“If you want to save her, you should look for a doctor, not me. I’m of no use to you,” Jiang Li replied nonchalantly.
“But only your kidney can save Ruoruo. As long as you promise to save her, I will agree to whatever you ask in return,” Jiang Zhou was practically begging on the floor.
Jiang Li shook her head with a smile, “But I don’t think there is anything valuable about you, and you as a person are worthless to me. I have no interest in anything you have to offer.”
“…” Jiang Zhou was stunned. How could Jiang Li be so bold in front of Grandpa? Wasn’t she afraid of giving him a negative impression?
But Jiang Zhou had no time to worry about that. He looked at Jiang Li and said earnestly, “Xiao Li, I know our request is excessive, but Ruoruo’s condition is severe. She could be in danger at any moment without a suitable kidney. If you donate one to her, both of you can live well. You’re kind, surely you will agree, right?”
Jiang Li suddenly laughed, “Are you saying that if I refuse to donate a kidney to Ruoruo, then I’m not kind? Is that what you mean?”
“…” Jiang Zhou was at a loss for words and could only look at Feng Yun with a pleading gaze, hoping his mother could persuade Jiang Li, and also hoping that Jiang Li would consider the mother-daughter relationship.
Under her son’s pleading gaze, Feng Yun finally turned her eyes to Jiang Li, her face red with shame, “Xiao Li, Mom knows she has wronged you, but Mom is out of options, that’s why…”
“That’s why you’ve come to ask for my kidney?” Jiang Li finished her sentence for her.
Hearing her daughter articulate those words, Feng Yun was even more ashamed and found herself unable to utter another word.
Old Master Feng had been silently observing his beloved granddaughter. He had been eager to chase the Jiang family out precisely because he didn’t want her to encounter these people. His main worry was that Xiao Jiang Li would be hurt by their shameless request. As a child, how could she not be disheartened when faced with such pressure from her biological parents!
However, he soon realized that his granddaughter was much stronger than he had imagined. She remained unfazed and calm throughout, not swayed in the slightest by her so-called biological parents and brother. Realizing this, he finally breathed a sigh of relief. Feng Yun might be stupid and unfilial, but it was he who had raised her like that; he would feel incredibly guilty if Xiao Jiang Li was hurt because of her.
Seeing Feng Yun silent, Jiang Li continued to ask, “Did you come here today as Jiang Zhou’s mother, or as my mother?” In front of her grandfather, Jiang Li posed the question very politely, hoping that Ms. Feng would take the hint and not further anger her grandfather.
Hearing Jiang Li’s words, Feng Yun was overwhelmed with shame. Drowning in her guilt, she couldn’t bring herself to voice her request.
Seeing this, Old Master Feng was about to throw these unwanted visitors when Feng Qi hurried into the room.
Jiang Huai’s face changed dramatically the moment Feng Qi arrived. He had carefully checked Feng Qi’s whereabouts beforehand, knowing he was supposed to be at the research institute these days, which is why he had picked this time to come to the Feng family mansion. Yet, Feng Qi had returned early?
Jiang Huai knew that today’s matters were probably not going to end well. However, upon entering, Feng Qi didn’t even glance at Jiang Huai; he stepped forward to shield Jiang Li, staring emotionlessly at Feng Yun, “Every choice you make is utterly repulsive.”
Looking at her only younger brother, Feng Yun’s lips trembled—still, no words came out.
“Jiang Zhou faked a suicide attempt once, and you quickly rushed to convince Xiao Lizi to donate her kidney. Have you ever wondered how he obtained the kidney compatibility report in the first place?”
“…” Feng Yun was stunned—she truly hadn’t considered this before. She turned her gaze to Jiang Zhou, only to find her son avoiding her eyes, clearly evading the question.
“I will tell you: your dear son bribed one of our private doctors by setting up a scheme where the doctor’s son racked up a huge gambling debt. He then offered to clear the debt in exchange for a sample of Xiao Lizi’s blood,” Feng Qi said coldly.
Feng Yun’s eyes widened; she could hardly believe her son could do something so vile.
Feng Qi glanced at Jiang Huai, who stood still as a statue, daring not to make his presence known. After a scoff, Feng Qi turned back to Feng Yun, “Xiao Lizi and Jiang Ruo both have rare blood types—this could be seen as a coincidence, and yet their kidneys are also compatible even though they are supposed to have no blood relation. Didn’t your useless brain ever wonder why?”
Feng Yun looked confused, but Jiang Huai’s face suddenly went pale, and Jiang Zhou stared at Feng Qi in disbelief.
Jiang Li and Old Master Feng exchanged glances. They could understand what Feng Qi was implying, but it was so absurd they could hardly believe their ears!
Jiang Huai knew he couldn’t let Feng Qi continue. Perhaps Feng Qi was just babbling without evidence, but if Feng Yun took it to heart, the consequences would be fatal to her. He stepped forward, taking Feng Yun’s arm and whispering, “Yunyun, Jiang Li will never agree to donate a kidney to Ruoruo, let’s go back home.”
However, Jiang Zhou looked at Feng Qi, struggling to speak, “Wh-what do you mean just now?”
“It’s exactly as I said,” Feng Qi responded succinctly.
“…” Jiang Zhou was completely stupefied.
No, he must be overthinking it. Uncle’s absurd statement was just to dissuade Jiang Li from donating a kidney for Ruoruo, so he was retaliating by sowing discord within their family.
Yes, it has to be that.
It has to be that!
Feng Yun initially didn’t grasp what Feng Qi was trying to say, but the reactions of her husband and son were too odd, prompting her to think more deeply. She looked at Jiang Huai and asked, “What did A’Qi mean?”
Jiang Huai promptly shook his head, “I don’t know what he’s talking about. Let’s just go home, Ruoruo is waiting for us.”
Feng Yun gently shook her head, “Although A’Qi can be a bit reckless and arrogant, he never speaks without basis. He’s my brother, I know him.”
Jiang Huai quickly put on a sorrowful expression, “Yunyun, we’ve been together for over twenty years. Is there anything about me you don’t know? Can we go home now?”
After a long silence, Feng Yun finally nodded, “Yes, let’s go home.” Regardless of the truth, it was something that should be discussed back at home.
When the Jiang family arrived, the guards refused to let them through, but as they were leaving, there was no obstacle.
Once in the car, Feng Yun’s mind raced rapidly. Neither she nor Jiang Huai had rare panda blood, but their daughter, Xiao Li, did because Jiang Huai carried a recessive gene for it. The fact that Ruoruo also had panda blood appeared to be just a coincidence, so she had never given it much thought, but Feng Qi’s words just now aroused her suspicion.
Now that she thought about it, Ruoruo’s ears looked a lot like Jiang Huai’s, her nose was similar, and they both had the same type of flat fingernails, which she had once found cute. She even teased Jiang Huai back then, playfully complaining about his strong genes. But even after learning that Ruoruo was not biologically theirs, she had not a single doubt—all because she was too trusting of Jiang Huai.
Most importantly, even after they found their lost daughter and brought her back, Jiang Huai refused to acknowledge Xiao Li’s identity and made various excuses to convince her, and she was easily persuaded by him.
And then, there was also the incident when Jiang Huai learned about A’Zhou’s romantic feelings towards Ruoruo—his reaction back then was unusually extreme. At the time, she thought he viewed Ruoruo as a tool for an arranged marriage, thus opposing her relationship with A’Zhou. It never occurred to her that he was freaked out because the two children were actually half-siblings!
Looking back, all these little things seemed to be evidence.
If what A’Qi said was true, then she had been completely manipulated by Jiang Huai for over twenty years.
Knowing about Jiang Huai’s affairs with other women had upset her greatly. She ought to be devastated, and yet, she remained surprisingly calm.
Turning to Jiang Huai, who was pretending to be composed, Feng Yun asked, “Don’t you have anything to say?”
Jiang Huai, frustrated and embarrassed, retorted, “Say what? Just because your brother throws out a couple of provocative comments, you start having doubts?”
If it had been before, Feng Yun might have thought she was misunderstanding him. But recalling the scene she had witnessed in the office, she suddenly let out a chuckle and slowly said, “A’Qi might lie, but a paternity test won’t.”
She didn’t know if A’Qi was deliberately causing trouble, and even if he presented a paternity test between Jiang Huai and Jiang Ruo, she wouldn’t necessarily believe it. She planned to take Jiang Huai and Jiang Ruo to the hospital for a paternity test herself, letting that report reveal the truth.
< Previous | TOC | Advanced TOC | Next >
Wants more chapters?
Click this page for the status of sponsored chapters.
Click this page for advanced chapters TOC.