I Am Already A Queen

"An out-of-town business trip." Jiang Suhan replied concisely.

"Ah, marvellous." Wei Rong approved with a knowing smile. "Young men ought to strive hard in their careers to build a secure, prosperous future for their future wives."

As her mother finished speaking, Lin Yuning’s cheeks flushed a delicate shade of pink as she lowered her eyes shyly.

Jiang Suhan completely ignored the subtle reaction. He saw right through his mother’s poorly concealed agenda. Even before

Qiao Meixia’s return to the family, Feng Lan had repeatedly attempted to orchestrate blind dates for him, attempts he had deftly evaded by taking on extended corporate assignments out of town. Now that he was back, his mother was simply resuming her matchmaking efforts, this time ambushing him without prior warning.

The pieces finally clicked into place. Yesterday, Feng Lan had called specifically to inquire about his exact arrival time. He had casually mentioned he would be home by noon at the latest, thinking nothing of the question. Now, seeing the arranged gathering before him, he realised precisely why she had been so keen on his schedule.

"It’s nearly lunchtime. Why don’t you both stay and join us for lunch?" Feng Lan proposed warmly.

"Oh? Is that not too much of a bother?" Wei Rong asked politely.

"Not at all!" Feng Lan assured her with a gracious smile.

"I will take my leave to my room first." Jiang Suhan stated, making a subtle move to exit.

"Eat with us first, Suhan." Feng Lan interjected, her eyes casting a firm, non-negotiable glance toward her eldest son.

Jiang Suhan suppressed a silent sigh before offering a quiet, composed reply. "Very well."

As Jiang Suhan shifted to set his travel bag aside, it tipped over slightly on the smooth hardwood, spilling a few personal items onto the floor.

Jiang Yanna’s sharp eyes caught a small, luxurious velvet gift bag sliding out from the compartment. She immediately recognised the distinctive branding of a high-end luxury jeweller.

"Eldest Brother, what is that?" Jiang Yanna asked curiously.

Jiang Suhan’s indifference vanished in an instant. His eyes narrowed as he swiftly crouched down, retrieving the velvet package with meticulous care. He checked the corners and dusted off the velvet casing, inspecting every detail to ensure the contents remained entirely unharmed. Relief visibly washed over his features upon confirming the piece was pristine.

"Eldest Brother, what’s inside?" Jiang Yanna pressed, annoyed at being ignored.

"It’s a gift for Qiaoqiao." Jiang Suhan answered calmly.

The moment Qiao Meixia’s nickname left his lips, his cold, professional demeanour melted away. A gentle, genuine warmth softened his eyes, and a faint, affectionate smile played at the corners of his mouth.

Jiang Yanna bit her lower lip hard, her chest tight with envy. ’That country bumpkin again.’

Why was Jiang Suhan so utterly devoted to her? What on earth did that uncultured girl possess to make her eldest brother dote on her so openly and unconditionally?

Meanwhile, Lin Yuning, who had been observing Jiang Suhan’s every move, felt a sudden surge of alarm ring in her heart. She had long regarded Jiang Suhan as her prime marital target.

Who on earth was ’Qiaoqiao’?

Her mind raced with burning suspicion. She could tell instantly from Jiang Suhan’s tone and expression that ’Qiaoqiao’ was a woman, and not just any woman. The subtle softening in his eyes and the spontaneous warmth in his smile proved that this person occupied a unique, deeply cherished place in his heart.

An overwhelming sense of jealousy and panic gripped Lin Yuning. She had arrived today fully expecting to charm her way into Jiang Suhan’s favour with the full backing of both mothers. She had never anticipated facing a hidden, deeply favoured rival from the very start.

Who was this woman, and what kind of intimate relationship did she share with Jiang Suhan?

The group proceeded to the formal dining room, where Feng Lan intentionally arranged for Jiang Suhan to sit directly beside Lin Yuning. The young woman sat down with a shy, delicate posture, attempting to engage him in pleasant conversation. Jiang Suhan, however, responded only in clipped, icy, and strictly polite monosyllables.

Watching the cold interaction from across the table, Feng Lan felt an urge of utter frustration rise within her. ’Why must this boy make everything so difficult?’ She thought irritably.

Lin Yuning, however, refused to be so easily deterred. Gathering her courage, she tried once more to break through his aloof exterior.

"Young Master Jiang, if I may satisfy a small curiosity... who is this ’Qiaoqiao’ you mentioned earlier?" Lin Yuning asked the question that bothered her.

Jiang Suhan’s expression darkened instantly.

"Ms Lin, I suggest you refrain from prying into affairs that do not concern you." Jiang Suhan stated coldly. Without sparing another glance, he turned to his mother. "Mom, I have finished my meal. I shall excuse myself."

Leaving no room for protest, Jiang Suhan stood up and strode out of the dining room.

Lin Yuning froze in utter disbelief. She had never expected him to snap so sharply over a simple inquiry. It was instantly clear that this ’Qiaoqiao’ occupied an exceptionally sensitive and significant position in his life.

Observation had also taught her another crucial detail. Both Feng Lan and Jiang Yanna clearly harboured intense disdain for the girl, given how visibly their expressions had soured at the sound of her name. Lin Yuning deduced that Feng Lan disapproved of her son’s affection for this mysterious woman and was seeking a proper, high-society bride to secure the Jiang Family’s lineage, which was precisely why she had been invited today.

Rather than taking offence, Lin Yuning found herself remarkably calm. She understood the implicit rules of elite society. Marriages in wealthy dynasties were rarely built on whimsical romance. They were strategic transactions forged through lineage, mutual financial benefit, and public reputation. So long as a match offered political and economic leverage, genuine affection was merely an optional luxury.

An awkward silence hung over the table until Feng Lan finally cleared her throat to smooth over the tension.

"Wei Rong, I must deeply apologise for Suhan’s brusque behaviour. He is simply exhausted from his gruelling business trip." Feng Lan tried to smooth things over.

"Please, think nothing of it." Wei Rong offered graciously, eager to preserve the friendly atmosphere. "Young men holding immense corporate responsibility are bound to feel fatigued."

Relieved by her friend’s tact, Feng Lan offered a tight smile.

"However, if I may ask out of genuine curiosity... who is this ’Qiaoqiao’ your son spoke of?" Wei Rong inquired directly.

Feng Lan’s smile stiffened for a split second before she forced out a smooth, practised explanation. Seeing her mother’s subtle hesitation, Lin Yuning knew her intuition had been spot-on.

"In truth, the ’Qiaoqiao’ my son mentioned is actually his younger sister." Feng Lan stated smoothly.

"His younger sister? You mean Yanna? But Yanna is sitting right here." Wei Rong asked, visibly confused.

"We actually have biological twin daughters." Feng Lan fabricated seamlessly. "The other child suffered from fragile health from a young age and was sent to reside in the peaceful countryside to recuperate. Now that her condition has fully stabilised, we brought her home. Suhan simply feels a protective affection for her to compensate for the lost years."

"Ah, I see! Is the young lady home today? I would love to meet her." Wei Rong said warmly.

"Regrettably, she is not. The girl has an independent streak and remains somewhat distant from the family. Being her first time in the capital, she likely went out to explore the city." Feng Lan let out a soft, helpless sigh.

"Ah, entirely understandable for a young girl." Wei Rong nodded politely.

The luncheon proceeded without further incident. Though Feng Lan’s blind date setup had been thoroughly derailed by Jiang Suhan’s sharp departure, neither Wei Rong nor Lin Yuning left in anger. They viewed this minor setback as a temporary hurdle. With time and strategic persistence, they remained fully confident that Lin Yuning would eventually secure the coveted position of Eldest Young Mistress of the Jiang Family.

Meanwhile, upon returning to his room, Jiang Suhan immediately went into the bathroom to wash off the fatigue of his journey. Ten minutes later, dressed in a crisp, comfortable casual set, he left his room and walked down the grand hallway toward Qiao Meixia’s quarters, assuming she would be resting in her room on a weekend afternoon.

He knocked on her door, but only silence met his ears. Realising she was not inside, he returned to his study and retrieved his phone to place a direct call. After several rings, the line finally connected.

"Hello." Jiang Suhan spoke first, his tone instinctively softening.

"Hmm..." Qiao Meixia’s calm voice drifted through the receiver.

***This novel is a contracted work with w e b n o v e l. c o m. If you do not read this novel on w e b n o v e l. c o m, that means it has been stolen. Thank you, from your shameless author, ZerahNeko***