Chapter 432 - 445: What Exactly Are You Hiding?

Jiang Dongcheng ultimately left the study.

The old biddy’s refusal to yield an inch and Jiang Xia’s sudden appearance both made him back down, just as he always did.

But for the first time, a suspicion about the study took root in his heart. ’What on earth is in there that Xiao Yan doesn’t want me to see?’

He couldn’t figure it out. He was even starting to obsess over it, constantly thinking about what was inside the study, to the point that he’d even forgotten about Jiang Donghua’s matter.

Or perhaps, he was more than willing to forget.

At this moment, Jiang Dongcheng’s thoughts were starting to become extreme, and his mental state showed some unwelcome fluctuations.

But no one noticed.

While Jiang Dongcheng had a turbulent night, things were peaceful and harmonious for Jiang Xia and Jiang Donghua.

After the two left Jiang Dongcheng’s workplace, they went to a house Jiang Xia owned in Beijing—the same old residence where Jiang Donghua had grown up.

Jiang Xia pushed Jiang Donghua’s wheelchair around the old residence, lap after lap.

Every single place held its own memories for Jiang Donghua, and so many of those memories included Jiang Dongcheng.

Under a jujube tree, Jiang Xia sat on a stone stool, facing Jiang Donghua, who had a blanket over his lap.

"COUGH, COUGH—"

"It’s getting too cold. Let’s go back inside."

"COUGH, COUGH—No rush, no rush."

Jiang Donghua stopped Jiang Xia from getting up. Knowing how stubborn he was, Jiang Xia had no choice but to take off his own coat and drape it over Jiang Donghua’s shoulders. In a stern tone, he said, "If you don’t wear this, I won’t take you to see Grandpa."

"Haha, you rascal! You’re just like me!"

Jiang Donghua said that last part with pride, even a touch of boastfulness.

He looked at Jiang Xia, content. "Heaven hasn’t been unkind to me. To be able to see my old father again in my lifetime, and to know that our Jiang family has such an outstanding young man like you... I’m satisfied. Truly satisfied."

"Don’t talk nonsense. I already told you, we have very skilled people here. You’ll be cured."

Jiang Xia’s words made Jiang Donghua stop his sighing. He smiled in resignation. "You kid. You’re great in every way, except for this one thing."

"Flowers and trees, birds and beasts—they all have their own cycle of birth, aging, sickness, and death. Humans are naturally the same. It’s the law of nature. There’s no need to mind it."

Jiang Xia disagreed. "I do mind. When it comes to the people I care about, I mind very much."

Jiang Donghua looked at Jiang Xia helplessly and surrendered to his stubborn gaze.

"Alright, you win!"

The serious Jiang Xia broke into a victorious smile. "I understand that some things can’t be forced, but I also know that some things are worth fighting for."

They looked at each other and smiled, a silent warmth passing between them—a familial affection that neither had ever truly experienced.

Jiang Donghua gazed at the pitch-black night sky for a long time.

"Go ahead and do what you must."

"Okay."

Both of them knew what had to be done.

Jiang Donghua let out a long breath. "Just leave him with his life. That’s enough. He needs to live, to live properly, and atone for his sins."

"I will."

Jiang Xia stood up and pushed the wheelchair with both hands. The rumbling of the wheels on the stone ground set the wheel of Jiang Dongcheng’s fate into motion.

Jiang Xia saw Jiang Donghua out, ready to leave by car.

"Are you sure you don’t need me to go back with you?"

"You’re needed here. As for your grandpa, I’d rather go by myself."

Jiang Xia opened the car door. "I’m afraid you’ll give Grandpa a scare."

"It won’t come to that. Your grandpa is a tough one!" Endless longing filled Jiang Donghua’s eyes. In his heart, Grandpa Jiang was a great hero.

Jiang Xia didn’t argue. He settled Jiang Donghua comfortably in the car and told the driver to be careful on the road.

The driver was specially arranged by Jiang Xia and knew the route well. There would also be bodyguards and a doctor accompanying him in the car. Having arranged everything, Jiang Xia stood in the dark and watched the sedan drive away.

He had already dropped a hint to Mr. Tang and had also personally written a letter, so the shock wouldn’t be too great when the time came.

He had met Jiang Donghua in Hong Kong. Their somewhat similar appearances had caught Jiang Donghua’s attention, prompting him to investigate further.

It was also thanks to Jiang Donghua’s status that Jiang Xia was able to assume the identity of a Hong Kong businessman.

As for Jiang Donghua, one could only say that fate had not decreed his death. Despite the explosion destroying his legs, he had miraculously survived. By a twist of fate, he ended up in Hong Kong and, with his brilliant mind, built a small but successful enterprise.

Jiang Donghua’s arrival in Beijing today was to sever the last remaining ties between him and Jiang Dongcheng.

After settling things, all he wanted was to visit Grandpa Jiang in Shili Gou and live there peacefully for a while.

After seeing Jiang Donghua off, Jiang Xia didn’t go home. Instead, he went to a newspaper office.

’How could I keep such a spectacular story all to myself?’

The next morning, newspaper vendors and subscribers all got their papers.

Five different newspapers once again ran the same headline.

Discussions broke out on roadsides, in offices, and next to vegetable stalls.

"This Jiang Dongcheng... wasn’t he the one who stole someone’s college entrance exam scores a while back?"

"Yeah, yeah, that’s him. Didn’t they say he killed his ex-wife to marry his current one?"

"His new wife’s surname is Xiao."

"Ah? No wonder."

"That guy is a real piece of work. Pushing his own brother into an explosion when he was just a little kid... he’s rotten to the core."

"Exactly. He’s no good."

"Back in the day, people like him would have been traitors."

The story of a seven-year-old Jiang Dongcheng pushing his own brother into a pile of explosives was now seeing the light of day in the newspapers.

The blood-red headline, the photo of a body mangled by the explosion, and the personal account from his own brother, Jiang Donghua, all lent the report an extra layer of authenticity.

While the whole affair continued to ferment in public, the Xiao family also found out about it.

Mr. Xiao Sr. of the Xiao family had a daily habit of reading the newspaper for a while during breakfast.

Just as Xiao Yan emerged from her room, a soft, beautiful smile still lingering on her face.

"Xiao Yan! What in the world is going on?"

Xiao Yan, her face beaming with a smile and completely oblivious to what had happened, spoke in her usual coquettish tone.

"Dad— what’s wrong? Why are you so angry?"

Mr. Xiao Sr. snorted coldly and slapped the newspaper down on the table.

"See for yourself!"

Xiao Yan sensed the gravity of the situation and stepped forward to grab the newspaper, only to be beaten to it by her sister-in-law.

Her sister-in-law, Qiu Yue, who had the air of a wealthy socialite, unfolded the newspaper. She lightly covered her red lips with her fingertips, her eyes wide with perfectly feigned surprise.

"Brother-in-law... how could he? Little Sister, surely you didn’t know?"

The sister-in-law handed the newspaper to Xiao Yan, who forcefully snatched it away, muttering loud enough to be heard, "So fake."

Qiu Yue, the target of the comment, showed no trace of embarrassment. Her expression remained normal, but the corners of her eyes held endless mockery.

As Xiao Yan took the newspaper and read it line by line, her eyes gradually became bloodshot.

"That good-for-nothing!"

She cursed out loud, making no effort to hide her disgust for Jiang Dongcheng.

"Xiao Yan."

"Big Brother."

Xiao Yan, who had just been cursing, quickly composed herself, transforming into a pitiful, aggrieved creature as she tried to act cute for Xiao Xian.

"Big Brother, look at this Jiang Dongcheng... If it weren’t for you, would I have married him?"

As she spoke, Xiao Yan started to cry. Xiao Xian, who was coming down the stairs, put an arm around her to comfort her.

"Stop crying. Go back and check on things first."