After leaving the hospital ward, Qin Yaoyao kept her head down, looking submissive. There was still an apologetic and distressed look on her face. "A Yan, I don't think Sister Jiang Li will forgive me. She didn't even want to say a single word to me."
Xiao Yanzhi didn't respond. He took a couple of steps and then stopped in his tracks. "You can go back first. I'll have a chat with her."
"Wouldn't that be inappropriate?" Qin Yaoyao bit her lip, her tone hesitant. "Maybe we should just forget it. I don't think Sister Jiang Li will agree to help clarify the rumors."
Even though she said so, the look on her face clearly showed her reluctance.
The real purpose of her visit to Jiang Li today was not to pay a visit but to ask Jiang Li to come out and deal with the public opinion.
Some young master or young lady secretly leaked to the media that it was Qin Yaoyao who forced Jiang Li to drink a whole glass of strong liquor that night in the hall.
After all, everyone in Beicheng knew that Jiang Li had always been the apple of Xiao Yanzhi's eye, and now there was a new love, Qin Yaoyao.
The complicated relationship among these three people was already intriguing. Once this incident broke out, all kinds of media rushed to add fuel to the fire and ferment the news.
On the Internet, all the comments were saying that Qin Yaoyao was now forcing the "rightful wife" out of the way and deliberately showing off her power to bully Jiang Li.
The scolding was overwhelming, and Qin Yaoyao's reputation was seriously affected.
That's why she came here this time, specifically to ask Jiang Li to come out and clarify the rumors.
"I'll handle it." Xiao Yanzhi's voice was calm, with a hint of nonchalance in his tone. "Even if she's not willing to come out, I have a way to solve it."
Hearing this, the haze in Qin Yaoyao's eyes immediately disappeared. She quickly wrapped her arm around Xiao Yanzhi's. "A Yan, I knew you were the best!"
"You should learn a lesson from this." Xiao Yanzhi said slowly. "Think things through before you act. In this regard, Jiang Li is more mature than you."
"I know." Qin Yaoyao lowered her eyes, looking at a loss. "I won't be so impulsive in the future."
As she said this, she tugged at the corner of his clothes pitifully. "A Yan, you're so fierce. It's scary."
Xiao Yanzhi glanced at her, and his tone involuntarily softened. "I don't mean anything else. I just hope you can be more mature."
Qin Yaoyao looked up, blinking her big eyes. "But, doesn't A Yan like innocent girls more?"
Hearing this, Xiao Yanzhi was stunned for a couple of seconds and was slightly in a daze.
In terms of innocence, Qin Yaoyao was not the most innocent girl he had ever met.
...
Jiang Li was almost asleep, but these two people's disturbance completely wiped out her drowsiness. She ran her fingers through her hair irritably and swiped her phone boredly.
She had also been following the entertainment news recently. When she saw Qin Yaoyao appear, she guessed the other's intention.
People never visit the Three Treasures Hall without a reason, let alone these two big shots.
A few minutes later, the door of the ward was pushed open again. This time, it was only Xiao Yanzhi.
The moment their eyes met, Jiang Li averted her gaze first.
Xiao Yanzhi's tone was as cold as usual. "Jiang Li, let's have a talk."
Jiang Li said, "If it's about the recent public opinion on Qin Yaoyao, I have nothing to talk to Mr. Xiao about."
Xiao Yanzhi wasn't surprised by her reaction. "I just want you to come out and clarify things."
Clarify?
Jiang Li couldn't help laughing. Since her vocal cords hadn't fully recovered, the laughter tugged at her throat, and she coughed desperately.
Seeing this, Xiao Yanzhi handed her a glass of water, but she gently pushed it away.
Jiang Li's expression was cold and her tone was very calm. "The news is true, and the report is accurate. What needs to be clarified?"
As soon as she finished speaking, the man was stunned for a few seconds, and then he couldn't help scoffing, with the corner of his lips slightly curving. "Jiang Li, you really know how to apply what you've learned."
"Thanks to Mr. Xiao's good guidance." Jiang Li retorted calmly.
This was what Xiao Yanzhi had said about the rumor between her and Song Yu at that time. Now she was just returning it to him intact.
"Let's not talk about clarifying the rumor for now." Xiao Yanzhi rubbed the corner of his eyebrows. Apparently, he didn't plan to continue this topic with her. "It's Xiao Yuanfeng's birthday next weekend. Remember to make preparations."
When it came to this matter, Xiao Yanzhi's face turned colder, and there was impatience in his eyes.
Jiang Li's eyelashes drooped. Hearing this, her eyes paused for a second, and her eyebrows frowned slightly.
"What should I prepare?"
Xiao Yanzhi nodded, his tone indifferent. "Come back with me to attend the Xiao family dinner."
Jiang Li looked at him sideways, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.
The man's tone was casual, and there was no expression on his face. "What's so surprising? It's not the first time."
This was true.
For the past four years, Jiang Li had accompanied Xiao Yanzhi back to every Xiao family dinner.
A few days ago, Jiang Li had also checked the calendar and knew that Xiao Yuanfeng's birthday was coming soon.
Jiang Li remembered everything about Xiao Yanzhi clearly, including his family.
In the quiet hospital ward, only Xiao Yanzhi's voice echoed.
Jiang Li was stunned for a few seconds.
She didn't understand his meaning for a moment. "You should take Qin Yaoyao back this year."
Jiang Li suppressed the dullness in her chest and tried to keep her tone calm. "It's a good opportunity for Uncle and Aunt to get to know her."
When she said this, Xiao Yanzhi's dark eyes stared at her. There were complex emotions surging in the depths of his eyes, and his gaze gradually turned cold.
"She's not suitable for such an occasion." He looked at Jiang Li, his tone indifferent. "The Xiao family is a complicated place. She can't handle it."
So it was to protect Qin Yaoyao from being targeted by the people in the Xiao family.
Jiang Li's eyelashes drooped. She pursed her lips self - deprecatingly and thought she was extremely ridiculous.
She had actually felt a little happy because Xiao Yanzhi was taking her back to the Xiao family.
It was all just because she was better at dealing with the scheming elders in the Xiao family than Qin Yaoyao.
There was nothing else.
After saying that, Xiao Yanzhi straightened the wrinkles on his suit. His tone was very forceful. "Let me know when you're discharged from the hospital next week. I'll ask Xue An to pick you up."
"I'll have someone arrange the gift in advance." Xiao Yanzhi's tone was calm. "You haven't terminated the contract with Jiangyu yet, so all the previous promises still count. You know what to do. Don't let me down."
It was the same tone as always.
For the sake of not disappointing him, Jiang Li had tried so hard so many times.
After saying that, he got up and walked out of the ward.
Jiang Li lay in bed, staring fixedly at the ceiling. The corner of her lips gradually flattened, leaving only bitterness.
...
When Qin Yaoyao learned that Xiao Yanzhi was going back to the Xiao family to celebrate Xiao Yuanfeng's birthday, she couldn't help feeling excited. But when she finally summoned up the courage to ask him, she learned that he was going to take Jiang Li back.
"Why?" Her face was full of disappointment, and there was disbelief in her tone. "A Yan, why don't you take me back?"
At such a family dinner that demonstrated one's status, how could he take Jiang Li?
Didn't this mean that Jiang Li was the girlfriend that Xiao Yanzhi had implicitly recognized?