Zhou Family

Time flies and it’s the agreed day.

Last night, after a brief rain shower, the air became crisp and elegant under the clear skies. In the open space of the high-end residential garage, countless luxury cars were parked. Among them, a McLaren, understated and reserved, stood a tall and broad-shouldered man beside it. He wore a perfectly tailored dark gray suit, his demeanor mature and steady, with a cool and composed expression.

He seemed to be waiting for someone, standing quietly while occasionally checking his wristwatch with a hint of helplessness and amusement as he noted the time.

According to the woman, they were supposed to meet in ten minutes, but forty minutes had already passed.

Soon enough, he raised his phone to his ear, his voice low and warning as he said, “If you don’t come down soon, I’ll come up and drag you down myself.”

“Coming, coming,” a soft and gentle voice replied through the phone.

However, in reality, in the garage, the same voice carried a completely different tone.

“What’s with the rush? Are you in a hurry to reincarnate?”

Zhou Qishen listened for a moment, first stunned, then glanced at the screen where the call had ended, realizing something. He turned in the direction of the voice.

The newcomer wore an elegant crescent white cheongsam, fitting and graceful, carrying a handbag as she walked over casually. Through the high slits of her dress, her fair and slender legs were partly revealed, exuding countless charms and grace in an instant.

Her coiled hair showcased her delicate neck, adorned with intricate floral buttons, exuding an ancient charm and grace.

Jiang Xiao, who had just hung up the phone, complained absentmindedly and pulled at the hem of her skirt.

She had commissioned this outfit hastily with a master craftsman after discussing the cooperation with Paul yesterday, and it had only arrived at her home this morning.

It looked good and felt comfortable, but perhaps because she rarely wore cheongsam, wearing it today made her feel a bit constrained and uncomfortable.

But with confidence in her choice, Jiang Xiao took a deep breath, lifted her head high, and immediately transformed her demeanor, walking with the aura that came naturally after wearing a cheongsam.

Yet with a casual glance, she saw Zhou Qishen not far away, who had obviously dressed up for today. His hair was neatly combed, revealing a full forehead and refined brows and eyes, making him appear even more upright and noble.

Their eyes met across the space.

Jiang Xiao felt awkward—did he hear her complaint just now?

Zhou Qishen stared at her small face, which should have been complemented by the outfit. Today, she had applied light and elegant makeup. If one didn’t look closely, they might think she was not wearing any makeup at all.

Zhou Qishen casually asked, “Are you ready?”

“Yeah, I’m ready.” Jiang Xiao walked closer, expressing her apology for being late out of guilt, “Sorry to keep you waiting.”

Hearing this, Zhou Qishen didn’t say much. He unlocked the car with his key and signaled her to get in.

However, Jiang Xiao stopped him, hastily asking, “Wait, can you help me see if this outfit looks good?”

With that, Jiang Xiao spun around in place, her skirt fluttering, heels clicking. Each sound struck Zhou Qishen’s heart.

Zhou Qishen raised his eyes again, pursed his lips, and looked at her, his deep black eyes seeming boundless and profound, the heartbeat in his chest disturbing his thoughts.

After a while, his face tightened, and with a hint of mockery in his tone, he said, “After all this fuss, how could it not look good?”

Ignoring his earlier reprimand, Jiang Xiao focused on the two words “look good,” feeling satisfied. Cheerfully, she walked towards the passenger seat, “Hehe, as long as it looks good. Let’s go, or we’ll be late.”

Four o’clock in the afternoon, near the outskirts of Beijing.

A luxurious and elegant villa stood here, six stories high with over fifty thousand square meters of private enclosed land, surrounded by lush greenery and clear waters, resembling a paradise.

A McLaren drove along the road within the garden. Along the way, various rare trees such as wax berries, Chinese firs, red maples, and Chinese scholar trees were clearly visible, creating a vibrant feeling of the four seasons, presenting a symmetrical beauty and shock.

When the vehicle reached the villa, the iron gate opened automatically, allowing it to enter the estate.

The closer they got to the building, the more nervous Jiang Xiao became, glancing subconsciously at the person beside her.

Zhou Qishen remained calm, showing no extra emotions. He turned the steering wheel along the fountain and stopped the car steadily in front of the main entrance. Then he got out of the car, circled around, and opened the door on her side.

“Get out of the car.” Zhou Qishen supported the roof with his left hand to prevent her from hitting her head, and his right hand was palm-up, gesturing for her to take it.

Jiang Xiao adjusted her breathing, placed her hand on his, and slowly got out of the car with his assistance.

Once she was steady on her feet, Zhou Qishen leaned close to her ear and whispered, “Hold onto my arm.”

The warm breath brushed against her neck, and Jiang Xiao nodded gently, without hesitation, following his instructions.

Their arms intertwined tightly, one thick and one slender, forming a stark contrast.

Zhou Qishen led her forward a few steps, and immediately a valet entered the car to drive it away.

The engine sound gradually faded, and a man in a black suit approached, “Sir, you’re here.”

The estate had a total of four stewards, eight chefs, and fifty servants responsible for the daily management of the estate. This man was one of the stewards, surnamed Li, nearing fifty with a head of white hair, a kind face, and an aura of gentleness and elegance, radiating wisdom.

“And who is this?” Steward Li’s gaze fell on the unfamiliar face beside Zhou Qishen.

Zhou Qishen introduced her, “My wife, Jiang Xiao.”

Steward Li’s eyes showed a hint of surprise, his assessing gaze returning, unable to believe that Zhou Qishen had quietly married. But soon, he recalled the occasional mentions by the old lady in recent days, and everything seemed to have a clear answer.

“Madam, hello.” Steward Li smiled kindly.

Zhou Qishen tilted his head slightly and said to the stunned Jiang Xiao beside him, “This is Uncle Li, who has taken care of me since I was young.”

Jiang Xiao snapped out of her daze, her throat a bit dry, and sweetly replied, “Hello, Uncle Li.”

To be honest, she hadn’t fully adapted to the role of Mrs. Zhou. When she heard Zhou Qishen introduce her to Steward Li, she felt a bit panicked, fearing she might reveal something.

With the small talk over, Zhou Qishen led her into the house. What caught her eye was a complete floor-to-ceiling window on the side, extending up to the second floor, letting in sunlight that illuminated the spacious and bright interior.

Looking out from inside, she could clearly see various flowers and green plants. In the courtyard’s shaded areas, several fabric sofas were placed, where a few young children were reading.

Jiang Xiao glanced around briefly before shifting her gaze indoors. Compared to the outside, the living room was empty, devoid of any figures.

Just as she wondered where Zhou family’s elders had gone, Zhou Qishen’s low voice suddenly sounded in her ear, “Nervous?”

Jiang Xiao shook her head, “Not… not really.”

Zhou Qishen raised an eyebrow, and in his deep pupils, there flickered a ripple of light. He glanced at the beads of sweat forming on her forehead and leisurely uttered, “Really? But your forehead is all sweaty.”

At his words, Jiang Xiao subconsciously touched her hairline and indeed felt the stickiness of sweat on her fingertips.

Not wanting to lose face in front of him, Jiang Xiao blinked and fibbed, “Maybe it’s just hot.”

True, it was warm, but how could she sweat just from walking a few steps outside? Zhou Qishen saw through her but didn’t expose her. Before he could say anything else, they were interrupted.

“Uncle! You’re here?” A girl around ten dashed in from a side door in the courtyard, with long black hair and a bright yellow dress, stopping a few steps away. Curiously, she looked at Jiang Xiao beside Zhou Qishen, “Oh, who’s this pretty sister?”

One uncle, one sister—this was quite a mix-up of family titles.

Zhou Qishen corrected with a stern face, “Call her aunt.”

The little girl wasn’t shy about meeting someone for the first time and immediately sweetened her words, “Hello, Auntie, I’m Tian Tian. You’re so pretty, just like that famous actress Jiang Xiao.”

Tian Tian spoke whatever came to her mind, without any filter.

Jiang Xiao was flattered by the praise and smiled back, “You’re very pretty too. Um… I am Jiang Xiao.”

“Ah!” Tian Tian’s round eyes widened in disbelief.

Zhou Qishen interrupted their conversation, asking, “Where are your parents?”

Snapping out of her shock, Tian Tian answered truthfully, “They went to play tennis. They should be back soon.”

“Got it.” Zhou Qishen waved his hand, indicating she could go play by herself.

The precocious Tian Tian rolled her eyes and, following instructions, quickly disappeared into the house. When she was about to reach the outdoor tennis court, she shouted at the top of her lungs, “Dad! Mom! Uncle brought Auntie back!”

In the vast tennis court, everyone’s attention was drawn to this statement.

“Tian Tian, don’t talk nonsense.” Wang Shuyi, who was sitting in the rest area, waved at her daughter and took her into her arms. While wiping her sweat with a tissue, she gently said, “Your uncle doesn’t even have a girlfriend, so where did your auntie come from?”

“Tian Tian is not lying. My auntie is the popular female star, Jiang Xiao.” Tian Tian was eager to prove that she was not lying. After she finished speaking, she pulled Wang Shuyi up and walked in the direction they came from.

This sentence floated with the wind to the court not far away. Zhou Wenting, who was playing against someone, was stunned for a moment and missed the ball hit by his opponent. The ball fell to the ground with a plop and lost points.

Everyone had different expressions and the atmosphere fell into an eerie silence.

Zhou Qishen is getting married?

The members of the Zhou family looked at each other in disbelief.

One was the heir to the conglomerate, and the other a popular actress. Even if they were trying to keep a low profile and be careful, it was impossible to keep such a relationship completely secret. How could there be no hint of this?

And even if they didn’t know, could Su Miwan, as a mother, not know? But judging by her calm reaction tinged with shock, it seemed she had just found out like everyone else.

Upon learning this explosive news, no one had the heart to continue playing tennis. Silently, they began packing up, preparing to return home.