had meant the same to him...

They arrived at the hospital, and after saying goodbye to Xi Pei, Tang Yan headed to the third-floor ward. Her mother was lying in bed receiving an IV, and when she saw Tang Yan, her face lit up with a smile.

"Yan Yan, what brings you here?"

The moment she saw her mother, Tang Yan almost broke down in tears, but she held them back to keep her mother from worrying. She poured her a glass of water and sat by the bedside.

"Mom, I came to see you. Don’t worry, your health will improve."

Even though Tang Li had only arranged for a standard hospital room for her mother, Tang Yan knew how hard it was to secure a bed in this hospital. Tang Li had at least honored their agreement to that extent.

Tang's mother looked at her with a worried expression.

"Yan, I'm not worried about myself, but about you! I heard from the family that you married into the Xi family. Is that true?"

Tang Yan was taken aback, clenching her fists tightly.

Tang Li had told their mother about this, practically forcing her into distress!

Suppressing the anger rising in her chest, Tang Yan didn't want her mother to worry, so she said, "Don't listen to what others say. It's true that I married into the Xi family, but I'm really happy. Mom, my husband is very loving. I'll bring him to meet you next time, okay?"