Chapter 65: An Unexpected Development

Jiang Nai later learned about He Shujing and Li Zhixun’s situation from Lu Feng.

That day, Lin Hui invited her out to dinner, and Lu Feng came along. During their chat, the topic came up: He Shujing had actually gotten together with Li Zhixun and even sided with him on company matters. This development had a certain impact on Li Qingji, as He Shujing had been at Hengchuan for many years and held considerable resources.

Jiang Nai wasn’t familiar with He Shujing and knew even less about Li Zhixun, but she was still surprised they had teamed up. Even more unexpected was that Li Zhixun was willing to offend the Zhao family over this. It was a Friday, and Jiang Nai had promised Fu Rongzhen she’d have dinner at her place that evening. After work, she drove to Hengchuan.

Li Qingji was still in a meeting, so she waited in the parking garage. That was when she ran into He Shujing and Li Zhixun. They exited the elevator and walked toward their car, passing by her.

Li Zhixun noticed her first, looking momentarily surprised before greeting her. “Isn’t this my sister-in-law? Long time no see.”

It really had been a while. The last time must have been a long time ago, during a meal at the Li family’s old residence.

Jiang Nai gave a small nod. Unsure of how to address him, she simply said, “Long time no see.”

Li Zhixun asked, “Waiting for Li Qingji?”

He Shujing glanced at him. “Who else? You?”

Li Zhixun clicked his tongue. “I was just asking. Can you not snap at me?”

He Shujing said nothing further. She gave Jiang Nai a look before continuing forward. “Hurry up; I’m hungry.”

Li Zhixun smirked and followed her. “Alright, I’ll drive.”

After their car left the garage, Jiang Nai retracted her gaze. She waited for a few more minutes before Li Qingji appeared.

“Have you been waiting long?”

“No.”

He reached out a hand. “Keys. I’ll drive.”

“Okay.”

The two of them got into the car, and it quickly drove out of the parking garage.

“I just ran into your second brother and He Shujing,” Jiang Nai said.

Li Qingji responded with a hum. “And?”

“Nothing… but Lu Feng said you’ve been having some trouble lately because of He Shujing. Is that true?”

Li Qingji kept his eyes on the road and reached out to gently pinch her cheek. “Worried about me?”

Jiang Nai shifted awkwardly. “Just answer me—yes or no.”

Li Qingji replied, “The impact isn’t significant. Don’t worry.”

“Really?” Jiang Nai asked skeptically.

“Yes, I promise,” Li Qingji reassured her.

Hearing his words, Jiang Nai finally relaxed.

—

An hour later, they arrived at the Li residence. Grandma warmly greeted Jiang Nai and personally made two of her favorite dishes for dinner.

At the dining table, Grandpa Li Chongfeng maintained his usual stern demeanor, discussing some of the projects Li Qingji was handling with his characteristic seriousness.

Everything was proceeding as usual until after dinner. While they were sitting in the living room drinking tea, Grandpa’s expression suddenly changed. He clutched his chest with one hand, his face contorted in pain. Li Qingji was the first to notice and immediately stood up to help, but Li Chongfeng collapsed before he could reach him.

The next few minutes were chaos in the household.

The family’s private doctor was called to administer first aid, and shortly after, Li Qingji arranged for his grandfather to be rushed to the hospital. He went along in the same vehicle. Fu Rongzhen was terrified and insisted on going to the hospital too. Jiang Nai, worried about her, accompanied her.

At the hospital, the doctors handled the emergency, while forms were signed. Jiang Nai stayed with Fu Rongzhen, seated off to the side, watching as more members of the Li family trickled in.

Li Qingji waited by the doors of the operating room. Every person who arrived asked him about the situation. Though his brows were furrowed, he responded to each question.

It was determined that Li Chongfeng had suffered a sudden heart attack, and the doctors were performing surgery. The procedure lasted an hour. When the light above the operating room finally turned off, Li Chongfeng was transferred to the cardiac intensive care unit. He was not yet out of danger.

At this point, Li Zhixun arrived at the hospital, the last of the family to do so. As soon as he stepped onto the floor, his father slapped him across the face.

The strong smell of alcohol on Li Zhixun was unmistakable.

“Grandma, you should go home and rest. I’ll stay here with Grandpa,” Li Qingji said.

Fu Rongzhen shook her head, unwilling to leave. “I’ll stay here with him. I’m fine. I want to stay.”

Li Qingji said, “Grandma, Grandpa’s ward doesn’t allow caretakers, and there’s not much you can do here. Go back and rest; I’ll contact you immediately if anything happens.”  

There was an unmistakable tone of insistence in Li Qingji’s words. Jiang Nai exchanged a glance with him and joined in persuading Fu Rongzhen.  

“Grandpa still needs you, so you can’t wear yourself out first. Grandma, I’ll go back with you. If anything happens, I’ll bring you over immediately. Does that work?”  

After much persuasion, Fu Rongzhen finally relented.  

Only then did Jiang Nai accompany her back home. At home, Fu Rongzhen was so worried that she couldn’t fall asleep for a long time. Jiang Nai stayed by her bedside until the elderly woman finally drifted off from sheer exhaustion. Only then did Jiang Nai quietly leave the room.  

[What are you doing? Are you okay?]  

Standing in the hallway, Jiang Nai sent a message to Li Qingji.  

Li Chongfeng’s condition was uncertain, and no one could be sure if he would wake up in good health. The turmoil in Hengchuan must have already begun. As expected, Li Qingji didn’t reply for a long time.  

It wasn’t until Jiang Nai had returned to her room and was half-asleep that he finally responded: [I’m fine, don’t worry. How’s Grandma?]  

Jiang Nai woke up fully and called him. He quickly answered.  

“Hello.”  

Li Qingji: “Not asleep yet?”  

Jiang Nai: “Grandma has gone to bed.”  

“Good. I won’t come back tonight. You sleep there and get some rest early.”  

Li Qingji’s voice carried a hint of fatigue.  

Jiang Nai asked, “Will you be at the hospital all night?”  

“Mm.”  

“Just you?”  

“No, my dad’s here too, along with many others.”  

“Alright, but if you’re too tired, try to get some rest…”  

Li Qingji seemed to have moved to a corner of the hallway. His voice echoed softly, making it sound especially gentle. “Mm, I know.”  

There was a brief pause, and neither of them spoke again, but neither hung up either.  

“Go to sleep.”  

“I’ll come to the hospital tomorrow.”  

They both spoke at the same time.  

Li Qingji paused briefly before replying in a low voice, “Okay, come with Grandma tomorrow.”  

“Mm,” Jiang Nai said. “Take care of yourself… Good night.”  

Li Qingji: “Good night.”  

—

The news of Li Chongfeng’s sudden illness reached the Hengchuan board members that very night. Early the next morning, people started arriving at the VIP ward to visit. Jiang Nai also woke up early. After accompanying Fu Rongzhen to the hospital, she saw a group of people already gathered in the hallway.  

“Madam,” everyone greeted Fu Rongzhen one by one.  

Fu Rongzhen nodded in acknowledgment and turned to her daughter-in-law, Fang Shuying. “How is he? Has he woken up?”  

“Mom, Dad woke up an hour ago. The doctor said there’s no major issue. You can relax.”  

Fu Rongzhen let out a sigh of relief. “I’ll go in and take a look.”  

Fang Shuying said, “Wait a moment. Dad asked Qingji and the others to talk inside. He doesn’t want us to disturb them for now.”  

Inside the ward, seven people were gathered—Li Chongfeng’s sons, daughters, grandsons, and granddaughters. As soon as Li Chongfeng woke up, he summoned them to discuss matters concerning the corporation.  

By the end of the conversation, he exhaled lightly and said, “Qingji, stay behind. I have something to tell you. The rest of you, leave.”  

Li Zhixun’s gaze darted sharply toward Li Qingji upon hearing this. He was visibly displeased and wanted to stay, but a glare from his father forced him to leave with the others.   One by one, the group filed out, and the door to the ward was closed, leaving only Li Qingji and Li Chongfeng inside.  

“Sit.”  

Li Qingji glanced at the chair by the bedside and sat down. “Grandpa, you should rest first. Whatever you have to say can wait.”  

Li Chongfeng, his voice hoarse, replied, “No need. I know the state of my body.”  

“What do you want to say?”  

Li Chongfeng looked at him and said, “I know you’ve always blamed me—for favoring Zhixun.”  

Li Qingji’s expression cooled. “I’ve never thought that way.”  

“I know exactly what’s on your mind,” Li Chongfeng said. “Do you know why I hesitated so much? Why I kept siding with Zhixun? It’s because I know your nature, Qingji. Your heart is too ruthless.”  

Li Qingji met his gaze but said nothing.  

Li Chongfeng continued, “What I’ve always feared is that if Hengchuan fell into your hands, you would stop at nothing to remove anyone who didn’t support you—even those with family ties.”  

Li Qingji responded calmly, “Do you think that if Zhixun were in charge, he’d spare me?”  

“He doesn’t have the capability to get rid of you. But you do.”  

Leaning back slightly, Li Qingji’s expression turned colder. “So you kept me behind just to say this?”  

“No, I want your promise.”  

“What kind of promise?”  

“I want you to guarantee that if you take over Hengchuan, you won’t ruthlessly eliminate your brothers.”  

Li Qingji’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Grandpa, you’re still here, and there are many board members. Who ends up in that position—me or Zhixun—is still uncertain, isn’t it?”  

Li Chongfeng looked at him and sighed. “Zhixun ultimately isn’t your match. I don’t know how long my health will hold. If you want me to support you in the end, you must give me this promise. Even after I’m gone, you cannot touch Zhixun. Qingji, can you do that?”  

Li Qingji’s expression remained unchanged, but his hand clenched in secret.  

On the bed, the old man’s eyes revealed a rare glimmer of expectation.  

After a long silence, Li Qingji looked away and said flatly, “If he stays in his lane, I will give him what he deserves.”  

Li Chongfeng’s eyes lit up slightly. “I’ll take that as your agreement.”  

Li Qingji let out a cold laugh. “Grandpa, you’ve really gone to great lengths for him.”  

“I just don’t want you all to end up fighting amongst yourselves,” Li Chongfeng said, staring at the ceiling. “To be honest, in the past, I wouldn’t have needed you to make such a promise. I know your nature, and a promise like this might not mean much later on.”

“Then why are you bringing it up now?”

“In the past, I thought you cared too much about power and nothing else mattered to you. But this time, I’m surprised.”

“This time? What do you mean?”

“Jiang Nai,” Li Chongfeng said, looking at him. “I thought you’d give up on that girl quickly, but you didn’t. Qingji, it’s only now that I realize you actually have a heart. And oddly enough, that makes me feel at ease with you.”

—

When Li Qingji walked out, all eyes turned to him.

Li Jingnian and Fang Shuying immediately stepped forward. “How did it go?”

“Grandfather is doing well.”

But their question had a deeper meaning. “What did he say to you?”

Li Qingji glanced at his parents. Their expectations were clear, as were the intentions of most of the people present. They all wanted to know one thing: whether Li Chongfeng had decided to relinquish his position, and to whom.

Li Qingji had no interest in indulging their curiosity. He simply said, “Nothing much. Go see him yourselves.”

Without waiting for a response, he walked straight ahead. Jiang Nai was standing beside Fu Rongzhen, watching him the entire time. He stopped in front of her.

“I’m going to check on your Grandfather,” Fu Rongzhen said quickly, heading into the ward. The others followed, leaving only a few people lingering in the corridor.

Jiang Nai studied Li Qingji for a moment before softly asking, “Are you very tired?”

Everyone else had their own agendas. Some harbored hopes, others resentment, all watching him like hawks. But she, free of demands or expectations, asked the simplest question: was he tired?

Li Qingji looked at her, and in that moment, he realized Li Chongfeng had been right. Meeting Jiang Nai had truly given him a heart.

He nodded slightly, dropping all pretense. “Yes, I’m tired. I haven’t slept all night.”

Jiang Nai tugged at his hand and said, “Wait for me. I’ll check on Grandfather, and then I’ll take you home.”

A hint of warmth flickered in Li Qingji’s eyes. “Okay.”

Jiang Nai quickly entered the ward. After greeting Grandfather and saying a few words to Grandmother, she returned to Li Qingji’s side.

“Let’s go.”

“Alright.”

She held his hand and started walking toward the elevator when someone emerged from the ward and called out to Li Qingji.

“Stop right there.”

Jiang Nai turned to see Li Zhixun approaching, stepping in front of them to block their path.

“Grandfather kept you alone in the ward. What did he say to you?”

Li Qingji replied calmly, “It has nothing to do with you.”

He had no desire to engage with him and tried to walk around, but Li Zhixun grabbed his arm. “What did Grandfather promise you? Were you two plotting something? Li Qingji, why does he favor you so much? What gives you the right?”

Favor?

Li Qingji found the idea ironic.

“If you’re so concerned, why don’t you just ask Grandfather directly?”

Li Zhixun retorted, “Is it because I broke things off with the Zhao family? Even without them, there are others. What’s he so disappointed about?”

Li Qingji frowned. “Who you marry has nothing to do with me. Like I said, if you have complaints, take them to Grandfather.”

“You’ve all conspired together. What’s the point? Why does he only keep you around? What makes you so different from me?”

Jiang Nai glanced at Li Zhixun, who was still clutching Li Qingji’s clothes, and felt a surge of irritation. She didn’t know where she suddenly got the strength, but she stepped forward, yanked his hand off, and threw it aside. “Aren’t you done? Get lost!”

Li Qingji froze, looking at Jiang Nai in surprise.

Li Zhixun was equally stunned, likely not expecting her to erupt so suddenly.

Jiang Nai, however, didn’t even spare him a glance. Her mind was set on taking Li Qingji home to rest, and Li Zhixun blocking the way was beyond annoying.

“You’re completely different from him—entirely different! Worlds apart, okay?” She grabbed Li Qingji’s hand. “Let’s go.”

The elevator was right in front of them. She pressed the button and pulled him inside, leaving a speechless Li Zhixun standing outside as the doors closed. As the elevator descended, silence fell. Suddenly, Jiang Nai heard Li Qingji chuckle softly.

She turned to look at him. “What are you laughing at?”

Li Qingji leaned slightly toward her, his gaze fixed on her. “You’re pretty fierce, huh?”

“…”

“Fierce, but kind of cute.”

Jiang Nai belatedly felt embarrassed. “I—I wasn’t that fierce! I was just telling the truth.”

For once, Li Qingji felt a rare sense of being protected. “Hmm… it was the truth. You left Li Zhixun completely speechless.”

“Good. He’s too noisy, and he’s kind of a mess. No wonder you don’t like him.”

Li Qingji watched her muttering complaints, and the more she talked, the bigger his smile grew. The discomfort he had felt earlier over Li Chongfeng’s supposed favoritism now seemed to melt away entirely. Unable to resist, he reached out and ruffled the back of her head.

Jiang Nai pouted. “What are you doing?”

Li Qingji didn’t reply. Instead, he pulled her close with one hand, holding her against his chest.

The elevator was about to reach the ground floor, and she knew there would be people waiting. She lightly patted his hand. “There are people…”

But Li Qingji didn’t let go. “Will you nap with me later?”

“Let go first.”

“Will you?”

“Yes, yes, I will…”

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