"Huh, I'm finally back!" Jiang Hai stretched his body, feeling a bit tired as he stepped out of the airport.
Even though Jiang Hai and his friends had flown first class—which was far more comfortable than business or economy class—the long journey had still left them exhausted. After all, sitting on a plane for over ten hours was no small feat. If anything, it was a miracle they weren't completely drained. Given how tired he felt, he could only imagine how Darlene and the others were doing. Their eyelids were drooping, fighting to stay open.
However, the sun was still shining brightly—it wasn't time to sleep just yet.
Traveling from the United States to China for over ten hours was manageable, but the real challenge was adjusting to the time difference. The strangest thing about flying across time zones was that the moment you boarded the plane and the moment you landed could show the same time on your watch. It made it difficult to grasp that you had just spent over ten hours in the air. That was the effect of jet lag.
"Come on, wake up. Don't sleep yet," Jiang Hai said seriously, glancing at the girls behind him. Aside from Azarina, who seemed unaffected, everyone looked exhausted. "If you sleep now, you'll wake up in the middle of the night, and the next few days will be a mess. Let's head home first."
Azarina, of course, was used to this. Back in her previous profession, she had learned to sleep anywhere—even on a tiny sampan. Whether it was a luxurious first-class cabin or a cramped boat, she could always rest whenever needed, keeping herself in peak condition. Insomnia was never an issue for her.
Hearing Jiang Hai's words, Darlene and the others yawned, stretched, and reluctantly responded, "Oh..." Their energy levels were clearly at rock bottom.
Jiang Hai chuckled at their sluggish expressions as the five of them grabbed their luggage and left the airport.
When they had first arrived, each of them carried only a small bag. But now, their hands were full with all the things they had brought back. As Jiang Hai had said before, there was nothing to buy when leaving, but there was no way they could leave all the things they had purchased behind.
Items like underwear and personal belongings had to be packed, along with souvenirs Darlene and the others had picked up. On top of that, Qi Li had prepared a stash of delicious treats for them before they left, which also needed space. As a result, they had gone from traveling light to carrying full suitcases on their return trip.
At the parking lot, Jiang Hai spotted his War Shield, now covered in dust. There was no helping it—the airport parking area was always dusty, whether in the U.S. or anywhere else.
After loading their luggage into the car, Jiang Hai restarted the engine. The vehicle, worth a staggering 20 million RMB, roared to life effortlessly, despite sitting idle for so long.
A quick spray of windshield washer fluid cleared the glass, allowing him to see the road clearly. Then, Jiang Hai drove everyone out of the airport.
Instead of heading straight to Boston, he first made a detour to New York, where they grabbed lunch and got the car washed. Only after giving his War Shield a fresh, polished look did he finally set off for Boston.
Upon reaching the city, he first dropped off Penelope near her home. It was clear she didn't want Jiang Hai knowing her exact address, as she got out a few blocks away. Before leaving, she briefly mentioned that she would sort through the contracts and then disappeared into the crowd.
With that done, Jiang Hai and the others continued their journey home.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity—though in reality, it wasn't that long—they arrived back at the manor.
As soon as the gates opened, a flurry of excited barking erupted. "Woof woof!" Xiao Huang, Xiao Bai, Jiu Jiu, Ban Ya, and even the two capybaras playing in the distance came bounding over. It was clear that Jiang Hai and his friends had been missed during their absence.
The moment the car stopped, everyone got out with their luggage. But before Jiang Hai could even take a step, Xiao Huang and Xiao Bai pounced on him, nearly knocking him over. Ban Ya scrambled up his pant leg, settling on his head and rubbing against his hair.
"Alright, alright, I get it!" Jiang Hai laughed, ruffling Xiao Huang and Xiao Bai's fur. These guys were always so enthusiastic. After giving them both a good scratch, he gently patted Ban Ya on the head and turned his attention to Jiu Jiu, who was hopping excitedly beside him.
Jiu Jiu had grown to the size of an ordinary bald eagle, yet it still couldn't fly. Every day, it simply hopped around instead. In fact, it was so fast on foot that Jiang Hai sometimes wondered if it was secretly part ostrich. If not for its shorter legs, he might have taken Jiu Jiu for a DNA test.
"Looks like I'll have to teach you how to fly soon," Jiang Hai muttered. A bird of prey that couldn't fly? At this rate, Jiu Jiu was starting to resemble an oversized chicken.
Meanwhile, Darlene and Marian were just as excited to reunite with their capybaras. These creatures might look a little silly, but they were actually quite intelligent and affectionate. Over time, they had grown familiar with Darlene and Marian, and the feeling was mutual.
Azarina, watching the scene, shrugged. She was starting to feel like she wanted a pet of her own.
"Jiang, you're back!"
Hearing the commotion outside, Afra emerged from the villa, apron still tied around her waist. She had been cleaning when she saw Jiang Hai, and her face lit up with excitement.
Seeing her, Jiang Hai grinned, setting Xiao Huang and Xiao Bai down before walking over and embracing her. Feeling the warmth of his hug, Afra felt a mix of relief and joy.
If Jiang Hai had carried her straight to the bedroom at that moment, it would have been the happiest moment of her life. But, of course, she knew that was wishful thinking. For now, she was content with this hug.
"You must've had a hard time while we were gone. We brought you some gifts," Jiang Hai said with a smile, letting go and stepping inside with a box in hand.
Soon, everyone followed him inside. As word of his return spread, the rest of the manor's residents hurried over.
With work wrapped up for the day, everyone was eager to hear about their boss's trip. The first to arrive were Dulles Gerard, O'Connor Murphy, Dinah Taylor, Hilda, and others from the winery. Since the grape harvest wouldn't begin until September, their current work mainly consisted of pest control.
Next came Edward Anderson, Tommy Charles, Enol Ceci, Andrew Christian, Maren Rupert, and their families. Since Jiang Hai had planned a welcome-back party, they arrived early to help prepare dinner.
Even Philemon Turner's wife came by—she had seemingly taken on the role of the women's leader.
The last to return were Robbins Garcia, Philemon Turner, Burke Daler, Harriman Fiers, and Bell Lester. As Jiang Hai looked around at his packed living room, he couldn't help but smile.
So many people cared about him. Sure, a part of it was because he was their employer, and losing him would mean losing a great job. But still, knowing that people looked forward to his return was a comforting feeling.
A year ago, if he had died alone in his home, no one would have noticed. But now, things were different. Life's fate was unpredictable, constantly pushing forward like an unstoppable wheel.
The best part? Jiang Hai had stayed true to himself. Despite his wealth skyrocketing, he had no desire to become the richest man or enter politics. He lived by his own desires, content with what he had.
As dinner preparations began, Jiang Hai and the others distributed gifts. Americans loved receiving gifts but didn't have a custom of returning them—unless they genuinely wanted to.
Jiang Hai, Darlene, and Marian had each prepared something for everyone, while Azarina had only gotten a gift for Afra, who had been looking after her meals while Jiang Hai was away.
With laughter filling the room and gifts being handed out, the evening was off to a lively start.