"Bro, Jiang Yonghe hasn't come looking for you, has she?" After their mother Qin Yulian left the hospital room, Jiang Zhao sat down by the bed and asked.
Jiang Xing was startled, looking up from his phone screen. "She did. She just sent me a message."
Jiang Zhao frowned. "Didn't I tell her not to bother you?"
He paused, then asked, "What did Jiang Yonghe want from you? Don't tell me she's pulling that 'my dad's about to beat me to death' act again, pretending she needs you to save her. I knew she was lying—if she were really being beaten to death, there's no way she'd be able to send you a message!"
Just then, the female employee Jiang Xing had been chatting with replied.
[I don't know for sure, but I think your sister still hasn't found a director.]
Jiang Xing breathed a sigh of relief.
[Okay, thanks.]
The other side quickly responded:
[No need to thank me, President Jiang. I'm happy to do this for you.]
Jiang Xing didn't reply again.
Of course he knew what she meant. Back when he was still the CEO of Starlight Entertainment, he had noticed the strange look in this female employee's eyes whenever she saw him, but she had always been very nervous before.
Unexpectedly, now that he was no longer with Starlight Entertainment, she actually had the courage to reach out on her own.
Was it because he'd fallen from grace, making her think she had a chance with him?
Whatever. Jiang Xing didn't care about her motives. The only reason he chatted with her was to find out how his sister Jiang Youli was managing the company after taking over.
What he could confirm now was that since director Zhang Bufan had been snatched by Gale Entertainment, his sister Jiang Youli still hadn't found a director, so he still had a chance!
Meanwhile, Jiang Zhao, who was watching over Jiang Xing by the bed, noticed that his older brother was busy chatting on his phone, so he didn't say anything and just looked at his own screen.
But he wasn't chatting with anyone—he was browsing his sister Jiang Youli's moments on social media.
Today, Jiang Youli had indeed posted another update:
[Tired today. I accidentally fell asleep in the car. When I got home, Dad didn't wake me up—he actually waited an hour for me. Sob sob, the best dad in the world~]
From the words, Jiang Zhao could tell how happy his sister was living with Aunt and Uncle.
His heart ached with bitterness. He wished he, too, could do those things for his sister like Uncle did.
But he simply didn't have the chance now.
After thinking for a long time, Jiang Zhao finally gave that post a like.
He went back to the message screen, staring at the chat window with his sister Jiang Youli, which had zero messages, but still couldn't muster the courage to send her anything.
Maybe in a while. He would definitely find an opportunity to reach out to her!
...
At night, the Qi Family Manor was shrouded in a tranquil atmosphere, like a sleeping giant.
In the study, the lamplight was warm and soft.
Qi Huan and Old Master Qi sat facing each other. Black and white pieces were scattered across the chessboard, a silent game of strategy in progress.
Old Master Qi placed a piece down, then slowly looked up, his eyes settling on the man across from him. "I heard you've sent your father to a sanatorium."
His voice was deep and authoritative.
Qi Huan's expression went unchanged. He only answered flatly, "Mm."
Old Master Qi stared at Qi Huan, trying to see through his calm exterior to the true thoughts within. He pressed further, "Why? Is it because he brought that illegitimate daughter home?"
The way Grandfather asked made it sound like bringing home an illegitimate daughter was only serious enough for a previous punishment of reducing expenses, but not for sentencing him to confinement in a sanatorium.
Qi Huan's reply remained brief: "No."
Old Master Qi furrowed his brow slightly. After a moment's silence, he continued, "Then why?"
A flicker of emotion did not pass through Qi Huan's eyes. His voice was calm, like still lake water. "Because Qi Yue is not my biological younger brother."
Old Master Qi's hand, holding a white piece, paused mid-air. "Is this true?"
Qi Huan nodded. "Absolutely true."
A surge of anger rose in Old Master Qi, and he threw down the white piece, snorting coldly. "So, the fortune-teller's claim back then—that your brother would harm the family's wealth—was all orchestrated by your father himself?"
Qi Huan gave no explicit answer.
"Your father deserves to spend the rest of his life reflecting in that sanatorium!" Old Master Qi wasn't particularly bothered that his son had illegitimate children outside, but he absolutely would not tolerate his son scheming against him just to bring those bastards home.
Who knew what else his son might plot against him for those illegitimate children in the future? Plot his death!
Qi Tianxiang would indeed stop at nothing, for he had already schemed against his own son's life!
After calming down, Old Master Qi looked at his eldest grandson with guilt. "Have you found any leads on your real younger brother?"
After all, it was because of his order that the real Qi Yue had been sent away as an infant, which gave Qi Tianxiang the chance to swap him out for his own illegitimate son.
Qi Huan also set down his black piece. "No. Qi Tianxiang refuses to admit to the swap."
"Of course he wouldn't dare admit it!" Old Master Qi's face darkened. "I'll have people investigate your brother's whereabouts as well."
Qi Huan said, "Thank you, Grandfather."
"I've lost all night. I'm done playing." With that, Old Master Qi left the study.
Qi Huan wheeled himself out to watch the butler escort Old Master Qi to his room, then made his way back to the house in the backyard.
Seeing a message from Jiang Youli, he replied:
[Just finished playing chess with Grandfather.]
A response came quickly:
[Oh~ Have you showered?]
[Not yet. It's late. If you're sleepy, go to bed first.]
[Yeah, I am a bit tired today. I even fell asleep in the car on the way home. So I'll sleep now~ Goodnight~ Huanhuan~]
[Goodnight, little Li'er.]
Qi Huan even sent a goodnight sticker. After making sure Jiang Youli didn't reply again, he put down his phone and wheeled himself into the bathroom.
After showering, he dried his hair, raised the wheelchair to the same height as the bed, supported himself with his arms to shift over onto the bed, then lay down, resting his legs which had just begun to move slightly.
Once settled, he turned to the side, opened the drawer of the bedside table, and took out a carefully preserved, faded photograph.
It was a picture of him at five years old, holding his newborn brother, taken by his mother.
On the back was written: "Mom, I will find a way to bring Little Brother home."
That was the vow he had made after finding out that his mother had died in a car accident while on her way to search for his brother. Afraid he might forget, he had written it on the back of this picture.
Later, he finally built a foothold in the Qi family, earned his grandfather's recognition, and gained the right to speak, convincing his grandfather to agree to bring his brother home—only to discover that the one he brought back was not his biological brother at all.
"Mom, I'm sorry, I've let you down, I've let my little brother down." Qi Huan's fingers traced the already fading face in the photograph, his tone unwavering. "Don't worry, as long as I'm alive, I will find my brother. And if my brother is dead, I'll make sure Qi Tianxiang dies with him."
Outside the window, a sudden rustling sound arose, as if his mother were responding.
Qi Huan placed the photo back in the drawer and closed it again.
...
The next day.
After completing the discharge procedures, Jiang Xing did not stay in the house Jiang Zhao had rented. Instead, he rented another apartment on his own. Then, he contacted a director whom the entire entertainment industry regarded as more talented than Zhang Bufan.
He hadn’t approached this director before because, after making five films, the director had withdrawn from the circle to recover from an illness.
But now, in order to earn his sister’s forgiveness, he had to secure this director!
