Chapter 188

Chapter 188: Don't Come Back to Harm Her Again "Poisoned?" Lin Yueying was shocked, unable to believe her ears. The doctor spouted a long string of technical jargon that Lin Yueying could barely follow. The doctor then explained it again in plain language, and Lin Yueying understood. Jiang Yi had been poisoned with a chronic toxin. This poison dissolved in water, was colorless and odorless. Occasional small doses wouldn't produce obvious symptoms, but with long-term ingestion, the toxin would invade the internal organs and prove fatal. Ruan Chutang was still in emergency treatment on one end, and now Jiang Yi had been rushed into the resuscitation room as well. The hospital issued a critical condition notice. After Lin Yueying signed it, she was completely dazed. Certain details were becoming increasingly clear in her mind. Jiang Yi's hair had been falling out quite severely lately—she had actually noticed. But she hadn't thought much of it, assuming it was just his age. Most men at that stage of life suffered from significant hair loss; some even went completely bald on top. There was also his declining appetite, and the dark circles under his eyes growing more pronounced by the day. He looked listless and haggard. Lin Yueying saw all of it but didn't care. After all, she and Jiang Yi had grown apart over twenty years ago when he had his affair. Their relationship had never improved over the years—they only maintained a surface-level peace. Jiang Yi himself had also sensed that his body was growing increasingly unwell lately. The group's affairs had been keeping him busy. Although Elder Jiang had already transferred authority to Jiang Shixu, Jiang Yi still retained his position as Chairman of Jiangshi Group. After all, it was the family business. As Chairman of Jiangshi Group, Jiang Yi couldn't possibly stop concerning himself with the group's matters. His thinking matched Lin Yueying's—he attributed the hair loss to age, and the loss of appetite, insomnia, and intermittent pains in various parts of his body to overwork and lack of rest. Jiang Yi had originally planned to go to the hospital for a full physical examination after finishing up these busy days, but he hadn't expected to collapse before he could even get there. Jiang Yi's poisoning was a matter of grave importance. Lin Yueying called to inform Elder Jiang and Elder Mrs. Jiang. After Jiang Yi was found to be poisoned, Lin Yueying quickly underwent a physical examination herself. Some examination results came back quickly, but the blood test required fasting blood draws, which couldn't be done right then—she would need to fast overnight and have it done tomorrow morning. Old Mrs. Jiang also came to the hospital to schedule a check-up. Elder Jiang was far away in the capital and couldn't rush back immediately, so Lin Yueying could only communicate with him over the phone. "Poisoned? How could this happen?" Elder Jiang's tone was heavy. Lin Yueying frowned, gripping the phone with a low voice: "I don't know either. He basically eats all his meals at home, and Mother and I have had the same food without any problems. Only A Yi was poisoned. I suspect it might be related to Fu Yuanzhou. Xu Jingxuan was previously working for Fu Yuanzhou, and with A Yi poisoned, Xu Jingxuan is the prime suspect." On the other end of the line, Elder Jiang was silent for a moment. A beat later. "Call the police." The old man's voice carried authority. "Alright." The old man said in a deep voice: "I'll apply to return to Jiangcheng. I want to see Fu Yuanzhou and Xu Jingxuan in person." Elder Mrs. Jiang was right beside Lin Yueying. When she heard Lin Yueying say that Xu Jingxuan was the prime suspect, Elder Mrs. Jiang immediately became displeased. After Lin Yueying hung up, Elder Mrs. Jiang glared at her, a hint of anger in her voice as she scolded: "Don't talk nonsense! Xuanxuan was just momentarily confused and led astray by Fu Yuanzhou. She's not bad at heart. There's no way she would poison A Yi. After all, A Yi is her adoptive father—how could she poison her own father?" Lin Yueying was at a loss for words, and said with considerable impatience: "Mother, you're simply too indulgent with Xu Jingxuan. She's committed crimes and you still say she's not bad at heart? She's capable of participating in murder to silence someone—what makes you think she wouldn't poison an adoptive father she shares no blood with?" "No! Impossible!" Elder Mrs. Jiang shook her head repeatedly, deeply resistant. "Xuanxuan would never poison A Yi. She wouldn't!" Deep down, Elder Mrs. Jiang actually harbored some suspicion, but she couldn't accept it. She shook her head and muttered to herself, unsure whether she was trying to convince Lin Yueying or herself. How could she possibly accept that the granddaughter she raised with her own hands had poisoned her own biological son? Lin Yueying shook her head helplessly, swept an icy gaze over Elder Mrs. Jiang, and without another word, turned and walked away. Lin Yueying then called the prison to arrange a visitation. If her guess was correct, Xu Jingxuan would have one more charge added to her list: attempted murder. She needed to go see this heartless, ungrateful adopted daughter who repaid kindness with enmity. ...... After a long wait, the doors to the resuscitation room finally opened. Jiang Shixu, Lu Shuci, and Ruan Shaodong all stepped forward almost simultaneously to speak. Jiang Shixu: "Doctor, how is Tangtang?" Lu Shuci: "Doctor, how is she?" Ruan Shaodong: "Doctor, how is my daughter?" Everyone else wore tense, anxious expressions as well, some even holding their breath. All their hearts pounded wildly, hoping for good news yet dreading bad tidings. The lead surgeon removed his mask, a tired smile forming on his face. "The patient is out of danger now. She's been moved to the intensive care unit. You can visit in three days." Everyone let out a collective sigh of relief. Jiang Shixu's hollow, vacant eyes finally gained a glimmer of light, and the heaviness in his chest eased somewhat. Jiang Shixu closed his eyes, then opened them, and said with utmost solemnity, "Thank you, doctor." The others wept with joy, repeatedly thanking the doctor. Especially Ruan Shaodong—a man nearing fifty, crying so hard his eyes were red and his voice choked with sobs. "Thank you, doctor. Thank you, thank you..." The doctor nodded and left. Chu Tang was wheeled out by several nurses. Jiang Shixu watched her lying on the mobile hospital bed, pale and unconscious, and his heart suddenly ached. A wave of pain, piercing and heart-wrenching. Everyone wanted to go up and see Chu Tang. The nurses pushed the bed forward. "Please make way. The patient needs to be transferred to the ICU. She can't be visited yet." The crowd parted to make a path, and the nurses wheeled Chu Tang toward the ICU. The oppressive, stifling atmosphere finally dissipated. The girls all had red, tearful eyes. Yu Jiaojiao choked out, "I knew heaven would show mercy. Lawyer Ruan is so kind—she'll definitely be fine..." Zhou Xueluo's eyes were rimmed with red as she sniffled. "As long as she's okay, that's all that matters." Chen Yuanyuan let out a long breath and wiped away her tears. "Thank goodness Tangtang is fine. If something had happened to her... I really don't dare to think about it..." Yu Jiaojiao's nose was red from crying. "If anything had happened to Lawyer Ruan, I would have felt guilty for the rest of my life. She was injured saving me." Xiao Xiao, her foot wrapped in gauze, sat on a bench in the corridor, her eyes red too. "Thank goodness, thank goodness. Lawyer Ruan is fine." A Wen didn't cry. She let out a breath, and her furrowed brow finally relaxed. Gu Zechuan turned to look at Jiang Shixu again and sneered, "Jiang Shixu, Tangtang nearly lost her life being with you. Stop ruining her life!" Jiang Shixu said nothing. Those few hours Tangtang spent in the emergency room were the most painful, suffocating, and guilt-ridden hours of his life. He couldn't refute Gu Zechuan's words. Because even he himself thought the same. If it weren't for him, how would Fu Yuanzhou have targeted Tangtang? Guilt drowned him. Jiang Shixu's heart felt as if a giant hand were kneading and tearing at it repeatedly, the pain nearly sending him into spasms. Ruan Shaodong raised his eyes and stared coldly at Jiang Shixu. "Jiang Shixu, he's right. From now on, stay far away from Tangtang. Don't come and ruin her life anymore." Jiang Shixu's breath caught, his heart clenching in pain.