CHAPTER 167: CHAPTER 165: APPETIZER

Jian Mingcheng’s voice rose in the hall. "Where’s Xixi? It’s her birthday, why isn’t she here?"

Jian Xi took the opportunity to push her fourth brother away and quickly walked out. "Big Brother, I’m here."

PHEW—

Thank goodness Big Brother’s timing was perfect.

Jian Xi walked over to Jian Mingcheng with a big grin and gave him a bear hug to show her gratitude, changing her tune from, "Fourth Brother is the best," to, "Big Brother is the best!"

Jian Sirun adjusted his glasses. He felt like he had suddenly fallen out of favor.

He followed them, watching his eldest brother generously holding a string of keys.

A string of keys hung from Jian Mingcheng’s hand. "Here, Little Sis," he said. "Big Brother doesn’t have much to give you, just a very secluded resort villa, tucked away from grand mountains or vast waters, a true peaceful escape."

Jian Xi’s eyes lit up instantly. "Wow, that’s wonderful!"

Lately, she had been feeling depressed and didn’t want to see that scumbag Si Yuhuan. This opportunity was perfect to get away, clear her head, and improve her mood. It would also be good to give the baby some fresh air and nourish her pregnancy. Big Brother’s gift really hit the spot.

"I specifically instructed them to reserve it for you before the Jian Group reorganization, knowing you would love it."

Jian Mingcheng smiled with the tender love of a doting father.

Jian Xi was moved to tears.

During the meal, she ate with unprecedented enjoyment. Her mood seemed better, and so did her appetite. She wolfed down a large dinner, astonishing Jian’s Mother, who remarked, "Xixi’s appetite seems to be growing, especially these last few times she’s come home. She eats so much every time!"

AHEM!

Because of her pregnancy, Jian Xi’s appetite had been increasing without her realizing it.

She hadn’t realized it herself, but those around her had mentioned it many times.

"I always have a good appetite when I’m home, and I’m especially happy today," Jian Xi said, her eyes darting around as she began to fib.

Jian’s Father and Mother didn’t think much of it and casually remarked, "You are eating more. You’ve put on weight."

"I have not!" Jian Xi almost bristled.

Is she already showing?

Jian Mingcheng chuckled. "Mom, Dad, girls don’t like to hear they’ve gained weight. Be careful, or Xixi will get mad at you."

"Exactly! Be careful, or I’ll get mad at you." Finally, her straightforward and sometimes clueless eldest brother caught on. Jian Xi seized the opportunity to go along with it.

The meal continued, surprisingly uneventful despite a few tense moments, until Jian Sirun suddenly wiped his mouth and stood up. "Xixi, come with me for a moment."

Everyone exchanged glances. Jian Sirun wasn’t a man of many words.

「Upstairs.」

Beneath his gold-rimmed glasses, his eyes were so perceptive they were intimidating, causing Jian Xi’s heart to flutter in disarray.

"Fourth Brother, what’s wrong?"

Ever since she came back, Fourth Brother just hasn’t seemed himself.

"Will you tell me, or shall I say it?"

Just that one sentence made Jian Xi even more nervous.

She swallowed hard. "Can you give me a hint?"

Compared to her eldest brother, who doted on her unconditionally, Jian Xi was more afraid of this reticent fourth brother, who valued words like gold.

"What about the injuries on your body?"

Jian Xi’s heart skipped a beat. The doctor Si Yuhuan called... She immediately retorted, "Fourth Brother, that’s my privacy!"

She was furious.

Jian Sirun adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses slightly. "In a doctor’s eyes, there is no privacy."

Jian Xi was speechless.

Si Yuhuan, that idiot! He called in a doctor who knows Fourth Brother. I have no secrets left!

"It’s just..." She bit her lip, finding it difficult to speak.

She couldn’t exactly say that she had been drugged and those two bastards sent by Jiang Qimeng had nearly raped her, could she?

Jian Sirun was exasperated. "I’ve told you many times not to have any contact with Si Yuhuan. Why don’t you ever listen to me?"

"Um..."

It seems the doctor’s mistaken report reached Fourth Brother’s ears. He must think my injuries were... caused by Si Yuhuan.

Jian Xi muttered, "He’s a bastard. I’ll teach him a lesson."

Jian Sirun snorted coldly. "You don’t need to. Just take care of yourself in the future."

These were matters he shouldn’t involve himself in, yet he couldn’t bear to watch his little sister get hurt.

A colleague had even said it was just some kind of ’lover’s play’.

What kind of ’play’ involved hurting her?

Jian Sirun’s protective brotherly instincts flared.

「The next day」

Jian Sirun went to the Si Family Old Residence to treat Old Master Si.

After a thorough examination, he glanced at Dr. Sernosen and slowly began, "Old Master Si’s condition has improved. After resting at home for a month, he will need to undergo cardiac bypass surgery. Afterward, I will perform nerve repair for you. With proper care, it won’t greatly affect your quality of life in the long run."

Standing nearby, Si Yuhuan sincerely expressed his thanks.

"Director Si, there’s no need to rush with the thanks."

He gave Si Yuhuan a sidelong glance, his cool, handsome face showing no trace of emotion. "Old Master Si’s nerve repair will require a potent cardiac stimulant. The vital cells needed for this stimulant are best extracted from close relatives, especially blood relatives."

Si Yuhuan raised his eyebrows. "Are you suggesting extracting mine?"

"You don’t want to?"

Old Master Si hastily coughed. "Doctor Jian, my grandson, he..."

He doted on his grandson and wanted to refuse on his behalf.

Then he heard Si Yuhuan say, "I can do it."

Dr. Sernosen immediately took Si Yuhuan to have his blood drawn.

Dr. Sernosen missed the vein on the first attempt, and his second attempt also went awry. "Apologies," he said with an awkward chuckle, "I don’t often do this kind of nursing work, so my skills are a little rusty."

Dr. Sernosen was a typical Westerner, with eyes as blue as glass orbs. When he smiled, it was somewhat eerie, making him look a bit like the Grim Reaper.

Unexpectedly, Si Yuhuan snatched the syringe from Dr. Sernosen’s hands and expertly pierced it into his own vein. Blood quickly flowed out, and he filled one tube after another with a poised, steady, and calm demeanor, as if he were not drawing his own blood.

Even Dr. Sernosen, a senior physician accustomed to matters of life and death, was somewhat taken aback. "Director Si, that’s enough! That’s plenty!"

As Dr. Sernosen packed away five large vials of blood, he wiped sweat from his brow and said awkwardly, "I never expected you to be so skilled at drawing blood yourself, Director Si."

Si Yuhuan, composed and elegant, pressed a cotton ball to his inner elbow without a word.

From around the corner, Jian Sirun had watched coldly. Seeing everything, he turned and left.

He had made a special modification to the needle. The more Si Yuhuan was exposed to it, the more unwell he would become.

Si Yuhuan had to pay back tenfold what his little sister had endured!

「That evening」

Si Yuhuan developed a high fever.

Jiang Qimeng, who had been planning to cause trouble for Jian Xi, received the news and immediately rushed to the Si Family Old Residence.

The moment Old Master Si saw her, he became furious.

Not only does she pester my precious eldest grandson all day, but she also clings to Si Junyan, causing discord between the brothers! He was so agitated that he immediately ordered, "Quick! Have the bodyguards throw her out!"

No wonder Jian Xi is reluctant to return to the old residence. It must be because of this vixen!

I have to take this chance to clear the path for the young couple while I still can!

The bodyguards obeyed Old Master Si. Taking Jiang Qimeng by the arms, they began to drag her out. "Miss Jiang, our apologies."

Jiang Qimeng was thrown out, landing on the doorstep of the Si Family Old Residence. She looked as disheveled as a beggar, with numerous servants pointing and snickering at her.

There was a time when, as Miss Jiang, she was held in high esteem by Si Yuhuan, and everyone treated her with courtesy.

And now I’ve fallen to this state.

She was so ashamed she wished she could find a hole to crawl into and hide.