Jiang Youli had always been sensitive to so-called coincidences and accidents.
There was no helping it; given the inherently insecure environment she grew up in, if she wasn't alert enough to the dangers around her, she herself would be in peril.
"There's something I want to tell you." Jiang Youli was somewhat conflicted about whether to say it directly; it seemed too cruel for Qi Huan.
"I know what you want to say," Qi Huan responded with a faint, bitter smile.
Jiang Youli thought about it and realized that was true. Qi Huan was a smart person. Ever since noticing the clues about Qi Yue and Qi Yu, he must have long been aware of many things and started investigating, following the trail.
A layer of cool detachment covered Qi Huan's eyes as he said, "After I went back and reviewed the series of events surrounding Qi Yue being sent away, I also began to suspect that my mother's accidental death wasn't an accident. But it's the same old story—it's been too long. Trying to verify anything is almost impossible, extremely difficult."
Jiang Youli understood. "For now, we can only investigate through Qi Yue. As long as he and Qi Tianxiang still covet the vast Qi family fortune and want you dead, they're bound to slip up again."
"Mhm."
The commotion outside the door grew louder and louder.
"Qi Huan, what exactly are you doing in the next room? Come out immediately!"
Cheng Jing continued his matter-of-fact explanation, "Mr. Qi, Miss Jiang is currently administering treatment for the young master's legs. Please do not disturb them."
"Treatment? You're saying the Jiang family's true daughter is treating my son? Is she even capable? I've hired so many doctors to look at Huan'er, all to no avail. Does she really have the skill? Then I really must go and see for myself."
Cheng Jing repeated, "Mr. Qi, please wait until the young master has finished his treatment."
"Cheng Jing, get out of my way!" Footsteps approached the door, and Qi Tianxiang's voice was tinged with anger. "Do you know who I am? How dare you block me? Let me in!"
"Cheng Jing, tell them I'm from the Qi family!"
Suddenly—
"Ah... let go... How dare you hurt me? Do you have a death wish... Cheng Jing, as my son's assistant, are you just going to stand by and watch these bodyguards treat me like this..."
The cries of distress outside lasted for a while before finally subsiding.
Jiang Youli paid no attention and continued Qi Huan's treatment.
Another half hour passed before the door opened. Zhang Susu walked in, carrying the lunchbox brought by Nanny Wang. Before closing the door, she glanced back at the middle-aged man being restrained on the floor, then shut it and asked in confusion, "Young Master Qi, isn't that man outside your father? Why is he being held down by our family's bodyguards?"
Qi Huan smiled slightly. "Auntie, I'm Xiao Li'er's fiancé. You can just call me Qi Huan from now on."
He then explained, "He insisted on barging in and disturbing Xiao Li'er's treatment of me. There was no choice but to use a little force."
Zhang Susu shook her head. "A father without virtue deserves to be treated as such."
Hearing Zhang Susu's immediate criticism of Qi Tianxiang's lack of virtue, rather than blaming him for being too harsh on an elder, a faint gleam flickered in Qi Huan's dark pupils. He lowered his gaze and smiled silently, suddenly understanding why Xiao Li'er was so fond of her uncle and aunt.
They didn't put on any airs of being elders; their concern for the child was genuine and heartfelt.
Thanks to Xiao Li'er, he too would one day be able to call this elegant woman before him "Mom."
Jiang Youli finished withdrawing the last acupuncture needle, stretched lazily, and said, "All done."
Qi Huan raised his hand to rub his legs. After several days of treatment, he had already begun to feel that the initial agony was lessening, and his legs seemed to be regaining some faint, tingling sensation.
"I'll go out to handle some family matters. I won't let my father disturb your dinner."
"Mhm, make your father quiet down for a while. He really is quite annoying," Jiang Youli said, finishing her stretch and then twisting her neck and shoulders.
After seeing Qi Huan leave the room, Zhang Susu walked over, sat down by the hospital bed, and opened the lunchbox. Her heart ached as she said, "You must be tired. Have something to eat quickly and replenish your strength. You haven't had a moment's peace these days, either being troubled by your second uncle and aunt or treating Qi Huan's legs."
"Mhm, I'm so tired. How about you feed me, Mom? I don't want to move," Jiang Youli shamelessly whined.
Zhang Susu chuckled, looking up at her, her eyes sparkling. "You're so grown up and still want me to feed you? Aren't you ashamed?"
Even as she said this, her hands had already picked up the chopsticks.
"Sit properly. You just finished the acupuncture; your hands must be really sore and tired. I'll feed you."
"Great!" Jiang Youli immediately sat down by the bed, opened her mouth, and leaned forward. "Ah—"
Zhang Susu picked up a piece of tender beef with the chopsticks and fed it into her mouth, while her other hand used a spoon to scoop a mouthful of rice to accompany it.
Jiang Youli chewed the food with a beaming smile. "The food seems to taste better when Mom feeds me."
"You're just flattering me, saying whatever will make me happy," Zhang Susu said, the smile never leaving her face.
Jiang Youli replied without a hint of shame, "Since you said you're happy, Mom, of course I'll say nice things."
Every part of Zhang Susu's face radiated joy. "Of course I'm happy. What mother wouldn't be happy when her daughter praises her?"
Watching her beautiful new mother's heartfelt, carefree laughter, Jiang Youli felt a warm glow in her heart. After swallowing the food in her mouth, she opened it again and leaned forward.
This must be what "quiet, peaceful years" meant.
...
Qi Huan left the room, gave a slight nod, and signaled Cheng Jing to have the bodyguards release Qi Tianxiang.
After Qi Tianxiang was let go, Cheng Jing stepped forward to push Qi Huan's wheelchair back to the adjacent room.
Qi Tianxiang scrambled up from the floor awkwardly, twisted his stiff body, and followed with Qi Yue. He slammed the hospital room door shut and immediately launched into a tirade of accusations. "Qi Huan, don't you dare go too far! I let your disrespect at home slide before, but now you won't even give me a shred of face in public? You just stood by and let Cheng Jing watch the Jiang family's bodyguards lay hands on me, making a fool of me!"
Qi Huan lay back on the hospital bed, looking at the middle-aged man before him with a faint smile. "You are a fool yourself; why fear others seeing it? You have three minutes. Say what you need to say. If not, then don't bother."
"Qi Huan, you—"
Qi Yue beside him grabbed his arm and shook his head, reminding him that they were here today to ask a favor from Qi Huan. Only then did Qi Tianxiang suppress the rage within him and say, "I'm out of money. Give me a million."
"A million? What for? Didn't I tell you to submit a request? If the reason in your request can convince me, I'll approve it." Qi Huan's voice left no room for negotiation.
"I need to submit a request for a mere million? Are you treating me like a beggar?!" Qi Tianxiang's veins bulged in anger.
Earlier at the hospital, the doctor had given Qi Tianxiang the payment slip. Qi Yu's knee injury was severe, and the hospital expenses were significant. Furthermore, she needed a high-class room for recovery and had hired a premium caregiver. Qi Tianxiang had already spent all the money he had left.
If he wanted Qi Yu's legs to recover quickly later on, it would require a lot more money.
He had originally intended to ask for five million, but considering how strained his relationship with Qi Huan was now, he thought asking for one million first would be easier to get.
Who would have thought that Qi Huan wouldn't even plan to give him a single million!
After pulling the quilt over her legs, Qi Huan looked at Qi Tianxiang's livid face and gave a mocking laugh. "What kind of talk is that, Father? You've lived most of your life, yet you can't even come up with a million. And you have the nerve to ask me for it so righteously? What is that if not begging?"
"If the beggars outside knew that writing an application could get them a million, they'd probably worship me as a living god. But you, on the other hand, show no awareness of the obligation that comes with taking handouts."
