During the three years he had been with Jiang Shu, they had slept together many times, yet his understanding of her family background was limited to her father having passed away and her mother falling critically ill and becoming vegetative three years ago.
After all, it was merely a transactional relationship; what he valued was only her face. He didn’t particularly care about her past.
He hadn’t personally handled the hospitalization procedures for Mother Jiang either, instead entrusting them directly to his childhood friend Gu Zhao. The Gu family had been practicing medicine for generations. Gu Zhao, the second child, had an older sister. The largest hospital in Nangang City was owned by his family, so Mother Jiang was directly admitted to the VIP ward.
“Get in the car,” Cheng Xiyu said. “Don’t worry. Second Master Gu said your mother’s condition has been stable lately.”
Jiang Shu looked at him with some surprise, as if she hadn’t expected him to say something comforting. “Mm, with Dr. Gu around, I’m at ease.”
Last night, Cheng Xiyu had rescheduled a meeting to indulge in pleasure with her at home. Now, in the car, he was catching up on work—reviewing follow-up reports on an acquisition case submitted by his subordinates while also taking a conference call.
Jiang Shu, sitting close by, could hear the nervous, ingratiating voice on the other end: “President Cheng, everyone worked overtime on this report and cross-checked it multiple times based on your feedback. The timeline covered in this follow-up is quite extensive, so please take your time reviewing it. If there’s anything amiss, you can address it at the office…”
Cheng Xiyu glanced at Jiang Shu, frowning slightly. “Something’s come up on my end; I won’t be able to make it to the office today. Take minutes during the meeting in my absence. If anything urgent arises, have Wang Ye call me.”
The person on the other end quickly replied, “Of course, President Cheng. We’ll handle it.”
Cheng Xiyu was now famously busy. Since taking over the family business and leveraging his military achievements, he routinely made decisions involving billions. Young as he was, his future prospects were boundless.
Although he had entered the business world, no one in the military dared to touch the Cheng family, let alone Cheng Xiyu. The reason was simple: the Cheng family owned a legitimate arms factory.
Moreover, Cheng Xiyu had served as a captain in the special forces, where he forged life-and-death bonds with his comrades. Many of them now held high-ranking positions across various sectors, making him untouchable.
The driver up front didn’t dare speak, keeping his eyes fixed ahead and driving with utmost caution.
Jiang Shu sat quietly beside him. As the car moved smoothly, she listened to his phone conversation and gradually dozed off, her head inadvertently resting on Cheng Xiyu’s shoulder.
Cheng Xiyu stiffened almost imperceptibly. Noticing from the corner of his eye that she had fallen asleep, he gradually softened his voice, then gently drew her closer, stroking her hair.
He murmured under his breath, “…Why so clingy?”
By the time they reached the hospital, Cheng Xiyu had nearly finished his work. He woke Jiang Shu with a kiss and led her out of the car.
When Cheng Xiyu accompanied her to the hospital room, they happened to run into Gu Ting during her rounds.
Gu Ting, Gu Zhao’s older sister, had a strikingly modern beauty—fair-skinned, with meticulous makeup, appearing gentle and poised.
Her eyes lit up. “Xiyu, what brings you here?”
She approached with a beaming smile, her eyes filled with affection.
Cheng Xiyu said, “I’m here with Jiang Jiang to see her mother. Any progress with her condition?”
Only then did Gu Ting seem to notice Jiang Shu. Her smile faltered slightly. “It’s the same as before. The chances of her waking up are very low.”
She and Cheng Xiyu were among the same group of children who grew up in the compound, and she also knew about the history between him and Bai Yiyi. Back then, the young couple becoming a pair was considered a beautiful story in the compound, while she could only watch from the sidelines, consumed by jealousy.
She always believed Bai Yiyi would regret leaving Cheng Xiyu for her dreams, yet she was secretly glad she left.
Before she could muster the courage to confess her feelings, Jiang Shu appeared by his side.
The first time she saw Jiang Shu, she was taken aback—that red mole was strikingly similar. Though their facial features were different, that single mole made the connection obvious at a glance.
The idea of a substitute might be cliché, but it wasn’t unheard of in their circle. Just a substitute, nothing to cause waves.
But now, watching Cheng Xiyu accompany Jiang Shu to the hospital, her heart suddenly fluttered with unease. He did treat her a little differently.
“Xiyu, there’s something I’d like to discuss with you. Could you come over for a moment?” Gu Ting said with a light smile.
Cheng Xiyu nodded calmly, then turned to Jiang Shu. “Go on in first.”
Gu Ting took the opportunity to glance at Jiang Shu, a triumphant gleam in her eyes.
Jiang Shu, who had remained silent until then, nodded meekly and gave her a faint, indifferent look, her expression unreadable.
Almost involuntarily, she watched their retreating figures, lost in thought, until he disappeared around the corner of the ward. Only then did she turn and enter the room.