Chapter 55: Interests Above All Else

Because of the situation with Xu Wanwan, Shen Ying wished she could tear Xu Anan to pieces, but lately she simply hadn’t had the time. Now, encountering Xu Anan, she naturally wanted to settle both old and new scores at once.

“Xu Anan!”

Hearing Xu Anan’s name, Jiang Yu immediately changed direction and walked over. “What’s wrong?”

The rage that had just flared in Shen Ying was extinguished by Jiang Yu’s arrival. She forced a twisted smile. “Young Master Jiang, so you came to the hospital with Anan? Is it to visit her mother?”

Jiang Yu, eager to gain a good reputation, agreed and even glanced at Xu Anan, warning her not to say anything out of line.

Xu Anan gave a couple of dry laughs. “Yes, we just arrived.”

“Well then—”

“We’ll go over ourselves.” Jiang Yu, afraid their cover would be blown, of course didn’t let Shen Ying follow.

Shen Ying could only swallow her bitterness, watching helplessly as Xu Anan departed. She had no choice but to send Xu Anan a message: [I’ve prepared the new medicine. You’d better show me your sincerity, otherwise not a single pill will go to your mother.]

Unfortunately, Xu Anan didn’t have her phone with her.

Xu Anan walked some distance with Jiang Yu. “Why are you here?”

Jiang Yu assumed Xu Anan was simply visiting her mother, not suspecting a thing. “My uncle hurt his hand, I came to check on him.”

“Let’s go, take me to see Auntie.”

Jiang Yu said this casually, then went out of his way to greet Old Jiang. “Grandpa, I’m taking Anan to see Auntie.”

Old Jiang was naturally delighted.

“Go on.”

“The report I asked you to finish can wait until tomorrow. Take good care of Anan.”

Xu Anan sneered inwardly. She knew Jiang Yu never acted without a motive—so this was his angle.

Just as she turned, Xu Anan heard Old Lin say, “Old Jiang, as long as you agree to sign the letter of forgiveness, I can promise you the condition you’ve set—East City’s land will be yours.”

Xu Anan’s pupils trembled and her steps faltered.

She couldn’t help but look back.

“What’s wrong?” Jiang Yu asked.

Xu Anan shook her head. She was just an outsider; what right did she have to say anything?

But she couldn’t help wondering—Old Jiang clearly cherished Jiang Li so deeply, so how could he prioritize profit over Jiang Li’s feelings? In the end, it was always about the bottom line. The waters of the wealthy were far deeper than a mere phrase could convey.

For a moment, Xu Anan’s mood was complicated.

Jiang Yu was merely going through the motions; after all, Mrs. Xu lay in the ICU, unable to speak. He comforted her, “Auntie will surely wake up. You must believe in miracles.”

“Mm.”

Jiang Yu thought Xu Anan was depressed because of her mother and patted her shoulder, but he caught a whiff of ointment for burns on her. He leaned in, trying to smell more clearly.

Xu Anan instinctively stepped back, deeply repulsed.

“What are you doing?”

Her retreat made Jiang Yu’s expression darken—was she disgusted by him?

Xu Anan looked away, deliberately ignoring his reaction. “I’m going to the restroom.”

Jiang Yu retorted coldly, “I have things to do, I’ll leave first.”

As if he’d stand around and wait—what a waste of his time!

Xu Anan didn’t truly intend to go to the restroom; she just wanted to avoid Jiang Yu. Now that he’d taken the initiative to leave, all the better.

Once Jiang Yu was gone, Xu Anan quietly returned to find Jiang Li. Her bag was still there, after all.

“Second Master, Old Jiang has already signed the letter of forgiveness for Lin Jiaojiao, stating that as your father, he has the right to make decisions for you,” Assistant Wang said cautiously. He paused, then added, “Old Lin has promised to give Old Jiang the land in East City.”

Jiang Li sat reclining, eyes closed and seeming to rest. His face remained calm, as if the matter didn’t concern him at all.

Assistant Wang sighed softly and left the room, only to be surprised by Xu Anan’s arrival. “Miss Xu, you’re just in time. Please look after Second Master, his mood must be terrible right now.”

Xu Anan could imagine Jiang Li’s mood, and even if Assistant Wang hadn’t said anything, she’d planned to stay anyway. After all, Jiang Li was suffering because of her.

After Assistant Wang left, Xu Anan entered the ward and sat beside Jiang Li.

“Are you alright?”

“What, do you pity me?” Jiang Li sneered, opening his eyes. “At present the East City land is worth eighty million, and it’s only going to appreciate. If you calculate it, it’s quite a deal. It’s just a pair of hands—how could that compare to the future of Jiang Corporation?”

His self-mocking words left Xu Anan unsettled.

Perhaps, to outsiders he seemed dazzling, but everyone had their own unspeakable pain.

It’s always that you think I have it better, and I think you do.

“Why not watch some TV?” Xu Anan hastily grabbed the remote and turned on the television, hoping to distract Jiang Li.

Knowing Xu Anan’s good intentions, Jiang Li let her fuss over him.

Just then, the news broadcasted a report about Heart Lake Island.

Yet in the end, this coveted prize didn’t go to Jiang Corporation, but to their rival, Huadi Group—a Fortune 500 company and the only enterprise in Shanghai capable of rivaling, even surpassing, Jiang Corporation.

Xu Anan was surprised—how had Huadi Group ended up acquiring Heart Lake Island?

She looked to Jiang Li, wanting to ask. Jiang Li happened to glance at her, raising his brows as if answering her question, or perhaps not.

In any case, he’d already received the payment, so Xu Anan wisely held her tongue.

“All right, you can go. I want to sleep.”

“Your hands are injured—”

“I said go, why are you so talkative?” Jiang Li said irritably.

Xu Anan had no choice but to leave, grumbling to herself: Please, did you think I actually wanted to stay? I’d love nothing more than to fly home right now, lie on my big bed, and cook a midnight snack!

She looked back three times as she left, seeing Jiang Li already lying down with his eyes closed.

Rain began to fall, quickly escalating from a gentle drizzle to a downpour.

Xu Anan arrived home just in time.

“Meow!”

The orange cat lifted its head from the cat tree and lazily greeted her.

Not seeing Jiang Li, it seemed a little disappointed.

Xu Anan changed her shoes and went over to rub the orange cat’s little head, complaining, “Fat Cat, you little traitor, who’s really your master? It’s only been a day and you’ve switched sides?”

“Let me tell you, he won’t be back tonight.”

“In fact, he won’t be back for the next few days.”

The orange cat nuzzled her, as if to comfort her.

Xu Anan pushed it away in annoyance. “What nonsense? I’m happier than ever. This is my home, my time to enjoy it alone!”

Yet every time she recalled Jiang Li’s words, she couldn’t help worrying.

She glanced at the window. “If the rain lets up, I might, reluctantly, bring him some midnight snacks.”

Unfortunately, the rain only grew heavier, showing no sign of stopping.