Xu Ning’s emotions grew more intense as she spoke.
Over the years, she hadn’t lacked for self-counsel.
But she couldn’t accept her lot.
Since she had reached a dead end, why shouldn’t she drag others down with her into the abyss?
That scourge should never have remained in this world!
Jiang Li soothed Xu Ning by taking her hand.
"It’s truly unfair, but there’s no absolute fairness in this world."
Xu Ning paused, stupefied.
Jiang Li continued, "I understand that you were the greatest victim of what happened back then, but that’s how the world works. When one isn’t strong enough, they’re left to be slaughtered by others."
That was the fate of Xu Ning.
A calamitous beauty destined to misfortune, even if she had avoided Mr. Rong, such scoundrels, she would have inevitably encountered others just as vile.
If only she had a more gentle and indifferent personality, her latter life wouldn’t have been so miserable.
Yet it was her nature to be anything but.
Beyond his lament, Jiang Li pressed on, "Aunt Xu, indeed you’ve suffered a great deal, but has it been fair to others? Fair to my father? To my mother? Or to Jiang Cheng?"
Because of the Rong Family’s relentless troublemaking, the Jiang Family was nearly bankrupt. His father’s hair turned white in a single night due to creditors’ pressures and later passed away from an illness acquired during that stressful time.
After adopting an illegitimate child, his mother was plagued by rumors and slander for over a decade, bearing the secret and enduring all the mockery alone.
Due to his uncertain status, Jiang Cheng was mistreated by Xu Ning from birth. Upon joining the Jiang Family, he became subservient and his personality turned dark and paranoid.
In the initial plot of the story, none of these individuals met a good end.
Not a single one was treated fairly.
"Since the catastrophe has occurred and we cannot escape it, why not minimize the risk within our capabilities?" Jiang Li said seriously, looking at her, "Does tormenting Jiang Cheng, tormenting yourself, does it change the original outcome?"
"It does not. It only makes things worse."
"Over these years, has your heart felt any relief? Have the wicked received their deserved retribution?"
"None of it has happened, so why not let go of yourself and spare the innocent?"
Xu Ning clutched the tablecloth tightly, her eyes bloodshot.
"Let go, I want to let go..."
But are some things so easily forgiven?
Seeing that he could not dissuade Xu Ning this way, Jiang Li tapped her fingertips lightly on the table.
"In that case, Ms. Xu, let’s make a deal," he said.
Xu Ning looked at her, puzzled, "What deal?"
"Don’t you want the wicked to receive their due punishment?"
Jiang Li’s tone was indifferent.
At this moment, as the snowstorm swept in again from outside, against the vast gray sky, her features seemed particularly serene and cold.
"I will help you punish the evil doers, and you let go of Jiang Cheng. After this, all resentments will be wiped clean. However, during this time, you must promise me to live like a normal person."
Xu Ning was stunned, and it took her a long time to collect herself.
"You’ll help me punish them? How will you punish them?"
Could this young lady accomplish what even Mr. Jiang hadn’t been able to?
With the Rong Family covering the sky with one hand in the Capital, by what means?
However, Jiang Li simply said, "You just need to trust me."
For some reason, as Xu Ning looked into her eyes, her heart convulsed violently.
It was as if a thunderbolt from the heavens had awakened her world, which had been desolate and parched.
She moved her pale lips.
When Yu Li was summoned, he was completely astounded.
"You’ve persuaded her?"
"How did you manage that?!"
It took him a full two months to barely hold a conversation with Xu Ning.
How did Jiang Li manage to loosen her tongue in less than one evening?
Yet Jiang Li smiled and let out two words—
Afterwards, a few lawyers entered Xu Ning’s room and came out in less than half an hour, and then handed a brand-new adoption application to Jiang Li’s hands.
"Miss Jiang, there are still some formalities at the court, but within a week, you should be able to retrieve the adoption certificate from the police station."
"Thank you for your trouble."
After the lawyer left, Jiang Li handed the application form to Jiang Cheng.
Jiang Cheng stared blankly at Xu Ning’s signature on it for half a minute but then suddenly grabbed Jiang Li’s wrist.
He looked up, his eyes slightly reddened, staring intently at her.
"What deal did you make with that woman in the room?"
Jiang Li looked at him for a while, smiled faintly, "Are you worried about me?"
"Don’t change the subject, that won’t work on me." Jiang Cheng gritted his teeth, "I’m asking you, what did you promise Xu Ning? That woman is a lunatic! How could you make a deal with a lunatic?!"
Jiang Li looked at him, freed her other hand, and placed it on the back of his, seriously saying, "Rest assured, your sister here is very selfish. I don’t make deals that aren’t worth it, deals that hurt myself. What else are you worried about?"
"Don’t you want to carry the Jiang surname anymore?"
With just one sentence, Jiang Cheng deflated, lowered his head, and said quietly, "I do."
Jiang Li tapped on the document in front of her.
Jiang Cheng obediently picked up the pen and signed.
Yu Li, watching this scene from the side, couldn’t help but exclaim at how impressive it was.
He couldn’t help murmuring lowly, "How great it would be if you were part of the Yu Family, then my rebellious little sister would surely not dare to act up."
Before he could finish, Jiang Cheng looked up and glared at him warningly.
Yu Li hurriedly said, "I’m just kidding."
Even if he wished for it, a certain person would not allow it.
After settling this matter, Jiang Li simply took Jiang Cheng to have dinner at the sanatorium.
Before this, Jiang Cheng had eaten here countless times, but it had never tasted as good as it did today.
During the meal, Dean Liu couldn’t help asking, "Chengcheng, now that your mother’s condition has improved quite a bit, do you want to call her down to have dinner together?"
Jiang Cheng continued to eat, but his eyes turned cold.
Dean Liu wanted to say more but was stopped by Jiang Li.
"Jiang Cheng is now my brother, and his mother is my mother, Mrs. Jiang. Please don’t make a mistake, Dean."
Dean Liu had to apologize hastily.
Jiang Cheng looked at her somewhat surprised.
Jiang Li was probably the only person in the world who didn’t urge him to recognize his birth mother.
Yet, she nonchalantly put a piece of meat into his bowl.
"There’s no need to see people you don’t want to see, no need to burden yourself. Hurry up and eat, once the snow stops, we’ll head back."
Jiang Cheng nodded heavily, feeling a warm comfort inside.
However, before he could bask in that warmth for long, he saw the second person he least wanted to encounter.
After dinner, the snow finally eased a bit.
Feeling stuffy staying indoors, he went out alone for a walk in the sanatorium’s rear garden.
Looking up, he saw light still on in the dean’s office. A familiar figure was cast in the light, and his pupils shrank immediately.
What is she doing here?!