On one side of the living room, Jiang Yucheng sat expressionlessly on a single sofa, his tea cup leaving water marks spreading across the table.
After a long pause, he slightly turned his gaze towards Jiang Su and asked calmly, "Xu Xu is my daughter, my daughter. Doesn't she deserve to be your sister?"
The young man, who had just been acting recklessly, visibly shrank back.
"Uncle, I... I didn't mean it like that..."
Jiang Huai, who was standing nearby, smiled slightly as he watched his father's look suppress the younger man. He then turned and directly addressed Lu Xuexi.
"Xuexi, do you feel wronged living in the Jiang family?"
When her name was called, Lu Xuexi's face instantly turned pale, and she hurriedly denied, "No, Jiang Huai ge, you misunderstood me."
"Since there's no misunderstanding, don't say things that can cause confusion in the future." Jiang Huai still wore that smile at the corner of his eyes, his voice gentle and pleasant but carrying an unspoken pressure that made it hard to counter.
Lu Xuexi opened her mouth, but after a long pause, she lowered her head, not daring to say more. At the same time, she bit her lip in silence.
Yao Lin, sensing the tension, quickly intervened to smooth things over, "It's my fault for not arranging things properly. It's just a room, it's nothing."
"The second aunt's arrangement was indeed a bit improper." Jiang Huai, as the eldest grandson of the Jiang family, never hesitated to speak his mind, even in front of his elders. "Xu Xu is my sister, the eldest young lady of the Jiang family. It's a bit of a joke for her to live in a room that was converted from a child's bedroom."
Saying that, he suddenly pulled Guan Xu Xu's shoulders, showing a protective attitude. "My sister came home, and she's not here to be wronged."
One sentence, intentionally or unintentionally, caused Lu Xuexi's face to turn red.
She had just subtly hinted to everyone that she was wronged, and now Jiang Huai was saying that it was Xu Xu living in her used room that was the real injustice.
Wasn't that a slap in the face?
On the other side, Guan Xu Xu, suddenly pulled by the shoulder, froze.
She wasn't sure if it was because of Jiang Huai's action or because of his words.
As for being wronged, she couldn't really say so.
Compared to what she had suffered in the Guan family, a sentence or two didn't matter.
But this was the first time someone had cared whether she felt wronged.
Her heart warmed, and it seemed like it was the first time she felt what it meant to have family.
Yao Lin's face was clearly embarrassed, but in her heart, she cursed Jiang Huai for not giving her any face as usual. She subconsciously looked at Jiang Yucheng and Jiang Laoye, but seeing that both of them remained silent, she could only suppress her frustration and maintain a graceful expression.
"Jiang Huai is right. It's the second aunt who didn't think it through. I'll have someone rearrange it right away."
Jiang Huai immediately smiled and nodded at her, "Then please have the second aunt handle it as soon as possible."
He then turned to the others, "I'll take Xu Xu to the garden for a walk."
After speaking, he didn't care about the opinions of those in the living room and directly led Guan Xu Xu to the garden.
Once they left, the atmosphere in the living room became heavy. Yao Lin felt extremely wronged and was about to explain herself when, at that moment, the butler came in and spoke to Jiang Laoye.
"Old Master, the doorman called and said Mrs. Guan has come to visit."
The name "Guan" made everyone immediately think of Guan Xu Xu.
They thought, "Didn't we just bring her over from the Guan family? Why is she here to visit again?"
"She must be here to see Xu Xu. It seems she can't bear to part with the child," Jiang Family's third aunt said with a smile, trying to lighten the mood.
She had noticed that Guan Xu Xu came in without luggage.
Though she didn't know the reason, the Guan family must have come to send her belongings, right?
After all, knowing Xu Xu was the Jiang family's daughter, even the Guan family wouldn't be foolish enough to neglect bringing her luggage.
The butler hesitated for a moment before saying, "That Mrs. Guan said she is here to visit Third Madam."
Jiang Sanfuren's smile stiffened, and she seemed confused. "To see me?"
Why would the Guan family's wife not visit the child but come to see her?
Meanwhile,
The Jiang family's garden was in typical European style, with retro fences on the side of the villa covered in roses, and well-kept lawns spreading green across the area, looking especially vibrant under the scorching summer sun.
Guan Xu Xu followed Jiang Huai as he casually introduced some little details of the garden, but her thoughts quietly drifted back to the scene where Jiang Huai stood up for her in the living room.
There was a strange, subtle feeling.
After a long time, she couldn't help but softly say, "Thank you."
Jiang Huai paused, looking at her. He suddenly smiled and ruffled her hair. "No need to thank me, just call me your older brother."
Guan Xu Xu just looked at him, with her hair tousled by his hand, her whole demeanor unintentionally exuding a sort of adorably naive aura, which made Jiang Huai's smile deepen.
Just as he was about to say something else, his phone rang. He glanced at the caller and gestured to Guan Xu Xu to wander around, then walked off to take the call.
Guan Xu Xu continued walking ahead, taking about ten steps, when her gaze fell on an older maid who was wiping tables and chairs at the garden gazebo.
The maid appeared to be in her fifties, with an unremarkable exterior, but from Guan Xu Xu's angle, she could clearly see the strands of dark, sinister energy swirling around her. This was a sign of someone tainted by evil deeds.
Guan Xu Xu generally didn't like to meddle in other people's business, as getting involved could bring consequences.
But if she ignored this person, the dark energy surrounding her might affect the others in the house.
She stepped forward.
The maid, with a cloth in hand, was mechanically wiping the furniture, her expression blank and dazed. Occasionally, her gaze would drift to a certain direction. When Guan Xu Xu finally walked up to her, the maid suddenly snapped out of her stupor and hurriedly greeted her.
"Big... Miss."
"You recognize me?" Guan Xu Xu was a bit surprised. She had only been here for a little over half an hour, and the people of the Jiang family hadn't even fully recognized her yet.
"The butler showed us a picture so all the servants could recognize you in advance, so we wouldn't accidentally offend the young lady," the maid explained, smiling in an ingratiating manner.
Guan Xu Xu hadn't expected the Jiang family to make such arrangements in advance. It was done quietly, but it was thoughtful. Truly the style of a big family.
"Is there something you need, young lady?" the maid asked when she saw Guan Xu Xu silent.
Guan Xu Xu was about to speak when, at that moment, two familiar figures appeared at the garden gate.
It was Bai Shuqin and Guan Ruirui.
The two were being led inside by the butler, and as soon as they saw Guan Xu Xu in the gazebo, both were stunned.
"What are you doing here?!"