Chapter 198 – My Lady Heroine in the Holographic Online Game – Tang Tang’s Grievance (12)
“Grandma Bai…” Jiang Yiran looked troubled. “I met him in a full-dive VR game. We got along well, but…”
“But what?” Bai Tang said coldly.
“Tang Tang is here,” Grandma Bai said kindly with a warm smile. She had always doted on this little grandson the most. “I haven’t seen Tang Tang in so long. Come here—Grandma missed you so much.”
Seeing how warmly Grandma Bai welcomed him, Bai Tang smiled and walked over, naturally sitting by her hospital bed and acting spoiled. “How are you feeling, Grandma? Is your heart still bothering you?”
If Grandma Bai still didn’t feel well, he’d find a time when no one was around to secretly heal her.
“I’m much better. How are things between you and that Qí family boy?” Relationship matters were what troubled her most—and the reason she and Grandpa Bai had cut their trip short to come home.
“I’m glad you’re okay, Grandma. Please make sure to take care of your health,” Jiang Yiran cut in just as Bai Tang was about to speak.
“I’m talking to my grandma. What does that have to do with you?” Bai Tang snapped. He had never liked Jiang Yiran.
Jiang Yiran put on a hurt expression—just in time for Grandpa Bai to return from picking up medicine for Grandma Bai and see the scene.
Grandpa Bai frowned and said, “Tang Tang, where are your manners? Yiran is a good kid—she even saved your grandma. What do you mean she’s not qualified to speak to her?”
The Bai family had always doted on Bai Tang and spoiled him. It had been a long time since he’d been scolded.
He looked at Jiang Yiran, who quickly hid the smug smile that had flashed across her face.
Grandma Bai also sighed. “Tang Tang, have we spoiled you too much? You don’t even understand basic etiquette anymore. No wonder you and that Qí boy are always quarreling…”
Bai Tang caught the implication. He protested, “Yi Yi and I are doing great—we’re not fighting at all!”
Maybe his mom or his two older brothers would believe that. But Grandpa and Grandma Bai, who had been traveling, still had the impression of his relationship with Qi Hongyi from before Bai Tang had possessed this body.
Grandma Bai sighed without saying anything, while Grandpa Bai was beginning to feel frustrated with Bai Tang. Even with his grandmother in this state, Tang Tang was still causing trouble.
With Jiang Yiran’s gentleness contrasting sharply against the original Bai Tang’s spoiled and willful nature, the two elderly members of the Bai family couldn’t help but favor Jiang Yiran more and more. Every family has that so-called “golden child”—and right now, Jiang Yiran was exactly that in the eyes of the Bai elders.
“Grandma Bai, Grandpa Bai, don’t be too hard on Tang Tang,” Jiang Yiran said, seemingly trying to mediate, but in reality only adding fuel to the fire. “He’s still young. If you keep talking to him, he’ll come to understand eventually.”
This only made Grandpa Bai even angrier. He was frustrated that his hopes were being let down. The Bai family’s eldest son had turned out alright, but the younger they got, the worse they seemed. The second son was all jokes and no discipline, and the third—Bai Tang—was stubborn and unreasonable. What had become of the Bai family? Every generation seemed worse than the last.
“Go home. Don’t stay here upsetting your grandmother,” Grandpa Bai said, waving him away.
Bai Tang felt wronged. He glanced at Grandma Bai, who had closed her eyes. He knew that only with a peaceful heart could her body recover quickly.
He softly replied, “Okay,” then turned and left the hospital room.
But just as he closed the door behind him, he heard Grandpa and Grandma Bai chatting and laughing with Jiang Yiran inside.
In that moment, the lingering emotions of the body’s original owner intertwined with Bai Tang’s own feelings. His eyes welled up with tears.
Qi Hongyi was in the middle of a meeting at work when his phone suddenly rang. Glancing at the caller ID, he immediately paused the meeting and stepped out.
“Yìi.. Yi…”
The boy’s voice trembled with sobs. His words were soft and broken.
“What’s wrong, baby? Don’t cry. Where are you?” Qi Hongyi’s heart clenched the moment he heard Bai Tang crying. He no longer cared about the meeting.
While comforting Bai Tang, he rushed out of the building, terrified that if he hung up, Tang Tang might do something foolish.
In his memory, Bai Tang wasn’t someone who would act rashly. But Qi Hongyi still worried.
On the way, Qi Hongyi got the full story of what had happened. He kept talking to Tangtang as he stepped hard on the accelerator, heading straight for the hospital.
Not far from the hospital entrance, he spotted the boy sitting alone on a bench.
He hurried over. The boy had stopped crying—but his eyes were red and swollen.
“Yì Yi…” Bai Tang threw himself into Qi Hongyi’s arms.
Feeling the familiar embrace, Bai Tang felt tears welling up again. His voice trembled.
“Don’t cry, Tang Tang…” Qi Hongyi’s heart ached seeing him cry.
After much coaxing, he finally got Bai Tang to stop. Qi Hongyi gently wiped the tear tracks from his face and said, “Grandpa and Grandma are just worried about you. I didn’t treat you well before, which made them misunderstand you. But now our relationship is great. Tomorrow, I’ll go with you to the hospital and explain everything to them.”
Bai Tang tugged on Qi Hongyi’s sleeve, still hiccuping from crying. “Can’t we—hic—go today—hic—and explain…”
“You look like a little crying kitten right now. If we go today, they’ll just worry more. They might even think I was forced to come explain because you cried. Tomorrow, once your eyes aren’t red anymore, we’ll go talk to them properly,” Qi Hongyi said, gently stroking his hair.
“Okay…” Bai Tang nodded obediently.
Qi Hongyi then took Bai Tang to eat his favorite candied nuts, which finally lifted his spirits a little.
Afterward, Qi Hongyi drove him home, and the two agreed on a time to visit Grandma Bai together the next day.
Bai Tang didn’t feel like going online to play games that night. Following Qi Hongyi’s advice, he quickly showered and went straight to bed.
The next day, Qi Hongyi drove Bai Tang to the hospital—only to find the room empty.
“The patient was discharged about half an hour ago. You didn’t know?” the nurse asked.
Bai Tang really hadn’t known. Grandpa Bai hadn’t mentioned anything to the family either.
He called home. Mother Bai explained that Grandma Bai had been uncomfortable staying in the hospital and wanted to recover at home, so she was just discharged and had only recently arrived back.
Qi Hongyi turned the car around and took Bai Tang back to the Bai residence. As soon as they walked in, they were greeted by laughter and cheerful voices from inside.
“Tang Tang’s back,” Grandma Bai said, as kindly as ever. “Come, sit next to Grandma.”
Seated beside her was Jiang Yiran. Bai Tang didn’t want to go over, but under Grandpa Bai’s stern gaze, he reluctantly walked over and sat down.
Grandma Bai held Bai Tang with one hand and Jiang Yiran with the other. “No matter what past grievances you two have, I hope you can let them go. We’re a family—we should live in harmony.”
Bai Tang was stunned, and so was Mother Bai.
Mother Bai asked, “Mom, this is…”
“Yiran is a good child,” Grandma Bai explained slowly. “Old Bai and I discussed it—we’d like to acknowledge her as our god-granddaughter. From now on, we’ll all be one family.”
Bai Tang shot up from his seat. No way he’d accept being ‘siblings’ with the female lead.
“Tang Tang, what’s wrong?” Grandma Bai asked.
“If Tang Tang doesn’t want to, then forget it,” Jiang Yiran said gently and considerately. “I’ll still come visit and chat with you when I have time.”
“I don’t like her. If she’s here, I won’t be. If I’m here, she won’t be,” Bai Tang said, his heart aching so badly he couldn’t tell if it was his own emotion or the original body’s.
“This isn’t a discussion—it’s an announcement. You’re being completely unreasonable. If you don’t agree, then get out of this house,” Grandpa Bai said sternly, his expression hard as stone.
Grandma Bai’s face also lost its smile. Though she didn’t say anything, it was obvious she was upset.
From the side, Jiang Yiran softly said, “Don’t be angry, Grandpa Bai.”
“He’d love nothing more than to make me die from anger,” Grandpa Bai said, growing even angrier at her soft-spoken attempt to calm him.
Mothrt Bai looked on anxiously. She nudged Bai Tang. “Apologize to your grandfather.”
Bai Tang looked at Jiang Yiran’s nauseatingly sweet demeanor, then at how his grandparents were siding with her. His heart turned cold.
Even if he wasn’t truly their biological grandson, this body was. And now, over someone they’d only just met, they were scolding him and telling him to get out of the family? How could he not be heartbroken?
“Fine! I’ll leave—and I’m never coming back!”
Bai Tang was overwhelmed with anger, and in his fury, he said everything on his mind—just as Jiang Yiran had hoped.
“Tang Tang, don’t be impulsive. That’s exactly what the female lead wants. You’re giving her the perfect excuse to step into the family,” said Qiu’er, trying to talk him down.
“Even if the host didn’t leave, she’d still find a way in,” said Xiao A. “Might as well walk out and avoid the humiliation.”
“What’s with you? Are you helping the female lead or helping Tang Tang?” Qiu’er snapped, furious. It jumped up, ready to argue with Xiao A.
Xiao A pinned Qiu’er to the ground with all four paws. No matter how hard it struggled, it couldn’t break free.
Xiao A said, “The host’s mission is to break up the official couple. As long as the male and female leads can’t be together, why bother about those irrelevant people? They don’t like the host, but as long as the male lead likes her, that’s enough. No need to stick a warm face to someone’s cold back.”
The saying goes, “The one involved is confused; the bystander sees clearly.” Xiao A’s words perfectly revealed the way to break the female lead’s scheme.
She wanted to drive a wedge between the Bai family and Bai Tang’s relationship, right? But Bai’s eldest brother and second brother aren’t pushovers.
In the original story, they even fought hard against the Qi family over Bai Tang’s death. Although they lost, their love for Bai Tang was unquestionable—no one could replace them.
If the Bai family really got estranged, the male lead would still be around. He could help the host take back the Bai family business. Besides, Qi Hongyi is a man Jiang Yiran can never have in her lifetime—that would really infuriate her.
Qiu’er: Xiao A makes a very good point. Jiang Yiran has nothing to say in response.
Qiu’er: “Let go of me, you jerk! Why is it always you pinning me down…”
Xiao A released Qiu’er. When Qiu’er charged at him, Xiao A blocked her head with one paw. With her super short limbs, Qiu’er couldn’t even reach Xiao A’s fur.
Bai Tang ran out crying but was caught by Qi Hongyi standing in the corridor.
A dangerous smile curved at the corner of his mouth. “Quite impressive. Miss Jiang’s tactics have my admiration.”
If he weren’t holding Bai Tang, Qi Hongyi would’ve applauded Jiang Yiran.
“Qi family boy, this is Bai family business. Please don’t interfere.”
Seeing the family’s mess made Grandpa Bai somewhat annoyed.
Qi Hongyi’s mocking smile vanished, his face expressionless. “Since Grandpa Bai and Grandma Bai want to kick Tang Tang out of the family, then from today on, Bai Tang is no longer a Bai family member. From now on, I will take care of Tang Tang’s matters.”
He lifted the boy into his arms and gently wiped away his tears. “Tang Tang, don’t cry. I’ll take you home.”
Bai Tang glanced back at the furious Grandpa Bai, then at his hesitant mother. Finally, he met Qi Hongyi’s eyes and said softly and sweetly, “Okay~”
Watching Qi Hongyi and Bai Tang leave, Jiang Yiran’s face changed dramatically.
She had worked so hard to please the two elders. The plan was just beginning, but the person she wanted had declared war on the Bai family for Bai Tang’s sake. What should she do?
Author’s Note
In this chapter, Tang Tang was wronged, but Qi Hongyi successfully took him home. Trust me, Bai eldest and second brothers won’t let Jiang Yiran off easily. Tang Tang is now with Qi Hongyi and is cared for and spoiled by Grandma Qi—no cruelty here. I write sweet stories, guaranteed!