"Jian Dan-jie, can I just call you 'sister'? I've always wanted an older sister to go shopping with, buy pretty clothes, and eat delicious food together! Brother only cares about studying and never spends time with me. Let me take you out tomorrow!"
Zhao Ziyu had inherited Qian Yi's delicate beauty. Dressed in a sleeveless red dress, she radiated youthful charm. Skilled in wheedling favors, she'd exploited her little sister act in their past life to coax countless heirlooms from Jian Dan.
Jian Dan smiled indulgently. "Of course. But let me rest tomorrow—we can go out the day after. There are still some matters I need to discuss with Father."
Her gaze shifted to Zhao Mufeng, who nodded understandingly. "Let your sister settle in first. You can be her guide later—no one's stealing your role."
Zhao Ziyu pouted playfully. "Fine, Daddy knows best!"
The reunion dinner proceeded with cloying warmth, followed by desserts. Zhao Mufeng inquired about Jian Dan's studies and life, while Ziyu chirped in to lighten the mood. Only Zhao Zihan remained silent, his pallor worsening until Qian Yi urged him to rest.
Upon returning, Qian Yi seemed distracted. Jian Dan graciously offered: "Aunt Qian, don't trouble yourself. Ziyu can show me the garden. Zihan looked unwell—you should check on him."
With that dismissal, Zhao Mufeng and Qian Yi hurried upstairs after exchanging a glance with Ziyu, who then latched onto Jian Dan's arm for their stroll.
The backyard featured an octagonal pavilion and a greenhouse where Qian Yi cultivated camellias.
"Mother imports rare varieties. We host an annual flower banquet—you'll attend next year's!" Ziyu gushed.
"Plenty of opportunities," Jian Dan agreed blandly. Camellias symbolize noble love and purity. How ironic for Qian Yi.
Seated in the pavilion with fruit platters, Ziyu heaved a dramatic sigh. "You wouldn't believe the tension at home lately. Promise you won't tell anyone I told you!" She leaned in conspiratorially.
"The development of Zhao's enterprise has not been very smooth in the past six months. Dad finally managed to make a comeback with the help of my second uncle and third aunt. However, not long ago, during a family physical examination, it was discovered that my brother was ill. My parents didn't tell me what the illness was, but only said that a shareholder in the company could help.
It's just that this shareholder wants our Zhao shares in exchange, but I heard that if my father gives up his shares, he will lose his position as the first shareholder and will not be able to be the chairman, so I am also very worried, but I don't have much money, and I don't know how to help my parents and brother. "
Listening to Ziyu's so-called 'secrets', Jiandan felt calm. These were just foreshadowings, appetizers, and the focus was on the latter part, so she pretended to be worried and said, "How awful! I'll speak with Father tomorrow. For now, Zihan should focus on recovering."
Zhao Ziyu nodded repeatedly after hearing these words. After that, both of them achieved their goal and went back to their respective rooms.
After returning to the guest room, she simply took out some clothes from hir suitcase and went into the bathroom. She turned on the faucet in the bathtub and at the same time, spread her divine sense to the whole house and found a pinhole camera in the air outlet of the central air conditioner.
There was no one in the bathroom. Then her divine sense extended to the entire villa and he found that several people who were supposed to be resting in their own houses were now gathered together.
In Zhao Mufeng's study, he sat on a pearwood chair in the main seat of the reception room, with the rest of the people sitting next to him. He tapped the armrest of the wooden chair with his hand, looked at his family and said, "What do you think?"
Qian Yi sneered. "What can some country girl possibly do?
"She seemed gullible," Ziyu added. "Everything matched our intel. She only contacted that poor little girl named Du Yanran when she arrived in Kyoto."
Zihan shook his head. "She's... precise. Too precise."
"We'll decide after tomorrow," Zhao Mufeng concluded. "Zihan, I won't let anything happen to you."
Jian Dan's lips curled. "Last life, those words would've shattered me." Now, they barely rippled her calm.