When Assistant Bai discovered that his son had climbed out the window and escaped, he was left breathless with anger. His wife, seeing the makeshift rope made from a bedsheet hanging out of the window, couldn’t help but complain, “Our son’s already eighteen, but you still treat him like a child, locking him up at home. It’s surprising that he stayed in for so long—isn’t it inevitable he ends up running away?”
Assistant Bai gritted his teeth. “Have you forgotten why we had to move back to the county in the first place? If he ran away from home, he’s definitely going to find Jiang Ruo. That girl seems well-behaved and sensible, but she’s not as innocent as she looks. All she has to do is act a little coy, say a few sweet words, and our stupid son will be wrapped around her finger. Jiang Ruo has chronic kidney failure now, and the only cure is a transplant. Can you be sure that the fool will not be manipulated into committing a crime?”
His wife was at a loss. “What should we do now? He’s not answering his phone or replying to the texts. What if something really has happened?”
Assistant Bai sighed, “I’ll have to go to Minjiang myself. Jiang Ruo is definitely staying at the Jiang family’s home. If I can find her, I’ll find our son.”
His wife nodded, “You’re right. Wait a minute, let me search for Jiang Ruo’s latest updates on Weibo—even though she isn’t as famous as she used to be, she’s still a public figure.”
But when she opened Weibo, she froze. Both Jiang Huai and Jiang Ruo’s names were trending, and the headlines were particularly explosive. She randomly clicked on one post and was stunned after reading it. “You’ve been working as Jiang Huai’s assistant for years. Did you know that Jiang Ruo is his biological daughter?” She turned to her husband and asked.
Assistant Bai, who was packing his luggage, froze when he heard this. “What?”
His wife handed him the phone, and after reading the post, Assistant Bai also looked incredulous. “When I started working for Jiang Huai, Jiang Ruo was already in elementary school. According to the Weibo post by Madam Jia—… by Ms. Feng, Jiang Ruo’s biological mother had already passed away by then. Jiang Huai would never have let me know about this secret.” He explained.
His wife sighed, “This is so tragic! I always believed the two children were switched at birth and felt that Jiang Ruo was innocent. But to think she’s actually the daughter of a mistress, and that the mistress did something as vile as swapping the children—it’s terrifying how Jiang Huai and the mistress were in cahoots!”
Assistant Bai nodded, “That’s why I have to get to Minjiang as soon as possible and bring our stupid son back. If he keeps getting involved with Jiang Ruo, it won’t end well for him.”
His wife immediately agreed, “Yes, yes, go quickly. Just talk to him, and he’ll definitely come back with you.”
Assistant Bai sighed. He certainly hoped that would be the case.
…
Because she had to attend Qin Zheng’s graduation banquet, Jiang Li got up slightly earlier than usual. After breakfast, she prepared to leave with her eldest uncle and aunt, but to her surprise, Feng Bai also decided to join them for the event. “Third Brother, I remember you said you weren’t going,” Jiang Li said, looking surprised.
Feng Bai nodded. “Yes, I didn’t plan on going, but plans change, and now I suddenly want to go.”
Jiang Li didn’t quite understand his change of heart but nodded anyway. “I’m glad to have one more person I can chat with.”
As Feng Bai sat with Jiang Li in the back seat, he started commenting, “Our family didn’t really have much to do with the Qin family before. Now that we suddenly have this cooperation, it’s a bit hard to get used to.”
Their uncle Feng Yuan explained, “It’s true that we didn’t have much contact before, but recently A’Qi suddenly decided to collaborate with their family. But because he doesn’t like socializing, it falls on me and your eldest aunt to attend.”
Feng Bai was surprised. “Why did Third Uncle suddenly decide to work with the Qin family? They were pretty much in cahoots with those scoundrels from the Jiang family before. I don’t feel it right.”
“Uncle must have his reasons. Let’s not dwell on it.” Jiang Li cleared her throat, trying to end the conversation. She figured out almost instantly that Feng Qi’s sudden decision to cooperate with the Qin family was likely a means of showing gratitude for Qin Zheng’s previous tip-off. However, she had promised not to tell anyone about how Jiang Zhou had plotted to use her kidney, so no one in the family knew about it. Hearing Feng Bai’s question made her feel a bit guilty.
Although Feng Bai was a bit naive, he could still read the room a little. He leaned closer to Jiang Li with a suspicious look. “Why do I feel like you know something?”
Jiang Li immediately shook her head. “Of course not. Don’t ask me; I don’t know anything. “
Feng Bai put his hand on her shoulder. “Come on, Xiao Jiang Li, just tell your Third Brother. I’m not an outsider. If you don’t want Uncle and Aunt to hear, just tell me quietly, or chat me.”
Jiang Li took out her phone, and Feng Bai’s face instantly lit up.
But in the next second, he heard Jiang Li say, “How about I call Third Uncle and ask him? You can ask him directly why he’s cooperating with the Qin family. He’ll definitely tell you.”
Feng Bai’s eyes widened. “Xiao Jiang Li, I’m your Third Brother, not your enemy. Do you think I’m already tired of living?”
Jiang Li gave an innocent look. “But I really know nothing. You’re super curious, Third Brother, so I thought I’d just call Third Uncle and ask. Or I can ask for you if you don’t want to do it yourself.”
As she spoke, she started scrolling through her call history, and Feng Bai quickly pressed her hand down. “If you stop causing trouble, I can still be your dear brother.”
Jiang Li immediately put away her phone. “Alright then, I’ll listen to Third Brother. You are, after all, my dear brother.”
“…” Feng Bai was speechless. What ‘I’ll listen to Third Brother’? After all was said and done, he still hadn’t gotten a single useful piece of information!
“Xiao Jiang Li, besides using Third Uncle to pressure me, what else are you good with?” He glared at her with a sense of grievance.
Jiang Li promptly pulled out some snacks from the handbag her second aunt had given her. “I’m good at sharing snacks with my big brothers.”
Feng Bai looked surprised. “Don’t girls typically use their bags for carrying makeup, so they can touch up whenever necessary? Why are you putting snacks in yours?”
“Oh~” Jiang Li drew out the word, “Have you rummaged through another girl’s bag? You seem to know very well. Be honest, am I about to have a sister-in-law?”
Feng Bai chuckled smugly. “If you tell me why Third Uncle is cooperating with the Qin family, I’ll answer that question.”
Jiang Li: “…”
How did it circle back to this again?
Choosing to change the subject, Jiang Li offered the snacks, “Here, Third Brother, have some snacks. These are really good. You can have more if you like.”
Feng Yuan noticed the interaction between his nephew and niece through the rearview mirror, and couldn’t help but smile slightly. People often said that Xiao Jiang Li was like A’Qi. He hadn’t seen it before, but now it was clear there were indeed many similarities. For example, when A’Qi didn’t want to talk about something, no one could get a word out of him, just like Xiao Jiang Li now.
The car continued smoothly along the road, and they soon arrived at a hotel owned by the Qin family. Once they stepped out of the car, Feng Bai swiftly carried Jiang Li’s bag for her, but merely a few steps later, he grumbled. “Are you sure you don’t have any makeup in this bag? That doesn’t make sense!”
Jiang Li gave him a helpless look and replied, “I have lipstick here. If you want, I can lend it to you.”
Feng Bai shrugged, “What would I want with that? Ridiculous.”
At the entrance of the hotel, Jiang Li immediately noticed Tong Yi in a suit, standing outside. It was unclear how long he had been waiting there. Tong Yi saw them as well and quickly approached. After greeting Feng Yuan and his wife, he winked at Feng Bai and then turned to Jiang Li, complimenting her, “You look especially beautiful today.”
Jiang Li deliberately teased him, “Are you saying I’m not usually beautiful?”
Tong Yi quickly shook his head, “You were always beautiful, but today you’re exceptionally so. Jiang Xiao Li, you’re surely the brightest star here.”
Feng Bai pretended to gag, “Big Nephew, your compliments are getting more and more cringey.”
Tong Yi placed his hand on Feng Bai’s shoulder, “Of course! The longer I hang out with you, the more cringey I’ll become. You can count on that.”
The trio joked and chatted as they entered the hotel and soon spotted Qin Zheng, dressed sharply in a suit. The moment he saw Jiang Li, his eyes lit up, and he smiled as he came over to greet her.
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