Glancing back at the long hospital corridor, he hesitated about going back when discordant voices came from the ward.

Pushing the door open, Jiang Chen saw Shen Zhiyi sitting by Lu Chiyuan’s bed, with Chen Jiu, who’d helped carry things, standing nearby.

Lu Mingxuan didn’t know Lu Chiyuan had unilaterally given Chen Jiu time off. As head of security, it was reasonable for Lu Mingxuan to call Chen Jiu to escort Shen Zhiyi.

Shen Zhiyi, surprised to see Jiang Chen, assumed he was there to curry favor. “What are you doing here?” she asked, clearly displeased—not with concern for Lu Chiyuan’s injuries but with visible irritation. After whatever she’d been thinking about all night, her hostility toward Jiang Chen was palpable.

Chen Jiu chimed in, “Xiao Jiang, you came empty-handed?”

The jab implied Jiang Chen lacked basic courtesy.

Jiang Chen looked at them, rolling his eyes inwardly.

[No need to guess—they’ve clearly rehearsed their lines.]

Lu Chiyuan had given Chen Jiu time off to create a time gap, fostering mistrust between him and Shen Zhiyi. But the car accident gave them a chance to align their stories.

Convinced their plan was foolproof, they wouldn’t suspect Lu Chiyuan, pinning everything on Jiang Chen, the perfect scapegoat.

Jiang Chen once again felt the world’s malice.

Noticing Jiang Chen’s empty hands and puffed-up demeanor, Lu Chiyuan asked, “Didn’t you go wash the fruit? Why’d you come back so grumpy?”

[Because I ran into that jinx, the male lead.]

Cursing inwardly, Jiang Chen put on an apologetic face. “I forgot the fruit in the washroom.”

He turned to retrieve it.

Lu Chiyuan said, “You’ve been busy all morning. Sit and rest. Chen Jiu, go to the washroom and get it.”

Jiang Chen hadn’t been busy—he’d just arrived early—but he knew Lu Chiyuan’s words were for the others. He sat cooperatively in the closest chair to Lu Chiyuan.

Chen Jiu’s expression stiffened, realizing Lu Chiyuan was singling him out. Without a word, he obediently went to fetch the fruit.

Before leaving, he shot Shen Zhiyi a look, signaling her to care for Lu Chiyuan and not let someone else steal the spotlight.

Shen Zhiyi knew this was a chance to mend their relationship. On the way, Chen Jiu had analyzed the pros and cons—she didn’t need to stay at odds with Lu Chiyuan.

Lu Chiyuan had always doted on her. If she softened, things could turn around.

“Brother, I know I was immature this time. Please don’t be mad,” Shen Zhiyi said, humbling herself with an apology.

She took out a thermos prepared by the household auntie. “I had Auntie make you some rib soup.”

Lu Chiyuan replied, “Set it there. Jiang Chen, help me serve it.”

Shen Zhiyi’s eagerness froze on her face. Reluctantly, she handed the thermos to Jiang Chen, retreating with slightly red eyes. “Brother, are you not going to forgive me?”

“Forgive? We’re siblings—there’s no need for that. You’re grown, and it’s good to have your own ideas. I’ve been busy with work these past couple of years, rarely home, and you haven’t reached out much. Maybe there’s an issue with how we interact. But my point stands: you need to take responsibility for every decision you make.”

Angry as he was, Lu Chiyuan hadn’t completely given up on Shen Zhiyi. He’d say what needed saying and do what needed doing.

Shen Zhiyi lowered her head, staring at her feet, unclear how much she absorbed.

Jiang Chen didn’t want to meddle in their family matters. Opening the thermos to serve the soup, he froze at the contents.

He glanced at Lu Chiyuan, then turned to Shen Zhiyi, choosing his words carefully. “Miss Shen, did you grab the wrong one?”

Shen Zhiyi looked up as Jiang Chen tilted the thermos, revealing it was full of lotus root.

With a playful jab, Jiang Chen said, “Rib soup doesn’t usually look like this.”

Shen Zhiyi wasn’t surprised, even thinking nothing was wrong. “Auntie said patients should eat light, so she picked out the meat.”

Jiang Chen: “…”

Stunned, he thought Lu Chiyuan’s minor injury didn’t warrant such restrictions. And even if it did, this wasn’t the way to go “light.”

Scooping with a spoon, he found a few peanuts.

Jiang Chen froze for two seconds, then laughed in exasperation.

He snapped the thermos shut, had Snowball find the nearest nutrition-focused restaurant, and ordered a new meal in front of Shen Zhiyi.

He should’ve done this sooner. What had he been expecting?

Feeling slighted, Shen Zhiyi thought he was being picky. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Suppressing his anger, Jiang Chen snapped, “What’s it mean? Are you genuinely clueless or just pretending? Your brother’s allergic to peanuts!”

If she’d only brought lotus root, Jiang Chen might’ve thought she was sulking, making a point to Lu Chiyuan.

But peanuts were different. Lu Chiyuan couldn’t touch anything peanut-related—eating them caused full-body allergic reactions, redness, even shock in severe cases.

The thermos had only a few peanuts, as if they hadn’t been fully removed.

This wasn’t a visit—it was a power play.

Shen Zhiyi brushed it off, even sounding righteous. “You’re making a big deal out of nothing. Just don’t eat it. Auntie said peanuts are nutritious. She got up early to make this, and my brother hasn’t even had a sip, yet you’re nitpicking.”

Jiang Chen found her utterly unreasonable. His anger flared, unable to be contained. “The villa’s auntie has worked for the Lu family for over a decade. She wouldn’t know about your brother’s allergy? Was this her idea or yours?”

The blunt accusation cut deep.

Shen Zhiyi froze, realizing Jiang Chen was implying she’d intentionally tried to harm Lu Chiyuan. Her lips trembled, eyes welling with tears.

Lu Chiyuan frowned, tugging Jiang Chen’s arm and shaking his head.

Realizing he’d gone too far, Jiang Chen had let his temper get the better of him, clashing with Shen Zhiyi. Taking a deep breath to calm down, he handed her tissues from the bedside table, murmuring, “Sorry…”

Shen Zhiyi slapped his hand away, grabbed her things, and sobbed, “I know you all don’t like me. I won’t stay here to be despised.”

She yanked the door open, nearly colliding with Chen Jiu, who was returning.

Seeing her crying, Chen Jiu assumed she’d fought with Lu Chiyuan again. He set down the fruit and chased after her.

Jiang Chen started to stop them but held back when he saw Chen Jiu leave.

Turning to Lu Chiyuan, he scratched his head, frustrated. “Brother Lu, I’m sorry. I think I caused you trouble.”

Shen Zhiyi was still a high school senior. As someone much older, Jiang Chen could’ve communicated differently instead of putting her on the spot.

Though he had biases against her from the novel, he should’ve stuck to the issue at hand.

Lu Chiyuan was surprised by Jiang Chen’s outburst, given his usually mild demeanor.

“You’ve got quite a temper,” Lu Chiyuan remarked.

Jiang Chen’s face flushed.

Lu Chiyuan called Chen Jiu, instructing him to ensure Shen Zhiyi got home safely.

Jiang Chen sat dejectedly. Snowball appeared, shaking its head. [Host, you really wronged the female lead this time. It wasn’t her, though she’s not entirely blameless.]

[Too late now—I already made her cry.]

Snowball sighed. [I tried to warn you, but you didn’t give me a chance.]

Jiang Chen regretted it more. Making a young girl cry wasn’t something to be proud of.

[What’s with the auntie? She shouldn’t make such a basic mistake.]

[If it was the auntie who watched Lu Chiyuan grow up, she wouldn’t. Problem is, Shen Zhiyi fired her. The current villa staff are from the Shen family.]

Jiang Chen’s eyes widened in shock.

Snowball continued, [Not just the auntie—gardeners, drivers, cleaners too. Shen Zhiyi replaced everyone she could with jobless Shen family members, giving them benefits like social insurance. While she was at school, they lived leisurely in her villa.]

[Is she insane? Does she even know what she’s doing?]

Jiang Chen could hardly believe it, wondering if he’d misheard.

Lu Chiyuan’s brow furrowed.

Snowball explained, [Love blinds. Yellow Hair spun a sob story about growing up on charity, charming Shen Zhiyi. He told her to stay true to her roots and be grateful. The Lu family only raised her, but the Shen family shares her blood. She bought it, opening the door for them. The Shen family saw an opportunity and took it.]

Jiang Chen felt he’d been too quick to reflect—he hadn’t gone hard enough.

[She doesn’t care about the Lu family but remembers the Shen family? Does she forget why she was adopted by the Lu family? Is she clueless or just an ungrateful wolf?]

Shen Zhiyi’s grandfather was a war comrade of the Lu family patriarch. After his death, the families lost contact.

When Shen Zhiyi’s parents died, her relatives fought over her compensation money, initially eager to take her in.

But when issues arose with the payout, they turned on her, calling her a burden and shirking responsibility.

At eleven or twelve, Shen Zhiyi lived under others’ roofs, facing cold stares, going hungry, poorly clothed, and abused.

When the Lu family learned of this, they consulted Lu Chiyuan, who didn’t mind gaining a sister. They traveled far to her hometown, bringing her back to raise.

The Shen family, seeing the Lu family’s wealth, schemed, demanding “living expenses” for Shen Zhiyi’s time with them.

Father Lu paid to cut ties, re-registered Shen Zhiyi’s household status, and, respecting her wishes, kept her name unchanged.

She’d only been with the Lu family for six years, yet forgot her past suffering and eagerly helped those relatives?

[She clings to those who treated her poorly and deliberately harms the boy who was good to her. What a piece of work.]

Jiang Chen felt his blood pressure spiking, his gaze toward Lu Chiyuan filled with sympathy and affection.

Lu Chiyuan opened his mouth, then stopped.

For the past two years, his parents had been expanding their overseas trade market, while he managed the family business, often out early and back late with no fixed schedule. To avoid disturbing Shen Zhiyi’s studies, he bought her a villa near school, with the family’s auntie to care for her.

When he occasionally visited, they’d have a simple meal, and he wouldn’t stay over, not noticing she’d replaced the staff. He assumed the auntie was off when he came.

The auntie, driver, and others had worked for the family for years.

Lu Chiyuan couldn’t fathom it. He used to think it was no big deal, but now it seemed absurd and laughable.

The ward fell silent, the atmosphere unnaturally tense.

Trying to lighten the mood, Jiang Chen handed Lu Chiyuan a washed peach. Before he could speak, Lu Chiyuan’s phone rang.

Seeing it was Chen Jiu, Lu Chiyuan, on a whim, put it on speaker.

“Boss, I got into a fender-bender in the hospital parking lot with Gu Tingsen from Linfeng Group. Miss Shen’s arguing with him, and I can’t handle it alone. Can Jiang Chen come down?”

Jiang Chen: “…”

[I’m done. I knew running into Gu Tingsen at the hospital wasn’t random. If the main couple doesn’t meet today, will this world collapse?]

Lu Chiyuan raised an eyebrow. Gu Tingsen was the male lead?