Chapter 73

Chapter 73: Xu Jingxuan Takes Advantage of the Situation (New) For several days after the family banquet incident, Jiang Shixu did not return to the Jiang family's old residence. Elder Mrs. Jiang called him several times. He answered at first, asking why she was targeting Ruan Chutang. Elder Mrs. Jiang explained that Ruan Chutang was targeting her precious granddaughter, Xu Jingxuan. Jiang Shixu clarified that things were not at all as Xu Jingxuan had described, but Elder Mrs. Jiang refused to listen. She firmly believed that Jiang Shixu had been bewitched by Ruan Chutang, and she refused to believe that her good granddaughter Xu Jingxuan would lie. The communication was fruitless. Jiang Shixu hung up, and in the following days, he did not answer a single one of Elder Mrs. Jiang's calls. During that time, Lin Yueying also called to mediate. Upon learning that her adopted daughter had been stirring up trouble, she felt some dissatisfaction toward her. Xu Jingxuan continued to fan the flames in Elder Mrs. Jiang's ear, pinning many "crimes" on Ruan Chutang, one of which was driving a wedge between Jiang Shixu and Elder Mrs. Jiang, causing discord in the Jiang family. The elder lady had only been slightly displeased with Ruan Chutang before, but after Xu Jingxuan's instigation, she had now come to utterly loathe her prospective granddaughter-in-law. ... Monday morning, Chu Tang was woken by her alarm clock. She struggled to open her eyes, preparing to get up for work, but felt chills all over her body, a splitting headache, and an unstoppable cough. When she took her temperature, it was as high as 39 degrees Celsius. The flu had been spreading a lot recently, and she had unfortunately caught it. Chu Tang took sick leave and obediently checked into the hospital for treatment. Just after completing her admission procedures, she was about to let Jiang Shixu know, but then she remembered he had a tricky project to deal with lately and worked late every day, so she dropped the idea. She didn't want to worry Jiang Shixu. She was an adult now, fully capable of taking care of herself. A minor flu was no reason to disturb Jiang Shixu. Chu Tang hired a caregiver and a cooking auntie for herself. Her throat had gone hoarse from the flu, but fortunately, after the IV drip and two doses of medication, her voice returned to normal, so she didn't give herself away when Jiang Shixu called. ... "Ruan Chutang is really sick and hospitalized?" Xu Jingxuan answered the call from her close friend Wang Siyao, her tone barely concealing her delight. Wang Siyao said, "It's absolutely true. I went to the hospital yesterday to visit a friend and happened to run into her checking in." Xu Jingxuan asked, "She was alone? Shi Xu wasn't there?" "No, she was alone. I asked a friend who works at the hospital today and found out that a caregiver has been looking after her these past two days. It seems Jiang Shixu doesn't know she's sick and hospitalized." "I see." ... Jiang Shixu returned to the villa after finishing his work. He turned on the light, and suddenly a figure darted out. Reacting quickly out of instinct, Jiang Shixu grabbed the person and subdued them. "Ow, ow, ow! It hurts! Brother, it's me!" Xu Jingxuan looked up with a pained expression on her face. Jiang Shixu frowned and released her. "How did you get in?" Xu Jingxuan rubbed her arm. "I had the housekeeper auntie let me in." After rubbing her arm, she pointed toward the dining room and said, "Brother, you haven't eaten yet, have you? I made you dinner." Xu Jingxuan used to be the housekeeper's daughter and had learned to cook from a young age. After becoming the Jiang family's adopted daughter, she would sometimes cook personally to curry favor with Elder Mrs. Jiang. Jiang Shixu walked to the dining room. On the table were two plates of steak, two glasses of red wine, and candles and roses as decoration. A romantic candlelit dinner. Xu Jingxuan's little scheme was as clear as day. A look of displeasure appeared on Jiang Shixu's face. "Why did you come over without letting me know first? There's a cooking auntie at home; there's no need for you to come cook. Besides, I've already eaten. And also, don't have any inappropriate thoughts about me." Hearing this, Xu Jingxuan's face turned pale. Her lips trembled, and tears welled up in her eyes. "Brother, I'm sorry, I didn't think it through. I just wanted to give you a surprise." She bit her lip and said with grievance, "Since brother has already eaten, let me clean all this up." Xu Jingxuan walked over to the dining table and began tidying up. Before Jiang Shixu returned, Xu Jingxuan had been fantasizing about the two of them sitting at the table together, candlelight flickering, roses fragrant, red wine lightly intoxicating—everything so romantic! But now it had all fallen through, and she felt a sense of unwillingness. She had to do something while Ruan Chutang was sick in the hospital. Xu Jingxuan's gaze fell on the red wine nearby. Jiang Shixu had already gone to the living room and was no longer in the dining room. Xu Jingxuan took out the drug she had prepared in advance and slipped it into the red wine. In the living room. Jiang Shixu took off his jacket and casually draped it over the sofa. He leaned against the sofa, his long legs slightly bent, and wearily rubbed his temples. He took out his phone and sent a message to Chu Tang. [Just got home. Has Tangtang gone to sleep?] There was no reply. Checking the time, it was 11 PM. She was probably asleep by now. He felt a little disappointed. Just then, Xu Jingxuan walked over gracefully carrying a glass of red wine. "Brother, would you like some red wine?" Jiang Shixu enjoyed tasting wine in his spare time and had collected many precious red wines at home. On the first floor of this private villa, an entire wall was dedicated to a wine cabinet, where any random bottle of red wine was worth hundreds of thousands or even millions, and countless bottles were valued in the tens of millions. He had a habit of drinking a little wine to relax when he was tired, and Xu Jingxuan knew this. Xu Jingxuan walked over with a wine glass in hand, sat down beside him, and leaned in close. A look of displeasure appeared on Jiang Shixu's face. He reached out and pushed the woman back by her shoulder. "You should go. I'll have the driver take you home." Xu Jingxuan looked as if she was about to cry. "What's wrong, brother? Did I do something to upset you?" "Don't come here anymore," the man said coldly. "Put away your little schemes." "Brother, I know you've been busy and tired lately. I just wanted to show you some care. Do you really have to be so heartless with me?" "I have a girlfriend. I don't need your concern." Jiang Shixu made a call to his driver and asked him to drive Xu Jingxuan back. "Brother, since you don't want me to stay here, then I'll go back. But have this glass of wine—I bought it specially for you from an auction house." Xu Jingxuan handed the glass over. Jiang Shixu took it. Xu Jingxuan watched him with a slightly tense look in her eyes, hoping he would drink it. The glass reached his lips. Just as Jiang Shixu was about to drink, his phone screen suddenly lit up. Jiang Shixu set down the glass and picked up his phone, joy written all over his brows and eyes. It was Chu Tang replying to his message. [I just fell asleep, but now I'm awake. I'll get up and drink some warm water, then go back to sleep.] Jiang Shixu read the message. The ice and snow in his eyes melted in an instant, his features softening like the warm sun of an April day. [Okay, rest well after drinking the water. I'll come see you tomorrow.] [No need. I'll be very busy tomorrow and might have to work overtime. After I get back, I want to rest early.] [Then the day after tomorrow.] Chu Tang sighed. Her flu had hit her hard, and she didn't know if she'd be recovered by the day after tomorrow. Chu Tang hesitated for a moment, then sent a message. [I'm busy the day after tomorrow too. Once I'm done, I'll come find you. You've been busy lately as well—take care of yourself.] Xu Jingxuan sat nearby, watching the man lower his head to send messages, his features soft and his lips carrying a gentle smile. It was obvious he was messaging Ruan Chutang. Xu Jingxuan was driven mad with jealousy. "Smash—" The wine glass fell to the floor, shattering into pieces of glass everywhere. Jiang Shixu looked up and met Xu Jingxuan's eyes, his gaze icy cold.