5:00 PM, Group B.
“Cut! Good work, everyone.” The assistant director finished filming the last shot and pulled out his phone to check messages.
“Xiao Qiao, Teacher Jiang is on leave, and the director didn’t schedule any scenes for you tonight. You should get some rest.”
“Okay.” Qiao Shu’s captivating fox-like eyes lit up. Perfect—this saved her the trouble of making up an excuse to ask for leave.
“Chu Xin, I need to go home tonight. If there’s nothing urgent, you can head home too.”
“Oh, okay. Thank you, Sister Qiao.” Chu Xin was momentarily stunned. The treatment on the first day of work was just too good.
A little over ten minutes later, by the roadside.
Wrapped in a black down coat, Qiao Shu’s palm-sized face was hidden behind a mask as she hailed a taxi on the side of the road.
Once inside the car, Qiao Shu took out her phone and opened WeChat. Looking closely, she saw that Jiang Tu hadn’t sent her any messages.
Qiao Shu frowned. Had Jiang Tu forgotten?
“Miss, where to?”
Snapping back to reality, Qiao Shu remembered she hadn’t bought a gift yet. “To the nearest large shopping mall, please.”
Jiang Tu’s father was an antique restorer, and the Jiang family was a wealthy, established clan. They probably lacked nothing. Qiao Shu felt troubled—she had no idea what gift to buy.
After much deliberation, Qiao Shu bought a purple clay teapot set. Older folks should enjoy tea, right?
“Buzz—”
Her phone vibrated inside her bag.
Qiao Shu guessed it was Jiang Tu. She took out her phone and saw it was indeed that familiar string of numbers, then swiped to answer.
“Where are you?”
“I’m at the largest shopping mall on South Ring Road.”
“Wait there.”
Before Qiao Shu could say anything, the call was disconnected. Qiao Shu’s lips twitched slightly. Was Jiang Tu coming to pick her up?
Afraid of being spotted by paparazzi, Qiao Shu paused for a moment, then bought a wig and put on a knit cap.
Looking at herself in the mirror, Qiao Shu showed a satisfied smile. Perfect. Even if Zhang Qian stood right in front of her, she wouldn’t recognize her.
It was getting late, so Qiao Shu left the mall.
“Buzz…”
Qiao Shu swiped to answer the call, and that familiar, magnetic, deep voice reached her ears.
“Exit and turn right. License plate ending in 0399.”
Qiao Shu paused. “Okay.”
Qiao Shu walked to the spot Jiang Tu mentioned and casually glanced around. License plate ending in 0399.
A Rolls-Royce Phantom?
Qiao Shu halted, her pupils contracting slightly. Jiang Tu would drive such a flashy car? A luxury vehicle, indeed.
Qiao Shu looked around to make sure nothing was out of the ordinary, then opened the passenger door and got in.
After Qiao Shu got in, Jiang Tu glanced sideways at the passenger seat. The girl was wearing a bulky down coat, her small face hidden behind a mask, revealing only a pair of captivating fox-like eyes.
Long hair?
Qiao Shu took off her mask. The car was warm, and if she didn’t remove it, she’d start sweating.
Then, she took off her hat and wig.
Catching sight of this out of the corner of his eye, Jiang Tu’s lips twitched slightly. Fully armed and wrapped up tightly.
Qiao Shu fixed her hair using her phone’s reflection. Short hair was convenient, but in winter, the wind could make her look like a crazy woman.
Once she had tidied herself up, Qiao Shu glanced toward the driver’s seat and only then noticed how striking Jiang Tu’s profile was. The man’s facial features were sharp and well-defined, with a jawline that extended perfectly down to his neck.
“What did you buy?”
Qiao Shu snapped back to attention. “I didn’t know what your father likes, so I bought a purple clay teapot set.”
The girl’s soft voice carried a hint of a nasal tone. Jiang Tu’s hand on the steering wheel paused briefly before he started the engine.
“Didn’t you say you were feeling much better?”
Qiao Shu stiffened slightly. “I am much better.”
The man didn’t speak again. Qiao Shu stared straight ahead at the road, reluctant to admit how nervous she felt at that moment.
She had never met Jiang Tu’s parents before, only knowing their professions. She was a bit afraid of his mother—her mother-in-law.
Su Xi was a strong, capable woman. Would her personality be too cold and rigid? How was she supposed to get along with them?
“My parents are easy to get along with.”
A deep, magnetic voice, rich as a cello, interrupted her thoughts. Qiao Shu stiffened all over.
“Just be yourself.”
Qiao Shu forced herself to nod. “Okay.”
They remained silent for the rest of the journey.
At 5:55 PM, the Rolls-Royce entered the underground parking lot of a standalone villa far from the city center.
Qiao Shu’s palms were sweating. It was a lie to say she wasn’t nervous. Her marriage to Jiang Tu had been arranged by their grandfathers since childhood. She didn’t know if Su Xi already had a preferred daughter-in-law in mind.
“We’re here.” Jiang Tu glanced toward the passenger seat, unbuckled his seatbelt, got out of the car, and went to retrieve items from the trunk.
“Okay.” Qiao Shu nodded in response.
Qiao Shu got out of the car holding the gifts she had prepared for Jiang Tu’s parents. Jiang Tu had already gathered his things and was walking toward her.
Jiang Tu looked at the girl before him with half-lowered eyelids and parted his thin lips slightly. “Let me carry those.”
Qiao Shu hesitated for a few seconds before handing him the items in her hands. Then, the two took the elevator upstairs.
Inside the elevator, Qiao Shu gripped the chain of her purse tightly and glanced up at the floor numbers. Help, I’m so nervous…
“Are you nervous?”
“Not at all.” Qiao Shu tried to keep her voice steady, forcing a stiff smile.
“Hmm.” Jiang Tu couldn’t help but let the corners of his lips curl upward. Clearly nervous, yet still putting up a front.
Qiao Shu lowered her gaze. Hmm, my foot.
With a “ding,” the elevator doors opened.
“We’re here.” Jiang Tu glanced down at her.
Stepping out of the elevator, they were greeted by a house decorated in a Chinese retro style—warm, cozy, and luxurious.
Just then, a middle-aged woman walked toward them. “Young Master, Young Madam, you’re back.”
“Aunt Zhong, long time no see,” Jiang Tu said, glancing at Qiao Shu. “She’s the housekeeper. Just call her Aunt Zhong.”
Qiao Shu smiled and nodded. “Hello, Aunt Zhong.”
“Hello, come in quickly.” Aunt Zhong revealed a kind, amiable smile, the crow’s feet at the corners of her eyes clearly visible.
Qiao Shu secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
“Aunt Zhong, is that Xiao Tu and Xiao Qiao back?”
Suddenly, a deep, resonant voice reached her ears. Qiao Shu clenched her hands tightly. This must be Jiang Tu’s father.
“Yes, sir.” Aunt Zhong turned and replied. “Young Master, let me take those for you.”
Jiang Tu handed the items to Aunt Zhong, took off his overcoat, and hung it on the coat rack in the entryway before changing his shoes.
Qiao Shu paused for a moment, then removed her bulky down jacket. Underneath, she wore a burgundy velvet maxi dress with a white lace design at the collar, looking dignified and elegant.
Jiang Tu bent down and took a brand-new pair of women’s slippers from the shoe cabinet, placing them in front of Qiao Shu. “These are new.”
“Thank you.” Qiao Shu changed her shoes.
Once Qiao Shu had changed her shoes, Jiang Tu took her hand. The touch was delicate and cool, causing him to pause slightly.
Qiao Shu stiffened all over. Hold hands? Are they supposed to act very affectionate in front of the Jiang family?
Jiang Tu lowered his gaze to look at her. “Let’s go.”
Qiao Shu nodded, secretly relieved that she had just wiped the cold sweat from her palms. If Jiang Tu knew she was so nervous that her hands were sweating, it would be utterly embarrassing.
The two made their way to the living room.
This was Qiao Shu’s first time meeting Jiang Guanqing and Su Xi. She froze for a moment, stunned by the Jiang couple’s exceptional looks. No wonder Jiang Tu was so handsome.
“Mom, Dad, we’re back.” Jiang Tu tightened his grip on Qiao Shu’s hand, his eyes gentle.
Qiao Shu suddenly snapped back to reality, giving a slight nod. “Mom, Dad, hello! I’m Qiao Shu.”