Two days ago, Bai Ziyan had already called Gao Lingwang, cordially inviting him to visit the Bai family.
However, Gao Lingwang had politely declined.
Indeed.
His trip to Tiandong this time, aside from searching for Shen Yun, was to attempt a relationship with Bai Ziyan through the introduction of Shan Jian Ya Qing.
But Bai Ziyan's attitude that night, inviting Du Yingjun and others to participate in the meeting, had made Gao Lingwang realize something.
As the young master of the Gao family from the Northwest, how could Gao Lingwang possibly associate with Bai Ziyan again?
However.
Gao Lingwang truly did not expect that Bai Ziyan's mother, Jiao Yin, would personally call him this noon, cordially inviting him to visit her "humble abode."
Strictly speaking, Gao Lingwang should not have refused.
After all, Bai Ziyan's mother herself had extended the invitation. As a junior, whether he could end up with Bai Ziyan or not, he should have accepted the invitation.
Otherwise, it would be impolite.
But—
Gao Lingwang could only use the most polite tone to express his thanks, "Thank you for your kindness, Auntie. However, I have a very, very important matter to attend to this afternoon and cannot come to pay my respects. I hope Auntie can understand."
To express his apology, Gao Lingwang specifically used two "very"s to describe how important the matter he was about to attend to was.
At the foot of a mountain in the southwestern suburbs of the provincial capital.
There was a courtyard, not large in scale, but elegantly laid out.
The courtyard had two outer and two inner sections.
In the study in the back courtyard, a beautiful woman in a white short-sleeved cheongsam, wearing crystal slippers, was on the phone.
She was the true decision-maker of the Bai family in Tiandong, the mother of Bai Yujing and Bai Ziyan, Jiao Yin.
And more than twenty years ago, she was known as Jiao Meibi, whose beauty was renowned throughout Tianxi. (Later, finding the name unpleasant, she changed it to Jiao Yin.)
It had long been said that Jiao Meibi was the most beautiful woman in the East Land, following Su Nanyin.
But no one expected Jiao Yin to marry far away to Tiandong, to the then unremarkable Bai family.
It was precisely after Jiao Yin married into the Bai family that the Bai family, which was originally just considered a "bourgeois family," embarked on a path of rapid development.
Eventually.
The Bai family became one of the three prominent families in the Bai family, and had held the top position for several years!
But Jiao Yin, "Jiao Meibi," who was "lucky for her husband," was the most low-key of the wealthy wives.
She never attended those "gatherings of socialites."
Her greatest hobbies were hiding in this courtyard, playing the zither, arranging flowers, brewing tea, embroidering, and studying chess in the kitchen.
For most of the year, few people visited this small courtyard.
But as the Bai family rose to prominence and their status in Tiandong became sky-high, Jiao Yin, the young mistress who had been a widow for many years, gained an increasingly prestigious reputation in the Tiandong elite circles.
Her former title as the most beautiful woman in Tianxi also gradually spread.
Although she was now around forty years old (having married early), she still attracted the admiration of many in the circle.
They all wanted to see her beauty with their own eyes.
After all, Bai Ziyan's beauty was evident, so her mother, Jiao Yin, must have been no less. httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
Moreover, there were rumors that Jiao Meibi was a woman made of water, and just hearing her voice could make one's legs go weak.
However, Jiao Yin always maintained a low profile.
Besides her family, the number of outsiders (specifically, living people) who knew her could be counted on one hand.
If it were anyone else, after receiving a personal invitation call from Jiao Yin, they would have pushed aside even the most important matters to attend.
It was for dinner, oh.
Jiao Yin herself would make dumplings or noodles for them, oh!
Gao Lingwang, however, politely declined.
"As expected of someone from the Gao family in the Northwest, far beyond the reach of those plebeian scoundrels from the Du and Lan families,"
Jiao Yin murmured to herself with a frown after hanging up the phone.
The phone rang.
She casually picked up the receiver.
A woman's voice came through, "Madam, Young Master Du Yingjun is here to visit. He is currently waiting outside the door."
A mocking smile immediately flashed in Jiao Yin's eyes.
But she said softly, "Tell Young Master Du that I am taking my midday nap. Please have him wait in the reception room. I will be there soon."
After hanging up the receiver, she stretched languidly.
Stretching is a very normal phenomenon.
However, a sparrow standing outside the window could guarantee that few women in the world could stretch with such alluring movements.
Jiao Yin was simply stretching—
But it made this sparrow inexplicably associate it with water.
After a comfortable stretch, Jiao Yin gracefully stood up and walked to the bookshelf.
On the bookshelf, there was a globe.
This small and exquisite globe was placed normally on the bookshelf.
What was abnormal was—
After Jiao Yin lightly nudged the globe with her fingers, which were more tender than white scallions, the red solid wood bookshelf silently split open, revealing a black anti-theft door.
The anti-theft door had a password lock.
With a few beeps.
Jiao Yin opened the password lock and the door.
Behind the door was a downward winding staircase.
Click, click.
Jiao Yin walked down the stairs gracefully in her slippers.
At a depth of fifteen meters, there was another black anti-theft door.
It was also a password lock.
Jiao Yin opened this door.
The view opened up before her eyes!
Bai Ziyan, who grew up from here, didn't even know that such a world was hidden beneath the study.
In fact.
This area, covering an area of 500 square meters, was a natural cave at the foot of the mountain.
Inside the cave, there was also a living spring.
Below where the clear water continuously gushed out, there was a pool approximately 50 square meters in area and over three meters deep.
When the pool was full, the spring water flowed out through an outlet and finally disappeared into the mountain crevices.
The water from this spring was of excellent quality, sweet and delicious.
Magically, regardless of the season, the water temperature remained around thirty-four to thirty-five degrees Celsius year-round.
It was suitable for drinking and bathing.
The entire cave was sumptuously decorated.
Like a palace!
On a finely carved chaise lounge, a woman, naked, propped her chin on her hand and read a book.
Besides Jiao Yin, no one else could come here.
And with the spring regulating the temperature, clothes here had become superfluous.
Hearing the sound of the door opening, the woman looked up towards the entrance.
Their eyes met!
In the woman's eyes, a venomous gleam immediately erupted.
But it quickly disappeared.
She had harbored hatred for Jiao Yin for a full ten years.
So what?
If a third person were present, they would surely be astonished.
Because Jiao Yin, standing at the door, and the woman reclining on the chaise lounge, were identical in figure and appearance, and even in their extremely charming demeanor.
Of course.
If the two women stood together, one could tell that Jiao Yin was at least ten years younger than the beauty on the couch.
"Jiao Meibi."
As Jiao Yin crossed a miniature bridge and walked towards them, she said faintly, "Adjust your state and prepare to receive guests. The person coming to see you this time is Du Yingjun from the Du family."
The beauty on the couch—
Was the Jiao Meibi whose fame for beauty had resounded throughout Tianxi more than 20 years ago!
And Jiao Yin was Jiao Meibi's full sister, more than ten years younger than her.
If it weren't for Jiao Yin deliberately dressing more maturely, the difference between her and Jiao Meibi would have been even greater.
Jiao Meibi said lazily, "Didn't you tell me my next guest would be the young master of the Gao family in the Northwest? Or even the beloved only son of War God Li Wujiang, Li Qianfan? Why has it changed to that hypocritical dog, Du Yingjun?"
"The young master of the Gao family is not easy to charm. Just now, I personally invited him, and he refused. After all, he has matured a lot after suffering the blow of heartbreak."
Jiao Yin stood in front of the chaise lounge and said, "But I am sure I can get the only son of Li Wujiang to come."
Jiao Meibi asked, "Is he easy to charm?"
"According to your daughter Bai Ziyan's description, that fellow is a virgin who has never been intimate."
Jiao Yin smiled, "You only need to use thirty percent of your charm, and perhaps you can take his first time. And play him, until he is completely smitten."