The faint glimmer of hope that had just ignited was quickly extinguished.
Chi Yu couldn't understand why it had to be her. Out of all the people in the world, why was her luck so abysmal?
"Yu'er, come back to the hospital with your uncle."
Chi He extended his hand to her, his voice laced with a hint of reassurance amidst the prolonged silence.
Though he was unaware of what had transpired, it was evident something was gravely wrong with Chi Yu. Chi He felt it necessary to take Chi Yu back for a full check-up.
Chi Yu wasn't ill; she had simply uncovered the truth of her betrayal. She hadn't decided what her next move should be, but at this moment, she had no desire to see Chi He's meticulously calculating face any longer.
As she turned away, she nearly collided with an oncoming car. If Chi He hadn't yanked her back forcefully, an accident would have been inevitable.
The Audi driver lowered his window, ready to unleash a tirade, but upon seeing Chi He and Chi Yu, his expression softened into one of respect.
"Sir, Miss."
Sitting inside the car was Qi Hui, his expression uneasy. Chi Yu noticed Ning Jin slumped in the passenger seat, unconscious, and instantly understood the so-called "urgent matter" Qi Hui had mentioned.
The simmering anger she had been bottling up all night finally found a target.
Chi Yu ordered Qi Hui out of the car.
Qi Hui looked troubled. "Miss, Ning Jin was drugged..."
"You are my bodyguard! Let her die for all I care!" Chi Yu roared, her fury catching both Qi Hui and Chi He off guard.
Qi Hui had seen Chi Yu's arrogance and domineering nature over the years but had never witnessed her lose her temper like this. Without saying another word, he got out of the car. The moment he stepped down, he was met with two sharp slaps across the face.
Qi Hui lowered his head, accepting the blows without a word of complaint.
"Do you know why I slapped you?" Chi Yu's tone was cold.
"I acted without your permission," Qi Hui replied, which used to be the correct answer. But after seeing that book, Chi Yu's response had changed.
"As a bodyguard, your sole duty is to protect your employer. My uncle pays you to safeguard me, not to run errands behind my back. Do you understand?"
Ning Jin had nearly been drugged and assaulted; Qi Hui had come to her rescue. But in Chi Yu's words, it was nothing more than a "side job."
Qi Hui clenched his fists, burying his dissatisfaction deep within. "Understood," he muttered.
Chi Yu couldn't care less whether he was sincere or merely feigning compliance. Exhausted from the ordeal, she instructed Qi Hui to drive her back to the hospital.
Qi Hui opened the back door for her.
Chi Yu remained standing, a mocking smile on her face. "Are those slaps not painful enough for you? This is my car, and you're letting me sit in the back?"
She implied that Ning Jin should get out of the car.
Qi Hui's grip tightened on the car door, his handsome, chiseled face contorting slightly with restrained anger. "Miss, Ning Jin also needs to go to the hospital. Perhaps we could all go together..."
Chi Yu impatiently cut him off. "I'll give you three seconds to throw her out."
Qi Hui froze in place.
"Let Ning Jin out," Chi He finally spoke up after playing the background for so long. In Qi Hui's disbelieving gaze, he added, "I'll take her to the hospital."
Chi Yu let out a cold laugh. "Uncle, you're so kind-hearted."
Her relentless insistence was indeed unpleasant to witness.
Yet Chi He did not lose his temper.
Chi Yu wished he would. If he did, she would have a reason to mock him for being kinder to the "cook's daughter" than to his "own niece."
Chi He's leniency towards Chi Yu always exceeded that shown to others.
"If there's something you don't want Uncle to know, then Uncle won't ask for now. I'll check on you another day."
Chi Yu's response was to slam the car door shut, her voice harsh as she urged Qi Hui to drive away.
Once Chi Yu's car had driven far enough, Chi He dismissed the driver. He gazed at Ning Jin's face, which showed a mix of calm and unease, and coldly demanded, "How long do you plan to keep pretending?"
Ning Jin opened her eyes, seemingly startled by Chi He's frosty expression. She shrank back, timidly calling out, "Uncle."
If Chi Yu were here now, she would feel even more disheartened.
About six months ago, Ning Jin had learned from Chi He that she was not the cook's daughter but rather the eldest daughter of the Chi family. She had been ecstatic, thinking she would immediately rise to the status of a phoenix. But Chi He told her she would have to wait another year.
Only on her eighteenth birthday would the Chi family announce her true identity.
When Ning Jin kept pressing for a reason behind this delay, Chi He revealed the long-buried truth.
Ning Jin felt no gratitude toward Chi Yu.
Yes, Chi Yu had shielded her from disaster for seventeen years, but she had also enjoyed the privileged life of a wealthy heiress during that time.
In contrast, Ning Jin had grown up alongside the servants, and although she never lacked food or clothing, compared to Chi Yu, who was pampered and surrounded by luxury brands, Ning Jin was like an ugly duckling next to a swan.
So insignificant and shabby.
Ning Jin felt wronged, resentful!
She couldn't bear another six months; she was eager to gradually replace Chi Yu.
"You knew Qi Hui would be back today, so you put on this act," Chi He stated the fact, not giving Ning Jin a chance to argue before continuing, "Do you remember what I told you six months ago?"
Feigning obedience, Ning Jin replied, "You told me to be patient and not reveal anything. Uncle, you misunderstand me. I was tricked by my classmates into coming out to sing, and they spiked my drink. I was scared, so I called Qi Hui for help."
Seeing that Chi He remained unmoved, his expression cold, she bit her lip and added, "You can't blame me; Brother Qi Hui told me that if I was ever in danger, he would come to protect me."
Chi He had given Ning Jin a chance. If she had just admitted her mistake, saying she had been momentarily misguided, he had intended to persuade himself to let it go. After all, she was just a teenager, prone to childish behavior and eager for attention—understandable.
But it seemed Ning Jin had an inflated sense of her own importance.
"Whose man is Qi Hui?" Chi He asked.
Ning Jin, not yet sensing the danger, answered with innocent earnestness, "Brother Qi Hui is your man."
"Whom is he supposed to protect?"
"…Chi Yu."
"What is Chi Yu's current status?"
Ning Jin slowly straightened up, a hint of resentment flashing in her eyes. "The eldest daughter of the Chi family."
"And what is your status?"
Gritting her teeth, Ning Jin answered, "The cook's daughter."
"So—"
Chi He looked at this niece who shared his blood, his gaze devoid of warmth, filled only with a cold warning.
"Let me reiterate: in the next six months, you'd better behave yourself and stay out of trouble. Otherwise, who is the real eldest daughter of the Chi family is ultimately up to me. Do you understand?"
Ning Jin was jolted awake from her self-satisfied delusion, fearfully apologizing, "I'm sorry, Uncle. I won't dare do it again. Please forgive me this once!"
What a disgrace.
Chi He, too impatient to deal with her further, ordered the driver to take them back to the Chi family estate.
(End of chapter)