Since Zhang Xianya trusted her, Xia Yuhuan naturally had to live up to that trust.
Now, quickly identifying the person who directly harmed Chi Yanzhou and curing him had become Xia Yuhuan’s top priority.
Zhang Xianya thought carefully for a moment, then gently shook her head. “I really can’t say for sure.”
The housekeeper, Aunt Zhao, had been working in their home for many years. Her performance had always been excellent, commendable in every way, without any negligence. Logically, she shouldn’t be a problem.
Although Chi Zhenghao was jealous of Chi Yanzhou being more outstanding than him, and before Chi Yanzhou was injured, he often compared himself to Chi Yanzhou, trying to compete with him, his behavior had always been relatively normal and restrained. He hadn’t done anything particularly bad.
After all, even though there was some friction between the two families, and the old master favored Chi Shaoning’s family more, if the second family really dared to harm their family, the old master would be the first to not let them off.
In the old master’s heart, family harmony was the most important thing.
Anyone who disrupted family unity would be dealt with.
So Chi Zhenghao’s suspicion wasn’t very high either.
That left only Dr. Wang Qi, who came to the hospital to perform regular check-ups on Chi Yanzhou.
Dr. Wang Qi was the doctor she had personally selected after visiting the hospital to examine Chi Yanzhou.
They had conducted a background check before hiring him to come to their home. If Wang Qi had a problem, wouldn’t that mean she had a problem?
But in this world, she was the least likely person to harm Chi Yanzhou.
She valued Chi Yanzhou more than her own life!
“Then take your time investigating, no rush. We have plenty of time.”
“Don’t worry, as long as I’m here, Chi Yanzhou won’t be in any danger. I’ll take good care of him, help him recover from his injuries, detoxify him, and wake him up.” Hearing this, Xia Yuhuan wasn’t anxious either and spoke cheerfully.
“Alright, then Yanzhou’s health is in your hands. Xiaohuan, thank you, really, thank you.” Zhang Xianya tightly held Xia Yuhuan’s hands, her eyes filled with gratitude.
“You don’t need to thank me. He is my husband now, so it’s only right that I take care of him.” Xia Yuhuan smiled warmly.
Just for the sake of her mother-in-law, Zhang Xianya, she would do her best to cure Chi Yanzhou.
She didn’t want to see Zhang Xianya sad because of Chi Yanzhou.
Zhang Xianya hesitated for a moment, then asked her, “Xiaohuan, if we hadn’t discovered Yanzhou’s poisoning and hadn’t detoxified him in time, what would have happened to him?”
“Based on the current rate at which the toxins are increasing, it would take about two years for the toxins to completely invade his internal organs. By then, he would die from organ failure.” Xia Yuhuan said calmly.
This was Chi Yanzhou’s fate in the book and the direction his physical condition was currently heading.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Xianya’s face turned pale.
She had a strange intuition, as if dying from organ failure two years later was Chi Yanzhou’s originally predetermined destiny.
And Xia Yuhuan’s appearance was the variable.
It was she who gave Chi Yanzhou the chance and hope to live.
“Don’t worry, as long as I’m here, he’ll be fine.” Seeing how pale Zhang Xianya had become from fear, Xia Yuhuan reached out and gently patted the back of her hand to comfort her.
“Alright, then Yanzhou’s treatment is in your hands. If there’s anything you need me to cooperate with, just say it.” Zhang Xianya said solemnly.
Xia Yuhuan said, “There is something I need your help with. I need to prepare medicine for Chi Yanzhou, specifically a medicinal bath. Could you help gather the required herbs?”
“Of course, just write down the herbs you need, and I’ll arrange for them.”
“Alright, I’ll give you the list once I’ve prepared it.”
As they were speaking, Chi Shaokang’s voice called out from downstairs.
Zhang Xianya snapped back to attention and looked at Xia Yuhuan. “Xiaohuan, Shaokang has brought the child back. Would you like to come down with me now to meet him?”
Regarding the child, Zhang Xianya had already explained the situation to her previously.
The child was not Chi Yanzhou’s biological son but rather the orphan of a fallen comrade he had adopted.
The child had no relatives on his father’s side and had been living with his mother.
When Chi Yanzhou detoured to visit him after completing a mission, he discovered that the child’s mother and her family were mistreating him.
After Chi Yanzhou’s comrade passed away, the military had issued a substantial compensation, which ended up in the mother’s hands. However, she took the money but viewed the child as a burden and neglected him.
What was once a lively and adorable child had become sensitive, introverted, and even developed mutism due to the hardships he endured.
Upon learning this, Chi Yanzhou was furious and firmly reclaimed the child, adopting him under his own name.
Since Chi Yanzhou was often occupied with military duties and had no time to raise the child, the boy had been staying with Zhang Xianya and her husband.
Although the child wasn’t biologically related, the fact that marrying Chi Yanzhou meant becoming a stepmother was undeniable, which was why Xia Zhuyu had looked down on Chi Yanzhou.
If not for her disdain, they would have already discussed marriage before Chi Yanzhou was injured.
“Alright, let’s go meet him together. Please wait a moment while I remove the needles from Chi Yanzhou,” Xia Yuhuan said hurriedly.
She quickly took out the needles from Chi Yanzhou, stored them properly, and went downstairs with Zhang Xianya.
Downstairs, Chi Shaokang was watching television with the child in the living room.
Seeing them descend, Chi Shaokang smiled and said, “You’ve come down.”
“Xiao Jie, this is your new mother. Go on, greet her,” he whispered to the child seated beside him.
He Xiaojie, who had been sitting quietly and obediently next to Chi Shaokang, grew nervous upon hearing this.
He clutched Chi Shaokang’s hand and hid behind him, only peeking out with timid eyes to look at Xia Yuhuan and Zhang Xianya.
Chi Shaokang felt somewhat awkward and said to Xia Yuhuan, “The child is a bit shy around strangers. It’s not that he dislikes you; please don’t take it to heart.”
In her previous life, Xia Yuhuan had been an orphan. Before her grandfather adopted her, she had lived in an orphanage, enduring a difficult life filled with bullying. She understood all too well how terrifying it was for a child to have no family.
Suddenly gaining a family could be even more frightening for them.
To He Xiaojie, she was a complete stranger. The child had suffered abuse from his biological mother and might naturally recoil at the word “mother.”
Especially since the term “stepmother” itself carried negative connotations.
Her appearance and presence were like a massive bomb to Xiao Jie. It would be strange if the child didn’t resist her.
“Dad, it’s alright. I don’t mind,” Xia Yuhuan said with a smile to Chi Shaokang.
Then, Xia Yuhuan crouched in front of He Xiaojie and spoke softly, “Your name is Xiao Jie? I am your father’s wife. My surname is Xia, you can call me Auntie Xia. It’s nice to meet you.”
Xia Yuhuan tried her best to show her friendliness, but it was clearly useless. He Xiaojie remained thoroughly frightened, clinging tightly to Chi Shaokang and burying his little face in his back, trembling uncontrollably.
He looked as if Xia Yuhuan had committed some unforgivable crime against him.
Fear was etched deep in this child’s bones.