No reconciliation, no forgiveness! Mr. Pei leaves with nothing.

The vast, boundless starry sky is a sight that can never be seen in the bustling capital city. Lying on a deck chair, the wind blows across the grass beneath your feet, carrying the fresh scent of flowers, grass, and earth.

Aside from each other's breathing, the only sound was the rustling of leaves rubbing together.

Ji Liangchuan came out of the house with a cup of warmed milk in his hand, which he placed on the small table between two chairs.

He approached and saw that Jiang Hua had already fallen asleep. Ji Liangchuan did not wake her, but simply took a blanket from the room and covered her with it. Ji Liangchuan quietly watched her for a while.

When Jiang Hua woke up, Ji Liangchuan carried her into the room. The room they booked was a small villa with only one floor in a farmhouse, with two other rooms next to it and a courtyard in the middle.

The blankets and sheets were all newly changed. In case she wasn't used to sleeping there, Ji Liangchuan made the bed for her again after he arrived, adding several thicker layers. The air conditioner in the room was also set to a comfortable temperature.

Jiang Hua was gently placed on the bed. The slight movement made her open her eyes, and when she saw the familiar figure in front of her, she soon fell asleep again.

When Ji Liangchuan left the room, he turned off the light for her; he lived next door.

When it got light, Jiang Hua went to wash up. The toothpaste on the sink had already been squeezed out. When she came out, Ji Liangchuan was wearing an apron and had prepared the meal. The restaurants in this area didn't have the same clean and hygienic ingredients as those in the capital city. He had bought the vegetables from a nearby town that morning and washed them several times.

"You're awake? Come and eat."

Jiang Hua stepped forward and sat down. On the table were three dishes and a soup that had already been prepared. It was her first time experiencing the ordinary life of ordinary people in this town. "Ji Liangchuan, do ordinary people live like this?"

Jiang Hua had never stayed in such a small house before. All the rooms combined were smaller than the living room of Jinsha Shallow Bay. The table was worn out, and the floor tiles were not shiny, with mud still stuck in the cracks. It looked clean at first glance, but upon closer inspection, the environment was quite dirty.

"Hmm, more or less." Ji Liangchuan came out of the kitchen and put down the last dish. "Aside from material conditions, ordinary people are just like this, eating three ordinary meals a day, living a plain and simple life day after day."

Jiang Hua nodded as if she understood, "It seems... this kind of life isn't right, I can't accept it."

Ji Liangchuan smiled and said, "We'll come again next time you want to."

At the same time, a black, top-of-the-line luxury car pulled up in front of the Royal Dragon Bay Villa. Kagel got out of the car, followed by bodyguards.

Xu Qiulan had never seen such a scene before, and asked rather nervously, "Mr. Kagel, what's going on?"

Kagel was dressed rather formally today, wearing a tailcoat and white gloves, his hands neatly clasped in front of him. "As instructed by our master, we have come ahead of time to take Madam back."

"Huahua isn't here; she'll be back later," Jiang Weiguo said as he came downstairs.

Kagel: "I don't know where Madam has gone. I hope Mr. Jiang can tell me."

Jiang Weiguo: "Huahua is not feeling well and went to the hospital for a check-up. We'd like to pick her up later."

Kagel smiled slightly and nodded. "In that case, we'll come back at four o'clock this afternoon to pick up Madam, right before the banquet begins."

Jiang Weiguo was surprised that they left so easily, and he secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He also knew that such concealment was not a long-term solution, and the Huo family would take Huahua away sooner or later.

"Where is Pei Zhan? I have something to say to him."

Kagel: "I'm afraid my master won't be able to meet you. If there's anything you need, you can tell me, and I'll pass it on to my master."

Master? When did Pei Zhan become his master?

Could something have happened to the Huo family, and Pei Zhan have taken over Huo Tingshan's position?

After Kagel left, he went to the hospital. The man lying on the hospital bed was wrapped in bandages. He looked haggard and dejected, and there was a hint of resentment emanating from him.

Have you located her?

Kagel: "I just received news that Madam and Ji Liangchuan went to an island in international waters for a trip, and they will probably finish around 6 p.m.

"At this time, I'm afraid we won't make it in time for Master Huo's birthday banquet."

...

"Be careful." Ji Liangchuan caught her as she jumped off the deck. There were quite a few people here today, and by the time they reached their destination, it was almost 2 p.m. Jiang Hua had completely forgotten about the invitation to the Huo family's birthday banquet.

As soon as she landed, staff sent a car to pick her up. Just then, Jiang Hua received a phone call. Seeing that it was from home, she answered without much suspicion, "Dad, is something wrong?"

"... "

"dad?"

There was a silence of almost half a minute on the other end of the phone. "Dad, if you're okay, I'll hang up now. The car is coming soon, and the signal might be bad in a bit."

“Huahua”.

"Grandpa?" Jiang Hua glanced at Ji Liangchuan beside her with a strange look.

"Your maternal grandfather came to pick you up to attend the Huo family's birthday banquet, but you weren't there. So I came to tell you where you are, and I'll send someone to pick you up."

Jiang Hua: "I've already told my dad that I won't be going."

Jiang Huai: "Huahua, Third Master Huo and Grandpa used to be close friends. He specifically asked you to come over this time because he wants to see you."

"In that case, let it be."

Jiang Hua felt something was off, but she couldn't quite put her finger on what was wrong.

"Okay... I understand, Grandpa. Liangchuan and I will head over now. If we get there, it will be around five o'clock."

"Okay, Grandpa will be waiting for you at the old house."

Ji Liangchuan: "What's wrong?"

Jiang Hua: "It's my maternal grandfather who insisted that I attend this banquet. It seems like I can't get away from it, so I have no choice but to go."

"It's okay, we'll go then. Don't worry... I'll go with you." Ji Liangchuan held her hand tightly.

Jiang Hua didn't want to attend the Huo family's birthday banquet, but she just didn't want to see Huo Tingshan. At worst, she would show her face at the Huo family's house and then leave.

They boarded the cruise ship again, and upon arriving at the port, they found several black cars parked on the public road, attracting the attention of many onlookers.

Jiang Hua was unimpressed and was about to change her route when a bodyguard in a black suit appeared in front of her. "Miss Jiang, I'm here to pick you up as instructed by the master."

Jiang Hua: "So fast?"

The bodyguard stopped him, saying, "However, the person next to you cannot come along."

Jiang Hua: "Why? Didn't Grandpa send you to pick us up?"

Bodyguard: "I'm sorry, our orders are to pick you up alone."

"Is that so? Since you don't want him to come with me, then forget it. I won't get in your car either." Jiang Hua became more wary.

Until Ji Liangchuan answered the phone, “…Okay, I understand.”

After hanging up the phone, he said, "It's okay, you go with them first, I have to go to the company."

"I'll come see you after I've finished dealing with things at the company."

Jiang Hua: "Then drive carefully on your way back by yourself."

Ji Liangchuan: "Mm."

Jiang Hua had no choice but to separate from him. She sat in the back passenger seat. She had never seen the driver before. In the car, she tried to get information out of him, but he was like a robot, just like Kagel. His answers were only a few words long.

At this time, the road back wasn't too crowded. Jiang Hua sat in the car, playing on her phone out of boredom. When she looked up, she realized they were heading towards Jinsha Shallow Bay. "Not to the Jiang family's old house?"

Bodyguard: "Our message is that you will be safely delivered here."

Jiang Hua frowned. What exactly were her father and grandfather up to?

...

When Kagel went to the hospital, he saw someone he hadn't seen in a long time outside the operating room. "Long time no see, Kridan."

"Long time no see, brother." Kridan's Mandarin has also improved, and he can now communicate normally in Chinese: "Master's wound has torn open and is bleeding heavily. He is currently receiving treatment and is not in great danger of death."

Kagel: "Please pass this on to the master when he wakes up. The lady will prepare to go to the banquet."

Kridan nodded and said, "Thank you for your trouble, brother."

...

When Jiang Hua entered Jinsha Shallow Bay, there was a Chinese-style silk cheongsam embroidered with gold thread in the glass display case. The style was relatively conservative and traditional, with intricate embroidery on it, all of which were auspicious patterns. It had a strong courtly feel, and the style did not look like something that Jiang Hua, who was in her twenties, should wear. The color was not bright, but rather elegant, and the floral pattern was rich and dazzling, with a dignified aura. It was the kind of cheongsam that was worn on a very formal occasion.

The Huo family rules are traditional and feudal. Jiang Hua thought the Shen family had the most rules, but in fact, they were even more so than the Huo family. Many people knew about the Huo family in the capital, but very few people talked about them. It was more accurate to say that the Huo family was mysterious than to say that they were low-key.

Aside from the successor who takes power in the Huo family, there are some things that even the Huo family itself may not know about, forming a complex and intertwined web.

Jiang Hua had heard it from her father. The Huo family was a true powerful clan in the capital. They had a strong concept of lineage succession and many rules. Each branch was responsible for all matters except for the head of the family. Other branches could not interfere with each other. The Huo family's business and politics were like a spider web, with each thread having its own responsibilities and no one allowed to overstep their boundaries.

Apart from Huo Tingshan back then, you can hardly hear anything about the Huo family in the capital now. Even if there are any scandals, no news outlets dare to report them.

There are many internal conflicts and struggles within wealthy families. To become the successor of a lineage, one can only rely on one's own abilities. The Huo family has a large and continuous lineage, with nearly a hundred people carrying the blood of the Huo family across several generations, from the main branch to the collateral branches.

This also includes those illegitimate children who are shameful and cannot be brought to the table; if you add them all up, they could probably fill a whole platoon.

There were quite a few members of the Huo family present today. Even the other major families were there, but they were just there to accompany the guests. Apart from a few important guests, they couldn't get into the inner area at all.

Even if the Jiang family goes, they'll be relegated to a corner, and perhaps they'll even get to sit at the same table as Bao'er for a meal.

Jiang Hua changed into this cheongsam, which looked a bit dignified and a bit rustic in color. She sat in front of the dressing table, looking somewhat bored, with her fingers curled up and supporting her face, while the older maids behind her meticulously did her makeup.

Hopefully, if I go, the banquet at the Huo family will be better.

Ideally, Huo Tingshan should also be busy and not come.

The story of the Huo and Jiang families was quite a sensation back then. Even after more than ten or twenty years, the matter between my father and mother is still often discussed and gossiped about over tea.

"Madam, it's all done. Please take a look." The person behind her pinned a golden hairpin to the bun Jiang Hua had styled. "You're getting old. You've made me look old."

"Don't call me that, call me Miss."

The two maids behind her, who were older than Xu Ma, looked at each other for a moment but said nothing.

She stood up and looked at herself in the full-length mirror. She was still stunningly beautiful, but the cheongsam added a touch of dignified elegance, though it made her look older.

She's only in her early twenties, but she looks like she's almost there; she seems mature.

She couldn't help but ask out of curiosity, "Is everyone who went there today dressed like this?"

"Does this color make me look too old?" She swayed her slender waist as she looked at herself.

It doesn't look like it at all; it's not something someone her beautiful age should wear.

"Madam, do you think this is appropriate?"

Jiang Hua: "It's alright."

"I told you, don't call me Madam, call me Miss."

"Just by looking at it and thinking about it, you can tell it was Grandpa who picked it. Grandpa's taste has always been like that."

"This..." One of the servants wanted to say something, but when another person next to him shook his head, the words that the first person was about to say were swallowed down.

"Miss... this is your ring."

"I won't wear this, it's too heavy," Jiang Hua said somewhat reluctantly.

The maid gently advised, "Miss, don't you think this ring matches your cheongsam perfectly? Today is an important occasion, so your accessories should be more formal to avoid being impolite."

"Once you arrive, just sit quietly and don't be nervous. If you need anything, just tell us."

Hearing them say that, Jiang Hua realized that it did indeed match the cheongsam. "Then put it on me." Jiang Hua raised her slender fingers, the back of her hand facing up, her ring finger slightly curled up. The maid put it on for her, and the size was just right.

It took more than two hours just to do her makeup. In addition, there was a traffic jam on the way to the Huo family. By the time she got close to the Huo family, it was already dark.

Jiang Hua called her father, but the call didn't go through, so she could only send him a message.

I told him what happened yesterday.

Actually, she had considered Pei Zhan's identity, but she felt it was impossible.

Therefore, Jiang Hua never thought of him in those ways from beginning to end.

During that time, Pei Zhan's money was all in her hands. Later, regarding the wedding dress at the photography studio and the wedding venue decorations, Jiang Hua simply believed that the money, which she was unaware of and whose origins were unclear, was obtained by him through improper means.

Pei Zhan was no good person; he used shady methods to make money, and Jiang Hua never questioned him.

Jiang Hua thought of Ji Liangchuan and gave him a call…

The car came to a smooth stop outside the Huo family's grand mansion. "Madam has arrived. You may get out of the car now."