“…All right, Grandpa.” Jiang Zhao picked up his chopsticks and began eating in silence.
Jiang Xing also withdrew his expectant gaze for the time being.
Throughout the meal, Jiang Yangxu’s family ate absentmindedly, all watching to see when Old Master Jiang would finish.
At last, they finally saw Old Master Jiang put down his bowl. Jiang Zhao immediately set down his chopsticks as well and asked eagerly, “Grandpa…”
Jiang Xing looked over again, his fingers tightening nervously around his chopsticks.
This was his last chance.
If the poison still couldn’t be cured, he might really have to attempt suicide in front of Grandpa that very night, using it to fight for a slim chance of survival.
Old Master Jiang wiped his mouth with a napkin and said, “All right, Jiang Zhao. I know what you want to ask, so I’ll tell you. Youli has agreed.”
Jiang Zhao froze for a moment. Then his eyes lit up, and he turned excitedly toward his younger sister, Jiang Youli, who was sitting beside his uncle and aunt.
Jiang Youli completely ignored his fervent gaze.
Jiang Xing was even more agitated. He shoved his chair back and stood up, his voice trembling with uncertainty. “Really? Xiao Li, are you really willing to cure me?”
Jiang Youli raised her eyes slightly. Her voice held not the slightest trace of emotion. “It doesn’t matter if you die, but I can’t just stand by and watch Grandpa ruin his health because of you.”
Whatever the reason, as long as the poison could be cured, that was enough for Jiang Xing!
“Thank you, Xiao Li!”
His whole body trembled with excitement. He was saved!
He was finally saved!
Amid Qin Yulian’s happiness, she couldn’t help asking, “So you’re admitting that you were the one who poisoned Xing’er before?”
Those words made both Jiang Xing and Jiang Zhao’s hearts lurch.
“Mom!” Jiang Xing panicked.
With a mocking smile, Jiang Youli said, “Mrs. Qin Yulian, why don’t you ask your good son Jiang Xing why I poisoned him in the first place?”
Jiang Xing immediately said, “Mom, don’t say anything more. I brought this on myself! I deserved it. Xiao Li was kind enough not to take my life outright!”
Qin Yulian didn’t want anything to go wrong with the antidote. Besides, their family truly needed to win over this biological daughter of theirs, so she quickly put on a smile.
“Xiao Li, I didn’t mean to blame you. Whatever misunderstanding there was between you and your brother is in the past now. In any case, we have to thank you for being willing to cure Xing’er. If there’s anything you want, just name it. We’ll do everything we can to satisfy you!”
Jiang Youli sneered. “Back then, you offered me ten million yuan, and I didn’t accept it. What can those pitiful scraps you have now possibly give me? All I want is for you to keep your mouth shut. And it would be best if your whole family stopped appearing in front of me.”
Qin Yulian fell silent.
The excitement in Jiang Zhao’s eyes dimmed again at Jiang Youli’s words. He gave a bitter smile. “Xiao Li, I know you don’t lack anything now…but if you ever run into trouble, just tell me. I’ll go through fire and water for you.”
Jiang Xing also said weakly, “Me too, Xiao Li. From now on, as long as you ask, I’ll help you with anything, as long as it’s within my power.”
Both brothers had lowered themselves completely.
Only Jiang Yangxu remained silent.
In his eyes, all of this was a humiliation.
Yet at present, all he could do was endure the disgrace his sons were suffering.
Jiang Youli glanced at Jiang Yangxu and said pointedly, “But your father doesn’t seem very eager for me to cure you.”
Jiang Xing froze and turned to look at his father.
Jiang Yangxu’s hand, hidden beneath the table, clenched tightly. He then forced a smile onto his face. “How could that be? Youli, I’m truly happy that you’re willing to cure your brother.”
Hmph.
What a thoroughly insincere thing to say.
Jiang Youli didn’t comment further. She merely instructed Jiang Xing coldly, “You’ll come with me to the villa in the western district later to get the medicine.”
Jiang Xing nodded hurriedly. “All right!”
After dinner, Jiang Yehan no longer wanted to spend any more time with Jiang Yangxu’s family, so he stood up and said, “Dad, you’ve been on a plane for so long. You must be tired. You should get some rest early tonight. Susu, Youli, and I will head back first.”
Old Master Jiang nodded. “All right.”
When Jiang Youli stood up, Jiang Xing followed suit.
He couldn’t wait to get the antidote and take it immediately so that he wouldn’t have to endure another bout of the poison that night!
Jiang Zhao also wanted to spend more time with his sister, Jiang Youli, so he stood up and said, “Brother, I’ll go with you to get the antidote.”
Jiang Youli sneered. “What? Are you planning to help Jiang Xing verify whether the antidote is real?”
Jiang Zhao hurriedly explained, “No…I just wanted to spend a little more time looking at you…”
Jiang Youli rubbed her arm. “Disgusting.”
Jiang Zhao’s face turned deathly pale, and he was rendered speechless.
Jiang Youli ignored them. She linked arms with her beautiful mother and was about to leave with her handsome father.
At that moment, Jiang Yangxu spoke up sincerely. “Dad, Yulian and I would like to look around the villa in the western district. Is that all right?”
Hearing this, Old Master Jiang said, “Why are you asking me? The key isn’t with me anymore.”
Jiang Youli stopped and looked back with a cold laugh. “The key is with me, but I don’t want to give it to you. Since you’ve already been driven out and won’t be living in the villa in the western district anymore, why insist on going back and making yourselves miserable?”
Jiang Yangxu’s expression darkened slightly when he heard the words “won’t be living in the villa in the western district anymore.”
Qin Yulian also grew angry. If she hadn’t remembered that her eldest son’s poison had yet to be cured, she would have scolded this biological daughter of hers on the spot!
Old Master Jiang waved his hand. “Aren’t there still the Yixin Building, the tennis court, and the music hall in the back of the estate? Go wherever you like and have a look.”
“Understood, Dad.” Jiang Yangxu suppressed his displeasure and replied, “Yulian and I will take a look around, then head back.”
Jiang Youli deliberately emphasized, “Don’t wander around everywhere. After all, this isn’t your home anymore. Don’t let the new servants mistake you for thieves.”
Qin Yulian fell silent.
Jiang Yangxu’s face remained expressionless, and he said nothing.
Jiang Youli left Old Master Jiang’s residence with her parents and headed toward the villa in the western district.
The brothers, Jiang Xing and Jiang Zhao, followed behind them at a distance. Neither of them spoke along the way. They silently watched Jiang Youli chatter freely and without restraint in front of their uncle and aunt, and their hearts were filled with indescribable bitterness.
“Youli, I’ve already designed your birthday dress. Take a look at it when we get back and see if you like it.” Zhang Susu spoke gently, her face glowing with a motherly smile.
Hearing this, Jiang Youli happily took Zhang Susu’s hand and smiled sweetly. “Mom, I already know I’ll love it without even looking! After all, you designed it especially for me!”
Zhang Susu was delighted by her daughter’s words. She gently stroked Jiang Youli’s hair and said, “Don’t just say you like it. Take a look first. If there’s anything you think needs further improvement, tell me directly, and I’ll revise and perfect it for you.”
Jiang Youli nodded and replied obediently, “I know. But with your sense of style, Mom, I’m sure the evening gown you design for me will be absolutely gorgeous!”
Standing nearby, Jiang Yehan chimed in, “That’s right. Youli, I got an early look at it. The evening gown your mom designed for you is truly beautiful—and one of a kind in the entire world!”
Jiang Youli’s eyes lit up instantly. “Oh, right! It really is one of a kind. That means I won’t have to worry about wearing the same thing as anyone else, and I definitely won’t have to fear people accusing me of wearing a knockoff~”
A short distance behind them, Jiang Zhao’s footsteps suddenly came to a halt when he heard Jiang Youli say that.
