BDB Chapter 17

Jiang Rao didn’t know how she should react.

She still remembered the last time they met, when he had forced her to remove her makeup and then handed her a black gold card as compensation.

Reflecting on her recent actions, she felt that, aside from eating a bit more, she hadn’t really shattered Jiang Tang’s persona.

Thinking about this, she sighed inwardly. If the male lead were just an ordinary president, she wouldn’t have to worry about him discovering her real identity if she had the properties registered in her name.

Although she planned to sell those properties eventually, having owned five property titles, even for a short time, would have been a pleasant memory to look back on.

Unfortunately, he was no ordinary person.

Not only was he extraordinary, but he was also a highly sensitive and suspicious individual who always imagined the worst.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t suddenly suspect his wife’s identity.

It was a pity that she had to apply several layers of setting spray just to feel secure while she was sick.

Jiang Rao, being ill, was provided with a menu of light foods by the kitchen. However, because the old residence’s chef was a top-tier hire from various Michelin-starred restaurants, even the light porridge and side dishes had a sweet and fragrant taste.

With her stomach finally full, her spirits improved somewhat.

Yet her head still ached. Her condition was so poor that it was hard to recover on its own.

After taking yesterday’s cold medicine and the fever medicine provided by Butler Gu, Jiang Rao lay down for a nap. However, just as she settled on the bed, her cell phone started ringing incessantly.

Reaching out to grab the phone from the bedside table, she looked at the caller ID and, unsurprisingly, the only caller was Madam Bai.

Jiang Rao didn’t want to answer the other party’s call, but she knew that this person was persistent.

If she hung up, the other party would likely bombard her with dozens of continuous calls, and if that failed, she would call the old residence or even show up in person. In short, she was determined to get in touch with her.

Yawning, Jiang Rao answered the call and heard an excited voice on the other end. “I heard that Young Master Li is planning to move back in?”

Jiang Rao had never read the extras in novels. While minor characters’ inner monologues and brief storylines could add depth, she believed that leaving some things to the imagination was the most beautiful.

So in her mind, Madam Bai was a minor antagonist with limited appearances.

She knew Madam Bai would have a lot more scenes later on. If Jiang Rao didn’t show up, she would likely send her biological daughter who was suffering from depression to the Li family to fulfill the so-called marriage agreement. After all, expanding capital always required sacrifices, and the position of Madam Li was crucial for the Jiang family. Since the cooked duck had flown to the girl she hired, she would naturally do everything possible to sabotage it.

But what was unexpected was that Madam Bai’s role was so prominent even in the early stages!

Jiang Rao wasn’t interested in how Madam Bai had learned about the male lead’s move back. With a soft “Mm”, she wanted to end the call. “Is there anything else? If not, I’ll hang up.”

Bai Yurou quickly said, “Wait a moment. You did pretty well this time. You managed to keep Young Master Li in City Z and even got him to move back to the old residence. After he moves back, make sure to work on cultivating a good relationship between Tangtang and him. I’ve taken care of the debt your mother owed this time, but if she owes money again, I’ll just deduct it from the remaining payment you’re supposed to receive from me. Don’t worry about her. Just focus on impressing Young Master Li and try to secure that land bid for the West District for the family…”

Although Jiang Rao was sick and had just taken cold medicine and fever reducers that made her feel drowsy, she still absorbed everything Madam Bai said in such detail. As long as she wasn’t completely out of her mind, she would remember it all.

She wasn’t particularly angry, given she had the five properties as a backup. As long as Madam Bai was willing to act this way, she could wait six months and then sell the properties under Jiang Tang’s name and leave the city or even the country with the money.

But she was simply too tired to deal with this person anymore.

While the other party was still speaking, Jiang Rao covered the receiver with one hand and picked up the room’s landline to call Butler Gu. “I’m going to sleep. Don’t let anyone wake me up, including my family.”

Butler Gu naturally agreed.

Jiang Rao then removed the phone’s battery.

However, Jiang Rao’s guess was off this time. For the entire afternoon, Madam Bai didn’t call the old residence.

The timing of her removing the battery was just right; Bai Yurou had just finished giving her instructions.

Moreover, shortly after hanging up, Bai Yurou mustered the courage to call Li Jueyan’s private number.

At that moment, Li Jueyan was sitting cross-legged in the presidential ward, handling work while wearing a bandage on his head.

Although capital accumulation was hard to dissipate once it reached a certain level, many people outside still wanted to see the collapse of the empire. His work wasn’t as easy as outsiders thought.

When the phone rang, he answered without even looking.

The cautious voice on the other end said, “Son-in-law… no, Young Master Li, are you busy?”

Whether he was busy or not wasn’t a problem for him; multitasking wasn’t difficult. It depended on whether the person was worth his attention. “If you have something to say, say it. If not, I’ll hang up.”

Bai Yurou hurriedly said, “Young Master Li, Tangtang’s temperament isn’t great. Please be understanding. I’ve advised her today to get along well with you in the future.”

The bandaged wound on his head still ached faintly, and Li Jueyan stopped his hand from typing on documents.

He didn’t know whether Jiang Tang’s temperament was good or not.

But that little wildcat with its claws out… he scoffed.

“Advised her?”

“Yes, advised her.”

“What do you want?”

“Young Master Li, could the West District land bid…”

“It depends on her performance.”

…

Jiang Rao had been sick for over a week, and she still hadn’t recovered much.

During this time, she had received intravenous drips, but due to her delicate skin and fine blood vessels, she was prone to needle marks. Each time she had an IV, her hand would swell for three to five hours afterward.

She had taken medication, but by the end, even her resistance to drowsiness seemed to have formed, yet her illness persisted.

Despite that, the treatments had been somewhat effective.

At least at night, when she felt thirsty, she no longer had to disturb the maids’ sleep to bring her water because of the headache that made it difficult for her to move.

In March, the central air conditioning in the ancient castle was still running.

Having not been out for a long time, she felt that using a curling iron to style her hair would really damage its quality. Her fine, soft strands hung lazily over her shoulders.

Naturally, she wore whatever was comfortable when she was sick. A loose cotton-linen nightgown draped over her. She shook her head to chase away some of the drowsiness and then grabbed the handrail to slowly make her way downstairs.

At night, the ancient castle residence had perfectly switched between all the constantly lit lights and the sensor lights.

Jiang Rao took small steps, with each stair she descended, the lights in front of her would turn on while the ones behind her would turn off.

She reached the fridge and took out a bottle of cold water but hesitated to drink it straight away.

As she searched the kitchen for a kettle, she noticed out of the corner of her eye that the lights behind her were flickering on and off.

She initially felt a tightness in her chest, but quickly dismissed the notion of ghosts or spirits.

Still, she felt a bit scared.

The knife that the uncle chef used to slice her steak at lunch was merely five centimeters from her hand, and she slowly reached for it.

But before her fingers had even moved halfway, a man’s voice came from behind her.

“So this is what your mother said about you getting along with me in the future?”

…

Author’s Note: 
Jiang Rao: Madam Bai, I advise you to be kind!
Male lead, whoever said that was the one you should go find!

——