YXJ - 1

The living room was brightly lit, and the maid was busy preparing afternoon tea in the kitchen. These wealthy ladies were particular about their food—it had to be not only delicious but also exquisite.

Thus, it took extra time to prepare.

“Three Bamboos.” A slender finger flicked out a mahjong tile. Despite being well-maintained, the traces of age were still visible on the back of the hand.

The voice beside her was somewhat shrill.

Lin Wangshu stared at her chaotic set of tiles, her mind foggy. She picked up tiles randomly and discarded them without caring whether they were the ones she needed.

Those affluent ladies chatted about recent hot topics: “I heard that the girl from the Zhang family slit her wrists on the second day of her arranged marriage. She’s still lying in the hospital.”

As the words fell, she discarded another tile: “Six Wan.”

“Pong.” Liu Yuan picked up the tile, sneering slightly at the mention of the other girl, “A fallen family like hers should consider herself lucky if anyone takes an interest. Committing suicide? Who does she think she’s playing high and mighty for?”

Someone gently nudged her arm, signaling her to stop talking, their eyes darting towards Lin Wangshu.

Liu Yuan immediately understood, smiling apologetically at Lin Wangshu, “Xiaoshu, Auntie was just speaking casually. I didn’t mean anything by it. Don’t take it to heart.”

At present, who in Beicheng didn’t know? A year ago, Lin Youwei met his end falling from the top floor of his company building, dying instantly.

His death left the Lin family’s financial chain broken, with countless projects indefinitely shelved.

The skyscrapers that had just been built turned into abandoned structures, viewed only from afar.

To put it bluntly, Lin Wangshu was truly a fallen aristocrat.

If it weren’t for Jiang Congxian taking her in, she would have long been silently erased from this world.

The mess left behind by her father naturally fell onto her shoulders.

Those creditors couldn’t go after a dead man, so they went after his surviving relatives.

Lin Wangshu remained silent.

She gave no response and hesitated to pick up a tile, while those affluent ladies quietly waited.

Though she was now destitute, it was her luck that Jiang Congxian had taken a liking to her.

That man was someone they couldn’t afford to offend, and by extension, Lin Wangshu, who was currently his woman, was also untouchable.

The sound of car wheels rolling over the cement ground came from outside. Lin Wangshu gradually snapped back to reality.

After the maid opened the door, she took the coat from the man’s arm.

The temperature was high today; he wore a neatly pressed white shirt underneath. Even after a day’s work, not a single wrinkle could be seen.

Like him, whatever he did was meticulous, leaving no room for criticism.

Seeing him return, those wealthy ladies breathed a slight sigh of relief, laughing as they tried to cozy up to him: “Congxian, why are you back so early today? Did you miss our Xiaoshu?”

This constant use of “our” and “Xiaoshu,” their tone intimate enough that one might not realize they had just met today.

Jiang Congxian, worried that his little canary might get bored at home, casually found a few people to keep her company.

It didn’t matter who it was to relieve boredom, but those who wanted to use this pretext to form a connection with him were precisely these select few.

Men who were usually unreachable despite various connections could now be approached closely just by accompanying a fallen aristocrat in a card game—clearly a great gain.

Everyone had their own thoughts, but their goal was the same: to find a good opportunity to hand over their husband’s business cards for future cooperation between families.

Jiang Congxian, young as he was, had risen to his current position through his own means. No one in all of Beicheng dared to compete with him.

Just considering his ruthless and decisive methods in the business world, one could guess how deep and calculating his mind was.

Yet, his personality was noble and gentle.

Underneath his gold-framed glasses, his features were mild. His light laughter sent shivers down spines: “Xiaoshu is timid. I’m afraid she won’t adapt well.”

Several socialites flattered and fawned: “Our Xiaoshu is truly blessed to have such a wonderful boyfriend.”

“Yes, don’t forget to invite us to your wedding when the time comes.”

Though they spoke thus, they all knew that even the first stroke of the character “eight” couldn’t be written.

With Lin Wangshu’s current status, being a kept woman was something she should thank her parents for, for giving her a pretty face.

Jiang Congxian avoided responding to their words, merely smiling gently.

He walked to Lin Wangshu’s side, loosening his Windsor knot. His fingers slightly bent, he loosened his tie.

“Why are your tiles all messy?” He rested one hand on the back of the chair, leaning forward slightly. His fair, long fingers methodically arranged her chaotic tiles.

This posture was extremely intimate, as if Lin Wangshu was entirely enveloped in his embrace.

He was extremely patient, his tone gentle: “It’s okay if you don’t know how. Next time, I’ll find someone to teach you slowly.”

Simply the perfect boyfriend.

Lin Wangshu sneered, overturning the tiles Jiang Congxian had just organized: “Why should I learn this?”

The commotion startled those socialites. Usually pampered with fine food and drink, they had never witnessed such a scene.

They fell silent.

The little thing had a big temper, and recently, she had become increasingly unrestrained.

Jiang Congxian wasn’t angry; instead, he obediently consoled her: “Alright, if you don’t want to learn, then don’t.”

Seeing his face made Lin Wangshu feel nauseous. She pushed her chair away and went upstairs.

The door slammed shut.

Three players short, this mahjong game probably wouldn’t happen.

Jiang Congxian lightly apologized: “Xiaoshu has been feeling a bit off lately. Another day, I will personally visit to make amends.”

Hearing this, those women’s faces lit up, not refusing: “Then it’s settled. Another day, you must come to our house.”

He nodded: “I will.”

Only after the maid escorted those noisy women out did Jiang Congxian erase the last trace of his faint smile.

He completely removed his tie from his collar and tossed it carelessly onto the nearby sofa.

He went upstairs. The door wasn’t locked and easily pushed open.

Lin Wangshu’s expression was less than pleasant upon seeing him.

Jiang Congxian was used to it. It would be strange if she ever showed him a pleasant face.

He casually dragged a chair over. The metallic legs scraped against the floor, producing some sharp sounds.

“You don’t want to see me?”

His question was flat, seemingly not expecting an answer.

After all, it was obvious.

Lin Wangshu turned her face away, gazing out the window.

Outside the door, the banyan tree was lush and verdant. The twilight filtered through the gaps in the branches, falling on the ground.

Jiang Congxian pinched her chin, forcibly turning her head around.

The action wasn’t gentle, even somewhat rough.

She winced in pain, her fair chin reddening slightly. Her strength was no match for Jiang Congxian’s. After several futile struggles, she could only reluctantly meet his gaze.

No emotion could be discerned in the man’s deep eyes: “Who were you showing your displeasure to just now?”

Lin Wangshu’s hands clutching her clothes trembled involuntarily. She harbored fear towards him. No matter how strong she appeared, the fear was like fireflies hidden in an empty house.

Weak, yet impossible to ignore.

Jiang Congxian slightly lowered his gaze, looking at her trembling body.

He let go: “I thought your bones were made of steel.”

He stood up, as if issuing a warning: “Those people are useful to me. Don’t offend them.”

The delicate touch of her skin seemed to linger on his fingertips, casually rubbing a few times.

Then he left, closing the door behind him.

The kitchen had prepared dinner. Xiaolian brought out the dishes one by one, mostly things Lin Wangshu enjoyed.

Jiang Congxian wasn’t particular about food, having no strong preferences or dislikes. Thus, the kitchen prioritized Lin Wangshu’s tastes.

All the dishes were served. Xiaolian went upstairs to call Lin Wangshu down for dinner: “Sister Shushu, dinner is ready. Come down and eat something.”

Xiaolian was the daughter of the housemaid, working at the Jiang household with her mother after graduating from vocational school. A few months younger than Lin Wangshu, she always called her “Sister Shushu.”

There was no response from inside.

Xiaolian could only lower her head and go downstairs.

Jiang Congxian glanced at her as she sat by the dining table.

Xiaolian softly said: “Sister Shushu didn’t respond.”

Jiang Congxian calmly retracted his gaze, picking up his chopsticks: “Then leave her be.”

Xiaolian wanted to say something more. Lin Wangshu hadn’t eaten or drunk anything all day.

She opened her mouth but remained silent, turning around and walking away.

After all, saying anything wouldn’t make him care.

At the large dining table, only Jiang Congxian sat alone. The dishes were varied, including Japanese and Korean cuisine.

When Lin Youwei was still alive, he doted on his daughter, sending her around the world to broaden her horizons.

Her elevated perspective cultivated her current aloof demeanor.

Jiang Congxian always had ways to make her obedient.

Halfway through the meal, the phone on the table rang.

It was work-related.

He put down his chopsticks and instructed the driver to prepare the car.

With several projects under development simultaneously, his workload had increased exponentially compared to before.

Moreover, he had just acquired Lin Youwei’s company, and related businesses awaited his handling.

The outside world was perplexed by Lin Youwei’s suicide, with various speculations arising, even involving supernatural elements.

People in high society, however, knew the truth. Jiang Congxian acted decisively, using underhanded tactics to swallow the company, poaching its investors and partners.

All projects came to a halt.

Facing enormous losses, his final straw broke, and he chose to end his life atop the company’s high-rise.

Seeing him about to leave, Xiaolian hurried over: “Should I prepare some food for Sister Shushu to bring upstairs?”

Jiang Congxian was on the phone. Upon hearing this, he paused momentarily, glancing at the closed door on the second floor, and said indifferently: “Give the kitchen staff a few days off. You should also go home and rest for a while.”

Xiaolian looked worried: “But if all the maids are gone, what will Sister Shushu eat?”

“If she doesn’t want to eat, don’t force her. Let’s see how long her bones can stay stiff.”

He walked out, putting the phone back to his ear, his tone unchanged as he said, “Continue.”

Presumably, he was speaking to someone on the other end of the line.

Even though Jiang Congxian had said not to send her food, Xiaolian secretly cooked a bowl of noodles and brought it upstairs.

She placed it at the door.

When she finished her chores and went to check, the bowl of noodles remained untouched.

Lin Wangshu had a habit of video calling Lin Yue every night.

After their father’s death, Lin Yue was taken back to the countryside by their grandmother. Already severely autistic, after these events, he became even more withdrawn.

The courtyard was spacious, with a few potted flowers on the side. Lin Wangshu didn’t recognize them, but they looked nice.

The moonlight in the countryside was bright, and the stars were visible. Without lights, it was still luminous. Unlike the city, where smog and tall buildings obscured everything.

Grandmother was preparing vegetables for pickling the next day, while Lin Yue sat beside her, engrossed in playing with his remote-controlled airplane.

It was something Lin Wangshu had sent him a few days ago. She hadn’t expected it to arrive so quickly.

Her tone was gentle as she asked: “Did our little Yue behave today?”

He seemed not to hear, focused intently on his remote-controlled airplane.

Grandmother laughed beside him: “He was very well-behaved, eating two extra bowls of rice for dinner. He misses you a lot. Last night, he was calling your name in his sleep.”

Upon hearing this, it felt as if someone was carving her chest with a knife.

How could it be any different for her? She wished she could board a plane right now to find them.

But she couldn’t leave.

To cover the company’s debts, her father had borrowed money from loan sharks.

Those people valued money over life.

Jiang Congxian had promised Lin Wangshu that as long as she stayed obediently by his side, he guaranteed no harm would come to her family.

She didn’t have the ability yet to protect Lin Yue. His autism was severe, and leaving familiar surroundings would only worsen his emotional state.

Lin Wangshu had no choice but to stay by Jiang Congxian’s side.

After hanging up the video call, the emotions she had been holding together collapsed.

Leaning against the wall, she slowly crouched down.

Every night, the dull pain in her heart made her want to commit suicide. Death would solve everything.

But she couldn’t. If she died, what would happen to Lin Yue? What about Grandmother?

She had to force herself to stay strong.

Due to work reasons, Jiang Congxian hadn’t slept at home for several days.

In her heart, Lin Wangshu hoped he would never return.

Having not eaten all day, her stomach ached from hunger.

She had a stomach ailment, which had worsened recently. She popped a pill and washed it down with cold water.

Pain wasn’t so easily relieved. She curled up in bed, falling into a hazy sleep.

She woke up late the next day. The midday sun was blinding, and the curtains weren’t fully drawn.

Instinctively raising her hand to shield her eyes, the clock’s hands pointed exactly at twelve.

It was noon, yet it was unusually quiet outside, which was odd.

After washing up and leaving her room, the living room was empty except for two sharply dressed men standing by Jiang Congxian’s study door.

They were Jiang Congxian’s subordinates, each with a fierce appearance but exceptionally loyal to him.

Jiang Congxian had risen from the lowest rung to his current position step by step. Those who had truly suffered hardship were often ruthless and cold-blooded.

Lin Wangshu asked them: “Where are the people in the house?”

They slightly lowered their heads: “Master gave them a few days off.”

A vacation?

These days, there seemed to be no special holidays.

While Lin Wangshu was puzzled, the sound of a chair being moved came from inside the study, likely accidentally bumped when the man stood up.

Not wanting to see Jiang Congxian, Lin Wangshu quickly returned to her room and locked the door before he came out.

She carefully listened for any sounds outside.

There was none.

Just as she relaxed, the sound of a key entering the lock startled her awake.

It twisted left and right, and with a click, the door opened.

The tall figure of the man appeared behind the door.

Jiang Congxian disliked constraints, and his attire at home was always casual.

A black shirt, no tie, his fair, long neck disappearing into the collar.

Lin Wangshu was squatting on the ground, close to the door.

Jiang Congxian slightly lowered his gaze, looking at her indifferently before closing the door behind him: “Are you hungry?”

She didn’t speak, and Jiang Congxian didn’t force her, casually dragging a chair to sit down. Beside him was her desk.

On it were a few textbooks and some test papers.

Lin Wangshu was a sophomore, majoring in music, but she still had to study general education courses.

Jiang Congxian casually flipped through them and pointed out several mistakes: “You lock yourself in your room all day, yet your grades show no improvement.”

Her voice was icy: “It’s none of your business.”

Jiang Congxian chuckled: “Your mouth is quite stubborn.”

This little thing was nothing like her cowardly father.

Even when lying beneath him with red-rimmed eyes, she remained obstinate.

Ultimately, she was a pampered young lady, unable to utter harsh profanity, repeating only those harmless phrases.

He asked gently: “Still refusing to eat?”

“No.”

Finally getting a response, Jiang Congxian stood up, granting her wish: “Then never eat again.”