Chapter 2, Presented to Mrs. Jiang
Looking in the direction Tan Zhu was pointing, a low-key Cayenne was parked in front of the hotel fountain.
A familiar figure was peering through the Cayenne window. Upon noticing his gaze, the figure quickly slipped inside the car.
Jiang Hanyu had given this matter much thought, so he showed Jiang An the photos of the three daughters.
Unsurprisingly, Wen Lingshuang's photos always outshine everyone else, no matter where they are displayed.
Jiang An pulled out her photo.
He didn't know when the Jiang family started negotiating a marriage alliance with the Wen family, but he knew perfectly well that this pretentious young lady who called him an illegitimate child was about to become his wife.
[You should spend more time with her.]
My father's words echoed in my ears.
After a few seconds of contemplation, he started walking towards where the Cayenne was parked.
Perhaps it was because of her overwhelming aura, but even from such a distance, Wen Lingshuang could sense that Jiang An was walking towards her.
Thump, thump.
My heart was beating so fast it felt like it was about to jump out of my chest.
She wrung her hands together and pursed her lips tightly.
Illusion, illusion.
It's all an illusion.
He won't come over.
He didn't realize she was secretly taking pictures of him.
After comforting herself for a while, Wen Lingshuang slowly turned her head towards the car window, and with that turn, she bumped right into Jiang An's dark eyes. Under the dim starlight, his deep eyes were like a bottomless black pool.
Jiang An watched as she went from being taken aback to being speechless, and then staring intently at him. Her watery eyes were like grapes soaked in glass, clear and bright.
No one could stand her staring at him like that. Jiang An slowly raised his right hand and gently tapped on the car window. "Miss Wen."
The sound was neither too loud nor too soft, like a pebble thrown into calm water, creating countless ripples.
Wen Lingshuang snapped back to reality and realized that she had been staring at him for a long time. Not only that, but in addition to the fragrance of the flowers, there was also a faint woody scent around her, understated, reserved, calm and dignified.
"What a coincidence." Wen Lingshuang suppressed her ripples. "Mr. Jiang."
"It's quite a coincidence." Jiang An lowered his right hand. "What are you doing here?"
Of course, it's to find something to use against you.
They're forcing you to break off the engagement.
Wen Lingshuang smiled and said, "Just passing by."
"Just passing by." Jiang An uttered these two words meaningfully, but before he could finish, Tan Zhu's voice came from behind him, "I'm not just passing by, I came here specifically to see you." She added, "Brother-in-law."
Tan Zhu ignored her and stepped forward in her high heels. After getting close to Wen Lingshuang, she whispered in her ear in a voice that only the two of them could hear, "I'm sorry, I've switched sides. Blame Jiang An for being too outstanding. Just accept it."
Tan Zhu slipped away without waiting for Wen Lingshuang to speak.
Wen Lingshuang watched her departing figure and cursed under her breath.
Putting aside their arranged marriage, when had she ever given Jiang An a kind look? Let alone talking behind his back about him being caught having an illegitimate child…
Wen Lingshuang was in a state of confusion and was just about to find an excuse to leave when she heard Jiang An say, "I thought you hated this marriage."
The implication was that he hadn't expected her to come all this way to see him.
Wen Lingshuang was caught in a dilemma. If she didn't admit it, she would have to confess to secretly filming him. If she did admit it, it would mean that she approved of the marriage.
Whether you stick your neck out or not, you'll get hurt anyway. After thinking for a while, she sullenly admitted, "It's not that I hate it."
Jiang An chuckled, "I see."
The slightly elongated melody swirled in her heart.
She bit her lip and asked, "Don't you hate it, Mr. Jiang?"
“I don’t dislike it,” Jiang An said.
“Uh…” Wen Lingshuang was stunned, “How could you not hate it, last time…”
Jiang An saw that she seemed to want to say something but hesitated, and roughly guessed what she was thinking.
Having been in the industry for many years, there are countless rumors and gossip about him. Whether he uses someone to climb the ladder or forms an alliance with someone, it will become a hot topic and spread in the industry. In the end, it will become the subject of gossip. Moreover, it's not the first time we've heard it. In comparison, Wen Lingshuang is still quite protective of him.
"Last time what?"
“It’s nothing…” Wen Lingshuang shook her head.
Jiang An glanced down at the time; the hands pointed to nine o'clock.
"Miss Wen, I'm going to stay at the tea plantation for a few days. Would you like to come along?"
The Wen family also owns tea gardens in Jiangnan, numbering in the dozens. Every spring, the whole family would go to the tea gardens for a short stay. However, in recent years, due to the poor condition of the tea gardens, many have been closed. Even the tea garden where they lived as children has been sold off. It has been many years since they last lived in a tea garden.
Seeing that she remained silent, Jiang An was about to speak when his phone rang. The name "[Chairman Wen]" appeared on the screen. He glanced at Wen Lingshuang sitting in the car, then pressed the answer button and turned on speakerphone.
"Jiang An".
Grandpa's voice came from the other end of the phone, and Wen Lingshuang turned her head sharply to look.
"Yes, Mr. Wen."
"Are you with our Yangyang?"
Wen Lingshuang blushed slightly when she heard her grandfather call her by her nickname.
The name "泱泱" is taken from the poem "瞻彼洛矣" in the Book of Songs (Shijing), specifically from the section "小雅".
The initial intention behind naming her was to hope that she would have a magnanimous spirit and a broad mind.
But the family's pampering over the years had long since turned her into a spoiled and pretentious young lady.
Jiang An was also hearing Wen Lingshuang's nickname for the first time, and naturally understood the meaning behind it. He smiled and asked, "Yes, do you want to talk to her?"
"Oh, no need, no need. My Tan Zhu just told me you two are together, but I didn't believe it. I heard you're going to Jiangnan?"
"Yes, I'm going there, and I'll be back the day after tomorrow."
"I heard that there has been a lot of rain in the Jiangnan region this year, and the tea plants are growing well."
"The price increase is indeed quite good. Which type of drink do you prefer? I'll bring it to you."
"No need, I just wanted to say that my Yangyang has nothing to do these days, so if you're going to the tea plantation, you can take her with you."
Upon hearing this, Wen Lingshuang immediately exclaimed, "Grandpa!"
The old man was quite shrewd. Upon hearing Wen Lingshuang's voice, he said he had something to do, as if he were handing his granddaughter over to his future grandson-in-law. He hung up the phone before Jiang An could even speak.
Looking at the black screen, Wen Lingshuang finally understood what it meant to prioritize profit above all else.
Driven by pure self-interest, her grandfather sold her off faster than she spent the money.
She looked at Jiang An with a pitiful and aggrieved expression, "I want to go home..."
Jiang An hesitated for a moment, then said, "I'll take you."
Before she could speak, Jiang An waved to the people not far away, and a short while later, a Cullinan with consecutive license plates slowly drove out of the garage.
He gave her a very gentlemanly "please" gesture, indicating that her car should move forward.
The moonlight was soft and warm.
Looking at his smooth and well-defined profile, Wen Lingshuang felt a slight tingling sensation in her heart and said, "Uncle Li, drive."
The car drove forward.
Jiang An's car followed silently behind.
Wen Lingshuang looked at the road conditions through the rearview mirror, and the phone placed next to her emitted a faint light.
Tan Zhu's information came into view.
Tan Zhu: [Just give in, Jiang An is a really nice guy.]
Wen Lingshuang: [You turned against me in just a few minutes! And you even told Grandpa!]
Tan Zhu: [You fooled me. I thought he was terrible. And don't believe those rumors in the industry. I knew he was a good person the moment I saw him.]
Wen Lingshuang: [What would I lie to you about?! And you can tell he's good just by looking at him? What kind of twisted logic is that!]
Tan Zhu: [Anyway, he's top-notch. Don't give him to me; I'll arrange a marriage between us.]
Wen Lingshuang was furious when she saw this message. [Do you know how old he is? 31! Six years older than me! Six years! Everyone says men are past their prime after 25!]
Several minutes later, Tan Zhu replied: [What aspect are you referring to that's not good enough?]
Of course, it's about personality, hobbies, and the like.
Wen Lingshuang wanted to reply, but looking at Tan Zhu's words and thinking of Jiang An wearing black suit pants, with his two long legs wrapped in bulging muscle lines, her inner thighs inexplicably felt hot, and her face also felt a little hot. She gently patted her cheeks and could still feel the residual heat from the heat.
She shook her head and replied: [Not good at anything.]
Tan Zhu: [You haven't even tried it.]
Wen Lingshuang's typing hand stopped in mid-air, and a strange heat emanated from the center of her legs, gradually spreading throughout her body.
I've tried it...
He is at least 190 cm tall.
According to the golden ratio, his thing is definitely not small.
Will she get hurt?
No, no, no, what is she thinking?
Put the injury aside for now!
*
The moonlight was cool and clear. Jiang An escorted Wen Lingshuang to her doorstep and then left. The cold, white moonlight filtered through the thin curtains and into the room. Wen Lingshuang was wearing a white silk camisole nightgown and covered with a thin blanket. Perhaps because of her brief contact with Jiang An, she found it very difficult to fall asleep that night. The images of her conversation with Jiang An kept replaying in her mind. Unconsciously, she felt as if a pair of hands were resting on her ankles.
It was a strange encounter.
Like water covering the whole body, it lightly brushes over every inch of skin.
Wen Lingshuang could even feel the lingering heat from those large palms, as if she had fallen into a boiling sea of fire, the temperature soaring, and she couldn't stop.
She instinctively gripped the blanket, her brow furrowed.
Outside the window, at the break of dawn, birds flew past the lemon tree and perched on its branches, gazing into the room. The graceful figure of a beautiful woman appeared exceptionally sexy and alluring against the backdrop of the hazy curtains. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves, and a ray of golden light pierced through the clouds, scattering across the earth and dispelling the chill of the moon. Wen Lingshuang's forehead was damp with a thin layer of sweat, and when she slightly opened her eyes, it was as if a torrent of light was pouring down upon her.
It was a dream.
She stared blankly at the ceiling, unable to come back to her senses for a long time, her consciousness still lingering in the afterglow.
She only managed to sit up when the maid knocked on the door, but even then, her body was limp and powerless.
If it were fifteen-year-old Wen Lingshuang, she would be at a loss for words at such a lingering feeling, but twenty-five-year-old Wen Lingshuang felt a few inappropriate desires arising from this lingering feeling. She turned her head to look at the scenery outside the window and saw the golden light scattered on the green branches and leaves. She gently bit her red lips and called out, "A-Shui, come in and help me prepare my bath."
An hour and a half later, Wen Lingshuang finished washing up, dressed neatly, and went downstairs.
When I went downstairs, my grandparents, parents and I had already finished breakfast and were sitting on the sofa chatting.
They rarely have a moment of leisure, mainly because the ancestral worship day is approaching, and they have put aside most of the company's business to focus on the things needed for the ancestral worship.
Wen Jinye frowned slightly when he saw Wen Lingshuang.
He had just heard from Tan Zhu yesterday that Wen Lingshuang was with Jiang An. He had been thinking of letting them go to the tea garden for a few days to cultivate their relationship, but he didn't expect that they would still be sent back. Knowing his daughter as he did, he was afraid that she had made things difficult for Jiang An. He took a sip of tea and said, "It's so late for them to get up."
"I'm tired."
"You're always eating, drinking, and playing around. How can you be tired? You even had Jiang An bring you home so late last night."
They delivered the package to the doorstep without even inviting the guest in for a seat.
Upon hearing this, Wen Lingshuang angrily walked over to sit next to Grandpa Wen, grabbed his arm, and said, "Grandpa, Dad always criticizes me." Then she looked at Wen Jinye and said, "What kind of bewitching drug did Jiang An give you that makes you so biased towards him?"
"What's wrong with Jiang An? Why are you targeting him like this? Even Chen Xuan and you are willing to give him some face."
Speaking of Chen Xuanhe, Wen Jinye took another sip of tea and said, "Oh, by the way, don't let that Chen family brat come to the ancestral worship ceremony this year. He comes every year, but he never accomplishes anything of substance."
Chen Xuanhe is the grandson of Chairman Chen of Chenyu Group.
He had been pursuing Wen Lingshuang for five years, and calling him a simp wouldn't be an exaggeration. Every year during the Wen family's ancestral worship ceremony, he would come to the Wen family as Wen Lingshuang's friend to help, contributing manpower and effort with great sincerity. A few years ago, Wen Jinye intended to form a marriage alliance with the Chen family, but after visiting the Chen family, the matter was dropped. Wen Lingshuang asked him about it, and he only said that it wasn't suitable. Later, her mother told her that Chen Xuanhe had no real power in the Chen family, and everyone had to listen to their parents and elders. If she married into the Chen family, she was afraid that she could only live a life of love with Chen Xuanhe.
Having reached a marriage agreement with the Jiang family this year, it's even less likely that they will have any dealings with the Chen family.
It's a good thing that his desire to worship his ancestors has been extinguished.
Wen Lingshuang thought about it and agreed.
The sky gradually darkened.
Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows of the Xining Group's top-floor office, the city lights gradually illuminated below. Assistant Lon approached quietly with a stack of documents, reporting in a soft voice the details of the charity gala's arrangements. Jiang An merely nodded slightly, showing little emotion.
But when I saw an emerald ring on the gift list, I remembered that night when I took Wen Lingshuang home, she was wearing a diamond ring on her right index finger.
Her long, slender, and fair fingers were clearly defined, the result of years of skincare.
I wonder if wearing a ring on my ring finger will look as good as this.
“Sir?” Lon said. “Please sign your name at the end.”
Jiang An snapped out of his reverie and pointed to the ring on the gift list. "Wrap this up and send it to the Wen family."
Lon was taken aback.
Having followed Jiang An for many years, I know his introverted and low-key personality. When the elders of the Jiang family have birthday banquets, he always lets them choose the gifts. He even skips the birthday banquets on the grounds of work. Now he actually chooses a gift for Wen Lingshuang.
But upon closer reflection, it's not surprising.
The eldest daughter of the Wen family.
She is famously beautiful.
A mere flick of the finger can bring unparalleled bliss.
It's not surprising that my husband would take the bait.
"By the way, the Jiang family is holding their ancestral worship ceremony this year..." Lon asked cautiously, "Will you be going back to participate?"
Jiang An shook his head. "I won't go back."
"I heard that the Wen family is also holding a ceremony to pay respects to their ancestors soon."
Jiang An pondered for a moment, "I'll see if I have time this afternoon."
Lon understood, "Okay."
After Jiang An finished signing the contract, Lon finished tidying up and came out. His phone was buzzing. It was Jiang Xu calling, asking if Jiang An had gone home to pay respects to his ancestors. Lon, being businesslike, told him that Jiang An was busy with official duties and could not go home. Jiang Xu cursed a few times on the other end of the phone and then hung up.
Looking at the black screen, Lon couldn't help but clench his fists.
Jiang An once regarded Jiang Xu and Jiang Qi as his closest relatives, but it was also his closest relatives who handed a knife to the enemy, and he could not resist.
Perhaps a marriage alliance with the Wen family would be a good thing.
That pretentious young lady was notoriously protective of her own.
With that in mind, he checked the box next to the emerald ring Jiang An had chosen and added the note: [For Mrs. Jiang.]
A note from the author:
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