Chapter 3: The man at number 003
Before Xia Yourong intentionally hadn't shared this matter in the family group chat, because she didn't want to see the current situation unfold!
She had worked hard for 14 years and was about to completely replace Xia Ye's position in the Xia Family, but now look what happened...
The Xia Ye, who was held dear by the Xia Family, had actually returned!
**
Captain Fu had wanted to take Xia Ye's statement immediately, but considering her unstable mental state, he decided to wait a while.
Xu He couldn't bear the thought of Xia Ye traveling a long distance with injuries and insisted on having Wang Dahai drive to the town hospital first, so a doctor could disinfect Xia Ye's wounds and do a full-body examination.
Otherwise, she really wouldn't be at ease.
The town hospital had never expected to welcome someone from a household like the Xia Family, and they were received personally by the hospital director throughout the entire visit.
The director brought the three of them to a general ward on the third floor with an apologetic face, "Madam Xia, I am so sorry, but all the VIP wards on the top floor are full. We only have space on the third floor, is that alright with you?"
Xu He looked at the patients coming and going in the hallway, "Isn't the third floor too noisy?"
With apparent 'considerateness', Xia Yourong persuaded from the side, "Mom, please don't trouble the director. I think the conditions here are quite good and besides, sister's injuries are not that severe."
Born a month earlier than Xia Ye, Xia Yourong naturally called her sister.
So what if Xia Ye had returned?
Wasn't she still the Xia Family's eldest daughter?
And her, she was just a second daughter!
Xia Ye glanced outside the window and sized up the height before slightly raising an eyebrow with unclear intent, "The third floor is quite good."
Since she had said that, Xu He had no choice but to agree.
After admission, the doctor carefully disinfected and bandaged Xia Ye's wounds on her wrists and ankles and carried out a full-body examination. Thankfully, they were all surface injuries, and an overnight hospital observation should suffice without any major issues.
Luckily, for 14 years, the criminal had only confined Xia Ye and tortured her psychologically, without doing anything else.
By evening, Xu He brought a new set of clothes she had purchased and gently pushed open the door to Xia Ye's room.
"Mom, sister, she…"
"Shush," Xu He, seeing Xia Ye, who had been medicated and now asleep, made a gentle gesture to Xia Yourong, her eyes warm.
On the hospital bed, Xia Ye's sleeping posture was a bit odd; she hadn't covered herself with the blanket, nor used a pillow.
She was resting her head on her own arm, her body curled up in the center of the bed.
If she could grow a fluffy tail, she would look just like an adorable little fox.
Xu He smiled knowingly.
Her Little Tiangao was really cute.
Xu He: "Oh right, about Little Tiangao coming back, we need to inform the Jiang Family as soon as possible."
"Why tell the Jiang Family?" Xia Yourong immediately became alert upon hearing mention of the Jiang Family.
With a smile, Xu He replied, "Your sister has had an engagement with the young master of the Jiang Family since they were children. Oh right, aren't you classmates with him? In the future, he will be your brother-in-law..."
Hearing the word 'brother-in-law', Xia Yourong clenched her hand tightly.
In Capital City, no one was unaware of the influence of the Jiang Consortium on today's China.
Jiang Yunzhou, the nephew of the Consortium's president, was indisputably the most sought-after male student at Beijing No.1 High School.
Not only did he have good grades, but he was also handsome and charismatic.
This perfect gentleman, Jiang Yunzhou, was someone Xia Yourong had set her sights on long ago—why should she let Xia Ye have him?
And how could a wild country girl be worthy of the Jiang Family's esteemed and precious young master?
Xu He placed the carefully chosen clothes by the bedside and also thoughtfully covered Xia Ye with the quilt, oblivious to Xia Yourong's expression.
**
On the other side of the town, in a very understated Chinese-style villa.
Jiang Yunzhou pushed past the butler in a rush, bursting into the study where his uncle Jiang Xuan was hanging a painting on the wall.
Although called 'uncle', he was only 8 years older than him, but had already secured his position as the primary decision-maker of the Jiang Consortium.
The uncle rarely appeared in Consortium affairs, mysterious in his comings and goings. His visit to the town this time was to acquire this painting.
Jiang Yunzhou had begged and pleaded during the winter break, and it was only then that his uncle agreed to bring him along.
It was an original by the most renowned classical artist from the last century, T. D.
Historical records about this artist were scarce.
Nationality unknown, age unknown, background unknown...
Only known to be male...
Yet despite this, his uncle could identify the original from a myriad of high-quality forgeries at a glance.
Jiang Yunzhou couldn't help but admire him.
Looking closely, he seemed to recognize the scene in the painting from his geography textbook.
It was the world's seventh greatest unresolved mystery—Sky Pit.
The pit was seven thousand three hundred meters in diameter, and scientists to this day cannot explain how it was formed.
Reports unanimously suggest: this could be, humanity's closest encounter with extraterrestrials!
"Uncle! The Xia Family's daughter has returned! Now I'm really doomed!"
Jiang Xuan methodically hung the painting behind him, ensuring it was straight before slowly turning around.
His face, cold and distant, excessively pale. His skin was like alabaster, his collar like a snake, and his narrow, long eyes were deep and stunningly beautiful.
Clear winds, bright moon, one must contemplate the profoundness.
That was probably referring to this sort of otherworldly beauty.
The man sat back in his chair unhurriedly, looking at his nephew's face of utter dismay as if he could see straight through to his heart.
His right index finger delicately rubbed the knuckles on his left hand, and when he spoke, his voice was deep and slow, "You're thinking, of calling off the engagement?"