The man before her appeared to be around twenty-five or twenty-six years old. His features bore a faint resemblance to Jiang Zhao’s, but where Jiang Zhao exuded defiance, this man radiated an icy aloofness.
If she wasn’t mistaken, this was Jiang Xing, the eldest son of the Jiang family.
Jiang Youli didn’t even glance up as she continued spreading out the medicinal herbs, her tone indifferent. "I am indeed Jiang Youli, the Jiang family’s young mistress. But since you’ve come looking for me, you should already know I’m no longer your sister. What do you want?"
Seeing her focus solely on the herbs, completely ignoring him, Jiang Xing finally understood that Jiang Zhao hadn’t exaggerated. His so-called biological sister was truly arrogant—enough to disregard even him, her elder brother.
"You know who I am, and this is the attitude you give me?" Jiang Xing suppressed his rising anger, forcing his voice to remain steady.
She scoffed. "With the way your whole family behaves, even if your parents showed up, I’d treat them the same. What kind of attitude are you expecting?" Jiang Youli finally lifted her head, meeting his gaze with undisguised mockery and disdain.
A chilling aura emanated from Jiang Xing. So, this was how it was. His so-called sister clearly didn’t deserve any courtesy from him.
"I’ve been away on business these past few days, so I haven’t been home. Today, Jiang Zhao told me that the moment you returned, you demanded Little He leave the Jiang family. He also said you slapped her yesterday. Is that true?" Jiang Xing stepped forward, crushing the freshly dried herbs beneath his foot, grinding them into the dirt before finally pulling back.
Jiang Youli’s hands stilled. Her gaze sharpened as she finally looked up at the man towering over her.
His eyes held the cold detachment of someone looking at an insect he could crush at will.
Slowly, she rose to her feet, meeting his gaze head-on. Instead of answering his question, she said emotionlessly, "I’ll give you one chance."
Jiang Xing’s brow furrowed slightly at her fearless stare, his expression as frigid as ever. "What?"
"One chance to restore the herbs you just destroyed." Her voice was calm.
For a moment, Jiang Xing was stunned—then he actually laughed. "Jiang Zhao was right. You really… don’t know your place."
Expecting him to restore crushed weeds? What a joke.
His expression darkened abruptly. "And if I refuse?"
As if to emphasize his point, he lifted his foot again and stomped down on another herb.
Jiang Youli still didn’t stop him. Instead, she asked softly, "Do you know how much those two herbs were worth?"
"Just a couple of worthless weeds—like you." His voice was icy.
"At least fifty million." She stated the figure plainly. "In the auction houses of the capital, they start at ten million per plant. And just this afternoon, your mother came to me with ten million, trying to buy my recognition. But I refused. Because to me, ten million isn’t even worth a single one of my cultivated herbs."
Jiang Xing’s eyes grew colder. "I didn’t come here to listen to your nonsense."
Jiang Youli pressed on. "So, how do you plan to compensate me? Cash or transfer?"
"Jiang Youli!"
"Not willing to pay? Then I’m afraid you’ll have to compensate another way." She ignored his fury, her eyes raking over him. "That foot of yours that crushed two of my herbs will do. Though frankly, I doubt it’s worth nearly enough—"
Finally pushed past his limit, Jiang Xing grabbed her by the collar. "Keep running your mouth, and I’ll end you right here."
Jiang Youli smirked at his livid face. "Jiang Xing, I’m afraid you’ll die before you even get the chance."
Her audacity even now made him take a deep breath. "Fine. Since you insist on learning the hard way—men!"
At his command, four bodyguards rushed in, surrounding Jiang Youli.
"Take her away."
Two of them seized her.
Jiang Youli didn’t resist, allowing them to drag her out of the eastern villa and shove her into a waiting car.
Soon, the vehicle sped off.
……
Meanwhile—
In the western villa, Jiang Yonghe stood by the window, a slow smile curving her lips as she watched everything unfold.
She had guessed that after Jiang Zhao stormed off to Xingguang Entertainment today, he’d tell their eldest brother about the humiliation she’d suffered at home.
But she hadn’t expected her place in Jiang Xing’s heart to be so firm.
He’d come to settle the score with Jiang Youli so quickly.
Unlike their second brother, Jiang Xing wasn’t one for empty threats or mere physical punishment.
Back in middle school, a street thug had dared to harass her—just a few words and touches—but when Jiang Xing found out, he’d had the man’s hands broken.
In the end, it was resolved with nothing more than a payout.
Would Jiang Youli walk away unscathed after slapping her?
……
Two hours later—
Jiang Youli was yanked out of the car and shoved toward a derelict factory.
"Get inside!"
Steadying herself, she scanned the abandoned space, amusement flickering in her eyes.
Bringing her to such a remote place—they really meant business.
She’d always known how much her so-called "family" doted on Jiang Yonghe, how little affection they held for their own flesh and blood.
But she hadn’t expected them to be this ruthless.
It made the suffering she’d endured these past twenty years feel even heavier.
She needed an outlet.
Jiang Xing ordered two bodyguards to guard the entrance while he and the other two followed her inside, sealing the factory doors behind them.
"No one will know what happens here," Jiang Xing said, stepping closer to Jiang Youli, his gaze locked onto her still-fearless face.
She smiled. "You’re right. This is the perfect place for… accidents."
His voice was glacial. "I’m not like Jiang Zhao. I don’t waste time on words when actions will do."
Jiang Youli merely hummed.
"Since you’re technically my sister, I’ll be lenient. Kneel before Little He, apologize, and slap yourself a hundred times in front of her. Do that, and I’ll let you go today." He spoke as if granting her a great mercy.
Kneel and apologize?
A hundred self-inflicted slaps?
And this was his idea of mercy?
How enlightening.
Jiang Youli tilted her head up, her smile dripping with scorn. "Oh? So you do remember I’m your real sister. And yet, you’d go this far for an adopted one?"
