Chapter 18: This Is Your Friend, After All

Jiang Muqing felt utterly deceived— not only was it painful, but it hurt even more than yesterday. Yesterday, he had directly fainted from the pain, but today, just as he blacked out, Su Yunlan pricked him awake.

“Don’t sleep. If you feel anything, tell me right away,” Jiang Muyu said, injecting another needle.

Jiang Muqing gritted his teeth. “It hurts…”

“That’s good. Pain means there’s still hope. If you lose feeling, then it’s over.”

Jiang Muyu administered several more injections. Seeing his miserable expression, she clicked her tongue.

“Can you smile? Otherwise, I won’t feel accomplished.”

But when she saw Jiang Muqing’s forced, pained smile—worse than crying—Jiang Muyu fell silent. She shouldn’t have expected that poker face to smile for her.

After half an hour of treatment, Jiang Muyu slowly withdrew the needles.

“I’ll have Uncle Hu come in to help tidy up. If anything happens, tell me immediately.”

Jiang Muqing gave a grunt. Sweat drenched his face, and his lips had turned pale from the pain.

This girl might have a strange personality, but she certainly had some genuine skill…

Thanks to Jiang Muyu’s “support,” lunch finally included two meat dishes.

Seeing the meat on the table, she almost cried with gratitude.

The flavor…

Delicious!

Jiang Muyu gnawed on a chicken wing. “Uncle Hu, I’ll transfer you some money later. Tomorrow, we’ll have big pork knuckles.”

“Sure, Miss Jiang, whatever you want to eat is fine!” Uncle Hu readily agreed.

Jiang Muqing frowned slightly and asked Uncle Hu, “Does our family not even have money for meals now?”

And they still wanted Jiang Muyu to spend money…

Hu Feng was stunned, but before he could speak, Hu Hu said, “Second Young Master, I haven’t been paid for the last three months.”

Jiang Muqing: “…”

Jiang Muyu said, “You haven’t even worked, why get a salary?”

Is that the same thing?

Hu Hu felt resentful but dared not say a word, fearing Jiang Muyu might knock him out right at the table.

Everyone at the table was lost in their own thoughts, except Jiang Muyu, who ate diligently.

“By the way, how about buying two pig’s feet to help Jiang Muqing recover? Shape to nourish shape.”

Jiang Muqing: “…”

Actually, that wasn’t necessary.

Just then, the sound of a car outside caught their attention.

All four looked out together.

Seeing the car, Hu Hu exclaimed, “Isn’t that the globally limited edition model? I can’t believe I actually get to see one…”

Jiang Muyu kicked his chair. “Security guard Xiao Hu, what are you standing there for? The person is coming straight into our yard. How are you watching the gate? Careful, I’ll dock your pay.”

Hu Hu: “But we haven’t even gotten paid…”

Though he said that, he grabbed his baton and strode outside.

Confident and imposing—his posture matched that of a street tough.

Jiang Muyu watched as the car door opened and a young, handsome man with a tall, upright figure and long legs stepped out.

“That’s Young Master Xie.”

Hearing Hu Feng’s voice, Jiang Muyu asked, “Young Master Xie… who is he?”

Before Hu Feng could answer, Jiang Muqing pushed his wheelchair toward the door.

Hu Feng hurriedly explained, “Xie Mingyuan is the Second Young Master’s friend. After the Jiang family’s misfortune, while others came to cause trouble or sneered coldly, only Young Master Xie offered help and supported the family a lot.”

Jiang Muyu nodded and continued to watch outside.

The man straightened his suit as he strode in.

Hu Hu, clearly familiar with him, bowed and fawned, a stark contrast to his attitude when he first met Jiang Muyu.

That kid—he definitely needed his wages docked!

“Mingyuan, what brings you here?”

Jiang Muqing pushed his wheelchair out of the hall, his mood visibly improved at the sight of the visitor.

Xie Mingyuan smiled lightly. “I realized it’s been a long time since I saw you. I happened to be nearby, so I came over.”

“We’re having lunch. Want to join us?”

“Sure…”

Xie Mingyuan reached for his wheelchair, but before he could touch it, someone pushed his hand aside.

“So you’re my brother’s friend? Nice to meet you. I’m Jiang Muyu. First time meeting…”

Looking at the woman before him, Xie Mingyuan frowned slightly. “Muqing, who is this?”

Jiang Muyu stood firmly in front of Jiang Muqing, giving him no chance to speak. “I’m Muqing’s distant cousin from his maternal side! Call me Cousin Mingyuan, okay? Come on.”

She hooked her arm through Xie Mingyuan’s and pulled him inside.

Xie Mingyuan twitched the corner of his mouth. “Alright…”

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to refuse; her strength was surprisingly firm, making it impossible to break free.

Jiang Muqing: “…”

Just moments ago, she was calling him ‘auntie,’ and now she’s calling him cousin.

“Mingyuan cousin, are you a good friend of my cousin? How old are you? Where’s your family from? Do you have a girlfriend? Do you prefer sweet or savory? Steamed buns or rice…”

Xie Mingyuan smiled, “Anything is fine. I’m not picky.”

“I just want to get to know you better,” Jiang Muyu said, scooping some rice and pushing it toward him, not forgetting to show off a carefully practiced wink.

Jiang Muqing couldn’t stand it any longer and warned, “Jiang Muyu, tone it down.”

Xie Mingyuan shook his head with a smile. “It’s fine.”

“Cousin, why are you so stingy? Mingyuan cousin hasn’t even said anything yet.” Jiang Muyu teased, pushing a plate of bitter melon toward Xie Mingyuan. “Mingyuan cousin, eat more.”

“Alright, thank you.”

Jiang Muyu pulled her chair closer to sit beside Xie Mingyuan.

“Mingyuan cousin, how do you know my cousin?”

Xie Mingyuan picked up his chopsticks but then put them down again. “My parents and his uncle and aunt are connected. When my parents came to the capital to start a business, his uncle and aunt helped a lot. Muqing and I are also quite close. We went to the same middle school, university, and even the same major.”

“Oh, that’s how it is.”

Jiang Muyu’s eyes sparkled. “But you’re so different from my cousin. Look at him—always serious-faced, unlike you, Mingyuan cousin… so gentle…”

Jiang Muqing: “…”

“Ha ha, really?” Xie Mingyuan smiled awkwardly.

“Yes, yes. Hurry and eat, don’t be polite,” Jiang Muyu said, pushing the bitter melon plate toward him again.

Xie Mingyuan picked up a chopstickful and almost turned green eating it.

Jiang Muyu urged him to eat more. “Mingyuan cousin, bitter melon has many benefits: clearing heat, reducing fire, cooling down. Eat more.”

No one knew where Uncle Hu had gotten the bitter melon, but it seemed like a new strain—so bitter it could send someone to the heavens.

With Jiang Muyu’s persistence, Xie Mingyuan forced a smile and finished half a bowl of rice and half a plate of bitter melon. As for the other dishes, they were out of his reach.

When he put down his chopsticks, Xie Mingyuan breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Jiang Muqing.

“Muqing, can we talk alone for a bit?”