“Jingsong, how have you taught the younger generation?” “You have raised two creatures with no sense of respect or propriety.”

Jingsong, utterly embarrassed, offered a strained smile, “Big brother, these two brats are ignorant; I’ll take them back and discipline them properly.” His gaze turned to the cousins, his voice filled with annoyance, “Shameful things, get back home now!”

The two brothers gritted their teeth in silence, daring not to speak. Just as they were about to leave, Xue Bingxue stopped them, “Apologize before you go.”

Chenglang, defiant, said nothing; Xiaochong glanced at his cousin several times before also shutting his mouth.

Xue Bingxue stepped forward.

As their uncle, his reprimanding the younger ones was beyond reproach.

Jingsong stepped in front of Chenglang and pretentiously kicked him, “Apologize now!”

Mrs. Song tugged at his sleeve.

Through gritted teeth, he muttered, “Sorry, third uncle.”

Usually the least confrontational, Xue Bingxue stood his ground, “And Wei’er as well.”

Chenglang hung his head, “Sorry, Miss Jiang.”

After Xiaochong followed with his apology, they were dragged away by their mother, and the matter was considered settled.

Chen Huiling glanced at the time; the auspicious moment was approaching, “It’s almost time to start the banquet, everyone please take your seats.”

The onlooking guests dispersed toward the banquet hall.

“Wei’er, I’ll take you to change,” Xue Bingxue said in a tone so soft and gentle, it was as if he were a different person from his assertive manner earlier.

Such behavior!

Xue Maoshan couldn’t bear it, “Have your sister-in-law take her, come with me.”

Xue Bingxue didn’t move, still standing by Jiang Wei’er’s side.

It was only after Jiang Wei’er gave him a look that he reluctantly followed his father.

This damned kid, forgetting his father for his wife! Xue Maoshan felt somewhat displeased, “Did you call me here just to stand up for that Jiang girl?”

Xue Bingxue turned back, and only after making sure she couldn’t hear, he replied, “Of course not. Wei’er will be your daughter-in-law. If the second uncle’s family embarrasses her, aren’t they embarrassing you too?”

Maoshan didn’t have Xue Bingxue, his youngest, until he was nearly fifty. His first wife had passed away when Xue Bingxue was just learning to walk. Feeling a deep sense of guilt, Maoshan doted on this youngest son to an extreme. Authoritative and imposing outside, he was utterly compliant in front of his youngest, almost heartbreakingly so. His elder sons were old enough to be Xue Bingxue’s fathers, but they couldn’t feel envious; they had to join in doting on him.

This “silly, sweet” innocence of Xue Bingxue was the result of such pampering.

“What daughter-in-law? Chasing after her for so many years without even holding hands,” Maoshan expressed his frustration, “Look at Bao Yi, got his wife and child all sorted. Those boys were right; you’re a disappointment.”

Xue Bingxue murmured quietly, “I did hold her hand.”

“What?”

Embarrassed, as if he were a boy who had never seen a woman before, his face flushed, “I, I even kissed her.”

Maoshan knew his son all too well. That pure-hearted, innocent boy who hadn’t even seen those kinds of movies!

“You actually kissed her?”

“Uh-huh.” He licked his lips, his ears turning red.

Maoshan let out a fatherly sigh, “Well done, finally making a breakthrough.” He clapped his youngest son on the shoulder, “Keep at it.”

His youngest hadn’t yet started his own family. If in his lifetime he could hold a grandson born from his youngest, that would be complete satisfaction.

“I’m going to find Wei’er.”

“Go on then.” The old father looked affectionately at his son’s retreating figure. “Don’t just focus on your romance; put some thought into the merger case in Ye City, too.”

Xue Bingxue looked back, “I’ve already secured it.”

His father felt a great sense of pride, “Truly my son, Xue Maoshan.”

Silly and sweet?

Nonsense, the son he had raised couldn’t possibly be that silly and sweet; he simply hadn’t experienced love, innocent was all.

The engagement ceremony was simple, unlike those of other noble families where engagements often served as occasions for financial declarations. The Xue Family was different; Bao Yi’s engagement banquet was just that, an engagement. The couple exchanged rings and served tea, and once the Xue family had acknowledged the bride, the matter was concluded.

Jiang Zhi feigned illness out of utter boredom and called Zhou Xufang just before the banquet.

“Xu Fang.”

“Hmm?”

“Where are you?” Not wanting to deal with the Jiang family, Jiang Zhi had let her have some time to herself.

Zhou Xufang walked outside a clubhouse lounge, “Lixiang isn’t feeling well because of her pregnancy, so I’m keeping her company.”

With the banquet hall’s hustle and bustle, it wasn’t appropriate for Jiang Zhi to cling to his girlfriend, let alone display affection, “Then go have something to eat, don’t starve yourself.”

“Sure.”

Jiang Zhi wanted to talk more.

Xufang was in a hurry to hang up, “I’ll call you later.”

“What happened?”

She said, “I’ll call you back later.”

After Zhou Xufang hung up, she tiptoed after the man ahead.

It was the Jiang family’s butler, Jiang Chuan, looking around carefully as he walked.

Xu Fang kept her distance, listening attentively.

“Second Madam.”

At the stairway, a woman’s voice was hushed, “Did you see him drink last month’s medicine with your own eyes?”

It was the wife of the Jiang family’s second branch, Luo Changfang.

Jiang Chuan answered, “I did.”

Luo Changfang sounded indignant, “Then why is he getting better and better?”

Jiang Chuan paused, “Maybe it’s because the weather is warming up.”

From her vantage point, Zhou Xufang could only see a sliver of the door, through which a hand appeared, holding a white medicine bottle. She remembered a conversation at the Luo family’s house years ago, with Luo Changfang instructing Jiang Chuan, “One less weight of Du Zhong, one more of Poria.”

Jiang Chuan took the bottle, “Same dosage as before?”

Their voices were barely audible during the exchange.

“Put it all in this time,” Changfang instructed.

Jiang Chuan shook the bottle, noting more than one pill inside, “What if Old Madam finds out—”

“He won’t live past twenty-five,” Luo Changfang declared with conviction, “that’s what the doctor said. It’s time for that to come true.”

The conversation came to an end, and footsteps followed, with Luo Changfang leaving first.

Jiang Chuan looked down the hallway and, seeing no one, came out. He hunched over as he descended the stairs, winding his way to a door, where he knocked three times.

“Come in.”

Zhou Xufang approached.

It was an old voice, “Did she give you the medicine?”

“Yes, she did, and instructed me to increase the dosage.”

“Do as she says.”

Jiang Chuan replied, “Yes, Old Madam.”

That old voice belonged to Jiang Zhi’s grandmother…

“Xu Fang.”

“Xu Fang.”

Jiang Zhi called out twice, but Zhou Xufang did not respond, aimlessly wandering the corridor.

Jiang Zhi came out looking for her: “Zhou Xufang.”

She looked up, “Hmm?”

Jiang Zhi walked over and glanced at her dress, which revealed her collarbone. He took off his suit jacket and draped it over her, “What’s wrong? You seem out of sorts.”

“Let’s go to a room.” She took his hand and headed towards an empty room in the clubhouse.

Jiang Zhi sensed something was off with her, “What’s really going on?”

Zhou Xufang closed the door behind them and suddenly hugged him, saying nothing for a long time.

Jiang Zhi held her face and made her look up, “Unhappy?” His finger pressed against her furrowed brow, gently massaging, “Tell me, who has upset you?”

She shook her head, “No one has upset me.” She nestled her face against his chest, rubbing against him dependently, “You told me once, your ill health was because someone wished you harm. Do you know who it is?”

“You told me about it when you were still known as Luo San.”

She said, do not drink the medicine Jiang Chuan serves. She called Luo Changfang a bad person, saying that a little less Du Zhong and a little more Poria could make a difference

It was from that moment that Jiang Zhi became wary. Later, after getting to know Xue Bingxue, he found Ji Feifan, who saved the half-life that the Jiang Family had nearly ruined.

“My medicine has always been handled by Gui from the Old Lady’s side and Jiang Chuan, who is with the second house,” Jiang Zhi did not conceal it from her, “but Gui is my person.”

Thus, one kept poisoning while the other secretly switched the pills. That was the balance. Being young at the time and without the protection of the Old Lady, he lacked the means to resist, so he simply feigned illness—for eight years.

“Why suddenly bring this up?”

Jiang Zhi picked her up and set her on a cabinet. As she sat there, her slender arms emerged from his suit jacket, wrapping around his neck.

“Do all members of the Jiang Family like to kill with a borrowed knife?” she asked.

How could Jiang Zhi not detect the peculiarity in her voice, “Xu Fang, what are you trying to tell me?”

She bit her lip until it turned red, hesitating for a while before saying, “Jiang Chuan isn’t really with the second house; he just pretends to be. I overheard his conversation with your grandmother.” She hugged him tighter, “It’s your grandmother. She’s the one who wishes you ill.”

More than not protecting him, she was actually harming him.

All the affection was a facade, even for her own grandson whom she raised day by day at her knee. For what purpose, the Old Lady had acted, was unknown.

But regardless of the motive, it shouldn’t be.

Jiang Zhi paused for a brief moment, then laughed, “And here I thought at most she was just a bystander.” He had not expected her to be the mastermind.

He thought that among close relatives, even if there was exploitation or hidden selfish motives, they would not harm their own children. He was wrong; the Old Lady of his family was truly ruthless.

“Jiang Zhi.”

“Hmm.”

“Don’t be sad.” Her expression seemed extremely sorrowful, her brows furrowed, eyes also reddened, “If you’re sad, I’ll be very sad too.”

He, like her, was not born into a world that celebrated his arrival.

“I’m not sad, just find it funny. I thought I was already hypocritical enough, yet there are those even more fake than me.”

He was lying.

The sense of loss in his eyes was unmistakable; it was just that he didn’t want to upset her, so he acted as if nothing was wrong—even though he was raised personally by Old Lady Jiang. Even if she was playing a role, she had shown him affection for over twenty years. Even the coldest person has feelings.

Zhou Xufang clumsily patted his back with her hands, “You only deceive the bad people; you’re not hypocritical at all.” She spoke with determined eyes, “You’re the best person I’ve ever known.”

Jiang Zhi smiled, “You haven’t known many people.”

“I don’t care, you’re the best.” She kissed him fondly on the face, shyly yet boldly stating, “I love you.”

Usually, she needed coaxing to say those words.

Now, she kept speaking words that touched his heart, trying to make him happy because he no longer had family affection; she wanted to give him more.

“I love hearing that,” Jiang Zhi looked up at her, “Say it again.”

She held him and whispered in his ear over and over, telling him he was not unloved, declaring her deep love for him.

Fortunately, he still had her.

After a while of intimacy, they returned to the banquet hall. As soon as they entered, Luo Changfang hurried over, “Brother Zhi, where have you been? Your grandmother is looking for you.”

Jiang Zhi spoke weakly, “Not feeling too well, I took a rest.”

The words had just dropped—

“Where do you feel uncomfortable? Should we go to the hospital?” It was Old Lady Jiang coming to find him, her tone anxious and filled with worry.

Zhou Xufang glanced up briefly, then looked down again, seemingly inattentive, simply holding Jiang Zhi’s hand a little tighter.

Jiang Chuan lacked any energy, looking faint, “No need for the hospital.”

Old Madam patted his hand, asking if he felt better and adding, “Why are your hands so cold?”

Because he had just been holding Zhou Xufang’s hand.

“That’s not acceptable, you should still go to the hospital.” The old lady said gently and softly, “Wait here for your grandmother; I’ll go and speak with Old Sir Xue.”

Jiang Zhi stopped her, “Grandmother.”

“What is it?”

The old lady’s eyes drooped at the corners, wrinkles covered her entire face, and due to her age, her eyes were no longer clear.

He had seen that worried gaze far too many times.

“Don’t bother yourself; I’m tough, I won’t die.”

“What nonsense are you saying?” She looked pained, sighing as she consoled him, “If you don’t want to go to the hospital then we won’t, but don’t say things about dying, it’s so inauspicious.”

Everyone said that Old Lady Jiang doted on her youngest grandson, treasuring him beyond measure, with all her heart and soul.

He had actually believed it…