Chapter 4: Should I Call You Eldest Sister and Second Sister?

After Jiang Sheng left, Jiang Man quickly sat up from the floor. Without having time to wipe the blood off her face, she hurried toward the door. Only after locking it behind her did she crouch down and weep bitterly.

“That damned bastard!”

Although Jiang Ming’s eyes were closed, from their conversation, she could roughly imagine what had just happened.

“You have to be careful of Jiang Sheng; he’s the most terrifying person in this family.”

She hadn’t had a chance to mention this earlier, but unexpectedly, the Jiang couple had already taken him home beforehand.

“He’s mentally twisted. Since he was very young, he was overly affectionate toward me. I thought it was just sibling affection…”

“But then he started touching me inappropriately, invading my personal space without regard to the situation…”

Jiang Ming went to the bathroom to grab a towel and wiped the blood off Jiang Man’s face. “Do they know?”

“Yes, they know. They said it doesn’t matter since I’ll be married off eventually…”

The rest of those words were so filthy that Jiang Man refused to recall them.

“Beasts!”

Jiang Sheng dared to behave like this probably because the Jiang couple tacitly allowed it.

It seemed this family was indeed even more terrifying than the Jiang family. At least Jiang Yaozu, that good-for-nothing, wouldn’t have such vile thoughts.

“Finish telling me everything about the Jiang family.”

To win battles, one must know the enemy well. Since she was unfamiliar with the Jiang family, she didn’t know where to begin.

“You’ve already met these three. Next is Grandpa Jiang—he’s the true authority in the family. Under him are two sons and one daughter: Jiang Chi and Jiang Yun. The eldest brother’s family manages a branch office in another city and rarely returns to Lin City. Aunt Jiang Yun has lived abroad and doesn’t manage the family business.”

“This spring, Grandpa finally handed over the management of the main company to Dad, but judging by Grandpa’s attitude, he doesn’t fully approve of Dad’s work and hasn’t completely relinquished control.”

“A portion was given to Uncle Jiang Shi—the young man you saw today. He’s the grandson of Grandpa’s comrade-in-arms. After his parents died, Grandpa adopted him as a godson and raised him like his own son.”

“But Uncle Jiang Shi seems gentle on the surface, yet he always gives off a sense of detachment. No one can really understand him.”

The Jiang family’s affairs couldn’t be explained in just a few words. Jiang Man simply outlined the relationships; as for the entanglements within, she believed she would soon discover them herself.

“Ladies, dinner is ready. Come down quickly; your gentleman is already waiting.”

“Then let’s hurry down.”

Having said all that needed to be said, Jiang Man quickly took Jiang Ming’s hand, opened the door, and headed downstairs.

In this family, Jiang Cheng represented the highest authority and was not to be offended. Since he was already waiting downstairs, they, as daughters, had no right to keep him waiting.

---

“Did you rest well?”

The tone was clearly directed at Jiang Ming—neither harsh nor warm, but rather stiff.

Still, out of respect for the patriarch, Jiang Cheng treated this daughter somewhat better.

“Okay.”

Jiang Ming didn’t want to talk much. She hadn’t come seeking family affection or love, only to finish university and escape that suffocating household.

The servants were already serving dishes. Jiang Cheng sat at the head of the table; Li Baizhen sat to his left. Jiang Man and Jiang Ming sat beside Li Baizhen. The person opposite them had yet to come down.

Clearly, Jiang Cheng’s paternal authority held no sway over Jiang Sheng.

“Go call the young master again. Tell him if he doesn’t come down soon, he won’t be eating.”

Of course, Jiang Cheng would not allow his dignity to be damaged, especially in front of the newcomer Jiang Ming.

This time, Jiang Sheng came down—slowly, without hurry, utterly indifferent to whether Jiang Cheng would be angered.

“All right, let’s eat.”

Jiang Cheng took the first bite; only then could others begin.

“How should I address the two of you now? Eldest sister and second sister?”

Jiang Sheng had changed into a long-sleeved shirt whose sleeves just covered the place Jiang Man had bitten.

He wasn’t afraid of being exposed or embarrassed now, but if this incident led to Jiang Man being sent away, life would lose much of its interest.

His question, laced with ill intent, was meant to sow discord. If either Jiang Ming or Jiang Man were petty, a fight between them would surely follow.

But he hadn’t expected that neither cared about the title of eldest or second daughter.

“That’s fine, third brother.”

Jiang Ming answered calmly, her faint smile untouched by his tone.

“And what does second sister think?”

He turned to Jiang Man, knowing her gentle nature and wanting to see her discomfort.

“That’s fine.”

Now seeing his shameless and repulsive demeanor, Jiang Man wished she could tear him apart. But in front of the Jiang couple, she had to feign indifference.

“All right, Xiaosheng. You’re so lucky—two beautiful and smart elder sisters. Who knows how many problems they’ll help you solve in the future.”

Li Baizhen’s words were loaded, clumsy in disguise, her intentions all too obvious.

---

“With the abilities of the third brother, maybe he’ll be the one supporting his two elder sisters in the future.”

Jiang Ming didn’t even bother to pretend to understand the hypocrisy, deftly moving the conversation on.

Jiang Man’s loose pajamas slipped off her shoulder slightly, revealing a pale pink strap.

At that moment, Jiang Sheng’s eyes roamed her with malicious intent.

His gaze was like a slippery snake coiling around her legs, making her skin crawl with disgust.

“Xiaosheng performed well today; even the shareholders praised him.”

Fortunately, Jiang Cheng spoke up, making Jiang Sheng retract his gaze.

Jiang Sheng had also taken the college entrance exam this year and was admitted to Lin University, partly due to Jiang Cheng’s influence. Once he received his acceptance letter, Jiang Cheng proudly brought his son to the company to familiarize him with the business.

“Dad taught me well.”

Jiang Sheng knew exactly how to flatter Jiang Cheng and said it smoothly.

But during their exchange, Jiang Ming quietly pulled up her collar, covering herself more thoroughly.

As for Jiang Man, having learned from past experience, she covered herself even more carefully. In the rush downstairs, she had forgotten to find Jiang Ming a well-fitting outfit, giving that disgusting man an opening.

“It turns out you’re all here. Grandpa sent me to deliver the ID cards and bank cards to Jiang Ming.”

Jiang Cheng’s assistant followed behind Jiang Shi, holding a file folder. Clearly, he had just been sent out but was stopped by Jiang Shi.

All the paperwork was handled personally by Jiang Shi—or rather, by Grandpa himself. After all, Jiang Shi represented Grandpa, even more than his biological sons.

“Jiang Ming, Jiang Man, please come with me.”

“Why not say it here?”

Jiang Cheng was displeased. This was clearly Grandpa’s distrust of him, having to speak behind his back. It was a provocation by Jiang Shi.

“Does Grandpa have to come down and say it in front of you both?”

Grandpa’s legs had been injured years ago, leaving lingering effects that made walking difficult. Jiang Cheng naturally didn’t have the courage to trouble him with this.

His freshly kindled anger had to die down. “So Dad’s here. You two can go—be smart.”