A young boy from the 1970s, separated from his family, fled famine and led his younger brother into

"Sister! Sister, look! Those are Grandpa's bodyguards! They're amazing! Each of them can scale walls and leap across rooftops!"

Gu Wangbei's clear and loud child's voice sounded particularly abrupt on the excessively quiet tree-lined path.

Su Nianci followed his chubby little finger and saw that every few dozen meters along the road stood a sentry with a straight posture and a gun.

Their eyes were as sharp as eagles'; even just being swept by their gaze made one feel a stinging sensation on their skin.

This is completely different from the uncles standing guard at the gate of the Harbin Military Region compound.

It was a more restrained, yet more lethal aura.

Su Nianci's heart sank slightly.

Holding her excited younger brother in her arms, she looked through the thick bulletproof glass of the "Hongqi" sedan at the place that would soon become her new "home".

This is Xishan Compound.

It is one of the true centers of power in this country.

Those who can live here are all important figures who can make the whole of China tremble with a stomp of their feet.

Compared to this place, the military compound in Harbin, where Division Commander Gao Jianjun was stationed, was practically like an undefended kindergarten.

The car slowly stopped in front of a three-story building that looked quaint and elegant, yet exuded understated luxury.

"Sir, Miss, we're home."

The young soldier driving the car jumped out and respectfully opened the door.

"Thank you, Uncle." Su Nianci hugged Gu Wangbei, thanked him politely, and then got out of the car.

She looked up and saw a row of people standing at the entrance of the small building.

The leader was a middle-aged man wearing a Zhongshan suit with his hair neatly combed. Behind him were several women in uniform who looked like maids.

They stood ramrod straight, their faces bearing standard yet distant smiles, scrutinizing her from head to toe with undisguised, inquisitive eyes.

It didn't feel like welcoming a new member to the family.

It's more like examining an antique that's about to be appraised.

A chill ran through Su Nianci's heart.

She instinctively hugged Gu Wangbei tighter in her arms.

The open and hidden dangers within these deep mansions are a million times more difficult to deal with than the fists and knives of street thugs.

"Young Master, you're finally back!" The middle-aged butler at the head of the household greeted Gu Wangbei with an immediate warm smile. He strode forward, intending to take the child from Su Nianci's arms.

"Uncle Wang!" Gu Wangbei called out politely, but his two little arms were wrapped tightly around Su Nianci's neck like vines, refusing to let go no matter what.

"I don't want to! I want to stay with my sister!"

Butler Wang's hand froze in mid-air, a barely perceptible hint of embarrassment flashing across his face.

His gaze fell on Su Nianci again. This time, there was a hint of scrutiny and disdain in his eyes.

It's as if it's saying that a wild girl from the countryside used some kind of seductive trick to dare to take the Gu family's only precious grandson.

"Niannian, Wangbei, you're back?"

Just then, Lin Huilan's loving voice came from inside the house.

Upon seeing the somewhat tense scene at the door, she immediately understood what was going on and gave the butler a silent glare.

Steward Wang froze instantly, quickly lowered his head, and respectfully stepped aside.

"Come in quickly, it's windy outside." Lin Huilan stepped forward, affectionately took Su Nianci's cold little hand, and led her and Gu Wangbei into the house.

As soon as you enter, a warm breeze carrying a faint scent of sandalwood and the aroma of food hits you.

The interior decoration was not as magnificent as Su Nianci had imagined; instead, it exuded a simple and profound cultural atmosphere.

The floor was covered with a thick wool carpet, and the walls were adorned with incomprehensible but impressive traditional Chinese ink paintings of landscapes. All the furniture was made of heavy mahogany, with exquisite carvings on it.

This is a kind of elegance that doesn't need to be built with money.

This is the accumulated foundation and power built up over generations.

"Niannian, this is your home from now on, so don't be shy." Lin Huilan took her hand and introduced the maids, "This is Aunt Wang, the cook at home, she cooks really well. This is Aunt Zhang, and Aunt Li, they're in charge of cleaning."

"Hello Aunt Wang, hello Aunt Zhang, hello Aunt Li," Su Nianci greeted them politely.

The women quickly bowed, flattered and surprised, and replied, "Greetings, Miss!"

Missy.

This title serves as a reminder to Su Nianci of her place in this family.

He is a guest, and also... a "proton" in a certain sense.

"Alright, everyone go ahead and get busy." Lin Huilan waved her hand, dismissing everyone, before pulling Su Nianci to sit down on the sofa in the living room and tenderly touching her little face.

"Look at that little face, it's so thin. Didn't you rest well on the train?"

"No, Grandma, I rested very well." Su Nianci shook her head.

"Sister's lying!" Gu Wangbei immediately complained, "I touched sister's hand just now, it was ice cold! She must be cold!"

As the little guy spoke, he snuggled closer to Su Nianci like a little heater, trying to warm her with his body heat.

Seeing her younger brother's adorable and considerate appearance, Su Nianci's unease and coldness caused by the environment were instantly dispelled.

Her lips couldn't help but curl upwards, revealing a genuine smile.

"Let's go! Let's eat first!"

Gu Wanjun's loud voice came from the restaurant.

"Grandpa specially asked Aunt Wang to make you ginseng chicken soup, so you can nourish yourself properly!"

The group arrived at the restaurant.

A huge mahogany round table was already laden with a dazzling array of dishes.

Peking duck, steamed sea bass, braised lion's head meatballs, Buddha Jumps Over the Wall... each dish is as exquisite as a work of art, exuding an enticing aroma.

This is even more grand than the Chinese New Year celebrations.

Su Nianci's gaze quickly swept across the dining table.

Besides Gu Wanjun and Lin Huilan, sitting at the table was a man in his thirties wearing a military uniform with two bars and one star on his shoulders, and a fashionable woman with a slightly arrogant demeanor.

This should be Gu Yuanchao, the eldest son of Mr. Gu, and his wife Song Wenli.

These are Gu Wangbei's biological parents.

Su Nianci had already heard Lin Huilan mention them on her way here.

Gu Yuanchao works in the General Staff Headquarters and is a promising young military officer. Song Wenli, on the other hand, comes from a scholarly family in Beijing and is currently a dancer in a song and dance troupe.

"Dad, Mom." Gu Yuanchao stood up and nodded to the old man and the old woman as a greeting.

His gaze lingered briefly on Su Nianci and Gu Wangbei, his eyes expressionless, revealing neither joy nor anger.

The woman named Song Wenli merely raised her eyelids lazily, too lazy to even stand up.

She looked at her son, who was clinging to Su Nianci like a mud monkey, and her beautiful brows furrowed almost imperceptibly. Her eyes clearly showed two words—disdain.

She not only disliked her son for being useless, but also disliked Su Nianci, this "older sister" who appeared out of nowhere.

Su Nianci sneered inwardly.

It seems this welcome feast wasn't all that delicious.

She pulled Gu Wangbei along, just about to call out to someone.

Gu Wangbei, however, preemptively peeked his little head out from her arms and called out to the couple in a childish yet incredibly clear voice:

"Hello, Uncle. Hello, Aunt."

Instantly, the entire restaurant fell silent!