Villain: After Intercepting the Female Lead, the Protagonist Collapses-Chapter 72

Chapter 72: Even a Thousand-Year-Old Snow Lutos

Jiang Che was visiting Shen Qingqiu’s room for the first time. As soon as he entered the room, he was greeted by the scent of traditional Chinese medicine. Shen Qingqiu was lying on the bed, tended to by three women.

“Aunt Lin…” Jiang Che greeted a dignified lady nearby with a smile. This woman, Lin Wanxi, was Shen Qingqiu’s mother.

Although she was in her forties, she looked as young as a woman in her late twenties. Indeed, the wife of a wealthy family maintained her beauty exceptionally well.

“You’ve come…” Lin Wanxi’s face barely managed a smile. She had a favorable impression of Jiang Che. During Shen Qingqiu’s absence over the years, Jiang Che would occasionally visit the Shen family.

Moreover, unlike other wealthy heirs, Jiang Che hadn’t been involved in any scandals, so she quite liked him. Jiang Che and Shen Qingqiu ending up together was a result both families desired.

“What illness does Qingqiu have?” Jiang Che asked knowingly.

“It’s said that she had a mishap during her training in the mountains a few years ago. Every month, for a few days, her hidden ailment flares up.”

“Can’t it be cured?” Jiang Che sat beside Shen Qingqiu’s bed, tenderly touching her cheek. After nearly a month of getting to know each other, he realized he had genuinely fallen for this girl.

“It can be cured, but we need a Thousand-Year Ice Mountain Snow Lotus as a catalyst.”

“Who are you? Stay away from my Senior Sister.” Zhou Lingxi, witnessing Jiang Che’s hand lingering on Shen Qingqiu’s face, finally lost her patience. She was unaware of Jiang Che and Shen Qingqiu’s relationship and assumed they were just ordinary friends.

“I’m Qingqiu’s fiancé…” Jiang Che glanced at her, correctly guessing that this woman must be Zhou Lingxi.

Zhou Lingxi turned her questioning gaze towards Lin Wanxi, having never heard of her master having a fiancé.

“Indeed, Xiao Che is Qingqiu’s fiancé,” Lin Wanxi nodded and smiled.

Zhou Lingxi felt awkward… How embarrassing for an outsider like her to be concerned about another couple’s relationship.

But the idea of Shen Qingqiu having a boyfriend was incomprehensible to her. All their sisters knew how disinterested their eldest sister was in men.

“Qingqiu, are you in much pain?” Jiang Che gently touched Shen Qingqiu’s cheek, speaking softly.

“Xiao Che brother, you’re here…” Shen Qingqiu, hearing Jiang Che’s voice, slowly opened her eyes, managing a feeble smile on her face. That smile was heartbreakingly fragile, like a wilting rose, eliciting deep sympathy.

Lin Wanxi gave a signal to Ji Qingwan and Zhou Lingxi, then stepped out, leaving enough space for the couple.

“Why didn’t you tell me about your ailment?” Jiang Che asked sternly. He had been busy plotting against Ye Chen these past few days and wouldn’t have known about this if not for Su Shanshan’s mention.

“I just didn’t want to worry you…” Shen Qingqiu shook her head gently.

“Silly girl, not telling me makes me worry more,” Jiang Che said, slightly annoyed. He hadn’t expected Shen Qingqiu to be this strong. Most girls would cry about even a minor scratch to their boyfriends.

“Can the Thousand-Year Ice Mountain Snow Lotus cure your illness?”

“Yes…” Shen Qingqiu nodded weakly, her pale complexion frightening.

“Then it’s easy to deal with.” Jiang Che took out the Thousand-Year Ice Mountain Snow Lotus he had previously obtained from his system space. The temperature in the room noticeably dropped upon its appearance.

“Here, this is the Thousand-Year Ice Mountain Snow Lotus.”

“You… where did you get this?” Shen Qingqiu asked, bewildered. She never imagined Jiang Che would possess such an item.

“My grandfather gave it to me, saying it could enhance my cultivation,” Jiang Che made up an excuse. He certainly couldn’t reveal it was a system reward. “How can this help you, do you eat it directly?”

“No… Xiao Che brother, keep the snow lotus for yourself,” Shen Qingqiu refused, despite being tempted.

After all, it was something that could help Jiang Che enhance his cultivation, and she knew he had cultivation skills. Jiang Che had already been upfront with her last time.

“What about you then?” Jiang Che asked, a bit exasperated. Although the snow lotus could enhance cultivation, its effect wasn’t great. He had kept it precisely for Shen Qingqiu, as its primary purpose was healing.

“I’ll be fine… In another three or four days, I’ll recover on my own,” Shen Qingqiu said weakly, followed by a severe cough.

“Alright, no need to refuse anymore. I don’t need this,” Jiang Che insisted. “Besides, is there anything between us that needs to be yours or mine? You could give me 15% of the Shen Corporation shares, so what’s a small Ice Mountain Snow Lotus in comparison?”

“But…” Shen Qingqiu was about to protest, but Jiang Che didn’t give her the chance.

“Just listen and get well soon.” Jiang Che kissed her forehead gently and then left the room.

He didn’t know how to use the snow lotus for medical purposes, so he decided to leave it to Zhou Lingxi. After all, the medical techniques he used on Ah Qing and Ji Menglan wouldn’t work on Shen Qingqiu’s illness…

Shen Qingqiu watched Jiang Che’s retreating figure, her heart filled with emotion, her eyes slightly moist.

“Aunt Lin, when did my sister get a boyfriend?” Zhou Lingxi asked Lin Wanxi curiously in the living room.

A month ago, when Shen Qingqiu’s hidden ailment flared up, she didn’t have a boyfriend. In just a month’s absence, her sister suddenly had a boyfriend?

Ji Qingwan also turned her head curiously upon hearing this. Living with Shen Qingqiu every day, she had no idea when Shen Qingqiu got a boyfriend.

“Qingqiu and Xiao Che grew up together as childhood sweethearts and have had a marriage arrangement since they were young,” Lin Wanxi explained with a smile.

“But a few years ago, Qingqiu went to the mountains to learn martial arts and only returned a year ago.”

“Initially, she didn’t like going out and stayed at home practicing martial arts. Recently, her father pressured her to become the CEO of the company, so Xiao Che only then learned that she had returned.”

Zhou Lingxi nodded thoughtfully. Among their sisters, she had been the one who left the mountains the longest. According to their sect’s rules, one could return to the secular world once reaching the Innate Realm.

Although Shen Qingqiu was the first to reach Innate Realm, she wasn’t the first to leave the mountains. Instead, she chose to stay three more years, breaking through to the Transformation tealm, before descending.

After all, city life, unlike Phoenix Peak, is filled with distractions, making it hard to concentrate on cultivation.

As the two talked, Jiang Che came down the stairs.

“You know medical skills?” Jiang Che asked Zhou Lingxi, though he already knew the answer.

“I do, why?” Zhou Lingxi replied, slightly puzzled.

Jiang Che handed over the Thousand-Year Ice Mountain Snow Lotus. “This is for you. Use it to treat Qingqiu.”

“This… This is the Thousand-Year Ice Mountain Snow Lotus?” Zhou Lingxi was astounded, holding the snow lotus in her hands.

She had just told Lin Wanxi that the existence of such a thing was uncertain, and now Jiang Che had taken out one, making her feel a bit embarrassed. Was this a case of being instantaneously contradicted?

“What did you say?” Lin Wanxi, upon hearing Zhou Lingxi’s words, was initially stunned, then became extremely excited.

“I’ve seen descriptions in ancient texts. This should indeed be the Thousand-Year Ice Mountain Snow Lotus, and a genuine one at that, aged a full thousand years!” Zhou Lingxi trembled with excitement, never expecting to see a real Thousand-Year Ice Mountain Snow Lotus in her lifetime.

“Where did you get this?” Zhou Lingxi asked, still puzzled. After all, the Thousand-Year Ice Mountain Snow Lotus was no ordinary herb.

“My grandfather gave it to me, saying it could enhance my cultivation. Since it can help Qingqiu recover, it should be used for her,” Jiang Che repeated the excuse he’d given Shen Qingqiu.

“Xiao Che, thank you!” Lin Wanxi gratefully said to Jiang Che, surprised that he was willing to use such a precious item for Qingqiu’s treatment. She may not practice martial arts, but she understood the significance of the snow lotus.

“You’re exaggerating, Aunt Lin. Qingqiu is my fiancée after all. It’s my duty,” Jiang Che said with a smile, skillfully winning favor.

“Alright, you should go and prepare the medicine for Qingqiu,” Jiang Che urged Zhou Lingxi.

Zhou Lingxi nodded and went into the kitchen, followed by Ji Qingwan.

With Ah Long outside smoking and the maids busy with their work, only Jiang Che and Lin Wanxi were left in the living room, creating a somewhat awkward atmosphere.

“Have you been busy with your studies lately?” Lin Wanxi initiated a conversation to break the ice.

“No, the semester is almost over, and I haven’t been going to school recently. I’ll be in my senior year in the second half of the year, and I’ve decided to intern at Jiang Corporation,” Jiang Che replied.

“Has your father come back recently?” Lin Wanxi curiously asked, aware of Jiang Che’s father’s special position, which hardly allowed him to return to Linjiang City.

“He hasn’t come back yet,” Jiang Che shook his head, mentioning he hadn’t even met his nominal father yet.

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