Suddenly, Jiang Zhao felt a slight yet sharp stinging pain in his elbow.
It was like a thin needle gently piercing the skin, creating an unusual sensation.
Combined with what Jiang Yonghe had just said, he instantly understood:
Xiaohe was giving him an injection!
An injection meant to keep him unconscious!
At this thought, a storm of shock surged within Jiang Zhao's heart, overwhelming him with disbelief.
He could hardly believe what was happening. That once innocent and dependent little sister, Xiaohe, would now commit such a heartless act, even unwilling to see him awake!
An intense feeling of betrayal and being stabbed in the back washed over him, as if countless steel needles were piercing his heart simultaneously, causing him unbearable agony.
How could this be...
He wanted to get up and confront this sister he had doted on, but no matter how hard he struggled to rise and resist, his body felt as if under a paralysis spell, utterly immobile. He could only lie there helplessly, quietly listening to the sounds from the outside world.
After finishing her task, Jiang Yonghe slumped weakly against the chair, letting out a long sigh of relief.
This was good.
As long as Jiang Zhao didn't wake up, he wouldn't discover the dirty deeds she had done.
After a while, she dialed a number. Perhaps convinced that Jiang Zhao wouldn't wake, she put the phone on speaker and tossed it onto the bedside table.
"Remember to get rid of that person investigating me."
Jiang Zhao's mind churned again. Who was Xiaohe talking to?
Her tone was vastly different from her usual one at home, brimming with arrogance and malice.
A middle-aged man's obsequious voice came from the other end of the line: "Don't worry, my daughter. The person I hired this time will definitely not fail again. They absolutely won't let that investigator return safely to threaten you."
"I told you, don't call me your daughter!"
"Alright, alright, Miss Jiang," the voice on the other end quickly corrected itself, dripping with ingratiation. "So, about..."
"Look at your wretched state! Tomorrow I'll have someone transfer two hundred thousand to you."
"Okay, okay."
Jiang Yonghe hung up the phone and glanced again at Jiang Zhao on the hospital bed, unable to resist blaming him: "Jiang Zhao, why are you so useless? You couldn't even directly eliminate Jiang Youli, that lingering threat, for me!"
Even though he had already witnessed the true face of his adopted sister, hearing her, the one he had once cherished most, call him "useless" still shocked Jiang Zhao profoundly.
Yet, no matter how furious he was, he could do nothing.
He could only swear in his heart: if he ever woke up, the first person he would deal with would be this well-disguised adopted sister of his, Jiang Yonghe!
...
Before going to bed, Jiang Youli turned on the surveillance camera left in her room at home.
"Xiao Hei, Xiao Bai, Xiao Lü."
She called softly.
Soon, three small snakes poked their heads out from behind the corner of the wardrobe, entering the camera's field of view.
"I won't be back tonight. Go find yourselves a buffet outside."
Xiao Hei and Xiao Bai nodded their little heads.
Only Xiao Lü didn't. It looked at Xiao Hei and Xiao Bai, wagging its tail as if giving instructions.
Jiang Youli couldn't help but chuckle. It was obvious Xiao Lü wanted to be lazy and stay in the room, waiting for Xiao Hei and Xiao Bai to bring back takeout for it.
Xiao Hei and Xiao Bai rolled their eyes (figuratively) and slithered out the window.
Turning off the surveillance feed, Jiang Youli received a message from Duan Jinghan.
I've thought it over carefully. It's fine if you don't want to have children. I can still marry you. You don't need to bear children for me. I will find someone else to have children for me, but I will only give you the status of my wife. Those other women aren't worthy.
Jiang Youli: "..."
Jiang Youli actually felt an urge to reply to him.
[Duan Jinghan, did getting back into the wealthy family make you so happy that you've lost your mind?]
Not long after, Duan Jinghan's reply came.
[Are you concerned about my health? I'm so happy!]
Jiang Youli facepalmed.
[Why are you so fixated on me?]
Duan Jinghan replied:
[Because you saved me, and you didn't look down on me when I was at my poorest. With my current status as the young master of a wealthy family, I'll never meet another woman like you who doesn't care about wealth and status.]
The reason Jiang Youli didn't care about wealth or poverty was that she had never lacked money before!
As for saving people, even if there was a dying dog on the roadside, she would save it out of professional duty!
Jiang Youli finally sent him one last message:
[Duan Jinghan, back then, even if the one severely injured had been a dog, I would have saved it. It had nothing to do with you. You've already done more than enough to repay me for saving your life. You don't need to feel indebted to me anymore.]
After sending this message, she put down her phone and went to sleep, ignoring Duan Jinghan.
...
Jiang Youli had a good night's sleep.
When she woke up the next day, she saw the last message Duan Jinghan had sent.
[I won't give up! The eldest young master of the Qi Family you're arranged to marry is now a cripple and impotent! I won't let you marry him and live like a widow!]
Psycho!
Not long after, her beautiful new mother and handsome new father arrived with breakfast.
As he set down the breakfast, Jiang Yehan said, "Youli, the doctor said your injuries aren't serious. After two more days of observation, if everything is fine, you can be discharged."
Jiang Youli nodded, "Okay!"
Watching her eat breakfast with relish, Jiang Yehan said, "These next two days, you continue to rest well. Leave everything else to your mother and me."
Jiang Youli paused, her hand stopping, and asked, "Dad, by 'everything else,' do you mean the situation with Jiang Zhao? Mom already told me. The car I hit was Jiang Zhao's. His condition is much more serious than mine. Although he was saved yesterday, he's still unconscious."
"Mhm." Jiang Yehan nodded. "I also asked the doctor about Jiang Zhao's condition. There's still no sign of him waking up today."
Jiang Youli was thoughtful. "I see..."
Jiang Yehan gave her a heads-up in advance. "Your second uncle and second aunt know it was your car that hit Jiang Zhao's. They will definitely cause trouble for you. When the time comes, don't pay them any mind. Your mother and I will handle it."
Speak of the devil, and he shall appear.
The hospital room door was rudely pushed open. Qin Yulian, her eyes red, charged in first, hurling insults.
"Jiang Youli! You damned bitch! Why did you harm my son!"
Jiang Yehan immediately turned and blocked Qin Yulian.
"Move! I'm going to kill Jiang Youli! If it weren't for her, my Zhao'er wouldn't be so severely injured he almost died!" Qin Yulian raised her hands to push Jiang Yehan away, but having cried all night, she had no strength left.
Jiang Yehan stood firm, unmoving. "This car accident was purely an accident. Youli didn't do it on purpose. What business do you have settling scores with her!"
"Big brother, you don't have children of your own, so you can't possibly understand the pain of seeing your own child hurt. It's easy for you to stand there and talk without feeling any of the anguish!" Qin Yulian declared with conviction. "Jiang Youli absolutely did it on purpose! That vile, heartless wretch wanted to kill Jiang Zhao!"
