Chapter 20: The Vase Actress Who Is the Fake Heiress in Modern Society (20)

At the top floor of the Jiang family’s private hospital, Mother Jiang’s spirits had visibly lifted upon hearing that Xiandu was coming. She even managed to drink a few extra spoonfuls of the rice porridge that Jiang You'an held to her lips. Father Jiang watched from the side, occasionally dabbing away the droplets of food that strayed from her mouth.

When Xiandu opened the door, this was the scene that greeted her. What a heartwarming family, she thought.

"Xiandu is here!" Mother Jiang’s eyes lit up the moment she saw her. She immediately tried to push back the blankets to get out of bed, but the IV drip in her hand caused a tug that sent Father Jiang into a panic.

"Huimin, go ahead and have a good chat with Xiandu. I’ll step out for a moment." Father Jiang checked the various medical instruments to ensure all readings were normal before standing up to leave. As he passed Xiandu, he cast a warning glance at her, hidden from Mother Jiang’s view.

Xiandu didn't spare him a single look. Once he was gone, she walked over and sat down beside Mother Jiang.

"Mom!" Jiang You'an suddenly called out, causing Mother Jiang—who had been staring intently at Xiandu—to turn her head.

"What is it, You'an?" Mother Jiang didn't detect the underlying meaning in the call. But Xiandu did; until the very second she spoke, Jiang You'an had been wearing a provocative smirk. She was reminding Xiandu of her place.

"Nothing," Jiang You'an said, a smile playing on her lips as she placed the bowl on the table. "I just felt that with me here, you and my sister might not be able to talk comfortably, so I’ll step out."

Mother Jiang nodded, touched by Jiang You'an’s thoughtfulness.

"...Mom?" Unlike the impulsive outburst during her argument with Jiang Xiuwen yesterday, Xiandu uttered the word hoarsely, a sour, aching sensation welling up in her throat. The word felt too distant, too foreign—so long forgotten that she had nearly lost the memory of how to say it. At this moment, Xiandu seemed to resonate with the original owner of the body. It was Jiang Xiandu who had finally spoken that word.

"...Oh!" Mother Jiang wept, reaching out to embrace Xiandu, but Xiandu stood up and dodged her. She looked up at the ceiling, holding back the tears that threatened to spill over.

"My apologies, Ms. Zhao. I lost my composure," Xiandu said, suppressing the surging emotions. She looked back at Mother Jiang, though the tremor in her voice betrayed her.

"Xiandu..." Mother Jiang sobbed into her hand. "I know your father went too far. I don't expect your forgiveness. We owe you a debt that we may never be able to repay in this lifetime."

Mother Jiang wiped her tears and pulled a document from under her pillow—a share transfer agreement. "Your father put most of the shares in my name. Now, I want to give them all to you." She picked up a pen from the table and handed it to Xiandu. "Sign it."

Jiang You'an could no longer bear to listen. After leaving the room, she hadn't gone far, pressing her ear to the doorframe to monitor the movements inside. She had been keeping a close eye on the marriage contract, preventing Bo Yue from changing his mind, all in hopes that after the marriage, Father Jiang would transfer the majority of his shares to her. That would grant her the iris scan access needed to enter the laboratory and secure N-39.

Ever since Father Jiang was threatened by kidnappers, he had realized he couldn't protect the N-39 mother liquor alone, so he sought state protection and handed over part of the research. He had since built a high-security laboratory accessible only by iris recognition, with the mother liquor requiring the highest clearance—accessible only to him. She had assumed he held the majority of the Jiang family shares, never expecting that the true majority shareholder was actually Mother Jiang.

Jiang You'an wanted to hear more, but an unknown number suddenly flashed on her phone. It was the organization. Fortunately, she had kept her phone on silent while caring for Mother Jiang.

She went to the rooftop and, after confirming no one was around, answered. "Hello, Doctor, this is Jiang You'an."

"How is it going?" A voice changer masked the caller's gender and age.

"Doctor, it’s going very well! The engagement with Bo Yue is underway. I’ll have the shares in my father's name soon, and then..."

"But how is it that I’ve found Jiang Lei has already transferred the bulk of his shares to your mother? You’ll end up with less than 10%. You call that 'going well'?"

The person on the other end sneered, and Jiang You'an’s expression turned panicked. "Doctor! Please, believe me... three months! I’ll have the shares from my father's side within three months! I’ll get everything from my mother’s side as well! Please, give me one more chance!"

The Doctor deemed the subject still somewhat useful. "This is the last time. If there are no results in three months, don't even think about getting your medicine."

The line went dead. Jiang You'an pulled the phone away, numb, and slumped to the floor. She bit her nails, her mind in chaos. If it weren't for the fact that the Doctor had saved her three years ago—and that the painkiller he injected her with was addictive—why would she ever hand over her family’s assets? Without the medicine, she felt as if her skeleton were being dismantled and rebuilt, her cells dying and dividing in agonizing, unbearable cycles.

She had done so much for the organization, yet they kept a tight grip on her supply. She had followed every order, kidnapping Jiang Xiandu two days before her own birthday to exploit the secret of her identity. If her father saved Jiang Xiandu, the organization would get N-39; if he didn't, she would be the only daughter left, and the Bo family marriage contract would fall to her, along with the shares. It was a win-win.

But she hadn't expected her father to be so cold-blooded, letting Jiang Xiandu die... And the organization left her to clean up their messes! If she hadn't claimed that the exposure of the bodies would cause the Jiang family stock to plummet, her father would never have covered them up.

Three months—they only gave her three months! Had her mother already given the shares to Jiang Xiandu? Jiang You'an grew increasingly frantic, not even noticing that she had bitten her finger until it bled.

It was fine. It was fine. She still had the marriage contract! She just needed to expedite the wedding, secure the shares her father had promised, and the organization would continue to provide the medicine! Yes—marry Bo Yue as soon as possible!

With that thought, she stood up, wiped her hands on the floor, and left via the stairs. She did not notice that, after she left, a figure emerged from the shadows to stand exactly where she had been sitting.

"Doctor?"

Just after leaving the room, Xiandu had received a message: [Random Task 7: Quietly go to the rooftop without being discovered by Jiang You'an (5 points) (Time limit: 10 minutes).]

Xiandu had reached the stairs just in time to hear Jiang You'an on the phone. Taking advantage of Jiang You'an’s agitation, she had hidden in the darkness and heard the entire conversation.

After Jiang You'an left, Xiandu emerged, contemplating what she had heard. Jiang You'an had instinctively referred to them as "father" and "mother" in her distress; she truly must be their daughter. As for the "Doctor"... Xiandu felt she had heard the title somewhere before, though she couldn't quite place it.

Mother Jiang had wanted to use the shares to atone, but Xiandu naturally hadn't accepted. If Jiang You'an wanted the Jiang family shares, she could have them; the Jiang family was destined for bankruptcy anyway. However, Xiandu felt it necessary to verify her theories.

Xiandu collected the blood-stained snow from the ground, picked up a few stray hairs, and also left the rooftop.