Chapter 1: You Need to Eat Well to Have the Energy to Do Things

In the dazzlingly luxurious living room,

A man sat on the sofa with a domineering air, a cigarette dangling between his fingers. His handsome, sculpted features were sharply defined against the swirling smoke, exuding an air of arrogance and depth.

With broad shoulders and long legs, he sat in a languid pose, even his gaze held a condescending coldness.

The elders and shareholders of the Zhuang family fawned over him, showering him with flattery, desperate for his assistance to give their near-bankrupt family a lifeline.

Qiu Yixun lightly tapped the ash from his cigarette, his calm voice carrying a hint of indifference, “Helping the Zhuang family… what’s in it for me? Do I have too much money and nowhere to spend it?”

His words fell, causing everyone in the hall to hold their breath, their anxieties mounting. Some of the younger children began to think of ways to use the situation to their advantage, especially Zhuang Qianqian.

As the eldest daughter of the Zhuang family, a true “golden princess,” her outstanding beauty and talent were her trademarks, her strengths.

Zhuang Qianqian looked towards the cold and domineering man through the elders in front of her. Even though she hadn’t caught his eye, she still held her head high, reaching up to adjust a wave of her hair that had fallen onto her left shoulder, sending him a flirtatious glance.

The youngest and most powerful person in charge of the Qiu family, the leading family of Longcheng, if she could, she wouldn’t mind sacrificing herself to marry him and save her entire family.

Zhuang Qianqian’s father, the current chairman of Zhuang Enterprises, Zhuang Biqiang, immediately said with sincerity, “Whatever Qiu Young Master wants, our Zhuang family will do our utmost to fulfill it…”

To be honest, Zhuang Biqiang had no idea what to do. The esteemed Qiu Young Master had everything he could ever want, what treasure could their small Zhuang family possibly possess that he would find appealing?

Material things were too petty, and they didn’t have any resources to offer, only women…

The Zhuang family had good feng shui. Although their foundation and strength were ordinary compared to other families, they had produced two stunning beauties.

The Zhuang family had beautiful women, captivating both the country and the city. This was no mere rumor.

The eldest and second daughters of the Zhuang family, one elegant, the other ethereal, especially the younger one, a single glance was unforgettable…

Zhuang Biqiang looked back at his daughter, hesitant.

While Zhuang Qianqian was beautiful, she was still slightly inferior to his stunning niece. Besides, he couldn’t bear to give his precious daughter to Qiu Yixun to play with.

Not to mention the Qiu family was difficult to enter, the Zhuang family couldn’t compare. Qiu Yixun, with his ruthless methods, bloodthirsty ferocity, and savagery like a beast, was said to have not spared even his own brothers in his early years of power struggles. He didn’t believe his daughter would have any good ending with him…

Seeing her father’s hesitation, Zhuang Qianqian felt anxious and couldn’t help but step forward, showing her face to the man on the sofa, a charming smile playing on her lips.

However, the stern man merely glanced at her without a ripple, his deep gaze piercing through the crowd in the hall, settling on a hazy figure passing through the corridor in the back.

“Alright then.” His voice was steady, carrying an irresistible dominance and arrogance.

“I want her.”

As his words echoed, everyone in the hall froze, their breaths catching. They all turned their gazes towards the girl in the back.

Zhuang Jianxi was wearing a light-colored long dress, a cultural relic restoration toolkit slung over her shoulder, returning from outside.

Even with a touch of travel-worn dust, it couldn’t conceal her otherworldly beauty and elegance.

Unaware of the strange atmosphere in the living room, she raised her eyes and met a strong, sharp gaze.

In that instant, she felt as if she had fallen into an abyss, then a claw descended from the heavens, firmly imprisoning her.

The Zhuang family almost without hesitation sent Zhuang Jianxi away.

Sacrificing one person to save a family, this deal was a good one, no matter how you looked at it.

Zhuang Jianxi couldn’t believe that at the age of 21, she was given away like a plaything to a man six years older than her.

The once-beloved and spirited second daughter of the Zhuang family, overnight, became a caged bird, a golden canary, bound and controlled by others.

Two months later, Tengjing Mountain Villa District.

Here, the mountains were green, the water clear, and the environment serene. It was home to many high-end villa districts, a place where many wealthy individuals lived in seclusion.

After getting out of the car, Zhuang Jianxi walked along the path lined with Margaret Queen roses for a few minutes, stopping in front of a villa with a combination of European countryside style.

Her expression was complex, her clear, black pupils reflecting the icy indifference of years of hardship.

After standing for a while, Zhuang Jianxi walked straight through the flower-filled courtyard to the front door.

The maid who was cleaning saw her appear and quickly bowed, “Madam.”

Zhuang Jianxi nodded. As soon as she stepped inside, a maid brought her slippers to change into and took her bag.

Song, the housekeeper, was currently instructing the chef and maids to prepare dinner. When she saw Zhuang Jianxi return, she casually asked, “Madam is back, would you like to have dinner now?”

Zhuang Jianxi hummed in response and went to wash her hands with an expressionless face.

Butler Song watched her back, his face a little strange.

Zhuang Jianxi sat down at the dining table. Since the head of the household hadn’t returned yet, Butler Song only served her a few simple home-cooked dishes.

But even these simple dishes were a feast for the senses, prepared by a top-notch chef. Zhuang Jianxi didn’t have any special requirements for her meals, as long as they were nutritious and filling.

Seeing her enjoying the food by herself, without even asking when her husband would return, Butler Song couldn’t help but say, “Madam, aren’t you waiting for Young Master to come back before eating?”

Zhuang Jianxi didn’t look up, “I’m hungry.”

Butler Song frowned, “But… Young Master will be back in a few minutes.”

Zhuang Jianxi stopped her chopsticks, lifted her eyelids and glanced at her, her tone indifferent, “Did he ask me to wait for him to eat, or are you asking?”

Butler Song quickly said, “How could I dare to ask you…”

“Then please be quiet.”

Butler Song’s old face flushed red, and she didn’t say anything more.

Zhuang Jianxi picked at her food with her chopsticks, only eating a few bites before losing her appetite. Before she could even feel half-full, a low, muffled car horn sounded from outside.

Following the sound of the car door closing, a tall, handsome man in a suit, exuding an air of noble dignity, slowly appeared at the door.

He leisurely took off his coat, revealing a strong and muscular physique beneath his black shirt. His features were sharp, his eyes were too sharp, and even some of the younger maids dared not look directly at him.

The day Zhuang Jianxi was sent to Tengjingshan Villa, she was taken to the Civil Affairs Bureau by Qiu Yixun to get their marriage certificate.

She had thought she was just going to be a plaything, but she didn’t expect that he would actually get a marriage certificate with her, making their relationship legal.

She didn’t understand this enigmatic man, nor did she know what kind of game this powerful person was playing with someone as weak as her.

She only knew that her life was no longer in her control.

And in the past two months, she had only seen Qiu Yixun a handful of times. This man seemed very busy and rarely came here.

However, he didn’t impose many restrictions on her. He was always at her beck and call, she was free to come and go, and she had everything she needed, from money to jewelry, clothes, and other necessities.

There was only one thing: Zhuang Jianxi had to live in his villa.

Butler Song took Young Master’s suit jacket, “Young Master, dinner is ready.”

Qiu Yixun nodded, his gaze swept around the room, locking onto the white figure sitting in the dining room.

He looked at her, slowly walking towards her, casually rolling up his shirt sleeves, revealing his strong, well-proportioned forearms.

Zhuang Jianxi felt the presence of this man approaching, her face changed, and she almost immediately put down her chopsticks and turned to go upstairs.

“Stop.”

A flat, deep male voice came from behind her, and Zhuang Jianxi stopped in her tracks.

Qiu Yixun walked over, looked at the few dishes on the table, frowned slightly, and looked at Butler Song, “Is this how you serve people?”

Butler Song felt guilty and quickly said, “I’ll get everything else right away.”

Qiu Yixun looked at her slender, fragile back, “Sit down, eat with me.”

Zhuang Jianxi didn’t move, she pursed her lips and said, “I’m full.”

Qiu Yixun gracefully sat down in the main seat, “I haven’t eaten yet.”

Zhuang Jianxi hesitated for a while before lowering her head and sitting back down. Facing the delicious dishes that had been laid out on the table in the blink of an eye, she felt like she was chewing wax.

Qiu Yixun glanced at her, “Don’t you like it?”

Zhuang Jianxi’s long, white eyelashes fluttered slightly, and she didn’t say anything.

Qiu Yixun elegantly took a sip of seafood soup, his eyes fixed on her, his lips curled into a smile, “Eat your fill, you’ll need the energy to do things later.”

His words were ambiguous and suggestive, and Butler Song’s old face flushed red as she retreated.

Zhuang Jianxi’s pair of light, beautiful eyes flashed with a trace of disgust, her long, white fingers clenched tightly around the chopsticks in her hand.