Chapter Thirty-Nine: Lord Shen, Please Don't Spread Rumors

"She's not dead," Shen Tingxiao said, a cigarette dangling from his lips as he narrowed his eyes at her.

That meant the situation was far from optimistic.

Jiang Yunzhu didn't dare ask further. She hesitated for a moment, then said, "Master Shen, shall we go now?"

"Why?" Shen Tingxiao raised an eyebrow in return. "No one to take you home?"

His words carried a clear edge.

Jiang Yunzhu froze, carefully recalling their interactions throughout the night. She hadn't offended Shen Tingxiao in any way today.

It seemed, then, that Shen Tingxiao was simply in a foul mood.

Jiang Yunzhu abandoned the idea of having him drive her back. She stepped back slightly. "It seems your family member's condition is quite serious. I won't disturb you any longer."

She turned to leave.

Shen Tingxiao reached out, blocking her path. "Come on, I'll take you home."

Just as Jiang Yunzhu was about to get into the car, she glanced down at her clothes. "I only came to return your jacket."

As she spoke, she moved to remove the garment, but Shen Tingxiao pressed her shoulder down. His voice was even lower, colder, and more commanding: "Keep it on."

She had no choice but to stop.

Strange—what had she done to provoke him today?

"Get in," Shen Tingxiao said, tossing away his cigarette, opening the car door, and gently pushing her inside. Though he said "toss," it was really just a light push.

This time, Jiang Yunzhu clearly sensed his foul mood. She turned to him, the words of refusal just forming on her lips. "Maybe I should—"

Shen Tingxiao let out a cold laugh.

"In that case, thank you, Master Shen," Jiang Yunzhu said obediently, settling into the car.

He got in as well, keeping a certain distance from her. Leaning his elbow against the window, his profile was sharp and stern, his features half-hidden in shadow, making him seem even more severe and unyielding.

Jiang Yunzhu sat on the other side, one hand supporting her temple. At first, she was tense, but as the car moved, her nerves eased, exhaustion creeping in.

"The person you came to see—how are they?" Shen Tingxiao's voice broke the silence abruptly.

Jiang Yunzhu snapped awake and chose her words carefully. "They've been admitted to the ICU. It'll take twenty-four hours before they're out of danger."

"Mm," Shen Tingxiao replied, cool and indifferent.

The wave of sleepiness passed, and awkwardness flooded in. Unable to bear the silence, Jiang Yunzhu searched for something to say. "The person you visited—how are they doing?"

She asked cautiously.

"ICU. It'll be twenty-four hours before they're out of danger." Shen Tingxiao repeated her words back to her verbatim.

Jiang Yunzhu understood immediately—he was using her own words to block her.

Fine. If he didn't want to talk, she wouldn't press.

She wasn't that curious anyway.

The car stopped in front of the Jiang family's villa.

Jiang Yunzhu opened the door and got out. "Thank you, Master Shen—"

Before she could finish, Shen Tingxiao extended a hand toward her.

"What?" Jiang Yunzhu was caught off guard.

He didn't move, waiting patiently in that posture.

Perhaps it was the late hour, but Jiang Yunzhu's mind was foggy. She fished out a stack of cash from her pocket and placed it tentatively into his hand.

How stingy, she thought. Even giving someone a ride, he still wanted a fare.

Shen Tingxiao pinched the bills, then lightly tapped her face with them. "Why are you giving me money?"

Aren't you the one asking for it?

"If not money, then what do you want?" Jiang Yunzhu asked blankly, voicing her confusion.

Shen Tingxiao glanced up at her. "Do I look like I need money? Is there no benefit at all in driving you home?"

For a moment, Jiang Yunzhu truly couldn't think of anything.

She withdrew the cash, searched her pockets, found nothing. Finally, her gaze landed on a small acrylic charm of an anime character hanging from her phone case.

She gave it a little shake, asking tentatively, "If you don't mind, would this do? I don't have anything else."

Shen Tingxiao's gaze swept over, his tone laced with a subtle disdain. "It'll do, I suppose."

Disdainful, huh.

This was her favorite anime character's acrylic charm—she would never part with it under other circumstances.

She reluctantly unfastened the charm and handed it to Shen Tingxiao, pausing for a moment, reluctant to let go. "I've had this with me for years. If you don't want it, I can swap it for something else next time."

Shen Tingxiao raised one eyebrow slightly, then took the charm from her hand. "We'll discuss it next time we meet."

When Jiang Yunzhu returned home, Jiang Zhen and Chen Li were already asleep.

She was too exhausted to wash up, collapsing straight into bed.

The next morning, she rose early and, after some deliberation, decided to tell Jiang Zhen and Chen Li about the old madam's condition.

The three of them went to the hospital to visit her.

Shen Ruizhang had not slept all night; dark circles shadowed his eyes, and a stubble shadowed his chin. He forced himself to be polite. "Thank you both. My mother is still in a critical state."

"Old Madam Shen has always been blessed," Jiang Zhen sighed. "She'll surely wake up."

Chen Li stood quietly to the side. Perhaps because of her gentle nature, her eyes were already rimmed red. "How did she become so ill so suddenly? I spoke to her on the phone not long ago, and she sounded perfectly well."

Shen Ruizhang frowned, saying nothing.

Jiang Yunzhu guessed that the old madam's illness was likely connected to Zhou Qingpei. But Shen Ruizhang seemed utterly bewitched—nothing anyone said would change his mind.

So, she could only nudge Chen Li gently. "Mom, that's enough."

"She's getting on in years," Jiang Zhen added tactfully. "A few ailments are inevitable. We should have come last night, but Yunzhu only heard late and wasn't sure of the situation, so we waited until today."

"Your presence is enough," Shen Ruizhang replied.

After a few more polite exchanges, the nurse came to shoo them out, saying visiting hours were over.

Jiang Zhen and Chen Li left the hospital, but Jiang Yunzhu stayed behind.

She looked at the exhausted Shen Ruizhang and pressed her lips together. "Uncle, why don't you get some rest? I can keep watch here."

"No need," Shen Ruizhang's voice was hoarse and rough. "I'll wait a bit longer."

He was determined to wait for the old madam to wake, so Jiang Yunzhu said nothing more.

They waited until four in the afternoon before any news came from the ICU.

The old madam had awakened.

After a thorough examination, the doctors transferred her to a regular ward and gave stern instructions.

"She must not be agitated again. Otherwise, not even the gods could save her."