Chapter Eighty-One: Moral Blackmail?

Scenes from the past flashed before Jiang Yunzhu’s eyes—how Madam Shen had so carefully raised her. She knew she would never forget it for as long as she lived. In Jiang Yunzhu’s heart, Madam Shen had long since become her true grandmother.

“Yunzhu? Yunzhu?” Shen Ruizhang’s voice sounded nearby, dragging Jiang Yunzhu forcibly out of her memories and back to reality.

“Yunzhu, did you hear what the doctor said?”

It was rare for Shen Ruizhang to be so anxious. Jiang Yunzhu’s mind was so muddled she couldn’t even recall how she’d followed the doctor to the surgical suite, nor had she heard anything he’d said.

“I’m sorry…”

The doctor, seeing Jiang Yunzhu’s state, took a deep breath and spoke.

“Madam Shen’s health was already poor. The repeated shocks she’s suffered recently have exceeded her ability to withstand them. I’m afraid she won’t last much longer.”

“Impossible!”

In an instant, Jiang Yunzhu felt as though a nerve had snapped somewhere deep inside. She seized the doctor’s hand, her voice desperate.

“Doctor, I beg you, please save her. I can’t lose my grandmother.”

The doctor was moved by Jiang Yunzhu’s anguish, but fate was cruel. He could only shake his head helplessly and sigh deeply.

“Miss Jiang, please don’t be too agitated. We’ll do everything we can, but… ultimately, it depends on Madam Shen herself.”

He patted Jiang Yunzhu’s hand solemnly and turned to enter the operating room.

Watching the red light glowing above the surgical suite door, Jiang Yunzhu felt the world spin around her. The next moment, her legs weakened and she collapsed backward without realizing it.

“Yunzhu!”

At the critical moment, Shen Ruizhang caught her swiftly, holding her steady in his arms.

“Yunzhu, are you alright?”

The last barrier in Jiang Yunzhu’s heart crumbled completely. Tears streamed from her eyes like a broken string of pearls, tumbling out in great drops.

She was not ready to calmly accept losing her grandmother.

No one knew how much time had passed. Jiang Yunzhu and Shen Ruizhang sat side by side outside the operating room, their faces haggard and weary.

“Yunzhu, I have a question…”

Shen Ruizhang broke the stifling silence, turning to Jiang Yunzhu.

“About Zhou Qingfei… how do you plan to handle her?”

“My grandmother’s life is hanging in the balance, and you still have the energy to worry about someone else?”

Hearing such a question at this moment struck Jiang Yunzhu as absurd. She looked at Shen Ruizhang, feeling that her uncle had become increasingly unfamiliar.

Yet, she indulged his curiosity, taking a document out of her bag and tossing it into his lap.

“See for yourself.”

Her tone was calm, betraying no emotion.

Shen Ruizhang frowned as he opened the file, pulling out a thick stack of papers—all evidence for a lawsuit against Zhou Qingfei.

He was stunned.

“Yunzhu, was it really you who brought charges against her?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Legal rights. She brought this on herself.”

Faced with Shen Ruizhang’s almost foolish questions, Jiang Yunzhu answered simply.

Shen Ruizhang flipped through the pages, his brows knit tightly.

“Yunzhu, have you considered that, once her scandal is exposed, how will she survive in the entertainment industry? After all… she’s already carrying my child.”

What does that have to do with me?

Besides, Zhou Qingfei hardly needs another scandal to ruin her.

Jiang Yunzhu wanted to say this. Every time a scandal had arisen before, she’d been the one to help Shen Ruizhang and Zhou Qingfei resolve it. But now, Jiang Yunzhu had no energy left to argue. Her expression darkened.

“Mr. Shen, must you ask me about irrelevant people at a time like this?”

Shen Ruizhang was taken aback; he had never imagined the Jiang Yunzhu he’d watched grow up would speak to him in this tone. The girl who once circled him, calling “Uncle, Uncle,” seemed to have vanished without a trace.

Just then, the doors to the operating room swung open and several doctors hurried out.

“Who is the patient’s family?”

Both rose quickly and walked over. Jiang Yunzhu was the first to ask.

“Doctor, how is my grandmother?”

“The patient experienced cardiac arrest just now. We managed to resuscitate her, but it has affected her brain function. Although her life has been preserved, she is now in a deep coma and has been transferred to the ICU.”

The doctor’s words struck like thunder. Jiang Yunzhu staggered several steps before managing to steady herself.

Shen Ruizhang was also shaken, trying to compose himself as he asked, “Doctor, may we visit her?”

The doctor nodded and instructed the nurse to bring two sets of protective gowns for the ICU.

Jiang Yunzhu quickly changed and followed the doctor inside.

The ICU was quiet, the air thick with the sharp scent of alcohol, and the only sounds were the beeping machines.

At the far end, in the area reserved for the most critical patients, Jiang Yunzhu finally saw Madam Shen.

Her grandmother’s eyes were tightly closed, as innocent as a sleeping child.

Tears flooded Jiang Yunzhu’s eyes.

“Grandmother, I’ve failed you. I came too late.”

She caressed Madam Shen’s face, wishing she could wipe away the traces of illness, but it was hopeless.

Beside her, Shen Ruizhang was moved as well. He clasped Madam Shen’s hand and spoke.

“Mother, the person you disliked has been taken away. She’ll never disturb your rest again.”

He took Jiang Yunzhu’s hand and placed it together with his in Madam Shen’s palm.

“By the way, Mother, I have good news to tell you.”

The three of them held hands tightly. Shen Ruizhang took a deep breath and continued.

“Just now, Yunzhu agreed to marry me!”

As the words fell, Jiang Yunzhu’s tears stopped abruptly. She looked at the man beside her in disbelief.

But he seemed unaware of her gaze, pressing on.

“Isn’t it your greatest wish to see Yunzhu and me together? At the wedding, we still hope to hear your blessing spoken in person!”

At that moment, perhaps moved by Heaven, Madam Shen’s fingers trembled slightly.

The doctor was surprised and hurried to speak.

“The patient is in a coma, but can still hear voices. Quick! Say more things that will make her happy!”

Encouraged, Shen Ruizhang seemed invigorated. He bent down and continued.

“Yunzhu has agreed to be my wife! When you wake up, we’ll go home together as a family and never be separated again.”

Jiang Yunzhu’s mind was in chaos. She tugged gently at Shen Ruizhang’s hand, her eyes asking:

What are you talking about?

Seeing her confusion, Shen Ruizhang steeled himself, determined to settle the matter.

“Yunzhu, tell your grandmother—did you agree to marry me?”

“I didn’t—”

Jiang Yunzhu blurted out, but Shen Ruizhang grabbed her wrist, lowering his voice.

“Yunzhu, I’m begging you as your uncle. Don’t you want your grandmother to wake up?”

Jiang Yunzhu’s eyes widened in disbelief, staring at the man before her.

Her uncle was actually using this tactic to morally coerce her?