Be good, let go first

When Jiang Ze got up the next morning, he still felt rattled by what had happened the night before. He wasn't exactly scared, but his heart felt terribly unsettled.

For instance, the moment he went downstairs and saw Meng Zhiyuan reading the newspaper on the sofa, his face started heating up for no apparent reason.

"You're up? Have breakfast first."

Jiang Ze nodded, suppressed his emotions, and sat down at the dining table.

"You're coming to the estate with me today. Ziqing's been clamoring to see you."

Jiang Ze froze for a moment before catching on.

"Little Qing can speak now?"

Meng Zhiyuan nodded, his tone softening a little. He seemed to be in a good mood, too.

"Yes. His father has been taking him to doctors lately. He's consulted just about every specialist here and abroad, and today, it's finally shown some results."

Jiang Ze brightened, too. With the Meng Family's wealth and connections, it really had only been a matter of time before Meng Ziqing's voice recovered.

The two of them got ready and arrived at the Meng Family Estate around noon.

"You rascal! Unless there's something you need, you really won't come visit this old man even once!"

Grandpa Meng was as hale and hearty as ever, his voice still strong and resonant. He started scolding Meng Zhiyuan the moment they arrived.

"Father, I brought Ze to see Ziqing."

Jiang Ze followed the man through the door. Hearing that affectionate form of address made him jolt, and for some reason, he suddenly felt nervous.

"Oh? Xiao Ze certainly ought to be here. Ziqing finally managed to speak this morning, and his father was overjoyed. But who would've thought the first name he called would be Jiang Ze's?"

Grandpa Meng's expression grew a little complicated as he spoke. He looked at Jiang Ze behind Meng Zhiyuan and beckoned him over.

"Xiao Ze, you're a benefactor to our Meng Family, and even more so to Little Qing. Stay here today. I'll call everyone in the family over so we can treat you properly!"

Jiang Ze was overwhelmed by the favor. He couldn't possibly accept such a grand gesture from the Meng Family and hurriedly waved his hands.

"You're too kind, Grandpa Meng. I only did what I should!"

Jiang Ze stole a glance at Meng Zhiyuan beside him, his eyes bashful.

[Stay in character at all times. Protect him silently, and love him without ever being loved back!]

Meng Zhiyuan felt helpless. What was he supposed to do when the kid had become addicted to acting?

He could only steer the conversation back to Meng Ziqing. Only then did Grandpa Meng hurriedly have him take Jiang Ze to see the boy.

As soon as they entered, they saw Meng Ziqing lying in bed, with a beautiful woman sitting beside him, peeling an apple.

"And this is...?"

The beautiful woman hurriedly rose when she saw Meng Zhiyuan arrive. Looking at Jiang Ze behind him, she asked with a puzzled expression.

"Sister-in-law, this is Jiang Ze, the one who saved Little Qing."

Jiang Ze didn't know whether he was imagining it, but he distinctly felt Meng Zhiyuan's presence turn brooding all at once. Even his voice took on a cold edge.

The beautiful woman wore an emerald-green qipao with her hair pinned up, looking every inch an elegant, wealthy lady.

Jiang Ze greeted her, but she merely nodded at him. Meanwhile, Meng Ziqing had somehow sat up in bed.

"Jiang... Ze...!"

Jiang Ze approached the bed. After a period of rest and recovery, the boy was getting proper nourishment, too, and was no longer as dark-skinned as before.

His speech was still a little halting, though.

Jiang Ze stroked the boy's head to soothe him. Meng Ziqing was excited to see him, and since he still couldn't speak clearly, he began gesturing with his hands instead.

"Ziqing, the doctor still doesn't want you using your voice too much. Overdoing it will only make things worse."

The beautiful woman's tone was rather stern. Meng Ziqing immediately pouted like the child he was, then obediently lay back down.

Jiang Ze searched his memory for information about the beautiful woman. Based on how Meng Zhiyuan had addressed her, he guessed she was his eldest brother's wife, Ye Rong.

[So this is the big shot's eldest brother's wife? That whole family is bad news. Tsk, tsk... this woman...]

Hearing Jiang Ze's thoughts, Meng Zhiyuan frowned even more deeply, his voice a little cold.

"Where's Meng Zhixing?"

"Oh, Zhixing? He heard you were coming and apparently went to prepare something."

Speak of the devil. Meng Zhixing appeared in the doorway just then, carrying bags of various sizes.

"Zhiyuan, Jiang Ze, you're here!"

As Meng Zhixing walked over from the doorway, Jiang Ze suddenly noticed something wrong with his leg. It seemed to be bothering him, making him limp.

In a sudden flash of insight, he stared at Meng Zhixing's leg as a bold guess surfaced in his mind.

"Uncle Zhixing, is your leg bothering you? You weren't like this the last time I saw you."

Meng Zhixing paused, then set down the things he was carrying. "You've got sharp eyes, Little Ze. That's right, my leg's been bothering me lately, and the doctors can't tell me why."

Just then, Ye Rong suddenly interjected from beside them.

"Didn't they say it was rheumatism or something when you had it checked a couple of days ago? It's all because you didn't watch your diet a few years back, and now you've ended up with a lasting problem. All right, finish catching up and come out soon. Father has probably already had the meal prepared."

Without paying any further attention to the others, she rose and left the room.

"Huh? Why does Sister-in-law seem to be in a bad mood?"

Meng Zhiyuan glanced at his thickheaded younger brother and said coldly,

"All these years, and you haven't learned a thing."

Meng Zhixing was baffled by the remark. But with his son's condition improving today, he was especially happy and didn't give it any more thought. He cheerfully went over to the bed to play with his son again.

Watching Ye Rong leave, Jiang Ze thought of Meng Zhixing's fate in the book. Although the author hadn't described in detail why both his legs had become disabled, judging by the circumstances, it very likely hadn't been an accident.

He rubbed his chin. Wealthy families really were full of trouble!

Before long, everyone in the Meng Family was seated at the dining table. Grandpa Meng had made quite an occasion of it, summoning all three of his sons along with several members of the younger generation.

Jiang Ze sat beside Meng Zhiyuan, completely ignoring Meng Zimu's practically blazing glare from across the table.

Grandpa Meng said a few words to thank Jiang Ze. Meng Zhixing, in particular, declared that no matter what trouble Jiang Ze encountered, he would do everything he could to help.

Just as the meal was about to begin, Ye Rong had someone bring over a box and place it beside Meng Zhixing.

"Sister-in-law, you bring me these pastries every time you come back. You really shouldn't go to so much trouble."

Meng Zhixing smiled at Ye Rong. Everyone in the Meng Family knew he loved sweets, especially a particular pastry from Ye Rong's hometown. Whenever she went home, she would bring some back for him, so the others were used to it.

"Beep, beep, beep! Host, something big is happening!"

The system's sudden voice in his head startled Jiang Ze so badly that his hand shook, and he nearly lost his grip on his fork.

"What's going on?! System, could you stop startling me like that? At least give me some warning!"

The system ignored him and continued sounding its beeping alarm.

"Host has triggered a hidden mission. The pastries Ye Rong gave Meng Zhixing are poisoned. Foiling a supporting character's plan can earn you points, too~"

Jiang Ze's heart lurched. Seeing that Meng Zhixing had already opened the pastry box, he started to panic and instinctively looked at Meng Zhiyuan beside him.

Steeling himself, he quietly placed his hand on the man's thigh. When the man turned to look at him, he had no choice but to force himself to speak.

"Uncle Zhiyuan~ I want some of those, too~"

He leaned his head close to the man. They were so near each other now that, in his haste, his lips almost bumped into the man's cheek.

He also failed to control the strength of his grip and heard the man give a muffled grunt.

"Mm, I'll have someone buy you some in a bit. Be good, let go first."

Jiang Ze seemed to realize he was gripping a little too hard, but when he saw that Meng Zhixing was about to start eating, his anxiety grew, and his voice began to rise.

"No, no! Uncle Zhiyuan, I want those ones~"

[Help! Boohoo, my hard-earned reputation! But there's no time and too much to do. I can't worry about that now.]

Jiang Ze wasn't being quiet, and everyone was seated at the same table. In fact, they had long since noticed the pair's little movements, but had all tacitly agreed to pretend they hadn't.

Now, however, Jiang Ze's words sent the table into sudden silence. Even the air seemed to grow awkward.