Jiang Huai and Jiang Yucheng had been out all day. Upon returning home that evening and hearing that Guan Qishen had come to find "trouble" with Xuxu, they immediately instructed the butler.
"From now on, as long as they are from the Guan family, not a single one is to be let inside."
Then, they prepared to go see Xuxu. They were worried that the Guan family had once again made their daughter their sister suffer some grievance.
However, just as they were about to head upstairs, they saw Jiang Xuxu walking down, cradling her Little Fox. Unexpectedly, she had a little "tail" following behind her.
Jiang Su was trailing after her, fuming as he peppered her with questions.
"What was that with my arm just now? Did you do something to me? Jiang Xuxu, I'm warning you, you'd better confess!"
"If it weren't for me today, you would have been bullied to death by that Guan guy! You were so sharp-tongued with us before, so why couldn't you say a word to him? You're an embarrassment to the Jiang family!"
Jiang Yucheng frowned as he watched Jiang Su pestering Jiang Xuxu, assuming the boy was looking for trouble again. He was about to speak up when Jiang Huai reached out an arm to stop him.
Jiang Yucheng paused, seeing that Jiang Huai was merely watching with interest.
Jiang Su hadn't noticed the two men at the foot of the stairs. It wasn't until Jiang Xuxu finally stopped that he turned and saw them. A flash of guilt crossed his face, but he quickly composed himself and greeted them obediently.
"First Uncle, Brother Huai, you're back?"
"Mm. What are you two talking about?" Jiang Yucheng asked in a low voice.
Jiang Xuxu was about to speak, but Jiang Su, fearing she would tattle on him again, hurriedly stepped forward to beat her to it.
"First Uncle, we were talking about that adopted brother from the Guan family who showed up today. You have no idea the man kept running his mouth, trying to use his status as her brother and the Guan family's 'upbringing' to pressure her. I gave him a piece of my mind and sent him packing."
Jiang Huai raised an eyebrow. "Oh? You're quite impressive."
Hearing Jiang Huai's praise, Jiang Su puffed out his chest with pride. "Of course! Does he not see where he is? To try and bully someone on Jiang family territory... he clearly forgot his place!"
As he spoke, Jiang Su glanced at Jiang Xuxu. Seeing her calm expression as she listened, showing not a hint of gratitude, his annoyance flared again.
He had kindly stood up for her today, yet she hadn't said a single word of thanks all afternoon. She didn't even acknowledge him when he spoke. She was truly heartless!
No wonder Sister Xuexi said he shouldn't meddle in other people's business. This girl wasn't worth helping.
Unable to let it go, Jiang Su decided to change his tactics. "First Uncle, Brother Huai, you probably didn't know this, but Jiang Xuxu actually has a pretty good relationship with that foster brother of hers. She even hand-carved a Jade Amulet for him!"
Hearing that their relationship was "good," Jiang Yucheng instinctively looked toward Jiang Xuxu.
Jiang Xuxu shook her head, her response brief. "It's not."
Jiang Huai merely smiled. "A Jade Amulet? Do you mean a Protective Talisman? I have one as well."
As he spoke, he reached into his collar with a mix of low-key pride and subtle vanity, pulling out a red string. Hanging from it was indeed a Jade Amulet carved with runes.
Jiang Xuxu watched the red-stringed pendant dangle against his chest an item that completely clashed with his noble, refined aura. Her eyelashes fluttered, and her almond-shaped eyes brightened for a fleeting second, though her expression remained as indifferent as ever.
Jiang Su hadn't expected his attempt at provocation to fail so spectacularly. He stared at the Jade Amulet, feeling an inexplicable pang of envy. He looked expectantly at Jiang Yucheng.
"First Uncle, do you have one too?"
Jiang Yucheng pursed his lips, looking from the Jade Amulet around his son's neck to Xuxu. His voice was somber. "I don't."
Jiang Xuxu looked surprised. "You do. I gave you one."
Jiang Yucheng froze. A spark of joy flashed in his eyes, quickly followed by a deepening frown. "I never received it."
"Actually, yours is with me," Jiang Huai interjected, his voice steady and shameless. "Xuxu asked me to pass it to you, but I didn't."
Jiang Yucheng's face darkened instantly, and he looked ready to lecture him. However, Jiang Huai continued at a leisurely pace.
"Because Father had made a mistake at the time, I decided to temporarily withhold that Protective Talisman on Xuxu's behalf."
As for what the specific mistake was, Jiang Huai didn't need to say. Jiang Yucheng knew exactly what he meant. A flicker of guilt crossed the father's face before he quickly resumed his authoritative mask.
"Since Xuxu asked you to deliver it, you have no right to keep it for yourself, regardless of your opinions! Hand it over, now!"
Jiang Huai shrugged. "It's in my room. I'll get it for you in a bit."
"No, go get it right now!"
Faced with his father's sudden authority, Jiang Huai stopped resisting and headed upstairs. He returned moments later with the amulet.
The Jade Amulet was still encased in its Blessing Pouch, unopened. Jiang Yucheng opened it right in front of Jiang Xuxu. When he saw that the amulet inside was identical to Jiang Huai's, a trace of happiness flickered in his eyes. He restrained his expression, but he couldn't stop himself from tracing the carvings over and over with his thumb.
"Did you carve this yourself? Excellent craftsmanship! I didn't know Xuxu had such a talent. Father has received it."
His Jade Amulet lacked a red string, so Jiang Yucheng carefully returned it to the Blessing Pouch and tucked it into his breast pocket with great reverence.
Jiang Su watched Jiang Yucheng's actions, his eyes filled with jealousy. He couldn't tell if he was jealous that his uncle liked the gift so much, or jealous that Jiang Xuxu had given gifts to those two and completely ignored him...
On the other side of town.
Guan Qishen, having been thoroughly rejected at the Jiang residence, returned to the hospital ward to find his parents and Guan Ruirui waiting for him.
Seeing him, the elder Guan asked urgently, "Well? Did she agree?"
Guan Qishen shook his head. "Xuxu has truly changed."
Bai Shuqin immediately erupted into curses. "That girl is an ungrateful white-eyed wolf! I told you so! I say we'd be better off begging the Master who read our Ruirui's fate all those years ago than asking her!"
Guan Baocheng's face was grim, and he was clearly displeased. "If I could find him, don't you think I would have done so already? Do I need you to tell me that?"
Ever since Jiang Xuxu's car accident, he had been unable to contact that Master. He had no idea what had happened to the man.
Bai Shuqin, cowed by the retort, didn't dare argue further. Instead, she shifted the topic. "Since that wretched girl refuses to help, she can forget about getting the bracelet the old lady left behind!"
She turned to Guan Qishen. "Where is the bracelet?"
Guan Qishen looked awkward for a moment before finally speaking. "The bracelet... she took it."
"What?!" Bai Shuqin slammed her hand on the table. "She does nothing to help but has the nerve to take the old lady's bracelet! How can that little slut be so shameless?!"
Lying on the bed, Guan Ruirui was also livid. She secretly cursed her brother for being useless—how could he let Jiang Xuxu take the bracelet? Wasn't that just giving that bitch exactly what she wanted?!
In her anger, Guan Ruirui slammed her hand down, forgetting she was still on an IV. The needle shifted painfully in her flesh, and blood began to flow back into the tube. She cried out in pain.
"It hurts..."
The moment they heard her cry, the others rushed to her bedside. Amidst the tension and the rush to check her hand, someone accidentally leaned too hard on the bedframe. Without warning, the propped-up hospital bed collapsed, and Guan Ruirui fell back onto the frame with a jolt.
It shouldn't have been a major fall, but Guan Ruirui began wailing about her back. The Guan family frantically rang the call bell and shouted for doctors. After a thorough examination, the doctor informed them that she had sprained her waist.
Bai Shuqin flew into a rage, blaming the hospital's faulty infrastructure for worsening her daughter's condition. As the shouting and chaos escalated, the stress triggered Guan Ruirui's existing concussion. Her head began to throb with unbearable pain, and she turned her head to the side, retching uncontrollably.
Guan Baocheng stood by, watching the chaotic scene with cold eyes. His expression grew darker. He was certain that Ruirui couldn't continue like this.
Tomorrow, he had to find a way for Ruirui to meet Xuxu in person.
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