14 - I don't care what you think

Since Yang's mother was admitted to the hospital ward, Jiang Hao had not shown up.

Unclear about Jiang Hao's true intentions, Yang Qin had spent the past few days in unease.

"Go open the door! You can avoid it for a while, but not forever! My daughter, no one can force you. Even if I die, I don't want to see you fall into a trap!" Yang's mother said with utmost seriousness.

"Okay."

With a light response, Yang Qing got up to open the door.

Squeak—

The door made a faint sound as it opened. Before Yang Qing could see who was outside, a faint fragrance wafted in.

Then, what came into view was a bouquet of white carnations and Jiang Hao's smiling face.

"Sorry, I've been a bit busy lately and haven't had time to visit," Jiang Hao said as he handed over the carnations.

Today, his outfit was very modest—just a blue-and-white striped shirt paired with logo-free casual trousers.

Although he lacked the air of a rich man, he appeared much more approachable.

This look gave Yang Qing a sense of familiarity and warmth.

Taking the carnations, she blushed slightly and thanked him softly.

"Has Auntie woken up?" Jiang Hao asked.

"Yes, she's awake."

"That's good!"

After the brief exchange, Jiang Hao entered the ward.

At that moment, Yang's mother was staring at him with a wary expression, exuding an air of defiance as if she were prepared for the worst.

"Auntie, your health is still weak. Instead of glaring at me, you should rest more," Jiang Hao said casually, sitting down by the bedside without hesitation.

"I warn you..."

"Don't raise your voice! Auntie, you've just come back from the brink of death. Even if you don't care about yourself, you should think about Yang Qing."

Yang's mother was momentarily speechless.

She had intended to use a firm tone to convey her and her daughter's stance to Jiang Hao.

But who would've thought this rich young man was so nonchalant, leaving her no room to speak?

"There's no such thing as a free lunch. My daughter and I will repay your kindness," Yang's mother said after a long silence.

Then she added, "Yang Qing is still young. I hope you can leave her alone."

Jiang Hao blinked in confusion, as if he didn't understand her words.

"You're a rich young man, and we're just poor folk. While I'm grateful to you, that gratitude doesn't mean we'll compromise our principles! Let me put it plainly: if you intend to harm my daughter, even if I die, I'll drag you down to hell with me!"

Yang's mother finally voiced her concerns.

Hearing this, Jiang Hao simply shook his head.

Actions have consequences. If not for Yang's mother's personality, Yang Qing wouldn't have such a strong aversion to wealthy individuals.

In truth, Jiang Hao felt grateful to Yang's mother. Without her influence, Yang Qing wouldn't have maintained her integrity.

After all, for a woman with such stunning looks and poor family conditions, staying pure and untainted was no small feat.

"Auntie, if I said I had no ulterior motives, would you believe me?" Jiang Hao asked in return.

"No! I think..."

"I don't care what you think. I care what I think!"

After delivering this line, Jiang Hao advised Yang's mother to rest well and left the room.

Finally, he had said it!

Yang's mother was dumbfounded, and so was Yang Qing.

"Wait a moment!"

Seeing Jiang Hao about to leave the ward, Yang Qing hurriedly ran after him.

In the corridor, she called out to Jiang Hao, "Jiang Hao, wait!"

Hearing this, Jiang Hao stopped and turned around with a surprised look.

From beginning to end, he had never revealed his full name, and others usually referred to him as "Young Master Jiang."

But unexpectedly, Yang Qing knew his name! It seemed she had asked the hospital staff about him!

"Should I call you Young Master Jiang instead? Sorry, I'm not used to that," Yang Qing said, feeling a little embarrassed.

"No need. This is just fine. You don't have to change anything for my sake," Jiang Hao replied with a smile.

Hearing this, Yang Qing felt relieved.

After a moment of hesitation, she asked directly, "So... what do you want me to do? I don't have much ability, and I just recently dropped out of school. But I'll definitely repay you for the medical expenses this time!"

Jiang Hao initially wanted to tell her it wasn't necessary.

But knowing Yang Qing's personality, he ultimately changed his mind and said, "Alright, but you'll have to work hard! Your mother's medical expenses amount to a total of 100,000 yuan."

"100,000? That much?" Yang Qing was startled by the figure.

To her, 100,000 yuan was a huge sum.

What she didn't know was that 100,000 yuan wasn't even enough to cover the hospital fees.

The reason Jiang Hao agreed to "charge" her was to completely dispel the mother and daughter's resistance.

Sometimes, for many people, clear accounts make them feel more comfortable.

"Revenge Value +100!"

The system prompt confirmed Jiang Hao's thoughts.

"I'll start looking for a job tomorrow. I promise to pay you back as soon as possible," Yang Qing said earnestly, her expression losing its earlier tension.

"That won't work," Jiang Hao shook his head.

"Huh? Why not?"

"Your mother still needs someone to take care of her. If you hire a caregiver, it'll be another significant expense. So..."

"This... I..."

Yang Qing stammered, flustered and unsure of what to do.

Without extra funds, she had to care for her mother, which meant losing the time to work and earn money.

"Hmm, how about this? The hospital is currently short on administrative staff. If you're willing, you can work here," Jiang Hao suggested.

This wasn't a spur-of-the-moment idea; it was planned.

If he simply wanted to help her find a job, Yang Qing's personality might make her overthink things.

But as long as it involved her mother, even if she didn't want to accept help, she'd have no choice but to agree.

"Thank you."

Sure enough, Yang Qing expressed sincere gratitude.

She knew she had no other options. Working at the hospital allowed her to care for her mother while earning money, making it the best solution for now.

"You're welcome. Go back now," Jiang Hao said, waving her off with a smile.

Revenge Value +150!

The system prompt sounded again.

Now, the way Yang Qing looked at Jiang Hao was noticeably different from before.

After giving him a grateful smile, she turned and headed back to the ward.

The problem that had troubled her for so long finally had a solution, and it didn't require her to compromise her principles.

For Yang Qing, this was probably the happiest outcome at the moment.

"By the way, my fiancée might come to ask you some questions later. Don't be nervous; just tell her the truth," Jiang Hao suddenly added.

"Fiancée?"

Hearing those three words, Yang Qing froze.