Chapter 60: Like Cures Like

Xu An'an never expected her luck to be this terrible; she already regretted not leaving earlier, but there’s no remedy for regret in this world.

She explained, “I just finished an interview. When I heard Second Master was injured and hospitalized, I came to check on him.”

“By the way, would you like some coffee? Assistant Wang just went out to buy some. If you’d like, I can call him and have him bring some for you as well.”

Upon learning that Assistant Wang had just left, Jiang Yu felt a little better.

He had no desire to let Xu An'an and Jiang Li be alone together.

As for the specific reason, even he couldn't quite put it into words; perhaps Jiang Li’s extraordinary excellence made him feel utterly insignificant by comparison.

He dreaded Xu An'an comparing him to Jiang Li.

Even though he didn’t like Xu An'an, his status had always been above hers—how could he let her look down on him?

“It’s fine, we just came to see my uncle.”

“Second Master, I made this chicken feet soup especially for you—like cures like.” Ning Xiyue had pestered Jiang Yu for ages, saying she wanted to apologize to Jiang Li, so Jiang Yu reluctantly brought her along.

Jiang Li’s expression changed. “So you mean I don’t have human hands, but chicken feet?”

His face changed in a flash!

Ning Xiyue jumped with fright and shook her head hurriedly. “No, no, I didn’t mean that. It’s just that I saw people online saying things like that, so I repeated it, I…”

“Enough,” Jiang Li coldly interrupted her. “Jiang Yu, did you bring her here just to annoy me?”

Jiang Yu sucked in a breath, wishing he could sever ties with Ning Xiyue right then and there.

“Uncle, you really misunderstood!”

“Yue’er didn’t mean it that way. She just wanted to apologize but didn’t know how, so she made you some soup.”

Ning Xiyue’s eyes brimmed with tears, but she struggled not to cry, her pitiful appearance making Jiang Yu ache for her.

She sobbed, bowing deeply.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have acted on my own. This was all my fault.”

Jiang Yu was at his wit's end; he wanted Ning Xiyue to stop crying, since Jiang Li hated nothing more than women’s tears—this was just adding fuel to the fire.

He had no choice but to pull Ning Xiyue away.

“Uncle, we really are sorry to disturb your rest!”

But Ning Xiyue was unwilling to leave. This tactic of retreating in order to advance had snared more than a few men into her traps.

But her strength was no match for Jiang Yu’s, and she could only be forcibly dragged away.

She wept, “Ah Yu, if you drag me away like this, Second Master will be even angrier.”

“Yue’er, my uncle isn’t like ordinary men. He doesn’t like women crying. Last time, a rich young lady pretended to fall in front of him, weeping pitifully, and she was immediately thrown out by security. It was mortifying—if I weren’t here, do you think you could have walked out on your own?” Jiang Yu regretted bringing Ning Xiyue here at all.

Seeing Ning Xiyue’s head droop as she cried, Jiang Yu sighed deeply and pulled her into his arms.

“I’m not scolding you, but my uncle really can’t be provoked.”

“If I really anger him, I might not be able to see you often—he’d send me to the branch office in South Africa.”

That was not a hardship he was willing to endure.

A shadow flickered in Ning Xiyue’s gaze. She knew Jiang Li wielded great power in the Jiang family, but hadn’t realized Jiang Yu feared him this much.

So why should she waste time on Jiang Yu, instead of going after Jiang Li directly?

Nevertheless, right now, she could only use Jiang Yu to get close to Jiang Li.

“Ah Yu, I heard Second Master’s birthday is coming up soon. Could you take me along? I promise I’ll prepare a gift he’ll truly like.”

The events just now were still fresh, making Jiang Yu hesitant to agree.

Ning Xiyue clung to his arm, nuzzling up to him. “Please? If you like, I’ll show you the gift first. If you think it’s suitable, then take me with you.”

Unable to resist her coquettish pleading, Jiang Yu finally nodded.

But once they left the hospital, he took Ning Xiyue straight to the hotel across the street.

…

Xu An'an opened the thermos, sniffed the aroma, and said honestly, “It smells pretty good. Would you like to try some? Who knows, maybe it really will help your recovery.”

“If it really works that way, why don’t you make some for me yourself?”

“Well, since there’s some already here, why not drink this?”

“I don’t want it.”

“Then I’ll have it—no sense letting it go to waste.” Xu An'an figured that since Ning Xiyue wanted to please Jiang Li, she must have put a lot of effort into the soup and used the best ingredients.

Sure enough, after one sip, she nodded in approval. “It’s really quite good.”

Jiang Li’s mouth twitched hard. “If you like it, have more, just don’t end up with an upset stomach.”

“How could that happen?” Xu An'an cradled the thermos and drank it down in big gulps.

When she finished, she still wasn’t quite satisfied. “I must say, Ning Xiyue not only makes a fine cup of tea, but she’s also quite the soup cook.”

“If only Fat Cat were here, I could give it the leftover bones and skin. It loves chicken feet.”

She looked at Jiang Li. “Has Fat Cat not shown up all day?”

Jiang Li shook his head.

He’d had Assistant Wang check the security footage—Fat Cat had indeed left the hospital, but after that, its whereabouts were unknown.

Seeing that it was about time, Xu An'an called Assistant Wang.

Coincidentally, he’d just returned—her timing was perfect.

“Miss Xu, I’m sorry, did I delay your return to the magazine office?”

“Not at all. Take good care of Second Master—I’ll be off.” Xu An'an waved, grabbed her bag, and left, unaware that Jiang Li still wanted to say something to her.

Jiang Li clicked his tongue. She sure left in a hurry.

He wanted to ask if Xu An'an would be coming back that evening.

Assistant Wang, ever perceptive after all these years, offered, “Second Master, should I ask Miss Xu if she’ll be back tonight?”

“No need.”

Jiang Li picked up his tablet and started working. “If she has a conscience, she’ll come.”

Assistant Wang couldn’t help but laugh. He relayed everything Xu An'an had said to Jiang Li. “I’m sure Miss Xu will come back tonight.”

“Just please, Second Master, don’t give yourself away, or Miss Xu won’t believe me next time.”

A few dark lines appeared on Jiang Li’s handsome face. “Don’t act on your own in the future. That plan was idiotic.”

If his hands were still out of commission, wouldn’t he be forced to just watch all night? Who would that be torturing—her or him?

Meanwhile, as Xu An'an left the hospital and waited for her ride, Shang Yan appeared.

Shang Yan smiled, her eyes glinting with cunning. “Miss Xu, what a surprise—your relationship with Second Master seems quite close. But isn’t your fiancé Young Master Jiang? Or is it that you and he each have your own affairs?”

As she spoke, she produced several candid photos.

They showed Xu An'an feeding Jiang Li water, the scene looking for all the world like the intimate interaction of a young couple.