"Uncle..."
Jiang Xing spoke anxiously, but Jiang Yehan ignored him. Looking straight ahead, Jiang Yehan brushed right past him as if he were nothing but thin air.
Jiang Yangxu stood still after coming downstairs. Meeting Jiang Yehan's gaze head-on without flinching, he demanded, "Big brother, what are you doing barging into my house so late at night?"
Jiang Yehan did not answer immediately. Instead, he took slow, steady, and forceful steps toward Jiang Yangxu. Every step carried an invisible sense of oppression that sent a chill down one's spine.
Off to the side, Qin Yulian felt a surge of fear. It was her first time seeing Jiang Yehan wear such a terrifying expression. Subconsciously, she reached out and gently tugged at her husband Jiang Yangxu's pajama sleeve, her voice trembling slightly as she called out, "Yangxu..."
However, Jiang Yangxu showed no sign of cowardice. He straightened his back and faced the approaching Jiang Yehan, meeting his gaze fearlessly.
"Let me tell you what I'm here to do," Jiang Yehan said as he stopped right in front of Jiang Yangxu.
Suddenly, Jiang Yangxu felt a piercing, agonizing pain in his abdomen. His eyes widened in disbelief.
Looking down, he discovered a sharp knife plunged deep into his stomach!
"Big brother, you..." Jiang Yangxu struggled to lift his head to speak, but the words broke apart on his lips due to the intense pain.
Jiang Yehan looked coldly at Jiang Yangxu's suffering. He pulled the knife out and used one hand to support the swaying Jiang Yangxu. Then, leaning in slightly, he whispered into Jiang Yangxu's ear, "Now do you know what I'm doing barging into your house so late at night?"
His tone was as icy as the depths of hell, utterly devoid of emotion.
It wasn't until the blood dripped from the blade onto the floor, blooming into shocking crimson flowers, that Qin Yulian realized what had just happened.
She covered her mouth and screamed, "My God! Big brother, what are you doing!"
Using the last of his strength, Jiang Yangxu shoved Jiang Yehan away and tightly clutched his abdomen to stop the bleeding.
He never expected his own older brother to actually stab him! That was why he had been completely off guard!
Holding the knife, Jiang Yehan looked at Jiang Yangxu and said coldly, "Susu is missing. Did you send someone to do it? If she suffers even the slightest injury, I will make you pay it back a hundredfold!"
Jiang Yangxu felt his body go limp, completely unable to speak.
Qin Yulian rushed to support him, crying out in panic, "Big brother! Sister-in-law is missing, but do you have any proof that Yangxu did it? How could you just attack him like this!"
Jiang Xing also tried to step forward in a panic, but was blocked by the bodyguards Jiang Yehan had brought.
"I know very well whether he did it or not, and you all know it even better. This stab is just a warning. If you dare touch Susu again, next time I won't mind taking the lives of your entire family." With that, Jiang Yehan turned and left the West District Villa, still holding the bloody knife.
Seeing her husband's wound continuously oozing blood, Qin Yulian hurriedly said, "Xing'er, hurry and get the doctor to stop the bleeding and treat your father!"
Jiang Xing snapped out of his daze and dashed off to fetch the Jiang family's private doctor.
...
After leaving the West District Villa, Jiang Yehan did not return to the East District Villa. He got straight into his car and sat there for a long while.
Tossing the bloody knife aside, he covered his face, a lingering fear washing over him.
When he received Youli's call and learned that his wife Susu had been kidnapped, he had been worried sick.
He had been too careless.
Or rather, he had never imagined that his own biological brother would lay a hand on his sister-in-law!
If Youli hadn't been prepared, Susu would have had a finger severed by now—the ring finger wearing their wedding band.
After calming his emotions, Jiang Yehan was about to step on the gas and leave, but thinking of something, he stopped.
He decisively got out of the car and walked toward the East District Villa.
...
Jiang Youli sat on the edge of the bed, gently stroking Xiaolv, who was keeping her company.
Perhaps sensing her mood, even Xiaohui and Xiaobai, who usually disliked taking the initiative to approach and only focused on their tasks, were snuggled up against her just like Xiaolv.
Jiang Youli had just received a call from Ye Ying, saying that her handsome new dad hadn't gone to rest with her beautiful new mom, but had returned to the Jiang family estate first.
Standing by the window earlier, she had used binoculars to clearly observe everything happening in the West District Villa opposite them, understanding the intention behind her handsome new dad's return.
For a moment, she felt that her arrival had ruined the peaceful lives of her beautiful new mom and handsome new dad.
Just as she was thinking this, a knock came at the door, followed by her handsome new dad's voice from outside.
"Youli, are you asleep?"
Jiang Youli's hand paused, and she looked up in surprise at the closed door.
After a moment, she reacted, hopping out of bed and running over to open the door without even putting on her shoes. She looked up at the tall, burly, and handsome middle-aged man standing before her, faintly catching the scent of blood on him.
"Dad, it's so late. Why aren't you with Mom? Do you need me for something?"
For some reason, a sliver of fear crept into Jiang Youli's heart—fear that her handsome new dad would say he regretted acknowledging her as his daughter.
Looking at Jiang Youli, Jiang Yehan didn't miss the trace of apprehension in her eyes. He felt glad that he had decided to come back and check on her.
At the end of the day, no matter how strong Youli was on the inside, it was only because she had suffered so much and weathered so many storms out in the world during her first twenty years, forcing herself to be tough. She was ultimately just a girl in her early twenties, and there would be moments when her heart would be filled with panic and unease.
Like right now.
Thinking of this, Jiang Yehan raised his hand and gently rubbed the top of her head.
"Your mother is fine now, Youli. Tonight was all thanks to you."
Jiang Youli froze, then quickly said, "But it was also because of me that Mom..."
Jiang Yehan interrupted her gently, "Youli, don't think like that. The moment your mother and I acknowledged you, you became our daughter. How could a daughter ever be a burden to her parents? No matter what a child does, as parents, we should shoulder the responsibility for them."
Jiang Youli froze again. She wanted to say something, but found her throat choked with emotion.
Jiang Yehan continued, "Don't overthink things. No matter what happens, your mother and I just want you to be happy returning to the Jiang family and staying by our side, without ever regretting your choice."
How could Jiang Youli not be moved by these words? Fighting back her tears, she nodded. "Mhm."
Jiang Yehan withdrew his hand and smiled warmly. "Alright, get some rest early tonight. I imagine you'll have a lot to do tomorrow. No matter what you want to do, your mother and I will always support you."
Jiang Youli smiled. "Dad, I don't think I've ever complimented you on how handsome you are."
Hearing this, Jiang Yehan suddenly felt a bit bashful. He curled his fingers and cleared his throat. "If I wasn't handsome, your mother wouldn't have fallen for me."
He suddenly became quite narcissistic.
"Alright, Dad, hurry up and go be with Mom," Jiang Youli urged.
"Okay," Jiang Yehan nodded, turning and walking away.
After watching her handsome new stepdad leave the East District villa, Jiang Youli turned and headed back to her room.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang.
