Hearing the cough, Qin Yulian, who was keeping watch by his side, widened her eyes and quickly turned her head to look at her son, Jiang Zhao, lying on the sofa.
His mouth was slightly open, and his chest rose and fell with each cough.
That was right!
The one who had just coughed was really her son!
"Zhao'er, you're awake!"
Qin Yulian reached out, her trembling hand gently touching Jiang Zhao's pale face.
Jiang Zhao furrowed his brows tightly. His eyelashes fluttered as if he were struggling to open his eyes.
Jiang Xing also looked at Jiang Zhao on the sofa in astonishment, the gloom in his heart finally easing a little. No matter what, there was finally something worth celebrating for their family today!
Although Jiang Yangxu was also happy, he wasn't overly excited. After all, the series of events that had occurred this morning had left him in agony. Even if his son Jiang Zhao woke up, it wouldn't help their current situation.
The person who reacted the most to Jiang Zhao's awakening was Jiang Yonghe.
She never expected that Jiang Zhao would actually wake up. Then what about all those drugs she had secretly injected into his IV?
She gritted her teeth in resentment, secretly cursing her biological father in her heart for being as unreliable as ever!
Back then, the man he hired to deal with Jiang Youli was supposed to be some experienced criminal, but in the end, the guy just vanished without a trace!
What should she do?
Jiang Zhao had already found out that she was the one who hired someone to defile Jiang Youli...
If he spoke out...
No, wait!
Jiang Yonghe suddenly realized that if this were the past, she would have been terrified of her kind and innocent image crumbling before her adoptive parents and Jiang Xing.
After all, Jiang Yangxu's family used to be wealthy and powerful.
But now, Jiang Yangxu's entire family had become outcasts of the Jiang family, unable to inherit a single cent of the family fortune. What was she still afraid of?
There was no need.
Yes, absolutely no need!
Besides, she had only hired someone to ruin Jiang Youli. She could easily excuse it by saying she was just afraid of losing their love. It hadn't actually caused any substantial harm to their family anyway.
While Jiang Yonghe's thoughts raced, Jiang Zhao had completely opened his eyes.
"Zhao'er, Zhao'er, you're awake. You're really awake!" Qin Yulian cried out in excitement.
Watching this scene, Qi An'an's three best friends couldn't help but marvel, "Jiang Zhao was in a deep coma just a moment ago, and the second Jiang Youli pulled a needle out of his head, he woke up. This is absolutely unbelievable!"
Beside them, Qi An'an said, "I didn't lie to you, did I? I told you my cousin-in-law is amazing!"
Qi Huan smiled and said, "Little Li'er, it seems the real show is about to begin today."
Jiang Youli replied, "Yes, a real show of dogs biting dogs."
Jiang Zhao shook his head slightly. Once he could clearly see his mother in front of him, he softly called out, "Mom..."
As soon as he spoke, Jiang Zhao felt his voice was incredibly dry and hoarse.
"Thank goodness, Zhao'er! Mom was scared to death! I was so afraid you'd stay asleep forever and never wake up. If that had happened, what would be the point of me living on?..." Qin Yulian said, her tears streaming down like a broken dam.
She tightly gripped Jiang Zhao's hand, her body trembling slightly from a mix of excitement and lingering fear.
Jiang Zhao licked his dry lips with difficulty. His eyes looked around in confusion, as if he was trying hard to find something.
Suddenly, a dark figure darted to the side of his bed. Immediately after, that incredibly vicious voice—the one that had haunted his ears countless times while he was comatose—rang out clearly once again.
"Second Brother, you're finally awake. This is wonderful..."
"I've been worried sick these past few days."
"Do you know? I couldn't sleep well every single night. I prayed to God every day for you to wake up, willing to trade half of my lifespan just for your awakening."
Jiang Zhao's eyes, which had yet to fully adjust to the light, widened instantly upon hearing Jiang Yonghe's words. His gaze filled with disgust and hatred.
He had heard everything.
Although he couldn't see what had just happened in the house, he had heard every single detail with absolute clarity.
Ruined!
Their family was completely ruined!
Grandpa didn't plan to give them a single share of the Jiang family's estate!
All of this was because their family had been deceived by Jiang Yonghe into abandoning his real sister, Jiang Youli!
And now, the main culprit, Jiang Yonghe, was actually standing here pretending to care about him!
Her fake affection was utterly sickening!
Jiang Zhao wanted to curse at her, but because he had just woken up, the sounds that came out of his mouth were incredibly hoarse and slurred.
"Jiang... Yong... he... you..."
Jiang Xing, who was just about to walk over, paused his steps when he saw the look of disgust and hatred in Jiang Zhao's eyes.
Jiang Zhao had just woken up; why would he have such a look in his eyes?
Was it because of Xiao He?
Jiang Xing suddenly recalled what Jiang Youli had told him: Jiang Zhao's consciousness had actually been awake the entire time.
And the ones taking care of Jiang Zhao in the hospital were none other than their mother and Xiao He!
Could something have happened while Xiao He was taking care of him that made Jiang Zhao detest her so deeply?
"Mom..." Jiang Zhao's voice trembled slightly with urgency. Looking at his mother, who was entirely caught up in her own grief, he grew increasingly anxious and forced himself to raise his voice, "Help... help me up!"
Qin Yulian snapped back to reality as if waking from a dream. She quickly replied, "Okay!"
Then, she reached out both hands, carefully supporting Jiang Zhao's arms, and exerted herself to slowly help him sit up.
Because his body was still very weak, getting up was extremely difficult for Jiang Zhao. After finally managing to sit up, he let out a long breath and whispered to his mother again, "Mom... pour me a glass of water... I'm so thirsty..."
Just as Qin Yulian was about to get up, Jiang Xing spoke first, "Mom, I'll pour it."
Suppressing the doubts in his heart, he glanced at Jiang Youli, walked briskly to the water dispenser to pour a glass of water, and returned to the sofa.
Jiang Yonghe turned her head and reached out to Jiang Xing. "Big Brother, let me feed it to Second Brother. He just woke up, his body probably hasn't recovered yet..."
Before she could finish, Jiang Zhao interrupted, "No need... I'll drink it myself..."
Jiang Yonghe froze for a moment, then silently withdrew her hand.
Jiang Xing glanced at Jiang Yonghe, bypassed her, and handed the water directly to Jiang Zhao.
Jiang Zhao took the water and drank it in large gulps.
Qin Yulian immediately expressed her concern, "Zhao'er, slow down, slow down..."
After finishing the large glass of water, Jiang Zhao felt that he had finally regained some strength.
Qin Yulian asked, "Do you want something to eat?"
He handed the glass back to his mother, Qin Yulian, cleared his throat, and tried to speak again. This time, his voice was much clearer.
"No need, Mom. I have something very important to tell you all."
Jiang Yonghe grew tense. She stood up and silently stepped aside.
"Something very important?" Qin Yulian turned to place the glass on the coffee table. Hearing her son's words, she paused for a moment before quickly asking, "Is there some hidden truth behind your car accident? Was it that wretched girl Jiang Youli trying to harm you, so you tampered with her brakes out of self-defense..."
"No, Mom..." Jiang Zhao interrupted. "Don't speak... listen to me."
"Oh," Qin Yulian murmured. "Alright, Zhao'er, go ahead and say whatever is on your mind. I'm listening. Mom hasn't heard your voice in so long; I just want to hear it a little more."
Jiang Zhao turned his head to look at Jiang Youli, his eyes brimming with guilt. "Sister..."
His address of "sister" sent a wave of shock through Jiang Yangxu, Qin Yulian, and Jiang Xing.
Despite just being told to keep quiet, Qin Yulian couldn't hold back anymore. "Zhao'er, what's wrong with you? Did the car crash mess with your head? Have you forgotten that we've completely cut ties with this wretched girl? How could you still call the miserable brat who ruined your life your sister!"
At this moment, Jiang Yonghe was absolutely certain—Jiang Zhao truly hated her now!
Jiang Zhao's gaze remained fixed on Jiang Youli's tranquil face. He shook his head, his voice heavy with remorse. "No, Mom, I remember. Mom, I was wrong. We were all wrong... We've all been completely deceived by Jiang Yonghe."
