“Mm.” Jiang Chuling replied softly. “I've never seen big brother be so stubborn, insisting on arguing with Mom and Dad about something. I've never seen Dad glare at him so fiercely. I feel like... there's going to be trouble at home for a while.”
“Miss is worried—how about going to see the Eldest Young Master?”
Jiang Chuling shook her head. “No, if Dad finds out I'm disobeying, he'll only get angrier.”
Qiuyun glanced outside the door, making sure no one was around, then lowered her voice. “If Miss goes secretly, even if you're caught, Master Jiang expects the siblings to be close. At worst, he'll scold you a bit, but he won't really punish you.”
Jiang Chuling froze, then her eyes lit up with surprise. “You're right! I'm just caring for my own elder brother—what's wrong with that? If Dad asks, I'll say he taught me to be this way himself!”
With a few simple pointers, Jiang Chuling quickly grasped the art of "reasoning" within a large family.
“Come on, Sister Xiaoqiu. Come with me secretly.” Jiang Chuling was eager to go, and with Qiuyun's help, she slipped down to the basement level and passed through the underground corridor to Mingsi Building.
“Who is it?” Sun Qiao yawned as she came to the basement video intercom.
“It's me. I'm here to see my big brother.”
“Seventh Miss!” Sun Qiao quickly unlocked the door. “Is it raining outside? Why did you come through the basement...”
As the door opened, the person behind the Seventh Miss smiled at Sun Qiao like an old acquaintance, shocking her so much she almost bit her tongue.
“Never mind that. Is my brother in his bedroom?”
Sun Qiao collected herself, her mind elsewhere. “...Yes.”
“Sister Xiaoqiu.” Jiang Chuling turned to look.
Qiuyun leaned in gently. “Miss, go quickly. I'll wait here for you.”
“Mm!”
Qiuyun watched as Miss Jiang took the elevator upstairs.
The layout of the Eldest Young Master's Mingsi Building was almost identical to that of the Seventh Miss's Mingyue Building—likely built from the same blueprints. The Fourth Young Master's Mingyuan Building was probably the same.
“You...” Sun Qiao's face stiffened.
“Sister Qiao.” Qiuyun smiled as the elevator doors closed. “I'm sure word has spread across the estate that the Eldest Young Master argued with Old Master Jiang and Master Jiang at the main building today. Our Seventh Miss is worried about her brother but doesn't want to upset Master Jiang and Madam Jiang, so she thought she'd visit him privately to show her family loyalty.”
Her words were seamless, yet she didn't explicitly tell Sun Qiao to keep quiet about it to Master Jiang or Madam Jiang.
Sun Qiao forced a smile. “Such a small thing—of course I won't go blabbing to anyone.”
She never expected that in just one month, this intern nanny had worked her way up to assisting the young miss! How fast was her promotion—like she'd hitched a ride on a rocket?
“I knew Sister Qiao would be understanding.” Qiuyun cheerfully pulled fruit salad and small desserts from her bag. “Since we're waiting anyway, why not share a late-night snack and chat?”
Seeing Qiuyun wasn't holding a grudge over past friction, but instead chatting amiably, Sun Qiao gradually relaxed. She felt both admiration and a vague wariness.
This ability to say the right thing to the right person, to smile warmly after a conflict—it was unsettling to say the least.
She herself could never pull off such a natural, easygoing conversation with someone she'd had a falling out with.
Half an hour later, Jiang Chuling came downstairs with red-rimmed eyes. Qiuyun smoothly ended the conversation. “Sorry for the trouble this time, Sister Qiao. Let's exchange contact info. If the Eldest Young Master needs any help coordinating with the Seventh Miss, feel free to reach me.”
Sun Qiao quickly scanned her QR code, eager to see them off. “No trouble at all. Seventh Miss, take care.”
Qiuyun escorted Jiang Chuling back through the bright underground passage. They walked in silence, except for Jiang Chuling's occasional sighs. Only when they returned to Mingyue Building did she tearfully tell Sister Xiaoqiu, “My big brother is moving out tomorrow. He won't be back for three to five years.”
...Not surprising.
Qiuyun gently patted the girl's back. “Your brother is an adult, ten years older than you, with his own thoughts. Instead of worrying blindly, maybe think about how to help him get through this. I'm guessing Master Jiang cut him off financially when he kicked him out.”
“That makes sense!” Jiang Chuling's eyes darted as she pulled out her phone. She initially wanted to transfer money to her brother, but worried that their parents might freeze his accounts.
So she transferred two hundred sixty thousand yuan to Qiuyun—all the pocket money she had left for the month.
“Mom and Dad haven't warned us not to help him yet, so I'm not disobeying my father.” The girl smirked slyly. “Sister Xiaoqiu, I'll trouble you to quietly give him the money.”
“Of course.” Handling money on behalf of the family was a necessary step to becoming a trusted confidant. Qiuyun gladly accepted.
Jiang Chuling snapped her fingers excitedly. “I'll let my other brother know and get him to help out too!”
She called him, but didn't get the money she wanted. He was older and had several times her allowance!
“My dear little sister, if only you'd called half an hour earlier! I just signed a contract—I'm broke, and most of my assets are tied up!” Jiang Linzhi's voice was strained. Didn't he tell her he had something big to do tonight?
“Useless brother!” Jiang Chuling hung up in frustration.
Qiuyun comforted her. “Everyone contributes differently. The Fourth Young Master may not be able to help financially, but as far as I know, he owns quite a bit of property. The Eldest Young Master likely won't have trouble finding a place to stay.”
Jiang Chuling calmed down.
True enough. Unlike her other brothers who loved luxury cars and watches, her laid-back brother had only one hobby—buying houses. He had "hideouts" all over the capital, simply because he didn't like staying home.
Thinking this, she sent a text: Leave the nearest apartment near A University for big brother. Consider this your penance.
The reply came instantly: Understood!
After dealing with his sister, Jiang Linzhi messaged his investment manager: Remove the large flat near A University from the list of assets to sell. Replace it with the one in the city center instead.
The city center property had been appreciating well; selling now would mean a loss. But with his brother in need, he had no choice but to help!
Finished with family matters, Jiang Linzhi put down his phone and sighed.
He didn't expect Mom and Dad to be so angry—cutting off big brother's finances and kicking him out.
And big brother, always so agreeable, could've at least grabbed something valuable on his way out!
“What's wrong?” Pei Cizhou asked.
“Nothing much. My sister at home wanted some pocket money.” Even with his close friend, Jiang Linzzi didn't reveal the details.
Pei Cizhou nodded, turning to business matters. “The initial phase might burn through cash, but once we launch, aside from server maintenance costs, it'll essentially be profitable.”
