Jiang Youli replied to the idle young master: "Oh~ birds of a feather flock together, indeed a perfect match! I never trusted Jiang Xing's choice of director anyway, so it's great that your master Long Yuan is doing some trash recycling for me."
The idle young master wrote back: "Are you saying Director Zhang is trash?"
Jiang Youli replied: "I'm also calling you a dog."
The idle young master shot back: "Jiang Youli, keep running your mouth! Consider it practice for the day two months from now when you'll be licking my shoes! I'll pick the dirtiest pair just for you—it's what you deserve!"
Jiang Youli responded: "A dog can only bark when it's powerless. When you lose our bet, I'll have to get you two dog leashes at once just to keep you in check."
Li Zixuan didn't reply again.
Qi An'an piped up instead, secretly amused: "Hahaha, sister-in-law, your words are always so sharp and satisfying!"
In the group chat, most people were just spectating. On one side stood Qi Huan, the eldest young master of the Qi family; on the other, Long Yuan. With two big shots clashing, these small fry didn't dare pick sides.
A moment later, Jiang Youli received a private message from Qi An'an:
"Sister-in-law, I've been busy the past couple days, so I didn't update you on Duan Jinghan."
"Duan Jinghan recently told me he wants to become better for you and has asked his sister to let him join the family business for training."
"But Miss Duan didn't agree—instead, she gave him a million to start his own business. If he fails, he'll have to stay home and live off the family."
"Clearly, Miss Duan doesn't want to hand over company power to her younger brother!"
"Even Duan Jinghan is starting a business, so I guess I can't stay idle either. I'm planning to open a merchandise store near my parents' private school! What do you think, sister-in-law?"
Jiang Youli replied: "That's a good idea. Opening near a school means plenty of customers. But I didn't know you were into anime merchandise."
Qi An'an sent a photo of her room, showing walls and vanity tables filled with badges, standees, art boards, and laser tickets.
"Hehe~ My room is full of my favorite merch!"
"It's decided—I'm opening a merchandise store!"
Jiang Youli replied, "Good luck," then exited the chat and opened Qi Huan's conversation, sending him a message:
"Huanhuan, what are you up to? It's late, and you haven't messaged me."
...
In the private room at Nightless City bar,
"Damn it!" Li Zixuan was so furious at Jiang Youli's replies that he nearly smashed his phone. "If it weren't for Qi Huan backing her, I'd have no problem taking her down!"
Long Yuan frowned, displeased. "Jiang Youli still has the nerve to bicker with you in the group?"
Li Zixuan put his phone away and plastered on a fawning smile. "Of course she does, Mr. Long. She's got nothing else to do but talk big since you're crushing her. She's just venting online!"
Long Yuan gave him a cold glance. "What about Qi An'an?"
"Don't worry, Mr. Long. I've got people watching her. The moment there's an opening, I'll have her snatched up."
"Better hurry up. Don't let the 'Secret Garden' event next year roll around before you finish the job." Long Yuan took a sip of red wine, his eyes gleaming with ruthlessness. "I've put up with Qi Huan long enough. Now it seems like Jiang Youli, Qi An'an, and even the Duan family are all trying to trample on me. I need to save face!"
"Don't worry. Within a month, I'll find the right moment to strike!" Li Zixuan assured him.
...
At a private hospital,
Lying on her hospital bed, Jiang Yonghe watched the exchange between Li Zixuan and Jiang Youli in the group. She promptly took screenshots and sent them privately to Jiang Xing.
Seeing the messages go through, Jiang Yonghe confirmed she hadn't been blocked.
"Brother, you worked so hard to recruit Director Zhang, but now he's given up signing with Star Entertainment. That company has been your life's work, and it's about to be ruined by your own sister. I really feel sorry for you."
She waited a long time, but Jiang Xing didn't reply.
It didn't matter—he must have seen it.
She put down her phone and looked at her bandaged face, still recovering from surgery. Only her eyes were visible.
Soon, she would regain her looks!
With Long Yuan as her backer, she was sure this time she could take down Jiang Youli!
She would make Jiang Youli pay back every bit of the harm she'd suffered—a hundred times, a thousand times over!
...
At the city hospital,
Jiang Xing had just received another shot of a sedative to ease his pain.
The doctor overseeing his treatment stood by the bed, looking at Jiang Xing's pale face, and spoke to Qin Yulian and Jiang Zhao, who had come to visit: "We really can't do anything more for Mr. Jiang's condition here. Relying on painkillers with anesthesia long-term is not a solution. It could eventually affect his brain."
Qin Yulian watched her eldest son's feeble state, her heart aching, and said helplessly, "I understand. I'll check him out of the hospital tomorrow, and we'll find another way."
"I'll prescribe a month's worth of painkillers. You'd better find a doctor who can treat him within that time."
After the doctor left, Qin Yulian's eyes reddened. "What kind of misfortune is this? Even the top doctors at the city hospital can't cure this poison!"
She then grew remorseful again. "If only you hadn't given the antidote to that bastard Jiang Yonghe!"
"Mom, please don't bring that up," Jiang Zhao reminded her.
Qin Yulian sighed. "Fine, I'll drop it."
"Alright, go home now, Mom. I'll stay here with Brother tonight," Jiang Zhao said.
"Okay, call me if anything comes up."
Jiang Xing picked up his phone from the nightstand, trying to distract himself from the pain.
He saw Jiang Yonghe's message and his eyes widened.
It wasn't regret or sorrow over Director Zhang leaving Star Entertainment that struck him—it was an opportunity.
A chance to get Jiang Youli, his sister, to cure his poison!
He already knew how his old company was doing, thanks to a female employee who had kept sending him daily updates since Jiang Youli took over—
He knew that twelve employees had been poached by Strong Wind Entertainment, leaving the company short-staffed.
Now, with Director Zhang also lured away, the project "Ambition of the Green Cloud" was likely to fall apart.
If he could find a more renowned director than Zhang Bufan for his sister, it might make up for the harm he'd caused her—and she might agree to cure him.
Just then, the female employee sent another message:
"Mr. Jiang, five strange people came to the company today—they're here to help your sister."
Seeing this, Jiang Xing was stunned.
His sister… had she actually found help?
He quickly replied back:
[The director? Did you find him?]
