Chapter 44 Worthless

Xu Anan didn’t dwell too much on what Jiang Li had said. In his eyes, someone as self-indulgent as her could never truly understand anything of depth. She curled her lips in self-mockery as she handed the phone back.

“You should rest early, Second Master,” she said, mostly because she wanted to leave. If she stayed any longer with Jiang Li, she was afraid she’d lose control and, taking advantage of his illness, really end his life. That wretched man was simply too infuriating! While she was on the phone, he’d dared to do such things to her!

“Name your price.” Under the glow of the wall lamp, the man’s handsome face was almost ethereal, yet his words drove Xu Anan to the brink of madness: “Sell yourself to me.”

Xu Anan forced a twisted smile. “A hundred million.”

Jiang Li chuckled at her answer, his long, narrow eyes lowering. “All right, tell me—how did you calculate that number? If your reasoning is sound, I might just accept.”

Of course, Xu Anan was just talking nonsense—she was certain Jiang Li was merely toying with her, but now that he seemed serious, she found herself at a loss. Her dark eyes darted back and forth, then she decided to respond in kind. “What do you think I’m worth, Second Master?”

She tossed the question back at him. Jiang Li was unfazed. He lifted his hand and traced two zeros in the air with his finger, making Xu Anan roll her eyes in exasperation. So she was worth nothing at all!

Just then, guessing her phone was charged, Xu Anan turned to unplug it and pressed the power button.

The moment it switched on, her phone rang shrilly—Shen Ying was calling. Xu Anan’s gaze turned cold; it must be about Xu Wanwan. After all, the police had taken everyone in for questioning.

She slid to answer, and Shen Ying’s chilling voice came through. “Wanwan says you’re the reason she’s being detained. Is that true?”

“Mother, you only know half the story. Wanwan is naive by nature—she was tricked by Qin Yue. Otherwise, how could she have fallen in with such radical people?”

“But you were there too—why was only Wanwan arrested? What happened?”

Xu Anan was still considering how to deflect Shen Ying when Jiang Li took her phone. “Madam Xu, this is Jiang Li.”

Recognizing his voice, Shen Ying paused in surprise. “Second Master? Why are you with Anan?”

Xu Anan herself couldn’t understand Jiang Li’s intentions.

“My assistant happened to pass by and found Miss Xu Anan unconscious on the roadside. She was brought to the hospital and only just woke up,” Jiang Li explained.

His words were a relief to Xu Anan—they shielded her from Shen Ying’s interrogation. After all, since Xu Anan had been unconscious until now, she couldn’t possibly have helped Xu Wanwan, even if she’d wanted to.

Shen Ying had no choice but to let the matter drop. “I see. Thank you for your trouble, Second Master.”

“The Jiang and Xu families are in-laws. Naturally, we help when we can.”

“Yes, yes, you’re absolutely right. Then, Second Master, could you perhaps…” She wanted to ask him to help get Wanwan out of the police station.

“Madam Xu, if I’m not mistaken, Anan is your daughter as well, isn’t she? Yet not once have you expressed any concern for her. Doesn’t the world say you treat your stepdaughter kindly? Or is that all just a fabrication?” Jiang Li’s voice was icy as he cut her off.

Shen Ying’s heart skipped a beat. The Second Master was standing up for that little wretch Xu Anan!

“No, that’s not it. Actually—”

“Whether it is or not, you know in your heart,” Jiang Li said, then promptly hung up.

On the other end, Shen Ying was left anxious and flustered. Had she inadvertently offended the Second Master? What should she do now? That little wretch Xu Anan really had luck on her side—imagine, running into the Second Master’s assistant at just the right moment.

At a loss, Shen Ying hurried to the police station to see Xu Wanwan.

Detained with a group of offenders—including several drunken men sprawled on the floor—Xu Wanwan couldn’t take it at all. She sobbed and wailed, begging Shen Ying to get her out.

“Mom, please! Go get Xu Anan! Why should I suffer here while she’s perfectly fine? If it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t be in this mess! It’s all her fault! She’s the one who should be locked up for three days!”

“She’s with the Second Master,” Shen Ying said helplessly.

She wanted to bring Xu Anan here to take the blame for Xu Wanwan, but that simply wasn’t possible right now.

Xu Wanwan stared in disbelief. “What? That wretched Xu Anan—how could she be with the Second Master? Is she seducing him?”

“No! Mom, I like the Second Master!”

“Hurry, go and bring Xu Anan here!”

Bang! Bang! Bang! A policeman rapped the iron bars with his baton, his tone frosty. “Quiet down! This is a police station, not your home! What do you think you’re doing, making such a racket? Want to stay a few extra days?”

Shen Ying bowed repeatedly, apologizing, “I’m sorry, so sorry. The child is just immature.”

The policeman snorted. “Still a child at over twenty? If you don’t teach her a lesson now, there will only be a next time. I’ve said all I can. Think it over.”

Seeing her mother berated by others, Xu Wanwan hated Xu Anan all the more. She blamed her for everything.

“Mom, you never should have let that wretched Xu Anan come back in the first place—none of this would have happened! And now she’s off seducing the Second Master!”

“Call her and tell her if she doesn’t come, we’ll stop caring about her dying mother.”

Tomorrow, the hospital fees would be due again.

Shen Ying tried to comfort Xu Wanwan. “Don’t worry. She’ll definitely come tomorrow. Tonight, I’ll stay here with you.”

She was afraid Xu Anan was still with Jiang Li.

In truth, Xu Anan had already left Jiang Li.

She was prepared for Shen Ying to cause trouble, but after waking up, she found not a single missed call. She headed to the hospital and paid the fees first.

She then sought out Dr. Fang to ask about transferring her mother to another hospital.

Dr. Fang was a bit surprised. “Why not ask Dr. Wang?”

Xu Anan knew Dr. Wang was Shen Ying’s man—she would never go to him. But she couldn’t say that outright. “Dr. Wang is busy. I’ll ask him later.”

“Actually, St. Mary’s Hospital is quite good, but being a private institution, it’s extremely expensive.”

“Any other options?”

“If you can manage it, I’d still recommend St. Mary’s. I hear they’re about to upgrade to a new set of advanced medical equipment.”

That caught Xu Anan’s interest. But she didn’t have the money.

Bidding Dr. Fang farewell, she made her way to the intensive care unit, only to see Dr. Wang approaching, which immediately put her on guard.

She bristled, like a hedgehog with all its quills raised.

“Miss Xu, did you pay the hospitalization fees?” Dr. Wang adjusted his glasses, his smile a bit greasy as he looked her up and down.

Xu Anan’s expression was cold. “I just paid a hundred thousand. Is there a problem?”

Dr. Wang was both surprised and taken aback. He’d received a call from Shen Ying, who wanted him to urge Xu Anan to the police station, so she could be manipulated by Shen Ying and her daughter. Now what was he supposed to do?