The young man behind him was his eldest son, Fu Yunzhe. The boy was tall and handsome, dressed in a light-colored suit, with striking features and a touch of the refined elegance characteristic of scions of prominent families. However, a hint of barely perceptible curiosity lingered in his gaze as he looked at Jiang Wenxi.
“You must be Miss Jiang Wenxi?” Fu Shan spoke first, his voice gentle and mellow, pleasant to the ear. He nodded slightly, stepping aside to let Fu Yunzhe through, and introduced, “Hello, I am Fu Shan, the eldest son of the Fu family. This is my son, Fu Yunzhe.”
Fu Yunzhe quickly stepped forward and bowed slightly, “Hello, Miss Jiang.”
“Hearing that Miss Jiang would be coming today, my father has been waiting in the hall, hoping to meet you,” Fu Shan said warmly yet tactfully, expressing his importance without seeming overly flattering.
Jiang Wenxi nodded slightly in return, her back straight, her posture composed and unhurried, her voice clear and appropriate: “Greetings, Mr. Fu, greetings, Young Master Fu. I’m so sorry to have troubled you, Old Master Fu, to wait for me. I hope I’m not late.”
“No, no, no, the timing is perfect.” Fu Shan quickly waved his hand with a smile, his gaze subtly falling behind Jiang Wenxi. Jiang Kun was holding a long, narrow brocade box in both hands. The box was made of fine sandalwood, without excessive ornamentation, only simple cloud patterns carved on the edges, exuding an understated solemnity; one could tell at a glance that it contained elegant objects.
Jiang Wenxi, with her keen perception, instantly understood. She gestured to Jiang Kun with her chin, indicating for him to step forward: “A small gift, specially chosen for Mr. Fu, I hope he will like it.”
“Miss Jiang, you’re too kind. Your presence is an honor, there’s no need for such expense.” Fu Shan said politely, but quickly gestured for Fu Yunzhe to step forward, solemnly accepting the brocade box with both hands. He then gestured for him to come in, his smile becoming even more gentle. “Please come in, my father can’t wait to meet you, his new neighbor.”
The moment they stepped into the Fu family villa, the noisy atmosphere, mixed with the faint scent of champagne and perfume, filled the air.
The spacious living room was decorated with extraordinary grandeur, crystal chandeliers reflecting dazzling light, famous calligraphy and paintings hanging on the walls, and valuable antique ornaments in the corners. The guests present were all wealthy and influential; the men were dressed in sharp suits, the women were adorned with jewels, and their conversation was filled with the decorum and politeness of high society. The fact that the Fu family could secure their place at Villa No. 3 in the Tan Palace speaks volumes about their power and status in Shanghai.
Fu Shan, as the head of the Fu family, oversees the vast family business and listed company affairs, making him the central figure at the entire birthday banquet. After exchanging a few pleasantries with Jiang Wenxi, he was surrounded by guests, his face always bearing a polite smile, though he couldn’t hide the weariness between his brows.
“Miss Jiang, I’m truly sorry to take a moment to leave.” Before turning away, Fu Shan nodded apologetically to Jiang Wenxi, then instructed Fu Yunzhe beside him, “Xiao Zhe, accompany Miss Jiang to explore the place properly. Make sure you treat our distinguished guest with the utmost hospitality and don’t neglect her.”
“Yes, Father,” Fu Yunzhe replied, his gaze falling on Jiang Wenxi with a touch of seriousness.
Jiang Wenxi nodded slightly, indicating it was alright.
Behind her, Jiang Kun, from the moment he entered the living room, had tactfully taken three steps back. He stood with his hands at his sides, his posture upright like a pine tree. His gaze calmly swept across the surroundings, neither getting too close to disturb the two young people’s conversation, nor letting Jiang Wenxi’s figure out of his sight. He kept a watchful eye on the surrounding activity, ensuring his young lady’s safety and dignity.
Fu Yunzhe looked at the composed and serene young woman before him, his curiosity growing stronger. He stepped aside and gestured “please,” his tone friendly: “Miss Jiang, the hall is crowded and noisy. How about I take you to sit in the garden? It’s quieter there, and you can also see some of my father’s orchid collection.”
The two strolled slowly among the elegantly dressed guests, the light from the crystal chandelier falling on the hem of Jiang Wenxi’s moon-white cheongsam, creating shimmering patterns. Fu Yunzhe glanced at the composed young woman beside him and broke the silence first, his tone carrying just the right amount of curiosity: “I heard that Miss Jiang only recently returned to the country?”
“Yes.” Jiang Wenxi’s fingertips lightly brushed the soft mink fur of her shawl, her voice light. “I had been living abroad for a while, and only officially returned to the country a few days ago.”
Upon hearing this, Fu Yunzhe paused slightly, a hint of inquiry flashing in his eyes
. His tone seemed casual, but it actually carried a subtle probing: “So, Miss Jiang, is your return to the country to settle down long-term, or do you have other plans?” Jiang Wenxi looked up at him, a faint, aloof smile on her lips, and said unhurriedly: “I’d say I’m back to settle down. Some of my family’s businesses in the country have been idle for a long time, so I’m back to take over and manage them slowly.”
These words sounded calm, but to Fu Yunzhe, they were like a thunderbolt, making him suddenly alert and alert.
The Fu family has cultivated deep roots in Shanghai’s business world for decades, with businesses spanning from real estate to finance, firmly establishing a significant market share. However, the business pie is only so big, and now a woman with an unclear background, Jiang Wenxi, who has suddenly appeared and acquired the Tan Palace No. 1 Villa and a Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost, is returning to take over the family business. The forces behind this are likely far deeper than he imagined.
If her businesses overlap with the Fu family’s, future clashes of interests are inevitable.
Fu Yunzhe’s nonchalance faded considerably, and his gaze towards Jiang Wenxi became more serious, even his tone softening: “I see. Miss Jiang, at such a young age, you’re already taking charge of the family business; truly a woman who doesn’t yield to men.”
Jiang Wenxi had already seen through Fu Yunzhe’s intentions.
The wariness and probing in his eyes were completely undisguised. But Jiang Wenxi didn’t intend to hide it—she planned to leverage the system to expand her business on a considerable scale, which couldn’t be concealed from a large family like the Fu family, deeply rooted in Shanghai for decades. Moreover, with the Infinite Black Card and the System Mall at her disposal, she naturally didn’t need to deliberately conceal her brilliance.
After a few more polite exchanges, Fu Yunzhe glanced at his watch, a hint of apology on his face, and turned to Jiang Wenxi, saying gently, “Miss Jiang, please feel free to browse around. I have some matters to attend to. The upcoming events should be quite lively, so don’t miss them.”
Jiang Wenxi naturally understood the implication. She nodded and smiled slightly, her tone aloof yet polite, “Alright, you go ahead with your work.”
Fu Yunzhe nodded, turned, and strode quickly towards the other side of the banquet hall, where a steward from the Fu family was waving to him.
Jiang Wenxi stood still, her gaze sweeping over the guests not far away, quickly discerning the upcoming events from their casual conversation.