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

In March, spring arrives later in Beijing than in the Jiangnan region. While Dali is already ablaze with blossoms, this ancient capital with its three-thousand-year history is still shrouded in a faint chill. The sky takes on a unique grayish-blue hue, and the red walls and yellow tiles, partially obscured by willow branches that have not yet fully sprouted, exude a solemn and dignified imperial aura.

At 3 p.m., a Gulfstream G650ER private jet pierced the clouds and landed smoothly on the business jet parking apron at Beijing Capital International Airport.

The cabin door opened, and a biting north wind howled in, instantly dispelling the languid warmth and comfort that everyone had felt from Dali.

Shen Qingge tightened her cashmere coat, put on her sunglasses, and looked at the familiar yet unfamiliar land before her, her eyes filled with complex emotions. This was Beijing, the place where she spent her youth during her university years, and also the place of heartbreak where she suffered betrayal from her first love and vowed never to set foot there again.

Are you cold?

A warm, large hand grasped her slightly cold fingers. Jiang Che stood in the wind, shielding her from most of the cold wind, while his other hand helped Su Xiaoruan, who was huddled up, tighten her scarf.

"It's alright." Shen Qingge took a deep breath, the unique dryness and dusty smell in the air instantly making her wake up. "It just feels like the air here is a bit 'harder' than before."

"It's because too much ambition and desire are buried here." Jiang Che looked at the faintly visible CBD skyline in the distance, a deep light flashing in his eyes. "But don't be afraid, this time we're here to 'crash the party,' not to be bullied."

"Let's go, the car is here."

On the tarmac, a black Hongqi L5 sedan with the license plate 京A·88888 had been waiting for some time. The aura of this top-of-the-line domestically produced luxury car was far more awe-inspiring and dignified than that of a Rolls-Royce in this area.

Su Xiaoruan's eyes widened as she stared at the car with the red flag emblem on the hood, its retro design exuding an air of authority. She exclaimed softly, "Wow... Brother, this car looks so fierce! It's even more imposing than our Bugatti!"

"This is a Hongqi L5, a state-level vehicle." Shen Qingge looked at Jiang Che with some surprise. "You have connections in Beijing? This car isn't something you can just rent with money."

Jiang Che smiled faintly and opened the car door for her: "An old friend helped arrange this. Get in, let's go home first."

"Go home?" Shen Qingge was taken aback. "Which hotel? I booked a room at the Bulgari..."

"I'm not staying in a hotel."

Jiang Che shook his head mysteriously: "I have a small, unused courtyard in the capital, which I just had cleaned. Since we're all family here, staying in a hotel would be too formal; it's more comfortable at home."

Although Shen Qingge was puzzled, she didn't ask any further questions. She assumed that the "small courtyard" Jiang Che mentioned might be a small courtyard house in a hutong (alleyway) within the Second Ring Road, or a duplex villa in a high-end residential area.

However, when the car entered the Second Ring Road, passed through bustling streets, and finally entered a quiet hutong area with heavy security and towering ancient trees, Shen Qingge's expression began to change.

This is... the north shore of Shichahai?

This is the most central protected area in Beijing. The price of land here cannot be described as "worth its weight in gold," because the houses here are simply priceless cultural relics!

The car slowly came to a stop in front of a bright, vermilion gate with two huge stone lions crouching at the entrance. Above the gate hung an uninscribed nanmu plaque, but the nine steps and the intricately carved gate tower all testified to the illustrious status of the former owner.

"arrive."

Jiang Che got out of the car, took out a bronze-colored key, and gently pushed open the heavy wooden door.

"Squeak—"

As the gate opened, a royal-style courtyard house, covering an area of ​​3,000 square meters and featuring three courtyards, was revealed to the public without reservation.

The screen wall is adorned with exquisite brick carvings, ancient locust trees tower in the courtyard, winding corridors connect the gardens, and artificial hills and ponds are arranged in a harmonious and orderly manner. Although it is a northern garden, it exudes an elegance that rivals that of the Jiangnan region. More importantly, everything here is extremely well-maintained, with underfloor heating, central air conditioning, and a modern security system, perfectly blending a sense of history with comfort.

"This...this is your 'unused little courtyard'?"

Shen Qingge stood in the center of the courtyard, looking at the mansion in front of her that was even more magnificent than some royal palaces, and was completely dumbfounded.

Although she is the president of the Shen Group, with a net worth of billions, owning a courtyard house like this in Beijing represents more than just wealth; it signifies powerful connections and profound influence. As far as she knows, a similar courtyard house in the vicinity sold for 2.5 billion last year.

Moreover, they are available but unsellable!

Su Xiaoruan was so frightened she couldn't even walk straight. She carefully stepped on the bluestone slabs, afraid of damaging the ground: "Brother...did a prince live here before? I feel like I've traveled through time?"

Jiang Che handed his luggage to the butler (a top-tier butler team gifted by the system) who was already waiting nearby, then turned to look at the two astonished people, his tone still calm and collected:

"It doesn't matter who lived here before. What matters is that from today onwards, this place belongs to the Jiang family."

"This courtyard is called 'By the Water'," Jiang Che pointed to the private waterside pavilion in the backyard that led directly to Shichahai Lake. "Wife, do you like this name?"

Shen Qingge looked at him, speechless for a long time.

She always thought she was "raising" Jiang Che, providing him with protection. But time and again, from MixC World to Paris Fashion Week, and now to this priceless mansion in Beijing, she realized that she was the one being protected in an ivory tower.

"Jiang Che..." Shen Qingge bit her lip, her eyes filled with complex emotions, "How many things are you still hiding from me?"

"If I told you that I just bought this casually so you'd be more comfortable in the capital..." Jiang Che walked over and tidied her wind-blown hair, "would you believe me?"

"I believe you." Shen Qingge sighed and took his hand. "Even if you said you were a prince who had been living among the common people, I would believe you now."

Jiang Che smiled, a barely perceptible glint flashing in his eyes.

A prince who has been living among the common people?

Perhaps this joke is not far from the truth.

……

At the same time.

In the eastern suburbs of Beijing, there is a manor nestled against the mountains and beside the water.

This is the ancestral home of the Ye family, one of the four major families in Beijing.

Unlike Jiang Che's understated elegance in his courtyard house, the Ye family's old residence exudes a strict sense of hierarchy and a suffocating sense of oppression.

Inside the study, the air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood.

A young woman dressed in a white silk Tang suit, with her hair piled high and exuding a cold and noble air, sat behind a mahogany desk. In her hand was a newly delivered intelligence report, and her slender fingers tapped lightly on the table, making a "tap, tap, tap" sound, the rhythm so fast it was unsettling.

She is Ye Qingcheng.

She is the eldest daughter of the Ye family and the de facto head of the Ye family's business empire. In the capital, she is known as "Bamboo Leaf Green," meaning she is beautiful yet deadly, ruthless, and indiscriminate in her dealings with family.

"You mean, Jiang Che has come to the capital?"

Ye Qingcheng raised her head, her narrow phoenix eyes slightly narrowed, her gaze sharp as a knife.

The bodyguard in black standing before the desk bowed his head, barely daring to breathe: "Yes, Miss. His private jet landed just an hour ago. And..."

"And what?"

"Moreover, the place he stayed was 'On the Water' on the north shore of Shichahai."

"What?!"

Ye Qingcheng, who had always been as calm as ice, finally changed her expression the moment she heard this name. She stood up abruptly, the document in her hand crumpling in her hand.

"On the other side of the water... that courtyard has been vacant for twenty years, back then..." Ye Qingcheng's voice stopped abruptly, as if she had mentioned some family taboo.

She took a deep breath and sat down again, but she couldn't suppress the turmoil in her eyes.

"Has the matter been investigated thoroughly? How did that courtyard end up in his hands?"

"We can't find it." The bodyguard was sweating profusely. "The change of ownership was very secretive, as if some extremely powerful force was operating behind the scenes. We don't have the necessary permissions."

Ye Qingcheng fell silent.

She turned her head and looked at an old photograph on the bookshelf. In the photo, her young father was holding a boy, smiling so brightly. And the boy's features...

He's practically a carbon copy of that man named Jiang Che.

"Jiang Che... Jiang Che..."

Ye Qingcheng muttered to herself, a cold smile playing on her lips:

"It seems my intuition was right. That bastard... really has returned."

"Not only did they return, but they also brought such a large entourage. Is this a show of force against the Ye family?"

Just then, the study door was violently pushed open.

A young man wearing an extravagant designer suit, with dyed blond hair and a fierce look on his face, rushed in.

He is Ye Chen. The only son of the Ye family, and Ye Qingcheng's half-brother. However, in their circle, everyone knows he's a good-for-nothing, skilled only in drinking, gambling, and whoring, and completely clueless about anything serious.

"Sister! Have you heard? That guy surnamed Jiang has come to Beijing!"

As soon as Ye Chen entered, he started shouting, his face contorted with panic and rage: "I heard he still lives in that big courtyard house in Shichahai! That was Dad's favorite house back then! Sister, you have to find a way to kill him! What if... what if that old man finds out he's still alive and tries to give him a share of the family fortune?!"

Ye Qingcheng looked at her good-for-nothing younger brother, a hint of disgust flashing in her eyes, but she quickly concealed it.

"What's the panic?"

Ye Qingcheng coldly rebuked, "This is the Ye family home. The sky won't fall. You're so afraid of him just because he lives in a courtyard? You're truly useless."

"But sister..." Ye Chen jumped up and down anxiously, "Now everyone in the circle is saying that Jiang Che is the real young master of the Ye family, and that I'm an imposter... I can't swallow this!"

"Shut up!"

Ye Qingcheng slammed her hand on the table, startling Ye Chen so much that he trembled.

"Anyone who dares to say such things in the future will have their mouth torn apart."

Ye Qingcheng walked to the window, looked at the gloomy sky outside, and said in a chilling tone:

"Whether someone is a real young master or not cannot be determined by a few photos and rumors."

"In Beijing, within this circle, only the living have the right to talk about status."

"Since he dared to come, he shouldn't expect to leave so easily."

Ye Qingcheng turned around and said to Ye Chen:

"There's a charity gala at the Jinghua Club tonight. Mr. Shen from Jianghai will definitely be there with him."

"Take a few men and go meet him."

"Remember, don't kill anyone, but don't let him live too comfortably either. I want to see just how much this so-called 'gold digger' really weighs."

Upon hearing this, Ye Chen's eyes lit up instantly, revealing a cruel smile: "Alright! Don't worry, sis! I'm an expert at playing with people! Tonight, I'll show him who really holds sway in this capital city!"

……

As night falls, the lights are on.

Located near Chang'an Avenue, the "Jinghua Club" is one of Beijing's most exclusive private clubs. Tonight, luxury cars are everywhere, and the city's elites and scions of prominent families have gathered here.

As the president of the Shen Group, Shen Qingge naturally received an invitation. Although she didn't like these kinds of social events, she couldn't avoid them since she was expanding her business in the capital.

Are you nervous?

In the lounge, Jiang Che was helping Su Xiaoruan straighten her skirt.

Su Xiaoruan wore a white princess dress today. Although she was still very pretty, she was noticeably a little reserved. Looking at the elegantly dressed and haughty socialites of the capital outside, she whispered, "Brother... the people here all look so fierce. Their eyes seem to be on top of their heads."

"That's because they're stiff-necked and need to be treated." Jiang Che smiled and rubbed her head. "Don't be afraid, with your brother here, if anyone dares to glare at you, I'll straighten their neck."

Shen Qingge changed into a black backless evening gown, wearing the "Heart of the Ocean" jewelry set, looking breathtakingly beautiful. She took Jiang Che's arm and took a deep breath: "Let's go. Now that we're here, we need to show some presence. Don't forget, we're here with the confidence of billions in box office revenue and tens of billions in market value."

The three of them entered the banquet hall.

The once noisy hall fell eerily silent for a few seconds the moment they appeared.

Countless gazes were cast upon him. Some were filled with amazement, some with curiosity, some with envy, but most of all, there was a cold indifference tinged with rejection and scrutiny.

"That's Shen Qingge from Jianghai? She's really beautiful. No wonder Young Master Gu was so infatuated with her back then."

"Is that Jiang Che, the legendary gigolo, over there? He's quite good-looking, but it's a shame he's a kept man."

"I heard they've offended the Ye family? Tsk tsk, they're really fearless. Daring to provoke the Ye family in the capital, aren't they just asking for death?"

Whispers could be heard incessantly.

Jiang Che remained calm and led Shen Qingge and Su Xiaoruan straight to the main table.

Just then.

A group of young men dressed like playboys, holding champagne glasses, blocked the way. Leading them was Ye Chen.

Ye Chen, with his dyed yellow hair and tilted his head, looked Shen Qingge up and down with an extremely rude gaze, then fixed his gaze on Jiang Che and let out an exaggerated sneer.

"Hey, isn't this the 'big star' and 'gold digger' from Jianghai?"

Ye Chen swirled his wine glass and said sarcastically, "What's wrong? Can't that little pond in Jianghai hold you anymore? You've come all the way to the capital to beg for food?"

The surrounding guests stopped talking, revealing expressions of anticipation. Everyone recognized this as the troublemaker from the Ye family and knew there would be a good show tonight.

Shen Qingge's face darkened, and she was about to speak.

Jiang Che gently squeezed her palm, signaling her not to move.

He released Shen Qingge, stepped forward, and stood in front of Ye Chen.

Although Ye Chen was also 1.8 meters tall, he instantly looked like a clown in front of Jiang Che's calm and even authoritative aura.

"This... Mr. Yellow Hair."

Jiang Che's tone was calm, even carrying a hint of gentle concern for the mentally challenged: "I don't know if we're here to beg for food. But seeing your dark complexion, unfocused eyes, and weak gait, you do look like... someone who has indulged in excessive sexual activity and is nearing the end of their life."

"What did you say?!" Ye Chen roared in anger. "How dare you curse me? Do you know who I am? I am Ye Chen, the young master of the Ye family!"

"Oh, young master of the Ye family."

Jiang Che nodded, feigning sudden realization:

"So you're from the Ye family. My apologies for not recognizing you sooner."

"but……"

Jiang Che abruptly changed the subject, his eyes suddenly turning sharp as knives, and he lowered his voice, speaking in a tone only the two of them could hear:

"Since you're the young master of the Ye family, instead of staying home and being a parasite, you're running around biting people. Aren't you disgracing Ye Zhentian?"

"Or is it that your so-called 'young master' identity is actually... an imposter?"

boom--!

These words were like a thunderbolt, striking precisely at the nerve Ye Chen feared most.

His pupils contracted sharply, his face turned deathly pale, and he instinctively took two steps back, his finger pointing at Jiang Che trembling: "You... what nonsense are you talking about! How did you know..."

How do I know it's not important?

Jiang Che patted Ye Chen on the shoulder, as if brushing off some dust:

"The important thing is to get lost."

"Don't block the way. The air here is already bad, and you're making it even worse."

After saying that, Jiang Che ignored the terrified playboy, took Shen Qingge's hand again, and led Su Xiaoruan through the crowd with elegance, heading towards the core area of ​​the banquet hall amidst the shocked gazes of the crowd.

"Is that...is that Young Master Ye? Why did he back down after just one retort?"

"This Jiang Che... he's got something! His aura is completely overwhelming!"

Ye Chen stood there, watching Jiang Che's back, the fear in his eyes gradually turning into resentment.

"Jiang Che...you wait!"

"Tonight, I'm going to make sure you come in upright and leave horizontal!"

……

Just as the farce subsided, a pair of beautiful eyes were coldly watching everything from the second-floor stands of the banquet hall.

Ye Qingcheng held a glass of red wine in her hand, looking down at Jiang Che downstairs.

She saw everything clearly. Especially Jiang Che's gesture of patting her shoulder, that authoritative demeanor without anger, was exactly like her father when he was young.

"So similar...too similar."

Ye Qingcheng's fingers gripped the wine glass tightly, her knuckles turning white.

"Miss, should we have him thrown out?" the bodyguard behind her asked.

"Kick them out?"

Ye Qingcheng shook her head, a playful sneer curling at the corner of her lips:

"No."

"Since he likes to be in the spotlight so much, let's give him a chance."

"Bring that item out during the charity auction later."

"I want to see if he can still maintain this composure in the face of something like that."

"Which thing?" the bodyguard asked, puzzled.

Ye Qingcheng turned around, downed the glass of red wine in one gulp, her eyes flashing with a mad light:

"That... the longevity lock stained with blood that I brought back from the orphanage back then."