Chapter 37: The Password Is Her Birthday

Xu An’an hurried back to the Xu family home, and had barely stepped through the door when a teapot nearly struck her. Luckily, she dodged in time—otherwise, she would surely have been disfigured.

The living room was crowded. All the key members of the family were present, with Father Xu and Shen Ying seated at the center, and Xu Wanwan beside them, her face gleaming with malicious delight.

“Well, you finally decided to come home. We’ve all been waiting,” someone sneered. “If you marry into the Jiang family later, won’t you be even more unruly?”

The speakers were Father Xu’s two sisters, who had always looked down on Xu An’an, treating her as if she were nothing more than a servant in the Xu household.

The eldest aunt shot her a sidelong glare. “Don’t you know how to greet people? Such poor manners—did your mother never teach you?”

Xu An’an drew a deep breath.

Unbowed, she greeted everyone present, one by one.

“Eldest Aunt, you may insult me, but please don’t insult my mother. Her guidance has always been exemplary. She is the mistress of the Xu household, so your words are not only questioning her, but the family itself.” Xu An’an walked over to Shen Ying’s side, her demeanor demure.

With these words, she cleverly drew Shen Ying into the fray.

Everyone knew that ever since Xu An’an was brought back to the Xu family, it was Shen Ying who had guided her, since Mother Xu, frail and ill, had always needed treatment.

The eldest aunt’s words were, in effect, a slap in Shen Ying’s face.

Shen Ying’s expression darkened.

She disliked Xu An’an, but even so, one must show respect for the mistress.

“Eldest Sister, if you have any dissatisfaction with me, feel free to speak directly,” Shen Ying said.

The previously contemptuous aunt suddenly grew anxious, glaring fiercely at Xu An’an. “No, I was talking about Jiang Qiang. It’s her fault for not teaching Xu An’an properly. Now she’s languishing in the ICU, burning through money, and leaving this mess for you to deal with.”

“Yes, exactly,” the second aunt chimed in, seizing the chance to shift the blame. “Honestly, with her condition, spending all that money is a pure waste. Wouldn’t it be better if she just died? The money saved could be given to our Wanwan as dowry.”

Xu An’an trembled with rage, forcing a twisted smile. “Second Aunt, you have quite the sense of humor. Stealing from a sick woman’s funds—if word got out, people might think the Xu family is on the brink of bankruptcy.”

“The worst would be if the Jiang family found out, don’t you think, Mother?”

And so, their two attackers were silenced. Shen Ying pressed a hand to her chest, rubbing it as though to ease the sting. “Enough, enough. We’re all family here—it’s just a joke.”

A joke? Family?

Xu An’an laughed coldly inside. She was the only one standing, as if on trial.

“Go on,” she said.

“The Jiang family’s second master is choosing a partner—you know about that, right? Arrange for Wanwan to be included.” Shen Ying tossed a file in front of Xu An’an. “It’s just a matter of a word. I’m sure Young Master Jiang will do us this favor.”

Xu An’an picked up the file.

At first glance, she nearly laughed aloud.

With such a resume, lost among a hundred thousand others, she wouldn’t even spare it a tenth of a second.

This family were all dreamers—such audacity!

“Alright, I’ll speak to Jiang Yu.”

“And your two cousins!” The aunts quickly produced their own prepared files; they’d come tonight for this very purpose, even skipping dinner.

Shen Ying’s gaze was openly disdainful.

“Yes, your two cousins as well.”

“My Qiqi has blossomed into a beauty—she’d win any pageant,” boasted one aunt.

“My Xiaoyun is no less,” said the other.

They were like street vendors, each bragging about their own wares.

Xu An’an inwardly mocked them all, gathering the files. “Mother, if there’s nothing else, I’ll deliver these to Jiang Yu now.”

“Let Uncle Liu take you,” Shen Ying said.

Xu An’an had never had such an escort before. She lowered her gaze and laughed coldly, knowing Shen Ying simply wanted a chaperone to ensure the files reached Jiang Yu.

So Uncle Liu drove her to Jiang Yu’s apartment building.

He urged her to go up. “I’ll wait here until you’re inside, then I’ll leave.”

Left with no choice, Xu An’an tried calling Jiang Yu, but he didn’t answer, leaving her frustrated. She went to the keypad.

Nothing to lose—she entered her own birthday.

Miraculously, it worked!

Beep beep.

The door downstairs unlocked.

Xu An’an stepped inside and walked straight to the elevator, her mind in turmoil. She never expected Jiang Yu to use her birthday as the password.

But she quickly dismissed the notion.

After all, there were other residents in the building—perhaps someone else had the same birthday.

“Miss Xu, what are you doing here?”

As she exited the elevator, Xu An’an bumped into Assistant Wang, who looked equally surprised. “I’m here to see Jiang Yu. What about you? Do you live here?”

As far as she knew, this was the Riverside Apartments—each unit worth over a million.

It seemed that working for Jiang Li truly came with perks.

Assistant Wang smiled and shook her head. “Not at all. I’m just here to fetch something for Second Master. By the way, have you reviewed the pageant files?”

“No rush, no rush. I should finish by tomorrow,” Xu An’an replied with a laugh, quickly slipping away.

She suspected Assistant Wang wasn’t really in a hurry—just liked to prod her. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to leave the hospital so easily.

Xu An’an stood before Jiang Yu’s door and pressed the bell.

Ding dong, ding dong!

No one answered.

She tried the password—her birthday again.

“Beep beep, incorrect password.”

“Beep beep, incorrect password.”

It worked downstairs, but upstairs it was wrong. Xu An’an turned back, wondering if she’d made a mistake.

She’d only visited a handful of times.

So she tried the opposite door.

“Beep beep, password accepted.”

Xu An’an couldn’t help but laugh at herself—she’d truly mixed things up.

She pushed the door open and looked around, but Jiang Yu was nowhere to be seen. The interior decor, however, was completely transformed.

Curious, she wondered where Jiang Yu had found such a designer.

This new furnishing was easily twice as good as before.

“Jiang Yu? Jiang Yu?”

Then, Xu An’an noticed a photo frame on the cabinet. At a glance, she recognized it—it was the same as the one in Jiang Li’s home.

Jiang Yu actually kept Jiang Li’s photo at home!

Wait, could it be...

Xu An’an had a sudden realization. She entered the master bedroom and opened the wardrobe. Sure enough, it was filled with Jiang Li’s clothes—she had unwittingly entered Jiang Li’s home!

Just as she was about to leave, Jiang Yu returned.

Through the door, she heard Jiang Yu’s voice.

And Ning Xiyue’s.

“Yu, is it really alright for me to come to your house?”

“We’re friends. Why wouldn’t it be?” Jiang Yu said, holding Ning Xiyue close, attempting to show off as he entered the password with one hand.

“Beep beep, incorrect password.”

“After three consecutive incorrect entries, the door has been locked.”