Chapter 37: Watching the Fun While Helping Out

Chapter 37: Watching the Fun and Lending a Hand

Look at that, a true expert reveals their skill with just one move. The moment the beautiful sister spoke, the difference was immediately clear.

When Miss Chang goes up against Miss Song, in the arena of household scheming, the gap in intelligence is rather stark!

Wow, just wow, this is really something.

Jiang Wan, quietly enjoying the show from the sidelines, had a gleam of amusement in her eyes.

She understood what Chang Yuning’s earlier glance meant, and she also understood what Li Yanxiu’s gaze toward Song Ziying implied.

Wasn’t it just that same old story where she loves him, he doesn’t love her, he loves someone else, and she might not love him back?

Heh heh heh, say no more—really, just say no more.

This kind of youthful hormonal turmoil among teenagers is best performed by teenagers to be truly entertaining.

If older men and women were to cling to each other, calling one another "gege" and "meimei," it would make one’s skin crawl. But when it’s these teenagers making eyes at each other—ah, now that’s the right flavor!

Ordinary clichéd plots can’t pique this seasoned drama watcher’s interest, but a classic, dramatic love polygon like this is truly fascinating.

No more pretending, I’m laying my cards on the table: I’m basic, and I love it!

"What am I complaining about? You really need to fix this habit of randomly accusing others, Song Ziying. Otherwise, you might not even be able to secure the position of the family’s eldest daughter-in-law in the future!"

Chang Yuning was indeed not someone to be trifled with. Though she might not be the sharpest, she had a sharp tongue, and her words hit right where it hurts.

Song Ziying’s expression indeed changed. Her slightly furrowed brows made Li Yanxiu’s heart sink, and his eyes darkened unconsciously.

"Alright, let’s head back to Jiusi Hall first. I expect the teacher has already arrived."

"Okay."

Nodding gently, Song Ziying quickened her pace and handed the porcelain bottle to Li Chengxiu.

"Here, take this, Fourth Brother. Remember to apply it several times later—it’ll help your wounds heal faster."

She then turned to look at Jiang Wan, her smile still warm and gentle, very much like a kind older sister next door.

"Wan, remember to apply the medicine too. A young girl like you shouldn’t have scars on her face. Don’t brush it off, or you’ll regret it when you’re older."

"Mm, thank you, Sister Ziying."

Silly Fourth Brother nodded without a second thought, completely oblivious to the dark expression on his Sister Yuning’s face beside him.

"Fourth Brother, don’t take it. Who knows where she got this cheap stuff from? You can’t just use any random medicine—what if it causes some bad reaction? Yukang, remember to bring our family’s Scar-Healing Balm tomorrow morning!"

"Got it, Second Sister!"

Chang Yukang responded promptly from the side.

The Chang family ancestors were imperial physicians, so their knowledge of medicine was indeed far superior to the Song family’s. They had every reason to be confident.

Song Ziying fell silent, her expression visibly awkward. After all, she was still just a fifteen- or sixteen-year-old girl, and being confronted like this couldn’t possibly leave her unaffected.

But she had no grounds to criticize the Chang siblings, as their words sounded well-intentioned. So, with her fair fingers clutching the white porcelain bottle, she found herself in an awkward position—unable to offer it or withdraw it gracefully.

Even someone as thick-skinned as Li Chengxiu could sense the tension. His eyes darted between his brother and the two sisters not by blood. Remembering his mother’s past advice, he quickly made a choice.

"Thank you for your kindness, Sister Ziying, but my brother has already given me medicine. There’s no need to trouble—"

Seeing that Fourth Brother Li’s words were making Third Brother Li frown, Jiang Wan decisively reached out and took the small porcelain bottle.

"Thank you for your kindness, Sister Ziying. I can use this. As you all know, my family comes from humble origins, and we don’t have access to rare or precious items. This Jade Clear Ointment is the first time I’ve heard of it! I’ll try it and see how well it works."

Sure enough, she had chosen the right approach. Third Brother Li’s expression improved significantly. Jiang Wan casually tucked the bottle away and quietly gave herself a mental pat on the back.

Heh, this kind of small gesture to help the future boss’s love interest out of an awkward situation was something Sister Wan was quite familiar with and handled with ease.

After all, in her previous life, her top boss—that often erratic but handsome department head—would frequently act out various love-hate dramas with all sorts of beauties in different settings.

Just ask any of the medical staff at Third Hospital—who among them hadn’t joined in shipping couples or helping defuse tensions?

These little tricks from these young men and women were nothing compared to the antics of the drama queens she’d seen in her past life. They were almost naively pure.

"No need to thank me. If you find it effective, Wan, I can bring you another bottle later."

Song Ziying, having been saved from embarrassment, now looked at Jiang Wan with much more warmth, her smile genuine.

Jiang Wan smiled back at her.

"This bottle should be enough. I’m not like Fourth Brother Li with his big face—why would I need to use so much medicine?"

Li Chengxiu jumped in protest.

"Sister Wan, who are you saying has a big face?"

"What if I am talking about you?"

Li Yanxiu, seeing the girl he liked being amused by Sister Wan again, felt his own mood lift and chimed in to scold his brother.

"You’re not big-faced—you’re thick-skinned! How could a grown man like you get into a fight with your own sister?

And yet Sister Wan still calls you 'Fourth Brother.' Is this how you act as an older brother? If you dare cause trouble again, just see if I don’t teach you a lesson."

"Alright, alright, I got it. If I ever fight with Sister Wan again, I’m a dog, okay?

Brother, you should head back to Jiusi Hall now. Old Master Bai will be here soon. Don’t delay our class. I need to study hard so I can ask Father for rewards later!"

It was clear this guy really had no filter. Overprotected by his mother and brother, even his desire to compete for favor was openly flaunted.

Li Yanxiu shot him a glance and finally turned to leave helplessly. Song Ziying also smiled, waved, and left. Only Chang Yuning, before leaving, shot Jiang Wan a few fierce glares.

"Don’t get too cocky, little girl. Watch out, or one day you might throw your back out!"

"Thanks for your concern. I may look thin, but I’m all muscle and probably have tough bones too. I can take a hit."

"Hmph, don’t get too full of yourself! We’ll see about that!"

Chang Yuning, irritated by the retort, finished her threat and shot her brother a meaningful look before hurrying off to catch up with her Brother Yanxiu.

Jiang Wan indifferently brushed off her sleeves. Truth be told, she had little interest in engaging with such brainless cannon fodder.

According to the usual tropes of clichéd novels, characters with such personalities typically don’t last long. When she read the book back then, there was no character like Chang Yuning causing a ruckus.

And then there was Li Yuanxiu, the equivalent of Crown Prince Yuande, who served as little more than a background figure in the book.