Chapter 26 He couldn't bear to part with it either.

Jiang Ning's steps felt heavier than a thousand pounds. She suddenly realized that she had been too abrupt, and that it might have been better if she hadn't shown up at this time.

As she turned to leave, Lu Junyan suddenly grabbed her wrist.

"Lu Junyan, you're hurting me..."

Seeing Jiang Ning's face contorted in pain, Lu Junyan finally loosened his grip slightly.

"You still know how to cry out in pain, Jiang Ning? My mom was so angry with you that she had to be hospitalized..."

"sorry."

Jiang Ning took the initiative to apologize.

She truly didn't expect things to turn out this way.

Lu Junyan was staring intently at her, his sharp gaze seeming to want to tear her apart.

"If anything happens to my mother, I will make you pay with your life."

Lu Junyan's threat wasn't particularly harsh, but it weighed heavily on Jiang Ning's heart, making it hard for her to breathe.

"Junyan!"

At this moment, Chu Qingxue arrived.

She looked travel-worn and rushed, her makeup was different from usual, light and simple, and she carried her Hermès bag in her hand instead of on her back, the strap swinging back and forth with her running steps.

Lu Junyan immediately released Jiang Ning, and the hand that was holding Jiang Ning's arm just a second ago was now being held by Chu Qingxue.

"Junyan, how is Aunt Yun? I heard she fainted, so I immediately took leave and rushed over."

"She's fine. The doctor said she just suffered a bit of a shock and will be fine after a few days of rest. Don't worry." Lu Junyan patted Chu Qingxue's shoulder.

Jiang Ning watched from the side, observing Lu Junyan's completely different demeanor when facing her compared to when facing Chu Qingxue, and silently turned away.

"Who let you leave?"

Jiang Ning turned around when Lu Junyan's deep voice sounded behind him.

Their eyes met, and disappointment filled both of their gazes.

"Didn't you say I angered your mother to the point of hospitalization and that I should be executed along with her... Aren't you afraid that if I stay, your mother's condition will worsen?"

"She's your mother too."

Lu Junyan's words startled Jiang Ning.

"Jiang Ning, did you make Aunt Yun faint from anger?" Chu Qingxue exclaimed in surprise. "You were so careless! Aunt Yun is your mother-in-law, after all. As her daughter-in-law, you should be more sensible and consider others more in everything you do. Don't be so selfish..."

"I don't need you to lecture me." Jiang Ning glared at Chu Qingxue, whose eyes instantly turned red.

"I'm sorry, I was too talkative... I... I just wanted to persuade you to make up..."

Chu Qingxue was on the verge of tears and snuggled into Lu Junyan's arms. Lu Junyan, while holding Chu Qingxue's shoulders, said to Jiang Ning:

"You made my mother faint, and now you've made Qingxue cry. Jiang Ning, how come I never knew you were so capable!"

Jiang Ning was stared at fiercely by Lu Junyan. He opened his mouth, but had no words to reply.

What else could she say?

She caused all the trouble, and she made all the mistakes.

At least that's how Lu Junyan sees it.

The Lu family's extended family members arrived one after another. Chu Qingxue ordered takeout and delivered various fruits and snacks. The entire Lu family praised Chu Qingxue highly.

Jiang Ning stood to the side, like an outsider.

When it came time to discuss who would stay with her at the hospital that night, all the relatives thought of her again.

“I know Junyan is filial, but at times like this, his daughter-in-law must stay by his side at the hospital!”

“That’s right. If the daughter-in-law doesn’t step in now, wouldn’t the Lu family have wasted all those years of raising her?”

"Xiaoyun was made sick by her, so it's only right that she takes responsibility to take care of her."

The ward was filled with chatter. Yang Liyun lay on the hospital bed eating the apple that Chu Qingxue fed her, remaining silent, which could be considered tacit agreement.

"Aunt Yun, how about... I stay and take care of you?"

Upon hearing Chu Qingxue's words, Yang Liyun was immediately moved to tears.

"Look, look at Qingxue, how considerate and sensible she is... Someone should learn from her."

Even though Jiang Ning's presence was already very low, he still couldn't escape Yang Liyun's disdainful look.

“But you still have work. It’s too tiring to take care of her at night. How will you go to work the next day if you don’t sleep well?” Lu Jun’s tone was as indifferent as ever, but everyone could hear his concern for Chu Qingxue.

"Look, Qingxue, even if you're willing, Junyan won't let you go." Wang Lu egged them on from the side, and several relatives praised Chu Qingxue again, making Chu Qingxue blush.

The atmosphere in the ward was harmonious until Lu Junyan's tall figure appeared in front of Jiang Ning.

Everyone fell silent, their eyes fixed on Lu Junyan and Jiang Ning.

Chu Qingxue, who was peeling an apple, slowly tightened her grip on the fruit knife in her hand.

She knew Lu Junyan felt sorry for her, but she really wanted to stay and take care of her. She didn't want to miss such a good opportunity to show her abilities.

Jiang Ning looked up and saw that Lu Junyan's deep eyes were like agave with ice.

"You'll stay tonight."

Without asking or discussing, Lu Junyan used a commanding tone.

Jiang Ning clenched his fist.

"I also have a job, and I have to go to work tomorrow."

"Then I'll resign."

Seeing the incredulous shock in Jiang Ning's wide eyes, Lu Junyan shrugged and smiled.

"You don't think your job is as important as Qingxue's, do you?!"

Many of Lu's relatives are unaware that Jiang Ning is also a jewelry designer at FY.

Although it was mentioned in the trending news, their focus was entirely on the ambiguous photos of Jiang Ning and Ning Junzhe.

Jiang Ning wanted to remind Lu Junyan that she and Chu Qingxue worked at the same company and did the same job.

But she swallowed the words back down her throat.

Lu Junyan couldn't possibly be unaware of this.

In other words, in Lu Junyan's eyes, even if she and Chu Qingxue do the exact same job, only Chu Qingxue is important.

Chu Qingxue's job is her job, and she can quit her job at will.

Jiang Ning felt a tightness in his chest.

She hadn't originally said she wouldn't provide care.

After all, she was responsible for Yang Liyun's hospitalization. If Lu Junyan and his family hadn't been so hypocritical, she probably would have agreed.

"I don't have time. You have plenty of money. Hiring a caregiver isn't difficult."

After saying that, Jiang Ning turned and left.

The entire corridor was filled with Yang Liyun's dissatisfaction: "Do you even listen to what a human being says? Our Lu family is truly cursed for eight lifetimes to have married such a heartless wretch!"

Jiang Ning didn't turn around and walked faster and faster, unaware that Lu Junyan was chasing after her.

Lu Junyan was about to catch up with Jiang Ning in a few steps, but he suddenly stopped just one step away.

He saw his grandfather arrive.

Lu Lifeng gave him just one look, and he understood what his grandfather meant.

Jiang Ning was surprised that Lu Lifeng would come.

However, since Yang Liyun is hospitalized, Lu Lifeng should visit her, both out of courtesy and reason.

Jiang Ning and Lu Lifeng sat together on a bench outside the hospital building.

Although Lu Lifeng had white hair, he was always dressed in a suit and tie, and his aura was even stronger than Lu Junyan's.

Jiang Ning thought that Lu Lifeng must already know about her and Ning Junzhe trending on social media, and that he probably also knew that she had angered Yang Liyun to the point of fainting when she brought up divorce.

Hands clasped tightly together.

Jiang Ning knew that Lu Lifeng had a heart condition and was afraid of upsetting him, so she only said that she and Lu Junyan had quarreled, but she didn't expect it to escalate so much.

After listening to Jiang Ning's vague explanation, Lu Lifeng sighed and said, "Young people shouldn't be too impulsive."

"Yes... Grandpa is right..."

Jiang Ning knew he had disappointed Lu Lifeng.

“No couple is without arguments; it’s all part of the adjustment process… I know you work very hard taking care of Junyan. Junyan is a career-oriented young man, and he might neglect you a bit because he’s busy with work. Please be more understanding of him…”