The evening glow gradually faded, taking with it the last remnants of daylight as the estate's lamps flickered to life one by one. He Jingchuan stood beneath one of the lights, the dim yellow glow casting shadows across his face as he gazed in the direction of Rong Yu and Old Master Ji, his eyes dark and unreadable.
"What are you staring at?"
A voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
He turned to see Nanny Zhang approaching and pressed his lips together before calling out, "Mom."
Nanny Zhang’s brows were tightly furrowed as she spoke coldly, "The Ji Family has strict rules. Don’t wander around or gawk. Always remember your place. If you offend any of the Ji Family members, I won’t be able to take responsibility."
He Jingchuan nodded. "I know."
He paused before adding, "Mom, you’ve been abroad for four years. Aren’t you going home now that you’re back?"
"No. The Fourth Young Master’s arm is fractured, and I need to tend to him," Nanny Zhang replied. "Once you’re done with your work, leave immediately. Don’t linger around the Ji Family and make yourself a nuisance."
He Jingchuan’s expression remained indifferent.
Four years apart, and this was the first thing his mother said to him.
Hadn’t he gotten used to it by now?
From the moment he could remember, at three or four years old, he had rarely seen his mother—she was always busy serving the Ji Family’s Fourth Young Master. Sometimes he was left with his aunt, other times he stayed with his uncle, or even neighbors… Once, he had gone missing for three or four days, and no one had even noticed.
Four years ago, when the Fourth Young Master was sent abroad, Nanny Zhang had volunteered to accompany him, believing the young master needed someone to care for him.
But she had never considered that He Jingchuan was the same age—that he, too, was still a child who needed care.
Still, after so many years of neglect, he no longer felt much of anything about it.
"Xiao Chuan." Steward Yu approached with a warm smile. "Gardening is meticulous work. Why don’t you eat first before continuing?"
Nanny Zhang immediately refused on his behalf. "He’s just a country boy, hardly presentable. He can eat at home once he’s done—"
Steward Yu frowned. "Xiao Chuan is a clean, decent boy. How is he not presentable? Besides, the Ji Family provides meals for all its workers. Sending him home on an empty stomach would only invite rumors that the Ji Family mistreats its laborers."
Nanny Zhang didn’t dare argue further.
"Old Master specifically instructed that since Xiao Chuan lives far away—a two-hour trip back and forth—he should stay at the Ji Family for the next couple of days until the orchids are revived," Steward Yu said, leading He Jingchuan toward the small dining area near the kitchen.
Nanny Zhang lowered her eyes, masking whatever emotions lay beneath.
After dinner, Rong Yu was brewing tea when she glanced over and saw Ji Zhouye and Ji Liuguang sprawled on the sofa, engrossed in a video game.
Her voice was calm as she spoke. "A’ye, have you finished the homework your class monitor assigned for the weekend?"
"Auntie, Uncle hasn’t done any of it!" Duoduo raised her hand. "I finished mine! Do you want to check?"
"Our little Duoduo is so well-behaved." Rong Yu smiled faintly. "Even a child knows that today’s tasks should be done today. Why is it so hard for some people to learn?"
Ji Zhouye: "…"
He recklessly played out the rest of his game, finally ending the drawn-out match before standing up and heading upstairs. He returned with his test papers, deliberately settling in the living room to work on them.
Ji Liuguang frowned and sat beside him. "Why do you listen to that woman?"
Though they had argued earlier that morning, brothers fought all the time—it was normal, and they always made up quickly.
"Stop calling her ‘that woman.’ It’s disrespectful," Ji Zhouye said, sliding his math paper over. "Fourth Brother, help me with this question. What’s the answer?"
Ji Liuguang glanced at it. "No idea."
"Seriously? You’re almost done with university, and you can’t solve a high school problem?" Ji Zhouye sighed. "Never mind, I’ll figure it out myself."
Ji Liuguang returned to his game.
Meanwhile, Rong Yu took her youngest and Duoduo for an evening jog around the estate’s lawn.
After just one lap, Old Master Ji collapsed onto the grass, pretending to be dead.
"Old Master, don’t move!"
A tense voice rang out.
Startled, Old Master Ji saw a young man dart toward him in the darkness, crouching down to scoop up a tiny frog from the grass.
"Good thing you didn’t crush it," He Jingchuan murmured in relief. "Your clothes are expensive. It’d be a shame to dirty them."
"Wow, such a cute frog!" Duoduo’s eyes sparkled. "Can I play with it for a bit?"
He Jingchuan hesitated, clearly searching for a polite way to refuse.
Rong Yu smiled. "The frog is too small. Playing with it might hurt it. How about we set it free instead?"
Duoduo blinked up at He Jingchuan. "Is that okay?"
He nodded immediately.
The little frog was released into the estate’s pond, letting out a couple of croaks before disappearing into the water plants.
"He Jingchuan, come here."
The voice came from the second-floor balcony. Ji Liuguang leaned against the railing, calling down to him.
He Jingchuan straightened. "Fourth Young Master is calling. I’ll go right away."
He entered the third-floor room to find Ji Liuguang lounging on the sofa, his smile carrying an inexplicable weight.
He Jingchuan lowered his head. "What do you need, Fourth Young Master?"
"I heard you tried to send Nanny Zhang home as soon as you arrived?" Ji Liuguang let out a cold laugh. "She promised to stay by my side forever. If she leaves, who’s going to take care of me?"
He had grown up without a mother.
Only Nanny Zhang had treated him like her own, attending to his every need.
When he was abroad, struggling with the language, she had been the one by his side.
He couldn’t imagine anyone else replacing her.
This son of hers was nothing but an eyesore.
Ji Liuguang’s voice was icy. "Remember this—Nanny Zhang isn’t just your mother. She’s a servant of the Ji Family. Now get out."
He Jingchuan lifted his gaze, meeting Ji Liuguang’s eyes for a silent moment before turning to leave.
The night passed peacefully.
Rong Yu rose early, taking her youngest for their morning exercise before getting ready for the day.
Her wardrobe was filled with clothes Old Master Ji had bought for her, along with elegant dresses and gowns commissioned by Ji Zhiyuan.
She chose a refined cheongsam and paired it with the pink gemstone necklace Tang Che had given her the day before—a classic design from seventy years ago, perfectly complementing the dress.
When she descended the stairs, Old Master Ji froze.
His vision blurred, as if time had rewound seventy years.
At a grand banquet in old Shanghai, his mother had once worn an outfit just like this, stunning everyone who saw her.
Except for the face, everything about Rong Yu in that moment overlapped perfectly with the memory.
He murmured, "Uncle Tang might just die without regrets now…"
He reached out and took Rong Yu’s hand.
Mother and son walked out together.
From the balcony, Ji Liuguang watched them, a cigarette dangling from his lips.
He exhaled a slow stream of smoke, frowning.
Why did it feel like Old Master and this inexplicable woman were… too close?
Even if she had saved his life, this level of intimacy was strange.
