Chapter 20 She's the wife my dad married

Chapter 20

Jiang Mingxu raised his eyebrows and eyes.

He sat, and she stood in front of him, their hot breaths mingling as they looked up at each other.

His gaze lingered on her slender waist, then briefly swept over it before settling on her bright eyes.

The atmosphere was somewhat ambiguous.

After a long pause, Jiang Mingxu spoke up: "Isn't it too remote?"

The study has two windows, and Jiang Mingxu's desk is placed next to one of them. Jiang Mingxu wouldn't think that she was asking her to move it.

He had long noticed that at times, she was bold and unrestrained, like a curious deer cautiously testing her limits with her antlers; but at other times, she was vigilant, and would swiftly retreat to safety as soon as she sensed the slightest clue.

"Absolutely right!"

Upon hearing this, Jin Ran quickly waved her hand. She was going in to study, so of course she wanted to be comfortable. Earlier that morning, after getting up, she had taken a stroll around the study and found that the space by the window was large and well-lit.

Opening the window, I saw a large cluster of lush magnolia trees outside. The thick leaves rustled in the summer breeze, and occasionally a few birdsongs lingered through the branches, creating a truly natural ambiance.

Most importantly, there are no Jiang Mingxu's things there, so she can do whatever she wants with them.

Adding a few potted plants will definitely improve your problem-solving efficiency!

While she was making all sorts of plans in her mind, she couldn't say it out loud. Instead, she said understandingly, "As long as there's a place, that won't disturb your work, that's fine."

"It's not an intrusion at all."

"That won't do. My child and I are counting on you to earn money."

Jin Ran winked playfully.

Although the money didn't belong to her, the family's daily expenses all depended on the CEO's income.

Whether she can prepare well for the teacher recruitment exam depends on whether the CEO's income can remain stable.

Upon hearing the words "me and the child," Jiang Mingxu paused, his fingers stroking the teacup. He then gave her a deep look and agreed, "Let the housekeeper help you move."

And that's how the matter was settled.

Finding a few extra desks in the villa shouldn't be a problem, but since it involves Jin Ran, the housekeeper certainly wouldn't just do something haphazardly.

He inquired in detail about Jin Ran's requirements and intended use, and upon learning that it was for reading, he called a merchant he frequently worked with and asked them to deliver a two-meter-long desk to her door.

Afterwards, several servants were assigned to clean the study.

Because there wasn't much work, the servants could still find time to gossip about their masters' affairs while they were busy: "Our lady's ideas are really quite peculiar."

"That's right, but didn't Madam graduate from university? Why is she still studying?"

"Hmph! In my opinion, she's just being difficult. There are so many places to read, but she insists on having everyone set up a table for her in the study. Isn't that just deliberately making people do things for her?"

The speaker was Zhang Ma, a kitchen helper who was already of mother-in-law age. She disapproved of her daughter-in-law, Jin Ran: "She talks about studying, but it's really just to get close to Mr. Jiang. I heard that our lady used some tricks to marry into the family. Otherwise, why do you think the two of them sleep in separate rooms?"

The others were somewhat skeptical: "Didn't the housekeeper say it was because Mr. Jiang is light-skinned? And I think Mr. Jiang was quite good to his wife this time he came back."

"It's all just for show. If I really like her, why hasn't my belly shown any signs of pregnancy after all this time?"

Zhang Ma was exaggerating, considering that Jin Ran had only been married into the family for a month.

The others gradually realized what was happening, and their expressions immediately became subtle.

The Jiang family is kind and honest, and being a servant here is easier than elsewhere, so they have time to get together and chat. But it's just casual conversation; it's rather shameful for someone like Zhang Ma to gossip and spread rumors.

If this isn't changed, it will cause trouble sooner or later.

The group exchanged glances, saying nothing, but secretly planning to slip away.

Zhang Ma had no idea about her colleagues' unspoken complaints. She was about to say something more when suddenly, an impatient voice came from behind her: "What are you talking about?"

At some point, Jiang Xuli stood at the door of the study, looking at them with a somewhat unfriendly gaze.

Zhang Ma was old and had been too engrossed in her conversation. When she heard the voice, she was almost scared out of her wits. After regaining her senses, she said awkwardly, "Young master, we women are just talking about family matters. You certainly don't want to hear it."

Jiang Xuli narrowed her eyes: "Why did I hear you talking about 'Madam'?"

Zhang Ma's eyes darted around: "It's because Madam wants to put a desk in the study. We were just talking about how Madam loves to study."

Although the young master of this villa had no mother since childhood and his relationship with his father was tense, the servants still dared not neglect him—after all, no matter how tense the relationship was, he still had the blood of the Jiang family flowing in his veins.

In other words, it's a classic case of bullying the weak and fearing the strong.

In her eyes, Jiang Xuli, as Jiang Mingxu's biological son, was the owner of the villa, while his new wife, Jin Ran, was barely an outsider. These past few days, watching an outsider act arrogantly, ordering the head chef around and nitpicking the saltiness of the dishes, Zhang Ma had been harboring a nameless rage.

Women should be good wives and mothers, stay at home obediently, and if things get stricter, they shouldn't be allowed to eat at the table and should serve tea and wash the feet of their husbands in the evening.

Unlike Jin Ran, who only cares about eating all day and even lets Mr. Jiang live in a side room.

What? You're asking who made that rule?

This is a custom passed down from our ancestors, and it has always been this way since ancient times!

Jin Ran probably never expected that, with her husband being an orphan, she would also gain a mother-in-law.

Otherwise, it must mean: This is completely outrageous.

At this moment, Zhang Ma looked at Jiang Xuli at the door with a worried expression. Anyone who didn't know better would think that she was Jiang Xuli's stepmother.

"Why don't you also tell the master to put a table in the study?"

Jiang Xuli was utterly baffled: "I have a study."

His father rarely goes to the third floor. Jin Ran used to go there, but now she avoids him like the plague, let alone actively seeking him out. So the entire third floor is Jiang Xuli's space.

Why would he choose to squeeze into his father's study when he has his own private space?

Zhang Ma thought this child was really foolish: "Young Master, if you don't keep a close eye on him, what if Madam whispers in the master's ear!"

Jiang Xuli was completely bewildered.

What do you mean by "keep a close eye on"? What do you mean by "let it go in one ear and out the other"?

Putting aside whether her father would listen to others, hasn't she boasted enough already?

Thinking about how the woman had exposed him in front of his father yesterday, the boy felt somewhat speechless.

He didn't like to publicize what he did, because even if he did, no one would care. But when Jin Ran told him the truth in a tone that was free of any judgment, he suddenly realized that he wasn't indifferent.

The feeling of being watched by others made him feel dazed for a moment.

Even... a secret joy.

The boy had insomnia.

After a sleepless night of tossing and turning, Jiang Xuli finally managed to fall asleep, only to wake up very early in the morning. He simply got out of bed.

As I passed by the second floor, I saw that the study door was open. Out of curiosity, I went over to take a look, but I never expected to witness the maid talking behind my back.

I wonder what expression that woman, who is always so kind to the servants, will have when she finds out.

Jiang Xuli snapped out of her daze and, upon hearing Zhang Ma accuse Jin Ran of having ill intentions, couldn't help but sneer: "She's my father's wife, the mistress of the villa, of course she can go anywhere."

"Oh dear, young master, you have to be careful. A stepmother won't treat the child of the first wife well."

"It doesn't matter, I don't need her to be nice to me."

Moreover, they have reached a consensus to pretend to be strangers when they are outside.

Normally, Jiang Xuli might not pay attention to Zhang Ma or Li Ma, but right now he was in a bad mood and couldn't stand listening to their boring nonsense.

So he raised his voice to make sure everyone present could hear: "Considering you've worked at the villa for so many years, I'll have Butler Cheng settle your wages."

"But you need to say something more..."

His face turned cold, and his voice was icy cold, "I don't mind calling the police."

Zhang Ma's face turned pale instantly.

She didn't understand why she was fired when she was doing it for Jiang Xuli's own good.

/

Jiang Xuli originally planned to go downstairs.

But Zhang Ma's incident really taught him a lesson.

Even if he believed he had no problem with Jin Ran, or at most ignored her, in the eyes of outsiders they were destined to be hostile stepmother and stepson, and inevitably there would be some self-righteous fools who would jump around under the guise of doing what was best for him.

A wave of irony rose in Jiang Xuli's heart. He didn't know if Jin Ran had encountered the same thing before, which was why she treated him that way at the beginning.

Clearly, the changes in Jin Ran during this period were so significant that not only Jiang Mingxu but also Jiang Xuli noticed them.

A woman's laughter rang out from the first floor, followed a moment later by his father's deep voice.

The two were talking about something, and the atmosphere was quite harmonious.

The boy paused, then turned and went back into his room.

Just then, his friend Chen Xunliang sent a message: "[Brother Li, I found out that the new math teacher is a woman!]"

He became even more dejected after seeing this, and in frustration, he opened the game and immersed himself in the virtual world.

/

What happened in the study was completely silent.

On the other hand, the housekeeper Cheng, who was entrusted with the task, acted quickly and set up a new office area in the upper left corner of the study in just two hours.

"Madam, please take a look. Is there anything else you'd like to change?"

Jin Ran indeed inspected it carefully. The new table was large and sturdy, with a light wood color, in line with the popular natural wood style online. The housekeeper also bought some matching stationery and ornaments, making the overall look simple yet comfortable.

She felt that Butler Cheng's aesthetic sense was far superior to her own, and couldn't help but give him a thumbs up: "Perfect, there's nothing I need to change!"

The butler smiled and asked, "Would you like me to help you move all your things over, Madam?"

"No."

Jin Ran shook her head. She didn't have much stuff, and some of her books contained small notes with her problem-solving strategies, which she was afraid would get lost in the crowd.

Jin Ran, who was thinking this way, obviously did not realize the seriousness of the problem. Ten minutes later, when she was about to take action herself, she looked at the three thick, high mountains of books in front of her and realized that something was not right.

Wait, did she buy that many documents?!

After thinking it over carefully, well, she did buy them all.

No one taking the civil service exam can resist the temptation to buy new study materials. Listen carefully, not a single one! If the exam weren't next month and Jin Ran didn't have so much material to do, she might have bought even more!

Having chosen this path, Jin Ran had to walk it, even if she had to crawl. She sighed and, torn between regretting it and taking matters into her own hands, finally resigned herself to moving the books.

Jiang Mingxu sat in front of the computer, listening to reports from various departments on their work arrangements.

A moment later, out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of someone appearing in my line of sight.

A few seconds later, the other person tiptoed away.

Half a minute later, the other person opened the door and came in again.

"..."

Jiang Mingxu has always been focused. During his student days, he would make the most of every minute in the bustling vegetable market filled with hawking, haggling, and cursing in order to study.

Even after his career took off, he could still type code on the bus while on the go and calmly seize the opponent's weaknesses to launch a counterattack at the negotiating table.

But at this moment, he admitted that he had been influenced.

Or rather... it's influenced by one's own heart.

Upon realizing this, Jiang Mingxu hesitated for a moment, but he quickly accepted it and allowed himself to look openly and honestly.

The woman moved in and out like a bee, with heavy books piled in her arms, their spines pressing against her slender white arms, leaving faint red marks.

Her breathing gradually became rapid from steady to rapid, her rosy lips became dry, and tiny dead skin peeled off the edges. When she parted her lips slightly, one could occasionally see the tip of her tongue and teeth.

The air conditioner in the study was set very low, but at times it seemed ineffective. After several such instances, fine beads of sweat appeared on Jin Ran's smooth forehead.

Even so, she had no intention of asking anyone for help.

Jiang Mingxu thought calmly.

She had probably lived alone for a long time and was used to doing things herself.

Jiang Mingxu stared at it for far too long, so long that the other attendees at the meeting noticed something amiss.

Everyone maintained a serious demeanor, but private messages were flying between them: "[Guess what President Jiang is looking at?]"

[It's probably because of the trophies, right? Mingji just won the Industry Leader Award last month, I'd be looking at them every day.]

[Oh my god, do you guys think President Jiang's look was one of admiration? Why do I only feel nervous!]

[That's right, I was fortunate enough to be looked at like that by President Jiang last time, and afterwards I worked overtime for three days and three nights to revise the plan.]

Some people laughed and said, "Maybe they're looking at pretty girls!"

Then he was completely ignored by everyone.

What a joke! Their CEO Jiang is known for treating men and women equally. It's not that he's indifferent to women, but rather that no matter who the woman is, she's not worth a second glance in front of him because she's utterly worthless!

There was once a young actress in the entertainment industry who didn't believe in fate and deliberately dirtied her clothes at a banquet in hopes of gaining favor. However, she not only failed to win over President Jiang, but was also completely blacklisted.

At that moment, Mingji's employees belatedly realized that they were curious about the boss lady they had never met before.

What kind of woman could possibly win over their proud and arrogant CEO Jiang?