Chapter 7: That Kid from the Xie Family

“Miss, aren’t you having breakfast at home?”

Before six in the morning, Jiang Ming had already pulled Jiang Man out of bed.

At this hour in Lin City, the sun had just risen, and the evening mist had yet to fully dissipate. The streets were sparsely populated.

“No, no need to prepare breakfast for us.”

Jiang Cheng might resort to fasting as a means to control them today. Rather than be bothered by him, it was better to keep a distance from this madman.

As soon as they stepped out of the villa, Jiang Shi’s car was already waiting on the road.

He hadn’t gotten out, lazily leaning against the seat with messy hair, eyes closed in rest.

Jiang Ming walked over and knocked on the car window, signaling for him to let her in.

“Friend, being woken up this early isn’t exactly a pleasant thing,” Jiang Shi complained verbally but obediently opened the doors for the two.

Seeing that Jiang Ming wanted to sit in the back, he quickly said, “Do you really think I’m your driver?”

That made Jiang Ming settle into the front passenger seat.

“Good morning, Uncle.”

Jiang Man, clearly still half-asleep, nonetheless greeted Jiang Shi respectfully.

She was somewhat afraid of this uncle and couldn’t understand how Jiang Ming dared to boss him around.

Once they were both seated, Jiang Shi started the car.

“I heard Jiang Sheng went to your room last night?”

After hanging up the phone last night, the old master Jiang had brought up this matter to Jiang Shi, asking what Jiang Sheng’s intentions were.

Jiang Shi didn’t answer directly, only saying he wasn’t familiar with Jiang Sheng and didn’t know his character.

But he had his suspicions and came to confirm them with Jiang Ming.

“Yes, he thought we were asleep and sneaked in quietly,” Jiang Ming said calmly, unaffected by the incident last night. She hadn’t expected the old master to tell Jiang Shi everything.

“That man is sinister, with some twisted fetishes.”

She didn’t explain further, but Jiang Shi understood her meaning.

Looking through the rearview mirror, Jiang Man stared intently out the window, appearing nonchalant, but her tightly pressed lips betrayed her emotions.

“A scoundrel.”

Jiang Shi’s tone was icy. Though he had guessed, hearing it confirmed still angered him—he never imagined such a person really existed.

But as Jiang Cheng’s son, it made a grim kind of sense. A great scoundrel begets a lesser one; genetics seemed to be their family’s game.

Half an hour later, they arrived halfway up the mountain at the old Jiang family mansion.

Truly one of Lin City’s most prominent families, the mansion was built in the Suzhou garden style, with artificial hills, lakes, and countless gardens. The courtyard nestled within was so vast that without Jiang Shi leading, Jiang Ming would have been utterly lost.

Jiang Man had rarely been to the old mansion—first, because the old master disliked disturbances, and she didn’t dare come uninvited; second, because Jiang Cheng believed she had no right to be there, just a daughter who would eventually marry out and thus have no claim to the family estate.

The butler had prepared a car to greet them, but Jiang Shi refused, insisting on walking Jiang Ming and Jiang Man to the old master’s courtyard.

As they walked, he introduced the layout of the mansion. Different courtyards served different purposes and had varying standards, and the level of guests they entertained corresponded accordingly.

Among them was the opera stage that the late matriarch had adored. Even after her passing, it was cleaned daily, and jasmine—the matriarch’s favorite flower—always sat on the pavilion’s table.

After about ten minutes, the three reached the old master’s courtyard.

Outside, Jiang Ming hadn’t realized how expansive it was, but walking through it made her fully grasp the Jiang family’s power. No wonder Jiang Cheng valued control of the company so highly.

“Has the old master risen?”

“Yes, he heard the young ladies were coming and was overjoyed.”

Jiang Shi had already asked the caretaker before bringing Jiang Ming and Jiang Man inside.

“Grandfather, we’re here.”

The old master was having breakfast and waved them over as soon as he saw the sisters.

“Come, have something to eat with me.”

Judging by Jiang Cheng and his wife’s attitude toward Jiang Ming last night, this girl probably wouldn’t eat breakfast at home to avoid being lectured by Jiang Cheng and Li Baizhen.

Jiang Ming didn’t hesitate and took the somewhat uneasy Jiang Man’s hand, walking over.

“Ashi, have something to eat before going back to sleep,” the old master said, knowing Jiang Shi’s habits—his sleep was precious, and he usually didn’t join until noon. Calling him over to pick them up must have been a hassle. “Later, that boy from the Xie family will come, so you won’t need to stay.”

The “boy from the Xie family” was Xie Yan, only son of the Xie family from the southern part of the city, the same age as Jiang Shi and also attending Lin University.

Lin City was divided into north and south; the Xie family ruled the south, the Jiang family the north—two of the city’s most prominent clans holding equal status.

Xie Yan’s visit today was on the old master Xie’s instructions to visit an old friend and also to strengthen ties between the two families.

Since everyone was here, it was a good chance to introduce Jiang Ming and Jiang Man. If the match was right, it could unite the families even more closely; if not, at least the young ones could become friends and support each other in the future.

However, the old master had no intention of letting Jiang Sheng mingle. His sinister nature made him unworthy of introduction to Xie Yan.

“Xie Yan’s coming? Then of course I’ll stay with you. It’s been a while since I last saw him,” Jiang Shi said, aware of the old master’s intentions but inwardly uneasy about Jiang Ming being alone with Xie Yan, even with Jiang Man present.

It was like a precious gem covered in dust, at risk of being discovered by the world.

Since learning of Jiang Ming’s existence, understanding her past, and seeing her at the Jiang family yesterday, Jiang Shi felt she was unlike any other girl he had met.

He took a seat opposite Jiang Ming, who still seemed unaware of the old master’s plan.

But Jiang Shi wasn’t well acquainted with Jiang Ming; when the old master spoke, he immediately guessed his meaning. Since the opportunity was presented, how could they refuse?

The Jiang family had roots in the southern city of Lin, and Jiang Ming had heard of the Xie family’s status. She and Xie Yan were in the same high school, and she had heard of this senior from the graduating class.

Speaking of whom, he arrived just as they began breakfast, escorted by attendants.

“Grandpa Jiang, it seems I’ve arrived just in time to join your breakfast,” Xie Yan greeted warmly.

The familiar tone showed this wasn’t his first visit to the Jiang mansion, and the old master clearly valued his old friend’s grandson.

“You rascal, sit down quickly. It’s my honor to have you visit this old man,” the old master chuckled.

Xie Yan was dressed casually today—a white long-sleeve shirt neatly tucked into impeccably pressed dress pants, sleeves rolled up just below the elbows. Compared to Jiang Shi’s suit, he was a striking blend of maturity and vitality.

“Oh, and who are these two?”

Xie Yan had greeted Jiang Shi upon seating but only now noticed the two sisters opposite.

Jiang Ming wore a simple white dress that Li Baizhen had had an assistant buy yesterday afternoon. Her hair fell naturally over her shoulders, with stray strands casually pinned back by a barrette. Jiang Man’s attire was even simpler—white top, black pants, hair tied back with a light blue scrunchie.

Unlike other girls from wealthy families who wore heavy makeup—mostly at their family’s behest—Xie Yan felt uncomfortable with those appearances.

The Jiang sisters’ understated dress clearly showed they weren’t trying to impress him, which put him at ease.