CHAPTER 348: CHAPTER 340: THE REASON FOR DIFFERENTIAL TREATMENT

With the crisp sound, the crystal box shattered instantly, scattering pearls everywhere.

Jian Kede let out a cry of surprise and instinctively dodged, but sharp fragments still sliced through his cheek, leaving a long bloody streak.

Blood oozed from the wound, slowly streaming down, dripping onto the floor.

This incident completely sobered him up.

Clutching his face, Jian Kede glared at Jiang Kexin and bellowed, "Jiang Kexin, have you lost your mind?"

Jiang Kexin, startled by this sudden outburst, froze. She hadn’t expected to actually hit Jian Kede. Her eyes widened as she looked at her brother, her heart filled with guilt and self-blame.

"I’m sorry, brother, I..."

"I’ll go with you to the hospital right now. Don’t worry, there definitely won’t be any scars."

Watching Jiang Kexin’s distraught expression, a surge of inexplicable anger rose within Jian Kede. He sneered at her, "Hmph, you’re indeed crazy. Do you really think you can save the entire family? You’re just a fool, bringing even greater disgrace to the family."

With that, Jian Kede angrily turned and left Jiang Kexin’s room without looking back.

Watching her brother’s departing figure, Jiang Kexin’s guilt deepened. She collapsed to the floor, tears flooding like a dam had burst.

She painfully clutched her head, sobbing and hitting herself repeatedly.

"I am not a fool, I am not!"

"Why should you say that about me, why? Just because I am the daughter and you are the son?"

Crying, she began picking up the pearls scattered on the floor, various sizes and colors mixed together.

Each one represented her affection and foolish infatuation with Leng Lingxiao.

Lingxiao Group had a foreign trade company under it that specialized in purchasing pearls from the international market, offering a wide variety and setting up direct stores in Huang City for wholesale and customization.

This store was currently managed by relatives of Leng Lingxiao’s mother.

From the age of eighteen, Jiang Kexin had been buying the prettiest pearl she could find from the store every month, until she had filled an entire crystal box.

Her obsession with Leng Lingxiao was an open secret among the socialite circle, often becoming a target for jokes.

Meanwhile, downstairs, on the first floor.

As Jian Kede, clutching his face, strode past the living room, Mrs. Jiang was instructing the butler about something. She saw blood on her son’s face and was instantly alarmed, rushing over.

"Kede, what happened?"

"Take your hand away, let Mom have a look."

Jian Kede, making a wounded face, recounted the incident to his mother.

Of course, he spiced up the story.

He claimed he had been drinking since the evening to get a bank loan and had continued until dawn. Later, upon hearing the news of Leng Lingxiao getting a certificate in Chicheng, he thought his sister must be very upset, so he went specially to comfort her.

As a brother, his words were sincere, purely out of good intentions to counsel his sister.

He hadn’t expected such a thing to occur.

After listening, Mrs. Jiang’s rage flared instantly. She couldn’t believe her daughter would hit her brother so hard.

Never mind a crystal box, even a book thrown would hurt the flesh.

"Old Yang, take the young master to the hospital immediately."

The butler nodded, "Yes, Madam."

"This child, Ke Xin, is too thoughtless," Mrs. Jiang angrily said. "It’s bad enough making a fool of herself outside, but to dare harm her own brother, she must be exploiting the situation to seize the family fortune!"

Jian Kede, seeing his mother’s enraged expression, felt somewhat pleased.

He knew his mother always loved him dearly, and now that he was injured, she would definitely take his side. Thus, he cheerfully left the living room.

The butler followed behind, his face filled with helplessness.

Family fortune? At this point, what fortune does the Jiang family even have left to seize?

Ah, success comes only with family harmony!

"Ke Xin, you crazy girl, how could you do such a thing? Your brother hasn’t even mentioned a wife yet, what’s he supposed to do now?"

Mrs. Jiang headed straight upstairs.

As she walked, she scolded without taking into account her daughter’s feelings or the servants’ astonished looks.

At the same time, Jiang Kexin heard her mother’s roar. Her heart trembled, she quickly adjusted her mood, and hurried out of the bedroom.

After all, the room was a mess, and if her mother saw it, she would be relentless.

The mother and daughter met at the stairwell.

"Mom, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to," Jiang Kexin timidly approached Mrs. Jiang, head down, softly apologizing.

Tears twinkled in her red eyes.

Mrs. Jiang glared at her fiercely, "Do you know what you’ve done? Look at your brother’s wounds, you useless child, I should never have had you."

"I really didn’t mean it, I’m going to see him now, I will..."

"You think your brother hasn’t suffered enough and you want to chase him to the hospital? Ah, I’m so angry! No wonder the fortune teller said you bring bad luck, how could I have given birth to such an ungrateful creature."

Jiang Kexin listened to her mother’s scolding, tears suddenly streaming. She dared not object, knowing it was her fault, and quietly bore it.

What did it mean that her fate was to bring calamity?

Could it be that something had happened after my high school trip abroad, so my family began to despise me, and thus always hoped I wouldn’t return to the country?

Damn fortune teller!

Jiang Kexin could never have known that this was all orchestrated by Leng Lingxiao.

Who would blame her for complaining about Tang Xiaowan in front of Madam Leng ten years ago, claiming Tang Xiaowan’s parentlessness was due to bad fate?

As one sows, so shall they reap.

Being cruel to Jiang Kexin was not too much, especially since her parents always favored sons over daughters. Hence, they believed it to be true.

It was no surprise that there was injustice.

...

At Lingxiao Manor, in the main bedroom on the second floor.

Two hours had passed since Tang Xiaowan had her fingertip pricked for blood, and though the puncture had healed, Leng Lingxiao still sat by the bed.

He couldn’t feel at ease unless he watched over personally, even though the security system at Lingxiao Manor was extremely sophisticated, partially staffed by mercenaries.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door three times.

Leng Lingxiao quickly went to the door.

"Master, I’ve inquired, the results should be out in half an hour," Zhao Renjie reported softly.

"Good, how is the situation with the Jiang Family?"

"An hour and a half ago, Jian Kede was injured by Jiang Kexin and required five stitches on his face. When Jiang Yongheng found out, his stomach ailment acted up, and he is currently in the hospital. Other family members are also making a fuss about withdrawing their investments, and it’s likely they won’t last another week."

"Too slow," Leng Lingxiao paused, a flash of coldness in his eyes, "What do you think?"

"Yes, I’ll arrange it right away."

"Wait, what’s Wang Junchen up to, hasn’t he returned to Huang City yet?"

"He met with two hospital directors this morning and discussed two types of traditional Chinese medicines, one oral and one topical. He’s expected back in Huang City by four this afternoon. Also... it’s Ye Wanhua’s birthday on Sunday."

"Traditional Chinese medicines? It seems... Wang Junchen is trying to compete with Li Zishen in business!"

Zhao Renjie nodded, "It seems so."

"A birthday? Probably a family gathering."

"Given his personality, invites should have gone out by now, it shouldn’t be so low key."

"Most likely it’s Ye Wanhua’s idea."

As they were talking, Tang Xiaowan’s phone suddenly lit up, buzzing relentlessly.