Chapter 69: Polar Reversal

Jiang Hao spoke impatiently, "When I cured your grandmother’s lung disease, you didn’t seem nearly as surprised as you are now. Besides, do I really need to answer your questions?"

His cold demeanor made Su Qingli’s heart ache. She felt truly wronged. She had tried so hard to please Jiang Hao, hoping to mend their relationship, yet not only did he ignore her efforts, but he continued to treat her with indifference. One-sided devotion would never yield results; Su Qingli was growing weary.

She fell silent, standing quietly to one side, taking a deep breath and steeling herself against the sourness in her heart, for fear that she might start to cry.

Zhao Shibo glanced at Su Qingli before turning to Jiang Hao, probing, "I’ve heard you’ve had a falling out with the Su family, and that you’re planning to divorce your wife?"

"That’s right. The Su family has always looked down on me, treating me like a dog or a pig. No matter how good my temper is, I can’t bear it anymore. I’ve had enough of that life—I’d rather leave sooner than later," Jiang Hao replied without hesitation.

Zhao Shibo nodded in agreement. "I support you. If the Su family has treated you with such disregard, you have every right to turn your back on them. But have you thought about what you’ll do after leaving the Su family? Do you have any plans? If not, why don’t you come join our Zhao family? Be my personal physician. I’ll have Ziyun arrange a position for you in our company—your food and lodging will be taken care of."

At those words, Su Qingli’s eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at Zhao Shibo. This old man, right in front of her, was trying to poach her husband? She wanted to object, but glancing at Jiang Hao, she held back. Their relationship was already teetering on the edge; if she angered him now, she might never have a chance to win him back.

To her relief, Jiang Hao did not accept Zhao Shibo’s offer. Smiling, he shook his head. "Master Zhao, I appreciate your kindness, but I could never be anyone’s private doctor. I want a life of freedom, unbound and unconstrained—I don’t want to live at anyone’s beck and call."

"Very well. Your aspirations are high; I can’t force you," Zhao Shibo said, a little disappointed.

Zhao Ziyun hesitated before adding, "Jiang Hao, you misunderstand. My father doesn’t want to tie you down to the Zhao family. He’s just worried that if his old illness returns, he won’t be able to find you for treatment. And he truly wants to repay you for curing him by offering a high-paying position."

Jiang Hao feigned sudden understanding and smiled. "So that’s how it is—my apologies for being rude."

He paused, then continued, "Master Zhao, you can rest assured. If you ever need my medical help, just give me a call and I’ll come at once. Besides, your illness has been cured completely; it will never return. As for the high-paying position in your company, I must decline. Your family’s business is mainly in real estate, and I know nothing about that. Holding a high position would only tie my hands—I’d achieve nothing."

Since Jiang Hao had made himself clear, Zhao Shibo no longer pressed him to join the Zhao family.

Afterward, Zhao Shibo and Jiang Hao chatted about matters of health and longevity. Having grown old, Zhao Shibo no longer harbored grand ambitions; he only wished to live out his remaining years in health and peace, and thus valued these discussions greatly. Jiang Hao, holding nothing back, shared with him all the knowledge on health and wellness he had inherited from the Flame Emperor, imparting it generously.

The two conversed happily, like friends separated by generations.

At the end, Zhao Shibo waved a hand, and Liu Hong quickly stepped forward.

"Mr. Jiang," Zhao Shibo said, "The last time you came to treat me, my future daughter-in-law was rather rude to you. Today, I’ve asked her to apologize, and I hope you can forgive her."

As soon as Zhao Shibo finished speaking, Liu Hong bowed apologetically to Jiang Hao and said softly, "Mr. Jiang, I was in the wrong last time. I neglected you—please forgive me."

"She already apologized to me last time; there’s no need to do it again. Besides, I’m a grown man—how could I hold grudges against a woman?" Jiang Hao said with a laugh, waving his hand.

Hearing this, Liu Hong finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Suddenly, Zhao Ziyun spoke up, "By the way, Jiang Hao, in two months I’ll be marrying Liu Hong. Will you be my best man?"

Jiang Hao was taken aback. He truly hadn’t expected that Zhao Ziyun, the famed son of Maple Leaf City, would ask him to be his best man.

"Is that really appropriate?" Jiang Hao asked, somewhat embarrassed.

Zhao Shibo laughed heartily. "You saved my life! With a favor so great and a bond so deep, you’re no outsider to our family. Having you as my son’s best man is the least we could do. If only I had a daughter—I’d ask you to join the Zhao family as my son-in-law!"

He broke into laughter again.

Su Qingli, standing nearby, found this deeply unpleasant.

She hadn’t even divorced Jiang Hao yet, and Zhao Shibo was openly saying that if he had a daughter, he’d marry her to Jiang Hao and make him a member of the Zhao family. Wasn’t this deliberately embarrassing her?

Su Qingli finally understood. Because she belonged to the Su family, and both Zhao Shibo and Zhao Ziyun clearly resented the Su family, they were intentionally putting her in her place.

With this realization, Su Qingli felt even more aggrieved, but she said nothing, pretending she hadn’t heard a thing.

At that moment, the Pan family arrived.

But only one person came: Pan Yixuan, the eldest son.

As soon as Pan Yixuan entered the banquet hall, the members of the Su family flocked toward him, fussing over him with polite flattery. The scene made it seem as if Pan Yixuan were not the heir of the Pan family, but rather the son-in-law—or even the favored son—of the Su family.

Watching the lively scene from afar, Zhao Ziyun snorted coldly, discontented. "I really can’t tell—is this the Su family or the Pan family? Is Pan Yixuan one of theirs or ours?"

Zhao Shibo added, "What a family, the Sus. They don’t treat their own son-in-law as a person, but place the Pan family’s heir on a pedestal. I’ve lived a lifetime, but I’ve never seen anything so absurd."

His words made Su Qingli feel a deep sense of shame. After all, she was a member of the Su family too.

The piano music in the banquet hall came to a stop.

"Everyone, may I have your attention! As the head of the Su family, I have an important announcement to make today," the old matriarch declared, striking her cane on the floor.

The hall fell silent, all eyes turning toward her in curiosity, awaiting her words.