Before Xiaolv could fully regain her senses, she found herself staring into the glowing green eyes of Xiaohui and Xiaobai.
Xiaohui: ᕮ◥▶‸◀◤ᕭ
Xiaobai: ╰_╯╬
Xiaolv's snake scales instantly stood on end, and it immediately turned and slithered away.
Qi Huan: [Don't set your standards so low, Xiao Lier. It gives me a sense of crisis. After all, a handsome face can be replaced anytime, but if you add personal charm into the mix, it becomes much harder to supplant.]
Jiang Youli smiled.
[Then let me tell you, your personal charm had already drawn me in. Otherwise, why do you think I agreed to the marriage alliance with you the day you came looking for me at Jianshan Village?]
Looking at the message on his phone screen, a light flickered in Qi Huan's dark eyes.
He truly hadn't expected that Jiang Youli had also formed a good impression of him from their very first meeting.
Back then, he was clearly a cripple.
So, his love at first sight hadn't been wishful thinking after all.
Qi Huan: [Hearing you say that makes me very happy. I suddenly feel a lot more secure.]
Jiang Youli: [Alright, get some rest early and recover from your injury. Being this happy, you're sure to sleep well tonight.]
Qi Huan: [Okay, I hope I dream of you.]
Jiang Youli really wanted to say that she had already dreamed of him—not just any dream, but a steamy one!
...
The next day, Monday morning.
Jiang Xing, along with two gardeners from the family, began tilling the designated area in the backyard to start Jiang Youli's medicinal herb garden. Starting from 8 a.m., after just over an hour of digging, he was already sore, sweating profusely, and utterly exhausted.
Especially since he was dragging along a leg that had only recently healed from a fracture, his balance was completely off.
Had Jiang Youli really been working this hard all along back in the village?
"Back in the village, did you do all this farm work yourself?" Jiang Xing stopped, leaning on his hoe to look at Jiang Youli, who was lounging leisurely on a recliner reading a medical book, unable to resist asking.
Jiang Youli raised her eyes, giving him a light glance with an expression that clearly said, "Are you stating the obvious?" "Of course. I was all alone, with no parents or siblings. If I didn't do it myself, how could I be well-fed and well-clothed?"
Jiang Xing knew she was mocking him for being abandoned, but the facts were indeed as she said. He had no retort.
"You said before that the medicinal herbs you grew were very valuable. I didn't believe it at first, but after hearing Grandpa Qi say it himself, I knew it was true."
Jiang Youli's hand, which was turning the pages of her book, paused. She looked up at him. "Why are you telling me this? Are you trying to slack off and not work?"
Jiang Xing: "..."
Jiang Xing also knew she always had a sharp tongue. He held back and said, "I know you hate Mom and Dad for knowing you existed but not bringing you back, and you hate me and Jiang Zhao for giving you a hard time when you first returned."
"Good that you know. If you have any shame left, then stop the nonsense. Don't you realize that trying to slash my face is more than just 'giving me a hard time'? If it were an ordinary girl who couldn't fight back, being treated like that by you would ruin her life." After saying this, Jiang Youli went back to reading her medical book, not wanting to hear any more of his drivel.
Jiang Xing, however, wasn't ready to give up. "So, when you crippled my right leg and made me a lame man, it was me reaping what I sowed. We're even. Even if you can't let go of your hatred for us, won't forgive us, won't acknowledge us as family, does it have to come to a fight where we all lose? What good does that do you?"
Jiang Youli looked up again, a smirk curling her lips. "Who said anything about 'all losing'? It will only ever be you losing, me winning."
Jiang Xing: "..."
Jiang Xing continued, "Maybe before, I would have thought you were overestimating yourself when you said things like that. But now I admit you do have some real capability. It's precisely because I think you have some genuine skill that I can't bear to see you lost in hatred, unable to free yourself."
Jiang Youli closed the medical book in her hand, coldly exposing the true motive beneath Jiang Xing's seemingly well-intentioned plea for reconciliation.
"Jiang Xing, you're still as arrogant as you were when we first met. If all your initial plans had succeeded, and I hadn't fought back successfully, would you have reflected on whether your actions were wrong? You're saying all this now not because you've truly repented, feeling sorry for me and that you owe me, but because you've finally felt fear after failing. You've discovered that the person you thought you could manipulate at will might actually bring you down and leave you with nothing."
Jiang Xing was left speechless by her words.
"Jiang Xing, since your family decided to be heartless toward me, you'd better be heartless all the way. Don't keep wavering and putting on this merciful, benevolent act in front of me. I don't need it." Jiang Youli stood up and left the backyard herb garden development area with a cold laugh.
Watching Jiang Youli's resolute retreating figure, Jiang Xing's gaze turned cold once more.
He had given her a chance. Since his biological sister chose to be stubborn to the end, she shouldn't blame them later for not considering their blood ties.
Just then, a phone ringtone interrupted Jiang Xing's thoughts.
He answered. It was Jiang Yonghe's gentle voice on the other end.
"Big Brother, shouldn't you come back and get ready to go meet with 'Lili Yuanshang'?"
"Mm, I'm coming back now."
...
10:30 a.m.
Qin Yulian was somewhat surprised to see her sons Jiang Zhao and Jiang Xing, along with her adopted daughter Jiang Yonghe, all leaving the house together, dressed formally. "Xing'er, where are you all going? You look so dressed up."
Jiang Xing explained, "We're going together to meet someone important today. It concerns the future development of Starlight Entertainment. We owe today's meeting to Xiaohe's help."
Upon hearing this, Qin Yulian immediately stepped forward, took Jiang Yonghe's hand, and praised her, "Our Yonghe knows so many capable friends. Any one of them can help your big brother. You truly are my precious daughter."
Jiang Zhao, standing to the side, said smugly, "Birds of a feather flock together! Xiaohe is so outstanding, so naturally the friends she knows are all outstanding too!"
Qin Yulian covered her mouth, laughing at her second son. "Zhao'er, look at that proud expression of yours, as if I were praising you for being outstanding."
Jiang Zhao stated bluntly, "Anyway, praising Xiaohe is the same as praising me! So, Mom, Dad, don't even think about reconciling with that wild girl Jiang Youli just because she's a bit more skilled at piano than Xiaohe. It would hurt Xiaohe so much."
Mentioning this, Jiang Yonghe timely pursed her lips, her eyes glistening with tears. "Second Brother, I actually..."
Jiang Zhao knew what she wanted to say and cut in first. "Xiaohe, don't say you don't mind. How could you possibly not mind? You've been with us for twenty years."
Jiang Yonghe held back tears with a bitter smile. "Second Brother, of course I'd be hurt and mind. But I'm even more unwilling to make things difficult for you and Mom and Dad. After all, no matter what, Sister Youli is Mom and Dad's biological daughter, your and Big Brother's real sister."
Qin Yulian quickly said, "Yonghe, wanting to formally recognize that wild girl Jiang Youli again was indeed something your father and I overlooked your feelings about. But you must believe that in our hearts, you are undoubtedly our own daughter. The reason your father and I want to take Jiang Youli back is not from genuine affection, but simply to keep your uncle and aunt's family from gaining an advantage."
