Chapter 7 Feudal Big Father Capitalist
Chapter 7
Several covered plates were neatly placed on the table warmer mat, and the aroma of hot food filled the air.
Xia Zhiyu tore off the note left by Jiang Zhiyan on the table, glanced at it, and her delicate and beautiful face remained expressionless.
"The soup and rice are in the pot. Remember to take your medicine after you finish eating. The medicine is on the dresser. I've packed it in a blue bag. I have something to take care of at the office."
The handwriting was bold and grand. Xia Zhiyu twitched the corner of her lips, crumpled the note into a ball, and threw it into the trash can.
No matter how bad her mood is, she still has to eat properly, especially since she's currently sick.
Putting everything else aside, Jiang Zhiyan is actually a pretty good cook.
Xia Zhiyu filled a bowl with rice. She had always had a good appetite, but she hadn't eaten much today, and woke up hungry after dozing for less than an hour.
Three light side dishes and mushroom and chicken soup, the rice was fragrant and the soup was delicious, which suited Xia Zhiyu's taste very well.
Jiang Zhiyan hasn't lost her culinary skills despite being abroad for so long.
Before starting to eat, Xia Zhiyu took a picture of the food and sent it to her parents. Her parents were always concerned about whether she could eat and drink well.
She had just sent the photo when her mom replied instantly with a thumbs-up, followed by another photo of her dad making sausages.
Old Xia even smiled and gave her a peace sign.
The upper right corner of the photo was covered in flowers. Xia Zhiyu knew why: her mother's phone camera had been damaged by a spotlight, and she was reluctant to replace it, always saying that it could still make calls and that she would replace it when it was completely unusable.
Xia Zhiyu's parents actually earned quite a bit of money in their hometown, a small third-tier city. Logically speaking, Old Xia and Song Juan didn't need to live such a frugal life.
Xia Zhiyu knew in her heart that they were saving up to buy her a house in Beicheng.
Even the most decent income for an ordinary person seems meager compared to the housing prices in the northern part of the city.
Before Xia Zhiyu could even begin to feel sad, Ms. Song Juan sent over a long voice message, mainly complaining that Old Xia, despite his advanced age, was still secretly eating candy. She had just found a handful of candy in Old Xia's coat pocket while tidying up the clothes rack.
Old Xia is getting on in years, and during his last physical exam, the doctor said he needed to pay attention to his blood sugar and blood lipid levels. Since then, Ms. Song Juan has explicitly forbidden him from eating sugar.
But Lao Xia doesn't smoke or drink. His biggest hobby since childhood has been eating candy and chocolate. He even adds sugar to his water. Cutting out sugar is more painful for him than cutting out carbohydrates.
The two bickered and argued, and Xia Zhiyu listened to one voice message after another.
The empty, quiet house was filled with familiar sounds. Xia Zhiyu relaxed in this happiness, like a seed whose soil had just been loosened, drawing nourishment from nature to grow stronger.
Unsurprisingly, the argument ended with Lao Xia conceding defeat.
Judge Xia delivered the final verdict, ruling to strip Old Xia of his right to purchase sweets.
The moment the phone screen went black, Xia Zhiyu felt as if she had come back to life.
All the unpleasant things that happened today were like something my parents had gathered up and stuffed into a garbage bag, then dumped at the door along with the kitchen waste, its final destination just waiting to be the garbage station.
Happiness is very simple for Xia Zhiyu.
Take a nap, chat with your parents, go out with friends, go hiking alone, eat an exceptionally delicious ice cream...
Every little and interesting thing in life can bring her a sense of security and heal her unhappiness.
Xia Zhiyu firmly believes that there is no hurdle in life that cannot be overcome.
"Brother, listen to me. Relax. There's no hurdle in life you can't overcome."
Chen Yue shook his head, pretending to be an experienced person, and said to Jiang Zhiyan, who was receiving an IV drip while holding a document in one hand:
"Try to think positively. Treat your mom like an obstacle. Every time you see her, silently count to five, four, three, two, one. When the countdown is over, jump."
"Are you done?" Jiang Zhiyan turned a page of the document without looking up, his tone indifferent. "If you're done, go find the nurse. This bottle of medicine is almost finished."
"Why don't you just press the bell? Why do you have to tell me what to do?"
Chen Yue chuckled and said again:
"If you don't want me to mention Xia, then you should explain everything to her yourself. Tell her everything about your family's mess, and I won't mention your mother and Xia at the same time in front of you."
"She doesn't need to know these disgusting things."
Jiang Zhiyan quickly processed the documents in her hands, while her work WeChat messages kept ringing one after another, like a barrage of gunfire.
One sentence from Jiang Zhiyan made Chen Yue roll his eyes. He wanted to lift Jiang Zhiyan's heels and shake him a few times to see what kind of nonsense was going on in his head.
"No, you're already planning to propose to her, what's wrong with saying it? Are you going to wait until problems arise and then get a divorce?"
Jiang Zhiyan pushed the disposable water cup in front of Chen Yue, his dark pupils fixed intently on Chen Yue.
"Are you done talking? Have some water to moisten your throat and then take me home."
He practically had the words "I find Chen Yue annoying" etched on his face.
-
"You two are only one step away from getting married—the marriage certificate ceremony. What's wrong with saying these things?"
Fang Xinle's disappointed voice came from the other end of the phone.
“You can’t say that,” Xia Zhiyu’s voice was noticeably indifferent, as if she had no expectations of marriage at all. “Even the closest relationships have boundaries.”
"That's a matter of personal space. This isn't the case for you. If couples keep their problems bottled up, it will eventually lead to disaster."
Xia Zhiyu suddenly felt a headache coming on. She leaned back on the stool, the two legs in front of her sticking up high and swaying in the air. She smiled wryly:
"Lele, do you really think he wants to marry me? His mother has known about us for at least two years, but Jiang Zhiyan has never mentioned meeting the parents."
Xia Zhiyu added, "Whether it's meeting my parents or his parents."
Fang Xinle still couldn't understand Xia Zhiyu's worries. In her memory, Jiang Zhiyan was a good person in every way. He took care of all of Xia Zhiyu's problems in terms of food, clothing, housing and transportation, and was so meticulous that he was impeccable.
“What’s so hard to say? Jiang Zhiyan, a young master, went to great lengths to find a suitable nanny and teach himself to cook for your fragile stomach. The meals you’re eating now are still cooked by him, aren’t they?”
Fang Xinle held the phone between her neck and shoulder, speaking at a machine-gun-like pace; the sound of her typing could also be faintly heard.
"And back when you first started working, Jiang Zhiyan was working abroad while also helping you solve problems. Honestly, didn't Jiang Zhiyan help you resolve the client issue in Jiangyuan's case?"
"And your cat, wasn't that bought by Jiang Zhiyan to please you? What's so hard about meeting his parents? If he doesn't bring it up, just ask him directly."
The chair leg slammed to the ground with a crisp sound, and Xia Zhiyu sighed softly in her heart.
Is this how others see Jiang Zhiyan?
Did Jiang Zhiyan himself feel that he had cleared all obstacles in her life's path?
A bitter smile appeared on Xia Zhiyu's lips. The view outside the floor-to-ceiling window was perfect, offering an unobstructed view of the most famous historical sites in the northern city, and even the best vantage point.
Financial resources are not the most important factor in buying this house.
Above money is power.
After working for several years, Xia Zhiyu came to understand more and more what the phrase "marrying someone of equal social standing" truly meant.
She folded her arms and quietly gazed at the magnificent buildings outside the window, her tone indifferent, almost self-deprecating.
"How can I ask that so easily? Jiang Zhiyan and I are not a good match at all. I even got my job by his charity. What right do I have to ask?"
Fang Xinle on the other end of the phone suddenly fell silent.
Xia Zhiyu paused, her voice becoming much softer.
“I used to think that as long as I didn’t belittle myself, Jiang Zhiyan and I would be equal in our relationship. So I tried my best to do my best and stand by his side with dignity.”
"But recently I suddenly felt that Jiang Zhiyan doesn't love me that much, at least not as much as I thought. To be honest, if you really love someone, how can you not even show them the most basic respect?"
"I feel like a pet."
Fang Xinle couldn't help but say, "It's not that serious, Yu Yu. Have you said these things to Jiang Zhiyan? I think you need to have a serious talk with him."
“If I could talk, I would have done it already,” Xia Zhiyu breathed lightly on the spotless glass window, using the mist to circle the tower in the center of the ancient site. “Jiang Zhiyan always just tells me not to make trouble.”
The pattern on the glass vanished extremely quickly. Xia Zhiyu took a step back, hugging her arms as if feeling cold, her voice tight, like a taut violin string.
"It's like we're going in opposite directions. We're both trying our best, but we're only getting further and further apart."
"Forget about meeting his parents, I don't even dare to talk to him about work now."
"I even want to break up."
The topic suddenly turned heavy, but Xia Zhiyu pretended to be relaxed and said, "After the breakup, I went back to my hometown to take the civil service exam. I think a law master's degree can help me apply for many positions."
"I still have to thank Jiang Zhiyan. If I had studied journalism and communication for a master's degree, I wouldn't have had so many job options."
Fang Xinle understood Xia Zhiyu's personality. Xia Zhiyu had always been a person full of hope for the future, and she would not easily make the decision to give up.
The fact that she could say such a thing is enough to show that Xia Zhiyu can no longer see a future in this relationship. She has even started planning what she will do after leaving Jiang Zhiyan and Beichen.
But would someone like Jiang Zhiyan really break up with Yu Yu peacefully?
Fang Xinle hung up the phone. As an observer of Xia Zhiyu and Jiang Zhiyan's entire relationship, she probably knew Jiang Zhiyan better than Xia Zhiyu, the person involved, about what kind of person he really was.
Xia Zhiyu hadn't been in many relationships, came from a happy family, and had experienced few upsetting things, so she thought everyone was a good person.
Fang Xinle is different. Her family of origin is wealthy but hostile. As someone of the same kind, she sees Jiang Zhiyan more clearly than Xia Zhiyu.
After Xia Zhiyu and Jiang Zhiyan started dating, Jiang Zhiyan took care of almost everything for her, from food and clothing to housing and transportation. He silently and forcefully took over all of Xia Zhiyu's social relationships, like a vine, declaring his existence in a silent but powerful way.
After Xia Zhiyu started working, Jiang Zhiyan didn't even need to ask anyone else to help her; Xia Zhiyu was completely trained by Jiang Zhiyan himself.
Heaven knows how shocked Fang Xinle was when he learned that Jiang Zhiyan had revised Xia Zhiyu's work documents word by word for two years, not to mention that Jiang Zhiyan had also taken on all the housework and chores, using his personal connections to pave the way for Xia Zhiyu's career.
It was something that could be solved with money, but because the object of his affections was Xia Zhiyu, Jiang Zhiyan was willing to expend all his energy and effort for her.
This is absolutely abnormal for someone who has received top-tier elite education since childhood.
His possessiveness toward Xia Zhiyu has gone beyond normal limits.
Xia Zhiyu herself didn't realize this, and naively thought that breaking up was an easy thing.
Fortunately, Jiang Zhiyan's love for Xia Zhiyu was as clear as the Rolex on his wrist, a symbol of wealth.
If Yu Yu really intends to break up, will Jiang Zhiyan really let her go?
Fang Xinle put down his phone, opened the unfinished data spreadsheet, and sighed helplessly.
Xia Zhiyu leaned against the French windows, idly scrolling through her phone. As she scrolled, she couldn't help but tap into her WeChat chat with Jiang Zhiyan.
What time will you be back?
I hesitated for a long time before tapping the blue send button with my thumb.
This time, she wasn't going to coax Jiang Zhiyan anymore. Xia Zhiyu pursed her lips into a straight line in displeasure and immediately pressed delete.
With a casual swipe up, the chat history between her and Jiang Zhiyan on the screen was pitifully short.
Aside from work-related messages, their most recent chat history was on June 7, 2025 at 8:42 PM.
Jiang Zhiyan sent her a yellow gale warning, reminding her to go home early and remember to close the windows.
But that day, Xia Zhiyu went out to dinner with her team, and after dinner, she cried and howled at a karaoke bar for a long time.
As she stood at the entrance of the KTV, her head still a little foggy, looking at the tall trees being blown about by the strong wind, Jiang Zhiyan, who was far away in the United States, sent her this message.
If he had posted two hours earlier, Xia Zhiyu would have declined her colleagues' invitation to sing and taken a taxi home before the strong winds arrived.
If he had posted it two hours later, Xia Zhiyu would have thought it was normal. After all, he was in the United States, which has a 12-hour time difference with Beicheng. It was normal that he hadn't noticed the strong winds in Beicheng.
But it just so happens to be this time, 8:42. If she were at home, the strong wind wouldn't affect her, but if she's not home, this message won't be of any use.
Just like Jiang Zhiyan to her.
The yellow storm has arrived.
A small flame ignited on the phone screen, surrounded by a queue of 108 people.
She couldn't get a ride home via Didi.
Xia Zhiyu waited in the lobby for twenty minutes. The dusty wind outside the glass curtain door grew stronger and stronger. The plastic bag swelled up and shot up seven or eight meters high before being suddenly pressed to the ground.
The wind showed no signs of stopping, and the queue screen on my phone slowly moved up to 86.
No new messages popped up on the chat page with Jiang Zhiyan.
In the end, the hotel arranged a car to take her home.
Stepping into the deserted, open-plan apartment, this was the first time Xia Zhiyu had the thought of breaking up.
With her long-distance relationship and Jiang Zhiyan always busy with work, Xia Zhiyu felt like she was no different from a widow.
-
After confiding in Fang Xinle, Xia Zhiyu felt a rare moment of relief. She slumped on the sofa, crunching on an ice pop while scrolling through her phone.
As soon as Jiang Zhiyan entered the house, he immediately saw two popsicle sticks stacked together on the coffee table.
Xia Zhiyu, sitting on the sofa, still had traces of melted, dark chocolate coating on her lips. She looked at him as if startled, holding up the third bubble-filled Chocola that had just broken through the plastic packaging.
The sound of a dog barking from Xia Zhiyu's phone echoed in the living room.
Jiang Zhiyan glanced at Xia Zhiyu's lazy posture, legs crossed, lying on the sofa, and felt a surge of anger.
Judging from the sound, it's most likely the pet blogger that Xia Zhiyu follows at the top of her list. Jiang Zhiyan only recently discovered that Xia Zhiyu posts long reviews for every video of this blogger, and the blogger replies in return. The two of them often chat happily in the comments section.
I don't know what's so interesting about a dog.
Xia Xiaojiang suddenly appeared from some corner and sat down next to Xia Zhiyu, his two equally large and round cat eyes fixed on Jiang Zhiyan.
However, Xia Xiaojiang looked at him as if he were looking at a thief who had broken into his house.
Xia Zhiyu, on the other hand, felt guilty.
Jiang Zhiyan's brow twitched violently, and his expression grew even colder.
Jiang Zhiyan didn't say anything. He put his bag on the entryway and loosened his tie.
He hadn't even taken off his coat, and the hem of his shirt was all wrinkled.
This might be normal for others, but it's very strange for Jiang Zhiyan. The great lawyer Jiang would never allow himself to be in such a sorry state.
Xia Zhiyu didn't think much of it. She was only focused on getting through the ice cream incident, so she didn't have time to pay attention to anything else.
Do you want some?
Xia Zhiyu had a sudden lapse in judgment and raised her Chocola towards Jiang Zhiyan.
She was somewhat annoyed; she had gotten so caught up in the fun that she had forgotten that Jiang Zhiyan had already returned to China.
While Jiang Zhiyan was changing into slippers, Xia Zhiyu quickly stuffed the popsicle sticks on the coffee table into the trash can.
Jiang Zhiyan usually doesn't let her eat ice cream when she's in good health, let alone since she threw up today. If Jiang Zhiyan sees her eating so much ice cream, she'll be the one who dies.
Xia Zhiyu carefully observed Jiang Zhiyan's reaction, then feigned composure, quietly tearing open the plastic packaging and speaking to herself.
"I bought these popsicles a few days ago to reach the minimum order amount. It would be a waste to let them go to waste. If you don't want them, I'll take care of them for you."
The popsicle flew into the air, and before Xia Zhiyu could even take a bite, Jiang Zhiyan had already grabbed her cheek.
Jiang Zhiyan looked down at her, his two fingers disdainfully pinching the plastic wrapper of the ice cream, as if he were pinching some harmful substance.
With a whoosh, Xia Zhiyu watched as the ice cream was thrown into the trash can with remarkable accuracy.
Jiang Zhiyan almost laughed at Xia Zhiyu's stupidity.
"Xia Zhiyu, do you still think you're a child?"
Jiang Zhiyan pulled out a wet wipe from the coffee table, lifted Xia Zhiyu's chin, and wiped her with a little force.
Xia Zhiyu, in pain, thought Jiang Zhiyan was using sandpaper to polish her.
"Be gentle..."
Xia Zhiyu mumbled indistinctly.
"You're such a grown man, and you still manage to make a mess of your mouth when you eat. You have an upset stomach, and you still eat cold food. Did Jiang Jing call you an idiot?"
The air fell silent for a moment.
Xia Zhiyu's breath caught in her throat. She leaned back, avoiding Jiang Zhiyan's movements, and muttered a complaint under her breath.
"That's enough, that's enough. Wipe it clean, my lips are starting to hurt."
Jiang Zhiyan dropped the crumpled paper in her hand and lowered her eyes.
Xia Zhiyu's dark pupils were wet, as were her lips. The skin around her lips was slightly red, just as she had said, and her full lips were pursed up, making her look unhappy.
"Is this the only time you throw a tantrum in front of me?"
Jiang Zhiyan suddenly stood up, looked down at Xia Zhiyu, and sneered.
"When Jiang Jing questioned you, was your mouth sealed shut? Why were you being so obedient, like a grandson, taking the scolding?"
Why don't you act all high and mighty in front of Jiang Jing too?
Xia Zhiyu unconsciously clutched the sofa cover, her lips trembling.
"But she's still your mother..."
Jiang Zhiyan scoffed, "What does it have to do with you?"
He put his hands in his pockets, lowered his eyes, and repeated:
"She's my mother, what does that have to do with you?"
A note from the author:
----------------------
I saw some comments mentioning the second male lead! This book is a happy ending romance, so Yu Yu and the second male lead won't be the final couple. But the carefree young lady in the other book, "Oops, I mistook the dog," is a classic example of a fierce battle between brothers, the kind where even brothers tear each other apart. Our young lady, on the other hand, is a heartless and wicked woman.
My brother is a "wife-chasing crematorium" (a metaphor for someone who is desperate to win back their wife's love
The younger brother and his wife reconciled after their breakup.
Guess which puppy the young lady will choose?
If you're interested, please bookmark this page!
P.S.: Oh my god, I saw the collection card is at 219! It hurts so much! Are there any kind souls who can help the author break through to card 9?
P.S.: The word count for the ranking list will not be updated on Wednesdays; it will be updated on Thursday at 9 PM.
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