SYLFS 04

SYLFS

Posted by Hari, Released on October 18, 2025

Chapter 4:

“His Family Shines Like a Lineage of Nobility”

The Jiang Family.

At the heart of Haishi lies Yinjiang No. 1, the most prestigious residential district in the city.
Every square meter is said to be worth its weight in gold, yet the grounds boast an astonishing 80% greenery.
There’s even an artificial lake, dug and landscaped at enormous cost, complete with gardens and man-made hills.
All the security staff are former members of elite military units, and potential buyers must pass an extremely strict financial review.
This is where the very top of Haishi society lives.

Guan Shushu knew this place well.
Her father, Guan Baosheng, had once longed for nothing more than a house here in Yinjiang No. 1.
Living here meant being recognized as one of Haishi’s ultra-wealthy — a visible symbol of belonging to the upper class.

The Maybach convoy passed through the gates unimpeded, rolled across the manicured lawns, and finally stopped before a four-story mansion.

Jiang Huai stepped out, bringing Guan Shushu with him.
Chu Beihou remained in the car; it would have been impolite for an outsider to intrude on a “family reunion.”
Jiang Huai gave a slight wave of his hand, and the twelve Maybachs drove off toward the rear of the estate.

“The Chu residence is just across the street,” he said. “We’ll go pay our respects later.”

With that, he led Guan Shushu toward the house.
The European-style architecture exuded an almost blinding opulence.
They crossed the garden, pushed open the grand doors, and entered the main hall—
Only for Guan Shushu to be met by a room full of Jiang family members, all seated in the living room.

On the way, Jiang Huai had given her a brief introduction to the family structure.
As she had guessed, the Jiangs were one of Haishi’s Four Great Families.

The elder generation had four siblings:

Eldest son, Jiang Yucheng — now the president of the Jianghai Group.
Second son, Jiang Yumin — once a top singer who took the entertainment world by storm, now head of a major talent agency.
Third son, Jiang Yu — vice president of Jianghai Group, overseeing several key divisions.
Eldest daughter, Jiang Yuxin — founder of an international fashion brand and a globally influential businesswoman.

As for the next generation—
Curiously, all the grandchildren were boys, except for the youngest daughter of the second branch.
There was also one more girl, Lu Xuexi, a niece from Madam Jiang’s maternal family who lived with them.

Judging by the scene before her, nearly the entire Jiang family was present.

The moment Guan Shushu and Jiang Huai entered, every gaze turned toward her—

Some looked her up and down as if appraising her.
Some stared with curiosity.
Some couldn’t hide their contempt.
Others, faint displeasure.

“Grandfather,” Jiang Huai said casually as he stepped forward to greet the elderly man seated on the central sofa.
Then he gestured to Guan Shushu.
“Shushu, greet your grandfather.”

Guan Shushu looked toward the old man, who sat upright, his kind smile directed at her.
She wasn’t well-versed in reading faces, but even with that gentle smile, the man’s straight nose, broad forehead, and deep-set eyes all hinted at a will of iron.

In other words, he was a man accustomed to giving orders.

“Grandfather,” Guan Shushu said softly.

The old man nodded, his tone warm.

“Welcome home. From today, you are our family’s eldest daughter. No one will dare to bully you here.”

Jiang Huai then indicated the man sitting beside the patriarch.

“This is Father,” he said.

Guan Shushu followed his gaze.
In contrast to the elder’s warmth, Jiang Yucheng’s expression was composed, sharp, and restrained.
His face, though marked by age, still carried traces of the refined handsomeness of his youth.
The lines carved by time had not dulled him — rather, they lent him the quiet dignity of a mature man.

Completely unlike Guan Baosheng.

“Father,” Guan Shushu murmured.

At that single word, Jiang Yucheng’s thin lips tightened almost imperceptibly.
He looked at her, his eyes unreadable, and after a pause, replied in a low voice:

“…Mm.”

Jiang Huai went on to introduce the other senior members one by one.

Guan Shushu quietly took in her surroundings.
With the exception of her convalescing grandmother and one cousin, nearly everyone in the Jiang family was present.

But her mother was not among them.

According to Jiang Huai—
On the day of the kidnapping years ago, her mother had chased the criminals alone and fallen into the sea.
Her body had never been found.

As Guan Shushu fell silent, a woman whom others had called “Second Aunt” earlier approached her gently.
Taking her arm with apparent affection, she spoke with eyes full of warmth and pity.

“Shushu, you must be tired. Your room has already been prepared. If you don’t like it, just tell me, dear.”

The Jiang patriarch was a firm believer in traditional family values—
“As long as the parents live, the family does not split households.”
So aside from the married eldest daughter, the remaining three branches all lived together in this sprawling mansion.

The woman, Yao Lin, looked to be in her forties. Her figure and complexion were exquisitely maintained, radiating the polished grace of a true society lady.

Yet beneath her gentle manner, Guan Shushu sensed a touch of vanity and calculation that made her uneasy.

Just as she tried to politely withdraw her arm and thank her, a boy suddenly darted forward.
He looked about thirteen or fourteen, and blurted out:

“Second Aunt, that room is Sister Xuexi’s doll room! Where’s she gonna put her dolls now? Give her another room instead!”

The boy was Jiang Su, the youngest in the third branch — and known for his impulsive nature.

As expected, his outburst made several relatives exchange awkward looks.

His father, Jiang Yutong, immediately frowned and snapped,

“What nonsense! This doesn’t concern you!”

“Why are you yelling at me? I’m not wrong!” Jiang Su shot back, defiant.
“There are tons of rooms in the house! Why take Sister Xuexi’s? That’s not fair!”

From among the seated children, a girl slowly stood.
Her fair, delicate face carried an air of quiet responsibility.

“Xiao Su, that’s enough.”

This was Lu Xuexi — the girl he had mentioned.

She was the niece of the Jiang matriarch, brought into the family when Guan Shushu had been kidnapped years ago.
At that time, she had comforted the grieving eldest son and was formally adopted at age three, said to “balance the family’s fortune.”
She had grown up alongside the Jiang sons ever since.

Turning to Guan Shushu, she spoke softly, her tone perfectly gentle: