My Manor

Perhaps they found it difficult to understand the concept of family, but they instinctively knew there were two more people they needed to please in the future. With wagging tails, they greeted the two girls before running off to play in the distance.

Meanwhile, Jiang Hai led the two girls upstairs.

"Since you'll be living here from now on, let's check out your rooms. This is my room—the master bedroom. Your room will be next to mine. These four secondary bedrooms are all fully furnished, so you can choose whichever you like." Jiang Hai explained as they ascended to the second floor.

Upon reaching the landing, Jiang Hai noticed his bedroom door was ajar.

There was no need to guess—it had to be Ban Ya's doing. Jiang Hai lived with his four pets, and Ban Ya was the only one among them clever enough to open doors. Ever since learning this trick, Ban Ya had made life more convenient for the two dogs, who no longer needed Jiang Hai to open the door for them each morning. Otherwise, why would Xiao Bai tolerate Ban Ya sitting on his head?

Still, Jiang Hai's room was that of a single man. Though his pets were well-behaved and didn't leave a mess, the room was far from tidy. The bedspread was unmade, the curtains hung askew, and clothes, socks, and used tissues were scattered near the open doorway. Although Jiang Hai wasn't particularly fastidious, he did replace his tissues daily. Men's tissues could develop odors quickly, after all. Ahem... but that's beside the point.

For once, Jiang Hai felt genuinely embarrassed as he glanced at the mess. His face reddened slightly, and he quickly strode forward to close the door. Turning back to the girls, he gestured toward the four adjacent rooms.

"These are the guest rooms, but now they'll be yours," he said with a smile.

Darlene and Marianne exchanged glances before opening the doors to explore the rooms.

Jiang Hai hadn't stepped into these rooms since the house had been decorated. However, he occasionally asked the housekeeper to clean them along with his own room, so there was no dust or strange odors.

As the girls peeked inside, their mouths formed perfect "O" shapes in surprise. They had expected these rooms to be similar to the modest accommodations where Afra and the others lived—not bad, but nothing extraordinary. However, they couldn't have been more wrong.

The guest rooms were spacious and luxurious, each featuring a large bed, an en-suite bathroom, and even a small living room. They were already equipped with network wiring, TVs, air conditioners, and other appliances. These rooms could easily rival high-end hotel suites.

Overwhelmed by the unexpected luxury, the two girls hesitated to step inside.

"What's wrong? Not satisfied? If there's anything you don't like, just let me know. I'll arrange for redecoration, but until then, you'll have to make do," Jiang Hai said with a chuckle, noticing their hesitation.

"No, no! It's perfect—amazing!" The girls hurriedly shook their heads, gesturing their enthusiasm.

Jiang Hai smiled at their reaction. Although they couldn't speak, he imagined their voices would sound lovely if they could. A fleeting thought crossed his mind—could his blood help them? But before he could dwell on it, the girls cautiously entered the room, inspecting every corner as if afraid they might break something. When one of them accidentally turned on the TV, it broke his train of thought.

"These other three rooms are similar," Jiang Hai said, stepping inside. "Decide between yourselves who takes which one."

The girls shook their heads firmly. They had been inseparable since childhood and weren't about to live apart now.

Jiang Hai tried persuading them briefly but relented when he saw they were serious. After handing them their room key and fetching quilts for the night, he left them to settle in.

Back in his room, Jiang Hai stood by the window, staring at the darkening sky. He rubbed his face and muttered, "Really, why am I so soft-hearted all of a sudden?"

He hadn't planned on taking care of anyone, yet here he was, employing eight women and adopting two goddaughters.

"Is it really that easy to decide on goddaughters?" He sighed, feeling a headache coming on.

He still considered himself a child at heart—well, at least in his own mind. But no matter how childish he felt, he wouldn't go back on his word. Jiang Hai had his flaws, but he prided himself on keeping promises.

"Forget it. What's done is done. Now, about Qi Li—she still hasn't signed. What is she planning? And when should I go back in February? Fu Yuan said he'd visit for the Chinese New Year, so maybe I'll return with him…" Jiang Hai mumbled, absently stroking the stubble on his chin.

Qi Li's reaction puzzled him. He had expected her to jump at the chance to cut ties. After all, she had once been deeply in love with her ex-fiancé, despite the man being a scumbag.

Still, emotions often overpowered reason, especially for women. Jiang Hai suspected Qi Li might one day rekindle things with her ex, even if it seemed improbable now. After all, their marriage had always been more of a transaction than a relationship.

He hadn't cared about her feelings in a long time. For Jiang Hai, this arranged marriage was a mistake he was eager to end. Now, as a wealthy man, his life had nothing to do with her.

A sudden knock interrupted his thoughts.

Turning around, he saw Darlene standing at his door, wrapped in a towel with damp hair and bare feet. She looked nervous as she hesitated on the carpet.

"What's wrong? Why are you here like this?" Jiang Hai asked, his tone softening despite his initial surprise.

Darlene hesitated before dropping the towel, revealing herself fully. Jiang Hai realized her intention immediately—she was offering herself to secure her place here.

For a moment, he was stunned. Then his expression darkened, and he let out a deep sigh.

He walked up to her, picked up the towel, and wrapped it around her again.

"Darlene," he said firmly, his voice steady.

"I didn't take you in for this—neither for your body nor out of guilt. You're here as my daughter. You can think of me as your friend, but this… this is not necessary. Between us, only trust and mutual respect matter. Understand? I hope this is the last time. Do you hear me?"

Darlene's tearful blue eyes met his serious gaze. Overwhelmed, she burst into tears and threw herself into his arms.

As Jiang Hai gently patted her head, a self-deprecating smile crossed his face. Somewhere deep inside, he realized he was changing, too