Chapter 54: The Plain Woman Must Eventually Meet Her Father-in-Law

"Until your wounds heal, you mustn't drink. Make sure you listen to your wife," the doctor entered, his tone light. "You both look so young, but let me tell you, the secret to a good marriage is simple: a man who listens to his wife will find success. Our ancestors were never wrong about this."

Xu Anan pursed her lips, signaling Jiang Li to clear up the misunderstanding.

But Jiang Li acted as though he hadn’t noticed.

The doctor, ever the chatterbox, continued, "This is the wisdom of experience."

"I need to use the restroom," Jiang Li suddenly announced.

When Xu Anan didn’t move, the doctor smiled and headed out. "Alright, I’ll leave you two alone. But remember, keep the wound dry." He helpfully closed the door behind them.

Jiang Li rose and made his way toward the bathroom.

Xu Anan resigned herself to her fate—after all, it wasn’t the first time.

While the two of them were occupied in the bathroom, visitors arrived outside.

Having heard that Jiang Li had suffered a serious burn, Old Master Jiang hurried over, accompanied by Jiang Yu, who happened to be currying favor with the old man at the time.

"Ali? Where are you?"

"Uncle!"

Hearing the two voices outside, Xu Anan tensed, instinctively tightening her grip. Jiang Li stiffened, a tingling sensation shooting down his spine, a faint flush coloring his handsome face.

He gritted his teeth, "Are you trying to kill me?"

Knock, knock.

Old Master Jiang stood outside the door. "Ali, are you in there?"

"Yes," Jiang Li replied, his voice low and rough. "I’m using the restroom."

The old man paused, surprised. "Aren’t both your hands injured? Can you manage alone? Should I call a nurse to help you?"

"Grandpa," Jiang Yu interjected, shaking his head and pointing at a lady’s handbag on the sofa, mischief in his eyes. "Uncle’s girlfriend must be here too, right?"

Old Master Jiang’s clouded eyes instantly brightened.

He decided he must stay and get a good look at his future granddaughter-in-law.

Jiang Yu shared the same curiosity. He knew his uncle had always been surrounded by women but never let any get close—so who could this woman be?

He eyed the handbag, feeling a sense of familiarity, as if he’d seen it somewhere before.

"Ali, what’s taking you so long?" Old Master Jiang was growing impatient, standing up and sitting down again, craning his neck anxiously.

Jiang Li had finished in the bathroom.

Xu Anan had washed her hands too.

But they couldn’t exit together.

Knock, knock.

Old Master Jiang knocked again. "Ali, what’s going on? Don’t be shy—sooner or later, a daughter-in-law has to meet her elders. Don’t tell me you don’t intend to take responsibility!"

"Our family values loyalty and commitment!"

A flash of cold mockery flickered in Jiang Li’s eyes at those words.

So much for loyalty—his mother’s years of steadfast waiting had proved to be nothing but a joke.

Sensing Jiang Li’s sudden shift in mood, Xu Anan hesitated, feeling as if he were a wounded puppy, especially with both his paws bandaged.

"Uncle, don’t be shy. We’re all family," Jiang Yu chimed in, moving to stand outside the bathroom door.

At last, the door was twisted open—by Jiang Li’s two fingers, his face contorted in pain. "What nonsense are you talking about? It’s just me in here."

"I don’t believe it," the old man insisted, intent on inspecting the bathroom himself.

Jiang Li ignored him and strode out. "Look all you want."

The bathroom was empty, but the window stood wide open.

Despite Jiang Li’s objections, Xu Anan had climbed out through the window—after all, it was just the second floor; unlikely to be fatal if she fell. Better that than being caught by the old man and Jiang Yu—she’d rather die!

Old Master Jiang was sorely disappointed.

"Then why did you take so long?"

"I had diarrhea," Jiang Li replied without missing a beat, face perfectly composed. He glanced at the lady’s handbag on the sofa but made no move to cover it up.

The old man pointed at the bag. "Don’t tell me that’s yours."

Jiang Li raised an eyebrow. "That’s right, you caught me."

"..."

A strange premonition crept over the old man. Could it be his youngest son… No, impossible. He was overthinking things!

But then he reconsidered. While Jiang Li had his share of rumors, the old man knew full well they were all fabricated.

Could all those stories be mere smokescreens?

Jiang Yu scratched his head. "Uncle, what actually happened? How did you get such a bad burn?"

After a mental whirlwind, Old Master Jiang, exhausted, sat down, steadying himself. "Yes, tell us. What exactly happened?"

"It was because of Lin Jiaojiao."

"Jiaojiao?" The old man blinked in confusion.

Jiang Li didn’t mention Xu Anan or Gu Yang; he simply explained that Lin Jiaojiao had tripped a waiter on purpose, and in the chaos, he’d caught a hot stone bowl with his hands.

"Why would she do that?" Old Master Jiang asked, perplexed.

"Isn’t she a little unhinged?"

He recalled how Lin Jiaojiao had relentlessly pursued Jiang Li, even stealing her grandfather’s prized aged brew for him—much to the old man’s fury.

If the waiter had been female, it wouldn’t have been surprising for Lin Jiaojiao to play a prank just for glancing at Jiang Li.

At that moment, Old Master Lin arrived.

Since Jiang Li hadn’t answered his calls, he’d come in person.

Knowing his family was in the wrong, Old Master Lin began with an apology. "Ali, you know what Jiaojiao’s like—she’s willful, but she means no harm."

"Can’t you forgive her this once, for the sake of all she’s done for you?"

"Impossible," Jiang Li replied coldly.

Whenever he’d accepted wine from Lin Jiaojiao, he’d always had Assistant Wang transfer money to her account—he’d never taken advantage.

But Old Master Lin seemed completely unaware.

He instructed Assistant Wang, who had also arrived, to present proof of the transfers. "The money was just sent over."

Seeing this, Old Master Lin opened his mouth to speak. "But she stole the wine I brewed myself, all for you!"

"Then you failed to teach her properly. As for me and her, it was a fair transaction—what’s wrong with that?" Jiang Li’s handsome face remained icy, refusing to yield.

Left with no choice, Old Master Lin turned to Old Master Jiang for help.

"We’ve been friends for years—can’t you let this go, just this once, for Jiaojiao’s sake?"

Even Old Master Jiang didn’t understand Jiang Li’s stubbornness. At first, he’d assumed Jiang Li’s willingness to accept Lin Jiaojiao’s wine meant he had feelings for her.

Now, it was clear he’d been mistaken.

He shook his head and advised Jiang Li to follow the doctor’s orders, then left with Jiang Yu.

Old Master Lin, seeing this, could only take his leave as well.

But he quickly caught up to Old Master Jiang. "Old Jiang, let’s talk in private, for old times’ sake!"

Xu Anan, having circled around from another direction, happened upon this scene but quickly ducked out of sight.

The two old men moved aside to talk, while Jiang Yu waited where he was, his mind still on that handbag.

On a sudden whim, he called Xu Anan.

Her phone, however, was in her bag, so she couldn’t answer. But as luck would have it, when Xu Anan turned around, she ran straight into Shen Ying.