By the time Jian Dan emerged from the examination room, it was nearly noon. She had undergone every test the hospital required. Zhao Mufeng and Qian Yi, who had been waiting anxiously, hurried over the moment they saw her.
"The tests are done. Let's go home—I've prepared black-bone chicken soup for you. You need to replenish your strength."
Jian Dan nodded and followed them back to the Zhao villa. At the entrance, they bumped into Zhao Ziyu, who was just leaving.
Today, Ziyu was dressed to impress—a fitted, sleeveless red lace dress, white high-heeled sandals, and the emerald bracelet Jian Dan had given her gleaming on her wrist. Her hair was styled to cascade softly over her shoulders, and she carried the latest snakeskin clutch. Without a word, she slid into a red convertible and sped off.
Qian Yi quickly explained:
"Ziyu's attending the Gu family's son's coming-of-age ceremony today. We were all invited, but with Jian Dan just finishing her tests, I didn't feel comfortable leaving. So we sent Ziyu to represent us."
Zhao Mufeng frowned, his tone stiff. "Fine. There'll be other opportunities. But next time, get her a better stylist—that outfit's too mature for her age. She's embarrassing the Zhao name."
"Of course," Qian Yi agreed, masking her displeasure.
Jian Dan smiled faintly. "Father, Auntie, this banquet sounds important. Ziyu's still young—it's better to have adults there. If you hurry, you can still make it. I'll be fine with Butler Zhao looking after me."
"Well..."
Zhao Mufeng hesitated. The Gu family was the most influential in the capital—their son's ceremony was prime networking territory. Part of him longed to go, but he had to maintain his devoted father image.
Jian Dan pressed on. "I'm not made of glass. They just took some blood. I'll be resting at home—no need for everyone to babysit me."
Finally "convinced," Zhao Mufeng reluctantly agreed. Qian Yi brightened immediately, changing into a festive qipao, while Zhao Mufeng donned a tailored suit. Arm in arm, they left. For the next three days, Zhao Ziyu couldn't stop gushing about the Gu family's extravagant party—the scale, the VIP guests, how doted-upon the Gu heir was.
Jian Dan listened patiently, occasionally interjecting, "Really? How impressive!" until even Ziyu grew bored of her own bragging.
Then, on the fourth evening, the hospital's compatibility results arrived. The entire Zhao family—plus Jian Dan—gathered as Zhao Mufeng accepted the report with trembling hands. His expression shifted as he read: calm, then disappointed, then resentful—before finally settling into grim resignation. He looked up at Jian Dan.
She smiled. "Well, Father? What's the verdict?"
"No match."
Three words shattered the family's hopes.
"What a pity," Jian Dan said flatly.
Zhao Zihan's face paled further. He didn't know what exactly she found pitiable. Qian Yi burst into silent tears, while Ziyu fidgeted nervously.
Zhao Mufeng set the report down, removed his glasses, and rubbed his temples. "It seems we'll have to turn to the Suns. I'll find another donor. Jian Dan did her best as a sister."
Zhao Zihan's head snapped up at that, eyes burning with betrayal—but he said nothing, slowly trudging upstairs. Ziyu, ever the opportunist, vanished.
Alone in the study, Qian Yi wept quietly as Zhao Mufeng scowled.
"I thought... if Jian Dan matched, Zihan would be saved. How could this happen?"
"We assumed too much," he muttered.
"What if she tampered with the results?" Qian Yi hissed.
"Impossible. She's new to the capital. We chose the hospital, our people oversaw the tests. They watched her blood get drawn. How could she cheat?"
"I just—"
"Enough. I know you resent Jian Rou for 'stealing' your place, and now you want her daughter to pay. But this is a kidney transplant, not some petty revenge. If it's not compatible, the rejection could kill Zihan. Is that what you want?"
Qian Yi fell silent, dabbing her tears.
In Jian Dan's past life, the tests had matched.
Back then, a naive eighteen-year-old girl—swayed by Zhao Mufeng's fatherly act, Qian Yi's tears, and Zhao Zihan's desperate hope—had willingly given up a kidney.
Now, history would not repeat itself.