Chapter 48: Jiang Li, I Know I Was Wrong

Hearing Qin Mu's words, Jiang Li offered a faint smile. "President Qin knows now, but I only found out not long ago myself."

Qin Mu stepped forward eagerly, grabbing Jiang Li by the hand. "Jiang Li, I know I was wrong. I was the one who misunderstood you.

I've even investigated the truth behind my father's car accident. It was Jiang Xue who tampered with the brakes and had you deliver the car. She framed you for it. It was all my fault, entirely my fault. Can you please forgive me? Give me a chance, a chance for us to start over."

Jiang Li pulled her hand back, her face a mask of sorrow and grief.

"President Qin, don't you think it's a bit late to be saying these things now? I admit it, I'm just an ordinary commoner. I didn't have the means to investigate, so I had to accept being wronged and kept in the dark by all of you for the rest of my life."

"No, that's not it, Jiang Li, please listen to me. I truly regret it. I was wrong. Won't you please give me a chance to atone?"

Faced with Qin Mu's bitter pleading, Jiang Li sneered once again. "President Qin, there is truly no point in this. I used to beg you just like this, pleading with you to thoroughly investigate your father's car accident, but how did you treat me?

Do you even know how I survived that month in the little villa you specially set up for me?"

Qin Mu furrowed his brows deeply, wearing an expression of absolute agony. At that moment, he wanted to explain, but no words could excuse his actions.

His mind was flooded entirely with self-reproach and guilt toward Jiang Li.

"I'm sorry, I am so sorry. I am deeply apologetic about what happened to Youyou, too. It was a conspiracy plotted by Jiang Xue and Chen Shaojie. She wanted to cure Chenchen just to hold power over me and force me into marriage—it had to be that way! None of that was my intention, and I was completely unaware of it. Can't you please forgive me?"

Jiang Li no longer wished to listen to this man go on. She turned to look at Ji Han not far away. How could this man be so perceptive about when to advance and when to retreat?

Seeing her talking with Qin Mu, he had stayed far away.

A tiny spark of annoyance stirred in Jiang Li.

"President Qin, there are some things I really don't want to say too harshly. In any case, let me introduce you: Ji Han, my boyfriend. If you have anything else to say, discuss it with him. Or better yet, tomorrow is the Jiang Group's successor handover ceremony. You can attend then—you'll find the answers you're looking for there."

Ji Han nodded. "Indeed, President Qin. As a man, one must know how to let go and move on; there is no need to persistently pester her. Jiang Li is my girlfriend, and protecting her is my responsibility. I will not allow anyone to harass her."

Watching Jiang Li's retreating back as she turned to leave, Qin Mu called out, "The Jiang Group is holding its successor handover ceremony tomorrow. If Jiang Xue becomes the eldest daughter of the Jiang family and successfully takes over, I'm sure she will target you again. Jiang Li, you must be careful."

Jiang Li curved her lips into a slight smile without turning back, merely raising her hand to wave.

***

Ji Han spoke up, "That won't happen. Jiang Xue will never become the young lady of the Jiang family.

President Qin, after you come to the Jiangcheng Hotel tomorrow, I believe you will understand more clearly whether you and Jiang Li can ever be together. Bring Chenchen with you; I hope we can all respect his choice."

Without lingering, Jiang Li walked straight into the doctor's office.

Ji Han followed closely behind her.

Inside, a female doctor covered in bruises was weeping and pleading desperately.

"Spare me! Yes, I know her. She must be Ms. Jiang Li. I admit it—back then, I switched her baby according to the wishes of Eldest Miss Jiang Xue. It was all my fault.

And the paternity tests from these past few times were also tampered with by me. I took Jiang Xue's money; I confess to everything, it was all my fault."

Seeing the female doctor begging in despair, Jiang Li's heart was shattered into a thousand pieces. Why must her life be subjected to such drastic ups and downs?

Yet, if her biological father Jiang Jinxiu's plane crash was linked to Jiang Xue, was the hospital also at fault?

Or did the woman before her know something?

Just as Jiang Li was speculating, Special Assistant Lin stepped forward and handed over a stack of files. "Eldest Miss, the CEO's plane crash was largely caused by Jiang Jintao installing a signal jammer on board, coupled with the hospital's delayed rescue efforts. We have already investigated and confirmed that this doctor, acting under Jiang Xue's instructions, made no attempt to rescue CEO Jiang at all."

Hearing yet another grave accusation laid at her door, the doctor kowtowed frantically in terror. "I was wrong! None of this had anything to do with me personally; it was Jiang Jintao who stopped us from providing emergency treatment. Besides, Eldest Miss Jiang Xue gave us a lot of money! It truly wasn't our own intention!"

Gritting her teeth in fury, Jiang Li snapped, "So you claim it wasn't your intention? If Jiang Xue ordered you to murder someone, would you just go ahead and commit murder?

You can forget about ever walking out of prison for the rest of your life.

Officer, the recording has been made, and this woman has confessed to her crimes in her own words. Tomorrow, I need her to identify the suspects at the banquet, and after that, let her rot in a prison cell for the rest of her days!"

As the police led the woman away, Jiang Li could no longer hold back her tears, which streamed down her face in torrents.

Looking at the paternity test report for herself and Chenchen, a chaotic storm of painful emotions churned inside Jiang Li's heart.

"It's getting late. Youyou is still waiting for us at home. Pull yourself together, Jiang Li. Tomorrow, the old master will give us a satisfactory answer."

***

Jiang Li nodded. "Just the thought that tomorrow the people who hurt me will finally face punishment makes my heart race with excitement.

Ji Han, thank you for helping me so much, and for securing those major corporate projects for us as well."

Ji Han took Jiang Li's hand, his expression entirely sincere. "Don't thank me. Everything I've done for you was only right. Besides, Qin Mu actually deserves some credit for those major projects; to be honest, even without knowing the truth, he provided you with a great deal of help, which is why I took it upon myself not to let his company go bankrupt."

Jiang Li remained silent, simply letting Ji Han hold her hand as they walked. "I want to send Chen Shaojie back to where he started. As for Qin Mu... Ji Han, you don't understand the terror and hatred I harbor toward him. Let me handle him myself."

Ji Han nodded.

One cannot comprehend another's suffering, nor should one preach blind benevolence; he respected every decision Jiang Li made.

Just then, the butler of the old mansion called. "Eldest Miss, please hurry back! Old Master Jiang seems to have been poisoned. He vomited blood; the family doctor has arrived, and we are on our way to the hospital now."

Panic seized Jiang Li. "Poisoned? Jiang Xue and her father were driven out of the old estate—who else could possibly poison Grandpa?"

With no time to overthink, Jiang Li and Ji Han rushed back to their car and headed straight for the hospital.

After a night of intensive emergency treatment, Old Master Jiang finally pulled through the danger zone.

However, Old Master Jiang took Jiang Li's hand and instructed her to announce to the outside world that his condition was critical, while ordering that the successor handover ceremony proceed as scheduled.

Though Jiang Li did not understand her grandfather's underlying intention, she followed his instructions nonetheless.

"Xiaoli, don't worry. The identity of the Jiang family successor belongs to you and you alone. After the lawyer announces the successor, it will be fine if they raise no objections, but if they do contest it, I will make a personal appearance at the venue to witness the wild ambitions of these people."

Jiang Li remained anxious. "But Grandpa, I am truly worried about your health."

"There's no need to worry. Didn't your grandfather pull through? Besides, the domestic staff at the Jiang family estate are overdue for a replacement; there is an inside mole working for Jiang Jintao among them."