Jiang Yun's expression stiffened, but she still defended herself, "Miss Shen, don't think so badly of me. I want my daughter back. Is that too much to ask?"
"You have a son named Lin Qianyan with your current husband. He's also autistic."
"How do you know that?"
Jiang Yun was shocked. Shen Xiyin had investigated her. They had kept Lin Qianyan's autism a secret, and almost no one outside knew about it. She realized she had underestimated Shen Xiyin.
Shen Xiyin sneered, "You know very well that they have autism because of your genetic defect, so all the children you give birth to are autistic. You're the one who caused Mu Mian's autism, and you cruelly abandoned her. Yet I don't see any guilt on your face. You're truly a cold-blooded woman."
With her true motives exposed, Jiang Yun dropped her pretense. "Miss Shen, since you know about Qianyan's condition, can you help him?"
"What do you think autism treatment is? A surgery? Or just taking a few pills to get better? It's a long and arduous process, involving countless training sessions and interventions, requiring immense patience and love. A cold-hearted person like you wouldn't understand."
"Miss Shen, I'm not here to negotiate. I'm Mu Mian's biological mother. I have the responsibility and obligation to take care of her. If we go to court, I think you'd lose!"
"Mu Mian is an adult. She has the right to choose who she lives with. Do you think she'd choose you?" Shen Xiyin paused, then mockingly added, "Or do you also want to have Mu Mian diagnosed as mentally ill so you can get custody of her?"
"I wouldn't use such dirty tactics. However, I have many ways to make you compromise. Xiyin, have you forgotten? I used to be good friends with your parents. I know a thing or two about their affairs."
Shen Xiyin's smile instantly vanished, her eyes turning cold. "Of course you know. Jiang Yinian is your nephew, and you're currently funding his lab. You sent him to my father back then, didn't you?"
"No, that's not true. I didn't orchestrate this. He's my brother's illegitimate son. I only found out about him a few years ago. And your father's car accident wasn't Yinian's doing. He didn't steal your father's research materials either. Yinian suddenly returned to the country after your father's accident because his mother had passed away. He came back for the funeral. Someone is framing him! Xiyin, you have too many misunderstandings about us."
Jiang Yun patted Shen Xiyin's shoulder, "I've watched you grow up. You should trust your aunt's character. You should investigate others. There were so many people in your father's lab, they're all suspects."
"I know your kind too well. People like you would do anything to achieve your goals," Shen Xiyin struggled to control her emotions.
"Xiyin, so you should agree to my request and give Mu Mian back to me," Jiang Yun's tone carried a threat.
Shen Xiyin hesitated for a moment, then took out a document from her bag and handed it to Jiang Yun. "This is Michelle's information. She's the most authoritative expert in the field of autism. She was my teacher. I can help you contact her to provide intervention therapy for your son."
"Is she the therapist who cured Mu Mian? So she can cure Qianyan's autism too?" Jiang Yun's tone was eager.
Shen Xiyin found it laughable. So Jiang Yun didn't hate autistic children, she just didn't love Mu Mian.
As Jiang Yun reached for the document, Shen Xiyin pulled it back. "I can help you, but you need to agree to two conditions first."
"What conditions?"
Shen Xiyin spoke slowly and clearly: "First, you and Jiang Yinian will never appear in front of Mu Mian again. You can't disturb Mu Mian and my aunt's life. Second, you make the Lin Family leave Lu Tian alone."
"I don't quite understand the second condition. Why are you helping Lu Tian?"
"Lu Tian is my patient, and she's also Mu Mian's friend. I hope you can leave her alone. Actually, with Lin Qianjie dead, you're the biggest beneficiary, aren't you? Or rather, Lin Qianjie's current fate was orchestrated by you. You indulged his misconduct, suppressed him, and turned him into a psychologically unstable wreck. This way, he posed no threat to you and was completely under your control."
"I can agree to these two conditions. I can even have the hospital give Lu Tian preferential treatment. You're right, I deliberately ruined Lin Qianjie. Now that he's dead, the Lin Family's property belongs entirely to my Qianyan." Jiang Yun no longer tried to hide from Shen Xiyin, feeling she had Shen Xiyin completely in her grasp.
"Michelle will be coming next week for a conference. I'll bring her to see you then."
"Can she cure Qianyan?"
"Mrs. Jiang, autism can't be cured, only the symptoms can be improved. But she'll do her best to help you."
"Good, I hope we can cooperate pleasantly."
"Here's a friendly reminder: you'd better stay away from that lunatic Jiang Yinian. You can't control him."
"How can Yinian be a lunatic? He's a medical genius, the pride of our family, and your father's most satisfactory student." Jiang Yun was very fond of this nephew. The new drugs he had developed over the years had earned her a lot of money.
As Jiang Yun was leaving, Shen Xiyin called out to her, "Give me that gift box. I'll give it to Mu Mian for you."
Jiang Yun looked surprised, "Didn't you tell me not to disturb Mu Mian's life?"
"If this gift box remains unopened, Mu Mian will always wonder about it. But once it's opened, Mu Mian will know that inside is just an expensive item without any genuine sentiment," Shen Xiyin said, "Just like her feelings towards you - once she sees you, the illusion is shattered."
"Miss Shen, this is a gift I carefully selected," Jiang Yun defended herself. "Is it because you've been brainwashing Mu Mian, telling her I don't love her, that she has that attitude towards me?"
"Isn't it a fact that you don't love her? Or have you acted for so long that you actually believe you're a caring mother?"
Jiang Yun was left speechless. She did feel guilty about Mu Mian, but that little guilt was nothing compared to her love for power and status.
When Shen Xiyin entered, Mu Mian was reading a book, though not very attentively. As soon as Shen Xiyin came in, Mu Mian fixed her gaze on the gift box in her hand.
"Sister, I don't want her gift," Mu Mian hid her face behind the book, trying not to look at the box.
Shen Xiyin pushed the gift box into Mu Mian's hands, "Open it. Otherwise, you'll be thinking about it and unable to sleep for days."
"Alright, I just really want to know what's inside. You know I have OCD. When I see a gift box, I just want to open it."
"Mm-hmm, go ahead and open it."
Mu Mian carefully untied the ribbon and opened the box. Inside was a pink handbag.
Mu Mian opened the bag, but it was empty.
"Sister, there's no gift, no card. Did she forget to put the gift inside?" Mu Mian searched every corner of the bag but still couldn't find what she was hoping for.
"I think the bag is the gift," Shen Xiyin reminded her.
"I hate pink!" Mu Mian was very unhappy. "This bag is so small, it can't hold anything. Why would she give me this? She's terrible at giving gifts."
Shen Xiyin was also at a loss. Was this really the gift Jiang Yun had carefully chosen? There was no sincerity at all.
"You don't like it?"
"No, I don't!"
Shen Xiyin suggested, "Then throw it away. Don't let useless things take up space."
"That makes sense. It's really ugly!" Mu Mian threw the bag along with the box into the trash can and went back to her book.
"Mu Mian, you don't need to worry about Lu Tian anymore. I have a friend working at that hospital. He promised me he'd take good care of her. The Lin Family won't harm her either."
"Sister, how did you manage that?"
"Whatever you want, sister will always try her best to get it for you."
Mu Mian's eyes lit up, "Then can you get Fang Rui to donate his body to me?"
"Some things you need to work for yourself, you know."
"Alright, I'm going to tell Fang Rui and the others this good news."
Fang Rui was at his parents' house when he received Mu Mian's call.
"Fang Rui, my sister has dealt with those evil forces. She said Lu Tian will be well taken care of in the mental hospital," Mu Mian said proudly. "My sister is amazing, isn't she?"
"Mm-hmm."
After hanging up the phone, Fang Rui heard his mother say, "Fang Rui, have you made up your mind? As long as you agree to go on the blind date, I'll help you settle things with the Lin Family and make them leave Lu Tian alone."
Fang Rui grabbed his jacket and headed for the door. "I'm sorry, but that deal is off now. Mom, you don't need to make me dinner. I have something to take care of, so I'm heading back."
"Fang Rui, you little rascal. You come running home calling 'Mom, Mom' when you need something, but you won't even stay for a meal when you don't. Hey, are you really not going to eat? I cooked myself, won't you at least try it?"
"Mom, goodbye! Save all those delicious dishes for Dad, he loves them. I won't intrude on your romantic time together." Fang Rui quickly made his escape.
Mom's cooking... was quite unpalatable.
