The black car had just stopped at the entrance of Central Mansion when the butler immediately approached.
“Sir, you’re back. The old madam prepared some soup for you and just left. She said—”
“Alright, I know. Let’s go in first,” Cheng Xiyu interrupted the butler with a furrowed brow.
“Ah, yes…” Butler Chen was considered a longtime servant of the Chen family. Although the matter back then had been handled discreetly, he was among those who knew the inside story and understood the tensions between Cheng Xiyu and his mother well.
If the old madam hadn’t pressed step by step back then, that innocent child wouldn’t have ended up… Alas, the grievances of the older generation shouldn’t have involved the next generation.
The butler thought about helping mend the relationship between mother and son, but as a servant, there was only so much he could do.
“Miss Jiang, have you eaten? The small kitchen has prepared some side dishes. Would you like to join the sir for a meal?” the butler said with a smile to Jiang Shu.
Jiang Shu had lived here for three years. She wasn’t a cold-blooded creature—emotions had grown over time.
Butler Chen had genuinely come to regard her as the proper mistress of the household, which made him feel sorry for her. Just because she resembled Miss Bai somewhat, she was kept in the dark by the sir.
In this relationship, those around them could see clearly—Miss Jiang’s eyes would curve into smiles every time she looked at the sir.
She would often gaze at him in a daze. The butler thought that initially, she might have been in it for the money, but later, she developed feelings, refusing to give up until she hit a wall.
He could only hope that after Miss Bai returned, the sir wouldn’t treat Miss Jiang too heartlessly.
Jiang Shu smiled at the butler and went inside to help with the tableware. Her usual demeanor was cool and detached, but in the kitchen, she seemed serene and composed. The small mole on her eyelid added a touch of delicate charm, stirring one’s heart at a glance.
Cheng Xiyu suddenly recalled the first time he saw Jiang Shu—at an exhibition held by Nan University.
Jiang Shu, as a docent, was explaining a Tang Dynasty ceramic jar to others. Dressed in an elegant classical gown, she stood there with a clear, cool presence, her explanations logical and well-structured, clearly showcasing her professional expertise—a true academic achiever.
Cheng Xiyu felt that aside from the small mole on her eyelid, Jiang Shu didn’t resemble Bai Yiyi much elsewhere. In fact, Jiang Shu was prettier.
“Tomorrow… can I go see my mom?” Jiang Shu hesitated but spoke up as she watched Cheng Xiyu eat, her tone full of dependence.
Jiang Shu’s mother had unexpectedly become a vegetative state three years ago. At that time, Jiang Shu was only a sophomore in college, with no means to continue the medical treatment. By chance, she met Cheng Xiyu, and thus began such a relationship. He resolved her mother’s hospitalization and subsequent care issues, allowing her to continue her studies. For Jiang Shu, it had always been a time as if blessed by divine intervention.
Cheng Xiyu snapped out of his reverie. Hearing her soft, gentle voice suddenly lifted his mood.
So well-behaved, even knowing to report her plans. His little Shu was only 22 this year, still a child herself, easily deceived. Those so-called senior brothers and colleagues were all unreliable. He was four years older than her—it was only right that he take better care of her and keep her away from those with ill intentions.
“Tomorrow, I’ll go with you,” Cheng Xiyu said promptly after finishing his meal and wiping his mouth. Having come from the military, even after leaving the service, he retained some soldierly habits. He ate faster than most people and wasn’t picky, yet it didn’t come off as crude. Instead, it gave him a resilient and aloof demeanor, more so than the typical young master of a prominent family.
Usually aloof and distant, she now gazed at him softly and obediently—who could resist such a sight?
Cheng Xiyu stood up and approached her from behind, bracing his hands on the desk. His scorching breath brushed against her snow-white nape. “Let’s go back to the room… Mm…”
Cheng Xiyu’s voice was captivating, and the murmured “Mm” carried a seductive allure. His typically indifferent eyes darkened with an indescribable sensuality.
Jiang Shu glanced at his face, her heart racing wildly. All resistance crumbled as she allowed herself to sink into this intoxication.
The moment the door opened, Cheng Xiyu seized Jiang Shu by the waist, pressing her against the door as he captured her lips in a kiss.
He had longed to do this for so long. Now, finally unleashing his restraint, Jiang Shu secretly clenched his clothes, her cheeks flushing crimson. She slowly closed her eyes, letting him sweep her into the bedroom in a horizontal embrace.
Clothes scattered across the floor. Amidst their movements, she faintly heard Cheng Xiyu’s low voice murmuring in her ear: “Little Shu, do you know?” I’m a little angry…”
Jiang Shu’s mind was too hazy to form a response. Just before drifting off to sleep, she seemed to hear a soft sigh: “Mm… my little fox…”