Chapter 25: A Carefully Orchestrated Move

"Grandfather, I'm back."

Xie Yan parked his car outside his courtyard. As soon as he stepped out, he saw his grandfather standing at the entrance, craning his neck and searching for someone.

"Hello, Grandpa Xie!"

Jiang Ming stepped out of the car right after him. The moment her feet touched the ground, the disappointment on Old Man Xie's face vanished, replaced by excitement. He gripped his cane and hurried toward them.

"Ah, little Jiang is here! I don't know how long I've been nagging about you. This brat just wouldn't—"

"Grandfather, let us in quickly. Jiang Ming is here to borrow some books from me today."

Afraid that Grandpa Xie might say something inappropriate, Xie Yan interrupted him immediately. If Jiang Ming were to catch on, they probably wouldn't even be able to remain friends.

"Yes, I'm sorry, Grandpa Xie. I’ll definitely come by specifically to keep you company next time."

Through the half-finished sentence, Jiang Ming could more or less guess the meaning; the old man was likely trying to play matchmaker.

"That's fine. You young people go and attend to your business; I won't disturb you. You should have lunch here today—I’ll tell the kitchen to prepare something extra delicious."

Grandpa Xie had been looking for a chance to get them alone, and now, without him having to invent an excuse, they had a reason to talk, which suited him perfectly.

"I understand, Grandfather."

As they left, Grandpa Xie didn't forget to signal to Xie Yan with his eyes to be sharp—that he should seize the opportunity with such a fine young woman.

The decor of Xie Yan’s home was simple and elegant. Aside from the essential furniture, there were no unnecessary, cluttered decorations, making the space feel vast. It was much like Xie Yan himself: clean, sharp, and straightforward.

His books were all kept in the study, and he led Jiang Ming upstairs immediately.

"Is it really okay for me to go into your study?"

A study was a private space. Bringing an outsider in felt a bit strange. Jiang Ming thought she could just wait at the door while he retrieved the books, then go back downstairs to read them in the living room.

"It's fine. My study is reasonably tidy."

Xie Yan didn't mind. He was a person with strong boundaries, but that depended on the individual. At the very least, having Jiang Ming enter his space didn't make him feel uncomfortable.

Since the host had agreed, Jiang Ming, as a guest, couldn't say more, so she followed him in.

The study was also decorated quite simply. Apart from a desk, chairs, and floor-to-ceiling windows, there were only bookshelves. The books were categorized by field and arranged neatly on the shelves according to color.

Walking in gave one a sense of comfort; it was enough to cure anyone’s obsessive-compulsive tendencies.

Xie Yan was familiar with the location of every book. As soon as they entered, he found the one for her. "It's right here. Have a seat; let me find which section this case study is in."

He pulled out the desk chair, signaling for Jiang Ming to sit, while he stood beside her to flip through the pages.

Jiang Ming didn't refuse and sat quietly, waiting for him.

"Right here."

Xie Yan placed the book on the desk in front of Jiang Ming. He rested one hand on the back of her chair and used the other to point out the specific case.

"Look, this case is actually thirty years old..."

His fingers were long and defined, his nails neatly trimmed. For some reason, the veins on the back of his hand were slightly prominent, exuding the quiet, masculine allure of a mature man.

Jiang Ming was usually someone who never lost focus while studying, but today, she didn't know what was wrong—her attention kept drifting to Xie Yan’s hand.

Even though he maintained a reasonable social distance, she found herself inexplicably surrounded by his scent. It wasn't the "cold cedar" fragrance often described in novels, nor was it the smell of cologne. She couldn't quite describe it; it felt like the scent of the first flower to bloom after a harsh winter, a life force breaking through the cold.

"Did you catch that?"

Xie Yan had already finished explaining, but the person in the chair was staring blankly, and her expression didn't look like she was deep in thought.

"Huh? Oh... I didn't quite catch it."

Realizing she had been distracted, Jiang Ming silently chided herself before shyly making her request. "Could you explain it to me one more time? I promise I won't be distracted this time."

"Sure."

Xie Yan had no complaints. He knew exactly why Jiang Ming was distracted; after all, his posture had been carefully calculated. If she hadn't been distracted, it would only have meant he had absolutely no attraction for her.

This time, Xie Yan didn't use any subtle tricks and explained it to her in a straightforward manner.

"I understand now. You’re truly amazing to remember such a complex case and recite it by heart."

Jiang Ming had always admired people who were more capable than her, and her praise came out spontaneously.

"It’s nothing. I’ve just read a lot of them. I believe you’ll surpass me soon."

Her hard work was evident; she truly didn't waste a single moment, diligently learning everything related to business management.

"I hope so."

Just as she was about to continue the discussion, a call came from Jiang Shi.

"Jiang Ming, come back immediately. A-Man has been in a car accident."

The details were unclear over the phone; Jiang Shi only urged her to return quickly.

"What’s wrong?"

Seeing the change in Jiang Ming’s expression, Xie Yan stepped forward with concern.

"Please, take me back now. A-Man has been in a car accident, and we don't know the situation yet."

Jiang Ming couldn't care less about the case study; she only wanted to get back as soon as possible, fearing how badly Jiang Man might be hurt and whether her life was in danger.

"Okay, don't worry. I'll go get the car right now."

Having known Jiang Ming for nearly a month, this was the first time he had seen her so distraught.

Afraid that Jiang Ming might stumble on the stairs, Xie Yan grabbed her wrist and led her down.

The drive from the south of the city to the north usually took nearly an hour, but seeing Jiang Ming’s panic, Xie Yan didn't hesitate. He stepped on the gas, and in less than half an hour, they arrived outside the Jiang family home.

Before the car had even come to a full stop, Jiang Ming opened the door and jumped out. She didn't even have time to thank Xie Yan before running toward the building where Jiang Man was.

Xie Yan didn't know the specifics, but since Jiang Man was also his friend, he followed closely behind her.

"How is she?"

When Jiang Ming arrived, Jiang Man was just being wheeled out of the examination room, accompanied by a man in a mask who looked like a doctor.

"A moderate concussion and a fracture in her right arm. Everything else is fine; there is no damage to her internal organs."

Han Qi removed his mask and reported Jiang Man’s condition professionally.

"Jiang Shi, it’s not that I want to complain, but for such minor injuries, calling me over from the hospital—aren't you being a bit ridiculous?"

He usually performed high-stakes surgeries, and he had expected something catastrophic when Jiang Shi called him so urgently. As it turned out, it wasn't a major injury. To put it bluntly, if Jiang Man hadn't thrown herself in front of Jiang Shi, they would have at most suffered minor concussions; it shouldn't have been this serious.

Concerned that driving the car into the yard might disturb the old man, Jiang Shi had carried Jiang Man from the gate all the way inside. By the time she was taken in for examination, he had nearly collapsed from dizziness himself.

"What on earth happened? How could there be a car accident?"

Jiang Ming still didn't understand the situation. Jiang Shi was always a steady driver, and there were very few cars on the road leading up to their home. How could an accident have occurred?