The next day.
After waking up in the morning, Jiang Wan went to freshen up.
Gu Shilan had prepared a complete set of luxury skincare and makeup products for her.
From the numerous bottles, Jiang Wan simply chose a plain-looking moisturizer, applied it, then gathered her hair into a ponytail at the back of her head.
Though wearing no makeup, she looked radiant and captivating.
Once ready, Jiang Wan went downstairs.
Aunt Zhang was setting breakfast on the dining table.
Jiang Wan glanced around but did not see Gu Shilan anywhere.
Could he have gone to work this early?
“Young Master usually exercises for a while in the mornings,” Aunt Zhang explained perceptively. “It’s a habit he’s had for years.”
Jiang Wan’s cheeks flushed slightly. She was just looking around casually, but Aunt Zhang made it sound as if she were deliberately searching for Gu Shilan.
“Oh.”
She responded and walked over to sit at the table but did not touch the food.
Two sets of bowls and chopsticks were placed on the table. A steamer of soup dumplings had just been uncovered by Aunt Zhang, still emitting white steam.
“Young Madam, Young Master instructed that you should eat first and not wait for him.”
Aunt Zhang placed a bowl of snow fungus porridge on the table in front of Jiang Wan.
Feeling it would be impolite to eat alone, Jiang Wan said, “I’ll wait for him.”
Aunt Zhang thought to herself that this girl was truly sensible and well-mannered. She couldn’t understand what the Jiang family was thinking—neglecting such a good daughter while doting on that spoiled second daughter.
Aunt Zhang worried that the dumplings would get cold, wasting Young Master’s thoughtful gesture.
“Young Madam, Young Master was concerned that you might not eat well due to morning sickness, so he specifically asked the kitchen to make crab roe soup dumplings for you. They won’t taste as good if they get cold.”
Gu Shilan was worried that Jiang Wan might only eat plain porridge and side dishes, which wouldn’t provide enough nutrition. Last night, he had specifically instructed the kitchen to prepare crab roe soup dumplings for breakfast. The chef had gotten up early to extract crab meat, spending an hour to prepare a small bowl of crab roe, timing it perfectly to be ready for breakfast.
Hearing this, Jiang Wan was momentarily taken aback, then felt a slight warmth in her heart.
“Thank you for telling me, Aunt Zhang. Otherwise, I might have wasted Uncle Gu’s thoughtful gesture and the chef’s hard work.”
With that, she picked up her chopsticks, took a dumpling, and took a small bite. The broth was fragrant and delicious, and the soft texture warmed her stomach instantly.
“Young Madam, this is your home now. You don’t need to be reserved. Young Master is a very good person.”
Aunt Zhang spoke candidly but was observant. Yesterday, she had noticed that Young Madam held a special place in Young Master’s heart.
Apart from Old Madam, she had never seen Young Master care so much about anyone else.
Jiang Wan smiled. “I know, Aunt Zhang.”
After serving a bowl of porridge for Gu Shilan, Aunt Zhang went to attend to other tasks.
As Jiang Wan was quietly sipping her porridge, she heard footsteps on the stairs.
She looked up and saw Gu Shilan descending halfway down the staircase.
He was wearing a white shirt, the collar slightly open, faintly revealing the outline of his well-defined chest muscles.
The hair on his forehead fell naturally, not yet styled as usual. It seemed he had just taken a shower, as the fair skin on his neck still carried a barely noticeable flush.
What Jiang Wan didn’t know was that this wasn’t due to the shower.
It was the lingering effect of increased blood flow after his morning workout.
The intense desires that surged in the early morning always needed an outlet.
He fastened his diamond cufflinks as he descended the stairs.
Upon meeting Jiang Wan’s gaze, his Adam’s apple moved slightly, and he said softly, “Good morning.”
Jiang Wan swallowed the porridge in her mouth with effort, averted her eyes, and stared at her bowl, feeling slightly uneasy as she replied, “Good morning…”
In her memory, Gu Shilan had always been dressed in impeccably ironed suits, his hair meticulously combed, exuding an aloof coldness that kept strangers at a distance.
When had she ever seen Gu Shilan like this—restrained yet tinged with a hint of laziness?
Jiang Wan was momentarily at a loss.
Gu Shilan watched Jiang Wan’s little head struggling with the bowl of porridge.
A smile flickered in his eyes as he wondered if she was saying “good morning” to the porridge.
“Wanwan.” Noticing that only one steamed bun was missing from the bamboo steamer, Gu Shilan frowned and asked, “Is breakfast not to your liking?”
Hearing Gu Shilan speak to her, Jiang Wan had no choice but to look up—it would be impolite not to. “No, it’s delicious.”
Gu Shilan replied, “Then eat a bit more.”
Jiang Wan nodded but immediately lowered her head again.
Gu Shilan frowned. She hadn’t been like this yesterday—why was she so uneasy now?
Always perceptive, he glanced at Jiang Wan’s slightly reddened earlobes and suddenly realized the reason for her discomfort.
A wave of regret washed over him. It hadn’t been intentional. Without a word, Gu Shilan quietly buttoned up his shirt completely.
“Wanwan, I’ll be heading to work soon. If you want to go anywhere, you can ask the driver to take you.”
He knew that as soon as he spoke, Jiang Wan would inevitably look up at him.
Sure enough, the moment his words fell, that little head popped up instantly.
Seeing that all the buttons on Gu Shilan’s shirt were back in place, Jiang Wan secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
“Uncle Gu, I don’t have anywhere to go today. I’ll wait for you to come home from work.”
Jiang Wan didn’t think much of it when she said this, but Gu Shilan couldn’t help feeling a surge of happiness upon hearing the last part.
“Mm, alright.”
After breakfast, Gu Shilan left for the company.
On the second floor, Gu Shilan had specially set up a studio for Jiang Wan.
All the painting supplies were fully stocked inside.
Jiang Wan’s favorite thing to do was to paint with a brush.
She could sketch the world in her heart—with Mom, with flowers, with a happy family. Immersed in the boundless world of painting, free and unrestrained, she could temporarily forget her worries.
Jiang Wan sat in front of the easel, having just picked up her brush to outline a rough stroke, when faint noises drifted up from downstairs.
Jiang Wan went out to check. As she reached the corner of the staircase, she saw Aunt Zhang hurrying upstairs with excitement.
“Young Madam.” Seeing Jiang Wan, Aunt Zhang said with a smile, “Our Old Madam has come to see you.”
Hearing this, Jiang Wan was momentarily stunned.
Old Mrs. Gu—wasn’t that Gu Shilan’s grandmother?
Jiang Wan suddenly grew nervous. She hadn’t expected Old Mrs. Gu to visit so abruptly. She wasn’t prepared at all—what should she say to avoid making mistakes?
And would Old Mrs. Gu disapprove of her being Gu Shilan’s wife?
After all, she was just an unloved, down-on-her-luck heiress.
Following Aunt Zhang downstairs, Jiang Wan’s mind raced with anxious thoughts.
As soon as she entered the living room, she saw an elderly woman wearing a modified cheongsam sitting on the sofa.
The woman’s hair was already streaked with gray, but her skin was well-maintained. Though her eyes bore the marks of time, they didn’t show weariness, making her look younger than her actual age—one could easily believe she was in her sixties.
Just as Jiang Wan nervously prepared to call her “Grandma,”
she was preempted by Old Mrs. Gu.
“This must be Xiao Wan, right? Come over quickly and let Grandma take a look.” Old Mrs. Gu greeted her warmly, her face full of kindness.
Old Mrs. Gu’s reaction promptly eased Jiang Wan’s nervousness.
She walked over and softly greeted, “Hello, Grandma.”
Old Mrs. Gu took her hand and had her sit beside her.
Jiang Wan was wearing a creamy white knitted sweater today, which made her skin appear as fair as snow. Her face was serene, and her pair of large, dark eyes were as pure as glass. In the eyes of others, she looked both well-behaved and graceful.
Old Mrs. Gu had long heard about the matters of the Jiang family but had never met Jiang Wan before.
It could be said to be fate. Today, upon seeing Jiang Wan for the first time, Old Mrs. Gu took an instant liking to her and genuinely grew fond of this child.
“Good child,” Old Mrs. Gu responded and asked with concern, “How old are you this year?”