After the IV drip, Jiang Haoyan’s condition finally stabilized.
When Su Yue and Jiang Ci brought the little boy out of the ward, Lu Xiang and her mother were nowhere to be found.
After vomiting for most of the day, the little one looked pale and listless; his chubby cheeks drooped, and even his round eyes had lost their sparkle. When they got home, Su Yue went straight into the kitchen and carefully cooked a pot of porridge. The child’s stomach was weak, so he could only eat something light and easy to digest.
Su Yue ladled out the porridge she had prepared. She had added a small handful of finely chopped lean meat, a few diced mushrooms, and fresh scallions. The rice had been simmered until it turned soft and glutinous, giving off a gentle, comforting aroma. The scent was so tempting that Jiang Haoyan, who hadn’t eaten much all day, sniffed the air faintly.
“Haohao, you must be hungry,” Su Yue said softly as the boy sat weakly at the table, his small hands resting on his lap.
She blew on the spoonful of porridge and stirred it gently to cool it down before bringing it close to his mouth. “Be good, Haohao. Have some porridge first. Once you’re better, I’ll make something delicious for you.”
Just as she was about to feed him, Jiang Ci, who had been standing nearby, unbuttoned two buttons at his collar. His tall figure moved closer, his tone lazy and low. “I’ll do it.”
Su Yue blinked, not quite understanding at first.
Jiang Ci arched an eyebrow, took the spoon from her hand, and said, “I’ll feed him.”
Realization dawned. He actually wanted to feed the child himself. Surprised but pleased, Su Yue moved aside and let him sit next to Jiang Haoyan. It was rare for him to show this kind of fatherly tenderness.
Jiang Ci scooped up a spoonful of porridge and held it to the boy’s lips. The little one, who had been dull and dispirited moments ago, suddenly brightened up. His eyes lit with joy as he smiled weakly. “Daddy feeds Haohao.”
Jiang Ci’s stern features softened as he fed the boy another spoonful. Then, leaning closer to Su Yue’s ear, he lowered his voice, the warmth of his breath brushing against her skin. “You’re only allowed to feed me,” he murmured, “not even the little one.”
Su Yue’s face flushed. Any illusion of tender fatherly affection about him evaporated instantly. This man wasn’t being loving—he was being jealous. How could someone be so childish and domineering at the same time?
Back in the old neighborhood, Lu Xiang and her mother sat in silence, their expressions grim. They had schemed and struggled, yet instead of gaining anything, they had offended someone far too powerful to provoke.
“Xiangxiang, what did that Mr. Jiang mean by his words? Was he threatening us?” Madam Lu asked nervously. The memory of the man’s cold, terrifying gaze still lingered in her mind. “He wouldn’t actually take revenge on us, would he? After all, we’re family to the child.”
“I don’t know,” Lu Xiang muttered, biting her lip as her eyes flashed with blame. “Mom, it’s all your fault. If you hadn’t taken the money to play mahjong, none of this would’ve happened! You’re the reason Jiang Haoyan got sick and why we angered Mr. and Mrs. Jiang.”
“How dare you blame me?” Madam Lu shot back. “Weren’t you the one who went to sleep and left the child alone in the living room? If you hadn’t begged me to take care of him, none of this would’ve happened!”
Lu Xiang’s face darkened. Her mother would never admit her own mistakes. Too tired to argue, she went back to her room, hoping that Jiang Ci would let the matter go with just a warning. After all, Jiang Haoyan was her sister’s child—their family ties couldn’t be severed completely.
But Lu Xiang soon realized how naive that thought was.
The next day, when she arrived at the kindergarten, the director called her into his office and told her to pack up. Her probation had failed, and she wouldn’t be kept on staff. Shocked, she pleaded with him, but the man only sighed and said it was the school’s final decision.
There was no need to guess why. It must have been Mr. Jiang’s doing.
His words from the previous night echoed in her mind—a warning. For a man of his stature, crushing someone like her was as easy as stepping on an ant.
As she walked out of the kindergarten gates, the cold winter wind stung her cheeks. The plan she had made with her mother now seemed laughable—ridiculous, even.
After two days of rest, Jiang Haoyan’s chubby cheeks regained their color and spirit.
Su Yue asked him gently, “Haohao, do you like Aunt Lu and Grandma Lu?” In her mind, if the child didn’t like them, there was no reason for him to visit again.
The boy blinked his large, dark eyes, now bright and clear again, and nestled closer into Su Yue’s arms. His little voice was soft and sweet. “Haohao wants to see a picture of Mommy.”
Su Yue froze. It took her a moment to realize that the “Mommy” he meant was his biological mother. “So… Haohao went to Teacher Lu’s house?” It seemed that Lu Xiang and her mother had already told him everything.
Jiang Haoyan nodded, his expression earnest. “Haohao didn’t see it yet. Haohao’s tummy hurt.”
Su Yue smiled gently and stroked his soft hair. “If Haohao wants to see it, I’ll ask Dad to find it for you, alright?” For someone like Jiang Ci, such a thing wouldn’t be difficult.
The little boy’s eyes curved with delight. “Okay!” he said, his tiny mouth curling into a happy grin before he nestled back into Su Yue’s arms.
Not long after, Jiang Ci came home. His tall figure carried a chill from the outside air, and his sharp, handsome features were set in a stern line that made people instinctively wary.
After entering, he took off his coat and strode toward the sofa. Without saying a word, he lifted the little boy from Su Yue’s lap and placed him gently beside her.
“Haohao hasn’t fully recovered. Be careful,” Su Yue reminded quickly.
“He’s not that fragile,” Jiang Ci replied with a faint smile. Sitting down beside her, he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close.
Haohao, unwilling to leave the warmth of his mother’s arms, pouted and wriggled free, toddling off to play with the family’s two pets—Coriander and Scallion (their pet dogs, humorously named after kitchen herbs).
Seeing him giggling on the floor, Su Yue relaxed. She looked back at Jiang Ci. “Why are you back so early today?”
“I ran into someone I didn’t want to deal with,” Jiang Ci said lazily, his thumb rubbing the back of her small, delicate hand. “So I came home instead.”
Her hands were soft and warm against his rough palms, the contrast making his heart ache faintly. “Jiang Muhang came to the company today,” he added. “He wanted to take over a project from Sheng Corporation.”
Su Yue looked up in surprise. From what she knew, the Jiang family didn’t even realize Jiang Ci was now the head of Sheng Corporation. “You met him?”
Jiang Ci gave a short chuckle. “Of course. You should’ve seen his face when he found out.” His tone was amused, almost playful.
Su Yue blinked. “Oh.” She didn’t pry further. To her, there was nothing Jiang Ci couldn’t handle.
Jiang Ci reached over, his rough fingers gently pinching her smooth cheek. His hand, once bandaged and clumsy, now moved with familiarity. He had always liked the softness of her skin. “Aren’t you curious?” he teased.
Su Yue tilted her head slightly, unsure what he meant.
“The Sheng Group is just a small matter,” Jiang Ci said, glancing at the little boy playing on the floor. “I’m helping him manage it for now.” He didn’t mention that he was only doing so because he owed Sheng Yan a debt of gratitude.
“I understand,” Su Yue replied simply.
Jiang Ci studied her calm expression for a long moment, then smiled faintly. “Don’t worry. Even if there’s no Sheng Group, you won’t ever go hungry.” His tone was light, almost teasing. He had enough wealth for her to live comfortably several lifetimes over.
If his financial team could’ve heard him, they would’ve burst into tears—their boss was too modest. Even if Su Yue spent recklessly for eight lifetimes, it still wouldn’t make a dent in his fortune.
Su Yue gave him a small smile. “I won’t go hungry. I’m rich too, you know?” Her parents doted on her endlessly and deposited generous sums into her account every month. “Even if you become penniless one day, I’ll support you.”
Jiang Ci’s lips curved. He caught her slender fingers and pressed them lightly against his lips, his tone low and teasing. “Then I should serve you well, my rich woman.”
Su Yue looked up, her gaze falling on the faint scar along his left cheek. It was much lighter now, almost blending into his skin. The flaw, instead of marring his face, only made his features sharper and more compelling.
She couldn’t help but think—supporting such a man didn’t seem like a bad deal at all.
Meanwhile, back at the Jiang family residence, Jiang Muhang was still reeling from what he had discovered.
After being rejected by Jiang Ci at Sheng Group, he had immediately rushed home to report it to their grandfather.
“Are you certain about this?” Old Master Jiang asked gravely, his gaze sharp and pressing.
“Yes,” Jiang Muhang replied firmly. “Eldest Brother himself is the head of Sheng Group—and he personally rejected our cooperation.”
The old man’s brows furrowed deeply. Years ago, he had wondered how Jiang Ci had managed to purchase Hengyuan Group shares. Could it have been with Sheng Group’s backing?
“That ungrateful child!” Old Master Jiang slammed his cane against the floor. “He hid such a huge matter from his own family, and now he dares to reject our project? Does he not consider himself part of this family anymore?”
Ever since that kidnapping incident years ago, Jiang Ci had changed—becoming cold, detached, and unpredictable. The entire Jiang family now viewed him with quiet fear.
The old master’s anger simmered. “Since Sheng Group belongs to Jiang Ci, then it belongs to the Jiang family! He has no right to refuse us. Your mother’s birthday is coming up soon—when he returns, I’ll talk to him myself.”
Jiang Muhang frowned slightly. Judging by Jiang Ci’s expression earlier that day, he doubted his elder brother would listen.
As he left the study, Jiang Muhang’s thoughts churned. His elder brother had always been an enigma—cold on the outside, unpredictable within. After going blind, Jiang Ci had lost his position at Hengyuan Group, yet now, not only had his vision returned, he had become the man in charge of Sheng Group.
In terms of power, Hengyuan couldn’t even compare.
Thinking back to the way Jiang Ci had looked at him earlier, Jiang Muhang felt a flicker of unease. That same indifferent, mocking gaze he had seen when Jiang Ci was rescued years ago—it still sent a chill down his spine.