Quick Transmigration: Underdog Turns out to be Untouchable

Chapter 988: Chapter 899: Defend Our Rivers and Mountains 29

Du Zongze would never allow Du Haokun to truly offend or anger Shuangshuang over a woman and thus lose such a formidable woman who can assist Du Haokun.

Du Haokun did not dare to talk back to Du Zongze and he knew in his heart that his father was right, so he remained silent and obediently listened to the scolding. Meanwhile, Du Haokun was very anxious; he was worried if Tian Xueli was obediently staying in his room as he instructed, hoping she wouldn’t wander around Du Mansion and accidentally run into someone, especially Shuangshuang.

After finally being dismissed from his father’s lecture, Du Haokun hurried back to his room. Seeing Tian Xueli obediently sitting there with a calm expression, he couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief. Fortunately, Tian Xueli had been well-behaved and didn’t run around, and she surprisingly even expressed her intent to leave Du Mansion calmly.

After Tian Xueli left, while Du Haokun relaxed, he was also a little puzzled. Previously, Tian Xueli was anxiously insisting on sticking by his side, yet suddenly she’s so compliant. However, this doubt soon faded and Du Haokun didn’t think much about it.

In fact, in the past, Du Haokun had also hoped for Tian Xueli to come to Du Mansion, and he even harbored a vague hope of getting rid of Shuangshuang, Liu Feifei, Fang Hong, and Fan Mei, and only be with Tian Xueli until old age.

However, Liu Feifei had no real standing and was easiest to dismiss, while Fang Hong and Fan Mei had strong family backgrounds, making them more challenging to send away. The most troublesome was Shuangshuang, not only because of her formidable background but also as she was his father’s most trusted subordinate. If he wanted to divorce Shuangshuang, not only would the Kou Family object, but Du Zongze would also surely be the first to oppose it.

More importantly, after reuniting with Shuangshuang at Liu Dashi Mansion, Du Haokun no longer wanted to part with her. He wasn’t sure what he felt, but he clearly sensed that he didn’t want to divorce Shuangshuang or become strangers with her.

Though Shuangshuang was aware of the undercurrents in Du Mansion, she didn’t bother with them. Recently, she had been busy buying large quantities of anesthetics, anti-inflammatory drugs, bandages, and disinfectants through a person she had previously helped.

Besides these, Shuangshuang was also purchasing large amounts of traditional Chinese medicine materials, which were the raw materials for making hemostatic and anti-inflammatory medicines. During this period, Shuangshuang was spending money like water, and her funds quickly dwindled.

Eventually, when Shuangshuang finally finished all her tasks and had a moment to breathe, she suddenly realized that she had become a subject of scandalous rumors throughout H City. It was being said that while she was treating Commander Liu’s son, Liu Junye, she became fond of him; the two were supposedly spending every day in ambiguous interactions, and while Shuangshuang was allegedly cold to her husband Du Haokun, she was warm to Liu Junye, suggesting that she fancied Liu Junye.

The rumors were spoken in unspeakable terms, and although Du Zongze promptly suppressed the gossip the day it emerged, topics with such scandalous elements remained popular. On the surface, out of fear of Du Zongze’s influence, people dared not speak further, but in private, the rumors grew even more outlandish.

From the initial insinuations of an ambiguous relationship between Shuangshuang and Liu Junye, the rumors escalated to allegations of Shuangshuang being flirtatious with multiple men, painting her as a social butterfly amongst men with vivid and convincing descriptions as if witnessed firsthand.

The novelty of the rumors amused yet angered Shuangshuang, and upon tracing their origin, she discovered that they stemmed from an article written by Tian Xueli, who detailed her observations during a banquet at Liu Dashi Mansion, focusing on the alleged interactions between Shuangshuang and Liu Junye.

Though Shuangshuang usually avoided conflicts, she was no pushover. She didn’t even bother going to Du Haokun for support against Tian Xueli but decided to retaliate on her own.

Shuangshuang’s retaliation was straightforward and forceful. In reality, Tian Xueli was not entirely ignorant; she provoked people whom she expected Du Haokun could manage for her and who couldn’t do much to her. Tian Xueli dared to spread rumors about Shuangshuang, confidently thinking that Du Haokun would not side with Shuangshuang against her and that the people Shuangshuang was known to help for free could do little against her, emboldening her to spread falsehoods.

Though Tian Xueli had a broader vision, she underestimated Shuangshuang, entirely unaware of Shuangshuang’s extensive connections or how easily she could uncover someone’s past.

Soon, the rumors about Shuangshuang were turned on their head, beginning with revelations about the background of the well-known journalist Tian Xueli in H City. Coming from a wealthy family, she had originally studied abroad, but after her family went bankrupt and could no longer support her finances, she had to return to the country, becoming a journalist to support her family.

This was originally quite an inspiring story, and initially, Tian Xueli was indeed diligent. However, in the past year, she became extraordinarily bold, publishing exposés on various scandals within wealthy families, quickly gaining fame, and most intriguingly, regardless of whom she offended, she always emerged unscathed.

Upon deeper investigation, it was instantly revealed that Young Marshal Du had personally stepped in to resolve all troubles for Tian Xueli, implying that she had connected herself with Young Marshal Du, enabling her boldness. Moreover, it indicated that Young Marshal Du truly loved Tian Xueli, aiding her no matter the scale of the trouble she got into.

Most crucially, Tian Xueli acted shamelessly, seeking stories even in S City. Although Commander Liu had protected her from harm after she was chased into Liu Dashi Mansion, there weren’t many who knew, nor about Du Haokun traveling to S City for her. But Du Haokun had taken Tian Xueli to meet the wife of Commander Liu’s son for treatment.

This act was already irksome to everyone, as the dangers involved in having Shuangshuang treat Commander Liu’s son were known to all, and her success was ultimately to the greatest benefit of Du Zongze and Du Haokun, father and son.

While his wife was painstakingly striving for their family’s benefit, the man instead brought an outside woman into the fold—is this not excessive? What’s worse was that Du Haokun took Tian Xueli to attend a reception prepared by Commander Liu, even allowing Tian Xueli to occupy a position meant for his wife, Shuangshuang, drawing scorn from Commander Liu’s family and embarrassing Du Haokun. Everyone agreed Du Haokun’s actions were unjust.

This situation already placed Du Haokun and Tian Xueli in the wrong, yet after returning, Tian Xueli shamelessly wrote an article insinuating an affair between Shuangshuang and Liu Junye. Shuangshuang was there treating Liu Junye, yet was depicted in such a distasteful manner, instantly ruining Tian Xueli’s reputation.