Chapter 90: Deliberate Retaliation
“But she was still too late.” Si Zuochen said with displeasure, “And are you sure she was worried about me, and not about her lover?”
As he spoke, a hint of disdain flashed in his eyes.
"She has her own plans; don't expect her to be a good person."
Si Jiliang knew that Si Zuochen harbored deep resentment towards Jiang Ran and that it was not something that could be easily resolved.
He lowered his eyes slightly, but said nothing more. He gave a few simple instructions and left.
Ever since they parted ways that day, he had been absent-minded and couldn't wait to see Jiang Ran.
Especially Si Yanxiao, who had been in a coma for six years, woke up just when Jiang Ran seemed like a completely different person, which only increased his suspicions.
He strongly suspected that she might have been involved.
Not long after he left, Si Youlin came to the hospital to visit his brother.
Upon seeing him arrive, Si Zuochen's eyes lit up instantly, and he quickly asked, "Father is awake? What happened?"
Si Youlin looked surprised: "How did you know?"
After Si Zuochen explained the whole story to him, he noticed that Si Youlin was sullen.
A hint of doubt flashed in his eyes, and he asked in a low voice, "What's wrong?"
A hint of hesitation flashed across Si Youlin's face, concealing the sadness in his eyes. He lowered his gaze and said, "Brother, do you think it's a good thing or a bad thing that Father woke up?"
Upon hearing this, Si Zuochen was taken aback, a look of confusion appearing in his eyes: "Why would you ask that?" Si Youlin looked up at him, his lips slightly pursed, and replied in a low voice: "I saw Father and that woman together today. It wasn't the harmonious scene I imagined; on the contrary, the atmosphere was tense."
“Isn’t that normal?” Si Zuochen replied, “We know the inside story of why Father was in a car accident, and the two of them didn’t have any feelings for each other.”
"Furthermore, have you ever seen anyone who can get along peacefully with that woman?" As she spoke, she didn't forget to make a few sarcastic remarks about Jiang Ran.
“But…” Si Youlin paused for a moment, hesitated, and then continued, “My father and I had a meeting today, but it wasn’t as happy as I had imagined. Instead, it was just like exchanging ordinary greetings with a stranger.”
After saying that, he hung his head, looking utterly defeated: "Honestly, I'm very disappointed about this."
Seeing that Si Youlin was depressed and conflicted, Si Zuochen reached out and gently stroked his head, giving him a kind of invisible comfort.
He had been staying at the hospital and didn't know what had happened. At first glance, his thoughts were also in a mess, but he couldn't show even a hint of Si Youlin's current state.
After he calmed down, Si Zuochen slowly spoke up to comfort him: "After all, it's the first time we've met. It's inevitable that we'll be awkward around each other since we don't know each other well. Don't overthink it."
Si Youlin nodded, but it was unclear whether he had taken it to heart.
The things Si Jiliang had just told him flashed through Si Zuochen's mind. He frowned and asked hesitantly, "I heard... that woman saved me?"
“Yes,” Si Youlin replied. “According to Uncle Anan, she did find it first.”
Si Zuochen nodded slightly and fell into deep thought. Because of the effects of the drug, he was only awake for a short time, so he didn't have time to discuss some details with him.
So much so that Si Youlin still doesn't know that the person who actually saved him in time was someone else.
But what he said was exactly the same as what Si Jiliang said, and Jiang Ran had indeed gone to great lengths to find him...
Seeing Si Zuochen's worried expression, Si Youlin assumed he was tempted and quickly said, "Brother, you're not going to soften your heart, are you? Don't forget who arrested you!"
Upon hearing this, Si Zuochen snapped out of his reverie and nodded slightly: "I know."
How could he possibly let go of someone who had an ambiguous relationship with that woman and was so audacious as to kidnap him?
"It was just a casual question, don't overthink it," Si Zuochen explained, then changed the subject.
"By the way, you just said that the two of them are at odds? Is there a deep conflict between them?"
Hearing his question, Si Youlin nodded: "Yes."
After saying that, her eyes flashed, and she suddenly thought of something, and then said again, "But it seems to be Father's displeasure on his own. Father's dislike for her was so obvious back then."
"But when I asked her about it afterwards, she seemed completely unconcerned. Wasn't that a sign that she was interested in my father but intentionally backing down?"
As Si Youlin shared his insights, Si Zuochen frowned, lost in thought.
Jiang Ran's arrogant and domineering temper is well-known, and what he said is not without reason.
Seeing that he remained silent, Si Youlin pursed his lips and continued, "I'm a little worried about Father. How about we go and help him?"
"Help?" A hint of doubt flashed in Si Zuochen's eyes. "How can I help?"
Si Youlin raised an eyebrow, a calculating glint in his eyes, and said in a deep voice, "Tell him about that woman's character, lest he be deceived by her appearance later."
“Since he wants a divorce, we’ll fan the flames and let him ‘get rid of’ sooner, killing two birds with one stone.”
"Let me think..." Upon hearing this, Si Zuochen lowered his eyes and looked in one direction, his expression unreadable.
He understood Si Youlin's unspoken meaning: no matter how uncomfortable their first meeting was, he would still stand on his father's side.
Si Youlin knew that this matter required careful consideration, so he sat aside without urging him.
After a moment of contemplation, Si Zuochen slowly raised his eyes and looked at him seriously: "It's too hasty. This matter needs to be considered more carefully."
This is tantamount to a veiled rejection.
Si Youlin's expression stiffened upon hearing this, and his tone was somewhat displeased: "Alright, I'll listen to you."
Si Zuochen's gaze swept out the window, his thoughts racing. Although he didn't say it aloud, he knew very well that he had hesitated for a moment just now.
In the past, it would have been a sure thing, so what is he hesitating about now...?
On the other side, Si Yanxiao frowned slightly as he looked at the dark bowl of Chinese medicine in front of him, and then looked up at Jiang Ran with displeasure.
"What's the meaning?"
Jiang Ran raised an eyebrow and replied, "We will combine Chinese and Western medicine. Zhou Jinyan will be your attending physician and will be in charge of the Western medicine, while I will be in charge of your Chinese medicine."
"You?" Si Yanxiao scoffed coldly, his face showing disdain. "Why should I?"
Faced with his questioning, Jiang Ran was not intimidated at all. She sat down casually to the side and replied lazily, "Didn't you see me treating the old man?"
Si Yanxiao's expression froze. Recalling the scene just now, he surprisingly refrained from refuting her medical skills.
Yet he still sneered from the side, "We don't need you then. What? Has the Si family run out of people?"
Jiang Ran looked up at him, her eyes filled with a hint of coldness, her lips slightly curved, and her tone carried a subtle warning: "You'd better not be sarcastic. It was the old man who asked me to take care of you. Not everyone is eager to see your face."
Hearing her sarcasm, Si Yanxiao's expression gradually turned ugly.
"Drink it quickly, good medicine tastes bitter," Jiang Ran reminded him, emphasizing the last two words, a sly glint in her eyes.
Si Yanxiao frowned, about to refuse, when he heard Jiang Ranfu speak again.
"The old man has good intentions. If you get angry with him over such a trivial matter, wouldn't that be a bit unfilial?" she said, her tone laced with sarcasm.
Si Yanxiao's original words were cut off; was this a case of moral blackmail?
Thinking of the scene of his previous argument with the old man, Si Yanxiao's heart softened, and he glanced at Jiang Ran sideways.
He then picked up the bowl of Chinese medicine, and an unpleasant smell instantly filled his nostrils. Si Yanxiao frowned and glanced at Jiang Ran, who was staring at him.
He clearly had a look of enjoying the show. After hesitating for a moment, he gritted his teeth and drank the Chinese medicine in one gulp.
The pungent, bitter taste filled my mouth, making me want to vomit.
Just then, a soft laugh came from behind. Si Yanxiao looked up and saw Jiang Ran looking at him meaningfully.
A sudden realization dawned on him, and he demanded sharply, "You did this on purpose?"
He had taken Chinese medicine before, but never anything so nauseating.
Jiang Ran raised an eyebrow, not bothering to hide anything, and said directly, "You found out? I just added a little Coptis chinensis to the Chinese medicine."
Everyone knows that Coptis chinensis has a bitter taste.
Before Si Yanxiao could pursue the matter further, Jiang Ran continued, "Although your condition doesn't require Coptis chinensis, I added it for you because I thought about how bad your temper is."
"Coptis chinensis is most suitable for clearing heat and purging fire, so that you won't feel like you've eaten a firecracker every time you see me."
She scoffed from the side, completely unconcerned about how ugly Si Yanxiao's expression had become.
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