Jiang Xing sneered, "I don’t know where you get your confidence from. You’re nowhere near as good as Yonghe."
His dismissive attitude toward her was identical to Jiang Zhao’s.
Jiang Youli curled her lips into a smile. "Of course I’m confident when I know I’m right. Just like how I’m confident you won’t dare tell anyone that I severed the meridians in your right leg."
At her words, Jiang Xing’s expression darkened, his fists clenching tightly.
He truly didn’t dare.
He had already experienced the poison Jiang Youli had given him—he knew exactly how agonizing its effects could be.
…
Back at the Jiang residence.
Jiang Youli parked the car and glanced at Jiang Xing in the back seat. "Get out. Don’t tell me you can’t even walk now?"
Jiang Xing glared at her in humiliation but said nothing, gritting his teeth as he slowly dragged himself out of the car.
Jiang Youli smirked, her tone laced with mockery. "So resentful? Well, you shouldn’t have come looking for trouble yesterday. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be in this state. Come to think of it, I remember you saying Jiang Zhao put you up to this. So if you want to blame anyone, blame him for running his mouth. Too cowardly to confront me himself, so he sent you as his sacrificial lamb."
Jiang Xing’s face twisted in fury. "Don’t even try to drive a wedge between us."
Jiang Youli burst into laughter, the sound dripping with scorn. "Why would I bother? What’s in it for me? Do you really think I’d waste my time competing with Jiang Yonghe for your family’s approval? How pathetic."
Just then, a sleek Porsche rolled into the garage.
"Big Brother!" Jiang Yonghe’s cheerful voice echoed through the space.
Jiang Yonghe and Jiang Zhao stepped out of the car, the latter freezing in shock when he spotted Jiang Youli standing beside Jiang Xing.
"Big Brother, why are you with Jiang Youli?!" Jiang Zhao demanded, disbelief written all over his face.
Before Jiang Xing could respond, Jiang Youli cut in with a smirk. "Your dear sister has been back for days. Big Brother here finally found time to ‘check in’ on me."
Jiang Zhao quickly realized—he had told Jiang Xing about Yonghe being bullied, and Jiang Xing must have gone to confront Jiang Youli on her behalf.
But then—
Why did Jiang Youli look completely unharmed?
"Hmph, we’ve already cut ties with you. You’re no sister of ours," Jiang Zhao snapped.
Jiang Youli scoffed. "Get it straight—I cut ties with you. I don’t want you."
With that, she reached out and patted Jiang Xing’s cold, handsome face right in front of Jiang Zhao and Jiang Yonghe, her voice soft but menacing. "Remember to behave from now on, or you’ll regret it."
Tossing her car keys carelessly, she strutted away without a second glance.
Jiang Zhao stared after her, stunned. Jiang Xing was known for his ruthless demeanor—how could he tolerate such blatant disrespect?
The moment Jiang Youli was gone, Jiang Zhao immediately turned to his brother. "Big Brother, didn’t you go to settle things with Jiang Youli? How is she completely fine? And why didn’t you react when she spoke to you like that?!"
Jiang Xing’s face was grim. "Drop it."
He stood rigidly, the pain in his right leg nearly making him stumble.
Jiang Yonghe, quick to notice, caught him by the arm—only to gasp when she felt the abnormality in his leg.
"Big Brother, what’s wrong with your leg?!"
Jiang Zhao whipped his head down, his eyes widening in shock.
He grabbed Jiang Xing’s shoulders urgently. "Big Brother, what happened to your leg?!"
Jiang Xing tried to shove him away, but Jiang Zhao held on stubbornly.
Finally, Jiang Xing wrenched himself free with a furious roar. "Enough! Stop asking!"
Jiang Zhao staggered back, bewildered. "I’m just worried about you—"
"I don’t need your concern!" Jiang Xing snarled before limping away, each step labored and unsteady.
Jiang Zhao watched him go, confusion and frustration churning inside him.
Jiang Yonghe’s eyes welled up as she stared after their brother, her voice trembling. "Did… did Jiang Youli do this to him? Is he being threatened into silence?"
Jiang Zhao’s fists clenched, veins bulging on his forehead. "She must have! I told Big Brother how she bullied you, and he went to confront her—only for her to do this to him! That vicious woman, how dare she?!"
Jiang Yonghe sobbed. "What do we do now? What if his leg is really broken? How will he—?"
Jiang Zhao forced himself to stay calm. "It won’t be. Even Jiang Youli wouldn’t go that far. It’s probably temporary. But I will get to the bottom of this. If she hurt Big Brother, Mom and Dad will make her pay!"
"Xing’er, you’re back?" Qin Yulian, seated on the living room sofa, looked up as her eldest son entered—only to frown when she saw him limping. "What happened to your leg?"
Jiang Xing’s face was pale. "I fell."
Qin Yulian gasped, rising in alarm. "Fell? That badly? Let me see—"
Jiang Xing waved her off impatiently. "Don’t bother!"
His sharp tone made Qin Yulian flinch, her eyes flickering with hurt.
Realizing his outburst, Jiang Xing took a deep breath and softened his voice. "Mom, just call the family doctor. Now."
