The younger sister pretends to be hypnotized, and her older brother gets addicted.

The Cullinans with consecutive license plates drove all the way to the hillside estate.

The manor is located on the hillside of Jinggang. It was built in the last century and was constructed by British engineers. Standing far away on the hillside under the leaden gray sky, it has some of the solemnity and magnificence of Downton Abbey.

There is an unwritten rule at Half Hill Manor: no matter who is visiting, cars must be parked at the second European-style iron gate.

But Jiang Yanci's Cullinan drove straight in without any hindrance.

There weren't many vehicles going up the mountain, and Qiao Wei's Bentley followed closely behind the Cullinan.

Inside the car, hushed discussions broke out.

"Why is Ruan Yang also heading in this direction?"

"Could she also be attending Mr. Huo's birthday party?"

"Possibly. No wonder she didn't change her class yesterday."

The crowd whispered among themselves.

Qiao Wei listened from the side, clenching her fingers tightly.

After passing through a European-style gate with wrought iron carvings and gold paint, the car stopped.

The driver turned around and said to Qiao Wei, "Miss, please wait a moment, a shuttle bus will come to pick you up shortly."

Qiao Wei frowned and pointed to the Cullinan, which was unobstructed ahead.

"Why was that car allowed to drive right in?"

The driver had a bit of a headache.

That's the eldest son of the Jiang family's car, so of course he can drive right in.

Half-Mountain Manor was originally owned by the Yao family. However, due to mismanagement, it was never repaired and almost became mortgaged to the bank. It was Jiang Yanci who spent 1 billion yuan to renovate it six years ago, which is why Half-Mountain Manor has regained its former glory and is now a gathering place for celebrities.

But with such a fool, saying more will only make things worse.

The driver gave a stiff smile. "Please get out of the car. This is the rule at Half Hill Manor."

Qiao Wei got out of the car reluctantly.

What kind of attitude is this driver?!

In her opinion, this person was just being lazy and shirking his duties; otherwise, how come others could drive in while he couldn't?

Doesn't he know that she's destined to be the young mistress of the Huo family?

Hmph! The first thing she'll do when she sees Ah Shen is fire this driver!

……

The hillside estate has a row of detached two-story villas with red bricks and white wooden windows. Outside the windows, there are vibrant Cattleya orchids, creating a yellow-orange hue that evokes a sense of pastoral tranquility and romance.

This red building is not available for public loan.

On the second floor, by the window filled with white jasmine, Ruan Yang sat in front of the makeup mirror, obediently letting the white makeup artist Fiona do her makeup.

"Honey, is this your... dress?"

Fiona stared at her Barbie pink dress, lost in thought.

Ruan Yang nodded. "Yes."

Fiona shook her head and immediately called Assistant Lu.

……

Tonight's protagonist, Huo Shen, is sitting on the second-floor terrace, facing the blue swimming pool below.

Today he was wearing a dashing white notched lapel suit with a misty purple silk shirt, the collar slightly open.

This contrasts sharply with Jiang Yanci's old-fashioned British three-piece suit as he steps onto the balcony.

"Nervous?" Jiang Yanci sat down and asked, glancing at the cigarette butts in the ashtray.

Huo Shen nodded.

He and Little Rose chatted well online, but their several real-life encounters were not romantic.

"I don't know if Little Rose will say yes if I propose to her in public today."

Huo Shen flicked his cigarette, glanced at Jiang Yanci, and offered him a light. "You're acting strange today too."

A wisp of mist enveloped Jiang Yanci's cold eyes. "I need to use your place to announce something today."

"...Are you going to announce your wedding date?"

Huo Shen still remembers the surprise he felt when he saw his friend kissing a little girl at the movie theater entrance; it was no less than when he saw the Chinese national football team qualify for the World Cup.

"No, but it's still very important."

"We're all brothers, whatever you say."

Huo Shen looked into the distance and spotted a familiar dress in the crowd.

"Yan Ci, is that your sister?"

Jiang Yanci looked over and saw the formal attire he had personally chosen.

But when the woman turned around, it wasn't Yangyang's face.

It was Nguyen Minh Chau.

Jiang Yanci's eyes darkened.

It's no surprise that Nguyen Minh Chu stole Yang Yang's dress.

buzzing-

The cell phone on the slab table vibrated; it was Assistant Lu calling.

As soon as Assistant Lu mentioned the word "formal dress," Jiang Yanci interrupted him.

He got up and walked to a quiet place.

"You apply for a flight now and have a dress transferred from the KVI Fashion Night in Singapore. No—transfer as many as you have, and let Yangyang choose for herself."

Assistant Lu was taken aback.

A private jet makes a cross-border transport, which is time-consuming and laborious, just so that Miss Ruan can wear the most beautiful dress.

Moreover, those were all collector's edition formal wear, but in President Jiang's words, they were like potatoes being picked out at a market.

How can this be treated as a sister-in-law?

He clearly treats her like his own wife.

I'm afraid that when the second young master returns to China, he won't be attending his own wedding, but rather his elder brother's and his girlfriend's wedding.

Assistant Lu dared not think about it anymore.

"Yes, Mr. Jiang, I'll take care of it right away."

……

Ruan Yang was also very surprised when she learned that her brother had flown a dress to her from Singapore.

Such a large-scale mobilization is really inappropriate.

Fiona, however, became interested. "I know! You have a poem that goes, 'A rider in the dust brings a smile to the imperial concubine's face, but no one knows it's lychees that have arrived.'"

Fiona's Chinese is quite good.

But Ruan Yang was not Yang Guifei.

Jiang Yanci was not like Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, who seized his minister's wife.

"Gurgle—"

Ruan Yang's stomach growled.

She decided to get something to eat first.

At this time, the banquet had not yet officially started, and people were socializing in twos and threes.

Ruan Yang was dressed in a simple white dress, which was completely different from her usual queen-like image at banquets, and immediately attracted everyone's attention and discussion.

"Isn't that Ruan Yang? Why is she dressed so plainly today? Is that a high-end runway piece?"

"What show-off? Didn't you guys see the short video? Jiang Zhuo recently filmed a couple vlog with a girl and dumped Ruan Yang."

"Tsk! No wonder she didn't even have a decent dress today!"

"..."

Ruan Yang overheard it, but didn't take it seriously.

She was afraid of being abandoned.

But now, she's not afraid anymore.

That's probably the confidence her brother gave her.

Ruan Yang bypassed the champagne tower and came to a long table covered with a lace tablecloth, where a dazzling array of desserts were displayed on a three-tiered sterling silver stand.

She took a small bowl of peach gum and snow fungus and ate it slowly.

Her makeup was simple, and she wore a fitted white dress, which seemed out of place in the magnificent and extravagant banquet hall. However, she showed no fear and was as relaxed as if she were in her own living room.

Many people have noticed her.

Like a gardenia that has fallen into this arena of fame and fortune.

Not far away, Qiao Wei and her friends were taking pictures.

Qiao Wei glanced at Ruan Yang, who was eating snacks at the dining table.

They don't even have formal attire, how shabby.

It seems her boyfriend doesn't care about her.

She gave a soft hum, looked away, and continued taking pictures with her girlfriends.

...

"Teacher Ruan." A voice sounded from behind.

Ruan Yang turned around and saw Huo Shen.

After the rain, the sky was tinged with the colors of the sunset, which shone on Ruan Yang's radiant face, making her breathtakingly beautiful.

Huo Shen was a little nervous. "Teacher Ruan, I was going to pick you up in person, but I had too many things to do today and couldn't make it. I'm really sorry."

Ruan Yang was somewhat bewildered.

Does he mean he'll personally pick her and her brother up?

Ruan Yang waved her hand, "It's nothing, you're too kind."

Your word "您" is even more polite.

Huo Shen felt inexplicably upset.

Is it because we don't meet often enough? I always feel that Teacher Ruan is not quite the same as she is online.

He caught a glimpse of her white dress and his expression froze.

"...Don't you like the dress I picked out for you?"

Ruan Yang understood; Huo Shen and her brother had chosen that dress together.

"Don't wash your dirty linen in public," Ruan Yang smiled and simply said, "Thank you."

Looking at that smile, Huo Shen felt inexplicably hot, and said like a young boy, "I'll choose a better one for you next time."

Ruan Yang was somewhat puzzled.

My brother, this childhood friend, is quite outgoing.

But this person is also part of the main cast, and he's her nemesis.

Ruan Yang didn't want to talk to him anymore. She took a sip and then planned to return to the Red Mansion.

Before leaving, she nodded politely to Huo Shen, "I'm going to find my brother now."

Huo Shen paused for a moment.

I was wondering if her brother came too?

But when he caught a glimpse of the strawberry hair tie on Ruan Yang's wrist, the same one as Nian Nian's, his heart stirred, and he subconsciously grabbed her slender wrist.

Qiao Wei witnessed this scene.

Ignoring her colleagues taking photos, she strode over aggressively, like a wife catching her husband's mistress in the act.

The second floor not far away—

Jiang Yanci stared intently at the skin of the two touching, his gaze almost tangible, a hint of gloom in his eyes.