Chapter 72: Jiang Qi

When Xu Anan awoke, it was already noon. The guest room curtains were so thick that they blocked out most of the sunlight, leaving the room in a dim haze. She turned over, thinking she could sleep a bit longer, but her rumbling stomach forced her up.

After freshening up, Xu Anan made a point to knock on Gu Yang’s door as she passed, peeking inside to find him lying there, unable to do much of anything. The sight reminded her of the time Jiang Li had injured his ribs, and an involuntary smile tugged at her lips.

Gu Yang, noticing Xu Anan approaching with a faint smile on her bare, unadorned face—like a delicate flower bud blooming in the morning—couldn’t take his eyes off her. He could feel his heart racing. Unawares, he realized he was beginning to have different feelings toward Xu Anan, something he hadn’t anticipated.

“How are you feeling today?” Xu Anan asked.

“Much better.”

Gu Yang felt it a little odd to be talking to her while lying down; he considered sitting up, but Xu Anan stopped him in time. “You should really rest properly now. Don’t move around too much, or you might reopen your wounds, and that could be serious.”

She even showed him how to lie more comfortably. Seeing Xu Anan’s apparent expertise, Gu Yang asked, “Have you ever injured your ribs?”

Xu Anan shook her head, smiling. “No, but I’ve cared for a big fool who hurt his ribs before.”

Gu Yang immediately thought of Jiang Li.

“Miss Xu, you’re up? Lunch is ready downstairs,” the butler said as he appeared with Gu Yang’s meal, offering Xu Anan a reminder.

She was already famished and had been thinking of an excuse to leave when the butler arrived. “Alright, I’ll go eat now.”

After Xu Anan left, the butler gently helped Gu Yang sit up. “Miss Xu really cares about you. The moment she woke, she came to check on you—even before eating.”

Hearing this, Gu Yang felt a strange sensation rise in his chest. He made a decision then and there: before Xu Anan officially got together with Jiang Li, he would have to make his move.

…

After lunch, Xu Anan went upstairs to check on Gu Yang again, but he had fallen asleep after his medication. She then went to greet Old Mr. Gu before leaving.

The butler specifically arranged for a driver to take Xu Anan back to the city. On the way, she called Jiang Li. She dialed three times in succession, but Jiang Li never answered, leaving Xu Anan frustrated. He must be busy, she thought—why else wouldn’t he pick up?

Little did she know, Jiang Li was deliberately ignoring her calls. With a gloomy expression, he stared at the phone on his desk. The phone rang only three times before stopping, which irritated him even more. Would it kill her to call one more time?

Knock knock.

Assistant Wang entered, his face dark. “Second Master, it’s been confirmed—our shipment was sabotaged by the eldest young master’s men.”

“And Madam insists you attend tonight’s family dinner.”

Jiang Li’s eyes flashed with disdain when he heard this. Mother and son joining forces against him—how amusing. As expected, tonight’s banquet would be a trap. If he didn’t return the favor with a grand gesture, wouldn’t that be rude?

…

Xu Anan considered going back to the magazine office to work overtime. Since she was nearby, she thought she’d rest there for a bit and snack on some treats in the break room.

Unexpectedly, the editor-in-chief was also at the office, accompanied by a flamboyantly dressed woman. Xu Anan recognized her as Fang Nini’s third aunt—they looked somewhat alike and shared a similar style.

The editor-in-chief spotted Xu Anan and casually handed her a new interview assignment. “I’m sure you know, aside from the iron-handed Second Master at Jiang Corporation, there’s also a rather low-profile eldest young master.”

“Your interview subject is the eldest young master.”

“I’ve already arranged the time with Jiang Qi’s secretary. Go directly to Pear Blossom Residence.”

After giving instructions, the editor-in-chief left with Fang Nini’s third aunt. The latter gave Xu Anan a lingering look of undisguised contempt.

Xu Anan couldn’t be bothered to care and called after the editor-in-chief, “Am I working overtime? Make sure it counts toward my overtime pay!”

“Got it!” The editor-in-chief answered irritably, “Money, money, money—is she obsessed with money or what?”

Third Aunt giggled, “Oh, come now, why get upset over someone like that?”

People who can be bought are always easy to deal with.

Xu Anan prepared thoroughly and took a cab to Pear Blossom Residence, explaining her purpose to the security guard at the gate, who went in to report.

After a while, the guard returned.

“Miss Xu, please come in.”

Xu Anan followed the guard inside. She’d heard of Pear Blossom Residence—it was a lavish estate built by Old Mr. Jiang especially for Jiang Qi, his firstborn son.

She’d heard bits about Old Mr. Jiang’s romantic escapades. He married Jiang Li’s mother back home, but they were poor and there was no wedding. In the second year of marriage, he went to the big city to make his fortune.

It was in Shanghai that he met Jiang Qi’s mother. During his setbacks, she stayed by his side, and he gradually became enraptured by her gentle presence. Still, he returned home twice a year, torn between the two women, unable to let go of either. Jiang Qi’s mother was the first to become pregnant, so he decided to stay in Shanghai. But he hadn’t expected Jiang Li’s mother to become pregnant soon after.

“Hello.”

Hearing the voice, Xu Anan snapped back to attention, putting on a professional smile. “Hello, Mr. Jiang. I’m delighted to interview you today.”

She’d read up on Jiang Qi—though his focus wasn’t on business, he possessed great artistic talent and held art exhibitions around the world every year.

The paintings on the walls were all his own works.

Jiang Qi was handsome, but whereas Jiang Li was bold and domineering, Jiang Qi was gentle—a refined, elegant gentleman. He smiled warmly. “I’m pleased to meet you as well.”

“Before we start the interview, perhaps I could show you a painting I’m about to finish? I believe it will be helpful for our conversation.”

Xu Anan was surprised. Usually, artists don’t show unfinished works to someone they’ve just met, but Jiang Qi was an exception. Since he extended the invitation so graciously, Xu Anan naturally accepted.

Jiang Qi led her to his studio, where an unfinished painting was displayed. Xu Anan stood before it, admiring it closely.

It was a painting about spring.

It seemed to symbolize the beautiful beginnings of life, yet Xu Anan felt something odd about it, though she couldn’t quite put her finger on what.

“Master Jiang.”

Just then, someone hurried in, looking anxious. But when Jiang Qi glanced at him, the man noticed Xu Anan and quickly swallowed whatever he was about to say. Xu Anan noticed it, too.