TRCT_03

Chapter 3: First Encounter — Marrying into a Wealthy Family

Although he joked about marrying into a wealthy family, having grown up in comfortable circumstances himself and rarely experiencing hardship, Ji Qingzhou had never truly taken the 'in-laws'' fortune all that seriously.

That was, until the car took him from the train station all the way to Aiwen Yi Road right before his eyes, pulling into a garden villa complex that blended French romanticism with Neoclassical Revival architecture.

The warm afternoon sunlight bathed the north-south tree-lined boulevard.

As the car slowly made its way forward, the vast Le Nôtre-style garden gradually enveloped them, and the grand, exotic villas grew clearer in view.

Ivory white walls, rose-red rooftops, tall semicircular arched porticos, and solemnly elegant carved stone door lintels...

Even Ji Qingzhou, who considered himself a man of some worldly experience, could not help but feel a stir of awe at the sight of such a magnificent private residence.

The car came to a stop in front of the fountain facing the main gate, and the moment they stepped out, four or five servants came forward to take the luggage.

Among them was a middle-aged woman dressed in a Western-style striped long skirt, who appeared to be the housekeeper. She led two young maids and greeted the two masters with a very attentive bow.

Upon seeing Ji Qingzhou, her smile faltered for a moment, before she quickly recovered and said: "This must be Madam's nephew, Mr. Ji?"

Ji Qingzhou glanced sideways at Madam Xie and gave a slight nod.

Noticing his gaze, Shen Nanqi handed her handbag to the maid and introduced him:

"This is Aunt Liang, my household manager. She is one of our own and knows your situation well. From now on, while you are staying here, you can come to her if you need anything."

Ji Qingzhou raised an eyebrow slightly, understanding the true meaning behind her words.

Aunt Liang gave him a nod, then turned to the two masters with a cheerful expression: "Young Master Yu'an is back, and he is waiting for you in the small sitting room!"

"Yuanyuan is already here?" Shen Nanqi's eyes instantly lit up. She had just been unhurriedly watching the servants carry in the luggage, but upon hearing this, she immediately gathered her skirt and headed up the steps.

Aunt Liang quickly followed after her: "He arrived an hour ago in Dr. Shen's car. The master received the call and even sent a car to the pier to pick him up, but it still wasn't faster than Dr. Shen."

Shen Nanqi nodded: "When it comes to his nephew, my brother has always been very attentive."

"He has crossed the ocean to come back, my younger brother must be tired. Why wasn't he told to go rest in his room?" These words came from Xie Yuchuan.

"Please don't worry, I can see that Young Master Yu'an has mostly recovered, apart from some trouble with his eyes. However..."

Aunt Liang paused and lowered her voice: "Regarding the ritual marriage, Young Master Yu'an learned of it and is strongly opposed."

Shen Nanqi: "Has the old madam tried to persuade him?"

"The old madam has been persuading him for quite a while now, and the young master does not look very pleased."

"When has he ever looked pleased? In this matter, the fact that he hasn't slammed the door and walked out is already giving the old madam face."

The group continued talking as they quickly climbed the steps, pushed open the pointed arch doors, and entered the entrance foyer.

Passing through the double black foyer doors, they arrived at the main hall of the central building.

Upon entering, what first caught the eye were the wide curved staircases at both ends of the north side of the hall.

Looking up along the staircases toward the second floor, one could see a curved landing facing the direction of the main entrance. The hall itself had a soaring double-height ceiling, and an elaborate crystal chandelier hung down from high above, sparkling brilliantly in the sunlight streaming through the tall windows on the second floor.

Ji Qingzhou followed at Xie Yuchuan's left side with an unhurried stride, making no effort to hide his upward gaze as he took in the layout of the villa's interior.

While observing the various decorative details, he was also turning over a particular question in his mind.

— He was an uncompromising aesthete, one who pursued beauty, revered beauty, and delighted in all things beautiful while keeping a respectful distance from all things ugly.

This was both his advantage as a designer and his shortcoming as a person.

Though he would not go so far as to feel irritated at the mere sight of an unattractive person, he was not that rude, but when it came to those he must spend a great deal of time with, if their appearance failed to meet his standards, his tolerance would indeed diminish.

And so he could not help but mentally prepare himself in advance. When he met his contractual 'husband' shortly, if the other party happened to be someone whose looks did not suit his taste— the possibility was low. After all Madam Xie and the Eldest Young Master Xie were both quite presentable in appearance and build, yet it was not entirely impossible either.

If the second young master of the Xie family were unlucky enough to have drawn the short end of the genetic stick, then at the very least he could not let his aversion show too plainly and risk offending the Xie family.

Adjusting his mindset along the way, Ji Qingzhou followed the Xie family members as they turned right and walked straight ahead, along a long corridor with glazed white walls and pointed arches, arriving at the easternmost end of the building.

Pushing open a pair of dark brown wooden doors, also shaped in pointed arches, they entered what Aunt Liang had referred to as the 'small sitting room'.

The layout of this sitting room was rather unusual, with one half contained within the building and the other half jutting outward.

The protruding octagonal section was fitted with three floor-to-ceiling French lattice windows, with a pair of French doors at the center that opened directly onto a small garden lush with plants outside.

In the center of the room, atop the carpeted teak floor, sat a set of black leather sofas.

As Ji Qingzhou entered, he saw an elderly woman with grey-white hair sitting upright and composed in one corner of the sofa, saying something to a young man dressed in black seated diagonally across from her.

Besides the two of them, the room also contained a mature-looking man in a cream-white suit and gold-rimmed glasses, as well as a male servant with a closely shaved head like a monk's, dressed in white top and grey trousers.

"Yuanyuan! My poor child..."

The moment Shen Nanqi stepped through the door she made straight for the young man in black. She had been composed the entire way here, yet before she had even reached him, her eyes had already reddened.

Xie Yuchuan followed close behind, and passing by the sofa, gave a nod to each of the two elders in turn, addressing them as 'Grandmother' and 'Uncle'.

Ji Qingzhou had been blocked from view by Xie Yuchuan and Shen Nanqi the whole time, and only now, as he stepped into the middle of the sitting room, did he get a clear look at the young man in black.

At first glance, his heart gave a sudden quickened beat.

The other wore a ink-black silk changshan¹, and sat in a black walnut armchair with a leather cushion. His complexion was a cool pale white, his black hair side-parted and half-falling over his brows and eyes.

Over his eyes was draped a black gauze band, which made the line of his already high, straight nose appear even more sharply defined.

Whether it was due to sitting with his back to the window, or from having spent too long indoors away from light, the skin of his hands resting on the armrests was exceptionally pale, the faint ridges of the veins on the backs of his hands clearly visible, and his frame was somewhat lean.

His lips, of a light and faint color, were pressed into a flat straight line, the very picture of a brooding, volatile beauty on the verge of unraveling in silence.

Without question, that face, even with both eyes concealed, was strikingly handsome.

What appealed to Ji Qingzhou even more was the mysterious, cold and unapproachable air the man naturally carried, like a lone wintersweet standing in a silent snowfield, austere and not easily approached, yet radiating an captivating and subtle fragrance.

This made him, who had until now felt no particular interest in his contractual 'husband,' suddenly curious about the other's past.

What kind of history must one have lived through, for this young master who ought to have been leisurely enjoying a life of wealth and privilege, to have grown into someone with this air of proud and overbearing solitude?

"This time he truly suffered a great disaster and went through tremendous pain. It has already been several months and there is still a scar on the back of his head..."

Shen Nanqi stood beside the young man, bending down to carefully look over the changes in her son.

Her right hand lightly touched the injured area near the back of his neck, as though she wanted to stroke it but was afraid of hurting him.

Shen Shisen, seeing this, felt deep sympathy for his sister and rose to go pat her on the shoulder, comforting her: "It is alright. Yuanyuan's external injuries have mostly healed, and the head surgery was very successful. What he needs now is proper rest and recuperation. He is young and his body is naturally strong, so his recovery will be quick."

Shen Nanqi steadied herself against the back of the chair and took out a handkerchief to dab the tears from the corners of her eyes: "I truly owe you so much this time. He was alone out there and suffered such a serious injury. If you had not asked your classmate to help, I am afraid..."

"Alright, alright, it is all in the past now."

Shen Nanqi nodded, lowering her eyes to look at the black gauze band wrapped around her son's brows, and asked hesitantly: "As for his eyes, what can be done going forward?"

"Regarding the blindness, it is currently suspected that the optic nerve has been damaged. All available treatment methods were tried during his hospitalization abroad, but the results were not very good," Shen Shisen explained the situation as he knew it in a calm and measured manner.

"I think that perhaps acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine for regulated treatment may prove more effective, so I intend to try that approach. However, these things always require a gradual process and cannot be rushed."

The old madam listened and gave a soft sigh, asking: "Do you have any recommendations for a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner?"

"You need not worry about that. I know of an Elder Zhang in Yuhang who has considerable mastery in acupuncture technique. I have already sent my assistant to pay him a visit, and will contact you once there is news.

"For these next few days, just let Yuanyuan rest well, eat well and sleep well, avoid excessive fatigue, and take things slowly. Recovery will come in time."

Shen Shisen's voice was calm and gentle, giving others a sense of reassuring dependability.

Shen Nanqi's emotions gradually settled: "Hearing you say this, I feel at ease now."

Shen Shisen's face broke into a warm smile, and he gave an encouraging nod.

After exchanging a few more words, he reached into his suit pocket and pulled out a pocket watch to check the time, then said to the group with a somewhat apologetic air: "I still have matters to attend to at the hospital, so I will take my leave now. If anything comes up, give me a call."

The old madam tilted her head politely and said: "We should not keep you from your work. Please go ahead."

"A' Liang, see Dr. Shen out."

"Allow me to see Uncle off," Xie Yuchuan interjected, "I happen to need to stop by the factory as well."

Shen Nanqi already felt guilty for letting her younger son's affairs delay her elder son's work, so upon hearing this she agreed at once, though she did not forget to remind him: "Come home early for dinner tonight. It is rare for the whole family to be gathered together."

Xie Yuchuan smiled and nodded: "Understood."

Once Shen Shisen and Xie Yuchuan had left together, Aunt Liang closed the door of the sitting room, and the room fell suddenly quiet.

"Xiao Qing, come here."

Just as Ji Qingzhou was analyzing and turning over the information from their conversation in his mind, the old madam sitting at one end of the long sofa suddenly raised her hand and beckoned him over.

Ji Qingzhou did not register it at first, and only confirmed that it was he who was being called when he met the old madam's steady and composed gaze.

He immediately stepped forward, and had barely sat down beside the old madam when she caught hold of his wrist.

"We meet again. You still remember our agreement from before, I trust?" The old woman asked, looking into his eyes as though to confirm.

Whatever the old madam had done in her younger years was unknown, but her face was quite stern, and she was dressed in a black satin jacket and skirt embroidered all over with patterns², her entire appearance rather like a relic left over from feudal times.

Being stared at by someone like that, even though she was elderly and slight of frame, was still quite imposing.

Ji Qingzhou blinked and said without any change of expression: "Of course, I remember it all."

"Good that you do. The wedding has now been held and the bowing ceremony completed. The two of you are family now, and from this point forward you must be close with one another.

"Closeness, above all, is what matters."

Old Madam Xie patted the back of his hand and said with emphasis: "Your fate is the most favorable for Yuanyuan, the most fortuitous for him, and in turn, his is the same for you. Keep my words well in mind. I would not lead you astray."

As she spoke, she turned toward the young man in black and continued to persuade him:

"And you, stop being so stubborn. Think of it as doing this for my sake, an old woman. Ten years ago, an Old Taoist priest by the shores of West Lake said that you would face a great calamity at twenty. Not one of you believed him, only I took it to heart. So when you wanted to go to America to attend a military academy, I was against it, and not one of you listened to me. And look how it turned out?"

"Alright, Mother, the person has now returned home safely. Please do not bring this up again."

Shen Nanqi cut off the topic and turned to address the male servant standing to one side: "A' You, take Mr. Ji's luggage to your young master's room."

"Yes, Madam."

Ji Qingzhou watched as the male servant ran out the door with light and quick steps, and thought to himself that given he was allowed to hear such confidential matters, his position was likely different from that of an ordinary servant.

"Yuanyuan, the grievance and displeasure in your heart, your mother understands it all."

Once the male servant had also left, Shen Nanqi sat down on the single armchair beside the young man and spoke in a gentle tone:

"But think about it this way. Given your condition right now, you already need someone to look after you closely. Just think of it as us hiring you a male attendant. Once you have fully recovered, you may do as you please. Alright?"

Ji Qingzhou, whose status had just been suddenly reduced to that of a male attendant, could not help but feel the urge to click his tongue.

He instinctively looked toward Second Young Master Xie, wanting to see what his reaction would be.

Perhaps having also grown weary of being persuaded, the young man who had been silent for a long while finally parted his lips, which seemed frozen shut:

"If I disagree, that would be unfilial. Do I dare refuse?"

His tone was cold and sharp, though his voice was quite pleasant to the ear.

Yet the moment he opened his mouth, his words came barbed.

He truly lives up to my first impression of him. Difficult to approach, not easy to talk to. A rose with thorns.

Ji Qingzhou noted to himself inwardly.

All at once, his interest in this gentleman dropped considerably.

While he was not without an appreciation for beauty, Ji Qingzhou had never been one to offer a warm face to a cold shoulder.

Unfortunately, this time he was a fish forcibly bound to a great ship, with no say in the matter.

As he was busy making his private judgments and lamenting the situation, the Xie family's old madam and Madam Xie seemed entirely accustomed to the young man's tone, and neither appeared the least bit offended.

Upon hearing the ungracious response, the old madam instead raised her eyebrows with pleasure and said: "Then I will take that as your agreement. Good boy. From now on, listen to your grandmother and live well with Xiao Qing."

"I am going upstairs."

The young man did not respond to her words. He picked up the ebony walking cane leaning against the chair, rose to his feet, and used it in place of a white cane as he made his way toward the door.

"Wait, let me help you up."

Although Shen Nanqi had long imagined what it would be like to watch a blind person walk, actually seeing her once spirited son moving about in such difficulty still sent a sharp pang through her heart.

"There is no need."

Shen Nanqi paid no heed to what he said and firmly took hold of the young man's arm, guiding him around the tables and furniture toward the door.

Only when Aunt Liang opened the door of the small sitting room did she seem to remember something and turned her head to call out: "Ji Yuqing, you come along too."

Ji Qingzhou had been watching the young man's retreating figure as he walked, and could not shake the feeling that something about the other's proportions and bearing stirred a vague and indescribable sense of familiarity in him, as though he had seen it somewhere before.

Hearing Madam Xie's call, he rose and bid farewell to the old madam, then turned and followed after them, stepping out of the sitting room.

Having just turned left and stepped onto the teak floor of the staircase, a flash of an image crossed his mind.

It was from yesterday. He had been on the second floor of Qiu Wenxin's former residence, and had photographed an old picture.

— It could not be such a coincidence...

And yet a frame with proportions that suited his eye so precisely was not something one came across often.

Thinking it over carefully, it was actually entirely plausible.

After all, the small villa he had crossed through was right next door to the Chinese Classics Study, and the Chinese Classics Study was the place where Qiu Wenxin had grown up.

If the young master of the Xie family had lived in Suzhou as a child, it would have been perfectly natural for them to have been on good terms as neighbors.

Ji Qingzhou walked at an unhurried pace up the staircase, gaze fixed on the mother and son ahead of him, and reached his hand into his satchel to feel for his phone.

If the person in the photograph truly was him... Ji Qingzhou could not help but begin to recall what he had heard from the tour guide.

After all, it had only happened yesterday evening, and the specific details had grown hazy, but the general content he still remembered.

Regarding Qiu Wenxin's two closest friends, the tour guide had summarized their lives in two words— 'Died young'.

—

A/N

1). Changshan (長衫, chángshān), 

also spelled cheungsaam in Cantonese, is a traditional Chinese garment worn by men. It takes the form of a long robe or gown, typically falling to the knees or below.

The changshan traces its origins to the Qing dynasty (1644–1912), where it evolved from Manchu robes before being widely embraced by Han Chinese men. Over time, the garment underwent refinements in style and construction. By the early 20th century, during the Republic of China era, it had come to symbolize refinement and education, and was regarded as the hallmark of upper-class dress. It was commonly worn over trousers as standard formal or semi-formal attire for men.

2). 'she was dressed in a black satin jacket and skirt embroidered all over with patterns'. The following are qipao dresses generated by AI based on the description for reference:

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TL: Muji

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