In the hospital ward of the inpatient department.
Jiang Xing stood by the window, looking down at the rear garden where his adopted sister Jiang Yonghe was on the phone with someone, lost in thought.
Earlier, when Xiao He was accusing Jiang Youli, she completely omitted the fact that it was Jiang Zhao who had taken the initiative to go after Jiang Youli.
Was she doing this out of genuine protectiveness towards Jiang Zhao, or was she simply trying to redirect all the hatred onto Jiang Youli?
For some reason, Jiang Xing suddenly felt a sense of strangeness towards this adopted sister he had always believed to be pure and kind.
Abruptly, he recalled Jiang Youli's words—that before she was brought back to the Jiang family, someone had hired people to harm her.
And that person was most likely Xiao He herself.
That's why he had asked Jiang Zhao, who was already investigating Jiang Youli's past, to look into this matter as well. He wondered if Jiang Zhao's people had uncovered anything.
Seeing his eldest son standing by the window gazing downstairs, deep in thought, Jiang Yangxu walked over and asked, "You were there today. Is what Xiao He said true?"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Xing thought for a moment and said, "The part about meeting with an important client of Starlight Entertainment is true. Jiang Youli showing up and having a conflict with us is also true. It's just..."
Jiang Yangxu's face darkened. "Just what?"
After a moment's hesitation, Jiang Xing told the truth. "It's just... Jiang Zhao didn't come back with us. He made it very clear that he was going to settle the score with Jiang Youli, so..."
So, it was Jiang Zhao who provoked Jiang Youli first.
Before Jiang Xing could finish, Jiang Yangxu raised his hand to stop him.
Jiang Yangxu sternly reminded his son, "Enough. Confirming the first part is sufficient; the rest is irrelevant! Whether in front of your grandfather or anyone else, you must not mention the latter part!"
Jiang Xing's lips moved as if he wanted to say something but stopped himself.
He understood his father's meaning. If it was mentioned that Jiang Zhao initiated the provocation, then their side wouldn't have the complete moral high ground in this matter.
Finally, he nodded. "I understand."
...
8:00 PM.
Zhang Susu walked into the hospital room carrying the lunchbox brought by Nanny Wang. After sitting down, she said, "Your father just went to ask the doctor. Jiang Zhao survived the rescue, but he's still unconscious. Whether he wakes up or not is entirely up to his own fate now."
Jiang Youli nodded. "I hope he wakes up." Then she asked, "Which room is Jiang Zhao in?"
Zhang Susu opened the lunchbox, arranged the dishes, and handed her the bowl and chopsticks. "He's in VIP Special Care Room 712, right above you. Here, eat first. Don't think about anything else for now. And don't think about visiting Jiang Zhao out of guilt either. Your second uncle and aunt know you were the one who hit their son. They probably want to kill you right now."
Jiang Youli took the bowl and chopsticks and nodded. "Yes, I won't go looking for trouble by visiting Jiang Zhao."
She felt no guilt whatsoever. This time, it was Jiang Zhao who wanted to take her life.
However, she still had her next step planned, so she needed to see Jiang Zhao.
A plan to make Jiang Zhao realize just how foolish he had been.
And this plan required Jiang Zhao to be alive. Of course, she never really believed that one collision from her could actually kill him.
Especially with Cheng Jing being at the scene of the first accident, able to handle the aftermath immediately.
But given the current situation, Jiang Zhao's room would likely be guarded constantly. It probably wouldn't be convenient for her to go directly to carry out the next part of her plan. She needed to find a way to lure everyone away from Jiang Zhao's room.
"Mom, do you also think I'm a jinx, that bringing me back has caused nothing but trouble for the Jiang family?" Halfway through her meal, Jiang Youli suddenly asked.
Zhang Susu, who was keeping her company, was taken aback. She immediately put down the apple and fruit knife she was holding.
"Youli, your father and I would absolutely never think that! How could you be a jinx? You're my daughter, my precious pearl! If it weren't for the evil deeds of Jiang Yonghe's mother back then, you would have been the young lady of the Jiang family, growing up carefree under the protection and love of your parents and brothers..."
At this point, Zhang Susu's voice choked up.
She suddenly realized she had been wrong. She thought Youli had strong mental resilience, but in reality, this child was only twenty years old. After such events, she must feel somewhat sensitive and insecure inside.
"Besides, where is all this 'turmoil' in the Jiang family? Your father and I are perfectly fine. At our age, gaining a precious daughter like you is nothing short of perfect fulfillment! It's only your second uncle's family that's in turmoil, and none of that is your fault. It's the consequence of their own actions!"
Jiang Youli grinned, then quickly finished the remaining food in big mouthfuls.
"Don't rush, eat slowly." Seeing this, Zhang Susu gently reminded her, worried she might choke.
"It's delicious, I couldn't help it," Jiang Youli said with a full mouth, chewing contentedly.
Watching her puffed-out cheeks, Zhang Susu couldn't help but smile, her eyes full of affection. "Alright then~ Having a good appetite and being able to eat is a good thing."
Seeing Jiang Youli's satisfied look, Zhang Susu's eyes grew moist again.
Not wanting Youli to see, she quickly picked up the half-peeled apple and the fruit knife, lowering her head to resume peeling.
Youli was her child now. If her second brother's family was heartless enough not to want or care for her, she and Ahan would be the ones to love and cherish her!
Moreover, it had always been her second brother's family, for the sake of that adopted daughter Jiang Yonghe, who kept causing trouble for Youli. Why should she feel any guilt at all!
...
After finishing her meal, taking advantage of her beautiful new mother's temporary absence, Jiang Youli picked up her phone and dialed Jiang Xing's number.
It took a long time for the call to be answered, and immediately came Jiang Xing's voice, gritted with anger.
"Jiang Youli, you've harmed Jiang Zhao to this extent, and you still dare to call me!"
"Why wouldn't I dare? And I'm ordering you to immediately clear everyone out of Jiang Zhao's room for me."
"What do you want to do!"
"Nothing much. Just want to see how miserable Jiang Zhao looks."
"You..."
"Don't waste your breath with me. Otherwise, don't even think about getting next week's antidote. You'll end up half-dead just like Jiang Zhao then." After delivering the threat, Jiang Youli hung up directly, giving him no chance to argue.
Jiang Xing, with the call cut off, angrily clenched his phone. He took a deep breath, trying hard to control his emotions, then returned to the hospital room and said to his mother Qin Yulian, who was keeping watch by the bedside, "Mom, I'll watch over Jiang Zhao. You go get some dinner and rest for a while. It's going to be a long night."
Qin Yulian thought for a moment and stood up. "Alright, you watch your brother carefully here. Talk to him more."
Jiang Xing nodded. "Don't worry, Mom."
Not long after Qin Yulian left, Jiang Youli climbed in through the window of the room.
Jiang Xing stared in disbelief. What was her situation? She actually climbed up directly from downstairs!
Jiang Youli brushed the dust off her hands, walked straight over to Jiang Zhao without even glancing at Jiang Xing, took out a silver needle, and inserted it into a specific acupuncture point on his head.
Seeing this, Jiang Xing finally snapped out of his shock and demanded in a hushed, urgent voice, "Jiang Youli, what did you just do to Jiang Zhao!"
