Chapter 463: I Beg You, Don’t Disown Me
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
“Don’t you think that whatever happened in J City was a coincidence?” Mo Yuxin asked. “Zhiyuan went to J City to look for Chang Jingqiu’s parents and he found them. It just so happened that Chang Jingqiu found out. I think she’s guilty and afraid of her true status being revealed, so she rushed there to get her parents to shut up. Who would’ve known that she would bump into Zhiyuan there? Zhiyuan wanted to come back and reveal the truth, but she got into a tangle with him and fell off a cliff.”
At that point, Lao Liang took out his voice recorder and played back the conversation. He then spoke at great length about what happened, in far more detail than Mo Yuxin.
Shocked, Grandmother Chang looked at Mo Yuxin, then at Lao Liang, and finally at the dazed Chang Jingqiu, though it was not known whether she fainted or was simply feigning it.
“IMPOSSIBLE!” Grandmother Chang shrieked. “YOU’RE ALL LYING TO ME! Mo Yuxin, you banded with a bunch of outsiders just to trick me! YOU SINNER! Why did Zhiyuan get married to such a toxic wife like you? Once he collapsed, you attacked me and you’re not even letting Jingqiu out of it! What’s the meaning of this! Do you really want to cause trouble for our family!”
“Old Lady, if you don’t trust us, we’ll let Miss Chang do a DNA test with the couple. I’ve already sent people to J City to bring the couple back,” Lao Liang said calmly.
As a private investigator, Lao Liang met plenty of people before, and he encountered several weirdos during investigations. Despite his seemingly calm demeanor in front of Grandmother Chang, deep in his heart, he could not help himself from commenting on how Grandmother Chang was one of the craziest persons he had ever seen.
Grandmother Chang felt choked. “You… How do you expect me to believe it when it’s all coming from you? There’s no such thing!”
She could not refrain from looking at Ruan Danchen and suspecting whether it was Ruan Danchen who was trying to exact revenge on her!
Qi Chenglin was truly incensed by the old lady. She still despised Ruan Danchen during such a time and did not even think about how Ruan Danchen had no intention of acknowledging her.
“You don’t need to look at her like that.” Qi Chenglin’s voice was biting cold. “She doesn’t value the Chang family’s status. Your family can’t compare to the Qi family and the Ruan family. Do you think Danchen wants to be known as Miss Chang? What she’s doing is nothing more than a reciprocation of his kindness and good treatment of her. Within the family, Ruan Danchen is only worried about him. She doesn’t care about others. She’s always busy and doesn’t have the time to cook up something just to annoy you.”
Qi Chenglin shot a look of despise toward Grandmother Chang. “You’re the one who thinks you’re the sh*t, and you think everyone’s the same as you. If it wasn’t because of this accident, she would’ve never told you who she was.”
“YOU…!” Grandmother Chang grasped her chest in agony due to Qi Chenglin’s words.
At that point, a nurse came. “The patient in room 605 is already awake. Family members are allowed to come and take a look.”
Grandmother Chang stood up suddenly. Ruan Danchen and Qi Chenglin were at the door, so the two of them were the first to return to the opposite ward.
Mo Yuxin pushed aside Liu Xiangwen and Chang Zhixing to catch up with them.
Liu Xiangwen then helped Grandmother Chang up with Chang Zhixing before going to the ward opposite. None of them noticed it, but when they left, Chang Jingqiu opened her eyes slowly and began looking to the opposite in helplessness. Soon after, her mind began plotting a scheme.
Qi Chenglin and Ruan Danchen went into the ward first and saw Chang Zhiyuan with his eyes open. His condition did not look too good, but when he saw Ruan Danchen and Qi Chenglin, his face immediately filled with glee.
“You…” Chang Zhiyuan uttered weakly.
“Don’t be anxious. You’re not well after waking up, so in the meantime, speak less,” Ruan Danchen advised. She noticed that he wanted to get up, so she went over and adjusted the bed so his body was upright.
“ZHIYUAN!” Mo Yuxin ran over with reddened eyes. “Do you feel unwell anywhere?”
Chang Zhiyuan shook his head. Such a slight movement was enough to make his head hurt and he frowned unwittingly.
The doctor came forth to make an inspection. His brain was already scanned earlier and there was no problem, but such a scan should not be done too frequently.
Therefore, the doctor checked his eyes and throat before examining other parts of his body. Chang Zhiyuan would need to stay at the hospital for further inspection, and the doctor subsequently left with the nurse.
“What’s this all about? Your wife says Jingqiu isn’t my granddaughter! Ridiculous!” Instead of asking about Chang Zhiyuan’s health, the first thing Grandmother Chang asked when she came in was about the Chang Jingqiu.
Chang Zhiyuan frowned, as his mother’s voice was so noisy that he felt his head ache.
“Mom, Zhiyuan just woke up. Let him rest,” Mo Yuxin said helplessly.
At times, she wondered if Chang Zhiyuan was really Grandmother Chang’s biological son.
The old lady treated Chang Zhixing extremely well. He had good character and conformed with society’s norms when it came to work-related matters, but one flaw he had was his inability to control Liu Xiangwen and her constant ill-will.
Grandmother Chang liked Chang Zhixing more, though. She treated him in an amiable manner, cared for his well-being, and thought of him whenever there was something good.
Chang Zhiyuan, on the other hand, did the most for the family. Chang Zhixing was not particularly up to the task despite his good character and work ethic. Other than the Chang family’s strong foundation, Chang Zhiyuan’s hard work was one of the reasons why the Chang family could be in such a position, and also why Grandmother Chang could live such a comfortable life.
If not for Chang Zhiyuan, the Chang family would be doomed to spend all their wealth without generating any income.
In spite of that, a hardworking son like him earned nothing but dissatisfaction from Grandmother Chang, no matter what he did. If he did something good, it was considered as something that he ought to have done; if he did something badly, then he was blamed for being incapable.
Grandmother Chang had that same attitude yet again, making Mo Yuxin feel incredibly unhappy.
“Water…” Chang Zhiyuan asked strenuously.
Mo Yuxin immediately grabbed the bottle of mineral water that she bought earlier that morning, opened it, then took a straw so Chang Zhiyuan could drink slowly.
Chang Zhiyuan drank a few sips only. The straw was thin thus requiring him to use more energy, and he truly did not have any energy left in him.
A throbbing pain assailed his hindbrain, and after a while, he struggled and said, “Yuxin’s right.”
Seeing that Lao Liang was present too, he said, “Lao Liang knows everything in detail.”
The old lady was in shock, and before she could even react, she heard a loud thump from the opposite.
“Jingqiu!” Liu Xiangwen stood the furthest at that time.
She turned around and looked at Chang Jingqiu sprawled on the floor.
At that point, her waist was immobile. She plopped helplessly on the floor, and her lower back had some traces of blood.
Chang Jingqiu looked at them and clenched her jaw. She placed her palms on the floor and wanted to crawl over to them.
“Jingqiu! What are you doing!” Liu Xiangwen screamed.
Grandmother Chang saw it too, and while walking over, she said, “Your injuries are too serious. Why don’t you know how to cherish yourself right now!”
“Push…push me…over!” Chang Zhiyuan said after noticing that there was a wheelchair prepared.
Qi Chenglin and Chang Zhixing helped Chang Zhiyuan onto the wheelchair. Grandmother Chang’s cries were then heard. “ZHIXING! COME HERE! Help Jingqiu up!”
Chang Zhixing rushed over, but before he could carry her up, Chang Jingqiu had grabbed on tightly to Grandmother Chang’s legs.
“Grandma, don’t throw me away Grandma!” Chang Jingqiu cried and said. “I don’t care whose child I am, but I’m only going to acknowledge you as my grandma. You’re the one who raised me since I was young, to protect me, and to love me. I treat you as my only family in this world! Grandma, please don’t leave me, I beg you. Please don’t leave me, I’m scared! I’m really scared!
“I don’t know anything. I don’t know anything now. Since I was young, you were always there with me, even from when I was still a baby that couldn’t remember anything. I was told that I’m the Chang family’s daughter, your granddaughter, but after twenty-seven years, I’m suddenly told that it was all a mistake, and I’m not your granddaughter. The family I thought was family is no longer my family. What am I going to do? What’s going to happen to me?”
Chang Jingqiu remained on the floor, raising her head and crying pitiably without letting Chang Zhixing touch her.
“Grandma, I’ve always treated you as my closest family. You’re all my family! You are, aren’t you? All of a sudden, you’re not, and you don’t want to care for me anymore, don’t you? You want to take away all that love you’ve shown me in the past, don’t you? Grandma, I can’t bear to part with you. Look at me, I’m your Jingqiu! I’m your Jingqiu!
“When I was young, I was scared of the dark when I slept alone in my room for the first time. You were the one who got worried about me and came to see me, to coax me to sleep. You’re the one who told stories to me every night. When there was thunder, you hugged me to sleep. You told me that I’m your granddaughter—the granddaughter you love the most. No matter what happens, you said you’ll love me and care for me always, and you’ll never leave me alone by myself. You’re the one who said that I still have you even though my parents are gone. Grandma, will I not have this anymore from now onward?
“I don’t care about the Chang family status, and I don’t care about all the glamor, but I care for my family! I care about you! In the future…will I not have the opportunity to call you Grandma again in the future? Will I be without family in the future?” Chang Jingqiu cried and exclaimed, with her entire body shaking terribly.
“Jingqiu.” Grandmother Chang’s heart was unable to take it after seeing Chang Jingqiu in such a state. “Get up first. You’re still injured.”
Even Grandmother Chang was unable to do something so heartless.
After all, she raised Chang Jingqiu for twenty-seven years and had always been loving the young woman as her own granddaughter.
Grandmother Chang loved Chang Jingqiu so much because Chang Jingqiu was always beside her since the latter was young. Grandmother Chang placed a lot of effort on Chang Jingqiu, rivaling that of Chang Zhixing and Chang Jianan, even.
One might say that Chang Jingqiu was never separated from Grandmother Chang when Chang Jingqiu was still young. They were always together, every single day.
Grandmother Chang poured out her heart for Chang Jingqiu. One could have feelings for an ordinary adopted child, or even a pet of any kind, more so, when it was someone that she sincerely loved for twenty-seven years.
As for Ruan Danchen, Grandmother Chang looked unfavorably toward her in the past, souring their relationship. The dislike was genuine, and even if there was evidence saying that Ruan Danchen was her true granddaughter, the feelings could never be compared to how she welcomed Chang Jingqiu into the house early on.
Even if Grandmother Chang did not have any sort of misunderstanding with Ruan Danchen, they were not close, especially not when compared to Chang Jingqiu, whom Grandmother Ruan loved for twenty-seven years.
Moreover, Grandmother Chang was genuinely unwilling to acknowledge Ruan Danchen as her granddaughter.
Having entered into a deadlock during past interactions, Grandmother Chang did not want to meet her at all. It would be like a slap in the face if the woman she so looked down on in the past became her granddaughter.
Simply looking at Ruan Danchen’s face invoked anger in Grandmother Chang, making her feel extremely moody. Deep down, she thought that it would have been better off maintaining the present situation, or treat it as though nothing happened in the first place.
Looking at Chang Jingqiu lying on the ground, grabbing her legs, and crying so fervently, Grandmother Chang could not bring herself to do it.
“Grandma, I’ll be alone without you in the future. Those two people who gave birth to me… Those two… I won’t acknowledge them! They’re not good people. They don’t treat me as their daughter. I won’t have a family anymore. Grandma, I’m scared! I’m really scared! I just want to be beside you, to be filial toward you. Even if you don’t want to acknowledge me, at least let me be by your side. I beg you, let me stay beside you, to care for you. As long as you let me… let me have a chance to stay beside you, I’ll be content. Grandma…”
Grandmother Chang wiped her tears and helped Chang Jingqiu up. “You silly child. What’s this nonsense you’re talking about! How could I just leave you like that? This is twenty-seven years of feelings. Do you think they can be severed just like that? What kind of person do you take your grandma for? Your body can’t take it now and your scar is open. How could you not take care of yourself better?”
“Zhixing, why are you staring so blankly for? Come and quickly help Jingqiu onto the bed,” Grandmother Chang said.
Liu Xiangwen swiftly pressed the doorbell and called the nurses over. They then dealt with Chang Jingqiu’s wound once more.
“Grandma, you won’t disown me, right?” Lying on the sickbed, Chang Jingqiu grasped the old lady’s hand. She looked as though she was yearning, and at the same time, there was apprehensiveness too.
It clearly looked as though she wanted to get closer to the old lady, but current circumstances made her wary of doing so.
Her demeanor made Grandmother Chang pity her. “Silly child. Grandma won’t disown you, of course. Don’t worry. We’ll be the same now as we were in the past. Take care of your body. Even if you can’t recover from this, Grandma will take care of you for your whole life.”
“Grandma! I’m so glad I still have you. It’s good to still have you! When Uncle told me about this, you have no idea how scared I was. I… I was afraid you wouldn’t want me, and I was afraid I wouldn’t have a family anymore. No one loves me like you do, and I’m scared you’ll hate me because of that. I’m afraid you’ll despise me instead of loving me. Grandma…” Chang Jingqiu hugged the old lady’s arm and cried out.
“Silly child, don’t think so much. Grandma still loves you,” Grandmother Chang said lovingly.
Ruan Danchen watched the unfathomable sight before her. That unreasonable old lady showed that side of her and could even have such a good relationship with someone that had no blood relations with her at all.
Ruan Danchen shook his head and felt that it was all up to fate. Some people were linked by fate and had no regard for blood ties, just like Grandmother Chang and Chang Jingqiu. Some were destined the opposite way, like how Grandmother Chang still did not like Ruan Danchen.
It was then that Ruan Danchen calmed down. She continued to hold Grandmother Chang’s hand—just like a three-year-old kid, afraid that the old lady would disown her.
Grandmother Chang was not angry at all. She turned to glare at Chang Zhiyuan and said, “If you want to find those people, then find them! Why did you need to scare her like that! She’s all good, but because of you, she’s become like this now!”
Chang Zhiyuan’s face paled. He looked at the old lady, then at Chang Jingqiu, before lowering his gaze and keeping quiet.
“You can leave. We’ll talk more when those two people from J City arrive,” Grandmother Chang said to Qi Chenglin and Ruan Danchen.
The couple ignored her and treated it as though they did not hear what she said.
Mo Yuxin pushed Chang Zhiyuan into his ward. Qi Chenglin, along with Chang Zhixing, carried Chang Zhiyuan up into his bed.
Chang Zhixing looked at Ruan Danchen with a convoluted expression. He did not know what to say to a niece that somehow just popped out of nowhere.
Who would have known that the wife of the Qi family’s second young master was his niece?
In fact, he was very elated deep down. After all, there were numerous benefits to being associated with the Qi family, and he would not mind Chang Jingqiu at all.
However, Liu Xiangwen and Chang Jianan offended Ruan Danchen multiple times in the past. He would have to figure out a way to mend their relationship. He ought to tell Liu Xiangwen and enlighten her to not continuously fawn over Chang Jingqiu so frequently.
As he thought of that, Liu Xiangwen appeared right at the entrance, though she did not go in. She simply told Chang Zhixing, “I’ll take care of Jingqiu. Send Mom home.”
Chang Zhixing frowned. Things had already escalated to such an extent and Qi Chenglin clearly did not like Chang Jingqiu, so why the hell was Liu Xiangwen trying to curry favor with Chang Jingqiu?
He turned to Chang Zhiyuan and Mo Yuxin, saying, “Big Brother, I’ll send Mom home and come visit you again.”
When he went out, he saw that Grandmother Chang there, so it was inappropriate to be saying anything to Liu Xiangwen. He could only do so after sending Grandmother Chang back.
It was then that Chang Zhiyuan sighed. He turned to Ruan Danchen and said, “Don’t take Mom’s attitude to heart.”
“I won’t.” Ruan Danchen shook her head.
Chang Zhiyuan saw that and realized that she had no feelings toward Grandmother Chang whatsoever. Nothing the old lady said or done would have any effect on Ruan Danchen.
Ruan Danchen was also able to see the way Grandmother Chang treated Chang Zhiyuan. In her mind, she felt that he was unfairly treated, but she did not say anything because it was an issue within their family.
If Chang Zhiyuan did not say anything, she had no right to be saying anything either.
Mo Yuxin could not suppress the unfairness she was feeling, and it showed on her face. Chang Zhiyuan held her hand and said, “It’s okay. I’m the one responsible for her paralysis. Since Mom doesn’t intend to chase her away and still wants to take care of her, I can feel relieved. If Mom really did drive her away, to be honest with you, I don’t think I would be able to just leave her like that.”
Mo Yuxin did not want to be bothered by Chang Jingqiu. Chang Zhiyuan then said, “From now on, you don’t need to worry about her like how you did last time. She’s now our niece and it’s already kind of us to raise her as though she was part of the Chang family. She’s injured and her body might not recover, but there’s nothing we can do. To be fair, I don’t think Mom will want to keep her if she wasn’t in the state she is right now. It’s a loss and a gain. You’ve more than made up for it, and other than that, there’s nothing else we can do.”
Chang Zhiyuan would have been alright with treating Chang Jingqiu as his niece just as before, that is if he did not know what kind of person Chang Jingqiu truly was.
Back at J City, he saw her true colors, and at some point, she might betray them for her own interests.
That was why he could not bring himself closer to Chang Jingqiu. Even if she was left in such a state, he felt that it was good enough that she was taken care of by the Chang family.
“I was told that you just got off from your flight today. You probably didn’t sleep well because of the time difference. You should go home,” Mo Yuxin said.
“I’ll leave my phone number here then. If there’s anything, just give me a call,” Ruan Danchen said and left her phone number with them. “We’ll come again tomorrow.”
“Rest well. Don’t worry about us, I’m fine,” Chang Zhiyuan said.
After urging Qi Chenglin and Ruan Danchen to go home, Chang Zhiyuan felt tired and went to rest.
…
At the other end, Liu Xiangwen was keeping Chang Jingqiu company. The latter has a wasted appearance.
Liu Xiangwen had no idea how to treat Chang Jingqiu. Chang Jingqiu was no longer related to the Chang family, but Grandmother Chang seemed to still care for her a lot. Ruan Danchen, on the other hand, did not receive so much as a look from the old lady.
Notwithstanding that, Ruan Danchen was her true granddaughter.
Liu Xiangwen did not care much for the Qi family. Grandmother Chang had thoroughly offended the Qi family, and from observations of Qi Chenglin and Ruan Danchen’s attitude that day, Qi Chenglin might not change his outlook of the Chang family even though Ruan Danchen was related to them.
Grandmother Chang hated Ruan Danchen too, and within the Chang family, Ruan Danchen had no value whatsoever. Qi Chenglin would not give them any benefit for Ruan Danchen’s sake either.
Liu Xiangwen was not magnanimous—as long as she could haul whatever benefit she could get from the Chang family, that was enough for her.
As she was thinking about whether she should try to build a good relationship with Chang Jingqiu, a gentle voice resounded by her ear. “Auntie, what’s your plan for the future?”
“What?” Liu Xiangwen snapped back to her senses and looked confusedly at Chang Jingqiu.
Chang Jingqiu smiled and said calmly, “Help me straighten the bed. I don’t want to be talking to you like this.”
Liu Xiangwen looked suspiciously at Chang Jingqiu. Barely moments ago, the young lady was crying her heart out at Grandmother Chang. She looked so pitiable then, but all of that changed into calmness as if nothing happened earlier.
Liu Xiangwen straightened the bed so Chang Jingqiu was almost seated upright. She then helped her position the pillow so the wound was not covered.
“What do you want to tell me?” Liu Xiangwen asked prudently.
Chang Jingqiu looked at her own numb legs, with her eyes turning cold. “What do you have in mind for the future? You want to fawn over Ruan Danchen?”
Liu Xiangwen’s expression remained unchanging. “Why do you say that?”
Chang Jingqiu pursed her lips without care and said, “You haven’t forgotten how terribly you offended her, right? Nannan kept on bothering Youxuan and was finally forced to change schools. I don’t need to say much, but you said plenty of terrible things about her just to protect Nannan. Of course, there’s Grandma, who scolded her plenty on Nannan’s behalf. You saw how Grandma looks at Ruan Danchen. By all those earlier actions alone, her relationship with Ruan Danchen is not going to be so warm. Think about it, aren’t you incredibly angry if someone you hated so much became your family member so suddenly? That’s not a feeling you can put in words.”
Liu Xiangwen thought about it and realized that if she was put in that position, she would feel angry and disdainful toward the other party. For someone she hated to become her family member was like a thorn in her flesh, a dark blemish. She was wholly unwilling to accept that.
Chang Jingqiu’s mouth curled in a smile. “I don’t believe that Ruan Danchen doesn’t bear a grudge against you. The Qi family are people who act on their grudges, and even if they consider it even on the spot, it doesn’t mean that they’ll forgive you just like that. The Qi family has always been difficult to make amends with after they’ve been offended. All the more when you go up to them and try to curry favor. The opposite effect will probably happen.
Liu Xiangwen pursed her lip. From the very beginning, she did not think that there was any benefit for the Chang family if Ruan Danchen became a part of it. With Chang Jingqiu’s analysis, that feeling got even stronger.
Chang Jingqiu cocked a brow. She spoke rather weakly and without energy, but her words were forceful and struck deeply into Liu Xiangwen’s heart.
“Besides, Elder Uncle is now obviously trying to strike up a good relationship with Ruan Danchen. Just look at today. Qi Chenglin and Ruan Danchen took a flight here immediately after finding out. Everything that comes out of Elder Uncle’s wife’s mouth sides with Ruan Danchen. They were the first to know my status, but they never told anyone even though they knew. Instead, they went and gathered evidence secretly. Auntie, tell me, what intentions do they have?” Chang Jingqiu sported a chiding smile on her lips.
Liu Xiangwen’s expression changed dramatically and quickly, turning very sour indeed.
“Aren’t they trying to seize the opportunity to distance themselves from me? You’re the ones getting close to me instead. The intentions for that aren’t going to be any good,” Chang Jingqiu curled her lips. “I know you’re close to me because Grandma pampers me. You want to be better than Elder Uncle and his wife.”
Liu Xiangwen was not surprised. Chang Jingqiu was no idiot and would have known about it.
“They knew I was a fake, but they didn’t tell you. What they did was strike up a relationship with Ruan Danchen in secret. Looking at how Qi Chenglin and Ruan Danchen treated them today. It’s clear that it’s not as simple as a nod of the head when they meet. They’ve already pulled their relationship closer since early on. Now that I think about it, how did Elder Uncle explain his presence at Qi Chenglin and Ruan Danchen’s wedding, when he was seated with the Ruan family? How could we have believed him? He was there to acknowledge Ruan Danchen as his niece! But he still wants to hide that from us! Why do you think that’s the case, Auntie?”
“It’s because he’s afraid that your younger uncle would have a share of Ruan Danchen’s kindness! He’s afraid your younger uncle would be better than him!” Liu Xiangwen was already gritting her teeth and finishing the sentence without needing Chang Jingqiu to incite her further. “Changhe’s in his hands, and he’s afraid that your younger uncle will stand out from the crowd, so he lets your younger uncle do idle things that are neither too important nor too trivial. All the big decisions in the company are taken by your elder uncle, and no one in the company listens to what your younger uncle says. That’s his younger brother! How could he treat his own brother like that! As if that isn’t enough, he’s even plotting against us, he wants to make sure we don’t stand out at all, right? Whenever something happens to our family, your elder uncle and his wife stand to one side and laugh at us, even scolding us too!”
“That’s why. You’re late by one step in trying to get into Ruan Danchen’s good books. Nannan already offended them last time, and no one knows if anything will happen to Nannan in the future. If you try to get on their good books now, you’ll look like you’re doing that only for the benefits it gives you. It makes you look like a lowly person who’s playing up to powerful people.” Chang Jingqiu covered her mouth. “Auntie, my words are direct, so don’t take offense. My intentions are good.”
“Since you’ve already said so much, why don’t you just be straightforward with what you’re trying to tell me.” Liu Xiangwen was no fool. She remarked coldly, “You said that you’re a direct person, so stop beating around the bush. You’re terribly injured, and it’s best that you say whatever you want to say so you can rest earlier.”
Chang Jingqiu did not make a fuss since she had no right to be letting her temper loose.
She looked down at her numb legs with a gaze filled with hatred.
When she looked up again, her hate-filled gaze had been suppressed.
Chapter 463: I Beg You, Don’t Disown Me
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
“Don’t you think that whatever happened in J City was a coincidence?” Mo Yuxin asked. “Zhiyuan went to J City to look for Chang Jingqiu’s parents and he found them. It just so happened that Chang Jingqiu found out. I think she’s guilty and afraid of her true status being revealed, so she rushed there to get her parents to shut up. Who would’ve known that she would bump into Zhiyuan there? Zhiyuan wanted to come back and reveal the truth, but she got into a tangle with him and fell off a cliff.”
At that point, Lao Liang took out his voice recorder and played back the conversation. He then spoke at great length about what happened, in far more detail than Mo Yuxin.
Shocked, Grandmother Chang looked at Mo Yuxin, then at Lao Liang, and finally at the dazed Chang Jingqiu, though it was not known whether she fainted or was simply feigning it.
“IMPOSSIBLE!” Grandmother Chang shrieked. “YOU’RE ALL LYING TO ME! Mo Yuxin, you banded with a bunch of outsiders just to trick me! YOU SINNER! Why did Zhiyuan get married to such a toxic wife like you? Once he collapsed, you attacked me and you’re not even letting Jingqiu out of it! What’s the meaning of this! Do you really want to cause trouble for our family!”
“Old Lady, if you don’t trust us, we’ll let Miss Chang do a DNA test with the couple. I’ve already sent people to J City to bring the couple back,” Lao Liang said calmly.
As a private investigator, Lao Liang met plenty of people before, and he encountered several weirdos during investigations. Despite his seemingly calm demeanor in front of Grandmother Chang, deep in his heart, he could not help himself from commenting on how Grandmother Chang was one of the craziest persons he had ever seen.
Grandmother Chang felt choked. “You… How do you expect me to believe it when it’s all coming from you? There’s no such thing!”
She could not refrain from looking at Ruan Danchen and suspecting whether it was Ruan Danchen who was trying to exact revenge on her!
Qi Chenglin was truly incensed by the old lady. She still despised Ruan Danchen during such a time and did not even think about how Ruan Danchen had no intention of acknowledging her.
“You don’t need to look at her like that.” Qi Chenglin’s voice was biting cold. “She doesn’t value the Chang family’s status. Your family can’t compare to the Qi family and the Ruan family. Do you think Danchen wants to be known as Miss Chang? What she’s doing is nothing more than a reciprocation of his kindness and good treatment of her. Within the family, Ruan Danchen is only worried about him. She doesn’t care about others. She’s always busy and doesn’t have the time to cook up something just to annoy you.”
Qi Chenglin shot a look of despise toward Grandmother Chang. “You’re the one who thinks you’re the sh*t, and you think everyone’s the same as you. If it wasn’t because of this accident, she would’ve never told you who she was.”
“YOU…!” Grandmother Chang grasped her chest in agony due to Qi Chenglin’s words.
At that point, a nurse came. “The patient in room 605 is already awake. Family members are allowed to come and take a look.”
Grandmother Chang stood up suddenly. Ruan Danchen and Qi Chenglin were at the door, so the two of them were the first to return to the opposite ward.
Mo Yuxin pushed aside Liu Xiangwen and Chang Zhixing to catch up with them.
Liu Xiangwen then helped Grandmother Chang up with Chang Zhixing before going to the ward opposite. None of them noticed it, but when they left, Chang Jingqiu opened her eyes slowly and began looking to the opposite in helplessness. Soon after, her mind began plotting a scheme.
Qi Chenglin and Ruan Danchen went into the ward first and saw Chang Zhiyuan with his eyes open. His condition did not look too good, but when he saw Ruan Danchen and Qi Chenglin, his face immediately filled with glee.
“You…” Chang Zhiyuan uttered weakly.
“Don’t be anxious. You’re not well after waking up, so in the meantime, speak less,” Ruan Danchen advised. She noticed that he wanted to get up, so she went over and adjusted the bed so his body was upright.
“ZHIYUAN!” Mo Yuxin ran over with reddened eyes. “Do you feel unwell anywhere?”
Chang Zhiyuan shook his head. Such a slight movement was enough to make his head hurt and he frowned unwittingly.
The doctor came forth to make an inspection. His brain was already scanned earlier and there was no problem, but such a scan should not be done too frequently.
Therefore, the doctor checked his eyes and throat before examining other parts of his body. Chang Zhiyuan would need to stay at the hospital for further inspection, and the doctor subsequently left with the nurse.
“What’s this all about? Your wife says Jingqiu isn’t my granddaughter! Ridiculous!” Instead of asking about Chang Zhiyuan’s health, the first thing Grandmother Chang asked when she came in was about the Chang Jingqiu.
Chang Zhiyuan frowned, as his mother’s voice was so noisy that he felt his head ache.
“Mom, Zhiyuan just woke up. Let him rest,” Mo Yuxin said helplessly.
At times, she wondered if Chang Zhiyuan was really Grandmother Chang’s biological son.
The old lady treated Chang Zhixing extremely well. He had good character and conformed with society’s norms when it came to work-related matters, but one flaw he had was his inability to control Liu Xiangwen and her constant ill-will.
Grandmother Chang liked Chang Zhixing more, though. She treated him in an amiable manner, cared for his well-being, and thought of him whenever there was something good.
Chang Zhiyuan, on the other hand, did the most for the family. Chang Zhixing was not particularly up to the task despite his good character and work ethic. Other than the Chang family’s strong foundation, Chang Zhiyuan’s hard work was one of the reasons why the Chang family could be in such a position, and also why Grandmother Chang could live such a comfortable life.
If not for Chang Zhiyuan, the Chang family would be doomed to spend all their wealth without generating any income.
In spite of that, a hardworking son like him earned nothing but dissatisfaction from Grandmother Chang, no matter what he did. If he did something good, it was considered as something that he ought to have done; if he did something badly, then he was blamed for being incapable.
Grandmother Chang had that same attitude yet again, making Mo Yuxin feel incredibly unhappy.
“Water…” Chang Zhiyuan asked strenuously.
Mo Yuxin immediately grabbed the bottle of mineral water that she bought earlier that morning, opened it, then took a straw so Chang Zhiyuan could drink slowly.
Chang Zhiyuan drank a few sips only. The straw was thin thus requiring him to use more energy, and he truly did not have any energy left in him.
A throbbing pain assailed his hindbrain, and after a while, he struggled and said, “Yuxin’s right.”
Seeing that Lao Liang was present too, he said, “Lao Liang knows everything in detail.”
The old lady was in shock, and before she could even react, she heard a loud thump from the opposite.
“Jingqiu!” Liu Xiangwen stood the furthest at that time.
She turned around and looked at Chang Jingqiu sprawled on the floor.
At that point, her waist was immobile. She plopped helplessly on the floor, and her lower back had some traces of blood.
Chang Jingqiu looked at them and clenched her jaw. She placed her palms on the floor and wanted to crawl over to them.
“Jingqiu! What are you doing!” Liu Xiangwen screamed.
Grandmother Chang saw it too, and while walking over, she said, “Your injuries are too serious. Why don’t you know how to cherish yourself right now!”
“Push…push me…over!” Chang Zhiyuan said after noticing that there was a wheelchair prepared.
Qi Chenglin and Chang Zhixing helped Chang Zhiyuan onto the wheelchair. Grandmother Chang’s cries were then heard. “ZHIXING! COME HERE! Help Jingqiu up!”
Chang Zhixing rushed over, but before he could carry her up, Chang Jingqiu had grabbed on tightly to Grandmother Chang’s legs.
“Grandma, don’t throw me away Grandma!” Chang Jingqiu cried and said. “I don’t care whose child I am, but I’m only going to acknowledge you as my grandma. You’re the one who raised me since I was young, to protect me, and to love me. I treat you as my only family in this world! Grandma, please don’t leave me, I beg you. Please don’t leave me, I’m scared! I’m really scared!
“I don’t know anything. I don’t know anything now. Since I was young, you were always there with me, even from when I was still a baby that couldn’t remember anything. I was told that I’m the Chang family’s daughter, your granddaughter, but after twenty-seven years, I’m suddenly told that it was all a mistake, and I’m not your granddaughter. The family I thought was family is no longer my family. What am I going to do? What’s going to happen to me?”
Chang Jingqiu remained on the floor, raising her head and crying pitiably without letting Chang Zhixing touch her.
“Grandma, I’ve always treated you as my closest family. You’re all my family! You are, aren’t you? All of a sudden, you’re not, and you don’t want to care for me anymore, don’t you? You want to take away all that love you’ve shown me in the past, don’t you? Grandma, I can’t bear to part with you. Look at me, I’m your Jingqiu! I’m your Jingqiu!
“When I was young, I was scared of the dark when I slept alone in my room for the first time. You were the one who got worried about me and came to see me, to coax me to sleep. You’re the one who told stories to me every night. When there was thunder, you hugged me to sleep. You told me that I’m your granddaughter—the granddaughter you love the most. No matter what happens, you said you’ll love me and care for me always, and you’ll never leave me alone by myself. You’re the one who said that I still have you even though my parents are gone. Grandma, will I not have this anymore from now onward?
“I don’t care about the Chang family status, and I don’t care about all the glamor, but I care for my family! I care about you! In the future…will I not have the opportunity to call you Grandma again in the future? Will I be without family in the future?” Chang Jingqiu cried and exclaimed, with her entire body shaking terribly.
“Jingqiu.” Grandmother Chang’s heart was unable to take it after seeing Chang Jingqiu in such a state. “Get up first. You’re still injured.”
Even Grandmother Chang was unable to do something so heartless.
After all, she raised Chang Jingqiu for twenty-seven years and had always been loving the young woman as her own granddaughter.
Grandmother Chang loved Chang Jingqiu so much because Chang Jingqiu was always beside her since the latter was young. Grandmother Chang placed a lot of effort on Chang Jingqiu, rivaling that of Chang Zhixing and Chang Jianan, even.
One might say that Chang Jingqiu was never separated from Grandmother Chang when Chang Jingqiu was still young. They were always together, every single day.
Grandmother Chang poured out her heart for Chang Jingqiu. One could have feelings for an ordinary adopted child, or even a pet of any kind, more so, when it was someone that she sincerely loved for twenty-seven years.
As for Ruan Danchen, Grandmother Chang looked unfavorably toward her in the past, souring their relationship. The dislike was genuine, and even if there was evidence saying that Ruan Danchen was her true granddaughter, the feelings could never be compared to how she welcomed Chang Jingqiu into the house early on.
Even if Grandmother Chang did not have any sort of misunderstanding with Ruan Danchen, they were not close, especially not when compared to Chang Jingqiu, whom Grandmother Ruan loved for twenty-seven years.
Moreover, Grandmother Chang was genuinely unwilling to acknowledge Ruan Danchen as her granddaughter.
Having entered into a deadlock during past interactions, Grandmother Chang did not want to meet her at all. It would be like a slap in the face if the woman she so looked down on in the past became her granddaughter.
Simply looking at Ruan Danchen’s face invoked anger in Grandmother Chang, making her feel extremely moody. Deep down, she thought that it would have been better off maintaining the present situation, or treat it as though nothing happened in the first place.
Looking at Chang Jingqiu lying on the ground, grabbing her legs, and crying so fervently, Grandmother Chang could not bring herself to do it.
“Grandma, I’ll be alone without you in the future. Those two people who gave birth to me… Those two… I won’t acknowledge them! They’re not good people. They don’t treat me as their daughter. I won’t have a family anymore. Grandma, I’m scared! I’m really scared! I just want to be beside you, to be filial toward you. Even if you don’t want to acknowledge me, at least let me be by your side. I beg you, let me stay beside you, to care for you. As long as you let me… let me have a chance to stay beside you, I’ll be content. Grandma…”
Grandmother Chang wiped her tears and helped Chang Jingqiu up. “You silly child. What’s this nonsense you’re talking about! How could I just leave you like that? This is twenty-seven years of feelings. Do you think they can be severed just like that? What kind of person do you take your grandma for? Your body can’t take it now and your scar is open. How could you not take care of yourself better?”
“Zhixing, why are you staring so blankly for? Come and quickly help Jingqiu onto the bed,” Grandmother Chang said.
Liu Xiangwen swiftly pressed the doorbell and called the nurses over. They then dealt with Chang Jingqiu’s wound once more.
“Grandma, you won’t disown me, right?” Lying on the sickbed, Chang Jingqiu grasped the old lady’s hand. She looked as though she was yearning, and at the same time, there was apprehensiveness too.
It clearly looked as though she wanted to get closer to the old lady, but current circumstances made her wary of doing so.
Her demeanor made Grandmother Chang pity her. “Silly child. Grandma won’t disown you, of course. Don’t worry. We’ll be the same now as we were in the past. Take care of your body. Even if you can’t recover from this, Grandma will take care of you for your whole life.”
“Grandma! I’m so glad I still have you. It’s good to still have you! When Uncle told me about this, you have no idea how scared I was. I… I was afraid you wouldn’t want me, and I was afraid I wouldn’t have a family anymore. No one loves me like you do, and I’m scared you’ll hate me because of that. I’m afraid you’ll despise me instead of loving me. Grandma…” Chang Jingqiu hugged the old lady’s arm and cried out.
“Silly child, don’t think so much. Grandma still loves you,” Grandmother Chang said lovingly.
Ruan Danchen watched the unfathomable sight before her. That unreasonable old lady showed that side of her and could even have such a good relationship with someone that had no blood relations with her at all.
Ruan Danchen shook his head and felt that it was all up to fate. Some people were linked by fate and had no regard for blood ties, just like Grandmother Chang and Chang Jingqiu. Some were destined the opposite way, like how Grandmother Chang still did not like Ruan Danchen.
It was then that Ruan Danchen calmed down. She continued to hold Grandmother Chang’s hand—just like a three-year-old kid, afraid that the old lady would disown her.
Grandmother Chang was not angry at all. She turned to glare at Chang Zhiyuan and said, “If you want to find those people, then find them! Why did you need to scare her like that! She’s all good, but because of you, she’s become like this now!”
Chang Zhiyuan’s face paled. He looked at the old lady, then at Chang Jingqiu, before lowering his gaze and keeping quiet.
“You can leave. We’ll talk more when those two people from J City arrive,” Grandmother Chang said to Qi Chenglin and Ruan Danchen.
The couple ignored her and treated it as though they did not hear what she said.
Mo Yuxin pushed Chang Zhiyuan into his ward. Qi Chenglin, along with Chang Zhixing, carried Chang Zhiyuan up into his bed.
Chang Zhixing looked at Ruan Danchen with a convoluted expression. He did not know what to say to a niece that somehow just popped out of nowhere.
Who would have known that the wife of the Qi family’s second young master was his niece?
In fact, he was very elated deep down. After all, there were numerous benefits to being associated with the Qi family, and he would not mind Chang Jingqiu at all.
However, Liu Xiangwen and Chang Jianan offended Ruan Danchen multiple times in the past. He would have to figure out a way to mend their relationship. He ought to tell Liu Xiangwen and enlighten her to not continuously fawn over Chang Jingqiu so frequently.
As he thought of that, Liu Xiangwen appeared right at the entrance, though she did not go in. She simply told Chang Zhixing, “I’ll take care of Jingqiu. Send Mom home.”
Chang Zhixing frowned. Things had already escalated to such an extent and Qi Chenglin clearly did not like Chang Jingqiu, so why the hell was Liu Xiangwen trying to curry favor with Chang Jingqiu?
He turned to Chang Zhiyuan and Mo Yuxin, saying, “Big Brother, I’ll send Mom home and come visit you again.”
When he went out, he saw that Grandmother Chang there, so it was inappropriate to be saying anything to Liu Xiangwen. He could only do so after sending Grandmother Chang back.
It was then that Chang Zhiyuan sighed. He turned to Ruan Danchen and said, “Don’t take Mom’s attitude to heart.”
“I won’t.” Ruan Danchen shook her head.
Chang Zhiyuan saw that and realized that she had no feelings toward Grandmother Chang whatsoever. Nothing the old lady said or done would have any effect on Ruan Danchen.
Ruan Danchen was also able to see the way Grandmother Chang treated Chang Zhiyuan. In her mind, she felt that he was unfairly treated, but she did not say anything because it was an issue within their family.
If Chang Zhiyuan did not say anything, she had no right to be saying anything either.
Mo Yuxin could not suppress the unfairness she was feeling, and it showed on her face. Chang Zhiyuan held her hand and said, “It’s okay. I’m the one responsible for her paralysis. Since Mom doesn’t intend to chase her away and still wants to take care of her, I can feel relieved. If Mom really did drive her away, to be honest with you, I don’t think I would be able to just leave her like that.”
Mo Yuxin did not want to be bothered by Chang Jingqiu. Chang Zhiyuan then said, “From now on, you don’t need to worry about her like how you did last time. She’s now our niece and it’s already kind of us to raise her as though she was part of the Chang family. She’s injured and her body might not recover, but there’s nothing we can do. To be fair, I don’t think Mom will want to keep her if she wasn’t in the state she is right now. It’s a loss and a gain. You’ve more than made up for it, and other than that, there’s nothing else we can do.”
Chang Zhiyuan would have been alright with treating Chang Jingqiu as his niece just as before, that is if he did not know what kind of person Chang Jingqiu truly was.
Back at J City, he saw her true colors, and at some point, she might betray them for her own interests.
That was why he could not bring himself closer to Chang Jingqiu. Even if she was left in such a state, he felt that it was good enough that she was taken care of by the Chang family.
“I was told that you just got off from your flight today. You probably didn’t sleep well because of the time difference. You should go home,” Mo Yuxin said.
“I’ll leave my phone number here then. If there’s anything, just give me a call,” Ruan Danchen said and left her phone number with them. “We’ll come again tomorrow.”
“Rest well. Don’t worry about us, I’m fine,” Chang Zhiyuan said.
After urging Qi Chenglin and Ruan Danchen to go home, Chang Zhiyuan felt tired and went to rest.
…
At the other end, Liu Xiangwen was keeping Chang Jingqiu company. The latter has a wasted appearance.
Liu Xiangwen had no idea how to treat Chang Jingqiu. Chang Jingqiu was no longer related to the Chang family, but Grandmother Chang seemed to still care for her a lot. Ruan Danchen, on the other hand, did not receive so much as a look from the old lady.
Notwithstanding that, Ruan Danchen was her true granddaughter.
Liu Xiangwen did not care much for the Qi family. Grandmother Chang had thoroughly offended the Qi family, and from observations of Qi Chenglin and Ruan Danchen’s attitude that day, Qi Chenglin might not change his outlook of the Chang family even though Ruan Danchen was related to them.
Grandmother Chang hated Ruan Danchen too, and within the Chang family, Ruan Danchen had no value whatsoever. Qi Chenglin would not give them any benefit for Ruan Danchen’s sake either.
Liu Xiangwen was not magnanimous—as long as she could haul whatever benefit she could get from the Chang family, that was enough for her.
As she was thinking about whether she should try to build a good relationship with Chang Jingqiu, a gentle voice resounded by her ear. “Auntie, what’s your plan for the future?”
“What?” Liu Xiangwen snapped back to her senses and looked confusedly at Chang Jingqiu.
Chang Jingqiu smiled and said calmly, “Help me straighten the bed. I don’t want to be talking to you like this.”
Liu Xiangwen looked suspiciously at Chang Jingqiu. Barely moments ago, the young lady was crying her heart out at Grandmother Chang. She looked so pitiable then, but all of that changed into calmness as if nothing happened earlier.
Liu Xiangwen straightened the bed so Chang Jingqiu was almost seated upright. She then helped her position the pillow so the wound was not covered.
“What do you want to tell me?” Liu Xiangwen asked prudently.
Chang Jingqiu looked at her own numb legs, with her eyes turning cold. “What do you have in mind for the future? You want to fawn over Ruan Danchen?”
Liu Xiangwen’s expression remained unchanging. “Why do you say that?”
Chang Jingqiu pursed her lips without care and said, “You haven’t forgotten how terribly you offended her, right? Nannan kept on bothering Youxuan and was finally forced to change schools. I don’t need to say much, but you said plenty of terrible things about her just to protect Nannan. Of course, there’s Grandma, who scolded her plenty on Nannan’s behalf. You saw how Grandma looks at Ruan Danchen. By all those earlier actions alone, her relationship with Ruan Danchen is not going to be so warm. Think about it, aren’t you incredibly angry if someone you hated so much became your family member so suddenly? That’s not a feeling you can put in words.”
Liu Xiangwen thought about it and realized that if she was put in that position, she would feel angry and disdainful toward the other party. For someone she hated to become her family member was like a thorn in her flesh, a dark blemish. She was wholly unwilling to accept that.
Chang Jingqiu’s mouth curled in a smile. “I don’t believe that Ruan Danchen doesn’t bear a grudge against you. The Qi family are people who act on their grudges, and even if they consider it even on the spot, it doesn’t mean that they’ll forgive you just like that. The Qi family has always been difficult to make amends with after they’ve been offended. All the more when you go up to them and try to curry favor. The opposite effect will probably happen.
Liu Xiangwen pursed her lip. From the very beginning, she did not think that there was any benefit for the Chang family if Ruan Danchen became a part of it. With Chang Jingqiu’s analysis, that feeling got even stronger.
Chang Jingqiu cocked a brow. She spoke rather weakly and without energy, but her words were forceful and struck deeply into Liu Xiangwen’s heart.
“Besides, Elder Uncle is now obviously trying to strike up a good relationship with Ruan Danchen. Just look at today. Qi Chenglin and Ruan Danchen took a flight here immediately after finding out. Everything that comes out of Elder Uncle’s wife’s mouth sides with Ruan Danchen. They were the first to know my status, but they never told anyone even though they knew. Instead, they went and gathered evidence secretly. Auntie, tell me, what intentions do they have?” Chang Jingqiu sported a chiding smile on her lips.
Liu Xiangwen’s expression changed dramatically and quickly, turning very sour indeed.
“Aren’t they trying to seize the opportunity to distance themselves from me? You’re the ones getting close to me instead. The intentions for that aren’t going to be any good,” Chang Jingqiu curled her lips. “I know you’re close to me because Grandma pampers me. You want to be better than Elder Uncle and his wife.”
Liu Xiangwen was not surprised. Chang Jingqiu was no idiot and would have known about it.
“They knew I was a fake, but they didn’t tell you. What they did was strike up a relationship with Ruan Danchen in secret. Looking at how Qi Chenglin and Ruan Danchen treated them today. It’s clear that it’s not as simple as a nod of the head when they meet. They’ve already pulled their relationship closer since early on. Now that I think about it, how did Elder Uncle explain his presence at Qi Chenglin and Ruan Danchen’s wedding, when he was seated with the Ruan family? How could we have believed him? He was there to acknowledge Ruan Danchen as his niece! But he still wants to hide that from us! Why do you think that’s the case, Auntie?”
“It’s because he’s afraid that your younger uncle would have a share of Ruan Danchen’s kindness! He’s afraid your younger uncle would be better than him!” Liu Xiangwen was already gritting her teeth and finishing the sentence without needing Chang Jingqiu to incite her further. “Changhe’s in his hands, and he’s afraid that your younger uncle will stand out from the crowd, so he lets your younger uncle do idle things that are neither too important nor too trivial. All the big decisions in the company are taken by your elder uncle, and no one in the company listens to what your younger uncle says. That’s his younger brother! How could he treat his own brother like that! As if that isn’t enough, he’s even plotting against us, he wants to make sure we don’t stand out at all, right? Whenever something happens to our family, your elder uncle and his wife stand to one side and laugh at us, even scolding us too!”
“That’s why. You’re late by one step in trying to get into Ruan Danchen’s good books. Nannan already offended them last time, and no one knows if anything will happen to Nannan in the future. If you try to get on their good books now, you’ll look like you’re doing that only for the benefits it gives you. It makes you look like a lowly person who’s playing up to powerful people.” Chang Jingqiu covered her mouth. “Auntie, my words are direct, so don’t take offense. My intentions are good.”
“Since you’ve already said so much, why don’t you just be straightforward with what you’re trying to tell me.” Liu Xiangwen was no fool. She remarked coldly, “You said that you’re a direct person, so stop beating around the bush. You’re terribly injured, and it’s best that you say whatever you want to say so you can rest earlier.”
Chang Jingqiu did not make a fuss since she had no right to be letting her temper loose.
She looked down at her numb legs with a gaze filled with hatred.
When she looked up again, her hate-filled gaze had been suppressed.
