He wants to adopt a younger sister, but his aloof wife disagrees.

In March, Jianghai City was still chilly, but the arrival hall of Pudong International Airport was incredibly hot, as if summer had arrived early.

This wasn't due to rising temperatures, but rather because of a Gulfstream G650ER private jet that had just arrived from Paris. As the streamlined white giant slowly glided onto the tarmac, hundreds of media outlets and thousands of fans waiting outside the VIP passage erupted in cheers.

The scale of this airport welcome far surpasses the grand occasion when Su Xiaoruan's "Green Snake" was a box office hit. If before everyone was only focused on a newly crowned Best Actress, now they are welcoming the "Eastern Mythology Dream Team," who just dominated Paris Fashion Week and even made fashion guru Pierre bow in respect.

The passageway doors opened, and a deluge of flashes of light poured forth.

The first to step forward was still the man who made countless men feel ashamed of themselves—Jiang Che.

He changed out of his glamorous velvet tuxedo and back into his dark gray cashmere coat, layered over a simple white turtleneck sweater, pushing two enormous Rimowa silver suitcases. His casual yet sophisticated aura instantly captivated countless photographers. Behind him, Shen Qingge, wearing sunglasses and a beige trench coat, walked with a confident stride. Although slightly tired from the long flight, her queen-like aura, fueled by both love and career, made her dazzling in the crowd, almost blinding. As for Su Xiaoruan, she clung to Shen Qingge's arm like a koala, a carefree smile on her face, clutching a giant strawberry bear plush toy she'd bought at Disneyland Paris.

"Mr. Jiang! Have you really declined the position of chief designer at Dior?"

"Mr. Shen! The Shen Group's stock price hit the daily limit up at the opening today. Is this related to your trip to Paris?"

"Little Softie! I heard a Hollywood director wants to invite you to audition, is that true?"

The reporters bombarded him with questions like a machine gun.

Jiang Che stopped, shielding Shen Qingge and Su Xiaoruan with one hand, smiled slightly at the camera, and said only one sentence: "Sorry everyone, the long flight was too tiring, and my wife and sister need to rest. As for other questions, Qingche Entertainment will hold a press conference another day. Now, excuse me."

His voice wasn't loud, and he didn't shout harshly, but the gentle warmth and authority that emanated from his very being made the frenzied crowd automatically part to make way for him.

Bodyguards quickly surrounded them and escorted the three into the Rolls-Royce Phantom that had been waiting for them.

The moment the car door closed, it shut out the noise from the outside world.

Shen Qingge took off her sunglasses, let out a long sigh of relief, and leaned against Jiang Che as if she had no bones: "Finally back. Although Paris is beautiful, I still feel more at ease with the air in Jianghai."

"Of course." Jiang Che held her hand, gently massaging the base of her thumb to help her relax. "There's no place like home. What do you want to eat tonight? I'll make it for you."

"I want seafood congee." Shen Qingge closed her eyes, a slight smile playing on her lips. "I want the kind that's cooked until very soft, with lots of dried scallops and fresh shrimp, and lots of white pepper."

"I want braised pork belly too!" Su Xiaoruan poked her head out from behind the Strawberry Bear, raising her hand to order. "I'm so sick of eating foie gras and snails every day in Paris! I want braised pork belly that's dripping with fat!"

"Granted." Jiang Che smiled and playfully flicked her nose. "Let's go home and start cooking."

……

Tomson Riviera penthouse.

When the familiar sound of the combination lock opening rings out, a warm feeling that belongs only to home washes over you.

Jiang Che didn't rest; instead, he went straight into the kitchen. For him, preparing food for his loved ones in the kitchen was the best way to relax.

The porridge in the clay pot was bubbling away, its rich aroma of rice mingling with the sweetness of seafood, filling the entire living room. The braised pork sizzled in the pot, its surface coated in a tempting, glossy red caramel color.

Shen Qingge changed into a loose silk nightgown, removed her makeup, and sat cross-legged on the sofa to deal with the emails that had piled up for several days. Although she complained of being tired, as a workaholic, her energy immediately returned once she returned to this familiar battlefield.

"The return on this trip to Paris is even higher than I imagined," Shen Qingge said to Jiang Che in the kitchen while typing on her keyboard. "LVMH has officially sent a letter of intent for in-depth cooperation, wanting Shen's Group to be the exclusive distributor of several of their affordable luxury brands in East China. Also, because of what you said on the red carpet, the whole internet is now hyping up your 'doting husband' persona, and Shen's Group's brand image has been greatly enhanced. The PR department says they saved tens of millions in PR fees."

Jiang Che carried the casserole out and placed it on the dining table. As he ladled out porridge, he chuckled, "Shouldn't President Shen give me a bonus? Or... repay me with his body?"

Shen Qingge blushed and glared at him reproachfully, but she couldn't hide the smile in her eyes. Since that romantic night in Paris, their relationship seemed to have broken through some kind of barrier, becoming more intimate and even carrying the tacit understanding and clinginess of an old married couple.

"Eat first." Shen Qingge walked over and sat down, taking the porridge Jiang Che handed her. "No bonus, but I'll repay you with my body... depending on your performance tonight."

Su Xiaoruan was happily munching on a piece of braised pork, her mouth dripping with oil, when she heard this and almost choked. She blinked her big eyes, looking at the two of them with a completely bewildered expression: "Payback? What payback? Sister, are you going to share your braised pork with your brother-in-law?"

Shen Qingge: "..."

Jiang Che: "..."

"Eat your meat!" Shen Qingge picked up a piece of pork rib and stuffed it into Su Xiaoruan's mouth. "Kids shouldn't pry into adult matters."

Just as this family of three was enjoying a rare moment of warmth, a storm was quietly brewing against them in the dark corners of the internet.

……

The next morning.

Su Xiaoruan went to school with her schoolbag on her back. After all, she was a senior high school student, and although she was a movie star, she couldn't neglect her studies.

Jiang Che went to the headquarters of Qingche Entertainment. With the company's expansion, the original two-story office building was becoming somewhat crowded, and Han Xiao was recently making arrangements to rent the 64th floor downstairs as well.

"Boss, you're finally back!"

Han Xiao, sporting huge dark circles under her eyes and holding a cup of strong coffee, looked at Jiang Che as if he were her savior: "While you were gone, I was bombarded with calls from investors seeking collaborations! Several top-tier celebrities even wanted to switch companies and were willing to pay their own breach of contract penalties!"

Jiang Che took off his coat, hung it up, and sat down in the boss's chair, his expression calm: "None of that is urgent. First, show me the renovation plan for 'Vientiane New World,' which the Zhao Group acquired. Also, have you made any progress on the developments in Beijing that I asked you to investigate?"

When serious matters were mentioned, Han Xiao immediately dropped his playful smile and became serious.

"The restructuring of Vientiane New World went smoothly, and we've replaced them all with our people. As for Beijing..." Han Xiao pulled out a document from the folder and lowered his voice, "Although the Lu family has fallen and Tianyu Group has been almost completely dismantled by us, a centipede doesn't die easily. It's said that although that good-for-nothing Lu Ziye has been exiled overseas, his father, Lu Tianba, has been frequently active in Beijing recently, seemingly having boarded another big ship."

"A big ship?" Jiang Che raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, the Ye family of Beijing." Han Xiao pointed to a name on the file, "Ye's Media. It's a behemoth even more terrifying than Tianyu Media, controlling nearly half of the cinema resources and mainstream media mouthpieces in the country. And I heard that the eldest daughter of the Ye family is very interested in you... or rather, in Qingche Entertainment."

Jiang Che tapped his fingers lightly on the table, a thoughtful glint in his eyes.

The Ye family.

In the original owner's memories, this family was a truly top-tier aristocratic family, wielding immense influence not only in the business world but also possessing profound political connections. If the Lu family were nouveau riche, then the Ye family were true powerful businessmen.

"We'll meet force with force and water with earth," Jiang Che said calmly. "As long as they don't provoke us, we'll hold our ground for now. Our foundation isn't solid enough yet; let's digest the Lu family's legacy first."

"clear."

Just as the two were discussing the company's next strategic move, the office door was suddenly pushed open.

The company's public relations director rushed in, sweating profusely, forgetting to even knock: "President Jiang! Something's happened! Something terrible has happened!"

"What's the panic?" Jiang Che frowned slightly. "Is the sky falling down?"

"It's worse than the sky falling!" The PR director trembled as he handed the tablet to Jiang Che. "Look at the trending topics on Weibo! It's gone viral!"

Jiang Che took the tablet, and the deep red "Explosion" characters on the screen were shocking:

#If Su Xiaoruan isn't clean# Explosive

#The sugar daddy behind the nation's little sister# Exclusive

#The illicit affair between the owner of Qingche Entertainment and a minor actress# Exposed

Jiang Che's pupils contracted sharply, and a chilling killing intent instantly filled the entire office.

Clicking on the topic revealed a barrage of offensive comments and several blurry photos.

The photos were clearly taken secretly. There are pictures of Jiang Che carrying a soaking wet Su Xiaoruan on the film set in the rain, pictures of Su Xiaoruan wearing pajamas and clinging to Jiang Che's arm at home, and pictures of the two entering and leaving a high-end hotel together (actually a lounge before going to Paris).

The camera angle was extremely tricky, deliberately blurring Shen Qingge's presence and only highlighting the intimate interaction between Jiang Che and Su Xiaoruan.

The accompanying text was even more vicious:

[A certain newly crowned Best Actress, surnamed S, has always maintained an innocent image, but in reality, she has long been kept by her company boss. The so-called "brother" is nothing more than a sexually suggestive term of endearment. Her supposed genius is nothing more than a plaything created by capital. It is rumored that this boss has a peculiar pedophilic fetish and enjoys specifically "training" minors…]

The comment section below has been completely flooded with comments:

"Oh my god! I felt something was off about that look in her eyes when I watched 'Green Snake'! Turns out they really were having an affair!"

"This is disgusting! I even considered her a fan! Turns out she's a total slut!"

"This boss is no good either! He looks respectable, yet he preys on minors! He must be banned!"

"Boycott Su Xiaoruan! Boycott Qingche Entertainment!"

Online trolls.

A massive online troll campaign, in collaboration with uninformed onlookers, completely ruined Su Xiaoruan's reputation in just half an hour.

"Who did this?" Jiang Che's voice was as cold as the Siberian wind.

Han Xiao was typing rapidly on the keyboard, tracing the IP source: "Boss, it's a professional black PR team. This time it's a big operation, directly involving thousands of marketing accounts in a coordinated effort. And..."

Han Xiao paused, his face grim: "Moreover, it seems the other side has even more explosive so-called 'solid evidence' videos that they haven't released yet, and they're blackmailing us. Just now, the company email received an anonymous email demanding 50 million in hush money, or else it'll be Monday."

"Fifty million?" Jiang Che laughed angrily. "Trying to extort me?"

Of course he knew what the so-called "solid evidence" was. It was nothing more than normal intimate interactions at home or on set, maliciously edited and taken out of context.

However, such rumors are devastating for a female celebrity who has just come of age.

"Ring ring—"

Jiang Che's phone rang. It was Su Xiaoruan calling.

As soon as the call connected, Su Xiaoruan's broken sobs came through: "Brother... Waaah... So many classmates at school are looking at me... They say I am... They say I am..."

She couldn't bring herself to say those words.

Jiang Che's heart clenched. He could imagine the kind of malice that carefree girl was enduring at school right now.

"Xiao Ruan, don't be afraid." Jiang Che's voice instantly became incredibly gentle, but the killing intent in his eyes grew stronger. "Brother is coming to pick you up. If anyone dares to say anything out of line, just ignore them. Remember, with brother here, the sky won't fall."

After hanging up the phone, Jiang Che stood up and straightened his collar.

"Han Xiao".

"exist!"

"Fifty million, is that it?" Jiang Che sneered. "Reply to their email. Tell them I have the money, let them come and get it. But I'm afraid they might have the life to take it, but not the life to spend it."

"Also, notify the legal department to draft a lawyer's letter? No, lawyer's letters are too slow."

Jiang Che strode out of the office: "Contact the Municipal Public Security Bureau's Cyber ​​Security Division directly. Tell them that Qingche Entertainment has been the victim of a major online extortion case, involving an exceptionally large sum of money. I want to file a police report."

"Also, prepare for a press conference. It will be broadcast live online tonight at 8 PM."

"I want everyone to see who the 'dirty' person really is."

……

Half an hour later, at the Affiliated High School of Jianghai Academy of Arts.

Jiang Che's car stopped at the school gate again.

This time, there were no flowers or applause, only countless pointing fingers and whispers.

Su Xiaoruan huddled in the corner of the security room, her eyes red and swollen from crying, looking like a frightened little rabbit.

Jiang Che pushed open the door and went in. Without saying a word, he took off his coat, wrapped it around her, and then picked her up in his arms.

"Brother..." Su Xiaoruan buried her face in his chest, trembling all over, "Does this mean I can't act anymore... Have I embarrassed you...?"

"Nonsense." Jiang Che hugged her and strode out of the school gate, ignoring the students taking photos with their phones and the paparazzi who had rushed over.

In full view of everyone, he faced the camera with eyes as sharp as knives:

"Have you taken enough photos?"

"If I see any photos of her crying today online tomorrow..."

"Whichever media outlet published it, I'll acquire that one. Whichever individual published it, I'll sue them until they're bankrupt."

"I mean what I say."

Domineering, arrogant, and protective of his own.

This scene was posted online, and public opinion instantly polarized. Some criticized him for being arrogant, while others thought he was a real man.

……

8 PM, Qingche Entertainment Live Stream.

There was no press release, and no host.

Jiang Che, dressed in a black suit, sat alone in front of the camera. Beside him was a thick stack of documents.

The number of viewers in the live stream instantly exceeded 50 million. The chat was filled with insults and abuse.

Jiang Che didn't look at the comments; he just stared at the camera and spoke:

"I am Jiang Che. I am Su Xiaoruan's brother, her boss, and her guardian."

He picked up the first document and showed it to the camera.

Those are legally binding guardianship transfer documents and notarized certificates.

"Before Su Xiaoruan became famous, when she was still homeless on the streets and abandoned by her biological parents, I was the one who picked her up."

"Back then, she had no money, no fame, and couldn't even afford to eat."

"When you talk about 'being kept,' do you mean I cook for her, take her to school, and teach her how to be a person?"

Jiang Che's voice was calm, yet it possessed a powerful, awe-inspiring force:

"If this is what you call being kept as a sugar daddy, then I admit it, I kept her as a sugar daddy."

"I not only covered her past, I also took care of her future."

Next, he produced a second document—the equity structure of Qingche Entertainment.

"This is the company's share certificate. Su Xiaoruan holds 10% of the original shares of Qingche Entertainment."

"Based on current valuations, her net worth has exceeded 300 million."

"She is not my plaything, she is my partner, she is my family."

"I ask you, which investor would give 'Plaything' 300 million yuan worth of shares?"

The insults in the live chat gradually decreased.

Jiang Che put down the document, his gaze sharpening:

"As for those so-called 'intimate photos'..."

"That's a hug between family members, or a director giving instructions to the actors."

"A person with a dirty heart sees everything as dirty."

"I've already called the police. Whoever is behind this rumor-mongering, no matter where you are hiding..."

Jiang Che made a throat-slitting gesture towards the camera:

"Wash your neck clean and get ready to go to jail."

Just as the live stream was about to end, Jiang Che suddenly changed the subject:

Finally, I want to say something to my sister.

"Xiao Ruan, don't cry. Your tears are for acting, not for these trash to see."

"Your brother will always be the strong tree behind you."

The live stream has ended.

Public opinion has completely reversed.

"I'm so moved... So this is what 'being kept' means! I want to be kept too!"

"Three hundred million worth of shares?! This isn't just a sugar daddy, this is a biological father!"

"May those who spread rumors die a horrible death! Support President Jiang in protecting his rights!"

……

Late at night, in the Qingche Entertainment office.

The crisis management was very successful; the online sentiment had shifted. The police were also extremely efficient; under pressure from the Shen Group, they quickly identified the shady PR firm and arrested its members overnight.

Han Xiao walked into the office with a solemn expression, holding a confession that had just been obtained from the interrogation.

"Boss, we've found out."

"Who is it?" Jiang Che lit a cigarette and took a deep drag.

"It was done by a subsidiary of the Ye family in Beijing. To be precise, it was at the behest of Ye Qingcheng, the eldest daughter of the Ye family."

"Ye Qingcheng?" Jiang Che frowned; the name was unfamiliar to him.

"And..." Han Xiao hesitated for a moment, then took out a yellowed old photo from the file folder and handed it to Jiang Che:

"We found this in the safe of that shady PR boss."

"It is said that Ye Qingcheng specifically asked him to find someone to investigate your background, and this was found in the old files of the orphanage where you used to live."

Jiang Che took the photo.

It was a black and white photograph taken more than 20 years ago.

The background is a traditional courtyard house in Beijing.

In the photo, a young and beautiful woman is holding a two- or three-year-old boy in her arms, smiling gently.

That woman bore a striking resemblance to Jiang Che, with her features bearing a seven or eight-point resemblance.

The man beside that woman, though only shown in profile, exuded an imposing aura that, even across twenty years, still sent shivers down one's spine.

Jiang Che's hand trembled slightly.

Because the original owner of this body had no memory of this photo, nor any impression of his parents. He always believed that he was an abandoned orphan.

"Who is this man?" Jiang Che asked, pointing to the profile of the man in the photo.

Han Xiao took a deep breath and lowered his voice to a whisper:

"Boss, I've had someone compare them."

"This man... seems to be Ye Zhentian, the current head of the Ye family in Beijing."

"That is... Ye Qingcheng's biological father."

boom--!

Jiang Che's mind felt as if it had been struck by lightning.

If this woman is his mother, if this man is Ye Zhentian...

So, he and Ye Qingcheng, the eldest daughter of the Ye family who had been targeting him...

Could they be... half-siblings?!

Or perhaps, he is the Ye family's illegitimate son who was lost to the world?

Jiang Che stared at the photo in his hand, unaware that his cigarette had burned his fingers.

No wonder the Ye family suddenly targeted him.

No wonder Ye Qingcheng had someone investigate that orphanage.

It turns out that this was more than just a business war.

This is the prelude to a feud between wealthy families.

"interesting."

Jiang Che stubbed out his cigarette, locked the photo in the drawer, and his eyes became more profound than ever before.

"It seems that you have to force yourself to live off a woman."

"I guess I'll have to try my luck in this wealthy family."