After the last time, Jiang Chuyun had learned his lesson and hadn't come around again.
Jiang Lin'an said nothing.
It seemed his sister's way of thinking really was different from his.
"What about you? Do you want to take over Dad's position?" Jiang Lin'an asked.
Jiang Chuling was surprised. "With you and big brother both here, wouldn't me taking over be like usurping the throne?!"
He said bluntly, "I won't take it. I don't like the kind of life spent busy in the company all day."
"As for A Zhi, I don't know." Jiang Lin'an thought, "I'd guess A Zhi won't either. With his personality, he couldn't stand even a single day in the manor, let alone being confined at the group."
Then he looked at his sister. "If neither A Zhi nor I are willing, would you be willing, Little Seven?"
"Of course!" Jiang Chuling said without hesitation. "Are we just going to let Second Brother and Third Brother have it? I'm Dad's own daughter!"
At that point, Jiang Lin'an understood. He patted his sister's head. "I'll go tomorrow."
"Really?!"
Jiang Chuling was overjoyed—even happier than when she scored a hundred on a test!
"Of course it's true. Have I ever lied to you?" Jiang Lin'an said with a smile.
"Yay!" Jiang Chuling cheered excitedly. "Then wait for my signal and we'll give Mom a surprise together!"
Oh my~
How could she be so amazing—she even managed to persuade big brother. If it weren't for her, this family really would fall apart!
It was truly admirable how she, at such a young age, bore the responsibility of keeping the family united.
Saturday.
The night before, Qiuyun had pulled an all-nighter with her colleagues from the art department, and even after waking up she was still yawning continuously.
Yu Heng brought over a glass of warm milk and some bread. "Sister Qiu, have some breakfast."
"Thanks," Qiuyun said gently.
The warm milk went down and immediately made her feel a bit better.
She said softly, "There's something at home around noon so no one can stay here, but we can't go too far. How about coming with me to take a stroll around other parts of the manor?"
Yu Heng nodded. "Okay."
This week, in order to keep his pursuit of his wife from seeming too abrupt, the master of the house had planted several hints—sighing all day long or staring blankly during meetings.
By Saturday, he didn't even go to the group. He drove his Cayenne to the supermarket and bought a load of meat, seafood, and vegetables.
Jiang Chuling, as instructed, had gone out early in the morning with her mother to take photos at the park, and didn't return until noon.
"What's wrong? You've been holding back laughter since we entered the manor?" Yu Xiang reached out to fix her daughter's tousled hair.
Jiang Chuling grinned foolishly and shook her head, then leaned over to cuddle her mother. "Nothing. You just can't be mad at me later, Mom."
The car arrived at the underground floor of Mingyue Tower. Uncle Zhang got out and opened the door. "We're here, ma'am."
"Mm." Yu Xiang stepped out with her daughter. "You have to tell me what it is first, and then I'll decide if I need to be mad."
"Of course it's something good, hehe." Jiang Chuling held her mother's hand, hopping and skipping home. As soon as the elevator doors opened, she couldn't help but call out, "What's that smell? It smells so good!"
"Hm?" Yu Xiang followed her daughter in surprise, and saw Jiang Yihua wearing an apron, setting dishes on the table.
He smiled and greeted them, "You're back. Come wash your hands and eat."
Jiang Chuling glanced nervously at her mother. Seeing that her mother didn't look particularly angry, she took her hand and asked, "Should we go wash our hands, Mom?"
Yu Xiang looked at her daughter, rubbed her head, and sighed. "Fine."
The mother and daughter went to wash their hands together, and just then Jiang Linzhi came back with Jiang Lin'an.
"Lin'an!"
Yu Xiang was astonished and rushed over to hug her son. "You've finally remembered to come back and see your mother after all this time!"
Every time she said she wanted to visit him, he said she didn't need to make the trip, that he'd come back in a few days—but who knew it would take until today before he actually showed up!
Jiang Lin'an patted his mother's back. "It's my fault. I'll come back often from now on."
After the mother and son embraced, Jiang Lin'an looked at his father in the apron. "Dad."
Jiang Yihua's mouth twitched. He hadn't known this ungrateful son was coming back either. "Mm, go wash your hands and eat."
It was a family dinner. Assistant Chen, Qiuyun, and Sister Zhou weren't around. Jiang Lin'an dutifully served rice for his younger sister and brother, and brought goblets for his parents to fill with wine.
Yu Xiang looked at her children all sitting around the table and couldn't help but remark, "It's been over half a year since we all had a meal together."
"The last time was when Little Seven had her birthday," Jiang Linzhi said.
Jiang Yihua quickly chimed in to please her, "If you like, I'll cook for you often."
In front of the children, Yu Xiang didn't want to say anything harsh, so she just smiled without responding.
The one who kept the atmosphere lively was mainly Jiang Chuling. She first talked about winning first place in the long-distance race at her school's sports meet after the new semester, and about being praised by the foreign teacher at her recent English salon, and so on.
After the meal, Jiang Yihua wanted to speak with Yu Xiang alone, and Yu Xiang also had something to say to him—but then Jiang Lin'an stood up. "Mom, Dad, I'd like to join you in the study."
Seeing the three adults heading off for another private talk, Jiang Chuling grew restless. She turned to Jiang Linzhi. "Brother, you're about to become an adult soon. You can join them too!"
"Get lost!" Jiang Linzhi pushed his sister away. "Don't stir up trouble for me. I'm leaving—I'll tell Mom and Dad when I go."
"You're leaving again!" Her scheme to get her brother to join as a spy fell through, and Jiang Chuling put her hands on her hips in frustration. "These days you don't even come home except on weekend nights!"
"The company's busy! I have real business now!" With that, Jiang Linzhi made a quick getaway, not hearing his sister complain behind him, "What's with the busy company—Sister Xiao Qiu juggles several roles and isn't as busy as you!"
In the study.
Jiang Yihua admired his daughter's awards and trophies, not speaking first.
Yu Xiang couldn't stand his pretentious show of giving their son the cold shoulder, so she directly pulled her son aside and asked about his recent life—how things were, how his studies were going, and how he was getting along with his girlfriend.
"We've already broken up," Jiang Lin'an said matter-of-factly.
"What!"
Yu Xiang was shocked. Even Jiang Yihua, who had been keeping out of it, turned around in surprise.
Hah—so much for being so deeply in love and bonded for life. Before even his parents' generation had to step in, they'd split on their own.
Jiang Yihua hadn't even had time to mock him when Jiang Lin'an said calmly, "But I've recently fallen for another girl. Her parents favor sons over daughters, so they treat her badly. She's pitiful."
"..."
Jiang Yihua choked on his breath, his chest tight. He nearly died from fury at this ungrateful son!
Yu Xiang frowned. "Then you should tell that girl to cut ties with her family early on. Don't let her be foolishly devoted to them heart and soul. Don't wait until she's been stripped down to just bones before she wakes up—by then it's too late."
Jiang Lin'an said softly, "I know. I'll tell her."
"Enough!" Jiang Yihua rubbed his forehead. "Tell us what you're here for, and if there's anything, just say it!"
Yu Xiang's eyes widened. "Aren't you the one who came in and immediately turned your back to us to look at Little Seven's awards?"
Jiang Yihua was stumped. He softened his tone. "I've only heard about them from my secretary but never seen them. I happened to see them today, so I just wanted to learn a bit more about our daughter."
Watching his normally mild-tempered mother bicker with his father, Jiang Lin'an curled his lips into a smile. "Mom, don't be angry. Dad's only targeting me—it's not meant to make things hard on you."
