Rebirth: My Reclusive Husband Helps Me Get Revenge!-Chapter 74: Ensure her transition is seamless

Nangong Jiantao sat in his study long after Butler Chao left, the weight of his own words pressing down on him. Memories surfaced unbidden, bringing with them the sharp sting of regret he had spent years trying to ignore.

He had always thought he was protecting Leili, guarding her against a world that would tear her apart if she wasn’t careful. Yet in the process, he had only pushed her further away.

She had been so vibrant back then—her laughter ringing through the halls, her stubborn streak was both infuriating and endearing. And then, Yu Zhengwei came along. Jiantao hadn’t disliked him because of his lack of wealth or standing; the Yu family wasn’t insignificant. But something about Zhengwei had unsettled him. Perhaps it was the younger man’s audacity, the way he had looked Jiantao in the eye as if they were equals. Or maybe it was the fear, buried deep in Jiantao’s chest, that he couldn’t control this choice his daughter was making.

He had tried to intervene, to reason with her. But Leili had been resolute, standing firm in her belief that love was enough.

"Love doesn’t protect you from the world," Jiantao muttered to himself, the bitterness of those old arguments still fresh. "It blinds you to its dangers."

But was it really love that had failed her? Or was it him?

Leili had left with Yu Zhengwei, cutting ties with the family, refusing to bend to Jiantao’s will. And for years, Jiantao had told himself he was right to let her go, that she would come crawling back when the weight of her choices crushed her.

But she never did.

Instead, she had built a life for herself—albeit a modest one compared to the privileges she’d grown up with. And now, here she was, broken and lost, the vibrant woman he once knew reduced to a fragile shell.

And then there was Lixue.

Jiantao’s jaw tightened as he thought of his granddaughter. She was so much like her mother—fiercely independent, unwilling to bow to anyone, not even him. He could see the fire in her eyes, the same fire that had once burned in Leili’s. But beneath that fire was something else: desperation.

Lixue was drowning, trying to keep her mother afloat while the world conspired to pull her under. Jiantao had seen it in the way she spoke, in the way her hands clenched into fists when she thought no one was looking.

"She’s still a child," Jiantao murmured, though he knew it wasn’t true. Lixue was a grown woman, but the burden she carried was far too heavy for someone her age.

For the first time in years, Jiantao felt the sting of helplessness. He had always believed that power and wealth could solve any problem, but this—this was different.

"Leili," he whispered, his voice cracking under the weight of his emotions. "I’m sorry. I should have done more. I should have been there for you, even if I didn’t agree with your choices." 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

The words hung in the air, unanswered.

Jiantao straightened in his chair, his resolve hardening. He couldn’t change the past, but he could still do something for the future.

He reached for the phone on his desk and dialed a number.

"Chao," he said when the butler answered. "Double the medical staff at the manor. I want the best specialists on call. Spare no expense."

"Yes, Master Nangong," Chao replied.

"And ensure Leili’s new suite is prepared. I want everything she needs readily available. Consult with her doctors to make sure the transition is seamless."

"Understood, sir."

Jiantao hesitated, his fingers drumming lightly on the desk. "Also, arrange for a space where Lixue can be comfortable when she visits. I suspect she’ll be here often, given her concern for her mother."

There was a pause on the other end of the line. "Shall I inform her of your intentions, sir?"

"No," Jiantao said after a moment. "Not yet. Let her see for herself that her mother’s care will be handled properly. If she still has reservations, we’ll address them then."

"As you wish," Chao said, his tone as neutral as ever.

As he hung up the phone, Jiantao leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on the ornate ceiling. He wasn’t naïve enough to believe that Lixue would suddenly trust him, but perhaps, over time, she would come to see that he truly cared for Leili’s well-being.

***********************

Lixue stepped out of the hospital, the crisp evening air brushing against her face as she pulled her coat tighter. Dr. Zhao’s words echoed in her mind, but it wasn’t the cost of the care that weighed on her—it was the thought of her mother, slipping further away with each passing day.

She descended the hospital steps and made her way to the car Mo Ran had sent for her.

The soft glow of the streetlights and the low hum of the city blurred into the background as she slid into the backseat, her thoughts a swirling storm.

Her mother’s condition wasn’t improving. The emptiness in her eyes, the way she failed to recognize the world around her—it was a reality Lixue wasn’t ready to accept. And now, with her grandfather’s unexpected appearance, everything felt even more uncertain, she felt her world was falling apart again.

As the car pulled onto the quiet streets leading to the Mo estate, her phone buzzed. Frowning, she pulled it from her bag and saw an unfamiliar number flashing on the screen.

"This is Lixue," she answered, her tone distracted but polite.

"Good evening, Miss Lixue," a calm, measured voice said. "This is Butler Chao, calling on behalf of Master Nangong."

Her fingers tightened around the phone. "What is it?"

"Master Nangong has instructed me to inform you that Madam Leili will be transferred to the Nangong Manor tomorrow morning. The arrangements have been finalized, and everything will be handled with the utmost care."

The words hit her like a shockwave. She sat up straight, her pulse quickening. "What do you mean, transferred? Who gave you permission to make that decision?"

"Miss Lixue," Butler Chao said evenly, "Master Nangong believes Madam Leili will receive better care at the manor, where the facilities and resources are more suited to her needs. This decision was made solely with her well-being in mind."

Lixue’s voice rose, her anger bubbling to the surface. "You can’t just move her without consulting me. I’m her daughter. I’m the one who decides what’s best for her!"