Jiang Yonghe stopped in her tracks and turned back, her eyes rimmed with red as she looked at Jiang Xing. "Big Brother..."
Her hesitant, pained expression stirred a wave of pity in Jiang Xing’s heart. He stepped forward and patted her shoulder gently, comforting her in a soft voice. "Xiao He, don't let this weigh on your mind. It was my failure to protect you that led to your poisoning, so it is only right that the opportunity for the antidote goes to you."
Jiang Yonghe shook her head vigorously upon hearing this. "It has nothing to do with you, Big Brother. It’s all because Qi Yue acted on his own and gave Jiang Youli the chance to harm me. If anything, I’m the one dragging you down. If I hadn't been poisoned, you would be the one getting cured right now..."
As she spoke, her eyes welled up, and tears began to shimmer in them.
"Let’s not talk about that anymore. Go find Jiang Youli and get the antidote before she has a change of heart," Jiang Xing said, pausing for a moment. "And about what I told her regarding you leaving the Jiang family..."
Before he could finish, Jiang Yonghe cut in urgently. "Big Brother, I understand completely. You only said that to Jiang Youli as a bargaining chip to get her to agree to treat me. It’s just a temporary measure, a tactic. How could I not see your good intentions?"
"As long as you understand," Jiang Xing nodded slightly in approval. "Don't overthink it. For now, focus on going to the hospital to stay with Jiang Zhao. As for your living arrangements, I’ll have my assistant settle everything today."
Jiang Yonghe choked back a sob. "Big Brother, thank you for giving me this chance... if I miss you all, can I come back to visit often?"
Jiang Xing shook his head. "Until my own poison is cured, it’s best if you don't come back for the time being. If you miss me, I will go to see you."
Jiang Yonghe bit her lip, looking reluctant and heartbroken. After a long moment, she whispered, "I understand."
Jiang Xing looked weary. "Alright, go find Jiang Youli for the antidote first, then head to the hospital. She’s in the herb garden in the backyard."
Jiang Yonghe nodded. "Okay."
The moment she stepped out of the villa’s front door, Jiang Yonghe’s pace quickened. The thought of being cured and restoring her beauty made her feel light on her feet.
Reaching the backyard, she spotted Jiang Youli squatting in the herb garden, busy with her work.
Hah. Truly a peasant who grew up in the wild. Even after returning to a wealthy family like the Jiangs, she couldn't shed her low-class habits, planting vegetables in a luxury mansion.
With that thought, Jiang Yonghe lifted her chin and called out, "Jiang Youli, I’m here for the antidote."
Jiang Youli didn't look back. She simply said, "Wait."
Jiang Yonghe didn't get angry. She found a spot to stand outside the fence, watching Jiang Youli’s busy back with eyes full of smugness.
She made sure no one else was around. At this distance, she knew Jiang Youli could hear her, but any recording device wouldn't be able to pick up her voice clearly. She smiled and said, "Jiang Youli, you must be furious right now, aren't you?"
Jiang Youli’s hand, which was applying specialized fertilizer to the seeds, paused. She guessed that Jiang Yonghe was starting her antics again. She replied mockingly, "Oh? And why exactly do you think I’m angry?"
The triumph in Jiang Yonghe’s eyes intensified. "Stop pretending. You deliberately called me just to make Jiang Xing choose between himself and me, didn't you? You wanted to test his feelings. Too bad for you. Even though I’m disfigured and even though he’s poisoned too, he still chose me—his adopted sister with no blood relation—without a second thought."
"Jiang Youli, your life is such a failure. No matter how excellent you are, no matter how hard you try to drive a wedge between me and the brothers, you will never get their attention or their love. You’re truly pathetic."
Jiang Youli remained silent.
Jiang Yonghe pressed on relentlessly. "Why aren't you talking? Did I hit a nerve? Do you have no comeback?"
Seeing that Jiang Youli still didn't respond, Jiang Yonghe felt a surge of secret joy. In this contest against Jiang Youli, she had finally won a round!
Time passed, and an hour slipped by unnoticed. Finally, Jiang Youli finished her work in the garden. She straightened up, lightly massaged her aching lower back, and stood.
After waiting for an hour, Jiang Yonghe’s patience was completely exhausted. She tried her best to restrain her temper as she urged, "Jiang Youli, since you promised Big Brother you’d cure me, hurry up and do it. Stop stalling. I still have to go to the hospital to see Second Brother."
She knew Jiang Youli was ignoring her on purpose, but she had no choice. She was the one asking for a favor now; she couldn't afford to show any attitude.
Jiang Youli still didn't say a word. She pulled off her gloves, which were stained with soil and herbal juices, and walked toward the fence where Jiang Yonghe was waiting anxiously.
As she reached her, Jiang Youli’s expression remained blank as she suddenly raised her hand and delivered a fierce slap to Jiang Yonghe’s face.
The slap was so fast and powerful that Jiang Yonghe was caught completely off guard. She stumbled back from the force of it.
The sunglasses she was wearing flew off instantly, hitting the ground with a sharp clatter. At the same time, her face mask was knocked askew, revealing half of her swollen, stunned face.
Jiang Yonghe’s eyes widened as she stared at Jiang Youli in disbelief, her fury igniting instantly.
"Jiang Youli! What is the meaning of this!"
Before she could explode, Jiang Youli’s mocking voice rang out. "Keep screaming. Go ahead, scream louder. Do you want the antidote or not?"
The words were like a bucket of ice water poured over Jiang Yonghe’s head, instantly dousing her rage. She bit her lip hard, her eyes full of resentment, but she didn't dare say another word.
Seeing this, the corners of Jiang Youli’s mouth curled into a disdainful sneer. She lightly blew on her stinging palm and said with a half-smile, "So, tell me again... who exactly is the pathetic one here?"
Jiang Yonghe kept her lips pressed tight. She glared at Jiang Youli with a venomous gaze but refused to answer.
"A person who gets slapped in the face and doesn't dare utter a peep has the nerve to call me pathetic? Is Jiang Xing’s attention and 'favor' really that valuable?" Jiang Youli answered the earlier taunt. "Jiang Yonghe, if being pathetic means making so much money for myself that my pockets are overflowing, or being the heir to the Jiang family fortune, or being married to the most outstanding and handsome man in the capital’s elite circle—then fine, I’m pathetic. I certainly can't compete with your 'happiness' of being kicked out of the family, being dependent on men, and having to swallow your pride after I slap you across the face."
Jiang Yonghe’s face turned ashen, her features contorted with a rage so deep it looked like a layer of frost had settled over her. She stared at Jiang Youli with murderous eyes.
Jiang Youli’s smile widened into a look of pure contempt. She reached into her coat pocket and slowly pulled out an exquisite porcelain bottle, shaking it lightly. The sound of the antidote pills clinking against the glass was crisp and clear.
"That slap just now made me feel much better, so I'll reward you with this!" Jiang Youli sneered, her eyes brimming with mockery.
Just as Jiang Yonghe reached out in desperation to take the antidote, Jiang Youli suddenly flicked her wrist, tossing the porcelain vial onto the ground as if it were nothing more than a piece of trash.
"Don't you want the cure? Better pick it up and swallow it quickly then." Jiang Youli watched her with arms crossed, a mocking smile playing on her lips.
