Therefore, from his childhood, Jiang Shixu had felt an extreme aversion to interacting with his parents.
Over time, he naturally developed a gap of estrangement between himself and these two people.
But Jiang Li could more or less tell that, deep down, he still longed for parental affection and kinship.
However, breaking the ice might be somewhat challenging, after all, her second uncle's family's situation was also very particular.
Half an hour later, the sedan stopped in front of an office building.
The driver opened the door for both of them, and after exiting the car, Jiang Li looked up at the towering structure before her.
"Are you sure it's here?"
Jiang Shixu nodded slightly, "Yes, her company... is on the 15th floor."
"Alright."
Jiang Li took his hand and walked in, taking the elevator to the 15th floor.
During this time, Jiang Shixu's palm had begun to sweat lightly.
This was the first time he had stepped out of the house in two years, venturing outside to this person's company.
He couldn't help but feel nervous.
In his memory, her appearance had blurred completely, leaving only her nightly inquiries behind a door when she returned home.
The receptionist spotted the two from afar, and a flash of astonishment flitted across her eyes, but then it was quickly replaced with indifference as she stepped forward to block their path.
"Stop right there, this is not somewhere you can just wander around."
She scrutinized the two with arrogantly narrowed eyes, speaking rudely and with a tinge of disdain.
Without saying, she could guess what these two were here for, surely coming to beg and plead for their company to sign them on.
People like these were desperate for fame, relying on a bit of good looks to shamelessly beg for contracts, unable to be shooed away.
Jiang Li smiled and stepped forward, "Miss, you misunderstood, we're here to look for someone."
"Who are you looking for?"
"Shen Lan."
The receptionist scoffed, "I knew it, another one looking for Mr. Shen. Do you think Mr. Shen is someone you can see just by wanting to? Not even those top-tier stars can easily meet with her, and you think I'll let you see her just because you say so? Get out of here, don't interfere with our work."
Anxious, Jiang Shixu tugged at her sleeve from behind, "Sister, I'm sorry, I should have remembered her number, then you wouldn't have had to..."
"It's okay," Jiang Li patted his hand and then walked towards a sofa on the side, "Since she won't let us in, we'll just wait here."
Seeing the two sit down on the sofa, the receptionist's face turned even uglier.
"Hey, what's with you? Insisting on making a scene, huh? Believe it or not, I'll call the security from downstairs to throw you out!"
"What's all this noise?" A sharp rebuke suddenly rang out.
The receptionist quickly turned around and upon seeing the woman behind her, hurriedly went up to her and said, "Sister Wen, they were deliberately causing trouble and refusing to leave."
The woman addressed as Sister Wen pushed past the blocking receptionist, and when her gaze fell upon the two sitting on the sofa, she couldn't help but be startled.
"Young Master Jiang?"
Jiang Shixu instinctively began to feel tense, but thinking about Jiang Li being troubled just now, he promptly sat up straight and nodded at the woman.
"It's me."
He Wen glared at the receptionist by her side and reproached, "Don't you have any judgment? This is Mr. Shen's son, Young Master Jiang, someone you can just bark at?"
"I've tolerated you for a long time, you spend your working hours playing on your phone instead of doing your job, and your attitude is so abhorrent; just go to the HR department, take your money, and leave. Our company doesn't need you."
"No, no, Sister Wen," the receptionist's face immediately paled in fear, "I didn't know Mr. Shen had a son, and they didn't say it initially—"
"I did say it," Jiang Shixu murmured, clutching his hand, "I said I'm here to find my mother."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Li gave him a meaningful glance.
And He Wen became even angrier.
Having worked beside Shen Lan for over a decade, she had been there when Jiang Shixu was born and was well aware of his special situation.
The relationship between mother and son was already tense, and just when the Young Master finally decided to take the initiative to visit Shen Lan, to be stopped by such an ignorant receptionist was unacceptable.
"Apologize to them and then immediately go to the HR department to collect your pay and leave," He Wen commanded coldly, issuing an ultimatum.
The fire in the receptionist's attitude was gone, and she could only whimper a small apology to the two.
"I'm sorry, Young Master Jiang and Miss, I was confused for a moment. Please have mercy on me and don't hold it against me. It took me a long time to find this job, I can't lose it."
How could she have known these two actually had a connection to Mr. Shen?
If she had known, she would never have dared to speak that way.
Jiang Shixu instinctively looked towards Jiang Li to gauge her reaction.
Jiang Li smoothed her skirt as she got up from the sofa and toward He Wen said, "I have accepted the apology. As for the other matters, that is your company's business, I have no right to interfere."
He Wen looked at the girl before her with some surprise. Her appearance could rival any actress in the entertainment industry, and her demeanor and speech were of the highest class.
"Who are you?"
Jiang Shixu quickly stood up, "Auntie, this is my sister, Jiang Li."
He Wen was even more astonished.
Jiang Li?
The eldest young miss of the Jiang Family's main house, Jiang Li?
How could that be?
She'd seen her before; the Jiang Li in her memories was someone who always had hair dyed in garish colors, with make-up that was both thick and hideous, a sight offendable to the eye.
Her personality was even worse, exuding a lack of upbringing through and through.
So, when she saw those online scandals earlier that day, she was not surprised. After all, it was only a matter of time before a chaotic heiress like her was exposed.
But now—
He Wen appraised the girl from head to toe once more.
The young lady before her was wearing a blue and white dress, tall and slender with perfect body proportions.
Her fair skin and red lips, every move she made was graced with a calm demeanor. Her facial features were harmoniously balanced with a touch of classic charm.
Such a cool and dignified appearance would stand out in the entire entertainment industry.
"You, you really are Jiang Li?" Taken aback, He Wen asked again.
Jiang Li nodded, "Genuine and guaranteed."
But He Wen, versed in the entertainment industry, knew what a transformation a good packaging could make on a person.
Moreover, the Jiang Family's genes had always been good, which was evident from looking at Jiang Shixu and his father, so it made sense that Jiang Li was also beautiful.
But the aura and the presence she exuded had changed perhaps a bit too radically.
He Wen could guess the reason Jiang Li had come and didn't delay further, quickly taking her to Shen Lan's office.
After knocking, a bland voice came from within, "Who is it?"
"Sister Lan, it's me."
He Wen pushed the door and entered. When she saw the woman behind the desk, she smiled and said, "Look who I've brought over to you."