"Dad, you saw it, didn’t you? Qi Huan doesn’t even respect you anymore! He’s crippled in both legs, yet he still dares to act so arrogantly!" Qi Yu clutched her stinging cheeks and slumped back onto the sofa, seething with resentment.
Qi Yue instructed someone to fetch an ice pack and then carefully pressed it against her face.
"Because Grandpa Qi still values him more," Qi Tianxiang said. "Just as he said, your brother has been back for three years, and Grandpa Qi hasn’t even played a single game of chess with him."
Everyone in the Qi Family knew that Grandpa Qi loved chess more than anything in life.
If he personally invited a younger family member to play with him, it was a sign of his approval and recognition.
Qi Yue’s eyes burned with resentment. "Dad, don’t worry. Grandpa Qi will acknowledge me sooner or later. Even though he still favors Qi Huan now, he hasn’t officially announced the heir yet, has he? That means he’s already wavering—he’s just holding onto hope that Qi Huan’s legs can still be cured."
Qi Yu frowned in concern. "But what if his legs really can be healed?"
Qi Tianxiang’s expression darkened. "Even if they can, I won’t let it happen."
All the doctors examining and treating his son, Qi Huan, had been handpicked by him. If there was any chance of recovery, he would make sure those legs stayed broken.
"Yu’er, I’m sorry. Not only did I fail to stand up for you today, but I let you suffer again." Qi Tianxiang looked at his daughter with heartache.
Qi Yu softened her tone. "Dad, my suffering is nothing. What matters is that he doesn’t even care about your authority anymore, saying that your standing in the family depends entirely on him!"
At this, Qi Tianxiang clenched his fists. That woman’s son was exactly like her—stubborn and disdainful!
One had looked down on him as a husband, and now the other looked down on him as a father!
Then he couldn’t be blamed for being ruthless.
If he could kill that woman back then, he could certainly kill her son now!
"Yue’er, have you looked into the Jiang Family’s recently reclaimed true heiress?" Qi Tianxiang turned to his son with a serious expression.
Qi Yue nodded. "I have. The Jiang Family’s true heiress is indeed a village girl from a remote countryside, a herbalist named Jiang Youli. I also heard that after she returned, the Jiang Yangxu family rejected her, so she wasn’t officially recognized. Instead, she was registered under Jiang Yehan and his wife."
Hearing this, Qi Tianxiang relaxed slightly. "Good. As long as we’re sure that the true heiress is useless, it’s fine. If Qi Huan marries her, his position in the family will weaken, and we can use this chance to strengthen ours."
"Hmph! The Jiang Family clearly doesn’t want Jiang Yonghe to marry him anymore, so they’re throwing some random wild girl at him. I don’t know what he’s still so smug about!" Qi Yu scoffed.
Then, as if struck by a thought, her lips curled into a wicked grin. "Brother, what if you married Jiang Yonghe instead? I wonder if Qi Huan would be so furious he’d drop dead! He’d be the laughingstock of all Jing City!"
Qi Yue’s eyes gleamed with calculation. "You’re right. If I end up marrying Jiang Yonghe, Qi Huan’s pride would be utterly crushed beneath my feet."
He silently schemed about how to win Jiang Yonghe’s heart and make her his wife.
Not only would it humiliate Qi Huan beyond repair, but it would also elevate his own status in the family.
---
Inside Grandpa Qi’s private study.
Qi Huan placed a black piece on the board. Across from him, Grandpa Qi glanced up. "Your father has already told you about the Jiang Family’s situation, hasn’t he?"
Without looking up, Qi Huan replied, "He has."
"And your decision?"
"The marriage alliance will proceed. I’ll marry the Jiang Family’s true heiress."
Grandpa Qi’s hand, holding a white piece, paused midair. "Do you realize your current situation? You dare marry a Jiang Family girl with no backing? Ever since your legs were crippled, countless people have been eyeing the heir position, pressuring me to replace you."
Qi Huan remained unfazed. "Grandfather, do you truly intend to replace me? Tell me—who else in the Qi Family has the ability to strengthen our standing and ensure we remain unshaken in Jing City?"
Grandpa Qi snorted. "You’re as confident as ever."
Qi Huan picked up another black piece and placed it leisurely on the board, smiling faintly. "Which is why I’m also confident in my choice of wife."
"You’ve met the Jiang Family’s true heiress?"
"I have."
"You’ve only just met her, yet you’re already certain?"
"One glance was enough."
Grandpa Qi studied him thoughtfully. "Back when we arranged your engagement to Jiang Yonghe, a girl with a reputation for talent, you showed no particular interest. I couldn’t tell if you were satisfied with the match or not. But now, with this true heiress, you’re unusually proactive."
Qi Huan smiled faintly. "After nearly dying once, I’ve come to understand many things. In life, some decisions should follow the heart. It’s better to choose someone you truly like."
Grandpa Qi snorted again. "At tomorrow’s welcoming banquet, I’ll see for myself what’s so special about this Jiang Family girl that made you certain at first sight."
The image of Jiang Youli’s bold, unrestrained demeanor flashed in Qi Huan’s mind, and his smile deepened. "Grandfather, I’m sure you’ll be very satisfied with your future granddaughter-in-law."
Seeing his grandson’s rare enthusiasm, Grandpa Qi grew genuinely curious.
Outwardly, Qi Huan appeared gentle, polite, and friendly to everyone, but very few could truly enter his heart, let alone earn his approval.
His engagement to Jiang Yonghe had been nothing more than a duty to him.
Yet now, for the first time, Grandpa Qi saw anticipation for the future in his grandson’s eyes.
If a girl could captivate Qi Huan like this, she must indeed be extraordinary.
---
[Qi Huan, remember to take the medicine I gave you on time!]
As usual, Qi Huan struggled out of the specially designed bathroom for his wheelchair, then rolled to his bedside and picked up his phone. He had been about to message Jiang Youli to ask what she was doing when her text came through first.
A faint smile touched his lips as he typed a reply.
[Of course. Though it’d be even better if you reminded me every day—then I’d never forget.]
---
Jiang Youli sat at her desk, having just sent the message to Qi Huan, and logged into her author account under the pen name [Lili Yuanshang]. She intended to discuss the copyright sale of her final novel with her website editor.
The moment she logged in, a barrage of messages flooded in.
Most were from fans or entertainment companies that had somehow dug up her contact info, all desperate to add her as a friend.
She skimmed through the friend requests and, to her amusement, spotted one from Starlight Entertainment.
With a light chuckle, she rejected it outright.
Then, she clicked on the message from her editor.
[Lili, so many entertainment companies are eager to buy the rights to your final novel—they're all open to negotiation. I've compiled a list of these companies and sent it to you.]
[Have you decided which one to sell to?]
[Once you've made up your mind, just let me know, and I'll handle the negotiations for you. I'll make sure you get the best deal possible!]
