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The Jiang Family.
Located in the very heart of Haishi, Yinjiang No. 1 was the city’s most exclusive residential district.
Every inch of land here was worth its weight in gold, yet the villas boasted a green coverage rate of 80%. In addition to a specially excavated artificial lake, the community also featured gardens and rockeries designed and built at immense cost.
All villa security personnel were of retired special forces caliber. Viewing or purchasing a property required strict verification of financial qualifications, for this was the gathering place of Haishi’s most elite families.
Guan Xuxu knew this place well.
Father Guan had once dreamed endlessly of buying a house here. For to live here meant becoming neighbors with the very top, and that meant becoming one of the top families themselves.
The Maybach motorcade drove unimpeded through the gates of the villa district, passing across the expansive lawns before finally stopping in front of a four-story manor villa.
Jiang Huai led Guan Xuxu out of the car, while Chu Beihe remained seated.
When others were reuniting with family, no matter how close the friendship, it was considered impolite to intrude—this was etiquette.
Jiang Huai waved his hand, and the twelve Maybachs started up again, driving deeper into the villas.
“The Chu Family lives just ahead. I’ll take you to formally visit them another time,” Jiang Huai explained before leading Guan Xuxu forward on his own.
The European-style manor villa carried an innate air of grandeur and luxury.
Passing through the gardens, then through the villa’s grand entrance, around the foyer, and into the living room, Guan Xuxu was met with the sight of a densely seated crowd of Jiang family members.
On the way here, Jiang Huai had already given her a brief introduction.
Just as Guan Xuxu had guessed, the Jiang Family was indeed one of the Four Great Families of Haishi. The family was divided into four branches, with three sons and one daughter, each having their own households.
The Old Master, due to health reasons, had retired two years ago, passing Jianghai Group into the hands of the eldest son, Jiang Yucheng.
The second uncle, Jiang Yumin, had once been a nationally renowned top-tier singer in his youth. Later, he founded his own entertainment company, which had since grown into one of the industry’s leading powers.
The third uncle, Jiang Yutong, served as a vice president at Jianghai Group, independently managing several of the group’s core industries.
Their aunt, Jiang Yuxin, was also the formidable type, having built an international luxury brand entirely on her own, wielding immense influence within the fashion world.
As for the younger generation, perhaps because the Jiang Family’s lineage leaned strongly toward male heirs, all four branches were filled exclusively with grandsons—save for the youngest daughter of the second branch, and one Lu Xuexi, a girl fostered in the Jiang household from the Old Madam’s natal family.
Looking around now, it was clear that nearly all branches of the Jiang Family had gathered.
When Guan Xuxu and Jiang Huai stepped through the doors, the crowd collectively lifted their heads. Every gaze fixed on her—some scrutinizing, some curious, some openly disdainful, and some… carrying veiled discontent.
“Grandfather.”
Jiang Huai’s manner was calm and natural as he took a long stride forward, addressing the elderly man seated at the very center of the sofa. At the same time, he introduced, “This is Xuxu.”
He then gestured lightly toward Guan Xuxu.
“Xuxu, greet Grandfather.”
Guan Xuxu looked at the elderly man who sat upright at the center, smiling as he regarded her.
She was not particularly skilled in the art of physiognomy, yet even with the smile in his eyes, his tall, prominent nose bridge, broad forehead, and deep-set eyes marked him as someone inclined toward self-assertion.
In other words, this was a man long accustomed to giving orders.
“Grandfather,” Guan Xuxu greeted him obediently.
The old man nodded, his voice warm. “Good, good. Now that you’ve come home, from this day forward you are the Jiang Family’s eldest young lady. No one will dare to bully you.”
Jiang Huai then turned toward the man seated beside the Old Master, introducing, “This is Father.”
Following his gaze, Guan Xuxu looked over. Compared to the elder’s kindly expression, Jiang Yucheng carried an air of restraint and composure. Especially when his face was turned in profile, the sharp angles of his features revealed a cold, steely edge. His well-defined countenance still faintly showed traces of the handsome appearance he must have had in his youth.
The fine lines etched by time across his face did not make him look aged; instead, they lent him the distinct charm of a mature man.
He was a completely different type from Father Guan.
Guan Xuxu parted her lips and softly called, “Father.”
At the sound of that word, the corners of Jiang Yucheng’s thin lips tightened ever so slightly. When his gaze fell upon Guan Xuxu, his expression betrayed little emotion. After a long pause, he finally gave a deep response.
“Mm.”
Jiang Huai then led her around to greet the other Jiang elders one by one.
As Guan Xuxu quietly took in her surroundings, she realized that apart from Grandmother, who was still in the nursing home, and one cousin who was absent, nearly the entire Jiang Family had gathered.
And yet—her Mother was not among them.
According to Jiang Huai, back when she had been abducted, her Mother had pursued the kidnapper alone. But in the chase, she had fallen into the sea by accident. To this day, not even her remains had been found.
Perhaps her silence lingered too long, for the woman who had earlier been addressed as Second Aunt stepped forward, her movements affectionate as she slipped an arm around Guan Xuxu’s, her eyes brimming with tenderness and love.
“Xuxu, you must be tired after just returning. Second Aunt has already arranged a room for you. Take a look first, and if you don’t like anything about it, just tell me at any time.”
The Old Master of the Jiang Family held to traditional beliefs when it came to household matters: as long as parents were alive, the family was not to divide. Thus, apart from the fourth daughter who had married out, the other three branches of the Jiang Family all lived together in this manor villa.
The woman’s name was Yao Lin. She was around forty, but whether in figure or skin, she was exceptionally well maintained. At first glance, she exuded the refined image of a high-born Madam.
Yet the concern on her face, when paired with the vanity and stubbornness written into her features, struck Guan Xuxu as deeply incongruous.
Without showing any outward change, Guan Xuxu discreetly withdrew her arm. She was just about to offer a polite word of thanks when suddenly a boy leapt out from the side. He looked to be about thirteen or fourteen, and the words that came from his mouth were:
“Second Aunt, you should prepare another room for her. That one used to be Sister Xuexi’s doll room. You gave it to her, but now Sister Xuexi’s dolls have nowhere to go.”
The boy was the youngest son of the third branch, named Jiang Suoo, and among all the Jiang Family, he was the most reckless.
Sure enough, the moment his words left his mouth, several people in the hall revealed complicated, unspeakable expressions.
Third Uncle, Jiang Yutong, immediately darkened his face. “What nonsense are you spouting?! What business is this of yours?”
“Why are you scolding me? I didn’t say anything wrong.” Jiang Suoo stiffened his neck in defiance. “There are so many rooms in this house, why does it have to be that one? She comes here and just takes over Sister Xuexi’s doll room—what gives her the right?!”
At some point, the young girl seated among the juniors had stood up. Her delicate, jade-like face carried a hint of self-blame.
“Xiao Suo, don’t say that.”
This was none other than Lu Xuexi, the Sister Xuexi he spoke of.
Lu Xuexi was the Jiang Old Madam’s niece. Back when Guan Xuxu had gone missing, to soothe the grief of her eldest son—and also to balance the family’s overwhelming abundance of male heirs—the Old Madam had deliberately brought Lu Xuexi from her natal home and raised her in the Jiang Family. From the age of three, she had grown up here alongside her cousins.
She now turned toward Guan Xuxu, her voice soft and gentle. “Xuxu Meimei, please don’t blame him. Xiao Suo means no harm—he just can’t bear to see me wronged. That room is yours now, and however it turns out for me doesn’t matter.”
Her manner was gracious and proper, yet every word carefully underscored her own supposed grievance.
It was an all-too-familiar flavor—the exact recipe of Guan Ruirui.
Guan Xuxu silently reflected.
Could it be that her constitution was simply too unusual, and that was why she constantly attracted this kind of tea spirit?
The girl then turned her head, feigning reproach. “Xiao Suo, hurry and apologize. Xuxu is your Jiejie.”
“Che.” The boy’s face was full of disdain as he gave a cold snort under his breath. “She’s no sister of mine.”
With a sharp clang, someone’s cup knocked against the marble tabletop. The hall fell abruptly silent.