After My Engagement Was Broken, I Married My Fiancé's Uncle - Chapter 20.1

“Ninth Uncle, I’ve really troubled you.”

“It’s nothing, just a small favor.”

Xie Junqing looked at the radiant young man. “Are you going to see Xie Huai? He’s in the inpatient department upstairs.”

Jiang Xingyuan nodded. “Are you coming with me?”

“Yes,” Xie Junqing said. “Since I’m here, I’ll check on his condition as well.”

Suddenly, Jiang Xingyuan remembered something. “Oh no, I forgot to buy a gift! Ninth Uncle, wait for me for a few minutes.”

Xie Junqing watched him dash off. A moment later, the boy ran back clutching a fruit basket.

“Hospital fruit is so expensive! A basket like this costs several times more than outside.”

Listening to Jiang Xingyuan’s complaints, Xie Junqing’s eyes landed on the basket, and he raised an eyebrow. He instantly remembered the “carefully selected” fruit basket the boy had given him last night.

Jiang Xingyuan noticed the silence and suddenly panicked, quickly trying to fix it: “But the quality isn’t great. It’s not as good as the one I gave you yesterday, Ninth Uncle. I just picked this one randomly.”

“Look at this apple, Ninth Uncle. Its bottom isn’t big, and it’s not round. You can tell it won’t be very sweet.”

Xie Junqing saw through Jiang Xingyuan’s little ploy but only smiled without speaking.

Because Xie Jiu didn’t say anything, Jiang Xingyuan was worried all the way. If he had known, he would have bought flowers, why did he buy fruit?!

“Ninth Uncle, when we go back later, I’ll peel fruit for you.”

Hearing this promise, Xie Junqing immediately agreed: “Alright, I’ll trouble you then.”

Jiang Xingyuan felt Xie Jiu did it on purpose! He didn’t say anything for ages, but the moment Jiang Xingyuan made that offer, he agreed!

However, he couldn’t say anything, so he followed behind Xie Jiu to the door of Xie Huai’s hospital room. Just as he was about to enter, he felt a sudden chill on the back of his neck, making him shrink back. He was startled!

What happened?

Jiang Xingyuan stopped and turned around in surprise, looking at Xie Jiu, who was holding his collar.

“Ninth Uncle?”

“Your collar.”

Xie Junqing’s gaze rested on the boy as he reached out to straighten the folded collar.

Jiang Xingyuan felt the slight coolness on his neck. The touched area felt a lingering itch, making him want to reach up and rub it.

“There, all fixed.”

It wasn’t until he felt Xie Junqing’s hand leave that he hurriedly reached up to stroke his neck and press down his collar. He said a bit awkwardly, “Tha… thank you, Ninth Uncle.”

“You’re welcome. Go in.”

Jiang Xingyuan breathed a sigh of relief. Ninth Uncle was really thoughtful, but could he please give a heads-up next time he touched him?! Though he’d thought it several times, Xie Jiu didn’t seem to care, and Jiang Xingyuan didn’t want to make a scene. It would look pretentious if he kept bringing it up. It’s not like he’s an Omega, they’re both Alphas.

Comforting himself this way, Jiang Xingyuan pushed open the door and saw Xie Huai lying on the bed.

Xie Huai looked much more haggard than before. His face was as pale as paper, and his eyes were lifeless. This state likely had something to do with his cousin, though Jiang Xingyuan didn’t know the details. Regardless, this “Heat” seemed to have hit Xie Huai hard.

Hearing the noise, Xie Huai’s eyes flickered when he saw Jiang Xingyuan, but he quickly shifted his gaze to Xie Junqing behind him.

“Ninth Uncle, you’re here,” Xie Huai said, trying to sit up.

“Don’t get up, just lie down and rest,” Xie Junqing instructed.

Jiang Xingyuan seemed to be ignored. Aside from that first glance when he entered, Xie Huai didn’t look at him or greet him once. Being treated with such disparity, Jiang Xingyuan didn’t say anything. He placed the fruit basket aside and stayed quietly by Xie Junqing’s side, listening to them talk.

After a few words with Xie Huai, Xie Junqing prepared to leave. He looked at the silent Jiang Xingyuan.

Looking at Xie Huai, who still looked like he didn’t want to deal with him, Jiang Xingyuan spoke up: “I hope you get well soon. If there’s nothing else, I’ll leave with Ninth Uncle.”

Xie Huai stared out the window, offering no response to the well-wishes. Even Jiang Xingyuan was a bit surprised, was he really that disliked now? If he had known, he wouldn’t have brought the fruit basket. Who wants to press their warm face against a cold butt? If he didn’t have something to discuss with Xie Huai, he wouldn’t have come to the hospital at all.

Xie Junqing’s brow twitched slightly at Jiang Xingyuan’s words.

Once out of the room, the two walked one after the other down the hospital corridor, passing through the crowds and witnessing the various scenes of life in the rooms.

“Do you regret it?”

Jiang Xingyuan turned his head to look at the handsome, elegant man. “Ninth Uncle, what do you mean?”

“Coming to the Xie family, do you regret it?”

Jiang Xingyuan blinked and thought for a moment. “I don’t regret it. This was my own choice.”

Even though there was pressure from Jiang Hongyuan, he understood that this was the best option available to him, perhaps even a way out.

The Jiang family had a father who loved profit more than life, an older brother who was completely dissatisfied with him, and a lurking Jiang Xingran. Although he hadn’t suffered since returning to the Jiang family and had even won a few rounds, the constant fighting gets tiring. He couldn’t stay in the Jiang family forever. Once he’d squeezed enough money out of them, he’d bolt.

He was currently using the Xie family’s influence to rake in money from the Jiangs while planning his escape. Since he was his father’s biological son, he might as well take the money.

“One can’t have everything. Getting everything you want is just too lucky, that’s not my kind of life.”

Xie Junqing understood his meaning. He fell silent for a moment before laughing. “Why not?”

“We only spend a few short decades in this world. Very few live to be a hundred. Why not be a bit more unrestrained? Isn’t it better to have it all?”

Jiang Xingyuan’s eyes widened. He hadn’t expected the supposedly ascetic Xie Junqing to say such a thing. But it sounded pretty good. He didn’t want to choose either; he wanted it all too!

“Xingyuan, if you don’t fight and grab for it, you will never have the right to choose.”

“Then, what kind of life did you want before?”

Before he could even process the advice, he heard this question. Jiang Xingyuan paused.

The life he wanted before… it was probably just having enough to eat and wear, living a simple and ordinary life in a small town.

“My thoughts are a bit vulgar. Just like any other Alpha.” Jiang Xingyuan gave Xie Junqing a smile. “Make big money, marry a wife, have kids, live a long life, and have a house full of grandchildren. Just a simple life.”

Even now, he hadn’t forgotten this wish and was still working toward it.

Hearing this, Xie Junqing’s gaze lingered on Jiang Xingyuan for a moment, then he curled his lips. “I hope your wish comes true.”

“Then I’ll take your blessing, Ninth Uncle! Hahaha!”

In the hospital, shortly after Jiang Xingyuan and the others left, Xie Huai’s door was pushed open.

Xie Huai snapped his head around. When he saw the visitor, the hope in his eyes instantly dimmed.

“Father.”

“A-Huai, are you feeling better now?” Xie Rong’an asked.

“Thank you for your concern, Father. I am much better.”

“I’ve been busy with affairs these past few days and didn’t have time to visit. I hope you aren’t angry.”

“How could I be angry with Father?” Xie Huai said, his face pale.

Looking at Xie Huai’s haggard face, a trace of heartache appeared in Xie Rong’an’s eyes, and he sighed. “I know you still blame me for driving Jiang Yi away.”

At the mention of “Jiang Yi,” Xie Huai’s eyes instantly reddened.

“But A-Huai, you must understand he is forever your cousin. Don’t harbor any other delusions.”

“Father, don’t blame my cousin. None of this has anything to do with him. It was my own unrequited feelings.” Xie Huai lowered his eyes, letting tears fall. “I was wrong.”

Seeing Xie Huai crying, Xie Rong’an felt both angry and sympathetic. “You aren’t the one at fault. I am. If I had known, I never should have brought him back.”

“Since you know you were wrong, I won’t say anything else. Rest well these next few days and nourish your body. Look at yourself, this is no way for a young master of the Xie family to look! People will laugh if word gets out.”

Suddenly, Xie Rong’an noticed the fruit basket by the bed. “Someone was here?”

Xie Huai wiped his eyes. “Jiang Xingyuan brought it. He came with Ninth Uncle.”

Xie Rong’an hadn’t expected Jiang Xingyuan to come with Xie Jiu. It seemed Jiang Xingyuan really did please Xie Jiu. This was a good thing for him.

“Xingyuan is quite thoughtful. He really seems to care about you. If you’ve truly let go, you can try to get along with him. While he isn’t exceptionally outstanding, he isn’t bad either. Marrying him wouldn’t be a bad choice.”

Xie Huai’s eyes were still red. Hearing this, he said flatly, “I will consider what you said, Father.”

“I’ve been troubled by energy matters lately. The mineral deals I’ve been negotiating haven’t been satisfactory. I’m quite worried. A while ago, your Uncle Jiang mentioned a mine, but I haven’t seen it yet. Once I get busy, I won’t have much time to accompany you,” Xie Rong’an said earnestly. “I only hope you can be more sensible.”

“I understand, Father,” Xie Huai said.

“Good. Rest well. I have other things to attend to.” With that, Xie Rong’an left.

“Goodbye, Father.”

Once the room fell silent, Xie Huai slowly got out of bed. He stood by the window, staring at the distant sky, his eyes dark.

How could he not understand his father’s underlying meaning? Now was the time they needed the Jiang family. If necessary, his father would sacrifice him for an alliance. That was his father’s warning.

In the end, was he really going to have to marry Jiang Xingyuan?

How could he ever accept that!