The Jiang family’s old residence was exceptionally lively today.
In Grandfather Jiang’s generation, there were seven siblings. In those harsh times, only four survived to adulthood and married. Among those four, Grandfather Jiang was the most successful. With nothing but determination, he built his fortune from scratch in his youth and, by the age of forty, had successfully elevated the entire Jiang family into Jingzhou’s upper echelons. After decades of struggle, he established the Jiang family’s current standing in Jingzhou.
Though the position of heir would always pass down to his own descendants, he never failed to look after the other branches of the Jiang family. Out of gratitude, they kept close ties with the main household.
After Jiang Hezhou contacted his family today, Mother Jiang immediately notified most of the Jiang relatives. She could read between the lines of her son’s message—he wanted to get married, to settle down with his fiancée. That was why he needed to bring her to the Jiang home for a formal introduction.
In that case, she had to make sure her future daughter-in-law had all the face she deserved. So she invited nearly half the Jiang family to attend.
This was Chu Luyu’s first time visiting the Jiang family home since entering this world.
Strictly speaking, it was also her first time interacting with any Jiang family members other than the male lead’s eldest brother.
On the way there, she asked the system again: were they absolutely sure there was no problem with this dinner? She couldn’t shake the feeling that the male lead suddenly bringing her home at this juncture was a bit odd.
The system took a look for her and came back saying: [See? You’re overthinking again. The Jiang old residence is packed with relatives from all the side branches. It’s probably just a big family gathering. Since you and the male lead are heading toward marriage, he probably had no choice but to bring you along.]
Chu Luyu said “oh,” and replied: [So their big wealthy family actually has pretty harmonious relationships.]
System Cuihua: [Come on—it’s the male lead’s family. His career and romance lines are already set to “beautiful, strong, and tragic.” The rest of his settings have to be top-tier!]
Chu Luyu thought about it and figured the system had a point.
The Jiang old residence was situated halfway up a private mountain in Jingzhou. Starting from the foot of the mountain, security booths were placed at intervals. As Jiang Hezhou’s car passed each one, the barrier automatically lifted, and the guards on duty bowed in the direction of the vehicle.
In her real world, Chu Luyu had been an ordinary nobody with no exposure to high society. After transmigrating, though the Chen family was well-off, they were nowhere near the Jiang family’s level.
Even before reaching the old residence, she was already somewhat awestruck.
Jiang Hezhou, however, seemed completely accustomed to it. Calm and composed, he drove all the way to the main gate.
The butler, along with several servants, was already waiting at the entrance. When Chu Luyu got out of the car and saw the gold-embossed nanmu plaque above the gate bearing the characters “Jiang Mansion,” her sense of awe deepened.
Chu Luyu: [Cuihua, you never told me the Jiang family was this wealthy and powerful!]
System Cuihua: [What, you think I was kidding? The male lead’s background settings are right there in his profile. It says he comes from a top-tier Jingzhou aristocratic family.]
Chu Luyu: [Yeah… it’s definitely given little old me a massive shock…]
They were then led by the butler and servants from the outer gate toward the main residence. The courtyard was designed in a faux-classical garden style—rockeries, streams, covered walkways, ancient bridges—every corner exuding heritage and opulence.
She couldn’t help leaning close to Jiang Hezhou and whispering: “Jiang Hezhou, your house looks like one of those ancient royal residences you have to buy tickets to visit.”
Jiang Hezhou curved his lips. Instead of responding to her comment, he gently took her hand and said softly: “It will be your home too, soon enough.”
When they reached the main building, a large group of family members was already waiting. Chu Luyu didn’t realize they were all there to see her; she thought it was just a family dinner as the system had said. Seeing so many people, she worried they might have arrived late.
She felt a bit uneasy about it, but fortunately, the Jiang family didn’t seem to mind. As soon as they arrived, everyone warmly came forward to greet them.
Chu Luyu was meeting them all for the first time. One was a third grand-aunt, another a third cousin—she greeted each one politely, but could hardly remember any of them.
Still, she didn’t think much of it. After she and the male lead parted ways, she wouldn’t have any contact with these people anyway. At most, she’d only see them once today.
Throughout the introductions, Jiang Hezhou stayed quietly by her side. Though he spoke little, if anyone said too much, he would subtly step in and redirect on her behalf.
He was reserved, but his protectiveness was absolute. Seeing this, everyone naturally understood the situation.
Mother Jiang was a dignified, elegant woman. The original host had met her once before. Now, seeing Chu Luyu again, Mother Jiang paused briefly.
“It’s only been a few months, but Xiao Yu looks even more beautiful than the last time I saw her,” she said with a smile, then shot her son a meaningful glance. “No wonder someone’s suddenly in a hurry.”
In a hurry? About what?
Chu Luyu was completely baffled. She turned to look at Jiang Hezhou, but he remained calm and unhurried, sitting quietly on a huanghuali wood chair, peeling an orange.
He’d carried over his habit from home of peeling oranges for her. After removing the skin, he meticulously picked off every white pith, then held two perfectly peeled segments to her lips.
“Eat. It’s sweet.”
Chu Luyu’s face instantly flushed. She nervously glanced around—everyone was indeed looking at them with teasing expressions. The lady of the house, seated at the head of the table, wore a knowing smile beneath her dignified features.
Embarrassed, she leaned over and whispered accusingly: “What are you doing? There are so many people here!”
“So what?” Jiang Hezhou’s expression was indifferent, entirely matter-of-fact. “I’m peeling an orange for my own fiancée. What does it have to do with them?”
“…I can’t reason with you.” Having no way out, Chu Luyu could only take what he offered under everyone’s watchful eyes, then muttered quietly, “Stop peeling. I’m not hungry—I can’t eat right now.”
“Alright. Then at dinner, I’ll peel shrimp for you instead.”
“…”
Jiang Qiyou returned later. He also knew that Jiang Hezhou and Chu Luyu were visiting the old residence today. Mother Jiang had already told him about Jiang Hezhou’s intentions. Though he was surprised that his younger brother valued this little fiancée so much, he still followed their mother’s arrangements and wrapped up work early to come back.
A couple of the more jovial older relatives from the side branches, seeing Jiang Qiyou show up before quitting time, couldn’t help teasing him.
“Honestly, the bond between Qiyou and Hezhou is really something. Jiang Corporation is so busy these days—my wife told me Qiyou’s been staying overnight at the office working overtime. Yet today, just because he knew his brother was bringing his future sister-in-law, he came back this early.”
“They’re real brothers—it’s only natural they’re close. Ah, I’m so envious. What a pity our family only had an only child!”
Mother Jiang looked at her eldest son with visible fondness.
She nodded toward him, then said to Jiang Qiyou: “Your sister-in-law is here for the first time today. Your aunts and uncles have already given her meeting gifts. As the big brother, shouldn’t you show something too?”
“Of course.” Jiang Qiyou smiled and had his assistant bring over an elegantly wrapped gift box. “Not long ago, I represented the Jiang family at an auction. There was an ancient jade hairpin with excellent quality and some history. I’d planned to save it for a female family member’s birthday or some important occasion. Who knew it would come in handy now?”
As he finished, the assistant delivered the item to Chu Luyu. The system started screaming in her head: [Holy crap, holy crap, sweetie! This hairpin is 3.6 million!!! Oh my god! If you really end up breaking up with the male lead later, selling all this stuff could net you almost ten million!!]
Chu Luyu was also taken aback. She temporarily ignored the system, stood up to accept the gift, and sincerely expressed her thanks to Jiang Qiyou: “Thank you, Big Brother.”
“We’ll be family soon—it’s only right.” After saying that, Jiang Qiyou turned to Jiang Hezhou. “Why don’t you leave your sister-in-law here to chat with everyone for a bit? We still haven’t had a proper talk about that matter.”
Jiang Hezhou knew his brother was referring to Li Yuebai. He paused, then looked at Chu Luyu: “Will you be alright on your own?”
One of the relatives couldn’t help but interject: “Oh my, Jiang Er, are you afraid we’re going to eat her or something?”
“Exactly, exactly!”
Chu Luyu was too embarrassed by the teasing. She urged him quietly: “I’m fine. Go on, go.”
Seeing her soft, flustered look, Jiang Hezhou couldn’t help the corners of his mouth lifting again.
The two brothers went to the tea room in the back courtyard. After sitting down, Jiang Qiyou began fiddling with the tea set, preparing to brew two cups for himself and Jiang Hezhou.
Jiang Hezhou took the set from his brother’s hands and said, “Let me.”
Jiang Qiyou didn’t stand on ceremony, just smiled and handed over the tea set.
“The Yuebai case—is it really confirmed?”
“It’s still going through procedures, but there likely won’t be any more complications.”
Jiang Qiyou sighed, looking regretful. “To be honest, I still can’t believe he killed Father. Could there be some misunderstanding? Did he confess himself, or did you uncover more evidence?”
“He said it himself.” Jiang Hezhou’s pale, elegant hands held a white jade teapot. As the tea poured into the bowl, fragrant steam rose. “As for evidence… it’s been too long. The mechanic who did the maintenance on Father’s car that year has never been found, so there’s no way to verify further.”
“I see…” Jiang Qiyou’s voice trailed off thoughtfully. He looked at Jiang Hezhou and asked, “So what do you think? You and Yuebai grew up together. Do you think he could have been the one behind Father’s death?”
Jiang Hezhou let out a mirthless laugh. After a long pause, he replied: “Brother, you said Yuebai and I grew up together. Logically, we should know each other best. But after everything that’s happened, I’ve realized I never truly saw through him. So now, if you ask me what I think, all I can say is I trust the evidence. Without evidence, we have to take his word for it. But…”
He paused, then continued: “Given how things have unfolded, he wouldn’t have any reason to lie.”
Jiang Qiyou studied Jiang Hezhou for a long time, then smiled and said: “In that case, I have nothing more to ask. I hope this matter can be settled soon. I can tell Yuebai has really hurt you this time.”
Then, thinking of something else, he asked Jiang Hezhou: “And you and your sister-in-law—are you really planning to settle down?”
Jiang Qiyou recalled that when the Chen family had first come to claim this engagement, the whole family hadn’t thought highly of Chu Luyu. But their grandfather valued keeping promises—since they’d come to claim it, they had to honor it.
However, Jiang Qiyou’s own marriage concerned the family’s future; he was destined to marry for alliance. So their grandfather had no choice but to have Jiang Hezhou take on this engagement.
Jiang Qiyou’s expression showed rare hesitation as he looked at Jiang Hezhou and said: “I’d wondered before, if you weren’t truly willing to accept this marriage, I could go to Grandfather and speak on your behalf. After all, marriage is a lifetime decision. It has to be something you truly want.”
The moment Jiang Hezhou heard his brother mention Chu Luyu, he couldn’t help but smile—a genuine, soft smile from the heart.
“Brother, you don’t need to worry about me. Right now, I’m truly happy.”
·
Over on Chu Luyu’s side, after Jiang Hezhou left, Mother Jiang kept her engaged in conversation. Several older female relatives also surrounded her, sizing her up like a prospective daughter-in-law, smiling and observing.
Feeling increasingly uncomfortable, she excused herself to use the restroom and stayed there for a while before coming out again.
She was about to ask the system to check on Jiang Hezhou—to see how his conversation with his brother was going and when he’d be back—when someone suddenly blocked her path.
“That night at Yeshe half a year ago—that was you, wasn’t it?”
The person was a younger member of a Jiang side branch. Chu Luyu vaguely remembered greeting her earlier, but couldn’t recall her name at all.
The girl had seemed perfectly normal before—though not particularly eager to get close to Chu Luyu, she’d been polite and cordial. But now…
Leave a Reply