Chapter 3

Chapter 3

There was nothing wrong with Jiang Jining's mind.

Not only that, but his capacity for learning and adaptation was fairly good.

Watch more, speak less, and think a lot had been his most frequent activities over the past month; otherwise, he would have made many embarrassing mistakes.

It was just like when he first arrived.

He wore a magnificent robe of cloud-patterned brocade. A jade crown sat in his hair, and a gold bracelet adorned his wrist. Every part of him was utterly out of place here.

His family was wealthy, and any single item he wore could have been pawned to live comfortably, but in the end, they were all kept.

He was told it was a complicated matter.

When he showed his belongings, the pawnshop owner was quick to ask about their origins, offering extraordinarily high prices, which caused quite a stir in certain circles.

Over the past month or so, Jiang Jining had come to fully realize that, due to his playful nature, he had mistakenly wandered into a bizarre and kaleidoscopic world. Here were wide, bustling streets and tall, imposing buildings, and people didn't live under the strict social hierarchies of the dynasty he came from.

This place championed democracy, freedom, equality, and kindness.

Fortunately, Fu Yuze was not the first person to help him. Upon arriving here, Jiang Jining had immediately found a place to stay.

As if by fate.

No matter when or where in this world, there were always people willing to help him.

Jiang Jining rarely went out.

He was like a toddler learning to walk, having to start from scratch even for something as basic as turning a light on or off. As a result, he spent most of his time learning the basic knowledge and rules of this world.

For convenience, he had gotten that watch.

He kept it carefully, and all the saved contacts were just names. This was the only time he had lost it.

The little boy asked him for his phone number.

The first time Jiang Jining learned the concept of a "phone number," he had stared at it for a full month, memorizing the digits that represented his identity, so he was able to rattle it off.

In total, he had only gone out four times, and every single time, it was to search for a way home.

Clearly, he had arrived here through water.

The ancient capital of Jingzhou had changed, yet it was still prosperous.

Jiang Jining never saw anything familiar. From what he remembered, he was certain: this was not home.

He had come to a completely unfamiliar place.

Today's lake was his point of entry. Jiang Jining had people check it more than once, judging from the entry point, time, and sky conditions, but each attempt ended in failure.

Lost in these thoughts, Jiang Jining finished his bath.

He changed into the pajamas prepared by the maid, raised his hand to feel the fabric, unexpectedly soft. The natural silk felt incredibly comfortable against his skin, and the style was pleasing too, with the tie on the side, somewhat similar to the undergarments he used to wear at home.

Jiang Jining was towel-drying his hair when he heard a knock at the door. "Mr. Jiang, are you still feeling unwell anywhere?"

It was the maid.

Jiang Jining walked over and opened the door, saying to her, "I'm fine. I usually take a long time bathing; it's normal."

His previous residence also had servants, even more than here.

On the first day he moved in, everyone was full of curiosity and concern for him. That evening during his bath, someone even entered the room where he was sleeping.

The people in Fu Yuze's household were different.

Jiang Jining recalled Fu Yuze's instructions to the butler when they got out of the car. It seemed... he was a commanding employer.

The maid was used to Fu Yuze, and the Fu family members occasionally visited, so she was rarely struck this way anymore. The first time was when she brought the pajamas; now it was happening again.

As the door swung open.

Jiang Jining stood tall and slender, otherworldly.

The simple silver-white pajamas accentuated his snow-white skin, delicate and flawless, as if a soft glow enveloped his entire being.

"The master said you haven't had dinner yet," the maid said, anxious not to fail her employer or neglect his guest. "He personally prepared some dishes. You can come down whenever you're ready."

It was long past dinner time.

Jiang Jining was about to say he wouldn't eat.

But the faint hunger pangs in his stomach reminded him: he had barely eaten anything today.

Apart from that corn dog, he'd given the bag with rice balls and bread to the butler, barely having touched them.

Had Fu Yuze noticed?

"I'll come down."

After saying this, Jiang Jining closed the door.

He towel-dried his hair slowly. He'd combed it thoroughly before washing, so the wet hair wasn't hard to manage.

"Whirr..."

He had learned how to use the hairdryer.

Setting it to the lowest speed, he held his hair in his palm and blew the air downward along the strands.

At first, Jiang Jining didn't have a personal attendant; he had managed on his own for a week. Believing that one's body, hair, and skin are gifts from one's parents, he valued every part of himself greatly. He didn't mind the trouble, but it was a bit tiring.

Even just drying it halfway took about seven or eight minutes.

When Jiang Jining went downstairs, he put on that coat again.

At the staircase landing, the butler was instructing the maid about some matters. Seeing Jiang Jining, he smiled and said, "You must be hungry, sir?"

Jiang Jining gave a faint nod.

The dining room was located diagonally across the main building. Mid-June in Jingzhou wasn't too hot yet. As he walked through the corridor, the courtyard scenery was truly beautiful. Jiang Jining sat at the dining table, directly facing two wide-open, tea-colored window lattices. They didn't obstruct the view in the slightest.

It didn't feel like having a meal; it felt like viewing a painting.

And he was the immortal within that painting.

The maid emerged from the kitchen, exchanging a glance with the butler, and saw the same smile in each other's eyes.

At this hour,

the house was often devoid of life.

Not only was Jiang Jining here, but he was also a sight for sore eyes.

Fish maw and yellow croaker soup, peppery crispy-skin Wagyu beef, handmade lava salted egg yolk char siu—each dish was modest in portion yet exquisitely presented.

"Sir advised against eating too much at night," the maid said, placing a bowl of glistening, translucent fragrant rice before Jiang Jining. Seeing how thin he was, she couldn't help adding, "But if it's not enough, there's more."

"No, this is just right."

Jiang Jining actually thought it was too much.

He picked up his chopsticks, brought a morsel to his mouth, and then lifted his gaze, unsure if it was just because he was starving.

The freshness of the ingredients and their perfectly balanced flavors stimulated his entire palate, even slowing his chewing. The taste sent only two words to his brain—

Delicious.

How could this be? He was usually quite picky.

Like now.

The only flaw.

The food was kept quite warm.

But it must have been over twenty minutes since it left the stove.

Jiang Jining lowered his gaze, reaching with his chopsticks for the second and third dishes. Then he slowly set down his soup spoon, biting into a fresh, tender piece of bamboo shoot. He asked the maid, who was about to leave, "Did he... make all of this?"

The maid said, "Of course. When Sir uses the kitchen, we don't even touch the utensils. It's delicious, isn't it?"

Jiang Jining truly couldn't deny it.

Looking at the single place setting, he finally remembered to ask, "Isn't he joining me to eat?"

"Sir has already gone out," Uncle Lu said as he entered, placing a thin cashmere wrap within Jiang Jining's reach. "Sir enjoys cooking. Recently, his restaurant preparations are wrapping up, so he's quite busy."

So that was it.

No wonder he had to work so late.

Jiang Jining touched the shawl—unsurprisingly, it was of excellent quality. He assumed Fu Yuze was simply a wealthy and generous host, so he accepted it but didn't drape it over himself.

He focused on eating, silent, bite after bite, finishing the bowl of rice quickly.

It wasn't advisable to eat too much at night, and today he had already overindulged.

Having gotten a taste of such quality, Jiang Jining didn't ask the maid for more food. They had all agreed not to bother him with unnecessary talk, which suited him perfectly, and he returned to his room.

He swept his hair up into a bun, using no pins or ties, draped the shawl over his shoulders, picked up his coat, and went out.

Unexpectedly, the butler was just about to come up to see him.

On the stairs, Jiang Jining handed him the neatly folded coat with both hands. Uncle Lu further cemented his image as polite and considerate, saying, "I was just about to look for you."

Jiang Jining took a step to the side, subtly creating half a step of distance. "What is it?"

Uncle Lu shook the iPad in his hand, handed it to him, and explained, "High-quality jade hairpins that are ready-made are rare. I've found three locally, and they can all be delivered by tomorrow morning. Would you like to see if any appeal to you?"

Jiang Jining tapped the screen idly.

Actually, each one was quite nice.

According to his taste, one was overly ornate, another slightly too conservative. He swiped back to the first one. "This one will do."

The butler smiled upon seeing it—this one could be delivered immediately, and it was also the most expensive.

"Please rest early."

Uncle Lu easily noticed Jiang Jining's fatigue. "You had quite a scare today. There's no need to wait for Sir; I'll convey your thanks on your behalf."

Jiang Jining thought to himself that he hadn't planned to wait for him anyway.

Staying up late was taxing on the mind and spirit.

The next morning, he would inevitably wake up late.

Jiang Jining was accustomed to early nights and early mornings. He didn't disapprove of the people here's sleep habits, but he didn't quite understand them either.

Clearly, the morning sets the tone for the day, yet wasting half the day sleeping in seemed like a loss.

Jiang Jining returned to his room.

Uncle Lu watched him walk with a straight back and graceful posture, smiled, and took out his phone to purchase the hairpin.

...

The next day, Jiang Jining woke naturally at five o'clock.

He drew back the curtains and opened the window, sitting at the foot of the bed to bask in the sunlight. He combed his hair leisurely, occasionally massaging his scalp. The natural breeze left him feeling refreshed and clear-headed.

When he went downstairs, the maid was skillfully brewing tea and looked surprised to see him. "Mr. Jiang, you're up this early too?"

Too?

Jiang Jining noticed that word.

He sat on the sofa at a comfortable distance and watched as the maid brought over the tea. "The chef is preparing breakfast."

"Thank you."

The delicate fragrance of Longjing tea lingered around Jiang Jining's nose.

He took a sip and had to admit that everything here suited him perfectly, bringing him immense comfort.

It seemed the source of it all came from one person.

Fu Yuze had been busy until very late the previous night.

Usually, early in the morning, Uncle Lu or the maid would brew a pot of tea. Choosing to sit in the living room or the pavilion offered different kinds of refreshment, capable of untangling even the most knotted worries.

Today was different. The house was so quiet it seemed empty.

As he descended the stairs and turned the corner, the figure on the sofa was absolutely impossible to ignore.

Jiang Jining was reading a book.

His white silk shirt was embroidered with magnolia flowers and bamboo leaves on the shoulders, the embroidery catching the light differently from every angle. A hairpin the color of lake water was tucked into his bun, gradated from white to a soft blue-green, utterly flawless.

The gaze on him was too palpable to ignore.

Jiang Jining put down the book and looked over.

Fu Yuze met his gaze head-on, "Didn't the housekeeper get you any clothes?"

"He did." Jiang Jining didn’t want to involve others without reason, "I am accustomed to wearing my own garments."

Besides, they're washed very well.

Some of his garments required delicate care, but the housekeeper was quite experienced, knowing exactly how to handle different materials. They came back this morning, just in time for me to wear.

"Thank you for the hairpin."

Jiang Jining looked up and said to him.

"Uncle Lu bought it." Fu Yuze didn't claim credit and remained standing, "Let's go have breakfast. We're going out later."

They were going to the police station. Jiang Jining nodded gently. He had been picked up and brought here, so he couldn't stay here forever.

Unlike before.

Back then, he had all his belongings with him.

As an exchange, he could hold his head high when asking for things.

"Buzz... buzz..."

A phone suddenly vibrated nearby.

Fu Yuze took out his phone, glanced at the caller ID, and swiped to answer, "You're calling me in the *actual* morning?"

"You’re finally up!" The person on the other end hurriedly said, "I’ve been calling since four o’clock! Wait, I need to talk to you."

The caller was being too loud.

Even without putting it on speaker, Jiang Jining could hear every word.

Jiang Jining, who had already taken a few steps away, turned around with a trace of suspicion.

"Did you get into trouble?" Fu Yuze saw him waiting and walked over to join him, but the call continued, "You’ve been missing lately, didn’t even show up at last night’s first birthday celebration."

"Don’t even mention it—"

The voice on the line was grim, "I’m just regretting not going to Xing Zai’s first birthday party last night. Let’s not talk about it now, I’ll be there soon."

Fu Yuze glanced at Jiang Jining, "I have something to do later."

The person on the other end said bluntly, "Do me a favor, brother. Solve my problem first. This is serious!"

Fu Yuze laid down the law, "Fifteen minutes."

The other man agreed instantly, "Deal!"

"Hurry, hurry, hurry! Driver Chen, head to Fu Yuze’s place!"

Fu Yuze hung up the phone and noticed Jiang Jining staring at him. He asked, his tone patient, "What’s wrong?"

Jiang Jining only asked, "Are you expecting a guest?"

Fu Yuze nodded, "A friend."

Jiang Jining opened his mouth to say something else.

But Uncle Lu had already approached with a smile, "Breakfast is ready. Let’s eat."

Jiang Jining had no choice but to drop it. Fu Yuze then said to the housekeeper, "Set another place."

Uncle Lu didn’t ask for a reason, "Alright."

He'd said fifteen minutes, but the guy showed up in ten.

As the housekeeper welcomed him in, he was still rambling, "That bastard gave me something to drink, I don’t even know what it was. I’m still hungover and have a headache..."

Uncle Lu reminded him helplessly, "Sir, your clothes..."

"Sorry, didn’t have time to change." The man said as he stepped into the courtyard, pressing his temples, "Where is he?"

Uncle Lu smiled and gestured toward the dining room.

The man immediately walked over, familiar with the way. As he got closer, he caught a glimpse through the tea-colored carved half-window... a fleeting, faintly visible silhouette with flowing long hair.

Fu Yuze sat at the head of the table, and the two sat across from each other, talking.

The man's own problems vanished from his mind for a moment, stopped, and asked the housekeeper, "Did Fu Yuze strong-arm someone into moving in?"

Uncle Lu chuckled in response, "He’s just staying overnight."

"Don’t tease me..."

"It hasn’t been long, and he’s already waving the white flag to Uncle Fu? If my parents find out he’s seeing someone too, they’ll disown me."

Uncle Lu was both amused and exasperated, "Actually..."

The man spoke indignantly but still smiled as he pushed the door open, ready to get to the bottom of this, "Everyone’s eating."

Fu Yuze didn’t even look up, "Sit."

Some people just couldn’t stay quiet. Once they entered the courtyard, no one could pretend not to notice.

Like now.

Bian Jiacheng wore a crumpled shirt, two buttons undone, with a few strands of hair slightly disheveled. The inappropriate outfit was somehow pulled off with a dashing flair, thanks to his striking appearance.

"I have a guest."

Fu Yuze shot him a glance, not saying anything else, but his eyes clearly conveyed, "Get yourself together before you come in here."

Bian Jiacheng straightened his shirt as he walked, looking at the person beside him, "Of course I noticed—"

Jiang Jining turned his head to look at him.

The white porcelain spoon in his hand was gently set down, making a faint sound.