Chapter 317: Volume 1, Chapter 317 – Prison (2)

This mansion has a long history; every inch of its land is something ordinary people dare not hope for.

Entering the main residence, stepping inside, a wave of warmth hit her face, alternating with the cold outside; she began to cough, intermittently, her complexion turning pallid and colorless.

Wang Guan Jia, seeing this, said: "If you can't hold on, you can come again tomorrow."

Jiang Zhi waved her hand, breathed evenly, and said: "I'm fine."

Wang Guan Jia felt reluctant, but seeing her firm attitude, he didn't know what to say.

He went up the wooden spiral staircase and arrived at the second-floor corridor.

A hurried footstep sound came from not far away.

A servant panicked and came running over, stumbling, the tray in his hands unsteady, almost falling to the ground, but Wang Guan Jia timely supported him.

"What's there to panic about?"

Wang Guan Jia frowned and asked.

The servant trembled and said: "Marshal... he's had another episode."

Upon hearing that, Wang Guan Jia no longer paid attention to her, saying: "Come back tomorrow for the interview; I'll arrange a place for you to rest."

Having said that, he hurried away.

Jiang Zhi stood where she was, watching waves of doctors pour into the corridor, heading toward the room at the end.

A servant approached her and said: "Miss Jiang, Wang Guan Jia has already arranged a resting place for you; follow me."

Jiang Zhi withdrew her gaze and followed her out of the main residence.

The residence arranged by the steward was a hall next door, on the second floor facing the garden, with a lovely view.

Because time was tight, many things hadn't been prepared for her, but fortunately she had brought her own suitcase, fully stocked.

After going to the bathroom and taking a wash, the chill left her body, and then she lay down on the bed and fell into a deep sleep.

The next morning.

She woke naturally; outside the sky was faintly bright, sunlight filtering through the clouds onto the windowsill, and the month-long rain finally ceased.

After washing up, she left the room.

Outside she saw no servant; in the courtyard, the plants and grasses under the sunlight had crystal-clear dew refracting a faint seven-colored sheen, as beautiful as a fairyland, dreamlike and illusory.

On the second floor of the main residence, the sleepless Fu Shao Huai had a gloomy, fierce, and ruthless expression; sleeping pills were useless to him, he could feel the pain and torment of insomnia and negative emotions, and his dark psyche continually urged him to kill, to kill everyone.

It seemed only blood could calm him down.

A faint light leaked from outside the window, falling into the dim, cold room.

Fu Shao Huai slowly rose, walked to the window, and looked outside through a gap.

That ray of sunshine brought no benefit to his spirit; instead, it made him feel disgust and anger.

His peripheral vision unintentionally caught a figure; downstairs in the courtyard, that person walked to the wisteria arbor, the deep purple bouquet setting off her cheeks like a blush, her black hair draped over her shoulder and slipping down, revealing a snow‑white, elegant profile.

As if sensing his gaze, the girl casually lifted her eyes and looked in his direction.

Her eyes, like glazed glass, reflected the golden afterglow, stunningly beautiful.

Fu Shao Huai paused for a few seconds, then suddenly found that the incessant churning irritation in his chest had vanished, replaced by a mountain stream of clear water, soothing and tranquil.

When he tried to see her clearly, the girl standing before the row of wisteria flowers had disappeared at some point.

Fu Shao Huai frowned, flung open the curtains, but could find no trace of her.

He immediately left the room.

Originally, Wang Guan Jia, who was attending to the Marshal's breakfast in the kitchen, received a strange order.

Find a girl in a white dress in the courtyard.

Wang Guan Jia searched for two hours, then suddenly remembered something and hurried to knock on the door of the lodging arranged for Miss Jiang the previous night.

Jiang Zhi was sitting by the window reading when she heard the knock and went over.

Upon seeing the steward with a tense expression appear at the door, she thought something had happened and asked: "Wang Guan Jia, what's wrong?"

Wang Guan Jia lowered his gaze to look at her white shirt and skirt, then hurriedly said: "The Marshal wants to see you about something."

Jiang Zhi's expression showed slight surprise; seeing his urgent face, she didn't bother to ask more and followed him away.

They arrived at the study of the main residence.

This place alone had no heating, as cold as the outside.

Jiang Zhi had walked too hastily, without putting on an outer garment; her shirt and skirt were thin, and her face was cold, pale as paper.

In the study, the curtains were not drawn, the indoor light dim, giving an uncomfortable feeling.

"Good day, Marshal. I am Jiang Zhi, the family doctor who came yesterday for the interview." Jiang Zhi bowed respectfully toward the black silhouette standing with its back to her by the window.

The man's broad back, tall and upright stature, exuded a powerful aura.

"Wang Lin, leave." His voice low and cold, he commanded.

Wang Guan Jia glanced worriedly at the girl, then assented and left the study.

After closing the study door, he cautiously leaned by the doorway, listening to the movements inside.

He feared another bloody scene might occur.

But inside it was quiet.

Standing at the doorway, Jiang Zhi raised her hand to clasp the opposite arm, trembling slightly, her gaze calm as she looked ahead, waiting for the man's next words.

Fu Shao Huai, having fought on battlefields for years, gradually bore a horrifying killing aura; people dared not meet his gaze, and those who saw him were often frightened into fainting.

But the girl before him showed no fear at all, and even dared to meet his eyes.

"Why do you want to be my family doctor?"

Jiang Zhi answered seriously: "I have studied medicine and understand mental illnesses."

Fu Shao Huai stepped forward and walked toward her.

Under the faint light, the man's face became increasingly clear.

His extremely handsome face radiated an aggressive, oppressive pressure; his nose bridge was high, his brows and eyes shrouded in a cold, sharp chill, his pupils dark and deep, pressing with malice as he gazed icily over, making one shiver.

"Aren't you afraid I'll kill you?"

Jiang Zhi lowered her eyes slightly, avoiding his undisguised scrutinizing gaze, "I lack money."

The girl's words were frank and unhidden, unlike the several women who had previously posed as applicants for a doctor's position but actually wanted to become the mistress of the Fu family.

But she appeared quite young, almost like a minor.

He furrowed his brows; could Wang Lin have hired him an underage student?

"How old are you?"

Jiang Zhi answered truthfully: "Eighteen."

Fu Shao Huai let out a cold sneer, mocking: "You're so young and already out working?"

Jiang Zhi repeated the same line: "I lack money."

Fu Shao Huai's thin lips twitched; he strode forward, lightly hooking her chin, and said indifferently: "You're so short on money—why not become my woman?"

Jiang Zhi's eyes were clear; her fair, fragile chin tilted slightly aside as she said: "I only want to apply for the doctor's position."

Therefore, she did not want anything else.

Fu Shao Huai's eyes darkened; he withdrew his finger with disgust, mercilessly saying: "Rest assured, I have no interest in you."

Jiang Zhi steadied herself and asked: "Marshal, have you agreed to hire me as a family doctor?"

"It's not that simple." He drew a deep breath and said coldly.

A faint fragrance drifted to his nostrils, like the fresh scent of spring orchids, emanating from her.