Chapter 272: Jiang Family on the Move

Night falls on Yangcheng.

As one of the top three economically ranked cities in the country, Yangcheng’s prosperity is no less than that of East Sea City. If East Sea City is an international metropolis, then Yangcheng is the confluence of the nation’s elites. According to incomplete statistics, over half of Yangcheng’s residents are migrants. Due to Yangcheng’s number one industrial scale in the country, many people from within the nation flock to Yangcheng for work, seeking a livelihood.

Nanyang Coast is the name of a luxurious villa district.

Although there is no real coastline, there is an artificial sandy beach and a man-made lake at the center of the villa district. The azure lake water gently ripples with the evening breeze, creating waves that softly lap against the sandy beach, making murmuring water sounds.

At this time, a motorhome drove into the entrance of Nanyang Coast, following the flat road all the way into the depths of the villa complex. There, a mansion sprawling across thousands of acres was brightly lit.

The motorhome arrived outside the mansion, and two suit-clad security staff quickly approached. On seeing Jiang Han’s face in the vehicle window, their demeanor immediately became respectful, addressing him as 'Mr. Jiang', and then waving toward the security room.

Instantly, an iron gate three meters high and more than six meters wide was pulled open from the middle, slowly moving to both sides, revealing a quiet road.

Inside the mansion, lush trees hid several villas of different styles—European, Gothic, and even a historic Siheyuan. Winding cobblestone paths threaded through them, crisscrossing in all directions, connecting each villa.

At the center of several villas, there was also a huge fountain, from which water columns sprouted from the ground to mid-air, forming countless water arcs that interweave, converging into a beautiful canvas.

Around the fountain, more than a dozen security personnel paced back and forth, surveying the safety outside the villas.

The motorhome passed through several checkpoints, driving straight to the heart of the mansion, stopping outside the Siheyuan. The two security staff at the door immediately approached, courteously opened the car door, stood beside it with a slight bow, and respectfully said, "Mr. Jiang."

Jiang Han looked at Nanrong Wanqing inside the car with an expressionless face and instructed, "Qiu Wu, Qiu Wen, take the guests to the living room. Young lady, come with me, let’s first visit the Family Head in the study."

Descending from the vehicle, Jiang Ying looked around at the familiar yet unfamiliar surroundings with a somewhat excited expression. After twenty years away, she had finally returned home. Before she knew it, her eyes had reddened slightly, with tears shimmering.

"Young lady," Jiang Han saw her standing motionless and impatiently urged her.

"Coming, coming!" Jiang Ying snapped back to reality and hurriedly followed his footsteps. The thought of meeting the Family Head soon made her feel inexplicably apprehensive.

Entering the Siheyuan, Jiang Ying closely followed Jiang Han’s steps and came to a lit study. At the door, an old man in his sixties, aged and hunched, stood against the wall. Dressed in a Sun Yat-sen suit, his face was gaunt, his hands dangling.

As Jiang Ying approached, the old man slightly lifted his head, his cloudy vision gradually brightening, his voice trembling slightly, "Is... is it the second young lady?"

"Uncle Liu?" Jiang Ying’s face brightened with joy as she hurried over, her eyes brimming with hot tears, tightly gripping his withered hands. "Uncle Liu, it’s been so many years, you haven’t changed at all."

Jiang Han frowned slightly and spoke, "Uncle Liu, you can catch up later. We are here to see the Family Head, please announce our arrival."

"Yes," Uncle Liu responded, turned, and pushed the door to enter.

A few minutes later, Uncle Liu returned, nodding towards them. "Go in, the master is waiting for you."

Watching Jiang Han enter the room first, Jiang Ying stood outside the threshold, struggling to calm her emotions. "Second young lady, go ahead."

Encouraged by Uncle Liu’s supportive gaze, Jiang Ying nodded and stepped into the study.

In the bright study, a bookcase was placed in front of each of the four walls, brimming with densely packed books. Next to a pearwood desk sat an elderly man, around seventy years old, with a full head of silver hair, dressed in a green Tang-style suit, his face square, his thick eyebrows slightly raised, exuding an aura of authority. Despite his advanced age, time had not left many traces on his face; he had the youthful look of an old man, with bright and piercing eyes, bursting with vigor.

At the moment, he was holding a book, engrossed in reading, seemingly unaware of the two additional people in the study.

Looking at that familiar face, Jiang Ying couldn’t help but lower her head, her body tense, not even daring to breathe.

"Family Head!" Jiang Han greeted with a smile, respectfully.

The old man did not look up. "Has the person been brought back?"

"I’ve only brought back Nanrong Wanqing. She was uncooperative, so I had to use a bit of force."

"What about Nanrong Hao?"

"Family Head, that useless waste isn’t worth mentioning; bringing him back would be a waste of time."

"You may leave now."

Jiang Han glanced at Jiang Ying beside him and replied, "Yes." After speaking, he turned and left the study.

Once he had left, the old man put down the book in his hand, his gaze lifted slightly, staring straight at Jiang Ying, his eyes flickering with sharpness, yet he said nothing for a long time.

"Fa... Family Head..." Jiang Ying’s lips quivered slightly as she struggled to utter these two words.

The old man snorted softly, his tone neither cold nor warm. "After more than twenty years, is it really that difficult for you to call me 'Dad'?"

Jiang Ying’s face changed slightly, she hastily corrected, "No, it’s not like that, I..."

"Enough." The old man waved his hand, cutting her off. "The past is in the past, I don’t want to reopen old wounds. You’ve had a tough twenty years; from now on, stay at home."

"Thank you, Dad, thank you," Jiang Ying said, her face filled with emotion.

"Let’s go, accompany me to meet the misbegotten daughter of the Nanrong Family." The old man stood up and strode out of the study.

In the drawing room of the Siheyuan, the marble floor glistened, the pure white ceiling was adorned with a huge crystal chandelier, and the walls were decorated with tasteful oil paintings and landscape paintings. In addition to the luxurious decor, the various pieces of furniture also exuded opulence.

Surrounding the living room, several young and delicate female attendants stood against the wall, ready to serve at any moment.

Accompanied by Jiang Ying, the old man entered the living room, his gaze immediately captivated by Nanrong Wanqing seated in the wheelchair. Looking at her stunningly beautiful face, the old man was struck by a sense of déjà vu and stood frozen on the spot.

"Qing’e..."

Hearing the old man’s murmurs, Jiang Ying gently reminded, "Dad, she is my sister’s daughter, Wanqing, not my sister herself."

Upon hearing the word 'daughter,' a frosty expression spread across the old man’s face, and a fierce gleam flashed in his eyes, as he walked directly towards the sofa in front of Nanrong Wanqing.

After taking a seat, he gave a knowing glance to Jiang Han, who had been waiting in the living room. Understanding the cue, Jiang Han took out a bottle from his pocket, unscrewed the cap, and held it under Nanrong Wanqing’s nose.

The pungent smell wafted through the air, and Nanrong Wanqing, who had been unconscious, immediately awoke.