President Pei is so confident in his own game? Jiang Linzhi tilted his head.
A faint smile curled at the corner of Pei Cizhou’s mouth. President Jiang signed the investment contract after just looking at the proposal. Isn’t that itself an affirmation of my abilities?
You little rascal! Jiang Linzhi clenched his fist and playfully punched him on the shoulder. I throw money your way, and you turn around and mock me!
“Rest assured, President Jiang,” Pei Cizhou said, his expression relaxed after finally securing the funding he had been trying to raise for so long. “I’ll personally handle the game’s programming and design. My brother’s professional team will take charge of operations, art, and quality assurance. We’re not going to start off operating at a loss.”
Hmph, don’t jinx it! Investing means there’s always a chance of profit or loss. It’s not like I can’t handle that. Jiang Linzhi suddenly recalled the birthday banquet in half a month. By the way, are you and your parents going to attend our old man’s birthday feast?
I’ll be there, Pei Cizhou nodded. The plans were set two months ago.
In the outside world, the business landscape was shifting rapidly. Jiang Corporation, as an old-school enterprise, was at a critical moment of reform and innovation, urgently needing to board a major government vessel. For this occasion, Old Master Jiang had even used the most precious favor the family had, inviting Mayor Pei and his family to the banquet under the guise of a family gathering.
Thus, Jiang Linzhi had no intention of drawing his family’s attention by revealing his close ties with the mayor’s son.
So, watch yourself. Don’t greet me or act too familiar. Best if we pretend we don’t know each other.
Pei Cizhou raised an eyebrow. Is that level of caution necessary?
Jiang Linzhi waved a hand. Hah, with your no-nonsense attitude, if you were born into my family, you’d probably have run away from home eight hundred years ago.
Pei Cizhou had heard whispers about the internal power struggles in the Jiang family. He clapped his friend on the shoulder. Let’s drop that topic. I’ve already built a preliminary prototype of the game’s client—no art or rendering yet. Come take a look at how the gameplay flow is designed.
Sure. Jiang Linzhi was a gaming enthusiast himself, and he eagerly rolled up his sleeves, ready to test out the new game he had invested in.
Once she had helped her eldest brother take care of the most basic needs—eating and sleeping—Chu Ling finally breathed a sigh of relief and couldn’t help but remark, I wonder what our eldest brother’s girlfriend looks like. I never thought he’d go all out for a woman like this.
Qiuyun didn’t respond.
Observing the eldest young master’s calm demeanor and his willingness to comfort his sister, she felt his actions were more for himself. It was as if he had suddenly woken up to find his true path in life, only to be denied it—a good man pushed to his breaking point.
Chu Ling yawned and clung affectionately to Qiuyun’s arm. Sister Xiaoqiu, you should get some sleep too. Come with me tomorrow morning to see our eldest brother off.
Sure, Qiuyun smiled.
The fastest way to close the distance between people was through shared experiences—studying together, fighting side by side, or dividing spoils together.
Simply put: reminiscing about old times, entrusting each other with life and death, and holding common secrets.
When people had secrets they couldn’t share with others, their subconscious would classify each other as “one of their own.”
After preparing the Seventh Miss’s pajamas, Qiuyun went to the bathroom to run the bathwater.
There was a knock at the door.
Ling’er, are you asleep yet?
Chu Ling paused, then scurried to the bedroom door and opened it. Mom?
Yu Xiang’s eyes were red and swollen, her mood clearly terrible, but she mustered a smile for her daughter. Can mommy sleep with you tonight?
Of course! Chu Ling hadn’t slept with her mother since she moved out of the basement floor in elementary school.
Seeing her daughter’s joy, Yu Xiang felt a pang of bitterness. She stroked Chu Ling’s head. Mommy might have to stay at Bright Moon Tower for a while. Can Ling’er put me up?
To live with her mother was something Chu Ling could only wish for, but…
Mom, did you and Dad have a fight? she asked cautiously.
Yu Xiang didn’t elaborate. She took the children’s toothbrush from Qiuyun. I’ll take care of Ling’er. You can go now.
Yes, Madam Jiang. Qiuyun lowered her eyes, quickly fetched disposable toiletries for the lady from the guest room, then quietly left.
Madam Jiang was planning to stay at Bright Moon Tower long-term?
A smile flickered across Qiuyun’s lips.
For her, that was the best news imaginable.
Inside the room, mother and daughter curled up in the same blanket, chatting and confiding in each other.
Chu Ling learned that her mother had fought with her father and separated from him over the eldest brother’s matter. Realizing that her mother was on their side, she immediately confessed everything—how she had secretly visited her eldest brother, and how they had left him money and a place to stay.
Yu Xiang hugged her daughter, tears welling in her eyes. The three of you united and helping each other—it makes mommy so happy!
Chu Ling, enjoying her mother’s warm, fragrant embrace, said sheepishly, To be honest, I was scared of Dad’s punishment at first and didn’t dare go to Mingsi Tower. It was Sister Xiaoqiu who said Dad always liked seeing sibling affection sealed between us. If I went to see eldest brother, he might scold me a little, but he wouldn’t truly blame me. Once I understood that, I found the courage to go.
Yu Xiang’s impression of the girl she had briefly met improved even further. From now on, do whatever you want. I’ll shield you from your father.
Really? Chu Ling immediately cuddled up. Mom, then can I skip horseback riding? It always chafes my thighs.
Ahem. Yu Xiang looked away. Learning to ride is something your grandfather decided. I only get a say over your father.
The old-fashioned patriarch had his own ideas about raising children: strictly following the traditional six arts of a gentleman—rites, music, archery, charioteering, calligraphy, and mathematics.
For rites, there were dedicated etiquette teachers. Music meant each child had to choose an instrument to learn. Archery was replaced with shooting, more suited to modern times. Charioteering became horseback riding and driving. Calligraphy and mathematics went without saying.
The old man didn’t care what other skills the children wanted to learn, but all six basic arts were mandatory.
Seeing her daughter’s disappointment, Yu Xiang hurriedly comforted her. Mommy will find a way to solve the chafing problem. Don’t worry—get some sleep now. You still have to see your eldest brother off tomorrow morning.
Mm.
The mother-daughter night talk gradually faded into silence. Alone in the empty bedroom, Jiang Yihua clutched his phone and typed out a long, rambling message to his wife in the middle of the night, but naturally received no reply.
The next morning, after sending her eldest brother off with tears in her eyes, Chu Ling returned home. Aunt Zhou had already unpacked Madam Jiang’s luggage and set up the guest room at Bright Moon Tower.
As for her husband’s late-night essay, Yu Xiang skimmed it once—all nostalgia about their glorious past, with not a hint of regret or change of heart regarding his insistence on arranging their eldest son’s marriage through a political alliance. She simply blocked him and didn’t bother reading further.
Qiuyun brought over fruits and tea, and personally witnessed Madam Jiang hang up on her husband’s relentless calls and block his number too.
She mused to herself: the lady and the eldest young master were truly mother and son. Normally, they were both gentle, good-natured souls who wouldn’t bite. But push a good person too far, and the storm would rage without end, tearing a hole straight through the heavens!
