Chapter Three: Five Minutes Left

As Xiao Chen’s words faded, the entire hospital room fell silent for a brief moment.

Everyone stared at him as if he were a madman.

Had this kid lost his mind? Did he really dare to say such things?

Wasn’t he blatantly cursing the old lady?

Xu Zhongshan had long been displeased with their family; surely he would seize this opportunity to make a fuss.

Indeed, a sinister smile flickered across Xu Zhongshan’s face.

Back when the old master was still alive, he had valued Xu Qingran greatly, going so far as to entrust one of the family’s companies to her—a mere woman—to manage independently. This made the other members of the Xu family green with envy.

After the old master’s death, although the matriarch didn’t much care for Xu Qingran, she couldn’t easily reclaim the company, for Xu Qingran had managed it with remarkable skill, driving its performance to new heights year after year.

Now, however, was the perfect opportunity.

Xu Zhongshan immediately barked at Xiao Chen, “Boy, are you cursing the old lady?”

The rest of the Xu family erupted as well. “I always knew this brat was an ungrateful wolf. He eats our food, uses our resources, and now he dares curse the old lady to her death.”

“Xiao Chen, you’re out of line!”

Xu Chengyang, with a mocking smile, glanced at Sun Ling and Xu Qingran. “Perhaps these aren’t Xiao Chen’s own words. Maybe someone else put him up to it.”

At his remark, the family’s eyes flashed as they quickly echoed, “Xu Qingran, was this your idea?”

“Isn’t it obvious? Of course it was. Xu Qingran, the old lady’s been good to you, handing you an entire company to run, and this is how you repay her?”

“That’s not true…” Sun Ling and Xu Qingran were at a loss for words, unable to defend themselves.

Smack!

Sun Ling, trembling with fury, slapped Xiao Chen across the face. “Useless wretch! You can never do anything right. Who told you to speak out of turn? Get out of here, right now!”

Xu Qianran was beside herself with rage. “You idiot! If you’d just kept your mouth shut, no one would have taken you for a mute. Are you trying to get us all killed?”

Xiao Chen looked at Sun Ling and Xu Qianran calmly. “I only spoke the truth.”

But before Xiao Chen finished, Xu Qingran yelled at him, “Get out! Get out right now!”

Her eyes were rimmed red, brimming with tears as she glared at Xiao Chen, one finger pointing toward the door.

Others saw her as living a charmed life—so young, yet already in control of a company. But only Xu Qingran knew how hard she’d worked for it. Over the years, she’d managed the company diligently, never daring to relax for a moment, always afraid her uncles would seize upon any mistake to reclaim it.

She’d been so careful all these years, yet today, because of Xiao Chen’s reckless words, she had handed them the perfect excuse. How could Xu Qingran not be furious?

“Get out?” At the sound of Sun Ling and Xu Qingran’s words, Xu Zhongshan sneered. “You think it’s that easy? Xiao Chen stays right here.”

“Your whole family harbors ill will toward the old lady. Today, we’re settling this once and for all!”

Despair flickered in Xu Qingran’s eyes. This time, her uncle truly meant to destroy them.

She looked at Xiao Chen with a blank expression, her heart dead with hopelessness.

The others watched Xiao Chen and Xu Qingran’s family with malicious delight.

“What kind of disgraceful racket is this?” Just then, an aged voice rose from the hospital bed—the old lady was awake.

At her voice, the room instantly fell silent.

“Mother!”

“Grandmother, you’re awake!” Xu Zhongshan and Xu Chengyang hurried over to help her sit up.

She nodded slightly, then swept her gaze around the room. “What happened just now?”

Xu Zhongshan let out a cold laugh. “Mother, I told you not to get upset. Chengyang just finished your acupuncture—his skills are well-known to you. Yet the third branch’s live-in son-in-law, Xiao Chen, had the nerve to curse you.”

“But a useless man like him wouldn’t dare on his own—someone must be behind it.”

At this, the old lady’s face darkened, her expression turning cold as she fixed her gaze on Xiao Chen. “Xiao Chen, is this true?”

“I didn’t curse you,” Xiao Chen replied calmly. “I only spoke the truth. Xu Chengyang’s acupuncture technique was flawed. If nothing is done to correct it, you won’t last another fifteen minutes. In fact, there’s less than fifteen minutes left.”

“Xiao Chen, shut your mouth! You’re still talking?” Sun Ling and the others were beside themselves with fury. If they’d known Xiao Chen would be so reckless, they’d never have brought him.

Now they were truly in trouble.

The old lady looked impassively at Sun Ling and Xu Qingran. “Xiao Chen is nothing but a worthless fool. I don’t believe he’d dare say something like this on his own. Did you put him up to it?”

“Mother, you’re wronged! It doesn’t benefit us in the slightest if something were to happen to you, so how could we possibly—” Sun Ling was both anxious and angry.

But the old lady cut her off with a wave of her hand, her tone imperious and unreasonable. “Enough, I know what’s going on.”

“Sun Ling, Qingran, have I not treated you well? For years, one of the Xu family’s three major companies, Allure Cosmetics, has been in your hands. And yet, you wish for my death?”

“Do you believe that, once I’m gone, no one can reclaim the company and you’ll finally be at peace?”

“I didn’t…” Xu Qingran tried to protest, but her voice was weak.

The old lady paid her no mind and declared, “From this moment on, Xu Qingran is no longer chairman of Allure Cosmetics. Xu Zhongshan will take over. As for you, Qingran, your uncle will find you a nominal position in the company.”

At her words, Xu Zhongshan beamed with delight, while Xu Chengyang cast a mocking glance at Xiao Chen and Xu Qingran.

The rest of the Xu family looked at Xu Zhongshan with envy, then rushed to offer their congratulations.

As for Sun Ling and Xu Qingran, their faces were ashen, utterly bereft of hope.

Their family had now been thoroughly cast into the cold.

“Mother, since you’re all right, we’ll be going,” Sun Ling managed, having no desire to remain any longer. She found a pretext to leave.

Noticing Xiao Chen beside her, still composed as if nothing had happened, she erupted in anger. “You useless fool, why are you still here? Get out!”

If not for Xiao Chen, how could the old lady have taken back the company?

Sun Ling dared not direct her anger at the old lady, so she vented it all on Xiao Chen.

But Xiao Chen remained unmoved. Glancing at his watch, he said indifferently, “I’m counting down. If my calculations are correct, the old lady has five minutes left.”