Hearing his sister's concerned words, Jiang Xing slowly withdrew his gaze and turned to look at Jiang Zhao lying quietly on the hospital bed. "There are indeed many things on my mind. I figured I probably wouldn't be able to sleep early anyway, so I decided to come check on Jiang Zhao and also brought you some pastries in case you get hungry tonight."
As he spoke, he placed the bag in his hand on the bedside table.
Seeing the familiar paper bag, a smile immediately bloomed on Jiang Yonghe's face. "Thank you, big brother. It's from my favorite pastry shop."
"Yes, I bought it specially because I know you love it." Jiang Xing said as he sat down on the stool. "I'll stay and talk to Jiang Zhao for a while before heading back."
"Alright." Seeing that Jiang Xing didn't seem to be leaving anytime soon, Jiang Yonghe pursed her lips, lowered her eyelids, and spoke softly, "Mom was very angry today. Grandpa has already investigated the car accident clearly. There's surveillance footage proving that Second Brother tampered with Jiang Youli's brakes first. As compensation, Grandpa is gifting 10% of the shares in the pharmaceutical company and 30% of the shares in Starlight Entertainment to Jiang Youli."
Jiang Xing's pupils suddenly dilated, and his voice rose uncontrollably. "Xiao He, what did you just say? The old man plans to give 10% of the pharmaceutical company and 30% of Starlight Entertainment entirely to Jiang Youli?!"
Jiang Yonghe nodded helplessly. "Yes, that much."
Jiang Xing hadn't come to the hospital in the afternoon and was completely unaware of this matter.
"This is absolutely outrageous! Even if Jiang Zhao was at fault first and needs to compensate Jiang Youli, this is far too much! I've managed Starlight Entertainment diligently for years, and the old man only gave me 10% of the shares. What right does Jiang Youli, a wild girl who just returned to the Jiang family, have to all that?! And she's about to marry Qi Huan soon. Giving her so many shares is practically handing them over to the Qi family!" Jiang Xing felt furious. "The old man has truly lost his mind!"
Jiang Yonghe explained, "If it were just Jiang Youli, the compensation would only be the 10% of the pharmaceutical company shares. But Qi Huan also got involved, demanding that his compensation be given to Jiang Youli. Grandpa didn't dare not oblige, so he had to agree to give the 30% of Starlight Entertainment shares to Jiang Youli as well."
"Bastard!" Jiang Xing's fist slammed heavily against the wall.
This car accident had caused their family severe losses.
After a long while, he finally calmed down and looked at Jiang Yonghe with a serious expression. "Xiao He, don't worry about company matters. For now, you just need to do as Dad said and get Zhou Yi to forgive you."
After speaking, he gently patted Jiang Yonghe's shoulder in encouragement.
Jiang Yonghe nodded. "Okay, big brother. I'll work hard to do that."
Afterwards, to pretend she was trying hard to awaken Jiang Zhao, Jiang Yonghe began recalling some amusing daily interactions she had with Jiang Xing and Jiang Zhao before Jiang Youli returned to the Jiang family.
As Jiang Xing listened, the gloom between his brows gradually faded.
Meanwhile, Jiang Zhao, who retained consciousness, felt nauseous hearing Jiang Yonghe reminisce about the past: She really can put on an act! One moment she's insulting me, the next she's pretending to be so pure and flawless in front of big brother!
By the end, Jiang Yonghe's voice was tinged with sobs. "If I had just continued with the marriage to the eldest young master of the Qi family, Mom and Dad wouldn't have had to bring Jiang Youli back to take my place, and Second Brother wouldn't have ended up like this, would he?"
Jiang Xing's heart ached for her. He hugged her shoulders and comforted her, "Xiao He, don't think like that. Bringing Jiang Youli back wasn't your decision alone; it was a decision we made together with Mom and Dad. Don't take all the blame on yourself."
Jiang Zhao desperately wanted to shout out: Big brother, don't be fooled by her pitiful act!
Unfortunately, he couldn't do it!
After comforting Jiang Yonghe for a while, Jiang Xing finally released her. "Xiao He, I'm heading back now. Please take good care of Jiang Zhao here."
Jiang Yonghe wiped the tears from the corner of her eye and nodded. "Mm, don't worry, big brother. I'll take good care of Second Brother."
Jiang Xing didn't suspect anything. He stood up, took another look at Jiang Zhao on the bed, and was about to turn and leave when his peripheral vision caught a small red dot on Jiang Zhao's elbow.
He halted his turn, frowned, and walked towards the bed to get a closer look at what that small red dot was.
Just then, Jiang Yonghe quickly stood up, tucked Jiang Zhao's arm back under the blanket, and said apologetically, "The weather is getting colder. I was too careless. I mustn't let Second Brother catch a chill."
As Jiang Xing was still puzzled, Jiang Yonghe waved her hand as if shooing away mosquitoes. "But there are still mosquitoes here in the hospital. I got bitten a few times last night too."
Noticing that Jiang Yonghe indeed had a few small red mosquito bites on her skin, Jiang Xing finally dismissed his suspicion. "If there are mosquitoes, bring some mosquito repellent tomorrow."
"Mm." Jiang Yonghe nodded.
Jiang Xing said nothing more, turned, and left the room.
Jiang Yonghe personally saw him out. Standing at the door, she waited until Jiang Xing had entered the elevator and enough time had passed that he wouldn't turn back before closing the door and letting out a sigh of relief.
That was too close! She had almost been discovered giving Jiang Zhao the IV injection!
Jiang Yonghe returned to her seat, quickly took a small syringe from her bag, and not daring to delay any longer, directly inserted it into the red dot on Jiang Zhao's elbow again, pushed the plunger all the way down in one go, then deftly concealed the small syringe back inside the lipstick tube.
After doing all this, she finally relaxed completely.
It seems she needs to be even more careful next time before doing something like this.
...
In the elevator.
Jiang Xing recalled Jiang Yonghe's series of reactions after he entered the room tonight and felt something was off. But what could Xiao He possibly be doing in the room besides taking care of Jiang Zhao?
Perhaps with so many troubling things happening lately, he was being overly suspicious and reading too much into things.
Thinking this, Jiang Xing temporarily pushed these doubts to the back of his mind.
However, after reaching the basement level, exiting the elevator, and getting into his car in the parking lot, he sat for a long time without starting the engine, the doubts still lingering in his mind.
He remembered instructing Jiang Zhao to investigate whether anyone had tried to harm Jiang Youli before she was brought back to the family. He wondered if the people Jiang Zhao sent had any news yet?
The doubts in his heart grew stronger. After careful consideration, Jiang Xing decided to get Jiang Zhao's phone tomorrow to see exactly who Jiang Zhao had sent to dig up Jiang Youli's past and what the investigation had found.
Finally, he took out his own phone and dialed his assistant's number.
"How is that master thief doing?"
"Mr. Jiang, rest assured. The thief has successfully been detoxified and is currently still in the hospital for further observation and treatment," the assistant replied.
Jiang Xing continued, "Good. Tomorrow, help me ask him if he's willing to take on another job. This task is relatively simple and easy, with absolutely no risk involved. Of course, the commission will still be paid according to the previous standard."
The assistant then asked, "Alright. What does Mr. Jiang want the other party to steal this time?"
Jiang Xing hesitated for a moment before finally making up his mind and slowly saying:
"A lady's handbag."
