Chapter 3: This time, she hasn’t woken up yet?

This night, Zhuang Jianxi didn’t know how she endured it. The next morning, she rushed through her washing and left Tengjingshan Villa without even having breakfast.

After waking up, Qiu Yixun leisurely watched the news in the living room before slowly going to the dining room for breakfast.

He had been too busy recently. Finally, he had dealt with most of the issues. He should relax and cultivate his feelings with his little darling.

Qiu Yixun sat at the dining table. The red marks on his neck and face, scratched by Zhuang Jianxi last night, had all disappeared.

His entire being was as radiant and handsome as ever.

After finishing breakfast and sitting for a while, he still didn’t hear any movement from upstairs. Qiu Yixun glanced at the time, frowned, and asked Song, the butler, “It’s this time already, she hasn’t woken up yet?”

Song, the butler, respectfully answered, “Young Master, Madam left early this morning.”

“Left?” Qiu Yixun seemed surprised. He thought she would hide until he went to the company before coming down, but he didn’t expect her to have already left.

“Did she say where she was going?”

The butler’s tone had a hint of accusation, “No, Madam has been acting independently and doing her own thing these days. She never tells us or reports anything to us. She hasn’t even used the driver assigned to her once.”

Qiu Yixun’s expression didn’t change. He remained calm, making it impossible to tell what he was thinking.

The butler observed the Young Master’s face and suggested, “Young Master, should we… investigate?”

Everyone has their own affairs and privacy. He didn’t need to watch her so closely.

“No need.”

Qiu Yixun waved his hand, finished breakfast, picked up his suit jacket, and strode out.

Zhuang Family.

It was early morning, and the Zhuang family was still having breakfast. Zhuang Qinyang, the eldest brother, was also there. When they saw Zhuang Jianxi return, they were all stunned.

Immediately, Zhuang Qinyang couldn’t contain his excitement and stood up.

He strode over and grabbed Zhuang Jianxi’s hand, his eyes instantly turning red. “Xiao Xi, you’re back! How have you been these past few days? Why are you so haggard…”

Zhuang Jianxi looked at Zhuang Qinyang with complex eyes, her eyes gradually clouding over with a layer of mist.

In this family, besides her mother, her eldest brother was the one who loved her the most.

The day she was sent to Tengjingshan, Zhuang Qinyang disagreed. He chased after her but was caught and brought back. Unable to do anything, he went crazy and smashed everything in the house.

Zhuang Jianxi shook her head and didn’t say anything to her brother. Some things were too difficult to speak of. She could only say, “I haven’t been sleeping well these past few days.”

Seeing his sister back, Zhuang Qinyang’s heart was still filled with worry, but his face was beaming with happiness. He pulled her to the dining table and said, “Xiao Xi, did you have breakfast? Brother will ask Auntie to make your favorite sweet rice porridge.”

Zhuang Jianxi looked at Zhuang’s Father and softly called out, “Dad.”

Zhuang’s Father nodded, his expression complex.

He had been a weak and cowardly man who lived off others all his life. Now that his daughter had been given away, he was powerless.

His youngest daughter had lost some weight and no longer had her carefree and spirited look. He could tell that she must have suffered a lot living with that sinister and domineering Qiu Da Shao.

The breakfast was tasteless.

The eldest uncle of the Zhuang family, Zhuang Biqiang, lived in the neighboring mansion. Upon being informed that Zhuang Jianxi had returned, he immediately came over to visit. He pretended to lecture her with a lot of words.

“Young Master Qiu is rich and powerful. He moved his finger and gave us a large sum of money to fill the hole. The stock price of Zhuang’s company has been soaring recently. You have contributed greatly. This time, it’s thanks to your efforts that the Zhuang family has overcome this crisis…”

“I know you’re feeling bad, but you have to understand that you and your mother have been in poor health for over a decade. The Zhuang family has spared no expense in providing you with the best treatment and care.”

“Your mother is often bedridden. Your aunt took care of you a lot when you were little. When you were ten years old, you went to Jiangnan for two years to recuperate. Your aunt and her family took care of you there. Although it’s a bit of a shame to send you to Young Master Qiu now, you can’t deny our kindness to you.”

Zhuang Biqiang’s amiable smile was filled with a sense of utilitarianism. Zhuang Jianxi remained silent, her face expressionless.

All along, the entire Zhuang family and Zhuang’s company were controlled by Zhuang Biqiang. It was undeniable that the Zhuang family had raised her and her mother, but wasn’t her father and brother working for the Zhuang family? She hadn’t graduated yet and was working at the museum. Had she not contributed anything?

They shouldn’t try to morally blackmail her and attempt to make her willingly become the Zhuang family’s long-term cash cow.

“By the way, did you just casually return to the Zhuang family and tell Young Master Qiu? What if he can’t find you and makes things difficult for us? I think you should call him to let him know, or have the driver send you back later…”

With a ‘bang,’ Zhuang Qinyang slammed the water cup in his hand onto the dining table, angrily saying, “Uncle, I respect you as an elder, but don’t go too far!”

“Xiao Xi is a person. Being sent to serve someone is already a very humiliating thing. She’s finally come home after a long time, and you’re still being pushy and trying to drive her away. Do you have any conscience?”

Zhuang Qinyang almost shouted out the words ‘his sister isn’t for sale,’ but he was worried about hurting Zhuang Jianxi’s self-esteem.

His face turned red, and his chest heaved with anger.

Zhuang Biqiang’s face turned ugly. He was a bit embarrassed and ashamed to be reprimanded by his junior, but after all, what he said was reasonable. He was indeed too eager for success and anxious.

He couldn’t help but look at Zhuang’s father. Upon receiving his elder brother’s signal, Zhuang’s father acted as a peacemaker and said, “Alright, let’s all calm down.”

Zhuang’s father looked at his daughter, wanting to say something but hesitated. He asked cautiously, “Xiao Xi, you came back this time… is there something you want to talk about?”

Zhuang Jianxi lowered her eyes, her lips moved, but the words ‘I miss home’ couldn’t come out.

She remained silent for a moment and simply said, “I came back to see Mom and take some things. I’ll leave soon.”

As soon as these words were spoken, Zhuang Biqiang and Zhuang’s father both breathed a sigh of relief. Only Zhuang Qinyang’s eyes were red, filled with heartache.

He knew that his sister cared most about her family and always stuck to him. She must have come back because she missed home, but she didn’t even get to sit down before being chased away.

Zhuang Jianxi went to the garden.

Her mother had a history of heart disease, and she had also suffered a mild stroke in her youth. Her mind was sometimes clear and sometimes muddled, but she would sit in the chaise lounge in the garden every day to sunbathe.

The family didn’t tell her about Zhuang Jianxi’s situation. They only said that she was away on a training session.

Zhuang Jianxi’s return made Zhuang’s mother very happy. She regained consciousness from her muddled state. Although she was thin and sickly, her smile was still beautiful.

Zhuang Jianxi half-squatted, her eyes moist. She held her mother’s hand and placed it on her face, softly calling out, “Mom.”

Zhuang’s mother looked at her, speaking with difficulty, but she still tried to open her mouth. Her voice was gentle as always, “Xixi… my darling…”

Zhuang Jianxi’s tears flowed down her cheeks.

In the Zhuang family, the only people she cared about were her mother and brother. If it weren’t for them, she wouldn’t have willingly gone to the Qiu family even if she died.

The Zhuang family had once been so prosperous and boundless, but now they were so decadent and corrupt. Otherwise, they wouldn’t need to sell their daughter to maintain their normal operation.