Chapter 25: A Date with Me

Zhuang Qianqian covered her face and argued, “It wasn’t me, it was the maid! I just followed along and made a sarcastic remark, who knew… who knew Second Aunt would hear it.”

“You deliberately went to my mother’s courtyard late at night just to make a few sarcastic remarks?”

Zhuang Qinyang, whose anger had been suppressed by the elders’ authority, could no longer control it. “Zhuang Qianqian, what are your intentions?”

Zhuang Qianqian stammered, “I, I was just being quick-tongued, I didn’t expect Second Aunt to react so strongly, she passed out right there…”

Last night, at the gathering, Zhuang Jianxi had stolen the spotlight and was taken away by Qiu Yixun. After returning home, Zhuang Qianqian, who had been constantly subjected to insults and ridicule, lost her temper.

She hadn’t expected that her glorious four years of university would end with such a huge setback.

Now everyone knew about her ‘painting’ failure, her despicable cheating, and even doubted whether her academic achievements and graduation certificate were also fraudulent.

Her hard-earned reputation crumbled overnight. Zhuang Qianqian cried in anger and smashed a lot of things. Finally, unable to contain her anger, she went to Zhuang Jianxi’s mother’s courtyard.

Zhuang Jianxi’s mother happened to be taking a walk in the courtyard because she couldn’t sleep. So, Zhuang Qianqian pulled a maid into a conversation and inadvertently let the secret slip…

When Zhuang’s mother learned that Zhuang Jianxi had been given away by the Zhuang family, she turned pale and fainted shortly after clutching her chest.

Before she could finish her sentence, Zhuang Jianxi slapped her again, this time even harder!

The two loud slaps left her face red and swollen, now both sides were symmetrical. Zhuang Qianqian was in so much pain that tears welled up in her eyes.

Uncle Zhuang Biqiang quickly stood in front of Zhuang Qianqian, his face grim. “Jianxi, don’t go too far!”

“Let’s talk things out! We’re cousins, how can you hit someone?”

Zhuang Jianxi said coldly, “You better pray that my mother is safe, otherwise, I won’t let you off easily.”

Uncle Zhuang knew he was in the wrong. He looked at Zhuang’s father, who had been frowning the whole time and didn’t even reprimand Zhuang Jianxi for hitting her. He must be angry too.

Uncle Zhuang coughed lightly and tried to soften his tone. “Well, she’s been hit, there’s no point dwelling on it now. We need to find a way to invite Professor Liu, the top cardiac surgeon in Haicheng.”

“And the doctor just said that your mother’s heart function is severely damaged. It’s best to find a suitable heart source from organ donation centers across the country and even internationally for a transplant surgery. Professor Liu will be the surgeon. The cost of the entire process, including rehabilitation treatment, will be enormous. Right now, Zhuang’s enterprise is in a critical period of integration, and funds may be…”

Before Uncle Zhuang could finish his suggestive words, Zhuang Jianxi retorted sarcastically.

“Sell me off. Qiu’s company has invested so much money in you, and you still can’t make ends meet. What are you good for?”

“You…” Uncle Zhuang’s old face flushed red from the humiliation. “There are so many mouths to feed in the Zhuang family. We’ve spent so much money raising you and your mother all these years. Do you think it’s easy?!”

Zhuang Jianxi said, “That’s ridiculous. Do my mother and I need your support? We haven’t made any contributions to the family?”

Uncle Zhuang choked. “Anyway, the Zhuang family is not what it used to be. I’m not saying I’m not trying. Your mother’s expenses are one thing, but finding a heart source and Professor Liu is another. We can’t help it.”

He wasn’t lying. The Zhuang family had indeed fallen into decline in recent years. They had almost gone bankrupt after that blow. Even though Qiu’s company had injected a large amount of funds to fill the hole and they had recovered some of their vitality, they were still in a state of semi-death.

Because some things had begun to rot from the root.

Zhuang’s father also knew the situation, so he kept frowning and sighing, lost in thought.

Professor Liu of Haicheng was renowned but eccentric. He was in high demand and his fees were astronomical. Some wealthy people had visited him several times but couldn’t even get an appointment, let alone them, a humble family from Longcheng.

Besides, finding a matching heart source wasn’t something you could get right away without certain connections and resources.

Looking at her father and brother’s gloomy faces, Zhuang Jianxi fell silent, her eyes filled with worry as she looked at her mother, who was unconscious in the intensive care unit.

Uncle Zhuang hesitated for a moment, then said cautiously, “There’s not entirely no way…”

Seeing that Zhuang Jianxi didn’t respond, Uncle Zhuang cleared his throat and continued, “You’re Qiu’s man now. I suggest you go ask him. If he steps in, everything will be fine…”

Zhuang Qianqian also chimed in sourly, “That’s right. Qiu Yixun is so nice to you, just ask him and he’ll help…”

“Get out.” Zhuang Jianxi coldly spat out a single word.

Uncle Zhuang and Zhuang Qianqian’s faces turned ugly. They wanted to say something else.

“Are you deaf? I said get out!”

In the entire Zhuang family, only Zhuang Jianxi dared to scold them.

Uncle Zhuang was about to be consumed by anger. If it weren’t for Zhuang Jianxi being with Qiu Yixun, he would have given this disrespectful little brat a taste of his own medicine today.

After the two left, Zhuang Qinyang hesitated to speak. Finally, Zhuang’s father spoke in a hesitant and awkward voice, “Xiao Xi…”

“I know the Zhuang family owes you and your mother, but we really can’t think of a better solution right now.”

“Your mother is now in critical condition. Whether she can survive this depends on you.”

Zhuang Jianxi stared fixedly at the ward, her profile slightly pale, saying nothing.

Zhuang Qinyang clenched his fists, a sense of powerlessness and shame spreading through his body. Both his father and he, as a brother, had been utterly useless.

Everything relied on this younger sister.

She was only twenty-one years old, a recent graduate, yet she had to bear such a heavy burden.

Zhuang’s father and Zhuang Qinyang went to the doctor’s office to learn more about the situation.

Zhuang Jianxi leaned against the cold, empty wall alone, her head bowed, her eyes unfocused as she stared at the ground, lost in thought.

A pair of bright, clean leather shoes appeared in her field of vision.

Zhuang Jianxi’s eyes gradually focused, her gaze rising to meet a pair of straight, long trousers, a well-tailored shirt and suit, the strong muscle lines beneath the expensive fabric impossible to conceal.

She looked up, meeting Qiu Yixun’s concerned eyes. For some reason, her nose felt sour, her eyes welling up with tears. The misty layers almost obscured the man before her.

Zhuang Jianxi turned her head away, not wanting him to see the vulnerability in her eyes.

Qiu Yixun looked down at her, suddenly raising his hand to hold her face, his fingertips tracing the redness around her eyes, wiping away some of the moisture.

His voice was low and gentle, “Cry if you want to.”

Zhuang Jianxi lowered her eyes, stubbornly saying, “I’m not crying.”

Qiu Yixun curved his lips slightly, “It’s not embarrassing to cry.”

Looking at the beautiful yet resilient woman before him, his heart couldn’t help but overflow with emotions.

Zhuang Jianxi turned her face away again, “It’s embarrassing to cry.”

“How could it be?” Qiu Yixun’s eyes twinkled, “You must look like a weeping willow when you cry, especially beautiful.”

He coaxed, “Anyone can cry when they’re sad.”

Zhuang Jianxi sniffed, asking back, “Has Mr. Qiu ever cried?”

“Of course,” Qiu Yixun said solemnly, “Who doesn’t cry when they’re born?”

Zhuang Jianxi pursed her lips, not speaking anymore.

Qiu Yixun asked again, “How is my mother-in-law doing now?”

The word ‘mother-in-law’ froze Zhuang Jianxi for a few seconds. She was stunned, opening her mouth to say something, but in the end, she could only squeeze out two words, “Not good.”

Qiu Yixun, “Do you need me to do anything?”

Zhuang Jianxi was suspicious, “If I ask you for help, will you help?”

Qiu Yixun nodded, “Yes, as long as you ask.”

Zhuang Jianxi didn’t expect him to be so straightforward. It was really as Zhuang Qianqian had said, as long as she asked…

Was it because he had gotten a marriage certificate with her, a recognized legal marriage?

Zhuang Jianxi had always thought that he saw her as just an ‘interesting toy’ that had been delivered to him, something to play with and then discard when he got bored. So she had never dared to open her heart to him. They had lived together for so long, and she hadn’t even dared to be ordinary friends.

She couldn’t figure it out, so she could only ask, “What are your conditions?”

Conditions? Qiu Yixun raised an eyebrow.

He had come over purely because he couldn’t bear to see her anxious and helpless, and he hadn’t thought about this at all.

But since Zhuang Jianxi had brought it up, it would be foolish not to take advantage of it.

Qiu Yixun smiled slightly, “Go on a date with me.”