He was around sixty years old, with most of his temples already white, yet he showed no signs of age.
His eyes were bright and piercing, revealing a sharpness and composure honed by years of experience. A well-tailored dark gray Zhongshan suit accentuated his tall, upright figure; he was easily over six feet tall, his back straight as a pine tree, clearly the result of years of exercise and robust health.
“Uncle Jiang,” Jiang Wenxi nodded slightly, her tone natural and without a trace of awkwardness.
The address seemed ingrained in her very being, uttering itself effortlessly. Jiang Kun bowed respectfully, his gaze falling on the suitcase beside her. Just as he was about to offer his assistance, a man in a sharp black suit strode forward, deftly taking the suitcase, maintaining a perfectly respectful distance throughout, saying little and never overstepping his bounds.
The two men, one after the other, led Jiang Wenxi to the parking area outside the airport.
A Rolls-Royce Phantom in obsidian black sat quietly in its designated parking space. Its sleek lines, like a work of art, gleamed with understated luxury in the sunlight, contrasting sharply with the surrounding vehicles.
The driver’s side door opened, and a man in his thirties stepped out. He wore a well-fitting suit, crisp white gloves, and his hair was meticulously combed. His gentle features and professional demeanor exuded sophistication.
He quickly walked around to the rear door, elegantly opened it, and bowed slightly, his voice gentle and respectful: “Welcome home, Miss. Please get in.”
Jiang Wenxi’s gaze swept over the heavy door before settling on the man’s impeccable manners. A faint smile played on her lips as she softly said, “Thank you.”
She bent down and sat inside. The soft leather seats enveloped her, offering just the right warmth. A faint scent of cedar filled the air, fresh and elegant, instantly relaxing her.
Jiang Kun followed her into the passenger seat, and the driver gently closed the door, the movement almost inaudible.
After everything was settled, Jiang Kun turned around and respectfully asked Jiang Wenxi in the back seat,
“Miss, the normal driving time from the airport to Tan Palace is one hour and forty minutes. You’ve just gotten off the plane and must be tired from the journey. Would you like to find a hotel to rest and have something to eat first, or go straight back to the villa?”
“Let’s go straight back to the villa.” Jiang Wenxi leaned back in her seat, her fingertips brushing against the car window, a hint of anticipation flashing in her eyes. “I want to see the new home as soon as possible.”
“Okay.” Jiang Kun responded, then instructed the driver in front, “Let’s go.”
The car smoothly drove away from the parking area and merged into the traffic.
Jiang Wenxi looked at the street scene rushing past the window and suddenly remembered something, asking the system in her mind, “System, are all the people in this butler team surnamed Jiang?”
After all, the butler’s name was Jiang Kun, which sounded like the same surname as hers.
[Of course, host.] The system’s voice carried a hint of certainty. [They were created exclusively for you by the system, born to protect you, and absolutely loyal to you.] “Naturally, I’ll take your surname, Jiang.”
Jiang Wenxi paused, then chuckled softly.
Looking out at the bustling city, she felt a sudden, unprecedented sense of peace.
Perhaps this unexpected time travel was truly a compensation from heaven.
In this strange world, she finally had a place she could call “home,” and a group of people who truly belonged to her.
The vehicle moved smoothly forward, carrying her towards a brand new life.
“Do I still need to pay them salaries?” Jiang Wenxi tapped her knee, suddenly realizing this practical problem. A housekeeping team, drivers, security—so many people revolving around her; she couldn’t let them work for free. ”
No need, host.” The system’s mechanical voice was crisp and efficient. “All expenses of the housekeeping team, including salaries, social security, and daily necessities, will be directly covered by the system. The host doesn’t need to use a single penny of their black card.”
“Okay.” Jiang Wenxi raised an eyebrow, increasingly feeling that this system was a lazy person’s dream. Even the cost of hiring was saved; this posture of lying down was truly the ultimate in laziness.
The Rolls-Royce Phantom smoothly drove out of the bustling city center. The skyscrapers outside the window were gradually replaced by lush greenery. The plane trees lining the roads were full of leaves, sunlight filtering through the foliage and casting dappled shadows on the ground.
The further the car went, the fewer houses there were, and the fresher the air became. About ten minutes later, a magnificent, ornate iron gate appeared before them.
The gate was over three meters high, made entirely of pure copper, and engraved with intricate European patterns. The words “Tan Palace” were inlaid in gold on the lintel, exuding an understated yet indescribable luxury.
In the security booth beside the gate, two security guards in crisp uniforms had already noticed the car.
Seeing it slowly approach, a young guard quickly opened the door and ran out, his face displaying just the right amount of respect. He bowed slightly to the car window: “Hello, Miss Jiang, welcome home.”
Jiang Wenxi looked up at the sound of his voice, smiled at him through the window, and then gestured to the driver in front.
The driver understood, gently pressing the accelerator. The ornate iron gate slowly opened to both sides, and the car smoothly drove in, leaving only two tire tracks on the smooth asphalt road.
Watching the car’s receding figure, the young security guard, Xiao Li, couldn’t help but scratch his head. He turned to Captain Liu, who was standing at the security booth, and asked curiously,
“Captain, who is this, Miss Jiang? Why do you ask me to treat her with such respect? She looks so young, maybe in her early twenties at most?”
Captain Liu’s gaze was still fixed on the direction the car had disappeared. Hearing this, he looked away, glanced at Xiao Li indifferently, and said with a hint of warning in his voice,
“Don’t ask what you shouldn’t ask. Everyone living in this Tan Palace is a high-ranking figure who can make Shanghai tremble with a stomp of their foot. We security guards need to observe more, listen more, and speak less. If we’re not careful, we might lose our jobs.”
He paused, lowered his voice, and added, “Besides, I inquired, and this Miss Jiang is the owner of Villa No. 1.”
“What?!” Xiao Li’s eyes widened in shock, almost jumping up. “Villa No. 1? The one with the largest plot of land, a private pool, and a golf course? It was actually bought by a young girl?”
That’s Villa No. 1 of the entire Tan Palace! The most luxurious detached villa in the entire Tan Palace, it’s said that its asking price was hundreds of millions back then, and countless wealthy people were scrambling to buy it, but it changed hands quietly in the end. I never expected the new owner to be so young!
Captain Liu patted Xiao Li on the shoulder, his sharp eyes sweeping towards the distant tree-lined area, and said, “You think she’s easy to mess with just because she’s young?
Didn’t you see the old man sitting in the passenger seat? That look, that demeanor, he’s obviously a seasoned butler with top-notch professional training.
Anyone who can afford someone like that must have a huge force behind them that we can’t afford to offend. From now on, when you see this Miss Jiang, it’s best to be respectful.”