Evening.
Jiang Chuling and Jiang Linzhi were called to the basement level.
Jiang Yihua informed them that their eldest brother had moved out and ordered them not to secretly help him. He would check their bank card transactions; if they knowingly defied him, they would be kicked out just like their eldest brother.
Both of them had already prepared a backup plan, so they naturally agreed with great confidence.
As they came out of the basement, Jiang Linzhi asked, "Mom moved to Bright Moon Tower to live?"
Jiang Chuling replied, "Yeah, she brought all her clothes, jewelry, and cosmetics over. She's planning to stay long-term."
"Great, the weekend family dinner is going to be a disaster again." Jiang Linzhi gloated, wondering how his father would explain the marital separation to the Old Master.
"Brother, do you have any plans tonight?"
"No, why?"
Jiang Chuling said, "Mom asked me to invite you over for dinner. She made your favorite dishes."
"Alright." Jiang Linzhi considered for a moment and did not refuse.
Although he was past the age of wanting his mother's care and attention, he didn't mind adding fuel to the fire to encourage her to keep quarreling with his father, who was essentially the Old Master's second-in-command.
Bright Moon Tower.
Yu Xiang received word from her daughter and had the family set the table, placing the food on warming mats so they could eat as soon as everyone arrived.
"Mom! Brother and I are back!"
As soon as Jiang Chuling got home, she fluttered like a little butterfly into her mother's arms.
Small family gatherings like this only happened on occasions like birthdays or anniversaries. On major holidays like Mid-Autumn Festival and Dragon Boat Festival, they had to go to the main house to keep the Old Master company.
"Wash your hands and come eat." A smile spread across Yu Xiang's face as she asked her younger son, "Where is your eldest brother staying now?"
Jiang Linzhi took a cloth to wipe his hands and said, "He's staying in one of my houses near A University. Dad doesn't know."
Her expression dimmed at the mention of her husband. "Alright. You should take a meal to your eldest brother later. All our family members are present except him."
At this, Jiang Linzhi laughed. "Mom, how long are you planning to fight with Dad this time?"
Yu Xiang was amused by her younger son's playful expression. "Seeing your father suffer makes you pretty happy, doesn't it?"
"Definitely! Out of all the kids in this family, why am I the only one who got beaten in front of everyone?"
Remembering how her younger son, at seven or eight, had been unfairly lashed with a belt by his father at a banquet over a conflict with his brothers, Yu Xiang's eyes instantly reddened.
"Oh, come on." Jiang Linzhi quickly hugged his mother to comfort her. "Don't worry, it stopped hurting long ago. I was just embarrassed."
Yu Xiang pressed her son's hand firmly and said in a determined tone, "Then let's make him embarrassed too!"
The family sat down at the table. In high spirits, Jiang Linzhi picked up his chopsticks and served food to his mother and sister. "I'll deliver the meal to our eldest brother later."
"Me too!" Jiang Chuling raised her hand.
Seeing that their mother didn't object, Jiang Linzhi said, "Alright, alright, you can come along."
Yu Xiang reminded them, "Take Xiaoqiu with you."
Jiang Chuling nodded. Of course, she had to take Sister Xiaoqiu—her money was still stored in Sister Xiaoqiu's account.
"Xiaoqiu?" Jiang Linzhi asked. "I thought Little Seven's family tutor was named Lan. Did they change staff?"
Yu Xiang said, "She's Little Seven's new life assistant."
Having more people to take care of a girl was never a bad thing. Jiang Linzhi didn't ask further. However, just before they set off, when he saw the back of the head adorned with a wooden hairpin in the passenger seat, he suddenly remembered.
The last time he'd seen that nanny at the stables, she had put him on guard—her surname was Qiu.
Three of them plus a driver left in the car.
"Uncle Quan, please pull over at the exit of Phoenix Avenue on the right. The young lady needs to handle some business." Qiuyun searched for an ATM location on her phone and reminded the driver.
Jiang Linzhi watched coldly.
This woman had only been around for a little over a month and had already become his sister's personal assistant, while easily winning over both his mother and sister? She really seemed suspicious.
If even a high salary offer couldn't poach her, what exactly did she want from their family?
"Brother, I can't go to Europe this summer. Second Brother and Fifth Brother are going to Hawaii. Where are you going? Can I tag along?" Jiang Chuling looked at him expectantly.
Jiang Linzhi patted his sister's head. "I have serious business this summer. I'm going to be swamped every day. Don't interfere."
"Hmph!" Jiang Chuling waved her claws indignantly to push his hand away. "What serious business! You're just hanging out with your useless friends every day!"
Hey! This cheeky little brat!
Jiang Linzhi mercilessly rubbed his sister's head, messing up her hair. "Useless friends? I'm doing something really important! When I pull it off, it'll blow your mind!"
"Ah! My hair!" Jiang Chuling unbuckled her seatbelt and started wrestling with her brother.
Fighting in the car was dangerous, so Qiuyun wisely spoke up to divert the conversation: "Miss, this is our first time giving money to the eldest brother. How much should we take out?"
"One hundred thousand!" Jiang Chuling answered briefly before glaring fiercely at her brother and showing her claws. "I'm going to see my eldest brother later, and his girlfriend might be there too. If you ruin my first meeting with Sister-in-Law looking like this, I'll scratch you to death!"
Jiang Linzhi's eyes widened as he fended off his sister's hands while muttering, "Wow, you have a point! On his first day being kicked out, eldest brother must be heartbroken and in need of comfort from his girlfriend. There's a good chance she's with him right now!"
"You idiot! You can't even think of that and still mess up my hair!"
Qiuyun seized the opportunity to say quickly, "When the car stops, I'll fix your hair for you, Miss. It's dangerous to fight while driving—never unbuckle your seatbelt lightly!"
"Exactly!" Jiang Linzhi grabbed his sister's hands and helped her buckle her seatbelt back on. "Your hair can be fixed, but if your clothes get wrinkled, there's no iron in the car."
"Jerk!" Jiang Chuling hugged her arms and stared out the window with teary eyes.
Jiang Linzhi sighed helplessly. "Alright, alright. I'm the jerk. I'll take some time off this summer to play with you, okay, my little princess ancestor?"
With such sincere promises, Jiang Chuling finally loosened up. "That's more like it."
Soon, the car pulled over by the roadside.
Qiuyun got out with her caregiver bag and, under the streetlight, braided Jiang Chuling's hair into a particularly beautiful half-up style.
Hairstyling was a must-have skill for any close maid, and Qiuyun was especially talented. Having previously worked with threading and now using more convenient elastic bands, she was like a fish in water and finished the braid in under ten minutes.
The braided part had clear, neat patterns, while the lower part was loose and airy—absolutely gorgeous!
It gave off a bit of a modern Chinese vibe!
Jiang Linzhi leaned lazily against the car window, watching that suspicious woman bend slightly to braid his sister's hair. Her fair, slender fingers danced gracefully atop his sister's head. The dim yellow glow of the streetlight fell on her skilled and confident expression, making her oddly... captivating.
Setting aside everything else, just this one skill could earn her a living running a school. Being a respected teacher would offer far more social value than serving as a maid in the Jiang family.
