Grandpa Qi snapped out of his thoughts and closed the lid of the wooden box. "As an elder, how could I possibly accept such an expensive gift from someone younger?"
Jiang Youli smiled. "It's fine. I don’t lack it."
Don’t lack it?!
Those words left Grandpa Qi stunned once more.
Seeing his reaction, Jiang Xing couldn’t help but ask, "Grandpa Qi, is this medicinal herb really that valuable?"
Grandpa Qi shot Jiang Xing a disdainful look. "Of course! This herb is extremely rare. Back then, my grandson Qi Huan spent a hundred million at an auction just to secure it! And now, Youli here is casually gifting it to me! Forget where she got the money—just having the connections to obtain it is already remarkable!"
Hearing Grandpa Qi’s words, Jiang Xing’s expression shifted through a myriad of emotions. Jiang Youli hadn’t been lying to him—these herbs were indeed worth a fortune.
Staring at the wooden box in Grandpa Qi’s hands, Jiang Yangxu also fell into deep thought, his suspicions about his daughter growing stronger by the minute.
"Alright, no need to see us off further. Feel free to visit the Qi Family whenever you have time." Grandpa Qi carefully tucked away his precious gift.
Jiang Youli nodded. "Sure."
She glanced at Qi Huan.
Qi Huan met her gaze and then waved his phone. "We’ll talk later."
Jiang Youli blinked and flashed an OK sign.
After seeing off the Qi Family, Jiang Yangxu cast a sidelong glance at his wife, Qin Yulian, and whispered, "Yulian, I need to discuss something with Jiang Xing. There’s still a lot to handle here—stay and help your elder brother and sister-in-law."
Qin Yulian understood her husband’s implication: they needed to mend their relationship with their daughter!
After this homecoming banquet, Qin Yulian had the same thought. How could they let such an outstanding daughter slip into the hands of her elder brother and sister-in-law?
No matter what, they had to win her back!
"Alright," Qin Yulian agreed.
Jiang Yangxu turned to his eldest son. "Jiang Xing, come with me. We need to talk."
Then he glanced at his second son, Jiang Zhao, and Jiang Yonghe. "Jiang Zhao, take your sister and go home first."
Nearby, Jiang Youli crossed her arms and reminded him, "Uncle, don’t forget to properly punish Jiang Zhao for trying to humiliate me at the banquet. Otherwise, I’ll have to report it to Grandpa."
With a light chuckle, she walked away.
Seeing Jiang Youli head toward Zhang Susu and Jiang Yehan, who were still bidding farewell to guests, Qin Yulian—prompted by her husband’s meaningful look—quickly followed.
Jiang Yonghe watched Qin Yulian hurry after Jiang Youli and immediately grasped her intentions. A flicker of disappointment and resentment flashed in her eyes.
Regretting choosing her, their adopted daughter, so soon?
Well, it was too late now!
She would never let them repair their relationship with Jiang Youli!
"Jiang Youli."
After walking just a few steps, Jiang Youli heard Duan Jinghan call her name. She stopped and turned toward the voice.
Duan Jinghan had waited until the Qi Family left before finally getting a chance to speak with Jiang Youli.
Duan Pinchao, unable to dissuade his son from insisting on talking to the Jiang heiress before leaving, could only step in to handle Jiang Yehan and Zhang Susu on his behalf, though not without a warning: "Talk if you must, but don’t cause trouble. No matter how high the Duan Family’s standing is in Jing City, we can’t afford to offend the Jiang and Qi Families!"
Duan Jinghan approached, his eyes filled with bitterness. "I never thought you’d actually agree to an arranged marriage with Qi Huan so soon after breaking up with me. So you’re not as noble as I thought—you’ve always looked down on me. The moment you found someone better, you kicked me aside and moved on, didn’t you?"
So, in his eyes, she was only with Qi Huan for money. Jiang Youli stared at him, exasperated. "Duan Jinghan, if believing that makes you feel better, go ahead. Are we done here?"
Seeing her remain indifferent even after being "exposed," Duan Jinghan clenched his fists. "If it’s just about money, you don’t have to marry Qi Huan. I have money now too—I can give you whatever you want. And I’m not disabled like the Qi Family’s eldest son. Isn’t that better?"
Jiang Youli replied seriously, "Duan Jinghan, do you know what your biggest problem is?"
Meeting his puzzled gaze, she continued, "You always assume the worst of me."
"Fine, I admit I’m emotionally detached. During our two months together, maybe I wasn’t proactive enough. But did you just figure that out now? We’ve known each other for two years. Why wait until now to complain? Did you have some masochistic urge back then, insisting on chasing after me?"
"If you really wanted me to focus more on you, you should’ve worked on making yourself impossible to ignore—not expect me to slow down, pity you, or accommodate you."
Her words drained the color from Duan Jinghan’s face.
Qin Yulian, standing behind Jiang Youli, overheard every word of their exchange.
So the Duan Family’s young master was also interested in her biological daughter?
Who would’ve thought her daughter would be such a hot commodity!
Jiang Youli had no patience left for him. "The banquet’s over. If there’s nothing else, go home with your father. As you said, with your status now, finding a well-matched heiress won’t be hard. You can pick someone clingy, proactive, obsessed with you—whatever you like."
With that, she turned away and walked toward her glamorous new mother and dashing new father.
"Jiang Youli, I only want you!"
Duan Jinghan’s voice chased after her.
Jiang Youli didn’t look back.
Qin Yulian, observing the situation, realized that Grandpa Qi and Qi Huan now held a grudge against their family. Marrying into the Qi Family might not bring them benefits anymore. Perhaps keeping the Duan Family’s young master as a backup wasn’t a bad idea.
If things worked out, she, as his future mother-in-law, would have his gratitude!
Zhang Susu, who had just finished dealing with Duan Pinchao, noticed Qin Yulian trailing Jiang Youli and nudged her husband, Jiang Yehan.
Jiang Yehan saw it too.
"I don’t even know what to say. How does Qin Yulian have the nerve to approach Youli after everything they’ve done to her?" Zhang Susu fumed.
Jiang Yehan sighed. "The damage is done. Whatever they do now is pointless."
As Jiang Youli approached, Zhang Susu stepped forward, blocking Qin Yulian from her. "Qin Yulian, the banquet’s over. Why aren’t you leaving with your husband and sons? What are you still doing here?"
Qin Yulian feigned surprise. "Sister-in-law, what kind of question is that? This is my daughter’s homecoming banquet. Of course I’m staying to help you and Elder Brother clean up."
Zhang Susu nearly laughed at her audacity. "Your daughter? The disownment papers were signed not long ago."
Qin Yulian raised her hand, wearing a sorrowful expression of guilt as she lamented, "Sister-in-law, your words truly wound me. No matter what, we are still family. That severance agreement was nothing more than Jiang Youli throwing a tantrum and signing it in a fit of anger. Once she cools down, I’ll tear it up tonight when we return."
