Chapter 21: The Back Garden
But he was more curious about what these two bugs had actually discussed.
“Nothing.”
“Fine, then I will continue to transfer money directly into your asset card as before,” Zolan said.
Mentioning the asset card reminded Jiang Xu of something.
He instinctively looked toward Fei and happened to catch the other’s gaze.
It was a bit awkward.
If the other bug found out about that emptied asset card, would he jump in anger?
As far as he knew, that seemed to be all of the other bug’s assets.
“……..” Jiang Xu felt a bit guilty and turned back to Zolan. “How about… you put it onto Fei’s asset card?”
Reminded of this, Fei suddenly thought of all those consumption notifications on his communicator. The hand at his side unconsciously clenched.
Zolan looked at Jiang Xu, not understanding the reason, then suddenly chuckled twice. “You really have grown up.”
He felt an inexplicable sense of relief.
“Alright, I won’t chat with you two any longer. Don’t just stand here staring at each other.” Zolan stood up and walked toward the door of the reception hall, continuing his instructions to Jiang Xu: “Since you’re back, take little Fei for a good walk around. It’s his first time here; let him get familiar with the place.”
Jiang Xu felt even more awkward because of Zolan’s words, but he noticed someone was even more embarrassed than he was. An imperceptible smile briefly flickered across his lips.
It vanished in a flash.
“Shall I take you for a walk?”
Fei instinctively avoided Jiang Xu’s gaze, the tips of his ears burning painfully hot.
“Where are you going for a walk?” Joe’s voice chimed in.
Without them noticing, Joe and Jiang Cheng had walked over.
“Just a walk around the estate.” Jiang Xu turned slightly and gave them a small bow.
Fei straightened his back and followed suit, respectfully addressing the two bugs, “Xiongfu, Cifu.”
“Mm.” Joe’s tone was much colder compared to when he was speaking to Jiang Xu. “Since you’ve married into the family, you must still follow the rules of the Jiang house in the future. Also, take care to protect your Xiongzhu.”
All the bugs present thought this was perfectly normal; after all, whether one was a Cijun or a Cishi, this rule was written into the Regulations. It was something they had to obey.
“Yes, Cifu,” Fei said.
However, Jiang Xu found these words extremely strange. Why do I need to be protected?
“Take the opportunity to wander while it’s still morning and you’re free. After lunch, we’ll need to prepare for the banquet. I won’t be able to look after you once things get busy. If anything comes up and you’re unsure, ask the butler or come straight to me.”
Although Joe wasn’t satisfied with this “daughter-in-law,” things had already reached this point.
He swept his gaze over Fei and let out a silent sigh.
“Yes, Cifu.” Fei answered submissively, fearing he might embarrass Jiang Xu.
However, Jiang Xu wasn’t paying attention to any of that; he actually felt that Fei didn’t need to be quite so compliant.
Only the two of them were left in the reception hall now, and the atmosphere suddenly became strange.
Jiang Xu looked at Fei; it seemed they hadn’t felt this way when they were just hanging out at home.
Jiang Xu: “Want to go for a walk?”
Fei lowered his head slightly, hiding the odd feeling in his heart. “Yes, Xiongzhu.”
Jiang Xu wasn’t so much taking Fei for a walk as he was scouting out the area and memorizing the paths for himself.
After all, it was his first time here, too.
The estate was truly enormous. He felt like they had walked quite a bit, yet they still hadn’t finished the tour.
After an unknown amount of time, they arrived at the Jiang family’s back garden.
Seeing the back garden, Jiang Xu had only one thought: they must have moved a botanical garden here.
There were all sorts of green plants and flowers.
The difference between this and the rose area at the front gate was massive; if the front was decadent, the back was full of new life.
While he was thinking, he found himself walking deeper into the garden when a familiar voice suddenly rang out from a corner.
“Jiang Xu!” Zoe happened to be passing by and had caught a glimpse of the back garden; he hadn’t expected such a coincidence.
Standing by the black iron fence, he called out again, “You came home today!”
Then, as if having a sudden realization, he answered his own question. “Oh, right. The Jiang family banquet is tonight. You definitely had to come back.”
“What are you doing here?” Jiang Xu was also surprised to see him and led Fei closer to the fence where Zoe stood.
“What kind of question is that?” Zoe was speechless. Wasn’t it normal for him to be here? But he explained anyway, “I exercise every day, you know that. I’m just a little late today.”
“Ahem, never mind that. Is this the one? Aren’t you going to introduce me?”
This was also Zoe’s first time seeing Fei since Jiang Xu got married. He looked Fei over with great interest right in front of Jiang Xu.
So this is the Cichong Jiang’s Cifu insisted Jiang Xu marry? He looks alright.
“Lord Zoe.” Fei knew of Zoe; there were many stories about him in the Zerg race. One could say he was an outlier among Xiongchong.
He managed many of the Alvis family’s businesses and occasionally appeared in magazine interviews.
In the military newspapers Fei read daily, there would occasionally be features on him for donating batches of supplies to the army every year as an incentive.
“Oh? You know me?” Zoe was a bit surprised, but he quickly thought of his family’s annual charity projects and felt it was normal.
Fei silently observed him. He didn’t see that specific look in the other’s eyes, nor the typical gaze other Xiongchong gave him.
Instead, it was like Zoe was speaking to another Xiongchong.
He explained, “You frequently donate supplies to the military district; I believe the entire military district knows of you.”
Zoe laughed at the bug’s poised and dignified answer. He suddenly turned to look at Jiang Xu—tsk, this is getting interesting.
Two stubborn tempers.
“Hardly.” Zoe reached out and wiped the sweat from his forehead, then turned to Jiang Xu. “I’ll head back to shower and then come over to find you.”
Jiang Xu: “Is there something?”
His tone was incredibly cold; calling it “plain” would be an insult to the word.
Zoe looked at the change in his tone, speechless. I didn’t even do anything. I just looked at him for two seconds—is that really necessary?
“?” Jiang Xu looked at him in confusion. “What’s wrong?”
His tone was normal again!
Zoe now doubted whether he had misheard earlier.
But it was clearly impossible; he was quite successful in business, so his memory was naturally excellent.
He looked at Jiang Xu with amusement, catching the other’s bewildered gaze.
He gave a low chuckle. It seems he doesn’t even know it himself.
In that case, this is even more interesting.
“Nothing. I’m off.”
Fei discovered that the Jiang family was completely different from what he had imagined. Not only that, but it seemed Jiang Xu and his friends were also…
The figures of Yu Heng and Zoe flashed through his mind; they all shared certain similarities.
Perhaps it was that you couldn’t see any disdain, contempt, or lecherousness toward Cichong in their eyes.
Jiang Xu watched Zoe walk away and decided he was done wandering; he prepared to head back.
He turned around and saw the bug beside him dazing at Zoe’s retreating back. He frowned and said, “Let’s go.”
He left the Cichong behind and walked off on his own.
Only when he heard the sound of footsteps catching up did he slow his pace slightly.
Sensing the presence beside him, he thought for a moment. “In the reception hall earlier, what did Cizu say to you?”
Perhaps because of the interlude with Zoe, the atmosphere between them was no longer as silent; it had softened quite a bit.
Fei looked down at the heels of the bug in front of him. After hesitating for a few seconds, he spoke up: “Cizu said I shouldn’t be afraid of you, and that he would back me up if anything happened.”
“……..” Jiang Xu was speechless. They talked for ages and that was it? What could I possibly do to him? “Anything else?”
“And about our marriage.” Fei stopped there and didn’t say more, his ear-tips turning red.
He recalled his Cizu’s words. He hadn’t felt much at the time, but now…
Jiang Xu: “Did he say why he was so rushed to have us marry?”
“No.” Fei shook his head. “Cizu said I would know the reason later.”
But when exactly is ‘later’? Fei didn’t know.
Recommended Reads
![The Cannon Fodder Omega’s Mental Power is Off the Charts [Transmigration]](https://beereads.space/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/omega.png)
