Chapter 91

Chapter 91: A Great Joy (Revised) Jiang Shixu's lips were pressed into a thin line, his eyes lowered, revealing nothing of what lay beneath. He remained silent, lost in thought. After a moment of quiet, Elder Jiang spoke with weighty sincerity: "Shixu, you must remember—this kind of thing can never happen again. You are the sole heir of the Jiang family's younger generation. Do not ruin yourself over a woman. Do you understand?" Jiang Shixu's hands at his sides tightened, his gaze dark and unreadable as he answered in a low voice: "I understand." The Elder then said to Jiang Yi: "From now on, as long as Shixu's actions do not violate our family's precepts or cross legal boundaries, do not hinder him." Jiang Yi was seething inside. He, the father, was still hale and hearty, yet the family's power and estate had been handed directly over his head—from the Elder's hands straight to his son, Jiang Shixu. Furious as he was, he dared not voice any objection in front of the Elder. Besides, the root of all this trouble was his own illegitimate son. If he hadn't failed to control his lower half back then, none of this would have happened. He had no standing to fight for anything. No matter how much resentment and unwillingness churned within him, he could only accept it. Jiang Yi consoled himself: at least the one in power was his own son, not some outsider. He replied: "I understand." ... A cold snap arrived. The temperature plummeted below freezing overnight, and Jiangcheng welcomed its first snowfall of the winter. Winter days grew dark early. By the time Chu Tang walked out of the law firm, it was already pitch black outside. Flurries of snow drifted gently down, looking all the more romantic under the glow of the neon lights. Chu Tang stood by the roadside and reached out a hand to catch a few snowflakes. The north wind was biting and bitter. Chu Tang pulled her scarf tighter, her breath turning to white mist in the frigid air. Jiang Shixu's Maybach was parked at the curb. Chu Tang stepped toward it. Jiang Shixu had already gotten out and was striding quickly toward her. They had agreed to visit Xiao Yue at the hospital together today. As the car door closed, the howling wind was shut out. Jiang Shixu held Chu Tang close in the back seat, taking both her hands in his and rubbing them together. The girl's hands were ice-cold. Jiang Shixu looked down at them, his voice full of concern: "Why didn't you wear gloves? They're frozen red." Chu Tang sniffled. "It was only a few steps." "That's not acceptable." Jiang Shixu kept rubbing her hands. "Remember to wear them next time." Chu Tang hummed in agreement. In the hospital ward. When Chu Tang pushed the door open, Xiao Yue was propped against the bed, staring blankly at the heavy snow outside the window. The girl seemed lost in thought, so far away that she didn't even notice Chu Tang and Jiang Shixu entering the room. "Xiao Yue, I've come to see you." Chu Tang set her things down on the small table and greeted the girl. Xiao Yue snapped back to reality. She turned to look, and when her gaze landed on Jiang Shixu's face, a flicker of admiration and curiosity passed through her eyes. Chu Tang smiled and introduced him: "Xiao Yue, this is my boyfriend, Brother Jiang Shixu." Xiao Yue's face lit up with understanding, and she greeted him in a clear, cheerful voice: "Hello, Brother Shixu." Jiang Shixu kept in mind Chu Tang's repeated reminder—when meeting the girl, he should smile and greet her warmly, not come off cold and intimidating. He softened his tone as much as he could, a gentle smile curving at his lips: "Hello." The girl pressed her lips together, a little shyly, and looked away. Chu Tang walked over and sat down by Xiao Yue's bedside. The girl's face was growing paler and more haggard by the day, her eyes sunken, thin beyond recognition. Chu Tang's heart ached in waves. She forced back her sadness, pulled a fluffy cream-white hat from the gift bag, and smiled with her eyes curving into crescents: "Xiao Yue, this is a gift from your sister. Do you like it?" The girl's eyes sparkled, and she smiled sweetly: "I love it! Thank you, Sister Ruan." Over the past few days, the two had become friends. Xiao Yue no longer addressed Chu Tang politely as "Lawyer Ruan" but called her affectionately "Sister Ruan." Xiao Yue took the hat and immediately swapped it for the one she was wearing. She put on the knitted hat and looked at Chu Tang with expectant eyes: "Does it look good, Sister Ruan?" Chu Tang reached out and gently stroked the girl's head, saying softly: "Very cute." Chu Tang stayed to chat with Xiao Yue. Jiang Shixu's phone rang. He picked it up and gestured to Chu Tang, signaling that he was stepping out to take a call. Chu Tang nodded. After Jiang Shixu left, only Chu Tang and Xiao Yue remained in the ward. The girl hesitated several times, as if she had something she wanted to say to Chu Tang. Chu Tang caught her subtle expression and asked: "Xiao Yue, is there something you want to tell your sister?" The girl stammered: "Sister, can... can you help me put on some makeup?" Chu Tang was taken aback. Xiao Yue continued: "My condition has been getting worse lately. You must have noticed—my complexion is worse every day. Every time my brother comes to see me, his eyes are red. I know he's worried, and I don't want him to worry about me." A wave of bitterness rose in her chest, and Chu Tang's eyes couldn't help but grow moist. "Of course I can. Xiao Yue is so adorable—you'll look beautiful with makeup on." Xiao Yue smiled, two small dimples appearing on her pale face: "Really?" "Mm-hmm!" Chu Tang nodded, her nose tingling. "Then when I come to see you tomorrow, I'll bring makeup and give you a beautiful look." "Okay." Xiao Yue smiled, her eyes curving like crescent moons. In the hallway, Jiang Shixu was on the phone with Lu Ze. Lu Ze said, "Young Master, news from Country A says they've already met with President Shen. In the next few days, they'll discuss and formulate a specific plan to snatch that project from Fu Yuanzhou." "Mm." Lu Ze then reported some other work to Jiang Shixu. After hanging up, Jiang Shixu pushed open the door and returned to the hospital room. Chu Tang and Xiao Yue were chatting about something, both wearing smiles on their faces, looking very happy. When he looked over, Xiao Yue immediately averted her gaze and whispered something to Chu Tang. After hearing it, Chu Tang's smile deepened. Jiang Shixu looked at them curiously. "What are you talking about that's so fun?" Chu Tang said mysteriously, "It's a secret." Jiang Shixu was about to say something when his phone rang again. This time, he didn't step out to take it. After the call connected, the person on the other end said, "Mr. Jiang, we've found a matching bone marrow as you requested." Jiang Shixu instinctively glanced in Chu Tang's direction. "Bring the person in for examination tomorrow." "Yes." After hanging up, Jiang Shixu walked over to Chu Tang and said gently, "Tangtang, we've found a matching bone marrow." Chu Tang seemed not to have reacted yet, asking blankly, "What did you say?" Jiang Shixu's expression was tender. "I said, we've found a matching bone marrow. Xiao Yue's illness can be treated." Chu Tang's expression shifted, and tears streamed down her face—tears of overwhelming joy. She wiped her tears, grabbed Xiao Yue's hand excitedly, crying and laughing at once, and said through sobs, "Xiao Yue, did you hear that? They found a matching bone marrow! Your illness can be cured!" Xiao Yue sat in a daze, her eyes reddening. "Is my illness really still treatable?" Chu Tang, her eyes brimming with tears, choked out, "It is! I told you not to give up—your illness will definitely be cured!" "That's wonderful, that's wonderful..." Xiao Yue's eyes glistened with tears as she murmured, "From now on, my brother won't have to worry about me anymore..." This was a tremendous piece of good news. The gloom that had weighed on Chu Tang for days was swept away. On the way back, she held Jiang Shixu's hand and chattered on the entire journey. Even after returning to the apartment, her excitement remained high. Seeing that the furrowed brow she'd worn for days had finally relaxed, his mood lifted as well. The two curled up on the apartment sofa, and the atmosphere somehow began to turn intimate. Jiang Shixu tightened his arm around Chu Tang, the desire in his eyes gradually intensifying.