The next morning, sunlight streamed through the kitchen window, casting a warm glow on the porcelain countertop. Astra skillfully flipped the fried egg, the aroma of bacon permeating the air.
Jiang Ting, wearing a shirt with the sleeves slightly rolled up, approached from behind, his gaze playful and his deep, magnetic voice saying, "From what I know, there's no mention of 'Astra can cook' in my information."
Astra turned her head, a smirk curling her lips. Taking a bite of a toasted slice of bread, she said casually, "Well, in my understanding, CEO Jiang isn't a frequent guest in the kitchen either."
Jiang Ting chuckled, a glimmer of nostalgia in his eyes. "My mother loved to cook. When I was a child, I used to follow her around. Over time, I picked up quite a few dishes." His gaze softened as he quietly looked at Astra, as if waiting for her story.
Astra lowered her eyes, her fingers lightly tracing the edge of the fried egg. Her tone was calm. "I used to visit many Taoist temples, Buddhist monasteries, and magic academies. Those places had strict rules — no nannies or assistants allowed. Eventually, I had to learn to fend for myself." She paused, a faint smile appearing as if lost in a memory. "Cooking is like meditation; sometimes it calms the mind."
Jiang Ting studied her, his eyes darkening slightly. "It seems you've traveled farther than I imagined."
Astra raised an eyebrow, her gaze shimmering with wisdom and mystery. "And your world runs deeper than I thought."
The air between them seemed to freeze for a moment. Then Astra turned back to the frying pan, the oil sizzling softly. Jiang Ting smiled and moved to stand beside her, rolling up his sleeves. "Since you're making an English breakfast, I'll try my specialty."
Astra glanced at him, curiosity in her eyes. "I'd like to see what your 'specialty' is."
"Wait and see." Jiang Ting's smile hinted at untold stories.
Astra slid the fried egg onto a plate, about to respond, when Jiang Ting's voice, as casual as ever, broke in, "What are you doing for Christmas?"
The moment the words left his mouth, Jiang Ting's gaze paused slightly, his brow barely furrowing. He remembered the upheaval in Astra's family — her father was gone, debts had piled up, and he had repaid the 30 million yuan for her. She likely had nowhere to go during the holidays.
In the brief silence, Jiang Ting's voice softened, his tone slower. "Come to my parents' place tomorrow? They've invited some relatives, and I also have some strategic plans to discuss with you. We can make a solid plan before the new year begins."
Astra looked up at him, her clear gaze carrying a faint, knowing smile, as if she saw through the "strategic plans" to the genuine care behind them.
Her fingers lightly brushed the edge of the plate. "Are you sure it's to talk about work? Or are you planning to have me predict next year's investment trends?"
Jiang Ting raised an eyebrow, his lips curving upward. "That's not a bad idea. I might really ask you tomorrow. But—" his gaze turned serious, "whether it's work or predictions, I just want you to have a place to go."
Astra didn't respond immediately. The wind outside whispered, carrying a hint of winter's chill. She looked at Jiang Ting, a soft light flickering deep in her eyes, as if something inside her had been gently touched.
"Alright," she finally said, her voice gentle yet firm.
A satisfied smile lifted Jiang Ting's lips, a rare warmth flickering in his eyes. Their once-isolated worlds now seemed to subtly intersect, brought together by breakfast and an invitation.
The kitchen air grew warm and serene, while the sunlight outside shone even brighter. Jiang Ting seemed to have little on his agenda that day — he attended a few meetings and then left for errands. Astra stayed home packing her things. In the afternoon, a phone call came through; it was her classmate, Su Qing.
Astra answered, hearing Su Qing's slightly anxious voice. "Astra, are you free right now? I've designed a feng shui layout for a client. I've verified it multiple times, and there shouldn't be any issues, but I can't shake this feeling of unease. Can you take a look?"
"Hmm? Send it over. Also, send me the client's name and date of birth." Astra set down the dress she was holding and went to her computer. Su Qing took a deep breath, trying to clear her thoughts. "The client's company has been experiencing a downturn. They think it's a feng shui issue. I suggested changing the direction of their desks and set up a wealth-gathering array in the lobby to stabilize their finances. I checked everything multiple times, and it should be fine. But after finalizing the plan, I still feel this weight on my heart."
Astra examined the floor plan and the client's photos, tapping into higher-dimensional information. After a moment of hesitation, she said, "The head of this family has been making money through unethical means for years. Are you sure you want to get involved in this karma by doing feng shui for them?"
Hearing Su Qing's trembling voice, Astra's gaze turned calm and distant. She knew such obsessions were common in their field. Many people acted against their better judgment, driven by immediate profit, only to suffer illness, financial ruin, or broken families in the end.
She sighed softly, reading Su Qing's intentions. Her voice now carried understanding and resignation rather than admonition. "Since you've decided to take this job, I won't stop you. Just remember, your role isn't to save them from their greed — it's to protect yourself."
Su Qing remained silent, awaiting further advice.
Astra continued, her tone cool and resolute. "Don't interfere too much with the feng shui layout. One ritual is enough. Doing more will only drain your energy and luck."
Her gaze landed on the wealth area of the floor plan, and she tapped it lightly. "Only set up one wealth point. Too many may seem to attract more wealth, but with such unethical foundations, it will only disrupt the company's energy balance, causing rapid employee turnover. This way, you meet their demands while minimizing your karmic entanglement."
Su Qing's breathing steadied, her voice filled with gratitude and guilt. "Thank you, Astra. I know you're trying to give me an escape route."
After the call ended, Astra closed her laptop, her fingertips cold. She gazed out the window at the silent winter night, her thoughts heavy. She could see who was "wrong," yet after all these years, she still didn't know what counted as "right." Worried about others' choices, she could only smile bitterly at her own helplessness.
The next morning, just past 5 a.m., a gentle knock broke the silence.
"Astra, it's time. Let's go," Jiang Ting's steady, clear voice came through the door.
Astra rose slowly, put on her coat, and pulled her suitcase into the hallway. Jiang Ting stood there, dressed in a tailored dark overcoat, his expression calm, eyes shadowed with fatigue, as if he hadn't slept.
"The driver's waiting downstairs," he said softly, taking her luggage. They stepped out together.
The city was still shrouded in mist, streetlights glowing faintly. The cold seeped into their bones. The black sedan waited quietly, its warm interior dispelling the chill. The cityscape blurred past the window as they headed for the airport. The horizon lightened with dawn's approach.
The private jet's door opened slowly. Jiang Ting gestured for her to board. Astra nodded and climbed the steps. The cabin's warmth and quiet luxury welcomed her.
When they landed, the fresh air carried the scent of grass and damp earth. Astra stepped down into the southern hemisphere's gentle morning light. Everything felt unusually bright and tranquil.
Jiang Ting's estate stretched out like a painting — dew-covered lawns, winding stone paths, and towering oak and elm trees forming a shaded walkway.
Jiang Ting walked beside her. "Welcome to my home."
A black car approached. The butler stepped out, silver-haired, his demeanor calm and respectful. "Mr. Jiang, Miss Astra, welcome back. I'm Rodney."
Rodney bowed slightly. "The family has arrived — Mrs. Jiang, Young Master Jiang, Miss Lin, Mr. Gu, Mr. Bai, and Miss Lu."
Astra's heart stirred at the names, already envisioning the evening's complexity.
Rodney led them toward the manor. "Dinner is at eight. You can rest and change beforehand. Your gown is in your room, Miss Astra. I hope it suits you."
Astra smiled faintly. "Thank you, Rodney."
He gestured for them to follow, the path ahead filled with quiet anticipation.