Chapter 3 Mr. Zhan, You've Mistaken the Person

Jiang Yuning immediately put the tail ring on her middle finger, which was a bit tight, but she still flaunted it in front of Zhan Xiaohan, "Xiaohan, I will take good care of it from now on, I won't lose it again!"

Clearly, Zhan Xiaohan's attention was not on Jiang Yuning at that moment.

His voice reverted to its usual indifference, "Now that the engagement gift has been delivered, I'll take my leave first."

With those words, Zhan Xiaohan strode towards the exit, and Jiang Yuning stared fixedly at his retreating figure until it disappeared. She abruptly turned around, looking at the several maids that had followed her.

Seeing this, they immediately knelt on the ground, "Miss, it's our fault! We failed to stop Jiang Ruan from running out from the back courtyard!"

"You useless bunch! Get out of the Jiang Family, and don't let me see you again!"

Dressed in a cheongsam, Jiang's mother exhibited elegance and dignity. Watching Jiang Yuning's temper flare while Jiang's father was still in her presence, she spoke up in a timely manner to stop her, "Yuning, calm down, don't worry. The only person who can marry into the Zhan Family is you. Jiang Ruan is just an adopted daughter, with insufficient status to pose a threat to you. Even if Mr. Zhan wants to investigate, we have tight control over the evidence. He can only believe that the woman with him that night was you."

Meanwhile, inside the Lincoln, the atmosphere was eerily tense.

The assistant, through the rearview mirror, glanced at President Zhan sitting in the back and softly inquired, "President Zhan, shall we go back to the company now, or..."

"Investigate everything about the Jiang Family's adopted daughter for me immediately."

The assistant was somewhat astonished, but promptly responded, "Yes, President Zhan."

"Wait."

"What's the matter, President Zhan?"

Zhan Xiaohan's black eyes narrowed intensely, his presence terrifying as he stared at the car ahead, "Follow it."

Without daring to ask more, the assistant immediately kept close pursuit, eventually arriving at Capital City Hospital.

Jiang Ruan didn't dare to delay a second and rushed into the hospital as soon as she got out of the car. The pain in her knee became more and more pronounced, yet she was oblivious to it until she arrived at the ward, sweating profusely, and saw through the window that her mother had already been put on an oxygen mask.

She urgently asked, "Doctor, what's wrong with my mother, why did she suddenly worsen?"

"The patient's organs have been gradually failing. I told you three months ago that surgery is needed as soon as possible. Have you gathered the funds for the surgery?"

Jiang Ruan's face, already pale from pain, turned even whiter, "I'm gathering the surgery fees, I will pay them as quickly as I can. Doctor, please, can you perform the surgery on my mom first?"

"Miss Jiang, we've already given you quite an extension! Today, if you cannot come up with the initial hundred thousand, we can't perform the emergency surgery for you!"

After saying this, the doctor was about to leave for the next ward.

But Jiang Ruan grabbed the doctor's arm tightly, speaking urgently, "Doctor, I beg you, I've been saving money. Can I pay sixty thousand first as a down payment? I just need a little more time for the remaining forty thousand."

"Miss Jiang, the hospital has rules, and I cannot grant you any more leniency!"

At that moment, the ward's medical equipment suddenly emitted a series of beeping alarms, as if a cold blade was thrust viciously into Jiang Ruan's heart, a heavy blow!

The doctor gradually pried Jiang Ruan's fingers off, and it was unclear whether it was sweat or tears that streamed down her cheeks drop by drop.

"Arrange for the chief of this hospital to perform the surgery!"

The man's familiar, cool voice suddenly rang in Jiang Ruan's ears. She came back to her senses and turned slowly to look, her gaze colliding with the depth and coldness of Zhan Xiaohan's eyes.

The doctor's reaction was even more pronounced, immediately hurrying over, "President Zhan, is it for the patient in ward 23, bed 5?"

Zhan Xiaohan's cold gaze swept over, "For her mother, arrange the surgery."

"Yes, yes, yes! President Zhan, I'll go ask the chief right away!"

In the corridor, only the two of them remained, and Jiang Ruan quietly breathed a sigh of relief, unable to ignore Zhan Xiaohan's scrutinizing gaze any longer.

Why was he helping her?

And... why was there a warm feeling in her heart?

Just as she was about to say thank you, Zhan Xiaohan had already approached her, reaching out to lift her chin, "Jiang Ruan?"

He studied her, looking her up and down, finally fixing his eyes on her clear eyes, her eyelashes glistening with moisture, looking pitifully soft and vulnerable.

"Answer one question truthfully for me, and I will let the chief perform this surgery."

Jiang Ruan lowered her eyes, remembering Jiang Yuning's threat not to reveal that it was her that night...

But her mother's illness... she couldn't delay it any longer.

"Alright, go ahead."

"Where have you been these past three days?"

Jiang Ruan felt a sourness inside, "I've been working these past three days."

Suddenly, her chin was gripped tightly by the man, the pain causing her to open her tightly pressed red lips.

Forced to meet his gaze, Zhan Xiaohan frowned deeply, his patience gradually slipping away, "I'm giving you one last chance, were you the one with me those three days?"

Jiang Ruan trembled slightly, as she could clearly see the depth and scrutiny in his eyes.

His grip tightened even more, "Speak!"

"It wasn't me, Mr. Zhan, you've mistaken me for someone else."

After speaking, Jiang Ruan struggled free and stepped back several paces, maintaining a distance from him.

Her head bowed, she spoke softly, biting her lip, "I will gather the hundred thousand yuan as quickly as I can, to repay Mr. Zhan for his help today."

"Jiang Ruan." Just as Jiang Ruan turned to leave, the man behind her called out to her again.

"I don't appreciate being lied to. If I find out that you were the one with me those three days, you should know what the consequences will be."

Jiang Ruan didn't dare to look back, she took a deep breath and walked away quickly.

Outside the operating room, Jiang Ruan leaned against the wall, hugging her knees. As soon as she closed her eyes, images of the man's handsome features flickered in her mind.

Even though his gaze had lost any hint of desire and tenderness when they met again and, in his mind, it was Jiang Yuning who was the woman with him those three days, the woman he was about to marry.

But Jiang Ruan was still grateful. During her most helpless moment, he had helped her…