With Jiang Yonghe's seemingly casual reminder, Jiang Xing had an idea. He put on a serious expression and said:
"The engagement banquet is approaching. It seems this information about Jiang Youli needs to be put to good use."
It seemed Jiang Xing understood her hint. A satisfied smile appeared in the depths of Jiang Yonghe's eyes.
Jiang Youli, let's see how smug you are in front of me!
Your engagement banquet with Qi Huan will also be the moment you are despised and questioned by everyone!
Thinking of this, Jiang Yonghe glanced at Jiang Zhao lying obediently on the hospital bed. Who would have thought that before his car accident, Jiang Zhao had actually done something that slightly pleased her.
Jiang Xing glanced out of the corner of his eye at the handbag placed next to the lunchbox and asked, pretending to be casual, "Xiao He, this bag was a gift from Jiang Zhao, right?"
Jiang Yonghe was taken aback for a moment, then quickly nodded. "Yes, this bag was a birthday gift from second brother this year. Why do you ask?"
Jiang Xing smiled. "No reason. Just thought if you ever get tired of it, I'll buy you the latest model."
Jiang Yonghe smiled back. "Alright, I'll thank you in advance then, big brother."
...
After leaving the ward and reaching the stairwell, Jiang Xing asked the assistant waiting outside the room.
"Has that master thief been discharged from the hospital?"
"He'll be discharged today after his final check-up, if everything's fine."
"Good. Tell him to act tonight right after he's discharged. The target is my sister's bag. Understood?"
"Understood."
Perhaps he was overthinking, but Jiang Xing increasingly felt his adopted sister's mind wasn't as simple and innocent as he once believed.
Take her reminder just now—it felt intentional, as if she specifically hoped to use his hand to deal with Jiang Youli.
If it were before, Jiang Xing definitely wouldn't have doubted his adopted sister's motives.
But now, thinking deeply about it and combining it with past events, it all felt somewhat chilling upon closer thought.
Although he really wanted to tell himself that Jiang Youli had been pushing him too hard lately, making his mind run wild, his adopted sister's recent behavior felt more and more unusual to him.
He had to thoroughly investigate and dispel the doubts in his heart, only then could he treat his adopted sister with the same unwavering kindness and complete trust as before.
...
After finishing her treatment, Jiang Youli left the hospital carrying the lunchbox. Just as she got in the car, she received a message from Qi Huan.
[...]
Jiang Youli: [?]
Qi Huan: [Jiang Yonghe came to see me.]
Jiang Youli: [Handle it as you see fit.]
After replying, she tossed her phone onto the passenger seat.
No sooner had she put it down than her phone rang. It was Qi Huan calling.
Puzzled, Jiang Youli picked up the phone again, swiped to answer, and put it on speaker.
Jiang Yonghe's voice soon came through.
"Brother Qi Huan, the day after tomorrow is your engagement banquet. There are some things I must say, or I fear I'll regret it for a lifetime."
Then, Qi Huan's indifferent voice followed.
"I don't want to hear it. You might as well continue regretting for a lifetime then."
Jiang Youli couldn't help but chuckle. Qi Huan's words were unexpectedly humorous.
On the other end of the phone, Jiang Yonghe fell silent.
Jiang Youli guessed that after being shut down by Qi Huan like that, Jiang Yonghe was probably figuring out how to continue.
"Brother Qi Huan, I like you. The reason I didn't choose to stay by your side and marry you after your legs were disabled was because if you couldn't become the heir of the Qi family, a marriage alliance with you would lose its value. But that value was for my adoptive parents, not for me."
Jiang Youli sneered. Jiang Yonghe was starting to shift blame and betray others again.
"I want to marry you. I like you for who you are, not your status. Even if you weren't the Qi family heir, I would still like you."
But admittedly, her words were as pitifully endearing as ever.
Unfortunately, Qi Huan didn't seem to think so.
Qi Huan's voice came through again.
"Stop. Don't say anymore. My ears are getting polluted."
Jiang Youli almost burst out laughing. In such a sentimental moment, was Qi Huan really going to infuriate Jiang Yonghe, who had worked so hard to build the atmosphere?
Jiang Yonghe fell silent once more.
After a good while, when she spoke again, her voice sounded somewhat awkward.
"Whether you believe me or not, Brother Qi Huan, I've said what's in my heart. I don't know if you've accepted Jiang Youli because you've yielded to reality, but I don't mind. Whenever you want to turn back, I'll always be waiting for you."
"I won't disturb your rest any longer, Brother Qi Huan. I'll be going now."
"Don't bother seeing me out."
After a rustling sound, the voice on the other end soon became clear again.
"Did you hear that?" Qi Huan's pleasant voice asked.
Jiang Youli laughed. "I heard."
"Happy?"
"Very happy."
"Good then."
"I never thought you'd do something like this," Jiang Youli teased lightly with a laugh.
"Just finding you some entertainment to make the drive less boring."
Jiang Youli couldn't help but smile even more brightly. "Not bad at all. Thoroughly entertained. Keep it up next time."
"No, I hope there isn't a next time. I'm not joking. Her words really did pollute my ears." Qi Huan's voice carried a tone of deadpan cold humor.
Jiang Youli said, "If she had any self-awareness, after this she shouldn't come looking for you to invite ridicule again."
"I hope her skin isn't that thick," Qi Huan said with a touch of sincerity, then paused slightly before gently reminding her, "Alright, you've had your fun listening. Focus on driving now."
"OK! I don't want to cause a second car accident either."
After hanging up, Jiang Youli didn't know why, but she felt completely refreshed.
Her liking for Qi Huan seemed to be starting to extend beyond just his good looks.
...
Returning to the Jiang family's East District villa, Jiang Youli took an afternoon nap. After dinner, she went to the backyard to tend to the newly cultivated medicinal garden, sowing seeds and fertilizing. Just as she finished and was about to close the fence gate to go back inside, she heard someone call her from behind.
"Third Young Miss." The speaker was a middle-aged man, the deputy butler from the West District villa.
Jiang Youli fastened the gate and turned around. "What is it?"
The West District deputy butler said, "Your third aunt has specially returned to attend your engagement banquet. She's waiting for you in the main hall now and asks that you go see her within ten minutes."
This short notification was packed with information.
First, the person notifying her was the deputy butler from the West District villa, not the head butler from the old master's side. This meant her third aunt's return to the Jiang family hadn't been reported to the old master yet; she was summoning Jiang Youli first.
Second, the specific mention of "within ten minutes."
Hah, quite the airs she was putting on!
Furthermore, her third aunt hadn't even bothered to show up at her welcome banquet last Saturday, clearly not holding Jiang Youli in any regard.
It seemed this third aunt of hers hadn't returned with sincere well-wishes.
As for what she actually wanted, she'd find out tomorrow when they met.
But as for tonight—
Hah, let her high-and-mighty third aunt wait.
"Tell my dear third aunt that I'm unavailable."
The West District villa steward clearly hadn't anticipated Jiang Youli's refusal to be so blunt. He was taken aback for a moment, then cautioned, "Third Miss, you should think this through carefully. Are you truly unavailable? You have time to be gardening here, yet claim you have no time to see your third aunt? If I report the situation to her truthfully, I'm afraid she might be rather displeased with you."
Jiang Youli, who had been about to walk away, paused upon hearing the steward's thinly veiled warning. She let out a soft laugh, then turned to face the middle-aged man with gold-rimmed glasses. Raising an eyebrow, she asked, "Are you threatening me?"
