Chapter 284 - 196 Jiang Family has not a single good member, especially the fifth master Jiang (3 more)

Chapter 284: 196 Jiang Family has not a single good member, especially the fifth master Jiang (3 more)

Shen Zhixian had decided to stay at the Jiang Family residence, so she naturally was arranged to stay on the second floor, with Fan Mingyu personally tidying up the room for her.

Although the Jiang family all harbored thoughts of matchmaking her and Jiang Yanting, since she was new to the place, she couldn’t behave too obviously and scare people off.

She could only stir things up covertly.

When she opened Jiangjiang’s bedroom door, the two little ones were huddled in front of a computer screen, on a video call.

"Mommy—" Taotao saw Shen Zhixian and, still smiling, climbed down from the bed and threw herself at her.

"Auntie said she helped you bathe?" Shen Zhixian bent over and sized her up; she hadn’t brought a change of clothes and was wearing Jiangjiang’s, but since the two of them were of similar height, it actually fit well.

"Mhmm, are we staying here tonight?"

"Do you want to stay here?"

Taotao didn’t say anything, but this was always what her heart wished for. After all, it was rare to meet a playmate her age, and the Xie Family was very strict with her, fearing she might be too exposed, and the Xie Family’s rules were comparatively strict. There were rules to follow in everything, and the family atmosphere wasn’t as good as the Jiang Family’s.

Shen Zhixian understood her daughter quite well, "The snow outside is too heavy, there’s no way to leave now, so we can only stay over tonight."

"Then it can’t be helped." The little girl bit her lip, her happiness apparent, yet she pretended to sigh with regret.

Actually, when it came to stubbornness, the siblings were quite alike.

"Are you guys staying over tonight?" Jiangjiang tossed his tablet to the side, his face eager with excitement.

"Yes," Shen Zhixian smiled, "You’re on a video call?"

"With Uncle Xiaosi—he said when he comes back, he’ll take us out for a ride!" Jiangjiang was very excited.

Shen Zhixian just smiled; at that moment, she didn’t take it to heart, thinking he meant a bicycle, an electric bike, or something that could be fitted with a child’s seat at the back...

Later, when she found out Jiang Chengsi rode a heavy motorcycle, taking her and her daughter to tear up the streets, she was somewhat appalled.

While helping Taotao to the toilet, Shen Zhixian lowered her voice to ask, "What do you think of Uncle’s family?"

"They’re all really nice, but that uncle from before has such a sour face, he scares me a bit," Taotao responded truthfully.

That definitely referred to Jiang Yanting, "Actually, he’s really nice. Look at today, he even held your hand to walk you downstairs. Don’t be afraid of him."

"Mom, are you going to marry him in the future?"

"Who told you that?"

"I guessed," Taotao pursed her lips.

"If we got married, would you be unhappy?"

Taotao looked confused, "I don’t know."

"Then don’t worry about it. You just need to know that Uncle’s family are not bad people, so there’s no need to be afraid. And aren’t you getting along well with your brother? Is he nice to you?"

Taotao frowned, pondered for a long time, and then came up with a comment that nearly made Shen Zhixian spit blood, "Brother seems kind of silly!"

"..."

"Brother Xie Duo told me before I left, ’You can’t go wrong with flattery,’ and told me to be sweet-talking once I got here. So I kept praising him, and he really started treating me super well."

"Xie Duo..." Shen Zhixian felt a headache coming on.

Taotao looked remorseful too, "If he’s like this, he’ll easily be deceived and taken advantage of in the future. A few sweet words from someone, and he might just run off with them."

If Jiangjiang heard this, he would probably be spitting up blood. He thought his sister was a little fool who was easily coaxed, but in his sister’s mind, he was the big fool who was easy to swindle!

Shen Zhixian couldn’t help but laugh, "So, do you actually like your brother or not?"

"Of course, I like him!"

With an additional brother and so many toys, she was naturally happy.

"I’ll tell you this, don’t talk about these things outside, and definitely don’t tell your brother."

"I know." Taotao smiled like a sly little fox.

Shen Zhixian cleared her throat; in reality, her daughter was quite adept at playing the fool while being the predator—looking all innocent and docile on the surface, but harboring plenty of clever little schemes inside.

Being smart was a good thing, but Shen Zhixian had been concerned in the past about her daughter bottling things up inside, possibly hurting herself with her concealed worries. She often talked heart-to-heart with her, yet she couldn’t be too straightforward, usually beating around the bush with her questions.

After a while, she would only look back at her with clear, harmless eyes.

Then, she would quietly ask, "Mommy, are you venting to me because work isn’t going well?"

Shen Zhixian almost laughed out of frustration; she was worried about her young daughter harboring any sort of trauma, but instead, it was she who came to comfort her, patting her back:

"If work is tough, you still have me."

...

Taotao and Jiangjiang seemed to have a lot to talk about, and Shen Zhixian didn’t stay in the bedroom the whole time. When she stepped out, Jiang Yanting was just outside.

"Why don’t you come in?"

"She seems very scared of me. I guess if I went in, she would stop talking." Jiang Yanting leaned against the wall, his expression complex.

He also wanted to get closer to Taotao but was afraid to scare the little girl. Standing outside, listening to the laughter inside, he could already imagine some scenes in his mind, feeling perfectly content.

"You keep avoiding her, and she’ll only become more afraid of you. Actually, Taotao just isn’t familiar with you. It’ll be better with more interaction."

"Mm." Jiang Yanting looked at her, his gaze deep, "Thank you."

He had many things to thank her for, but, not being good with words, he didn’t know how to start. So, it was better to express his gratitude through actions.

"Why are you suddenly..."

Shen Zhixian didn’t finish her sentence when Jiang Yanting suddenly turned his head and kissed her.

His movement was very light, even gentle, like a dragonfly skimming the water, barely touching.

The two of them were standing at the entrance to Jiangjiang’s bedroom, where they could still hear the children’s laughter. Shen Zhixian’s heart trembled slightly, and she subconsciously wanted to move back...

But at her slight movement, Jiang Yanting followed her closely, pinning her against the wall with half his weight pressing down, one hand cradling the back of her head, deepening the kiss. She couldn’t escape and didn’t dare to struggle too hard.

Finally...

He kissed Shen Zhixian at the corner of her lips a few times, then stretched out his hand to straighten her clothes and combed his fingers through her hair, soothingly running them from the top of her head down to her heated earlobe. In a suppressed voice, he said,

"Tonight... would you like to come to my room?"

Shen Zhixian’s face turned very red, her hands braced against his chest, panting lightly. He’d been too forceful just now, nearly leaving her breathless.

"I want to sleep with the children tonight."

Although Fan Mingyu had arranged a separate room for her, she really wanted to stay with the two children, and besides, the bed in Jiangjiang’s room was very large. Another adult added to the two children wouldn’t make it feel cramped.

"Xianxian—"

Somebody blew on her flushed ear, clearly trying to tempt her, his disposition excessively malicious.

"Stay with me, okay?"

The trailing tone was hook-like, stirring the heart.

At that moment, Shen Zhixian caught sight of someone from the corner of her eye. With an unknown surge of strength, she suddenly pushed Jiang Yanting away and turned her head to the side, "Fifth Master, Miss Tang..."

"We came downstairs wanting to talk with you. If..." Jiang Jinsang smiled as he looked at the two, his lips seemingly always curled in a smile. But now, it was accompanied by a mischievous teasing.

Honestly, he had often wondered what his elder brother in love would be like. He didn’t expect him to be so dreadfully flirtatious.

"If it’s not convenient, we can talk tomorrow too."

"Then we can talk tomorrow..." Jiang Yanting didn’t get to finish before Shen Zhixian interrupted him, "No, it’s very convenient!"

"Then let’s go to the study." Jiang Jinsang, pulling Tang Wan by the hand, walked toward the study on the side. Passing by Jiang Yanting, he received several sharp glares.

**

Inside the study

Being new and unfamiliar, Shen Zhixian was offered tea by Tang Wan, the broken silver that Jiang Jinsang was very fond of. The dark red tea, fragrant and sweet like glutinous rice, was quite suitable for women to drink.

"Thank you." Shen Zhixian accepted the tea with both hands.

"What’s so urgent this late?" Jiang Yanting’s tone was even colder and harsher, as someone had disrupted his moment.

"It’s still about the Xie Family. Sister-in-law, what are your plans?" Jiang Jinsang took a sip of his tea, glancing up at the person across from him.

Hearing the term ’sister-in-law,’ Shen Zhixian blushed deeply, while Jiang Yanting felt a pleasant satisfaction within.

"Fifth Master, actually, your brother and I..."

"You are Jiangjiang’s mother. Whether you end up with my brother or not, I respect you, and it’s appropriate for me to call you sister-in-law," Jiang Jinsang stated in a way that left no room for argument.

"What are your thoughts on the Xie Family matter?" Jiang Yanting raised an eyebrow.

"It depends on whether sister-in-law wants to separate from them," Jiang Jinsang replied with a light laugh.

"Separate?" Shen Zhixian furrowed her brows.

"Don’t you want money?" Jiang Jinsang looked at her, "Half of the Xie Family wealth, doesn’t it tempt you at all? With big brother here and us, the Jiang Family, you aren’t alone. Even if it goes to court, I can guarantee that you can win at least one-third of the Xie Family’s assets..."

"What exactly are you trying to say?"

"If the enemy doesn’t move, we can make them move. When they move..." Jiang Jinsang lowered his head to take a sip of his tea, his actions extremely graceful and gentle, "we’ll strike decisively!"

He was talking about something very serious, but he managed to convey it with an air of lightness and nonchalance.

Shen Zhixian narrowed her eyes, suddenly realizing where her daughter had inherited her temperament from...

Taotao’s personality was not entirely like hers, nor was it like Jiang Yanting’s. Could it be slightly reminiscent of Jiang Jinsang?

She had long known that no one in the Jiang Family was easy to deal with. After all, there were many rumors in Beijing, and now having met them, she understood: those with cold exteriors aren’t necessarily the cruelest...

Among the Jiang Family members, the Fifth Master was the most intense.