While they were chatting, Gu Jiaojiao gave Elder Ren an extra-strength painkiller. The pain subsided soon after he took it.

"Jiaojiao, this medicine works really well!" Elder Ren said, amazed.

Gu Jiaojiao smiled. "Of course. This is a newly developed painkiller. It’s several times more effective than ordinary medicine."

"It’s that amazing? Does that mean I’ll be all better soon?" Elder Ren asked, shocked.

"Well, this painkiller doesn’t cure the underlying condition. It only treats the symptoms, not the root cause. To be completely cured, you’ll still need surgery. Keep at it for another three months, and you’ll make a full recovery," Gu Jiaojiao said with a smile.

"Oh, Jiaojiao, thank you so much. I don’t even know how to thank you," Elder Ren said, his eyes welling with tears.

He was already in his seventies, and his body was failing him. The unbearable leg pain had made him want to just give up and pass away several times.

His children and grandchildren were all very devoted and couldn’t bear to let him go. They had found him famous doctors from all over the world, but there hadn’t been the slightest improvement.

Who would have thought a single small pill from Jiaojiao could stop the pain? ’With this medicine, it doesn’t even matter if I can’t be fully cured!’

Gu Jiaojiao smiled and shook her head. "Since I call you Grandpa, you don’t have to be so formal with me. My uncles will be very happy as long as you can recover soon."

Elder Ren asked again, cautiously, "Um, Jiaojiao, have you ever thought about making this formula public?"

"To be honest with you, I’ve already found a partner for this formula. It’s the Xiao Family."

Elder Ren and Mr. Xie: ...

They were not only a step too late, but they also couldn’t possibly compete with the Xiao Family.

"Jiaojiao, you’re so capable. Although the Xiao Family in Qing City is very low-key, they’re a branch of the Imperial City’s Xiao Family. No matter how low-key they are, they’re still very powerful."

Gu Jiaojiao: "..."

’I’m not working with the Xiao Family from Qing City... but there’s no need to point that out!’

She quickly changed the subject. "Grandpa, I’m going to give you an acupuncture treatment now. I’ll also write three prescriptions: one to be taken orally, one for a foot soak, and one for a topical poultice.

"Where are you staying now? Do you have enough people to help? Will it be convenient to brew the medicine and prepare the foot soaks?"

Elder Ren said with relief, "We’re staying in the Ren family’s old house. My grandson, my granddaughter, and two personal assistants came with me this time."

Gu Jiaojiao was relieved to hear that. She didn’t ask about the two younger members of the Ren family, figuring they must have been close to the ’original’ her.

But she didn’t know them well. Next, Gu Jiaojiao focused on administering the silver needles for Elder Ren.

When Elder Ren saw that Jiaojiao didn’t ask about her two cousins, he didn’t press the matter.

’This is all my daughter Ren Cuiping’s fault. Why on earth did she have to go and disown Jiaojiao!’

’Is she really willing to throw all sense of morality out the window just because she found her biological daughter?’

’She deserves to be divorced!’

’It’s for the best that they’re divorced. My son-in-law spoiled Cui Ping rotten, indulging her in everything until she became so arrogant she lost all sense of proportion.’

Elder Ren trusted his son-in-law. He believed that even after the divorce, the man wouldn’t remarry. He hoped that after a few years had worn down his daughter’s pride, they would get back together.

But Elder Ren didn’t know that no one waits for you forever.

After Gu Jiaojiao finished the acupuncture treatment for Elder Ren, she walked the two elderly men to the main gate, just in time to see Su’s mother and Su Qinchun returning from watching the drama unfold.

When Su Qinchun saw her sister-in-law at the courtyard gate, she bounded over happily and began talking a mile a minute.

"Sister-in-law, you wouldn’t believe what I saw today! Our group went over to the Song Family’s courtyard gate.

"Aunt Song sent her daughter to call Sheng Yueyue out to see her mom, but that Sheng Yueyue is something else, completely turning her back on her family.

"Her mom showed up at the Song Family’s gate, and not only did she refuse to come out and see her, she wouldn’t even let her mom inside.

"According to the gossip, she was busy being intimate with Song Zijin, so she didn’t have time to see her mom.

"After a long time, Sheng Yueyue finally came out with her clothes all disheveled, and the first thing she did was scold her mom for being useless.

"She told her she couldn’t even hold on to a man who loved her so deeply, so what face did she have to cry? She might as well just find a wall to run her head into.

"Sister-in-law, don’t you think Sheng Yueyue is just heartless and cruel for turning on her own family like that?"

Gu Jiaojiao: ... She felt awkward answering because Elder Ren and Mr. Xie had also stopped and were standing not far from the gate.

"Tsk tsk... Aunt Sheng is so pathetic! The way she was crying her heart out at the Song Family’s gate was just gut-wrenching. If you ask me, that Sheng Yueyue is a real piece of work."

Gu Jiaojiao: ... She still felt too awkward to reply, because Elder Ren and the others were still nearby.

’I’d better just play dead. Otherwise, Elder Ren is going to lose it.’

"Sheng Yueyue said publicly that if her mom really gets a divorce, she shouldn’t come looking for her again, so as not to affect her and her husband’s relationship.

"The crowd was all shouting for Aunt Sheng to just kill herself in front of Sheng Yueyue, so I joined in and shouted a few times too.

"If Aunt Sheng dropped dead in front of Sheng Yueyue, she wouldn’t be able to come and cause trouble for you anymore, Sister-in-law, hehe...

"Unfortunately, that Aunt Sheng is too rational. Even though she was crying her heart out, she wouldn’t actually kill herself.

"In the end, Sheng Shiwu and his dad dragged her away. Sigh, do you think she’s going to come and cause trouble for you, Sister-in-law?"

Gu Jiaojiao: ...

"Sister-in-law, I’m so scared she’s going to come to our house and cause a scene tomorrow! What I’m most afraid of is her killing herself on our doorstep.

"What would you do then, Sister-in-law? Say something! Aren’t you interested? Fine, I’ll stop talking and go to bed."

Su Qinchun finally, slowly, realized that her sister-in-law hadn’t said a word the entire time.

Gu Jiaojiao: ...

’I’m actually very interested, and I’m dying to hear the rest, but I can’t show it! Ren Cuiping’s father is still standing right there!’

’I can’t build my happiness on an old man’s pain, can I?’

’I’m not that classless.’

Seeing Su Qinchun go inside, Elder Ren said nothing and turned to leave.

"Jiaojiao, it’s getting late. You should get some sleep. We’re going to head home and sleep too," Mr. Xie said, then left with Elder Ren.

"Take care, Grandpa, Mr. Xie. Come back for your acupuncture after dinner tomorrow," Gu Jiaojiao said goodbye with a calm expression.

Hearing the voices, Su Qinchun stood awkwardly in the doorway, her face a mask of embarrassment. ’Oh, so there were other people here. No wonder Sister-in-law was ignoring me.’

"Qin Chun, you should go to bed early, too," Su’s mother said. "Your sister-in-law has heard enough. You need to be more aware of your surroundings. Didn’t you see two other people standing right beside us?"

Su Qinchun said meekly, "I was just too excited. I only had eyes for you and Sister-in-law~"

"It’s okay, Qin Chun, don’t blame yourself. The two younger Ren family members were probably in the crowd watching the drama too. Elder Ren was bound to find out eventually."

"Hehe... Sister-in-law, you’re the best! Do you want to hear more?" Su Qinchun asked, batting her eyes.

"Didn’t you already say everything? Go to bed early. Mom and Dad have to get up early tomorrow, and we’re tired too."

Just as Gu Jiaojiao had said, the Ren family’s grandson and granddaughter had followed the crowd to the Song Family’s home to watch the spectacle.

The grandson was the youngest son of Elder Ren’s eldest son. He was twenty years old and a sophomore at Yun City University.

The granddaughter was the youngest daughter of Elder Ren’s second son. She was nineteen and had just finished her college entrance exams this year.

Their aunt’s actions completely overturned their perception of her. The aunt they remembered had always been beautiful, elegant, and gracious.

Before their grandfather even got home, they were each on the phone with their parents...