died abroad before settling in the Imperial Capital, where he became a tenured professor at a prestigious university. He later married Jiang Meiling, the daughter of an influential family in the capital, and they had a son—three-year-old Doudou.
Doudou was a bright, lovable child, but he suffered from congenital asthma. Last year, he'd had such a severe attack that he almost didn't survive.
Now, as Celia reached the bottom of the stairs, she froze—Doudou was in the middle of another attack. His breathing was rapid and shallow, and his pale face had turned a frightening shade of purple.
Panicked, Jiang Meiling clutched her son tightly. "Honey, what do we do? He can't breathe!"
"Stay calm! I'll get his medication from the car," Su Mo said, already sprinting out the door. In his rush, he nearly knocked over one of the servants.
Celia stepped forward quickly. "Uncle, Aunt, lay Doudou flat—now."
Jiang Meiling obeyed without hesitation.
From her bag, Celia pulled out a slender silver acupuncture needle.
"What are you doing?!" Su Mo's voice rose from behind her as he returned. Jiang Meiling looked just as alarmed.
But Celia's face was calm, her focus unwavering. Her long, steady fingers found a key pressure point, and with precision, she pressed the needle in deeper.
Almost immediately, Doudou's breathing began to ease. The bluish tint faded from his skin, and the dangerous tightness in his chest subsided.
Celia withdrew the needle and stood.
"Doudou!" Jiang Meiling called, her voice trembling.
The boy's eyelids fluttered open, revealing dark, glassy eyes. "Mommy…" he murmured weakly.
Tears welled in Jiang Meiling's eyes. She looked at Celia with genuine gratitude. "Thank you for saving him. I thought—" She stopped herself. "I thought you were going to hurt him."
"It's fine," Celia said with a small shake of her head. She pulled a small candy-shaped pill from her pocket. "Dissolve this in water and give it to him tonight—it'll help his breathing."
The little boy tilted his head toward her. "Sister, is it sweet?"
Celia smiled faintly. "Very sweet. Strawberry flavor."
His eyes lit up instantly. "Wow…"
Su Mo studied her carefully. "You're Celia, aren't you?"
She nodded. "Yes, Third Uncle. I have to go now—there's something I need to take care of."
Without waiting for a reply, she left.
Su Mo glanced at his wife. "So, this is Second Brother's real daughter? I didn't expect her to be… this capable."
"I know," Jiang Meiling agreed softly. "I've never heard much about her, but she's impressive."
Just then, Su Changrong, Li Lan, and Rosalie returned home.
"Third Uncle! Third Aunt! You're here!" Rosalie said brightly, hurrying over.
Old Madam Su had always advised Rosalie to curry favor with her Third Aunt—after all, the Jiang family's influence in the Imperial Capital was nothing to underestimate.
"Third Aunt, I got you a little gift," Rosalie said with her best smile, presenting a silk scarf. "I'm sure you'll love it."