Early the next morning, Jiang Yi was woken up by a phone ringing insistently.
Seeing the words "Elder Chief" on the screen, her sleepiness disappeared in an instant.
After calming her emotions by gently patting her chest a few times, she finally pressed the answer button and then, with a coquettish voice that could raise goosebumps, spoke into the phone, "Dear Grandfather~"
Before she could finish, a barrage of questions came from the Elder Chief, "When did you return to the country? Why didn't you say anything beforehand? Who knows you're back? Does your father know? And where are you now?"
Jiang Yi was dizzy with the series of questions and didn't know which one to answer first.
But the next second, she didn't have to worry about it any longer because the Elder Chief was already shouting over the phone, "Get back here immediately!"
-
Elder Chief Jiang's residence was located in the city center, a two-story detached villa that Hu Zhonglian, his son-in-law, had bought for him with a hefty sum years ago.
The Elder Chief had a fiery temper, and although he lived in the villa, he didn't have any appreciation for his son-in-law's kindness, as the death of his daughter was inseparably connected to him. If it weren't for wanting to provide a better life for Jiang Yi, he wouldn't have moved in at all; he was quite content with the old residency in the military compound, despite it being damp year-round.
Jiang Yi's original surname was Hu. After her mother passed away, she changed it to Jiang, her mother's surname, which was also Elder Chief Jiang's wish.
The Elder Chief accepted the gift of fine tea and a set of valuable tack from a visitor and asked, "Suihan, how has your grandfather been doing lately?"
Wen Suihan sat with his hands on his knees and an upright posture, radiating a sharp, cold aura, yet he was respectfully humble before the Elder Chief, "His health has always been robust. Recently, he talked about inviting you to the racetrack to watch the horse races, only to give up the idea because my grandmother suddenly fell seriously ill."
The Elder Chief sighed with regret, "I really didn't expect your grandmother to pass so suddenly. Unfortunately, I was away from Y city at the time and couldn't make it back in time."
"Please accept my condolences. My grandmother passed peacefully, leaving no regrets..."
-
Not far from the Jiang Family Residence, He Gu parked the car.
Jiang Yi sat in the passenger seat and asked He Gu, "Aren't you coming in with me?"
He Gu refused on the spot, "I'd rather not. It's you who upset your family's Elder Chief, and I don't want to share the punishment with you. I'll come to see you when he's cooled down. I'm afraid Grandpa Jiang will hit me too if he's really angry."
Jiang Yi got out of the car like a condemned prisoner, dragging her feet as she exited the vehicle.
After He Gu took her suitcase out of the trunk, he drove away as fast as a flash.
Jiang Yi cursed "So disloyal" before dragging the suitcase toward the villa.
Before she reached the doorway, a tall figure emerged from inside.
The person kept their head down as he came out and couldn't be seen clearly, but was impeccably dressed in a suit, towering in height without even a slight stoop common to tall people, and his long legs moved in steady, measured steps, carrying an aura that was intimidating.
Although the person only showed his profile, it was already striking, and Jiang Yi felt it was vaguely familiar.
She stood still for a moment, trying to match the profile with someone from her memory but realizing it matched no one, she gave up the thought.
Meanwhile, that person went straight to a black luxury car waiting ahead.
A gloved driver got out of the car to open the door for him.
Then he bent over to get into the car, and was no longer visible.