As Song Xiaoqing returned from her shopping trip with Jiang Xuan, a call from Mr. Jiang hurried her back to a scene that immediately seized her attention. Stepping off the car, she saw the driver loading luggage into a car for Su Yue and Jiang Ci.
“What are you doing?” Song Xiaoqing demanded, stepping forward.
Jiang Ci merely curled his lips, his voice sharp. “Can’t you see clearly? We are Moving!”
Song Xiaoqing’s brows furrowed, displeasure lacing her tone. “Why this sudden decision to move? Even if you don’t want to rest, You can’t just pack up and leave… where do you even go? What will people say about the Jiang family, driving out their eldest son?”
“Oh, so the old man couldn’t keep me, and now you’re trying to stop me?” Jiang Ci retorted casually.
Song Xiaoqing was momentarily stunned. This eldest son had never been close to her, never heeded her words, always acting willfully and recklessly. It was precisely why she favored her younger son.
Jiang Ci scoffed, casting a dismissive glance at Song Xiaoqing before getting into the car with Su Yue.
It wasn’t until the car was a distant speck that Song Xiaoqing slowly recollected herself. That fleeting glance from Jiang Ci had unnervingly made her wonder if his eyes had recovered.
Jiang Xuan, who had been standing silently in the shadows , stepped forward to support Song Xiaoqing’s arm. “Mom, you’re tired too. I’ll help you go in and rest.” It was impossible not to be shocked. She remembered how, in her past life, Jiang Ci had never left Xiaoyanglou, even keeping her there all day. Yet, in this life, he had actually left with Su Yue. Jiang Xuan lowered her gaze, masking her surprise.
While startled also , she couldn’t deny that Jiang Ci and Su Yue’s departure was ultimately a good thing for her. At least now she wouldn’t have to encounter them, preventing her from losing control because of her past life memories and her guilt towards Su Yue. Their departure, she concluded, was for the best for all the parties involved .
On the other side inside the car, Jiang Haoyan was happy like a bundle of pure joy, clutching his coriander. The little boy was ecstatic about moving to a new home, his bright, black eyes fixed on the passing scenery outside the window. As for Chives, who couldn’t get close to Jiang Ci, the poor little dog was relegated to the front passenger seat, huddled under a small quilt, like a pitifully rounded, chubby canine form.
“Dad, where are we going?” Little Haohao chirped, a wide grin revealing his tiny white teeth, his voice milky as he addressed Jiang Ci.
The next second, Su Yue also looked at Jiang Ci, her own curiosity piqued.
Looking at the two pairs of bright, expectant eyes, one big and one small, Jiang Ci’s thin lips curved slightly. “You’ll know when we get there,” he said again slowly, an air of mystery about him that piqued the little and big one’s curiosity at its peak.
Still Su Yue, seeing Jinag Ci’s rare playful demeanor, didn’t press further. She knew she’d find out soon enough anyway .
The car eventually pulled to a stop in front of a pristine white villa, its intricately carved iron gate slowly gliding open. As she stepped out, Su Yue was struck by the sheer luxury emanating from the villa’s exterior. The decorations were lavish and exquisite. The front yard boasted not only a sprawling swimming pool but also a beautiful, well-maintained fountain, its design impeccably tailored to her taste .
“Go in and have a look inside also ,” Jiang Ci urged, a smile playing on his lips as he observed the delight on Su Yue’s face.
Inside, a retinue of servants already waited. The living room was twice the size of the Jiang family’s, dominated by an extravagant crystal chandelier that illuminated the magnificent space with floor-to-ceiling transparent glass windows, draped with soft, flowing white curtains, allowed the sunlight to stream in, bathing the room in a warm, inviting glow that felt instantly like home.
Jiang Haoyan was utterly dumbfounded. Since he could remember, he had lived in Xiaoyanglou. Now, realizing that this beautiful house was his new home, the little boy couldn’t contain his excitement. He started running around the house , and both Chives and Coriander happily chased after him, darting through the expansive living room.
“Do you Like it?” Jiang Ci wrapped an arm around Su Yue’s waist. “Let’s go see our room.”
“Mhm,” Su Yue murmured, her heart also brimming with happiness.
The master bedroom, located on the second floor, was a stark contrast to Xiaoyanglou’s cool, dark gray palette. Here, shades of beige and white predominated, creating a simple yet warm ambiance – precisely Su Yue’s favorite style. The room was vast, nearly a hundred square meters.
Stepping onto the thick, soft white wool carpet, Su Yue’s eyes were drawn to the enormous bed in the center, large enough , she thought, for ten people to comfortably lie on. On one of the side walls, is a striking mirror, more than two meters long and wide, reflected the entire room.
Su Yue stood before the massive mirror, turning back in confusion. “Why such a big mirror here?” she asked.
Jiang Ci walked over slowly, his long legs closing the distance in just two steps between them. He stood behind her, his firm chin resting on the top of her head, his voice with a low, knowing laugh. “What do you think?” With both hands, he encircled her waist, gently urging her to get closer to the mirror, pressing her against its cool surface.
Jiang Ci lowered his head and whispered in her ear, “The mirror is, of course, for looking. It’s big so you can see clearly.” He licked the corner of his mouth. “Are you tired? Let’s take a nap after seeing the room.” She didn’t need to know his true intentions; she just needed to follow his lead.
Su Yue stared blankly at her reflection, pressed against the mirror. The proximity was so intense that she could clearly see the blank look in her own eyes. Blinking, she inadvertently met Jiang Ci’s dark gaze in the mirror, and the man looked at her with an intense, knowing brightness. A shiver ran through her. Su Yue couldn’t shake the feeling that Jiang Ci was harboring some mischievous idea.
“Let go of me ,” Su Yue said, her face flushing, a heat rising within her. The position she was in, pressed against the mirror, was far too ambiguous, far too easy to provoke “crooked” thoughts. And being so close, so intimately pressed, that “ugly thing” behind her was also impossible to ignore.
Jiang Ci remained calm, raising an eyebrow before straightening up and releasing Su Yue.
Blushing, Su Yue walked away and settled onto a couch in front of the floor-to-ceiling window. She stretched out on it; the cushion was incredibly soft and comfortable. “Jiang Ci, I like it here very much ,” she confessed. From now on, this was their home.
Jiang Ci hummed, his normally cold brows softening.
Autumn’s cool embrace had settled in, banishing the summer heat. The occasional gust of autumn wind was a refreshing comfort to all the people . Today also marked Jiang Haoyan’s first day of school, and both Su Yue and Jiang Ci accompanied the little boy to it . The kindergarten gate buzzed with activity, cars parked everywhere, parents bustling about, and wtih the occasional cry of a child unwilling to part ways with their parents.
Little Haohao happily carried his small schoolbag. He had initially wanted to hold both his father’s and Su Yue’s hands, walking in the middle, but his father insisted on holding Su Yue. So, Haohao dutifully let Su Yue hold him from her other hand .
As Su Yue, Jiang Ci, and their family of three appeared at the kindergarten gate, they immediately drew the attention of many other parents. After all, with the exception of Jiang Ci, it was rare to see a mother and child so exceptionally good-looking.
“Hello, teacher,” Little Haohao greeted the teacher standing at the door, his dark eyes lighting up. He spoke in a soft milky voice, not shy in the slightest.
“Hello, Hao Hao,” the kindergarten teacher replied, also greeting Su Yue and Jiang Ci. She remembered the two parents from when they completed the admission procedures; even then, she had been captivated by the mother’s beauty, and seeing her again, she was still dazzled.
“I’ll take the child into the classroom first,” the teacher offered. “Do you two want to come in and observe, or accompany the child?” On the first day, many children struggled to adjust and needed their parents’ presence.
Jiang Ci looked down at Jiang Haoyan. “Do you need us to accompany you?”
Little Haohao shook his head, declaring in his milky voice, “Haohao is a man now , and he doesn’t need his parents to accompany him.”
“He doesn’t need to be accompanied,” Jiang Ci informed the kindergarten teacher with his deadpan expression .
The teacher paused, then gently touched Xiao Haohao’s head. “Haohao is so awesome.” She took his hand. “Then teacher will take you in now okay ; there will be many children to play with you inside .”
“Mmm-hmm.” Little Haohao’s eyes brightened. He wanted to make new friends! He also obediently walked inside, holding the teacher’s hand. But as suddenly remembering something, Xiao Haohao turned his head and said seriously to his father and Su Yue: “Haohao is going to school now, remember to pick Haohao up from school. Don’t forget okay .”
“Okay,” Su Yue replied, waving to the little boy with a smile.
Back in the car, Su Yue still felt a pang of worry. “Are we really not going in with Xiao Haohao?”
“No,” Jiang Ci said slowly. “He can stand on his own.”
“He’s only four years old, so young,” Su Yue protested.
“I was already studying elementary school courses when I was four,” Jiang Ci said, raising his eyelids lazily and glancing at her.
Su Yue was speechless. Was he praising himself for being smart, or implying that Xiao Hao was stupid ?
“Don’t overthink it, or you’ll become stupid,” Jiang Ci scoffed, pulling her waist and drawing her into his arms. “Let’s go back and catch up on our sleep.” After changing the bed, the mattress of this new room was too soft, and he hadn’t been used to it for a while. Coupled with the fragrant body in his arms, and her occasional movements, he hadn’t slept well all night; and was now a completely insomniac.
As Jiang Ci said he wanted to make up for his sleep, and indeed, he seemed to be truly sleeping. On the off-white silk bedsheet with its elegant dark patterns, Jiang Ci clasped Su Yue’s waist with a large hand, and a long leg draped over her in a possessive embrace.
At this moment, Su Yue had no sleepiness at all; she faced Jiang Ci, her eyes clear. Due to the short distance, Jiang Ci’s face was magnified before her. Compared to before, the scars on Jiang Ci’s face had faded considerably; they were not only smaller—what was once the size of a palm was now only two-thirds as large—but even the uneven lines had softened, making them far less terrifying.
Su Yue cautiously extended her fingertips and gently stroked the scar. After a moment’s thought, she leaned closer, her red lips lightly kissing his scar. “Heal quickly,” she whispered.
Her fingertips lingered on Jiang Ci’s scar for a while, then she playfully touched his distinct eyelashes. After a short while, Su Yue also felt sleepiness creep in and drifted off in a slumber .
A faint breathing sound next to him signaled Su Yue’s slumber, and Jiang Ci slowly opened his eyes, his dark gaze deep. Tsk, touching him and provoking him again. Jiang Ci hummed, his eyes falling on Su Yue’s bright red lips. He stared for a moment, then closed his eyes again.
He would bear with it for now. His first time with her couldn’t be so casual. Moreover, he needed to prepare well, to make Su Yue understand that it wasn’t just a simple physical act. Tsk, it was best to make her like it and indulge in it.
Jiang Ci proudly curved his lips and tightened his large hand around Su Yue.