Chapter 9: Crisis, Life Hanging by a Thread

The car window rolled down, revealing Qin Jingchen’s face, with its stunning, vivid features that were impossible to forget. The bewitchingly beautiful tear mole beneath his eye flickered slightly, yet his demeanor remained as calm as still water.

"I'm here to pick you up," he said casually.

This was the same place where he had met Jiang Zhe yesterday.

To come here directly to pick her up without any prior communication—he must have arrived a long time ago.

Jiang Zhe got into the car, still chewing her gum.

Feng Ye was missing today, and with him, the usual liveliness was gone.

"This is the gift from yesterday. I can't accept it." Jiang Zhe took out the brocade box.

The sound of the prayer beads in Qin Jingchen’s hands did not cease. He asked her softly, "You don't like it?"

"It's too valuable." Jiang Zhe pushed the box toward him.

"Grandmother asked me to give it to you. Since we were going to meet anyway, why not return it to her yourself?"

Jiang Zhe glanced at him. Did he think she would soften her stance in front of an elderly woman?

The restaurant was the same Jinyuan as yesterday.

They didn't even change the private room.

Sitting inside was a silver-haired woman with a kind face. She wore a Chinese-style short shirt and looked very benevolent, though the dark circles under her eyes suggested she suffered from chronic sleep deprivation, leaving her mental state to be sustained entirely by willpower.

Yet, the powerful aura in her every movement could not be ignored.

Her gaze swept over Jiang Zhe calmly. Having seen countless daughters of noble families, her eyes couldn't help but reveal a hint of astonishment when they landed on Jiang Zhe.

With such looks and temperament, she didn't look like a girl raised in an ordinary merchant family in Jincheng at all; even among the four great families in the capital, one would be hard-pressed to find someone so outstanding.

Old Madam Qin glanced at her grandson. This boy actually knew what was good.

"Xiao Zhe, come here to Grandma." Old Madam Qin reached out to greet her, her tone warm.

Jiang Zhe sat down beside her, her voice as flat as ever: "Grandma Qin."

The moment Old Madam Qin heard her voice, she was filled with joy, her attitude becoming even gentler. "I originally said I would have your grandfather and younger aunt come over for dinner too, but Jingchen said they were too busy, so we could only meet you first."

Jiang Zhe glanced at Qin Jingchen. He was quite good at making excuses.

He knew perfectly well that Jiang Yaowang and Jiang Xiruo wouldn't be coming to dinner.

"Grandma Qin, I can eat with you, but I cannot accept the gift." Jiang Zhe took out the brocade box. "It's too valuable; it's not appropriate."

"This..." Old Madam Qin looked at her grandson, then at Jiang Zhe.

So, he hadn't even managed to give the gift away yet?

Under Old Madam Qin’s teasing gaze, Qin Jingchen gave a light cough.

Old Madam Qin laughed. "Fine, let Jingchen keep it for now. When you are willing to accept it, then you can keep it."

Qin Jingchen took the brocade box from Jiang Zhe’s hand.

Old Madam Qin chided, "Jingchen, I’ve given it to you, so I won't be taking it back. If you can't give this away, don't you dare bring it back to me. You figure it out yourself."

"Yes," Qin Jingchen said in a low voice.

"Xiao Zhe, if this child Jingchen makes you unhappy, tell Grandma later, and I’ll teach him a lesson for you."

Her attitude was as kind as if she were Jiang Zhe’s own grandmother.

Jiang Zhe nodded casually.

Old Madam Qin was in high spirits.

Jiang Zhe didn't quite understand where this good mood came from.

However, it didn't have much to do with her, and she didn't want to investigate.

Old Madam Qin was naturally in a good mood. This item was something she had specifically prepared for her future granddaughter-in-law. Unfortunately, Qin Jingchen had been devoted to Buddhism since he was a child, holding prayer beads in his hands every day, living a life of asceticism.

The heirloom bracelet she had prepared seemed to have no use at all.

Old Madam Qin hadn't held much hope for this marriage contract either, yet yesterday, Qin Jingchen had actually been willing to take the bracelet from the person she sent.

It was no wonder Old Madam Qin had traveled all the way from the capital, eager to see Jiang Zhe.

Once things were settled, the food was served.

As the meal was drawing to a close, an attendant who had been guarding the door walked up to Old Madam Qin and whispered something.

Old Madam Qin’s expression shifted slightly, but she quickly regained her composure. "Let's go take a look."

She turned to Jiang Zhe and said, "Xiao Zhe, I'm sorry, there's a sudden matter at home. I'll invite you again next time. Jingchen, keep Xiao Zhe company."

"You go ahead," Jiang Zhe nodded.

Old Madam Qin left first.

Qin Jingchen also received a call and said to Jiang Zhe, "I'll take you home first."

"You're busy, no need to send me."

Qin Jingchen insisted; he was the one who had brought her out, and it was night, and she was alone.

The situation was completely different from last night.

Jiang Zhe didn't insist further and got into his car.

On the way, Qin Jingchen was still on the phone: "Find a way, the child must be saved."

Jiang Zhe had seen him calm and gentle every time they met; it was rare to see him show even a hint of impatience.

While he was on the phone, Jiang Zhe said to the driver, "Go to the hospital first."

The driver had learned of Jiang Zhe’s identity and status in the Qin family over the past two days, so he followed her instructions without question and soon pulled up to the hospital entrance.

As the car stopped and she saw the destination, Jiang Zhe spoke calmly before Qin Jingchen could say anything: "I told him to come here first."

"My cousin—the baby in her womb might not be saved." The sound of the prayer beads in Qin Jingchen’s hands was slightly chaotic.

Someone came running down from upstairs, looking anxious: "Master Qin, it's bad. Old Madam has fainted."

Qin Jingchen took long strides toward the stairs.

The driver and the attendants followed immediately.

Jiang Zhe thought for a moment and followed them up as well.

Old Madam Qin was being taken to a ward, and the doctor was briefing Qin Jingchen: "The Old Madam has long suffered from insomnia and neurasthenia, and her mental state is extremely poor. She just fainted from a sudden surge of anger. It shouldn't be anything serious."

There were too many people, and Jiang Zhe was squeezed to the edge.

Qin Jingchen asked, "What about the pregnant woman's condition?"

"That is a bit more serious... She insists on keeping the child, but the mother's body is failing; how could the child be saved? The pregnant woman had a severe threat of miscarriage a month ago, and today she suddenly had a massive hemorrhage. We are truly powerless..."

The doctors who came today were top experts in obstetrics and gynecology, all of whom had arrived from the capital a month ago to stand by Qin Feng’s side.

They hadn't expected that the fetus, which had already been stabilized, would suddenly run into trouble.

"Master Qin, you must make a decision. If we keep the child, she will be in great danger... Given the current situation, she won't last ten minutes." The doctor’s expression was anxious.

"Give the medicine, remove the child." Qin Jingchen pondered for a few seconds before speaking.

The doctors and nurses immediately sprang into action.

The crowd soon dispersed.

Jiang Zhe leaned against the metal railing of the corridor, looking over there calmly.

Qin Jingchen walked up to her, his voice low and hoarse: "Sorry about today."

"What's wrong with your cousin?" Jiang Zhe asked casually.

"My cousin's husband died in a car accident last month, and she suffered a threat of miscarriage. Today, she suddenly had a massive hemorrhage. This is the only child she and her husband had."

It was clear how difficult it was for Qin Jingchen to make such a decision.