"I got your report from Doctor Song," Wei Chen continues, turning to Julian.
"Why didn't you tell me your legs are healing?"
Julian exhales slowly.
"Because it's not your business. I'll manage my health on my own."
Wei Chen frowns.
"How is it not my business? You carry the legacy of this family. If you hadn't been with that vile woman back then—"
"She's dead," Julian cuts in, voice cold and low.
"You should stop mentioning it."
The old man grumbles, clearly frustrated but unwilling to push further. His gaze softens slightly as it lands on Jasmine.
"You must take good care of him, dear. Be gentle. Support him."
Jasmine smiles, but the words feel heavy.
Shouldn't someone be telling him to treat me well, too? she wonders bitterly.
He kissed her last night—held her like she meant something—then acted like it never happened.
"Yes, Father," she says politely.
"I'll do my best."
"What about your family?" Wei Chen asks suddenly.
"I heard they weren't at the wedding."
Jasmine freezes. Her pulse skips. She hadn't expected that.
"They had something urgent to attend to," she answers, eyes low.
Wei Chen's eyes narrow.
"What kind of—"
The sound of heels interrupts him.
Mrs. Chen walks in, elegant but distant. Jasmine quickly stands to greet her.
"Mother—thank you for the dress," she says, trying to keep her voice warm.
Mrs. Chen doesn't even look at her.
"My dear son," she says, gliding toward Julian as if no one else exists in the room.
"Mom," Julian says flatly, his tone devoid of warmth.
The rejection is subtle, but it stings.
Mrs. Chen's expression flickers with sadness before she walks past him to take a seat.
Wei Chen rises, already heading toward his room.
"Doctor says you'll be able to walk on your own in a few weeks," he says to Julian without looking back. Gabriel steps in silently to assist him.
"Let me know when that happens."
"Let's go," Julian says, turning his chair toward the door.
Jasmine gathers her things, including the red packets and gifts, and follows him out.
As the car doors shut and silence descends between them, Jasmine leans her head against the window and watches the world blur by.
Beep.
Jasmine's phone buzzes with a message, the sharp sound cutting through the silence in the car. She glances down and sees it's from Seline—her friend from the academy.
Her eyes widen.
The class!
She bolts upright in her seat, realization dawning. She completely forgot about her morning lessons. Only evening sessions remain now.
She hesitates, then turns to Julian, voice tentative.
"Um… can I go to my classes this afternoon?"
Julian barely glances up from his phone.
"What class?"
"Exam classes," she replies, trying to keep it simple.
"Why?"
The question feels unnecessary, but she swallows the sarcastic reply in her head—Because I'm still a student, obviously.
Instead, she offers a patient explanation.
"I signed up to prepare for my upcoming exams."
Julian finally lifts his gaze away from his phone and looks at her.
"How long will it take?"
Jasmine tilts her head, it seems like he only pays her attention when she talks about going somewhere.
"I'll be back as soon as class ends," she promises, a soft smile playing on her lips when he nods in agreement.
"Let the driver take you."
Jasmine quickly shakes her head to refute his offer.
"It's fine. I'll manage."
She signals the driver to pull over, grabbing her bag among the gifts from earlier.
"I'll see you tonight," she says with a gentle tone before stepping out and heading toward the bus stop.
Julian watches her go without saying a word.
After a beat, he turns to Gabriel.
"Do you know anything about the academy?"
Gabriel blinks, caught off guard.
"Uh—no. Should I look into it?"
Julian shakes his head slowly.
"No need."
But his mind lingers. She won't be around for long anyway. There's no point in prying into her life...
---
Back at the house, Doctor Song is waiting patiently by the door. He's been the Chen family's personal doctor for decades, too elite and expensive for most, but trusted beyond measure.
"President Chen," he greets with a respectful nod.
"You're here," Julian replies flatly but lets him in.
After a thorough check-up, Doctor Song helps Julian stand, watching him take cautious steps across the room with the aid of a staff.
"You're improving," he remarks, jotting down notes.
"Whoever is helping you must be doing a fine job."
Julian doesn't comment. Song doesn't know about Jasmine—not yet.
"By the way, your grandfather called me—"
"I'm aware. He told me," Julian cuts in calmly.
"I tried not to say much, but I had to reassure him. If I didn't, he'd fire me."
"Don't take his calls next time," Julian replies coldly, but they both know that's easier said than done.
If not for Doctor Song's assurance about his progress, Julian's grandfather would've already tried to remove him as company president.
"Let's extend today's session to an hour," the doctor suggests.
"Hopefully, In less than a month, you should be able to use your legs as before."
Julian nods.
"Fine."
---
At the academy, Jasmine yawns as the second class wraps up.
Seline comes over to her side, shaking her head sadly to indicate she didn't grasp the topic the teacher just concluded for them and suggest they go eat something first.
After eating breakfast at the house, Jasmine didn't get to eat lunch so she is also hungry and agrees to get some egg rolls before the next session begins.
On the way out, they run into Eric.
"Hey, stranger!" he greets, slinging a casual arm around Jasmine's shoulders.
After Jasmine came into the city to live with her brother, she met Eric then and the two became friends.
She also got to know Jan because of him and three of them takes lessons together at the same academy for a few weeks now.
She laughs, nudging him playfully.
"You always appear out of nowhere."
Eric grins.
"Why didn't you show up for your morning classes? I had to pretend to be you during attendance"
Jasmine stiffens.
She usually tells him everything that goes on in her life and takes him as her brother but the thing with Julian is different.
"I had… something important to handle."
Eric frowns.
"I thought you left that store job to focus on the one at the Chen's mansion?"
"I did. But I had to go back after my dad stole my checkbook," she says, keeping her tone light despite the weight behind her words.
Eric shakes his head in disbelief.
"I should have forced you to move in with me back then. It's been so many years and they still treat you this way." Eric grumbles.
"There is no need to bother you." Jasmine calmly rejects.
"It's no bother. You know there's enough space."
"Thanks, but I already find another place to move into," Jasmine informs him to get rid of his worry but that only makes him more curious.
Before he could ask anything further, Jasmine hurries to change the subject.
"Let's get pizza?" she suggests, switching gears before he can probe further.
Eric raises an eyebrow but goes along with it.
"Lead the way."
---