Back at the hospital, Xu Lie, who was guarding the door, gave Li Chonglou a look.
His expression was strange, completely unlike his usual stern face.
"Why did Jiang Yuxin come?" Li Chonglou glanced through the glass on the door, a strange expression on his face.
In the hospital room, Jiang Yuxin was peeling an apple for her mother, chatting and laughing.
This was a stark contrast to the gnawing hatred she displayed at the auction earlier.
Could it be that her best friend, Cai Wen, couldn't keep her mouth shut and revealed what happened later?
No.
If Jiang Yuxin knew he had killed someone, her expression would likely not be so relaxed.
Li Chonglou pushed the door open.
"Chonglou is back." Zheng Xiumei seemed to be in a very good mood.
Jiang Yuxin turned her head, her gaze no longer aggressive, but with a hint of apology.
She stood up without saying a word.
"Mom, are you feeling better?" Li Chonglou played along, walked to the bedside, and sat down, asking softly.
He wasn't angry with Jiang Yuxin.
No matter how angry or misunderstanding she was towards him, she was always impeccable towards his mother. For this reason alone, she was a qualified wife.
"I'm fine."
Zheng Xiumei's gaze shifted to her daughter-in-law, her face filled with affection. "Yuxin is so busy with work, yet she still came to the hospital to chat with me."
"I am truly blessed from a past life to have such a good daughter-in-law."
These words were polite, meant for Jiang Yuxin, but also heartfelt.
She was just an ordinary woman with a small heart, never thinking of marrying into the Jiang family. For three years, her son had been married into the family, and she had never visited out of consideration for the bigger picture.
This was because she feared the Jiang family would look down on her son because of her.
But after falling ill and being hospitalized this time, Jiang Yuxin stayed up all night and visited, and this warmth gradually dispelled her inferiority complex.
She was also sincerely grateful that the Jiang family did not look down on her and her son.
"Yuxin is naturally good. Mom, don't worry. Your son knows how to cherish things," Li Chonglou said, sensing the deeper meaning in his mother's words and comforting her.
Since Jiang Tao's arrest, the enmity between the Jiang family and him had only grown.
Especially Jiang Tao's father.
He likely wouldn't let this matter go so easily.
But his mother didn't need to know this.
As for his wife, Jiang Yuxin, their relationship had indeed become much more harmonious.
If not for the misunderstanding at the auction today.
As he spoke, Li Chonglou looked at Jiang Yuxin and noticed a blush on her face. Her usually proud and cold eyes were filled with embarrassment.
Their eyes met, and Jiang Yuxin parted her lips slightly, "Come out, I have something to tell you."
"Go ahead," Zheng Xiumei encouraged, thinking the young couple was too shy to speak in front of her.
Li Chonglou nodded and followed Jiang Yuxin out of the inpatient department.
They didn't stop until they reached the parking lot and got into the car.
Jiang Yuxin then asked, "What is your relationship with the Lu family?"
Hearing this question, Li Chonglou's heart skipped a beat.
As expected, it had been exposed.
It made sense. Jiang Yuxin was sharp as a tack. Even if Cai Wen hadn't said anything, if the Lu Corporation actively sought her out for cooperation, she would definitely make some connections.
Since she had come to question him, he might as well be upfront about it.
"I saved Lu Chenggong's life. I am an benefactor to the Lu Corporation."
"Can you be more serious and stop joking?" As soon as she finished speaking, Jiang Yuxin's pretty face turned cold, her eyes filled with displeasure. "Who is Lu Chenggong? He has so many bodyguards around him. Did he need you to save him?"
"Besides, if something like that really happened, why have I never known about it!"
After leaving the auction, Jiang Yuxin had indeed regretted her actions.
Her concern had clouded her judgment. The entire burden of the Jiang family's company now rested on her shoulders.
Cooperation with the Lu Corporation was hopeless, and she had also offended Zheng He. Days of planning had been ruined.
That's why she had lost her temper so much.
Upon returning, she locked herself in her room and wept silently.
But just as she was about to give up hope, she received a call from the secretary of the general manager of the Lu Corporation headquarters.
They were invited to attend the group's public bidding conference and arranged to meet with General Manager Lu Yunxu for discussion in three days.
At that moment, it felt like a leap from hell to heaven.
After the excitement, she calmed down.
She realized that her attitude towards Li Chonglou had been too harsh. She hadn't given him any face in that situation, still treating him like a useless son-in-law as before.
It was indeed wrong.
For all intents and purposes, she should compensate him.
Therefore, she bought gifts and came to the hospital to visit her mother-in-law.
However, on the way, another question arose in her mind.
That was, why did the Lu Corporation suddenly take the initiative to invite her to bid?
Did something else happen after she left? So she called her best friend Cai Wen. Her best friend, with whom she had always shared everything, was hesitant this time.
She refused to say anything, only telling her that it might be Li Chonglou's doing, and then hung up the phone, making an excuse.
So she was bewildered and had been asking Li Chonglou for clarification since he returned.
Who would have thought that Li Chonglou would play such a ridiculous joke on her, instantly causing her to feel a trace of displeasure?
"Alright, I won't joke then." Seeing that Jiang Yuxin didn't believe him, Li Chonglou changed his tune helplessly. "Actually, a senior executive at the Lu Corporation likes antiques. I happened to have learned some knowledge in this area. When he was being deceived, I interjected and helped him avoid a scam."
"To thank me, he invited me to the auction."
"And promised to suggest to the company that the Jiang family participate in the bidding."
"He also gave me a gift."
As he spoke, he took out the bracelet he had bought at the auction and handed it to Jiang Yuxin.
The bracelet was, of course, free. The proceeds from the auction items were more than enough, and it had helped Donglin make a substantial profit.
Upon seeing the Hetian jade bracelet, Jiang Yuxin's beautiful eyes widened, and she froze on the spot.
Her face was filled with disbelief.
She hadn't expected Li Chonglou to actually buy that bracelet, something worth millions.
Was that executive that generous?
Although she was full of doubt, she knew for a fact that Li Chonglou couldn't afford so much money. Perhaps such an incredible thing could really happen.
"This is for you." Seeing her stunned, Li Chonglou gently took her hand, intending to put it on her.
The moment their skin touched, it startled Jiang Yuxin, and she shivered all over.
After three years of marriage, apart from her slapping him once, they had never had any physical contact.
The sudden awkwardness and shame made her tender face blush all the way to her ears.
She wanted to pull her hand away from Li Chonglou, but it felt as if she had lost all strength.
She could only let him put the bracelet on her.
Finally, in a voice as soft as a mosquito's hum, she lowered her head and said, "Thank you, thank you."
Seeing her act like a young girl, Li Chonglou was satisfied. "This is the first gift I've given you in our three years of marriage. I hope you like it."
Vanity, for women, is like lust for men; it is an instinct, a part of human nature, unavoidable, only varying in degree.
Jiang Yuxin was an outstanding woman, but that didn't mean she wasn't vain.
And he knew very well that to maintain a good marriage, true love alone was not enough.
In interactions between people, value is crucial. He needed to have value in front of Jiang Yuxin.
Many people dared not face this naked relationship of value, but for Li Chonglou, it was nothing.
As long as there was no intention to harm, it was love!