Chapter 45: Just a little bastard, do we need to worship him like an idol?

Jiang Ruxue had considered this question long ago, but remembering the meticulous care Lu Fan had showered upon her over the years, she had repeatedly deceived herself.

She had firmly believed that Lu Fan loved her!

Yet now, that very man had told her plainly that he did not love her.

Before Jiang Ruxue could dwell on it further, a phone call from her mother at the hospital arrived, prompting Jiang Ruxue to rush over in a hurry.

Lu Fan’s body was still utterly weak. After eating a little something, he returned to the guest bedroom, collapsed onto his former bed, and fell into a deep sleep.

No matter how monumental the matter might be, he simply could not manage it now.

When Jiang Ruxue hurried to the hospital, she found Jiang Rushan’s condition to be extremely grave.

Although doctors had administered medication, the tumor in his brain was already pressing against his nerves, leaving him unable to walk steadily and suffering from severe headaches.

Upon her arrival, Jiang Ruxue saw Jiang Rushan rolling around on the bed, crying out, "It hurts so much, it hurts so much!"

The eyes of both Mrs. Jiang and the Old Madam Jiang were red and swollen from crying. They stood on either side of the bed, terrified that Jiang Rushan might fall off.

"Rushian, my precious grandson! Doctor, quickly give him a painkiller! If this pain continues, it will literally kill him."

Mr. Jiang’s voice was deep and grim: "It won't just kill him from the pain; it will cause blindness and trigger even more severe side effects."

"My poor son! Just a few days ago he was completely fine; how did things become this serious? It must be Lu Fan! That damned jinx must have cursed my son!"

Jiang Ruxue felt a trace of helplessness. "Mom, what does this have to do with Lu Fan?"

Mrs. Jiang was already agonizing over her precious son, and with him falling ill, she was overflowing with pent-up fury and nowhere to vent it, naturally using Lu Fan as her punching bag.

In the past, whenever anything displeased the Jiang family—even matters that had nothing whatsoever to do with Lu Fan—they would invariably pin the blame on this live-in son-in-law, claiming he had ruined their geomancy and brought them bad luck.

The truth was that ever since Lu Fan had arrived, the Jiang family had miraculously risen from the ashes of bankruptcy.

No one ever connected it to Lu Fan improving their fortune; they simply carried on as before.

Only Jiang Ruxue was gradually awakening. Hearing her mother’s harsh, grating abuse, she realized this was neither the first time nor the last.

In fact, it had happened countless times over those five years. And what had she done back then?

She had been busy—busy reviewing financial statements, busy replying to emails, busy arranging corporate affairs.

She would simply frown when her mother hurled abuses at Lu Fan, impatiently walking away from him without ever stopping them even once.

What wrong had Lu Fan committed? He had never spoken a harsh word against the Jiang family, yet why should he bear all these slanderous accusations?

Seeing her talk back, Mrs. Jiang immediately snapped, "Isn't it because he cursed Rushan that my son suddenly fell ill?"

"Mom, Lu Fan merely gave a kind warning. This is a malignant tumor, not a common cold or fever. It has a long incubation period. How long has it even been since Lu Fan mentioned it?"

"Why are you taking his side like this?" Mrs. Jiang shot Jiang Ruxue a cold glare. "Don't forget your own last name."

"It's too noisy! You're both too noisy! Shut up and get out!" Jiang Rushan cursed viciously.

Anxious, Old Madam Jiang grabbed Jiang Ruxue’s hand. "Since Lu Fan anticipated Rushian's illness long ago, and he specifically left me a condition, does that mean he can save Rushian?"

Looking at her younger brother suffering in agony on the bed, Jiang Ruxue put aside her selfishness and spoke the unvarnished truth.

"Yes, I went to see Lu Fan, and he said he can save my brother."

"Then what are we standing around for? He managed to treat Third Master Qin; perhaps he really can cure Rushan."

Jiang Ruxue clutched her father’s sleeve. "Dad, I went to Lu Fan to reconcile with him, but he refused. That means if we use Grandma's condition to save my brother now, my marriage to him will truly be broken."

"Growing up, I've never competed with my brother for anything, but I truly love Lu Fan now. I want to be with him. Dad, I... I..."

"You what? What on earth could possibly be more important than your brother's life right now? How can you be so selfish? Would you die if you didn't have a man?" Mr. Jiang shoved her away roughly.

Jiang Ruxue knew she could never abandon her brother's life, which was why she hadn't concealed Lu Fan’s medical skills.

She had merely wanted her father to show even a shred of care for her.

Yet there was nothing. Not a single person cared about her happiness.

Mrs. Jiang urged impatiently, "What are you staring for? Call Lu Fan and tell him to come! Do you really want your brother to suffer in pain?"

"Lu Fan performed treatment for Third Master Qin today. He is still resting."

"Resting? He just stuck a few needles in; how tiring could that possibly be? What? Does he think the Qin family is his real family now, and he looks down on the Jiang family?"

Grandfather Jiang struck the floor fiercely with his cane. "That ungrateful little bastard! He’s really getting too big for his britches! Call him right now and make him come treat Rushan."

Thinking of how the members of the Qin family treated Lu Fan with the utmost reverence, a fact the Jiang family had yet to realize, Jiang Ruxue offered a well-intentioned reminder: "Grandpa, even Third Master addresses him as Mr. Lu, and the Qin family holds him as an honored guest. If you maintain this attitude, you will only push Lu Fan further and further away."

Grandfather Jiang scoffed dismissively. "He's just some wild bastard with no father or mother. What? Am I supposed to wait on him hand and foot?"

"Grandpa, one day you will regret this," Jiang Ruxue said with reddened eyes.

Had she foreseen today's outcome, she would never have listened to her parents and divorced Lu Fan.

How similar were these arrogant Jiang family members now to her former self?

The old man sneered, "What is there for me to regret? He's just a country doctor without even a medical license; letting him treat Rushan is his supreme honor! Hurry up and tell him to crawl over here! What, does he expect me to go pick him up in person?"