My Manor

Looking at Qi Li in front of her, Feng Yunchen seemed unhurried, with no need to panic now.

After wiping her mouth, she took a sip of her drink and said slowly, "I have a congenital defect, so I'll never be the one standing next to Jiang Hai in the end. But if it's you standing beside him, I'll be at a disadvantage. That's why I'm taking advantage of this opportunity to secure some reinforcements. With Jiang Hai's financial resources and capabilities, it's no problem for him to satisfy both of us. To be honest, I can't afford it, and I think you understand."

Listening to Feng Yunchen's blunt words, Qi Li's face turned red unconsciously.

She wasn't thinking of anything shameful, but since she and Jiang Hai were nominally husband and wife, they had never been intimate in that way. Hearing someone speak so openly about such matters was both embarrassing and frustrating.

Seeing her reaction, Feng Yunchen and Ai Xiaoxi didn't think much of it. They just assumed Qi Li was shy too.

"Forget it, I can't agree to this. Before Jiang Hai and I settle things, I'll make sure your safety in the capital is protected. Remember, you're safe now because of Jiang Hai. If he ever abandons you, then there's no reason for you to stay here." Shaking her head and dismissing the thoughts, Qi Li said coolly.

"We're well aware of that, which is why I even let go of the original big boss behind me. I've been sincere enough. Xiaoxi, let's go. It's time to get to work." Feng Yunchen stood up, her smile never fading as she walked out with Ai Xiaoxi.

She knew that at Qi Li's level, when she said something, it was as good as done. Qi Li's promise of safety was genuine—provided they didn't do anything to upset Jiang Hai. With Qi Li's personality, the likelihood of her abandoning someone in trouble was almost guaranteed.

As Feng Yunchen and Ai Xiaoxi left, Qi Li remained seated, sipping her drink.

"Oh, by the way, let me remind you that Jiang Hai is narrow-minded, very narrow-minded, and very sensitive. For those of us who can't stand by his side, he will always give us reminders, both overt and covert. As the original wife, you should keep an eye on the little bees buzzing around you. If one of them stings you, then you and Jiang Hai will be finished." Just as Feng Yunchen and Ai Xiaoxi were about to leave, Feng Yunchen stopped, threw a teasing glance at the chef, and delivered her words to Qi Li before heading out. They had no doubts that the chef had been eyeing Qi Li—after all, they weren't blind. French men, what good things could they possibly offer?

Upon hearing Feng Yunchen's words, Qi Li downed her drink in one gulp. Right now, she really wanted to find a man to provoke Jiang Hai.

But just as Feng Yunchen had said, Jiang Hai was overly sensitive and narrow-minded. If he found out she was seeing someone else—even if it wasn't serious—he would immediately sever ties with her. He was that heartless. So for now, Qi Li had to endure his infidelity while keeping her own actions in check.

Fortunately, she wasn't as helpless or cold as before. She knew that if anything happened to her, there was a shoulder in the United States she could lean on. So, after Feng Yunchen finished speaking, she turned to face the chef.

"You're fired." Qi Li said, before getting up and leaving.

"Wait, what?" The chef, who had been feeling confident about his chances with Qi Li, froze in shock. He had come to work for two reasons: the generous pay and his interest in Qi Li.

Rich, beautiful, well-built, and strong—if he could land such a woman, he wouldn't have to worry about a thing for the rest of his life. But now, he found himself losing his job over a single careless remark.

Qi Li didn't bother explaining herself. She simply said, "Because my husband doesn't like it," and left without a second glance.

With Feng Yunchen and Ai Xiaoxi heading off to work, Qi Li also had her own responsibilities. The Qi family was still the most important thing in her life.

As the capital slowly eased into evening, on the other side of the world in the United States, morning had already arrived.

Jiang Hai stretched and got out of bed, noticing that it was already past seven o'clock.

He headed to the bathroom to wash up, changed into sportswear, and went out for a run.

As he stepped outside, he found Bernice was already up too. She stood there in a white traditional Chinese training suit, practicing boxing. However, unlike the Tai Chi Jiang Hai had seen older people perform in parks, Bernice's boxing was vigorous and powerful.

Not wanting to disturb her, Jiang Hai began his run around the area.

Half an hour later, when he returned, Bernice had finished her workout and was stretching.

"That's impressive. Your boxing skills are really beautiful," Jiang Hai said with a smile.

"This was taught to me by my mother and an uncle. It's authentic Bajiquan, though I've never used it in actual combat. I guess it's just for show," Bernice replied seriously.

"I've heard of Bajiquan. While Tai Chi brings peace, Bajiquan is all about power. It's impressive." Jiang Hai wasn't a boxing enthusiast, but during his martial arts training with Bell, he'd looked up information. In China, Bajiquan was considered one of the strongest martial arts. Of course, there was no such thing as the strongest style—only the strongest practitioners.

Bernice glanced at him and said, "Have you finished your work at the research institute? You seem in a good mood."

"Yes, there's been some progress. I'll go there after breakfast," Jiang Hai nodded, his spirits lifted. His biggest crisis was resolved, and that gave him plenty of reason to be happy.

"Oh." Bernice didn't seem too invested in the details, and after some time, the two went their separate ways to shower off their sweat. Jiang Hai went downstairs to prepare breakfast.

Life was always the best teacher, and looking back, Jiang Hai used to be completely clueless about cooking. But now, in order to not trouble others, he had gradually taken over the kitchen.

Darlene and Marianne, though not young anymore, sometimes cooked, but their taste buds were... unconventional. They particularly loved sour and spicy foods, using a lot of ketchup and chili, which left Jiang Hai speechless. It was fine occasionally, but he couldn't stand it every day. So, when he had the time, he'd take charge of cooking, and cleaning up was their responsibility.

Jiang Hai wasn't a fan of greasy foods like steak in the morning, but he did enjoy beef sausage. Made by Mrs. Philemon at the manor, it was a mix of the less desirable cuts of beef—neck and connecting parts—usually too low-grade to sell, but perfect for sausages. Despite its humble origins, it tasted surprisingly good.

For breakfast, there were four fried sausages, four eggs, cooked oatmeal, and a fruit and vegetable salad. As for drinks, Jiang Hai had both milk and canned coffee. Though not as good as freshly brewed, it was still a step up from instant coffee.

The four of them enjoyed a nice breakfast together, and after a rest, it was just past nine in the morning.

Bernice had a driver's license, so Jiang Hai handed her the keys to his Ford E350 and sent her off to take care of herself. He then drove his Shield to Boston.

"A strange man," Bernice muttered as she watched Jiang Hai's car disappear from sight.

In truth, she had another identity that Jiang Hai didn't know about. Her purpose for being here wasn't entirely innocent—she was observing Jiang Hai. But after spending time with him yesterday and today, she found him intriguing. What would happen next, she wasn't sure.

Once Jiang Hai's car was out of sight, Bernice said nothing more. She started her own car and drove toward town to visit her only friend, Cindy Clive.

Meanwhile, Jiang Hai drove straight to Boston University, where he had an appointment with a researcher.

To be continued...