The resentment that had barely calmed among the crowd surged back two hours after Jiang Lili left.
Some of them were relatives of the Jiang Family, who felt it improper to leave while the Jiang Family remained silent.
Others were from the Qiao Family side, unwilling to leave without an explanation.
And the rest were just onlookers, eager to see an outcome from the drama between the two families today.
Thus, despite Lin Manru's best efforts to entertain according to Jiang Li's instructions, she couldn't quell the whispers of speculation.
Hearing the surrounding gossip, Mrs. Qiao began to raise her voice again, her tone sarcastic:
"My goodness, didn't Jiang Li promise solemnly that she would find Jiang Yan? It's been two hours. Why hasn't there been a single phone call?"
"The reputation of your Jiang Family has never been good to begin with. One elder son, always out squandering his days in pleasure, and now he's gone missing. The elder daughter, well, she's not any better."
"If you ask me, if the Jiang Family wants to genuinely settle this matter, they should make some sacrifices to appease everyone's anger."
Lin Manru's grip on her teacup tightened, and her face no longer maintained the obliging smile it had at the beginning.
She was eager to retort, but remembering Jiang Li's advice before leaving, she forcefully suppressed her emotions.
Having vented, Mrs. Qiao saw Lin Manru's dismissive attitude and felt both angry and surprised.
Since when had the Eldest Miss Jiang, the softest and most manageable in the Capital, become so tough?
All because of those few words from Jiang Li?
Unwilling to accept this, she immediately turned her spite onto others, dragging other ladies into criticizing the Jiang Family.
Mrs. Qin could no longer bear to listen and took the opportunity while serving sweets to suggest, "House Mistress, are you truly going to let Mrs. Qiao slander our Jiang Family like that? You should at least say something. Only by minimizing a big issue and resolving small ones can this be settled."
At this, Jiang Ye, who had been standing silently at the side, snorted coldly, "Minimize a big issue and resolve small ones? Haven't you seen that those from the Qiao Family clearly don't want to talk things out properly? In my opinion, we shouldn't be afraid of them at all. We should stand up to them with more strength."
Mrs. Qin was about to argue back when an assertive woman's voice forcefully interrupted her mid-sentence—
"Uncle Jiang is right; for those who are deliberately causing trouble, we should show no mercy."
The previously noisy crowd fell silent at this statement.
It was then that Jiang Li, who had been standing at the doorway, slowly moved to Lin Manru's side, patting the back of her hand in a comforting gesture.
Lin Manru's knotted heart finally relaxed.
She appeared unfazed, but her hand gripping the teacup was already slick with cold sweat.
If it hadn't been for that last bit of advice from Jiang Li, "A House Mistress of a prominent family must have the fortitude and presence to host guests well, yet not be perturbed by the petty words of the insignificant," she would have already been overwhelmed by the Qiao Family.
Mrs. Qiao's face changed colors. She swept her piercing gaze across everyone before squeezing out her voice:
"Oh, Eldest Miss Jiang is back? Where's your brother? Why isn't he visible?"
"Didn't you keep us in suspense, saying you could definitely bring your brother back? Where is he? You all wouldn't be trying to drag this out with such a poor strategy, would you?"
"Hey, you old hag." A flagrant male voice suddenly filled the room, "If you don't need those eyes, consider donating them. I've been sitting here for ten minutes; you treating me as air or what?"
The crowd was once again agitated, just now noticing Eldest Young Master Jiang, Jiang Yan, sitting in the corner of the sofa, nibbling on some sweets.
He was leaning on a lacquered sofa, his posture dominant and arrogant, yet his face complemented his untouchable demeanor perfectly.
His upturned peach blossom eyes shone with disdain yet carried an air of innate abstinence.
His features were deep and defined, every angle impeccable to a fault.
Other people with a handsome and charming appearance often try to conceal it as much as possible, yet he maximized his aura to the fullest, even to the point of being nearly coquettish.
The only thing that could be considered proper about him was the suit he finally wore decently.
The moment she caught sight of the man's face, Qiao Shuang, who hid behind her mother, couldn't help but blush.
The Jiang Family's young master was so handsome; what a pity it was that he had become a dissolute playboy.
When Mrs. Qiao saw the man, her eyes widened in shock, and her agape mouth remained open for quite some time.
Hadn't they said that Jiang Yan was missing and his life or death was uncertain?
Why had he now returned safe and sound?
However, before she could express her astonishment, Jiang Li approached her with a smile.
"Mrs. Qiao, never mind your surprise for a moment. I've brought the person back. Shouldn't you now fulfill the promise you made as per our agreement?"
Mrs. Qiao's face turned utterly pale.
A no-conditions breakup of the engagement?
So, was the fuss she made today all just a joke?
Therefore, she quickly took a step back, pulling her daughter with her, her eyes darting around as she said,
"You, you couldn't be intentionally scheming against us, pretending to play out this farce to force us into an unconditional breakup of the engagement, could you?"
Jiang Yan's gaze flickered from his seat on the sofa.
A breakup of the engagement?
So, Jiang Li brought him home to break off the engagement, not to pressure him into marriage?
Upon hearing this, the smile faded from Jiang Li's face, "So, does Mrs. Qiao mean she doesn't intend to keep the agreement?"
"Old Sir Jiang had also made an agreement long ago for Shuangshuang to marry your brother. It was you who first broke your word. Now you want us to uphold the agreement?"
Mrs. Qiao simply decided to break the jar rather than restrain herself, bringing up Old Sir Jiang again.
Anyway, the old man couldn't come back now, and without him, the Jiang Family was just a mess that she could stomp on a few more times without repercussions!
"Moreover, who knows where Jiang Yan disappeared to these past days, maybe he was hugging and canoodling with other women, lost in a romantic fog. My daughter is too soft-hearted and has been holding back, enduring in silence, but as her mother, I can't just stand by and watch!"
Jiang Li instantly caught the loophole in her words.
"Everybody in the Capital knows that Jiang Yan likes to play missing; even the whole Jiang Family can't trace his whereabouts. So, Mrs. Qiao, how do you know what exactly he was up to? Rumors become truths when reiterated. Please refrain from making groundless accusations and slandering others, not only does it harm them, but it also speaks ill of your own integrity."
"You!" Mrs. Qiao was both annoyed and angry, "Everyone is witness to what kind of person Jiang Yan is. Do I need to spread rumors?"
"Then, since you know he isn't a good person, why did you agree to this marriage? Are you truly thinking of your daughter's welfare or do you have ulterior motives?"
Jiang Li hit the nail on the head, and Mrs. Qiao's formidable demeanor was immediately deflated.
Even Jiang Yan, standing by, was dumbfounded.
Since when had the normally raucous Jiang Li become so calm and logical?
Let the engagement be broken off.
Why keep harping on the fact that he wasn't a decent man?