Chapter 535: The Zhao Family of Piaomiao Mountain Villa
Jiang Xinghai watched Yu Li, a complicated feeling welling up inside him.
He knew that Yu Li’s feelings for him were sincere.
At the same time, however, he understood he couldn’t make a promise to any of them—not even Shen Lingxue.
The thrum of helicopter blades grew louder until the aircraft finally touched down slowly in the Yu Family’s courtyard.
"Jiang!"
Shen Zhengye was the first to leap from the helicopter. After a quick greeting, he turned back to help Shen Lingxue down.
"Uncle, Lingxue!"
Jiang Xinghai sprang forward and lifted Shen Lingxue down into his arms.
"So happy to see me, huh?" Shen Lingxue gazed at the man she had longed for day and night, a blush rising to her cheeks.
"If it weren’t for your condition, I’d travel to the ends of the earth with you." Jiang Xinghai gazed tenderly at Shen Lingxue. To this day, she still maintained an impeccable elegance.
It was only when the two of them were alone that she would reveal her other side.
And, of course, that was a side of her only Jiang Xinghai was allowed to see.
"Are you worried about the baby, or about me?" Shen Lingxue asked as her feet touched the grass, naturally taking Jiang Xinghai’s arm.
Jiang Xinghai said with great seriousness, "Both of you, of course."
The pair walked on with Shen Zhengye, talking and laughing.
"Uncle Shen, Lingxue." Yu Li stepped forward to greet them, a smile on her face.
But inside, she felt hollow.
In the past, she had only been envious of Shen Lingxue. Now, seeing them together, she couldn’t help but feel the two were a perfect match.
On the ten-point scale Jiang Xinghai used to rate a woman’s beauty, Shen Lingxue would score at least a nine-point-nine.
Undoubtedly, the presence of such a peerless beauty would make ninety-nine percent of other women feel inadequate.
"Yu Li, long time no see! You’re looking even more beautiful. You really are an international skincare expert." Shen Lingxue let go of Jiang Xinghai and took Yu Li’s hand.
"Hardly. I just... did my routine last night, that’s all. Plus a little boost from the Anti-Aging Cream."
Yu Li almost let it slip. She quickly laughed and said, "But look at you! You’ve filled out since getting pregnant, and your skin is still so dewy. I’m so envious."
The two women walked into the house, talking and laughing.
Jiang Xinghai and Shen Zhengye started to chat as well.
"What? You want our Shen Family to move the entire clan to the Provincial City?" Shen Zhengye was utterly shocked by Jiang Xinghai’s proposal.
"There’s no need to be shocked, Uncle. The Shen Family is more than capable of establishing itself in the Provincial City."
Jiang Xinghai laid out his plan for the Provincial City. With the full support of the Yu, Feng, and Yan families, the Shen Family absolutely had the right and the power to get a piece of the pie.
Shen Zhengye was, of course, tempted.
As the two were talking, Yu Zhuo and his wife came rushing out.
They had been preparing gifts for their visit to the Zhao Family.
After Jiang Xinghai’s introductions, Shen Zhengye and Yu Zhuo hit it off immediately.
「Half an hour later.」
Yu Zhuo suggested to Jiang Xinghai again, "It’s ten o’clock. We should get going to the Zhao Family’s."
"Uncle Shen, you should come with us."
During their earlier conversation, Jiang Xinghai and the others had already discussed the matter of the Provincial City’s original Eight Great Martial Arts Clans.
"I was thinking the same thing."
Shen Zhengye rubbed his hands together. "But I haven’t prepared any gifts..."
"Don’t worry about it, Brother Shen. I’ve prepared more than enough." With a wave of his hand, Yu Zhuo had his servants bring over a large pile of gifts, all of which were loaded into the trunk of a car.
"Then I’ll be in your debt, Brother Yu," Shen Zhengye said, delighted.
’Since we’ve decided to expand into the Provincial City, a visit to the Zhao Family is indeed necessary.’
"I don’t think all these gifts are necessary."
Jiang Xinghai lit a cigarette. "Of course, if you insist on bringing them, then bring them."
"Divine Doctor Jiang, I prepared some for you as well," Yu Zhuo said, hastily pointing to a few of the boxes.
"You can count me out. I’m with you two. Really, one set of gifts is more than enough," Jiang Xinghai said with a mysterious smile.
But Yu Zhuo and Shen Zhengye still felt it was more prudent to bring everything.
After all, it had been a long time since he’d had any dealings with the Zhao Family.
Besides, this visit was to see the Zhao Family’s patriarch, Zhao Wenxiang.
Afterward, Shen Lingxue stayed behind to discuss the details of the AM branch opening in three days with Yu Li.
The three men—Jiang Xinghai, Yu Zhuo, and Shen Zhengye—got in a car and headed straight for the Zhao Family’s Piaomiao Mountain Villa.
Along the way, they admired the beautiful mountain scenery, chatting and laughing freely.
The Zhao Family’s Piaomiao Mountain Villa was located on Qingyun Mountain, five kilometers north of the Provincial City and about a fifteen-minute drive from the city center.
Before long, they arrived at the main gate of the Zhao Family’s Piaomiao Mountain Villa.
The location was superb, boasting beautiful scenery with verdant mountains, clear waters, and fresh air.
Yu Zhuo had called ahead to make an appointment to visit the Zhao patriarch.
Therefore, when they arrived at the gate, the Zhao Family guards saw Yu Zhuo and his party. After a brief check for any deadly weapons, they smiled and opened the main gate.
Once the three of them were inside, an old butler led the way.
"Legend has it," Yu Zhuo explained as they walked, "that Piaomiao Mountain Villa was once a traveling palace left behind by an Immortal who descended to the mortal realm. The Zhao Family later came into its possession and moved their entire clan here."