《The Byoukidere Is Her Sweetie》 Chapter 1 - Chapter 1: 001: First Encounter, He is Sickly, She is a Monster (Revised) Chapter 1: 001: First Encounter, He is Sickly, She is a Monster (Revised) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation October, the golden autumn season, the Silver Pine in the neighborhood left the ground littered with dry branches. The autumn atmosphere was desolate, only the scattered Red Leaf Photinia added a bit of vibrant red. Two old ladies walked one after the other, carrying shopping bags, heading towards the buildings in the neighborhood. Laughing and chatting along the way, when they turned into the path through the greenery, the old lady with the small curly hair in the front suddenly remembered something, ¡°Let¡¯s go from the back.¡± Her companion was puzzled, ¡°Why?¡± The curly-haired old lady pulled her back to retrace their steps, talking about the neighborhood gossip, ¡°I heard there¡¯s a weirdo living in Building Seventeen.¡± ¡°What kind of weirdo?¡± The old lady spoke loudly, ¡°A young girl, always wrapping herself up tightly, only showing her eyes. Last time Old Wang said he saw her eyes were red and glowing. It scared him to death.¡± ¡°No way, who would dare live in that building then?¡± The old lady glanced back, feeling a chill on her back, she hurriedly pulled her coat tighter, ¡°Indeed, no one lives there. Besides that young girl, there¡¯s no one else.¡± ¡°Such an odd thing? Did the girl rent the whole building herself? Surely not bought it?¡± ¡°Who knows.¡± The voices faded away, the sunset was about to fall. Shadows stretched long on the pebbled path. At the end of the path, Building Seventeen stood tall, seventeen floors high touching the clouds, bathed in the glow of the evening light spreading gold. The delivery guy carried a bag, walking briskly; he looked up a few times to confirm the numbers on the building before taking out his phone to make a call, ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°Hello.¡± A young girl¡¯s voice, clear and gentle, with a hint of laziness and carelessness, slightly cold in tone. What a nice voice, thought the delivery guy. ¡°Delivery.¡± The guy spoke politely, ¡°I¡¯m at the bottom of Building Seventeen, which floor do you live on?¡± ¡°Please wait, I¡¯ll come down to get it.¡± There were muffled sounds on the other end of the phone, then the sound of a door closing. The delivery guy was about to say he could deliver it upstairs when the door at the stairway of Building Seventeen suddenly opened. The guy looked up and saw a hand. Long and slender fingers, pale like porcelain, with neat and clean nails. Above that, was a face, excessively pale skin like it hadn¡¯t seen sunlight for years, giving a hint of sickness, a high yet delicate nose, and thin lips pressed together, looking cold and aloof when not smiling. The first look, just seemed excessively beautiful. The second look, one would be drawn into those phoenix eyes, long and slender, slightly upward-tilted at the corners, pupils colored with the darkest ink, three parts depth, three parts coldness, and the remaining, an ancient coldness, like stars in the summer desert, dazzling and hard to look away from, yet making one afraid to look longer. So young, how could there be such desolation, how could her eyes be filled with the weariness and emptiness that comes after years of hardship. The guy was stunned, staring at that face. Click. The door opened wider, the girl stepped out with one leg, slender and long, revealing a pale ankle under the nine-part black pencil pants. She wore a black-and-white over-the-knee long shirt, with a gray hoodie inside. The hoodie was casually draped over her head, revealing her collarbone, with strands of short hair sticking out from the hood, slightly messy. She wore no warm colors, except for a pair of pink bunny plush slippers. ¡°Yunji Noodle Restaurant?¡± she asked, her voice still as clear and slightly cool as on the phone. The delivery guy came back to his senses, hurriedly handing over the bag, ¡°Your delivery.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± She took it, then retracted her leg, and turned to close the door. Her hand was so cold. The guy realized later, the place her finger pads brushed still carried a bit of residual chill. He scratched his head, walked away, then couldn¡¯t help but look back after a few steps. The sky was dark now, and the once dim window was lit up, the light from the sensor lamps broke through the window. From the first to the seventh floor, the lights almost simultaneously lit up. A gust of wind blew, giving the delivery guy goosebumps, he quickly turned and left. Bang! The door slammed shut, the two pink bunny slippers were kicked off at the entrance. She pulled off her hoodie, carrying the food container inside. Her name was Zhou Xufang, living alone. In Building Seventeen, only she lived there, not rented, the entire building belonged to her. Because she was different from others, she could only live alone. She lived on the seventh floor, two units connected into one, over two hundred square meters of space, looking very cold and deserted at a glance. To the left of the entrance was the cloakroom, with many types of clothes, but mostly black at a glance. To the right of the entrance was the bathroom, also separated by glass, one-way visible, only a corner of the ultra-large bathtub visible through the door crack. Walking further in, three steps up the stairs, to the right was the bed, all black bed sheets, lacking any lively color, the floor at the end of the bed scattered with a few pieces of clothing. To the left were four computers, one side a black lacquered wooden dressing table, a lazy sofa in the middle, a glass coffee table, with a projector in one corner of the table. Next to it, a delicate glass box filled with colorful cotton candy. The white walls and black floor, the entire two hundred square meter area, except for the pink bunny slippers at the entrance, there were no warm colors, devoid of any human presence and smoke. She put the delivery down, stood barefoot on the black plush carpet, picked a pink cotton candy from the glass box and put it in her mouth, just bit open the disposable chopsticks packaging, the computers on the table activated. On the screen, a bright yellow SpongeBob popped up, filling the entire screen. Code name Shuangjiang, real name unknown, age unknown, identity background and address all unknown. She was Zhou Xufang¡¯s partner. Zhou Xufang never heard her voice nor saw her appearance, only knew she was a young girl. ¡°Are you awake?¡± Three words popped up at the bottom of the screen, in bold red SimSun font. Zhou Xufang unwrapped the delivery bag, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Got a new job.¡± ¡°I¡¯m on vacation.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t look up, her hair just past her ears, bangs slightly covering her eyes; she ate her noodles quietly, with excellent manners, eating slowly and deliberately. ¡°This one is easy.¡± After a moment, words scrolled on the screen again, ¡°It¡¯s a female client, wants us to nab someone. She said it¡¯s her sweetheart, wants to play the beauty saving the hero.¡± Shuangjiang added, ¡°The commission fee is five hundred thousand.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s chopsticks paused, her long eyelashes drooped, making her profile look much softer with her head bowed. After a while, SpongeBob on the screen jumped twice, Shuangjiang asked, ¡°Take it?¡± She ate a mouthful of noodles, ¡°Take it.¡± As long as it didn¡¯t harm the heavens or set fires, anything that made money, they would take. The next day happened to be the fifteenth, the moon was very round, surrounded by stars, casting a soft glow over the whole city. As the night lamps lit up, the city was bustling and lively. In a finely decorated club, ancient paintings adorned the walls, carvings of hollow flowers, and along the way, Corinthian Roman columns displayed various flowers, a faint floral scent lingered in the corridor. The flowers were meant to match the occasion, but alas, they came at the wrong time. The club lounge manager hurriedly ran, instructing the waiters, ¡°Quick, put away all the roses.¡± The head waiter came over, puzzled, ¡°Manager, why suddenly take away all the flowers?¡± The manager was anxious, tugging at his tie, using a handkerchief to wipe the sweat on his neck, ¡°An important guest is coming, who can¡¯t stand the smell of roses.¡± An important guest? In a high-end club, all the visitors were VIPs. The head waiter was unsure who it was, asking the manager, ¡°Who?¡± The manager squatted down, picking up a fallen rose petal, ¡°The Jiang Family¡¯s important guest.¡± Now, the head waiter understood. In the Imperial City¡¯s Jiang Family, there was only one who could be called an important guest, the youngest son of the Jiang family, famous far and wide. Speaking of that beauty¡­ The manager urged, ¡°Hurry up, the person is almost here, be quick and don¡¯t leave a single rose behind.¡± About ten minutes later, the manager received a call, quickly bringing a few deputy managers to greet at the elevator entrance. Ding¡ª The elevator door opened, the person was not visible, but the coughing was heard first, one bout after another, slightly suppressed. When the elevator door fully opened, the tall figure was backlit by the glass lamps in the corridor. The person leaned against the left wall of the elevator, wearing a black long coat that reached past the knees. Underfoot was a pair of custom leather shoes, inside a white shirt and casual pants, the collar unbuttoned, revealing a long neck. Because of the cough, even the Adam¡¯s apple was flushed pink, gently moving. He lowered his head, still coughing, his long hand pressed at his collarbone. Because of the severe coughing, even his fingertips were slightly red. The manager stepped aside to greet him respectfully, ¡°Mr. Jiang.¡± In the Jiang family, only this one person was addressed as Mr. Jiang, the rest naturally had to have their names appended to it, showing the difference in status. The man in the elevator finally raised his head. His hair was cut casually, highlighting his smooth contours, his bone structure extremely beautiful. His skin was pale, and just after coughing, his lips, pressed lightly together, carried a touch of red, with a thin layer of redness on his cheeks ¡ª three parts sickly, three parts delicate, three parts charming, and a touch of lazy carelessness. Moreover, he had a pair of standard peach blossom eyes, slightly pink around the edges, shaped like peach blossoms, with moisture, the corners slightly upturned, the black and white of his pupils not clearly defined, giving a seemingly drunken haze. Such a look, every frown and smile was exquisitely beautiful, making one¡¯s heart beat faster. This was the Jiang family¡¯s youngest son, Jiang Zhi, the most beautiful person in the Imperial City, breathless after three steps, coughing after five steps, truly a delicate and precious sick beauty. This charming person, stunning yet without any hint of femininity, with his peach blossom eyes, every glance, every move, a lazy indifference infused with inherent nobility and distance, noble and aloof bred within an aristocratic family. The manager, a man in his forties, was stunned despite having seen this beauty before, took a while to find his voice, ¡°I-I¡¯ll lead you there.¡± The manager stammered nervously, treating this lord with both respect and fear, knowing well enough that this ancestor had a bad temper, upsetting him would surely lead to trouble. Jiang Zhi responded softly with a ¡°mm,¡± his eyelids lifting slightly. His languid demeanor seemed as if he hadn¡¯t fully woken up. His legs were long and slender, but he walked very slowly. ¡°Cough, cough, cough.¡± He slightly bent his back, covering his mouth and nose as he coughed lightly. His brows furrowed gently, and the hair on his forehead was a bit disheveled, adding a touch of illness to his appearance. Ahead, the manager leading the way slowed his pace repeatedly. For such a short distance, he ended up breaking out in a cold sweat for no apparent reason. Opening the door to the private room, the first thing that caught his eye was a sharp-looking face with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes. The manager respectfully greeted, ¡°Mr. Xue.¡± Xue Baoyi, the second son of the Xue Family. His mother gave him a tough-guy face but ironically named him Baoyi, a name for ladies because of a dream she had during pregnancy, hoping for a daughter. Instead, she had a son. Currently, Xue Baoyi was sitting at the gambling table. In the dimly lit room, his blue-purple hair was the most eye-catching feature. He had a rugged face and was smoking a cigarette as he called out, ¡°Brother Zhi is here.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s grandmother was a lady from a prestigious family, and their household retained some old-fashioned customs. Boys were called ¡°ge¡¯er¡± and girls ¡°jie¡¯er.¡± The young gentlemen friends liked to tease him by calling him ¡°Brother Zhi.¡± Xue Baoyi and Jiang Zhi were childhood friends, as their families had business ties and had known each other since they were toddlers. This gathering was organized by Xue Baoyi. Although the elite circle in Imperial City wasn¡¯t large, it still had clear hierarchies. Jiang Zhi was at the top of this elite group. If it were not for Xue Baoyi and tonight¡¯s birthday boy being close friends, they wouldn¡¯t have been able to invite this little ancestor. The group of spoiled rich kids in the room greeted him eagerly, with tones indicating a wish to ingratiate themselves with him. Jiang Zhi lazily lifted his eyelids, ¡°Put out those cigarettes, this place is all smoky.¡± Xue Baoyi chuckled, ¡°Alright, alright, as you say.¡± Nudging the others, they all put out their cigarettes. He then threw a card onto the table, ¡°How about a few rounds?¡± The smell of tobacco hadn¡¯t completely dissipated from the room. Jiang Zhi coughed a couple of times, found a clean spot, and nestled there listlessly, ¡°Didn¡¯t you lose enough last time?¡± Xue Baoyi drew a card and laughed nonchalantly, ¡°I¡¯m hoping to win back my losses this time.¡± Jiang Zhi ignored him, lounging lazily with his eyes half-closed, looking listless and sickly. His peach blossom eyes appeared to be in a state between waking and sleeping, giving an impression that he was always on the brink of dozing off. Xue Baoyi knew his temperament and didn¡¯t bother him, instead, he asked a waiter to bring him a glass of milk. However, there were always those who didn¡¯t understand. For instance, the young master from the Deng Family brought a woman along. Not only that, but she wasn¡¯t behaving demurely either. As soon as she entered, her eyes were glued to Jiang Zhi, the provocative movements of her chest drawing attention. Jiang Zhi held a high-stemmed glass, sipping milk slowly. The woman took a bottle of red wine over and sat on the sofa opposite him, smiling coquettishly, ¡°Shall I pour you a glass, Mr. Jiang?¡± He didn¡¯t even lift his eyelids, replying sleepily, ¡°Weak constitution, can¡¯t drink alcohol.¡± It was well-known that the youngest of the Jiang Family in Imperial City had a frail body; outsiders only knew him as someone constantly battling illness, unaware of his devastating beauty. Such a sickly beauty, even though the woman¡¯s advances were rejected, she didn¡¯t get angry. She put down the wine and picked up some darts, ¡°Mr. Jiang, would you like to try? I heard from Mr. Deng that you¡¯re the best at darts around here.¡± Jiang Zhi lazily lowered his eyelids, ¡°Weak constitution, can¡¯t lift my hand.¡± After saying that, he covered his mouth and coughed twice. His lips were red and teeth white, with a slight blush on his cheeks. A beauty like a painting, lying there, with a slight frown really tugged at people¡¯s heartstrings. This delicate person¡­ The woman quickly approached, wanting to help him catch his breath, but her tender hand was blocked by the high-stemmed glass filled with milk. The person nestled on the sofa suddenly raised his eyes, the lazy look vanished, replaced by a gaze like cold stars, ¡°I¡¯m allergic to roses.¡± The woman¡¯s hand froze in mid-air. She had applied rose-scented perfume that day. His disgust was evident, even throwing away the wine glass, ¡°Stay away from me.¡± The woman, embarrassed, retracted her hand and backed off. Xue Baoyi left the card table, giving young Master Deng a look. Only then did the young master recall and hurriedly led the woman out, ashamed of himself for forgetting that Mr. Xue had instructed not to bring women. Xue Baoyi knew Jiang Zhi had some cleanliness compulsions. He switched glasses and poured him another glass of milk, fawning as he approached him, since this little ancestor didn¡¯t generally drink alcohol but loved milk. Jiang Zhi looked at him coldly with his peach blossom eyes, ¡°Get away, you smell like a woman.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± He had been with a woman that afternoon but had taken a bath before showing up. This little ancestor¡¯s eyes were stunningly beautiful, but even a slight narrowing made them coldly menacing, like a shower of peach blossom ice rain falling from above. Xue Baoyi knew he was angry and dared not bother him any further. They couldn¡¯t help it; Jiang Zhi was too beautiful and always looked sickly like a devastatingly attractive trouble in ancient times. All his childhood friends, being passionately normal men, found it hard to resist such a beautiful face. Knowing well that Jiang Zhi wasn¡¯t a weak and delicate person, they still couldn¡¯t help but want to coddle and pamper him. All their childhood friends knew there were two things this little ancestor hated most: roses and women. Because of this, when organizing the gathering, Xue Baoyi specifically reminded everyone not to bring women. Xue Baoyi fawned and apologized. Jiang Zhi got up from the sofa, ¡°I¡¯m leaving.¡± ¡°So soon?¡± Xue Baoyi tried to hold onto his sleeve to stop him, ¡°The birthday boy hasn¡¯t arrived yet.¡± He shook off his sleeve, making his beautiful face cold, ¡°Weak constitution, can¡¯t stay up late.¡± Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­.¡± Damn it, was eight o¡¯clock already considered late? Jiang Zhi left directly, without even a glance at the group of anxiously watching spoiled rich kids. Walking and coughing, he kept his head down, suppressing his cough, his cheeks showing a faint sickly blush. Xue Baoyi felt a pang in his heart, letting him go, thinking that a frail beauty needed to be pampered exceptionally. He couldn¡¯t help marveling, ¡°This little ancestor, who knows which boy will have him in the future.¡± Oh, by the way, Jiang Zhi came out as gay at his eighteenth birthday celebration, declaring in front of a group of beautiful debutantes that he only liked men. Since then, the hottest topic in Imperial City¡¯s elite circle was whether Jiang Zhi was a ¡°top¡± or a ¡°bottom.¡± With such a beautiful face, many thought he looked like a ¡°bottom,¡± but his overbearing temperament suggested otherwise. Strangely enough, men in Imperial City wanted him, and so did women. He was indeed a troublemaker! Xue Baoyi had booked the top floor of the club for the night. The corridor outside the private room was completely empty. The soundproofing was excellent, making it so quiet that only footsteps and occasional coughing could be heard. The lights flickered suddenly. Jiang Zhi stopped in his tracks, his shadow stretching long on the ground. He slowly turned around, just in time to see a dark shadow hurtling towards him. It was so fast that he couldn¡¯t make out what it was, just that a black figure was engulfing him completely. He stepped back but had only moved his foot when a sharp pain hit the back of his neck, and he was knocked unconscious. The black figure leaped and clung to the wall. Clang. A surveillance camera fell to the ground with a crash. The black figure descended, and somebody emerged from the high-speed wind it created. The person was tall and slender, dressed all in black. They wore a hoodie over a baseball cap, with short hair reaching the collarbone, and a black mask covering most of their face, revealing only a pair of eyes. Almond-shaped eyes with long eye-tails and deep-set pupils, resembling the stars in winter or the deep sea ¨C cold and mysterious. Their legs were long and slim, indicating it was likely a girl. She walked over and with a gloved hand, lifted the person on the ground, carrying them on her shoulder. With a stride, she vanished down the corridor almost instantly. The moon hung alone high in the sky, the entire city shrouded in neon lights and moonlight, glittering and hazy. The sea breeze blew in, bringing a faint salty tinge, mingled with the desolate chill of an autumn night. The sound of waves crashing against the rocks nearby filled the ears, and the splashes wetted the hem of the person lying by the rock. His long eyelashes trembled, and he slowly opened his eyes, revealing a pair of peach blossom eyes. The moonlight was reflected in them along with a blurry silhouette. It was a slender and tall figure. Jiang Zhi suddenly raised his hand, grabbing a piece of fabric. His fingers brushed against cool skin. ¡°Who are you?¡± His voice was hoarse, shattered by the sea breeze. The blurry figure turned, ¡°Professional errand runner.¡± It was a young girl¡¯s voice, distorted somewhat by the wind, yet clear and pure, but cold and indifferent. The moonlight was dim, the damp sea air veiled his vision with a layer of mist. Try as he might, he couldn¡¯t make out her features. The black mask merged with the night. She pulled her hand free, leapt, and dove into the sea. Jiang Zhi stood there, stunned. This woman has a death wish¡­ The next dawn, as the sun peeked over the horizon, the sky was tinged with a corner of red light. The fisherman had just hauled in his nets and, with a basket on his back, was picking up the fish and shrimp washed ashore by the sea. Crouched down, he was collecting them along the shore when he suddenly froze, spotting a wet hand gripping a rock in the distance. Then, a head emerged from the water. It was a person! The fisherman hurried over, intending to lend a hand. But the person suddenly stood up and lifted their head. Short black hair, white face, red eyes¡­ The fisherman¡¯s legs went weak, and he fell to the ground, crying out, ¡°Ghost, it¡¯s a ghost!¡± The figure approached. The fisherman fainted from fright. The first ray of morning sunlight fell on the person¡¯s face. Their almond-shaped eyes were both beautiful and desolate, glowing red. With cold pale lips, they softly murmured, ¡°I¡¯m not a ghost.¡± She looked down, seeing the wound on her palm cut by the rocks, healing at a speed visible to the naked eye. She wasn¡¯t a ghost. She was a monster. Chapter 2 - Chapter 2: 002: Being targeted by Brother Zhi Chapter 2: 002: Being targeted by Brother Zhi Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation The Fifth Renmin Hospital spanned a thousand square meters, located in the busiest and most prosperous area of the Imperial City. It was one of the medical facilities under the Jiang Family¡¯s business empire. The hospital had six buildings, each six stories high, and was only open to members of the Jiang Family. Knock, knock, knock. The sound of knocking came slowly, three times, with a cautious undertone. Mr. Jiang. Inside the hospital room, a man¡¯s voice, sounding frail and irritable, said, ¡°Get out.¡± The man knocking outside was Ah Wan, Jiang Zhi¡¯s bodyguard and assistant, about thirty years old. He had a guileless appearance, dark skin, and muscular build, but both his intelligence and emotional quotients were not particularly high. It was precisely because Ah Wan was not clever enough that his employer had suffered from the cold wind by the seaside last night before being found. Luckily, they had gotten to him before the real perpetrators who had kidnapped him, or else the consequences¡­ were unthinkable. ¡°Oh.¡± Ah Wan retreated silently, not daring to provoke his employer any further. Due to the exposure to the cold wind, the pampered and sickly one inside was now ill, coughing intermittently. The young master¡¯s temper was not good, especially when he was unwell, and no one dared to provoke him. Of course, except for the Xue Family¡¯s Second Young Master. ¡°Brother Zhi~¡± The voice of Xue Baoyi came first before the man himself appeared, his tone casual. The hospital room door was pushed open with a bang, and a cup was immediately thrown at Xue Baoyi¡¯s feet. Jiang Zhi was clearly upset. There is a saying that goes, ¡°A frown brings two dimples of sorrow, fragrance silk entwines a body of frailty, tears glimmer, and there are soft breaths.¡± Xue Baoyi felt these words perfectly described Jiang Zhi. He wiped his head; the head of blue-purple dyed hair from before was now shaved clean, in a neat and tidy buzz cut, making his features look more defined and imposing, with a mischievous grin on his face. ¡°Wow, such a temper.¡± The very temperamental Young Master Jiang was wearing a hospital gown. The plainly styled gown was loosely draped over him, and his skin was extremely fair, lips pale, appearing weak and delicate. He was clearly angry, coughing heavily with his mouth covered. Cough, cough, cough¡­ With every cough from Jiang Zhi, the rims of his alluring eyes turned red, giving off a weak charm. His appearance really tugged at Mr. Xue¡¯s heartstrings. ¡°Okay, okay, don¡¯t be angry,¡± Xue Baoyi coaxed him gently, his joking tone disciplined, ¡°Your delicate body, if hurt by anger, wouldn¡¯t that break my little young master¡¯s heart?¡± The Xue Family¡¯s Second Young Master in the capital had no other vice except his fondness for beautiful people. Jiang Zhi¡¯s face, he truly found bewitching. He even admired himself for growing up with such a beauty and still remaining straight. What a feat of iron will. He immediately stepped forward, raising his hand to comfort the beauty. Jiang Zhi pushed him away disdainfully, his alluring eyes cold. ¡°Did you find out?¡± Xue Baoyi grinned, pulling a chair to sit. ¡°I haven¡¯t slept all night.¡± Dare to kidnap his brother, did they think the Young Master Xue was dead? Jiang Zhi was too lazy to banter with him. ¡°Who?¡± ¡°The fourth of the Ming Family. I heard it was an attempt at ¡®hero saves the beauty,¡¯ so they kidnapped you.¡± Xue Baoyi laughed nastily. ¡°That face of yours, really always making trouble.¡± Although the Ming Family didn¡¯t have the same background as the Four Great Families, they were still a prominent family in the Imperial City. The fourth miss of the Ming Family was curvy but not too bright, unable to control her eyes, and had been eyeing Jiang Zhi for a long time. Xue Baoyi played with a cigarette and lighter in his hand but didn¡¯t light it. ¡°This has nothing to do with the Ming Family, it¡¯s just that fourth fool of theirs wanting to punch above her weight.¡± He raised an eyebrow, asking Jiang Mei Ren, ¡°What do you want to do?¡± Jiang Zhi, feeling sick, nestled deeper, his face paler, suppressing his cough. His pink-hued eyes seemed intoxicated yet icy cool. ¡°Throw her into Canghai.¡± Canghai was on the outskirts of the Imperial City, and Jiang Zhi had been taken there last night. Xue Baoyi was just about to say he was a law-abiding citizen when the door was pushed open. ¡°This is a society governed by law, don¡¯t do anything rash.¡± A pair of long legs stepped in first, followed by a face that appeared both charming and roguish. Deep-set eyes, high nose bridge, and thin lips, a mix of elegance and cold disdain. He was Qiao Family¡¯s son, Qiao Nanchu. Among the Four Great Families of the Imperial City, apart from the reclusive Lu Family, the Jiang, Xue, and Qiao Families had always been close, with the younger generation from the three families often mingling. Jiang Zhi lazily added, ¡°Just don¡¯t kill her.¡± Xue Baoyi understood his meaning. A bit of pain, huh? This he was good at. Laughing, he agreed, ¡°Got it, my dear ancestor!¡± ¡°What happened?¡± Qiao Nanchu asked, leaning against a cabinet. Jiang Zhi coughed, a faint blush spreading on his cheeks. Qiao Nanchu poured a cup of warm water and handed it to him. ¡°I checked the club¡¯s surveillance. Only a glimpse of a shadow was captured before the footage malfunctioned.¡± He smirked, a bit of playful mischief in his eyes. ¡°Do you remember anything about the person who took you?¡± Jiang Zhi leaned against the pillow, looking fatigued, his beautiful eyes drooping. ¡°Couldn¡¯t see clearly.¡± After thinking for a while, ¡°About 1.7 meters tall, quite thin, very strong.¡± Cough, cough, cough¡­ He took a few sips of water before speaking again, ¡°Nice eyes.¡± The person wore a hat and mask, in the humid sea breeze. At that time, everything was foggy; he only vaguely saw an outline, not the voice, just remembered that it was nice but very cold. Qiao Nanchu, arms crossed, finger brushing his lips. ¡°A bit short.¡± 1.7 meters, wondering where the strength to carry him so far came from. ¡°It¡¯s a woman,¡± Jiang Zhi said. The tone held an inexplicable mix of irritation, partial unwillingness, and dissatisfaction. The most cherished young master of the Jiang Family had been brought up with utmost care and pampering, never subjected to such hardships, let alone by a woman. Usually, Brother Zhi¡¯s least favorite was women. Xue Baoyi laughed disrespectfully. ¡°A woman, huh?¡± Teasing, he said, ¡°Yet you praised her eyes. What, no longer dislike them now?¡± Jiang Zhi was openly gay, something he¡¯d personally admitted. Over the years, he indeed had zero interest in women and not much interest in men either, except for a certain ¡®white moonlight¡¯ of his heart. Jiang Zhi was unwilling to entertain Xue Baoyi, his brows furrowed with anger. His naturally noble and cool eyes losing their usual allure, simply cold. ¡°She said she was a professional errand runner.¡± Qiao Nanchu casually tapped on the cabinet. ¡°I know who it is.¡± Jiang Zhi raised his eyes to look at him. ¡°I¡¯ve been on her trail for half a year, codename Z.¡± Qiao Nanchu put down the empty cup he took from Jiang Zhi, rubbing it thoughtfully. ¡°Gender, female; age, unknown; address, unknown; nationality, unknown; top-notch skills.¡± Professional errand running, as a job title, had only recently gained popularity. As long as you paid well, the errand runner could get anything done for you. Whether they would commit crimes was still unclear. ¡°Interpol has been tailing her for a long time but never caught a glimpse. She only arrived in the Imperial City a year ago, with few missions taken, all at high prices and so far, a zero-failure rate.¡± Qiao Nanchu was a cop, having worked several years in the Criminal Intelligence Department. This case had piqued his interest. Xue Baoyi was a businessman, uninterested in such troublesome matters. Seeing a colorful candy box on the bedside table, encrusted with tiny diamonds, one could tell whose it was at a glance. The delicately ornate box, he took it directly. Jiang Zhi tapped the table slowly. ¡°Don¡¯t touch.¡± Seeing how he cherished it! Xue Baoyi snorted. ¡°You, a grown man, eating cotton candy, so girly.¡± Jiang Zhi picked a pink one, tossing it in his mouth, giving him only a cold look. Truth be told, the Jiang Family¡¯s Brother Zhi had a lot of quirks, a bad temper, disliked roses, women, didn¡¯t drink, couldn¡¯t stand the smell of smoke, and acted like everyone should treat him as a deity. His temper might be aggressively dominant, but his preferences were quite the opposite. He loved cotton candy, though he didn¡¯t eat it often. It was always kept bedside, in his office, and in his resting room, stored in the most exquisite boxes, not to be touched by anyone. Outside Yuquan Bay, there was a 24-hour convenience store. At this hour, the sky was draped in a layer of kumquat-colored twilight, the sunset sinking, and the store was nearly empty. At first glance, at the farthest shelf, someone squatted, wearing a black hoodie with the hood up, her ankles revealing smooth, pale skin due to her nine-point pencil pants being slightly rolled up. ¡°Pink packaging, with a bunny drawn on it.¡± The squatting person turned to ask the girl next to her, ¡°Is there no more of that cotton candy?¡± Her phoenix eyes and boat-shaped lips were both cold and distant. She seemed disinclined to smile, lips tight. Her skin was as white as a sheet, translucent even, the last rays of sunset casting a glow on her lashes, lighting up her pupils like stars in a winter desert¡ªbright, yet lonely; a sense of desolation and barrenness. She was Zhou Xufang, coming to the store every three or four days to buy that pink-packaged cotton candy. Chapter 3 - Chapter 3: 003: Sir, would you like a screen protector? Chapter 3: 003: Sir, would you like a screen protector? Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Her name was Zhou Xufang. Every three to four days, she would come to the store to buy a pack of cotton candy with pink packaging. The girl behind the counter shook her head and handed over a note: ¡°It¡¯s sold out.¡± Zhou Xufang stood in front of the shelf for a while, picked up a few bags of similar cotton candy, and always kept her head down. Her face under the hat was small, overly quiet. The girl scanned the codes and wrote on the paper: ¡°Thirty-six yuan.¡± Zhou Xufang handed over a red banknote. The sleeves of her sweatshirt were very long, covering her hands, with only her slender, cold white fingers¡ªneatly trimmed nails¡ªvisible. The girl accepted the money and gave the change. ¡°Thanks,¡± Zhou Xufang muttered, stuffing the change into the transparent bag that held the cotton candy. She subconsciously pulled her hat down and left with her head lowered. Behind her, the girl chased after her, opening her palm and gesturing with her other hand. Zhou Xufang turned back, looked at the girl. The wariness in her eyes took a moment to fade. She extended her hand, and the girl placed the soft candy into her palm. ¡°Thanks.¡± After speaking, Zhou Xufang entered her community. She kept holding the candy until she reached home. Only then did she unwrap the candy and put it in her mouth. She squinted her eyes and changed into the pair of pink fluffy bunny slippers. So soft and sweet. Zhou Xufang had excellent eyesight. From twenty meters away, she could see the notebook on the cashier¡¯s counter with a name written on it. Her name was Wen Baiyang, the supermarket¡¯s cashier. She couldn¡¯t speak and was deaf-mute. She knew sign language and lip-reading, always carrying paper and a pen. Her face was round, like a bun, with big, dark eyes, and her cheeks had two persistent red patches. She was a little silly, not conventionally pretty, but her features were delicate, and she looked very well-behaved. ¡°Beep¡ªbeep¡ªbeep¡ª¡± The computer suddenly emitted a sharp sound. Zhou Xufang had just opened the packaging of the cotton candy, looked up at the screen. First, a skull appeared, then SpongeBob emerged. Finally, a line of text rolled out at the bottom of the screen: ¡°That man is investigating you.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Zhou Xufang continued to unpack the cotton candy. The text on the screen was in red, very conspicuous: ¡°I¡¯ve hacked the surveillance.¡± Zhou Xufang said, ¡°Thanks.¡± The newly bought cotton candy was also colorful. She opened one bag after another, poured them into the glass box beside the computer desk. After filling it up, she tried one. A bit hard, not sweet enough. Hmm, not as tasty as the one with the pink packaging. She tasted one only, then closed the box. On the computer screen, Shuangjiang sent over a smiley face emoji, followed by three words: ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡± Shuangjiang was the partner ¡®Sir¡¯ had found for her, they had been working together for almost a year. She didn¡¯t know much about her. Shuangjiang never showed her face or spoke, mostly typing. Sometimes, she used special voice synthesis software or voice recording to text conversion. Zhou Xufang thought Shuangjiang should be a very skilled hacker. All she knew was that Shuangjiang was a girl. ¡°I¡¯ve looked into him, sent the information to you.¡± Shuangjiang typed, and a new email popped up at the bottom of the screen. ¡°Okay.¡± Zhou Xufang opened the email. Inside was the man¡¯s information. It seemed he had his eyes on her because she had kidnapped him. His name was Jiang Zhi, the youngest of the Jiang Family, one of the top four families in the Imperial City. He had many tags but Zhou Xufang only focused on the photo. He was very handsome. ¡°I need to go to work,¡± Zhou Xufang said. Shuangjiang asked her, ¡°Are you short on money?¡± The commission from the client was split seventy-thirty between Zhou Xufang and her, a substantial sum. ¡°Not short,¡± Zhou Xufang said, ¡°But I need more money.¡± As the sky darkened, turning from orange to indigo, she got up and went to the garage. Inside were two motorcycles, a sedan, an off-road vehicle, and a small pedal tricycle. The tricycle had a rain cover, inside there was a small stool, a folding portable table, and a square wooden box. She pedaled the tricycle out of the community. By seven o¡¯clock, under the Ba Yi Bridge, the vendors had set up their stalls all along the way, selling food, toys, and like Zhou Xufang, phone protectors. She picked an empty spot, moved down the wooden box, then spread out the phone cases and screen films inside. Beside her, the stall owner selling roasted sweet potatoes greeted Zhou Xufang warmly, ¡°You¡¯re here.¡± Zhou Xufang nodded. She came half an hour earlier than usual, got a better spot. However, her business was bad today, very bad. Half an hour had passed, only one customer came, looked at the phone cases for a bit, then left without buying anything. The weather was stuffy, like it was going to rain. Not far from the riverbank, there was a square that was usually lively at this time of day, but today it had few people. A distant child, separated from their parents, was crying. Because of the bad weather, many people were packing up and leaving. No one paid attention to the crying child who looked pitiful. Zhou Xufang walked over, ¡°Don¡¯t cry.¡± She wasn¡¯t good at comforting children. The child, four or five years old, teary-eyed, hiccuped, ¡°My hat,¡± he sniffled, ¡°the wind blew it into the river.¡± Zhou Xufang looked at the river. There was wind under the bridge, the hat had been blown to the other side, where a few elderly anglers were fishing. She stared for a long time, took off her shoes, and stepped into the water. The wind blew in gusts, the water surface sparkled, and the moon hid behind the clouds. Only the street lights reflected in a patchy pattern on the water. ¡°Old Qian, it¡¯s going to rain. Let¡¯s call it a day,¡± said one of the elderly anglers wearing a fisherman¡¯s hat. Nearby, his companion said, ¡°All right.¡± He stood up, reeled in his fishing line, and called out to his mates, ¡°Let¡¯s go drink!¡± ¡°Okay.¡± The old man in the fisherman¡¯s hat just stood up when a head emerged from the water, startling him. He stammered, ¡°Are-are-are you a person or a ghost?¡± The streetlight wasn¡¯t bright enough to see clearly, just the head, with only the forehead visible, not the eyes. The head in the water didn¡¯t answer. After exchanging bewildered glances, the elderly men dashed off without taking their fishing rods¡­ scared to death! The wet head finally emerged from the water entirely. The twilight made her pupils appear especially bright, blood-red. Her eyes turned red after being in the water for a long time or when she got angry. That¡¯s why she didn¡¯t like getting angry. She put on the pair of sunglasses she carried in her hoodie pocket, went ashore, and returned the hat to the boy. He stopped crying, sniffed, and asked, ¡°Sister, are you a mermaid?¡± Zhou Xufang shook her head. She didn¡¯t know which species she belonged to either. She couldn¡¯t understand fish but could sleep with them underwater. The woman on the opposite square anxiously called out, ¡°Ningning.¡± The boy put on the wet hat, smiled at Zhou Xufang, then ran towards the woman, not watching the road and darting straight into the lane. From the right, a bright red sports car came, screeching to a halt. ¡°Screech¡ª¡± The car stopped. The boy was already petrified and was scooped up by Zhou Xufang. Reflexively, she lifted her head. Seeing no one around, she breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°Sister,¡± the boy stammered, still frightened, ¡°you run so fast. Are you a Powerpuff Girl?¡± Zhou Xufang said no, put him down. His mother rushed over, expressing her gratitude. The driver of the car also got out, checked the road, then looked at Zhou Xufang: ¡°You,¡± his starry eyes surveyed her up and down, ¡°a scammer?¡± Zhou Xufang raised her head, still wearing sunglasses. She pushed them up, ¡°Sir, need a screen protector?¡± Her voice was cool, flat-toned, ¡°Twenty yuan each.¡± ¡°¡­¡± The man was a handsome young guy with a buzz cut, dressed in a red motorcycle jacket paired with blue pants. So flamboyantly dressed, who else could he be but Xue Baoyi. Xue Baoyi stared at the girl who wore sunglasses at night and was soaked wet. After a long look, he decisively refused, ¡°No!¡± He nearly got a heart attack. Zhou Xufang wrung out the water from her sleeves, returned to her stall, and put on a long shirt. Xue Baoyi stared for a moment before returning to his car, complaining to the person in the back seat, ¡°That girl popped out of nowhere, freaked me out.¡± The person in the back half-opened his eyes, lazily, ¡°Xue Baoyi.¡± Xue Baoyi felt a shiver down his spine, ¡°Wh-wh-what is it?¡± When Jiang called him by his full name, he panicked. The man stated concisely, ¡°Get out.¡± Chapter 4 - Chapter 4: 004: Play around with a director Chapter 4: 004: Play around with a director Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°` That ancestor said, concisely: ¡°Get lost.¡± Xue Baoyi glanced in the rearview mirror. Jiang Zhi had just been discharged from the hospital; his complexion still wasn¡¯t good. He looked sickly, with a touch of red on his pretty little face, possibly from a fever, which made him look all the more pitiful. In this fragile state, how could he drive? At this moment, Xue Baoyi even felt like reciting ¡°Dengtuzi¡¯s Love of Beauty¡±: The son of the East House, adding one inch would be too long, reducing one inch would be too short¡­ with a radiant smile, he bewitched Yang City and enchanted Xia Cai. Cough cough cough, back to the main point. As Mr. Xue, he always showed mercy to delicate beauties, so he stubbornly refused: ¡°Won¡¯t get lost.¡± An unidentified object was hurled at him. With quick reflexes, he caught it and saw that it was Jiang Zhi¡¯s mobile phone. ¡°Hey, how did the screen break?¡± Jiang Zhi curled up in the back seat, a blanket covering his legs. His hands rested on top, with nails turning a sickly pale white. ¡°I threw it.¡± His peach blossom eyes slightly lifted, then drooped again as if he was too tired, caught between sleep and wakefulness. ¡°It happened just when you braked.¡± He felt guilty for causing Jiang Mei Ren¡¯s phone to fall. Xue Baoyi touched the screen, then played some in-car music for the young master. ¡°The screen isn¡¯t broken, only the protector. Hold on; I¡¯ll get a new one for you.¡± Then, Xue Baoyi got out of the car and went to a small vendor stall for screen protectors. Zhou Xufang looked up. Xue Baoyi asked: ¡°Do you have a protector for this phone model?¡± She glanced at the phone model. ¡°Yes.¡± She found three different types from her box. Xue Baoyi carefully picked one. ¡°Give me the shiniest one.¡± Mr. Xue liked bling-bling things. Zhou Xufang adjusted the lamp for better light and lowered her head to apply the screen protector. Xue Baoyi watched her. Hmm, not bad-looking. It¡¯s tough for a pretty girl to make it on her own. He said: ¡°Give me a pink phone case too.¡± Quickly, Zhou Xufang applied the screen protector and fitted the pink case. ¡°That¡¯ll be fifty.¡± Xue Baoyi paid and returned to the car. Jiang Mei Ren was resting with his eyes closed, breathing slightly rapid, his cheeks tinged with an unhealthy flush. His eyes seemed to fill with a vague mist, exuding a careless charm. Ah, this damned, untamed beauty. Steel-hearted Xue Baoyi dared not gaze at that face again. He muttered: ¡°That girl is quite pretty, though odd, wearing sunglasses at night.¡± The beauty in the back seat lifted his eyelids. Xue Baoyi immediately offered the phone like a treasure, shaking it. ¡°Got you a phone case, this flashy pink one suits you.¡± The flashy pink case had a large-headed rabbit drawn on it. Jiang Zhi took the phone, caressing the screen with elegant fingers, then casually removed the phone case and tossed it at Xue Baoyi¡¯s head. ¡°If your eyes don¡¯t work, donate them.¡± The phone case hit Xue Baoyi, making him see stars: ¡°¡­¡± Damn, this little beauty is quite fiery. The little beauty¡¯s phone rang. ¡°Hello.¡± The beauty spoke icily. On the other side was a woman: ¡°Director Jiang.¡± Jiang Zhi furrowed his brows, seemingly about to cough but suppressing it. Veins vaguely showed on his neck, his lips reddened a few degrees. Weakly, he asked, ¡°Who?¡± The woman replied: ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± Sounded quite important. Jiang Zhi had no patience, his tone lazy and lacking strength: ¡°Who?¡± The woman then identified herself: ¡°I¡¯m Yang Xu.¡± Yang Xu¡­ Xue Baoyi vaguely remembered her as a newly rising popular star recently. Jiang Zhi furrowed his brows as if pondering for a moment. ¡°The one who was late on set yesterday?¡± Clearly, this popular star had a low presence with the director. ¡°Sorry, Director Jiang, yesterday it was me who¡ª¡± Jiang Zhi covered his mouth and coughed. Due to his irritation, his ear tips reddened a bit. His body felt uncomfortable, and his temper worsened, interrupting before she finished: ¡°You¡¯ve already been replaced. No need to explain further.¡± Then, Jiang Zhi hung up the phone. Xue Baoyi had heard enough to understand most of it. ¡°The film¡¯s already halfway shot, and you¡¯re changing actors now?¡± If he remembered correctly, that popular star had quite a few scenes. The person in the back seat was tired and rubbed his temples. ¡°She broke my rules.¡± At eighteen, Jiang Zhi directed a film, initially as a casual endeavor, but it became an instant hit. As Jiang Zhi put it, since he was idle anyway, he might as well play around, ultimately earning himself the title of genius director. He kept a low profile, the media didn¡¯t dare to write indiscriminately, and outsiders knew little. But insiders were well aware¡ªJiang Zhi had many rules. In his film crew, no matter how big a star you were, you had to obey. If not, you were kicked out immediately. ¡°Fine, you¡¯re the boss.¡± Xue Baoyi turned the steering wheel, taking the young master back to the Jiang Family¡¯s residence. The rain fell patteringly, with few pedestrians. Vendors by the riverside had all packed up and left. It took forty minutes by tricycle from the Ba Yi Bridge to Yuquan Bay. Zhou Xufang wore a black raincoat, her hoodie inside almost dry. She took off the dripping raincoat, put on her hoodie cap, and wearing sunglasses, walked into the supermarket outside the neighborhood. She picked a can of cat food and a bottle of water, heading to the cashier to pay. Wen Baiyang wrote: ¡°29.9.¡± She handed over the money, habitually lowered her cap, and walked out of the supermarket. At the entrance, she stopped, pointing at a job advertisement on the glass: ¡°Are you still hiring?¡± Wen Baiyang nodded, writing down a number: ¡°We need temporary workers, paid by the hour. Here¡¯s the boss¡¯s phone number.¡± Zhou Xufang took it: ¡°Thank you.¡± Wen Baiyang read her lips and gestured: You¡¯re welcome. Zhou Xufang walked to the tricycle, putting her raincoat on. The large black hood covered half of her face. With her head lowered, she bumped into someone passing by, causing her can of cat food to fall. She looked up. It was the curly-haired old lady from building sixteen. They exchanged a glance before the old lady averted her eyes immediately: ¡°Sorry.¡± Zhou Xufang shook her head without speaking, bending down to pick up the fallen cat food. At that moment, the curly-haired old lady reached out as well, their hands touching briefly. The old lady pulled back swiftly, shuddering, then hurriedly dragged her companion into the neighborhood supermarket. The rain thickened, the sound of raindrops tapping away on her raincoat. In the small supermarket behind her, the curly-haired old lady was buying salt, speaking softly. ¡°` Chapter 5 - Chapter 5: 005: My Sweetheart Darling (Part 2) Chapter 5: 005: My Sweetheart Darling (Part 2) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation The curly-haired old lady was buying salt, speaking in a very low voice. ¡°Is it her? That little girl from Building Seventeen.¡± ¡°It¡¯s her.¡± ¡°She seems normal, not as scary as Old Wang said.¡± ¡°I just touched her hand.¡± ¡°What about her hand?¡± ¡°It was like ice, really scary.¡± Zhou Xufang touched her own hand, it was indeed quite cold, her body temperature was much lower than normal. If the curly-haired old lady¡¯s voice was a bit lower, it would have been better. Her hearing was excellent, probably about twenty times more acute than normal people. The curly-haired old lady lived next door, loved playing mahjong, and last night at midnight, the old lady got a winning hand and excitedly shouted. Even through her noise-canceling headphones, Zhou Xufang was awakened. She parked her tricycle in the garage, didn¡¯t take the elevator, and went to the stairwell on the first floor. She glanced outside, no one was there, and meowed. A gray cat timidly emerged from behind the discarded furniture under the stairs, looking at her: ¡°Meow.¡± It was a gray cat. Zhou Xufang opened a can of cat food and poured some water into a bowl beside the old furniture. The gray cat softly meowed twice and ate happily. She stroked the cat¡¯s head, and it remained still and obedient. ¡°Could I be a cat demon?¡± She muttered to herself, and the gray cat responded with a meow. She pursed her lips, a bit disappointed: ¡°But I can¡¯t understand what you¡¯re saying.¡± ¡°Meow~¡± She then mimicked: ¡°Meow.¡± The gray cat meowed again: ¡°Meow.¡± It seemed unlikely, although she was like a cat, able to jump very high. But she wasn¡¯t a cat demon, nor a fish demon. After squatting for a while, she got up and headed upstairs as the kitten finished eating. The moon was out, and the streetlights glowed with a cold white hue, illuminating all the motion-sensor lights from the first to the seventh floor of Building Seventeen in seconds. Beep. A WeChat message arrived. Zhou Xufang opened it. Apart from ¡®WeChat Pay,¡¯ ¡®WeChat Team,¡¯ and several public accounts, there was only one dialog box named Head of Group. Head of Group: Jianna Film City announcement: ¡°Wilderness¡± production, shooting tomorrow on the 10th, needs 10 male and 12 female extras (20-35 years old), males over 170 cm, females over 160 cm, pay is 150 yuan (finishing by 3 pm). Meet at Film City C1 subway exit at 8 am. Head of Group: WeChat registration, first come, first served! Zhou Xufang registered and then opened the food delivery app to order a meal. The Jiang Family¡¯s residence was located in a suburban villa area, an independent courtyard, with a four-story antique-style building. It was imposing in appearance and was the home of Old Lady Jiang. Usually, the Jiang Family members were busy, occupied with politics and business, and were seldom there. Old Lady Jiang had set a rule that on the 1st and 15th of each month, regardless of whether they were busy, they must gather. Old Lady Jiang had five children, and with the extended family, there were more than a dozen grandchildren, all present except for the youngest, Jiang Zhi, who had not yet shown up. It was only he who dared to be late to Old Lady Jiang¡¯s gatherings. ¡°Grandma.¡± The girl sitting beside Old Lady Jiang was from the fourth branch of the family. Her parents had died early, and she was raised by Old Lady Jiang. Her mother was the fourth daughter, the most beloved by Old Lady Jiang. She took her mother¡¯s surname and recognized Old Lady Jiang as her grandmother. Old Lady Jiang named her Fuxi. Jiang Fuxi said to Old Lady Jiang: ¡°It¡¯s already eight o¡¯clock, your stomach isn¡¯t well, drink some soup to settle it.¡± She had a classical appearance, with a gentle and kind nature. Old Lady Jiang always adored her, her stern face softened a bit, and she said: ¡°Wait for Brother Zhi.¡± Jiang Fuxi agreed. During the meal, the daughter-in-law of the second branch started a conversation: ¡°Mother, have you heard about the Ming Family?¡± Old Lady Jiang¡¯s second son, Jiang Weili, was in politics. He married the third daughter of the Luo patriarch, Luo Changfang, and they had a daughter, Jiang Fuli. Old Lady Jiang was seventy-three years old. Her ancestors were officials in the capital, and the family heritage had been passed down. A lady from a prominent family, even at her age, her hair was meticulously groomed, and she wore a dark purple cheongsam, exuding sharpness and refinement. ¡°Which matter?¡± Luo Changfang, frowning, said: ¡°The fourth girl from the Ming Family, Brother Zhi threw her into the sea. She drank a lot of water and is still in the hospital.¡± This was a complaint. The third branch was gone, leaving only Jiang Zhi, who was deeply cherished by Old Lady Jiang. The other branches were naturally envious. Old Lady Jiang drank her tea, her expression unchanged, neither happy nor angry: ¡°I¡¯ve heard.¡± Throwing the girl into the sea was somewhat lacking in the grace and manners of a nobleman. Luo Changfang¡¯s face showed displeasure: ¡°Brother Zhi went too far. It¡¯s one thing for the younger generation to play around, but to get serious¡ª¡± Old Lady Jiang interrupted: ¡°Play around?¡± She put down her tea-cup lid and looked up, her eyes sharp. ¡°Is Brother Zhi¡¯s health something that Ming Family¡¯s fourth girl can afford to play around with?¡± Luo Changfang: ¡°¡­¡± What could she say? The old lady spoiled her little grandson excessively. No one else dared to complain further, and the two tables of people quietly waited without a sound. ¡°Lin,¡± Old Lady Jiang instructed, ¡°the project with the Ming Family, put it on hold for now.¡± Lin was the eldest grandson of the Jiang Family, the only son of Old Lady Jiang¡¯s eldest son. The legitimate grandchildren of the Jiang Family were few, aside from Jiang Zhi, Jiang Xiaolin was the most esteemed. He nodded, obeying Old Lady Jiang¡¯s command. Just then, the old butler Jiang Chuan came in: ¡°Old Lady, the young master has arrived.¡± Before anyone entered, coughing was heard. The youngest had finally arrived. Old Lady Jiang¡¯s face lit up with a smile as she instructed the girl beside her: ¡°Fuxi, go inside and get Brother Zhi a coat.¡± Jiang Fuxi got up and went inside to get the coat. Jiang Zhi¡¯s health was poor, and the nights in late autumn were chilly. They were afraid he would catch a cold. Old Lady Jiang asked the butler: ¡°Is Brother Zhi¡¯s soup ready?¡± Jiang Chuan replied: ¡°It¡¯s kept warm in the kitchen.¡± The young master was discharged from the hospital today. The nourishing soup had been simmering since noon. In the Jiang Family, only he received such treatment. Old Lady Jiang smiled: ¡°Bring it quickly.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Grandma.¡± At the door, Jiang Zhi walked in slowly, breathing lightly, occasionally unable to suppress a cough. Old Lady Jiang immediately stood up with her cane: ¡°Brother Zhi, come sit by Grandma.¡± Two tables of Jiang Family members, all stood up now. No matter how displeased, they had to pamper this delicate young master. The youngest son of the Jiang Family, he was the apple of the old lady¡¯s eye, her precious treasure, pampered beyond measure. Jiang Zhi was thus made into a little ancestor. The next day, it was gray. Little Ancestor Jiang caused trouble on the set again, throwing the script in his hand, and said in a light tone, ¡°Stop.¡± Chapter 6 - Chapter 6: 006: The femme fatale is Jiang Zhi Chapter 6: 006: The femme fatale is Jiang Zhi Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation The moon rose fair, and so did the fair lady. These verses from the Book of Songs were used to describe women, but Assistant Director Zhao felt that Director Jiang could live up to these eight words. Compared to him, the female lead of the movie seemed to lose her color. Beautiful she was, but her temper was truly great. Assistant Director Zhao approached gingerly, ¡°Director, what happened?¡± Jiang Zhi was nestled on a recliner padded with thick blankets. His long legs were crossed. The temperature had dropped these past few days, and he felt even more listless, weak and sickly. He said, ¡°Remove the makeup.¡± He was referring to the female lead, Yu Ran. Yu Ran was a popular A-list actress. Jiang Zhi¡¯s movie had a national theme, requiring all actors to appear on screen without makeup, but she just couldn¡¯t let go. Being scolded by the director in public, Yu Ran stood there awkwardly. Her agent quickly stepped in to smooth things over, ¡°It¡¯s just a little foundation, Director, could you¡ª¡± Jiang Zhi lifted his gaze, ¡°What do you think?¡± His eyes were peach blossom eyes, naturally beautiful, but when slightly narrowed, they emitted a dangerous aura. ¡°Hurry up and remove Ranran¡¯s makeup.¡± The makeup artist quickly went over to remove Yu Ran¡¯s makeup upon hearing the agent¡¯s words. Today was slightly overcast, with some wind. Late autumn was passing, and there was a slight chill in the air. ¡°Cough, cough, cough¡­¡± The beauty on the recliner coughed until her face turned red, looking pitiful. Ah Wan quickly handed over the warm milk and covered the frail employer with a blanket, then announced softly, ¡°Mr. Jiang, Yang Xu¡¯s agent has an appointment with you.¡± Yang Xu was the up-and-coming starlet who had been replaced for being late. The milk was in a can with pure black packaging. Jiang Zhi held the can between his two pale fingers and took a slow sip, ¡°No time.¡± Next to him, Assistant Director Zhao timidly asked, ¡°Then what about Yang Xu¡¯s scenes?¡± Yang Xu had the second female lead role in this movie, with many scenes¡ªand primarily because of her wide following! To be honest, Assistant Director Zhao was reluctant to replace her, but¡­ he didn¡¯t dare. Director Jiang, half-closing his eyes, held that can of milk, tapping it with his fingers rhythmically. After a moment of silence, he lifted his eyelids, revealing his eyes like blooming peach blossoms. He raised his hand and pointed to a spot, ¡°You, come here.¡± Everyone looked in the direction he pointed. Across from the set, about twenty extras were gathered. The confused-looking girl on the outside of the group stepped forward, eyes wide in disbelief, pointing at herself, ¡°Me?¡± That girl looked young, not very tall. Her appearance was unclear, as her face was covered in artificial blood, wearing the uniform costume of an extra actor. It was evident that she was a bystander in the scene, where citizens were suffering under enemy bombardment. She was just a villager who had been given a close-up. The extra called out by the famous director stood there, dumbfounded. ¡°Yes.¡± The director asked her in a tone that sounded half-awake, ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± The extra scratched her head, still in a daze, ¡°My name is Fang Lixiang.¡± ¡°How long have you been acting?¡± Perhaps the extra realized what was going on, her eyes brightened with excitement, ¡°I¡¯ve been an extra for four years.¡± ¡°Can you play Yang Xu¡¯s role?¡± Oh, a pie fell from the sky! The girl felt her blood boiling, her big round eyes curved into a crescent, sparkling brightly. She said, ¡°I can!¡± Patting her chest confidently, she added, ¡°Director, I can even bring the dead to life with my acting!¡± Saying this, she suddenly fell to the ground, quivering a bit, her limbs went limp, her eyes rolled back, and her hand stretched out, slowly, slowly falling down¡ªperforming a death scene on the spot. Everyone: ¡°¡­¡± Actually, she really did lay out a layered death scene. Jiang Zhi shifted his position on the recliner, ¡°It¡¯s her.¡± Assistant Director Zhao was dumbfounded, so hasty? Just like that, Fang Lixiang had her sudden rise to fame, so thrilling, it felt like her life had reached its peak! She hopped around, wanting to jump up and touch the sun, ¡°Xu Fang, Xu Fang!¡± Zhou Xufang stood among the extras, ¡°Hmm.¡± They had known each other for three months, one as an extra, the other an extra¡¯s extra. They often met on set, though they weren¡¯t very close. It was just last month that Zhou Xufang was owed wages, Fang Lixiang stood up for her, though the outcome wasn¡¯t perfect, they formed a bond. Fang Lixiang hopped in front of her with a grin, revealing two small dimples, ¡°Pinch me.¡± Zhou Xufang poked her arm lightly. Feeling no pain, Fang Lixiang pinched the soft flesh of her own thigh hard, twisting it fiercely, and then grinned through the pain, ¡°Not a dream.¡± She burst with excitement, ¡°Xu Fang, I¡¯ve really become a Weaver girl, my ancestors are watching over me!¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t react. Fang ¡°Weaver¡± Lixiang waved a hand in front of her eyes, ¡°What¡¯re you looking at?¡± Following Zhou Xufang¡¯s gaze, ¡°You¡¯re looking at Director Jiang?¡± Zhou Xufang nodded, ¡°He¡¯s really good-looking.¡± Fang Lixiang stared for a few moments, clicking her tongue¡­ Not just good-looking, devastatingly beautiful! Director Jiang¡¯s looks, if put in ancient times, would be the allure that brought disaster to the nation. There it was, the alluring beauty lying down weakly, causing people to ¡°fight for the beauty.¡± ¡°Ming Saiying, what the hell are you doing!¡± Usually known in the entertainment circle as a goddess-like figure, Yu Ran now was flushed with rage. The person she was arguing with was also in the circle, the fourth of the Ming Family, a lead of the neighboring production. ¡°Going crazy?¡± Ming Saiying, coming from a reputable family in Imperial City, was never short of money and always domineering in the industry. Who could match her pettiness, ¡°At least better than you being a slut.¡± Yu Ran was infuriated, ¡°You¡ª¡± Ming Saiying folded her arms, still in costume from her historical drama, lifting her chin and exuding the aura of a harem queen, ¡°Who knows who went knocking on the director¡¯s door late at night in a skimpy dress.¡± This incident was well-known in the circle. Just a few days into Jiang Zhi¡¯s movie shoot, the lead actress Yu Ran had gone knocking on his door in a skimpy dress under the pretext of discussing the script. Of course, no ¡°script¡± was discussed, and she ended up being escorted to the station by the police for public indecency. Having her scandal exposed, Yu Ran was so angry she directly grabbed Ming Saiying¡¯s hair. Both their agents hurried to separate them, in the midst of pushing and shoving, someone tripped over a standing camera. Fang Lixiang, who had been enjoying the spectacle, noticed the camera falling, wide-eyed, ¡°Xu Fang, get out of the way!¡± Zhou Xufang had been staring at Jiang Zhi¡¯s face, while Jiang Zhi sat on the director¡¯s recliner¡ªdrinking milk. The words on the milk can were in English. Zhou Xufang¡¯s vision was too good, she could see clearly from a few hundred meters away. No wonder her client wanted her to kidnap him, he was really good-looking, even better looking than her glass jar for holding cotton candy. ¡°Xu Fang!¡± Fang Lixiang tried to pull her but was too late. ¡°Bang!¡± The camera hit Zhou Xufang, knocking her right off her feet. Her hand hit the camera stand, slicing a long gash. Chapter 7 - Chapter 7: 007: Broke him Chapter 7: 007: Broke him Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation The camera crashed onto Zhou Xufang, causing her to fall backward. Her hand slammed into the camera stand, ripping a long gash. Immediately, she used her hand to cover the wound, and blood seeped through her fingers. When the accident happened, it was break time. Jiang Zhi had already finished drinking a can of milk. He was quite far away and couldn¡¯t hear the commotion, feeling lethargic as he rested with his eyes closed. Vice Director Zhao came over, hesitated for a moment, but then stepped forward to call out: ¡°Director Jiang.¡± Jiang Zhi lifted his eyelids slightly. The sun had just emerged from behind the clouds, not harsh but still somewhat glaring. He raised his hand to block the light. Ah Wan immediately stood by, using his strong body to shield his employer from the sun. Vice Director Zhao said, ¡°Fourth Miss Ming and Yu Ran are having an argument.¡± Everyone in the circle knew that Fourth Miss Ming had taken a fancy to Director Jiang¡¯s looks, and Yu Ran had a bit of a playboy reputation. These two were rivals in love. However¡ª Jiang Zhi showed little interest: ¡°Did it escalate to a fight?¡± ¡°No, not really,¡± Vice Director Zhao replied honestly. ¡°Just a background actor got pushed and got slightly injured.¡± But anyway, it was a case of the beautiful man causing trouble. Jiang Zhi, possibly tired, massaged his brows with some irritation, appearing somewhat impatient: ¡°Send the person to the hospital.¡± Vice Director Zhao nodded and then asked for further instructions: ¡°What about Fourth Miss Ming and Yu Ran?¡± Those two flowers were not ordinary ones; they were popular figures in the industry. Especially Fourth Miss Ming, who was quite a domineering flower. If not handled well, Weibo could even crash. ¡°Page eight, clause nine of the contract.¡± Director Jiang was strictly business-like. Page eight, clause nine of the contract¡ªon the filming set, in the case of non-force majeure delays, Party B must pay ten times the compensation for delay. Vice Director Zhao understood. ¡°Too noisy.¡± Ah Wan glanced at his employer, who was lying on his side with visible displeasure between his brows. His lips were a very light red, pressed into a straight line. Honestly, the expression was quite harsh, but his employer was good-looking, making even such an expression rather pleasing to the eye. Knowing that his brain wasn¡¯t as useful as his fists, Ah Wan stepped forward and asked: ¡°Should I chase them out?¡± The employer didn¡¯t respond, covered his mouth and coughed twice, got up, and headed to the lounge. He walked slowly, pausing every three steps to catch his breath, slightly hunched due to discomfort. From behind, the exposed part of his neck was strikingly pale. What did this mean? Should he chase them out or not? Ah Wan thought for a moment and decided to take a bathroom break first. Because the female lead had a clash with the female lead of the neighboring crew, filming was paused. Fang Lixiang had already removed her makeup; her bare, youthful face was radiant. Having been promoted to a ¡°Weaver,¡± the makeup artist sister specifically asked her to change clothes in an independent dressing room. After changing, she couldn¡¯t find Zhou Xufang and didn¡¯t know where the stage manager had taken her. Fang Lixiang grabbed a background actress and asked: ¡°Have you seen Xu Fang?¡± The background actress asked in return: ¡°Who¡¯s Xu Fang?¡± Zhou Xufang wasn¡¯t fast to warm up to people, had a cold demeanor, and mild social anxiety. Apart from Fang Lixiang, she basically didn¡¯t talk to anyone. Even though she had known Zhou Xufang for several months, Fang Lixiang didn¡¯t have her phone number. Zhou rarely brought her phone out and hardly used WeChat, like a caveman. Fang Lixiang described Zhou ¡°the Caveman¡± to the background actress: ¡°Hair this long, very fair skin, pretty, often wears a hat, with a somewhat disheveled vibe.¡± The background actress was confused. Fine, Zhou Xufang¡¯s presence in the crew was almost zero. Fang Lixiang clarified: ¡°The one who just got injured.¡± ¡°Oh, she went to the lounge to bandage her wound.¡± The crew had only four lounges: one for the male lead, one for the female lead, one common room, and one exclusive for the director. The stage manager, seeing Zhou Xufang injured and refusing to go to the hospital, placed her in the lounge and specifically instructed her to use the common lounge. At this time, the lounges were mostly occupied, with only one empty. In the corridor, occasional coughs echoed. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± A woman¡¯s tone was cheerful, her steps eager. Ahead, Jiang Zhi turned around slowly, seeing the visitor: ¡°When did you get discharged?¡± Yesterday, Xue Baoyi had thrown this woman into the sea for him. She was still in the hospital last night and now bouncing back so quickly. Ming Saiying wasn¡¯t angry at all, smiling as she replied: ¡°Today.¡± To be fair, Ming Saiying wasn¡¯t bad in many aspects. The Ming family was a well-known building materials business in the Imperial City. She was a late-born child, very much doted upon at home, with striking looks: a curvaceous figure, almond eyes, and cherry lips. Although she lacked acting skills, she thrived in the entertainment circle. But¡ª Her brain wasn¡¯t the best, quite stubborn. Jiang Zhi glanced at her and said: ¡°You didn¡¯t drink enough seawater.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Ming Saiying, actually a fiery personality, lost her temper around Jiang Zhi. Dressed in a palace empress costume, she obediently apologized: ¡°I acted impulsively in that incident; I apologize.¡± She promised, ¡°In the future, I¡¯ll be straightforward and honest in pursuing you, no more tricks.¡± Why did she like Jiang Zhi? The reason was simple; he was very good-looking. Everyone loves beauty, so ever since she saw Jiang Zhi at a party two years ago, she couldn¡¯t stop thinking about his looks. Jiang Zhi, facing her, maintained his perennial indifferent face: ¡°I don¡¯t like women.¡± He stated it matter-of-factly. He came out as gay at eighteen. Everyone in the circle knew he was genuinely gay. Heard he even couldn¡¯t get aroused while watching straight porn. Ming Saiying pondered for a moment: ¡°Then should I change my gender?¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s beautifully elaborate peach blossom eyes instantly turned icy cold. Whether out of exasperation at her shamelessness, he turned away, coughing severely. ¡°Cough, cough, cough, cough¡­¡± His complexion was pale; his cheeks flushed large patches of red as he coughed, even his eye rims tinged with a blush, eyes misty. Tut, tut, tut¡­ So beautifully unreasonable. Ming Saixing quickly rushed forward, wanting to help him ease his breathing. Jiang Zhi stepped back, lifted his eyes, past Ming Saixing, and angrily shouted: ¡°Where have you been?¡± His gaze, cold as drizzling ice rain, struck with chilly precision. The tardy Ah Wan shivered: ¡°I went to the bathroom.¡± He was having diarrhea today. Jiang Zhi¡¯s patience had worn out: ¡°Get her out of here.¡± He ordered, cupping his mouth as he coughed, his neck turning red. Ming Saiying felt heartbroken, quickly retreating: ¡°Don¡¯t get angry, I¡¯ll leave on my own, leave on my own.¡± She said, walking away reluctantly, looking back repeatedly. Ah Wan thought for a moment and followed her. Jiang Zhi, after catching his breath, pushed open the lounge door. By this time, it was already dark outside. The lounge was dim and barely visible. He groped for the light switch and, as he pressed it, a face suddenly appeared in his view without warning. ¡°Click.¡± The wind slammed the door shut. Jiang Zhi¡¯s pupils slightly constricted: ¡°Who are you?¡± These eyes¡­ He had seen them before. Excessively beautiful, yet cold, clear and bright, filled with world-weariness and despair, somehow shimmering. The owner of the eyes didn¡¯t answer his question. His gaze swept over her, landing on her bloodstained arm. Unexpectedly, a bloody hand covered his eyes. He froze, as a girl¡¯s voice, as faint as smoke, whispered in his ear. She said: ¡°Don¡¯t look.¡± Her hand was healing, visibly strange to the naked eye. She hid from others and ducked into the lounge. Skin-to-skin contact; he had just been coughing, his temperature still warm. Her hand, however, was cold as ice, covered in blood, the faint smell of blood wafting into his breaths. Logically, he should have found it filthy, but he forgot to react. It took him a while to speak, but before he could make a sound, that smoky, ethereal voice whispered again. ¡°Don¡¯t call out. I won¡¯t hurt you.¡± Her blood-stained palm still covered his eyes, with only a sliver of light seeping through the fingers, casting a blood-colored hue, faintly tinged red. Such a strong smell of blood. Jiang Zhi took a step back and, almost simultaneously, grabbed her wrist, just about to push away when her elbow pinned him to the wall. He couldn¡¯t catch his breath. ¡°Cough, cough, cough, cough¡­¡± Coughing as if his lungs would come out. Zhou Xufang heard his severe cough and immediately loosened her grip. One hand covered his eyes, while the other pressed on his shoulder. The wound on her arm had long scabbed over, but blood stained his body and face. She could see he was ill, her strength barely light, but she became even gentler: ¡°I¡¯ll leave when I finish bandaging. Don¡¯t call out, don¡¯t look, okay?¡± Maybe he coughed too hard, feeling hot, he licked his lips, his Adam¡¯s apple bobbing slightly: ¡°No.¡± She frowned. ¡°Snap.¡± She turned off the light and almost simultaneously let go. Jiang Zhi stood leaning against the wall, his senses filled with unfamiliar, irritating scents. With no light, he sought those eyes in the darkness: ¡°What are you doing¡ª¡± Before he finished talking, his jaw was grasped. In his daze, someone approached, the cool scent of mint mixed with blood overwhelming him. ¡°Don¡¯t talk. If I use force, it will hurt a lot.¡± She was much stronger than a normal person. Just a gentle squeeze would cause him pain, possibly even break him. Zhou Xufang thought she had to be careful, avoid making him cry out. Jiang Zhi¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple rolled again. No other person, male or female, had ever been this close. The sheer intensity of her aura made him extremely uncomfortable; his jaw was still gripped, the icy touch penetrating his skin, the contrasts of cold and hot sending shivers through him. He could even hear himself swallow: ¡°Move, move away a bit.¡± Damn, I¡¯m stuttering. The other party stayed silent for a moment: ¡°Okay.¡± She stepped back a little and thought for a moment before releasing his jaw. From her pocket, she fished out a bandage given by the stage manager, biting one end with her teeth and wrapping it single-handedly around her nearly healed wound. The heavy breathing was Jiang Zhi¡¯s. He quietly regained his composure for a long time, discretely groping for the light switch. Just as he was about to press it, Zhou Xufang heard the sound and immediately grasped his hand. Then came a subtle crack from bone. Jiang Zhi gasped, his handsome face flushing white with pain. She paused: ¡°It seems dislocated.¡± She honestly didn¡¯t use much force, but being thirty times stronger than an ordinary person, she had injured him. Chapter 8 - Chapter 8: 008: Beauty, would you like me to give you a chicken? Chapter 8: 008: Beauty, would you like me to give you a chicken? Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation She really didn¡¯t use much force, but her strength was more than thirty times that of an average person, and now it turned out, she broke him. ¡°Does it hurt?¡± She let go. Maybe because this person was too good-looking, she forgot to stay on guard for a moment. Jiang Zhi¡¯s wrist stiffened, he didn¡¯t move: ¡°What do you think?¡± Three words, squeezed out through his teeth. It should hurt a lot, after all, she was so strong. She wrapped up her arm, then turned on the light, stepped back, trying to keep as far away from the victim as possible: ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Jiang Zhi laughed in anger: ¡°If ¡®sorry¡¯ worked, what do we need the police for.¡± ¡°¡­¡± He made a good point, Zhou Xufang did not argue. Then¡ª Jiang Zhi called the police. Zhou Xufang went to the police station in a police car, while Jiang Zhi went to the hospital to treat his injury. His hand was dislocated, but fortunately, there were no tears. After repositioning, it wasn¡¯t a big deal, except he had OCD and couldn¡¯t stand the smell of blood. Against medical advice, he insisted on taking a bath, and soaked for half an hour. At nine-thirty in the evening, Jiang Zhi arrived at the police station. Zhou Xufang had already been ¡®arrested¡¯ for two hours. Because it was related to Jiang Zhi, Qiao Nanchu specially made a trip to the criminal investigation team. ¡°So, you want to sue her? For the charge of intentional injury?¡± Jiang Zhi curled up in a chair, his fingers playing with the bandage around his injury, his handsome face was expressionless: ¡°The process of suing is too troublesome.¡± Qiao Nanchu pulled up a chair and sat down, raising the corner of his eye slightly: ¡°Then what do you want to do?¡± He moved his wrist: ¡°Lock her up for a few days.¡± ¡°And then?¡± Then¡ª Jiang Zhi was thinking when Ah Wan spoke: ¡°Mr. Jiang.¡± He lifted an eyelid. Ah Wan¡¯s large frame blocked a lot of light, his expression very honest: ¡°She is the extra who got injured on the set today.¡± Honest advice is hard to take, but Ah Wan felt it had to be said. After pondering for a moment, Ah Wan continued: ¡°It was actually because of you that she got hurt.¡± If that girl ended up in jail, he¡¯d lose all faith in justice. Although the employer had money and power, he couldn¡¯t just run roughshod over everyone. The rich and powerful, lawless employer suddenly asked: ¡°Where were you when my hand was dislocated?¡± ¡°¡­¡± After driving out the fourth young master of the Ming family, he went to the¡­ restroom, really had a bit of diarrhea today, shouldn¡¯t have eaten lobster for lunch. A cold chill washed over him! Ah Wan shrank his neck: ¡°I was using the toilet.¡± Jiang Zhi got straight to the point: ¡°Get out.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± When self-preservation was at stake, justice wasn¡¯t all that important. Ah Wan decisively left the meeting room at the police station just as the Second Young Master Xue arrived at the door. ¡°I¡¯ve seen that girl before, under Ba Yi Bridge.¡± Xue Baoyi came in and drank the untouched glass of water in front of Jiang Zhi. Jiang Zhi looked up at him. ¡°The screen protector on your phone was put on by her.¡± Xue Baoyi smiled mischievously, ¡°Brother Zhi, be compassionate when possible.¡± Qiao Nanchu glanced at Jiang Zhi¡¯s screen protector and kicked Xue Baoyi¡¯s chair: ¡°What¡¯s it to you?¡± Xue Baoyi had a point, speaking righteously: ¡°That girl is quite pitiful, young and has to apply screen protectors and be an extra, obviously not an easy life. Besides, it¡¯s all because of Brother Zhi¡¯s romantic entanglement.¡± What a show of philanthropy! If it weren¡¯t for a pretty girl, Xue Baoyi would definitely help to ruin her. Qiao Nanchu couldn¡¯t be bothered with the pretentious do-gooder, he asked Jiang Zhi: ¡°What do you want? You say.¡± Jiang Zhi seemed low in spirits, he lowered his eyelids, his brows furrowed and relaxed alternately, rarely so undecided, after a long while, he finally responded. ¡°Let her go.¡± After saying this, he coughed lightly, his originally sleepy eyes were slightly flushed due to frustration. It was already late autumn, he disliked the cold, his lazily hanging fingers at his side were pale. Qiao Nanchu leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, with a smile: ¡°For the first time.¡± He signaled to Xue Baoyi, ¡°He¡¯s feeling tender.¡± Jiang Zhi snorted: ¡°Tender my ass!¡± In the large office outside, Zhou Xufang was handling civil dispute mediation procedures. ¡°Just sign here and you can leave.¡± The round-faced officer said. She signed her name, and just in time, Jiang Zhi came out of the meeting room, his gaze didn¡¯t stop, his expression indifferent and detached. Zhou Xufang thought for a moment, and still stepped forward, raised her head, and tried to drop her guard: ¡°Thank you.¡± This person was not only good-looking but also kind-hearted. She was really grateful to him. Her thanks were sincere, Jiang Zhi glanced at her eyes, frowning fiercely, and turned to leave. Seeing this person just made him so angry, burning with an inexplicable fire that he couldn¡¯t quite put out. He wasn¡¯t some kind of saint, why did he let her go? Heaven knows what kind of hex he was under. Walking behind, Ah Wan stopped, stared at Zhou Xufang for several moments. ¡°We¡¯ve met.¡± Ah Wan felt a connection with this girl, ¡°At the south bank of Canghai.¡± That night, when the employer was abducted to Canghai, he saw this girl while looking for him. Zhou Xufang lowered her head, habitually keeping her distance, pulling up the hood of her sweatshirt, avoiding eye contact, her gaze wary: ¡°I was there applying screen protectors.¡± The client said to do no harm, just to rescue a damsel in distress, she wasn¡¯t at ease, stayed there for an hour, making sure the person was safe before leaving. ¡°Oh.¡± Ah Wan didn¡¯t doubt her, just thought this girl seemed a bit antisocial and cautious. Outside the police station, coughing sounds were carried in by the night wind. Ah Wan sighed: such a delicate employer. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you coming to drive!¡± The employer was losing his temper outside, never knew where all that anger came from. Ah Wan thought perhaps it was all that youthful vigor. Even though he was so delicate, he still had eight-pack abs. Those eight-pack abs, Ah Wan accidentally saw them, the employer had ordered him not to talk about it. Ah Wan found it hard to understand, thinking the employer was weird every day. He looked so frail and skinny, yet he had abs, while Ah Wan did two hours of exercise daily to get his own eight-pack. Hey, so unfair. ¡°Oh.¡± Ah Wan hurried out to drive the employer. Zhou Xufang got home, it was already past ten. She took a shower, put on a black loungewear hoodie, moved her computer to the bed, and contacted her partner Shuangjiang. The screen was full of SpongeBob, Shuangjiang typed: ¡°Any tasks?¡± ¡°No.¡± She got up and held the cotton candy box in her hand, pinching one and eating it in small bites, ¡°I accidentally hurt someone, want to make it up, what can I offer?¡± After a few seconds, text rolled out on the screen: ¡°Where¡¯s the injury?¡± ¡°His hand was dislocated.¡± This matter was her fault. She should apologize and compensate. She had no friends, only two ¡®colleagues,¡¯ Shuangjiang and Fang Lixiang. She didn¡¯t have Fang Lixiang¡¯s contact information, so she could only ask Shuangjiang. Shuangjiang quickly gave a suggestion: ¡°Send a local chicken, it¡¯s nutritious.¡± Send a chicken. Zhou Xufang had no experience in giving gifts, since she had memory, she had been alone, no one taught her social etiquette. She pursed her lips and rarely showed a troubled expression: ¡°I don¡¯t know if he likes to eat chicken.¡± ¡°Then do you know what he likes?¡± She tossed a marshmallow into her mouth, sickeningly sweet, she thought for a moment: ¡°He likes drinking milk, a lot, drank three cans in one afternoon.¡± Just like she liked marshmallows. Shuangjiang then said: ¡°Then you send a chicken and a box of milk.¡± Zhou Xufang thought that would work. Chapter 9 - Chapter 9: 009: The beauty is too delicate, cant afford to keep her! Chapter 9: 009: The beauty is too delicate, can¡¯t afford to keep her! Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Then just send a chicken and a box of milk.¡± Zhou Xufang thought that could work. The milk Jiang Zhi drank was an imported brand. Zhou Xufang ordered two boxes online, which would take a week to arrive. The cotton candy she liked was also out of stock online. She put on a big black coat with a hood and went to the supermarket in the neighborhood. At this hour, only Wen Baiyang was in the supermarket. She asked Wen Baiyang, ¡°Is the cotton candy with the pink packaging still unavailable?¡± Wen Baiyang wrote, ¡°Out of stock.¡± Her handwriting was neat and pretty. ¡°Seems like it¡¯s discontinued.¡± No wonder it couldn¡¯t be found online either. Zhou Xufang furrowed her brows and picked another brand of cotton candy, feeling a bit disappointed. When paying, she said, ¡°I¡¯ll also be working part-time here from now on, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from eleven at night till one in the morning.¡± The pay for a professional errand runner was high, but tasks were not frequent. She had a lot of free time and could take on many part-time jobs. Wen Baiyang grinned, showing a few white teeth. Her face had a perpetual redness from the high altitude, making her look honest and simple. After giving the change, she rummaged in her canvas bag for a while, then handed Zhou Xufang an egg. Zhou Xufang still wore her hat, revealing only a small part of her face. ¡°Is this for me?¡± Wen Baiyang nodded and wrote on a piece of paper, ¡°It¡¯s a farm egg.¡± Such a kind person. Zhou Xufang was somewhat afraid of strangers and had a strong sense of caution due to a lack of social interaction. Wen Baiyang was the only one who made her feel relaxed. She liked her, especially the two rosy spots on her cheeks. ¡°Thank you.¡± She took the egg without touching Wen Baiyang¡¯s hand. ¡°Do you know where I can buy farm chickens?¡± Wen Baiyang nodded. Zhou Xufang added her on WeChat. Besides the group chats from the crew, Wen Baiyang was the first contact she added. For a whole week, Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t get any group performance jobs. After October, a cold wave hit. On Monday, the group leader finally sent a message needing twenty extras. Zhou Xufang signed up, packed the chicken and milk she bought into a black travel bag, and set off to the set early in the morning. The meeting time from the group leader was nine in the morning. She arrived at the film city at seven because she didn¡¯t know when Jiang Zhi would arrive, so she waited by the entrance. Around eight-thirty, a flashy sports car drove into the film city. Ah Wan drove slowly, sluggishly. In the rearview mirror, his employer was sitting in the back seat, dozing off. Maybe he hadn¡¯t slept enough. He looked difficult to approach. At the back of the seat was a pretty and delicate glass box containing cotton candy. Jiang Zhi took a piece, threw it into his mouth, and before he could chew, he furrowed his brows hard and immediately spat it out, wrapping it in a handkerchief. Already in a bad mood from waking up, his face now looked worse. ¡°Changed the brand?¡± Ah Wan replied, ¡°The previous brand sold out.¡± ¡°Switch it back.¡± His tone was completely unreasonable and domineering. Ah Wan pouted. Because he was big, he looked awkward and slightly comical sitting in the sports car¡¯s driver seat. ¡°I asked at many places, but it¡¯s no longer available.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t even lift his eyelids. ¡°Switch it back.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Heartless and unreasonable. Ah Wan sighed. ¡°Sure.¡± Making a living was not easy. He glanced out the car window, ¡°Mr. Jiang.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Jiang Zhi, still not fully awake, his spirits were low. ¡°That person applying the film¡­¡± Ah Wan didn¡¯t know their name. Jiang Zhi lifted his heavy eyelids, drowsy, and saw a person squatting by the streetlamp, dressed all in black with a large travel bag on their back, a hat pulled down low, revealing only a mop of black hair. Always dressed like a thief! Jiang Zhi straightened up, changing his posture. ¡°Stop by the curb.¡± Ah Wan stopped the car. Jiang Zhi rolled down the window. Ah Wan pressed the horn. Zhou Xufang raised her head, habitually tugging her hat down, looking a bit blank, her face emotionless and her eyes empty. She stood up, glanced around, saw no one, then walked over and stood a meter away from the car window. ¡°Is your hand better?¡± Her voice was cool, without any fluctuation. What an odd person. Jiang Zhi made a sound of acknowledgement. She looked around again, then took off her backpack. ¡°This is for you.¡± She took a step forward and handed it over. ¡°An apology.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s gaze fixed on her, meeting her eyes directly. Those eyes, black and white, were filled with cold indifference, yet excessively clear and pure. No wonder they seemed familiar. They were so much like the boy who perished in the fire. He was lost in thought for a long time before shifting his gaze to her black backpack. Then, he looked at her hand. Her sleeves were long, covering most of her hand, with a section exposed that was so white it shone under the sun. No wonder, she always bundled herself up like this, avoiding the sun, as pale as a ghost. Ah Wan, in the driver¡¯s seat, coughed as a reminder to his employer. Staring at a girl¡¯s hand for too long wasn¡¯t appropriate. Only after Jiang Zhi withdrew his gaze did Ah Wan seek his employer¡¯s approval through eye contact. Then, unexpectedly, his employer nodded. Ah Wan got out of the car and took the backpack, finding it quite heavy. After giving the gift, Zhou Xufang turned without saying another word and left. Ah Wan placed the backpack on the adjacent seat. ¡°Mr. Jiang, do you want to check inside?¡± Other than a few coughs, there was no response. Ah Wan glanced through the rearview mirror; his employer yawned, lazily lying back down, with a few tufts of unkempt hair sticking up. When the car pulled into the parking space, Ah Wan heard the guy in the back say, ¡°Open it.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Ah Wan parked the car, picked up his backpack, and placed it on his lap. He unzipped it¡ª ¡°Cluck!¡± Ah Wan was dumbfounded. On his lap, a pair of eyes stared back at him. The creature stretched its neck and screeched at him, ¡°Cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck¡­¡± The strong smell of chicken droppings assaulted his nose. Ah Wan froze for a moment. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ a chicken.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Qiao Nanchu had asked him before why he would ever show mercy to someone who had crossed him. After all, he wasn¡¯t known for his benevolence. He thought it was probably because this person was incredibly peculiar, so peculiar that everything would unfold in the most outlandish ways. For example, the existence of this chicken and the ensuing chaos it would cause. At nine o¡¯clock, the actors had already changed into their costumes and finished their makeup, just waiting for the big director to start filming. Fang Lixiang, as the newly popular Weaver, received special attention from the costume department. Her costume was custom-made. Despite her cute appearance, she had great versatility. Wearing a cheongsam and holding a feather fan used by dancers, she walked with such flair that she exuded infinite charm. The big director indeed had a sharp eye and picked the right person. Fang Lixiang twirled in her new costume in front of Zhou Xufang, showing off her dimples, ¡°Does it look good?¡± Zhou Xufang, dressed in coarse cloth, replied, ¡°Mm.¡± ¡°Xu Fang, do you use Weibo?¡± She shook her head. ¡°Did you bring your phone?¡± She patted her pants pocket, ¡°I did today.¡± Fang Lixiang took out her phone, ¡°Add me.¡± She wore an expression as if she would never forget a friend in need, exuding boundless heroism, ¡°In the future, if anyone withholds your wages again, let me know. Wulala Clan¡¯s Li Xiang will back you up!¡± She was now the famous Weaver actress. Zhou Xufang lacked social skills and friends, appearing lonely like someone abandoned by the world. The Weaver had to protect her! Zhou Xufang nodded, keeping her head down and saying little. After they became friends, Wulala Clan¡¯s Li Xiang, squatting in her cheongsam, opened Weibo and was stunned: ¡°Oh my god!¡± Wulala Clan Li Xiang slapped her thigh, ¡°Big companies sure are powerful; they bought me so many zombie followers.¡± After becoming the second female lead in ¡°Wilderness,¡± many management companies sought to sign Fang Lixiang. Being a girl with ambitions, she signed with the leading company in the film industry, Baoguang, without hesitation. Speaking of Baoguang, what people loved talking about most was its president, Xue Baoyi. ¡°Our president and Director Jiang are childhood friends.¡± Fang Lixiang, being a gossip expert, had gathered all sorts of inside information in her four years of taking small roles. Zhou Xufang¡¯s desolate gaze brightened a little. Noticing her rare interest, Fang Lixiang continued, ¡°Have you heard of Xiao Xue, the second young master of the Xue Family in Imperial City?¡± Zhou Xufang shook her head. Fang Lixiang explained, ¡°Get on Weibo, and you¡¯ll see him every few days.¡± Zhou Xufang, not being an avid internet user, asked, ¡°Is he also an artist?¡± ¡°No.¡± The costume assistant offered chicken feet to them. Fang Lixiang unceremoniously took one and started chewing, ¡°His bedmates are all artists.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t fully understand but felt it must be impressive. Fang Lixiang took another bite of the chicken foot and lamented, ¡°Ah, he must be the doom of so many girls.¡± Righteous as she was, she ferociously bit off the chicken foot, ¡°He¡¯ll get his due someday!¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t respond, looking up at something intently. Following her gaze, Fang Lixiang noticed the director had finally arrived, ¡°Are you watching Director Jiang again?¡± Sitting in an inconspicuous corner, her expression was very calm, ¡°He¡¯s good-looking.¡± She liked looking at beautiful things, such as her cotton candy box. Regarding Director Jiang¡¯s looks, Fang Lixiang approved. Among the entire entertainment circle, no one could outshine him in beauty, except¡ª ¡°Director Jiang is like a star in the sky, nice to look at but unreachable.¡± Fang Lixiang threw away the chicken foot and wiped her hands, ¡°Just lying there, Jiang Mei Ren turned countless young masters gay, but none could pluck that flower of his. Besides, he¡¯s delicately fragile, with a family-run research institute just to take care of his health. It¡¯s expensive; ordinary folks like us can¡¯t afford it.¡± Zhou Xufang thought, she had a lot of money, but she needed it to buy Moon Bay, not to support a beauty. ¡°And, Director Jiang is gay.¡± Fang Lixiang covered her mouth, whispering to Zhou Xufang, ¡°There¡¯s a rumor in the circle that he and Xiao Xue, the second young master, are an item.¡± Zhou Xufang still didn¡¯t fully understand but felt it must be significant. Ten minutes later, Assistant Director Zhao picked up a megaphone to announce, ¡°We¡¯re about to start shooting, prepare in ten minutes.¡± The chatting extras dispersed. Assistant Director Zhao made a round checking the preparations. Everything was ready except there was a chicken in the corner. He asked the stagehand, Xiao Li, ¡°Why is there a chicken here? Who put it here?¡± Xiao Li said, ¡°I didn¡¯t notice. It should be from the props department.¡± Assistant Director Zhao looked around, ¡°See that extra with the carrying pole?¡± He instructed Xiao Li, ¡°Put the chicken in his pole.¡± Xiao Li grabbed the chicken and put it in the extra¡¯s pole, not realizing the string tied to the chicken¡¯s feet had come loose. Then, during the explosion scene, with a boom¡ª the chicken flew everywhere. ¡°Cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck¡­¡± It was a big rooster, around two to three pounds, flapping wildly around the set. Assistant Director Zhao broke into a sweat: ¡°Director Jiang, this¡ª¡± Jiang Zhi threw the script aside and leaned back on the lounge chair covered with a thick blanket, ¡°Did the props team leave their brains at home today?¡± He coughed, his eyes slightly red. Despite his sickly appearance, his gaze was cold. Assistant Director Zhao didn¡¯t dare to make a sound as the pressure made it hard for him to breathe. Jiang Zhi licked his cough-reddened lips, ¡°Where did the chicken come from?¡± Suddenly, Ah Wan replied, ¡°It¡¯s yours.¡± ¡°¡­¡± In the wind, amid his coughing, he suppressed his irritation, ¡°Why are you still standing there?¡± Ah Wan rolled up his sleeves and joined the chicken-catching effort. Chapter 10 - Chapter 10: 010: The girl who applies the screen protector truly loves you! Chapter 10: 010: The girl who applies the screen protector truly loves you! Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Ah Wan rolled up her sleeves and joined the chicken-catching fray. Vice Director Zhao didn¡¯t dare to take it lightly, either. He picked up a loudspeaker to direct the chicken catching, ¡°Catch that motley rooster!¡± ¡°You stand by machine one.¡± ¡°You, machine two.¡± ¡°Surround it!¡± ¡°Quick, grab it!¡± At the Vice Director¡¯s command, several male assistants and Ah Wan swarmed up, cornering the chicken within the encirclement. Ah Wan seized the opportunity and quickly used his grapple, and in the blink of an eye, the chicken soared into the air, ¡°Cluck cluck cluck cluck¡­¡± After a flurry, the chicken headed straight toward a direction, and Ah Wan focused her gaze. Damn! Vice Director Zhao slapped his forehead in dismay. The motley rooster landed on the shoulder of the bedridden lead director, and instantly, the entire place fell deathly silent. Then, only a plop was heard as a blob of chicken poop teetered, about to fall. Jiang Zhi was utterly dumbfounded, his face ghastly pale. The silence was profound, one could hear a pin drop. Ah Wan held her breath, not daring to breathe, and tiptoed carefully forward, ¡°Mr. Jiang.¡± She whispered as if speaking in hush tones, wary not to disturb the chicken and that impending blob of chicken poop. Jiang Zhi lay there, his body stiff, ¡°Quick, get it away.¡± His voice trembled. Ah Wan was afraid he might pass out from not catching his breath, knowing full well how the young master was delicate and particularly obsessed with cleanliness. ¡°Don¡¯t move,¡± Ah Wan instructed seriously, ¡°Absolutely don¡¯t move, the chicken poop will fall.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s pale face turned dark, ¡°What the hell do you want me to do then?¡± He was so angry that his handsome face contorted. Ah Wan didn¡¯t quite know what to do, hesitated for a long while, then took a small step forward, reached out her hand, but before touching, suddenly¡ª A chicken feather landed on Vice Director Zhao¡¯s face, causing his nose to itch. ¡°Achoo!¡± Almost simultaneously, the motley rooster¡¯s wings flapped, and it leapt into the air. ¡°Cluck, cluck, cluck!¡± Amidst the fluttering chicken feathers, a black object hurled directly onto Jiang Zhi¡¯s gray sweater, freezing him entirely, he instinctively closed his eyes. ¡°Cluck!¡± A gust of wind suddenly passed by, whisking up the chicken feathers. No one noticed where the person in a hemp garment came from, her face and head all covered, seen pressing down towards the director. The blob of chicken poop then landed on her hemp garment. ¡°Hmm!¡± Jiang Zhi grunted under the pressure, suddenly opened his eyes, and met a pair of bright eyes¡ªlike an endless night sky, dark and seamless. Zhou Xufang. As Xue Baoyi mentioned, this girl was named Zhou Xufang¡ª a strange name, a strange person, strangely laying on top of him, stirring a weird turmoil in his mind. He had never been physically close to the opposite sex before, yet this person repeatedly broke his norms, even touching him, leaving him completely perplexed. Bewilderingly, he swallowed, his adam¡¯s apple scorching hot, his entire face flushing, ¡°You, you¡­ cough cough cough¡­¡± His breath choked in his throat, causing his eyes to turn red. Zhou Xufang lay there, blinking her eyes. He yelled at her, ¡°Get off me!¡± Oh. She climbed off him, since Jiang Zhi had taken off his coat while filming the explosion scene, his gray sweater tangled with her hemp costume revealing a stretch of fair waist, her fingers unintentionally brushing across. So smooth. Zhou Xufang looked at that stretch of waist, unfortunately, she missed seeing it as the owner almost aggressively pulled the sweater down to cover his waist, then flipped a blanket over firmly covering himself. After completing these actions in one go, he sat up, covered his mouth, and coughed desperately. Coughing his heart out! How delicate, Zhou Xufang thought, then asked, ¡°Are you alright?¡± Her face was wrapped, revealing only a pair of phoenix eyes. Those eyes, seemingly clear and cool, made Jiang Zhi¡¯s heart warm. He suppressed the itch in his throat, heaving deeply, ¡°You, stay away from me!¡± He stammered again. Jiang Zhi clenched his fists, annoyed and feeling feverish all over. She then took five steps back. At that moment, Ah Wan stepped forward and asked, ¡°Mr. Jiang, how are you?¡± Your face is so red, even your ears and collarbone are red, something¡¯s not right. Jiang Zhi propped himself up with one hand on the lounge chair, a thin layer of sweat on his forehead, breathless as he spoke weakly, ¡°What do you think?¡± Ah Wan thought that her employer was indeed delicate and highly strung, so she considerately said, ¡°It seems like you¡¯ve been crushed. Do you want me to call Dr. Xue over?¡± Jiang Zhi licked his teeth, then violently pulled on his jacket and put it on, ¡°Get the fuck away from me!¡± He looked up, glaring at the person whose face was covered, ¡°Everyone, get out!¡± Fang Lixiang hurried over, pulling Zhou Xufang away, and even Vice Director Zhao didn¡¯t dare to say a word, signaling everyone to retreat with his eyes. However, Ah Wan didn¡¯t dare to really leave and followed up. ¡°I think I¡¯ve caused trouble again,¡± Zhou Xufang said, glancing at the still flapping, ragged rooster, her brows tight. Fang Lixiang comforted her, ¡°It¡¯s not your fault. It was all the chicken¡¯s fault.¡± She drooped her eyelids, ¡°I was the one who gifted that chicken.¡± Fang Lixiang: ¡°¡­¡± How come the more he looked at Zhou Xufang, the more adorably awkward she seemed? There was a bathroom in the director¡¯s office. It took Jiang Zhi more than half an hour to come out of the shower, the water temperature was set high, and his skin, already pale, turned a bright red. Ah Wan stood at the door, ¡°Mr. Jiang.¡± ¡°Come in.¡± Ah Wan hesitated as she entered, head down, quietly placing down the clothes, planning to leave quickly. ¡°Lin Wanwan.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Could he stop using that name! He had a man¡¯s dignity, and Ah Wan reluctantly looked up, ¡°Your orders?¡± Jiang Zhi, clad in a soft white bathrobe, the neckline loose, his hair still damp, water trickling along his facial contours into the collar, ¡°Go butcher that chicken.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Ah Wan stole a glance at her employer¡¯s neckline, what heavenly collarbones! A big man and yet so finely sculpted. Roughness suited him better anyway. Jiang Zhi rubbed his hair with a towel, ¡°Aren¡¯t you leaving yet?¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Ah Wan reached the door but couldn¡¯t help turning back, ¡°Mr. Jiang, I¡¯ve noticed something.¡± ¡°Speak.¡± Ah Wan then said, ¡°I think that sticker has fallen for your beauty.¡± ¡°Where did you see that?¡± Jiang Zhi, pulling at his bathrobe, sniffed it, feeling as if there was still a smell, wiped his neck repeatedly with a towel, the skin reddening from the friction. Ah Wan¡¯s reason was, ¡°She blocked the chicken poop for you.¡± That¡¯s got to be true love! Jiang Zhi paused in his movements, lifting his eyelids, ¡°Don¡¯t mention that word again.¡± Now chickens couldn¡¯t even be mentioned. Ah Wan wisely changed her wording, ¡°She blocked the poop for you.¡± Just as he finished speaking, a milk can hit him, leaving him dazed. ¡°¡­¡± Working is hard. Ah Wan rubbed his head and left quietly, catching a glimpse of the table from the corner of his eye¡ªHuh? Didn¡¯t he dislike that box of milk for smelling like chicken poop? Why was it opened? The mind of an employer, a needle in the sea! At eight o¡¯clock in the evening, orchestra music rose in Fusheng Inn. The Imperial City had numerous dens of pleasure, mostly lavish, unlike the elegant Fusheng Inn. Plum, Orchid, Chrysanthemum, Bamboo¡ªthe wall paintings were exquisitely done, in front of them, a man and woman dressed flamboyantly. The woman, soft as if boneless, leaned against the wall, smiling enchantingly, ¡°Young Master.¡± The man, with a slight smile, a hint of displeasure, ¡°Mr. will do, what Young Master?¡± In the Imperial City, there¡¯s more than one Mr. Xue, but in the regular clientele of Fusheng Inn, there was only one Mr. Xue from Xue Family. Xue Baoyi¡¯s father was the second oldest at home, thus a Mr. Xue, and Xue Baoyi, being the second grandchild, could only be Young Master, though Xue Baoyi disliked this ambiguous title, insisting people call him Mr. The woman tactfully changed her title, ¡°Mr., would you like to have a drink with me?¡± ¡°Did you wear perfume?¡± Xue Baoyi pulled his hand back, stepping back, ¡°Then keep your distance, someone here dislikes the smell of women¡¯s perfume.¡± Chapter 11 - Chapter 11: 011: Jiang Mei Rens Strange Illness Chapter 11: 011: Jiang Mei Ren¡¯s Strange Illness Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Then stay away from me, there¡¯s someone inside who doesn¡¯t like the smell of women¡¯s perfume.¡± That person was like an ancestor, needed to be pampered, and had poor health. What else could be done but spoil him? The woman was sensible and stepped back, obedient and seductive, ¡°Mr., can I play the role in the Tangren script?¡± This woman was a newcomer that Baoguang had just signed last month. Xue Baoyi tilted his chin and smiled, ¡°You haven¡¯t even served me yet, and you¡¯re already thinking about resources?¡± The woman pouted, ¡°You¡¯re so annoying, I¡¯m not thinking about that.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be in a hurry.¡± Xue Baoyi pulled out a business card from his pocket and slipped it into the woman¡¯s low neckline. His actions were frivolous, but his eyes were keen, ¡°Wait for my call.¡± Before he could withdraw his hand, someone behind him coughed, seemingly a bit reproachful, and then cleared their throat a few more times. Xue Baoyi pulled his hand back and turned his head, annoyed, ¡°What?¡± The lights in the corridor of Fusheng Inn were dim, with gray-green lampshades casting a soft glow. In the shadowy light, a tall figure stood, wearing a cream-colored coat over a peach-colored sweater. The effeminate outfit was somewhat redeemed by the baby-faced look, quite like Fu Fen He Lang. ¡®Fu Fen He Lang¡¯ approached, glaring at Xue Baoyi with clear, harmless doe eyes, ¡°Aren¡¯t you ashamed of yourself!¡± Xue Baoyi grinned mischievously, ¡°What¡¯s there to be ashamed about? Do you think everyone is as innocent as you?¡± The innocent ¡®Fu Fen He Lang¡¯ quickly looked away from the woman¡¯s low neckline, his face turning bright red. Despite his gentle appearance, his scolding held little intimidation, ¡°Get inside, stop embarrassing yourself out here.¡± After speaking, ¡®Fu Fen He Lang¡¯ turned and left. The woman laughed and asked, ¡°Mr., who is he?¡± Xue Baoyi adjusted his coat, ¡°My uncle, Third Young Master of the Xue Family.¡± Oh, the late-born son of Old Master Xue. As Xue Baoyi was about to step into the room, a chicken claw scratched at him. ¡°Damn,¡± he immediately kicked, ¡°Why is there a chicken here?!¡± ¡°Cluck, cluck, cluck!¡± The chicken, kicked into the corner, clucked noisily. Ah Wan went over and stepped on the string tied to the chicken to keep it from flapping around, saying, ¡°The chicken belongs to Mr. Jiang. He brought it home to slaughter and cook for his employer¡¯s health.¡± Xue Baoyi took a tissue, wiped his shoe, and jokingly said, ¡°Brother Zhi, you¡¯ve switched from making movies to raising chickens?¡± The room was furnished in an antique style. Jiang Zhi lounged on a chaise, too lazy to respond. Ah Wan answered for him, ¡°It was a gift from someone else.¡± Xue Baoyi wiped his hands again, crumpled the tissue into a ball, and threw it into the trash, ¡°People still give chickens as gifts these days?¡± He pulled a rattan chair and sat down, resting his long legs on the coffee table, ¡°Who was it? A man or a woman?¡± Ah Wan was about to reply. Jiang Zhi lazily gave him a glance, ¡°You, and that chicken, get out.¡± Fine, Ah Wan carried the chicken and left. ¡°Where is Nanchu?¡± Jiang Zhi asked. It was just past late autumn, and he was already wearing a thick sweater, looking increasingly unwell and lethargic. Xue Baoyi poured himself a drink, ¡°He¡¯s clashing with his dad again, will be late.¡± This gathering was organized by him to welcome his third uncle. ¡°I¡¯m cold.¡± Jiang Zhi nudged Xue Baoyi¡¯s leg with his foot. His body was delicate, susceptible to cold, and couldn¡¯t stand the heating. It wasn¡¯t even winter yet, and he was already complaining about the cold. Xue Baoyi laughed, ¡°You¡¯re really like my ancestor!¡± He set his glass down and went out to get a blanket for Jiang Zhi. There was no helping it¡ªbeing an aesthetician at heart, he was fascinated by beauty, and among a group of men, he spoiled Jiang Zhi the most. Once everyone left, Jiang Zhi asked the person sitting quietly beside him, ¡°Where¡¯s the medicine?¡± The third young master of the Xue Family, Xue Bingxue. A man with a baby face, full of collagen, lips redder than a girl¡¯s, eyelashes longer than a girl¡¯s, and eyes bigger than a girl¡¯s. Unlike Jiang Zhi¡¯s delicateness, he was soft. Ridiculous, right? According to Xue Baoyi: My third uncle is a naive beauty, twenty-eight years old and still as innocent as a maiden, kind as a saint, probably even has an M-physique; otherwise, why would he at his age harbor unrequited feelings for someone who once stripped him and pinched his privates? Xue Bingxue took a pill bottle from his coat pocket and tossed it to Jiang Zhi, ¡°One a week, no more.¡± Jiang Zhi replied with a hum, unscrewed the cap, poured out a pill, swallowed it with warm water, then pocketed the bottle and rolled up his sleeve to place his arm on the table. Xue Bingxue, a doctor specializing in hematology, was apprenticed to an old Chinese medicine practitioner. He sat closer and took Jiang Zhi¡¯s pulse. Congenital deficiency, weak heart and lungs. This was Jiang Zhi¡¯s diagnosis at five years old, being born prematurely at less than seven months, his health was naturally poor. With good care, it wasn¡¯t life-threatening, but despite being coddled at the Jiang Family like a treasure, his condition didn¡¯t improve. Eventually, chronic organ failure, heart weakness, and increasing frailty set in. Especially in winter, he often needed bed rest and even had a tendency to cough up blood. The strange thing was, despite being riddled with ailments, no doctor could pinpoint his exact illness. If it weren¡¯t for that boy¡¯s accidental intervention, he might have died already. There was a rumor in the Jiang Family that the young master wouldn¡¯t live past twenty-five. This year, he turned twenty-four. ¡°It¡¯s not worth it for them.¡± Xue Bingxue said. The medicine was bitter, so Jiang Zhi washed the taste away with a small sip of liquor. He didn¡¯t like alcohol, frowning as his stomach felt uneasy. He said, ¡°I know.¡± Xue Bingxue, gentle in nature, dared not persuade him, only said, ¡°This medicine can¡¯t be taken too much.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± He added, ¡°Too much can cause infertility.¡± Jiang Zhi looked up at his face, cuter and cleaner than a girl¡¯s, and laughed, ¡°Do you think,¡± he drawled lazily, ¡°I would have children with anyone?¡± Fearing to upset him, Xue Bingxue muttered softly, ¡°Maybe someone could turn you straight.¡± Jiang Zhi snorted, ¡°Nonsense.¡± Xue Bingxue fell silent. After Jiang Zhi set the glass down and lay back, feeling drowsy possibly from the medicine¡¯s effect, he said, ¡°Don¡¯t let my nephew find out, he¡¯s straightforward and can¡¯t keep secrets. My illness mustn¡¯t be known to him.¡± Xue Baoyi wasn¡¯t foolish, just couldn¡¯t keep his mouth shut. Xue Bingxue sat upright, ¡°I understand.¡± Just as the matter was finished, Xue Baoyi returned with a blanket, ¡°Brother Zhi, I got you a pastel pink.¡± Jiang Zhi glanced at the beige-pink sweater on Xue Bingxue and coldly muttered at Xue Baoyi, ¡°Idiot.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xue Baoyi rolled his eyes. Ah, Brother Zhi tormented him countless times, but he treated him like a first love. Fusheng Inn used to be a large courtyard with eight main entrances and exits. With some modern renovations and additions, it was divided into an outer and inner wing. The outer wing catered to ordinary guests, while the inner wing, with its four small courtyards named Plum, Orchid, Bamboo, and Chrysanthemum, was exclusive to the elite of the Imperial City. This Fusheng Inn belonged to the Luo Family, wealthy merchants of the Imperial City. Though rich, they lacked deep foundations and weren¡¯t counted among the Four Great Families. Zhou Xufang looked up at the plaque above the door, surprised to find such a place in the Imperial City. She walked in with her bag, but was stopped just past the front hall. A woman in a short cheongsam, with a delicate face and gentle smile, said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, this area is for VIPs only.¡± It had begun to rain outside. Zhou Xufang wore a black raincoat, black rain boots, and a delivery cap. She masked herself, wrapped tightly. She took out her phone from her pocket and made a call, ¡°Your delivery is here.¡± She usually worked as a delivery driver for a seafood porridge shop in her free time. The Boss Lady was kind; Zhou Xufang had been a regular customer who once received the wrong porridge, containing eggs, which made her ill. The Boss Lady had kindly let her rest for the night, and since then, Zhou Xufang helped with deliveries when she could. A woman¡¯s voice answered, ¡°Room 304, please bring it in.¡± Zhou Xufang replied, ¡°I can¡¯t get in.¡± A man then took over the call, ¡°Give the phone to the person blocking you.¡± Zhou Xufang handed her phone to the woman blocking her, careful to avoid physical contact. After listening, the woman returned the phone, ¡°You may go in now.¡± Zhou Xufang carefully took her phone back, then proceeded to the inner courtyard. Upon entering, she found four forks in the path, with paintings of Plum, Orchid, Bamboo, and Chrysanthemum hanging nearby. She sent a text asking the customer which courtyard but received no reply. Forced to check each one, she began her search. Chapter 12 - Chapter 12: 012: The Luo Familys Adopted Son Chapter 12: 012: The Luo Family¡¯s Adopted Son Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation She first went to room 304 of Fusheng Inn. After all, it was a place of pleasure. Her hearing was very good; the music, singing, and dancing were especially noisy, aside from the drunken laughter and the giggles, there were also the cries and struggles of men and women. ¡°Listen early, and you wouldn¡¯t have to suffer so much.¡± The man¡¯s tone was frivolous. ¡°I¡¯m going to sue you all, I¡¯m going to sue you all!¡± The woman was hysterical. The men, however, were all laughing. One was arrogant: ¡°Go ahead, go sue.¡± One mocked: ¡°I¡¯d like to see how this bitch remains chaste.¡± ¡°Get away!¡± ¡°All of you get away! Don¡¯t touch me! Don¡¯t touch me!¡± The woman cried bitterly, desperate, resentful, unwilling, and reluctant. Oh, she was being forced. The mask was soaked with rain. Zhou Xufang took off the mask, threw it into the trash can, wiped her face with the back of her hand, then walked to the door of 304, grasping the doorknob, and gave it a gentle twist. ¡°Click!¡± The door opened. Inside, it was smoky and smelled of alcohol. The woman¡¯s clothes were disheveled, pressed to the ground by two men, while another man straddled her. He was middle-aged, slightly obese, and wore frameless glasses. His belt was loose, and his pants were stained with white filth. His business was interrupted, and he glared with rage: ¡°Who let you open the door?¡± Zhou Xufang kicked the door all the way open: ¡°Delivery.¡± Occasional passersby strolled the corridor, so the man had to climb off the woman, grabbed a coat to cover the mess on his pants, his face extremely sullen: ¡°We didn¡¯t order any food, get lost.¡± The woman on the ground took this chance to get up, someone grabbed her, she frantically pushed them away, biting, and took the opportunity to run. The man panicked: ¡°Quick! Go catch her.¡± Zhou Xufang at the door was knocked aside. The woman, covered in wounds, stumbled and ran slowly, two people chasing after her. Passersby only glanced at her a few more times, leaving their sights behind, but not their footsteps. Why would they turn a blind eye? Had they seen it so often? Zhou Xufang couldn¡¯t understand. She turned sideways, avoiding the surveillance, plucking a button from her clothes, pinched it between her thumb and index finger, and flicked it gently. One of the chasing men cried out, his calf went numb, dragging the man in front down. By this time, the woman had already run out of Fusheng Inn. Zhou Xufang put on the hood of her raincoat and continued her delivery. Behind her, the man was swearing. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to lock the door?¡± ¡°I did lock it.¡± A click sound, the entire lock fell off. ¡°Why is the lock broken?¡± ¡°The woman took it off?¡± ¡°Damn, what nonsense are you saying? How could she have the strength to twist the lock off?¡± ¡°Then why did it break?¡± ¡°Enough.¡± The man was impatient, ¡°Go inform Manager Chen.¡± Half a moment later, Manager Chen received the news. Manager Chen of Fusheng Inn, in her forties, was a slightly plump yet still charming woman, dressed in a light purple cheongsam, her every step was graceful. ¡°Secretary Han.¡± ¡°Manager Chen.¡± The speaker was dressed in a suit, looking refined. Manager Chen approached and asked: ¡°Is Younger Luo inside?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Among the Luo Family of merchants in the Imperial City, there was only one person called Younger Luo. Manager Chen pushed the door open and entered. The room was dimly lit. A woman lay sideways on a wooden chair, smoking, with thin lips and single eyelids, a rather indifferent appearance. A cigarette was held between her fingers, through the white haze, a faint smile hung at the corner of her mouth. Luo Family¡¯s eldest granddaughter, Luo Qinghe. Besides the old master, the entire Luo Family had her holding the most power. Her brows and eyes were sharp with the shrewdness and toughness of a seasoned business person. With flaming red lips, she exhaled a thin stream of smoke: ¡°Has the contract been signed?¡± Manager Chen stepped forward, ¡°Signed.¡± ¡°And that newcomer? Is she obedient?¡± ¡°Not very obedient.¡± Manager Chen laughed. ¡°Said she wanted to sue us.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± She flicked the ash, dragging her tone, ¡°Handle it according to the old rules.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Finishing the cigarette, Luo Qinghe stood up, straightened her professional suit, drained the glass of whiskey, and stepped out of the room in high heels. She opened the door, seeing a familiar face. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± The other side glanced sideways, looked at her, and ignored her. Luo Qinghe folded her arms, leaning against the door frame, smiling: ¡°Why don¡¯t you respond?¡± Her features were plain, but once she smiled, her aura emerged, full of arrogance. Jiang Zhi did not respond. Xue Baoyi stopped his steps, teasing: ¡°Miss Luo really doesn¡¯t know her place. If our Brother Zhi doesn¡¯t respond, it means he doesn¡¯t want to. Asking like this is just slapping your own face, isn¡¯t it?¡± This was indeed hurtful. Luo Qinghe wasn¡¯t angry, her eyes unabashedly lingering on Jiang Zhi: ¡°Young Master is being protective.¡± Xue Baoyi lazily lifted a foot, blocking Luo Qinghe¡¯s sight: ¡°What do you think?¡± She smirked, half-joking, her eyes brimming with confidence and dominance: ¡°Rumors are indeed true. Your harem of three thousand is a sham. Jiang Zhi is your true heart.¡± She dared to say this. Xue Baoyi¡¯s face flushed with anger: ¡°You¡ª¡± Ahead, Jiang Zhi urged: ¡°What are you wasting words with her for.¡± He slowed his pace, his eartips dyed red, and his suppressed coughs intermittent. Xue Bingxue soothed him. Xue Baoyi snorted, rolling his eyes, and followed Jiang Zhi. A left turn into a long corridor. Xue Baoyi asked Jiang Zhi: ¡°Did you have some old grudge with the Luo Family before? Why do you hate them so much?¡± Anyway, in his memory, Jiang Zhi never gave the Luo Family a good face. ¡°You talk too much.¡± Jiang Zhi walked faster, ¡°Don¡¯t follow me, I¡¯ll return by myself.¡± After saying that, he left the Xue uncle and nephew behind and walked away alone. Ah Wan followed with a chicken in her arms. Xue Baoyi scratched his head: ¡°Why did he get angry?¡± Xue Bingxue¡¯s hair was soft, cut short, and under the light, the shadows between the hair were fine and scattered, looking very gentle and harmless: ¡°Did you forget?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Xue Baoyi was puzzled. Xue Bingxue checked the surroundings, finding no one, then said: ¡°Jiang Zhi¡¯s first love was the adopted child of the Luo Family.¡± Xue Baoyi knew a bit of this story too. He just couldn¡¯t understand: ¡°It¡¯s been so many years, why still remember? They only met a few times. Besides, the adopted child of the Luo Family wasn¡¯t great, couldn¡¯t even speak.¡± It was heard that he had intelligence issues as well. It was also strange. The Luo Family did not have a male heir in this generation. Adoption was appropriate, but why adopt a child who was both mute and had mental issues? But oddly enough, it was that mute and mentally challenged child that Jiang Zhi remembered for so many years. Xue Bingxue, with a serious baby face, said: ¡°Don¡¯t ever say that in front of Jiang Zhi.¡± He wouldn¡¯t dare. The Luo Family¡¯s adopted child was rarely mentioned among the brothers. ¡°Who would say that, am I stupid?¡± Xue Baoyi didn¡¯t want to mention this anymore, sighing: ¡°Ah, what is love in this world?¡± Sighing, he dialed a phone number, ¡°Come to Fusheng Inn, Mr. is lonely.¡± On the other end, a woman coyly responded. Xue Bingxue was stunned by this bold move: ¡°You¡ª¡± He was furious, unable to curse, staring at Xue Baoyi for a while, forcing out four words, ¡°Shameless!¡± The shameless Xue Baoyi hooked his arm around his uncle¡¯s neck: ¡°Uncle, let your nephew enlighten you.¡± Xue Bingxue, with a stern baby face, pushed away that scoundrel, and directly called: ¡°Second brother, manage your son. He is messing around with men and women, what kind of behavior is this!¡± The indiscriminate Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± This innocent fool! Chapter 13 - Chapter 13: 013: Xu Fang wants Brother Zhis WeChat (First Update) Chapter 13: 013: Xu Fang wants Brother Zhi¡¯s WeChat (First Update) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°` Bamboo Garden, Room 403. Zhou Xufang knocked on the door. The person who answered was a young man, wearing suit pants and a shirt, with two buttons undone at the collar, and a tie loosely hanging around his neck. His appearance was fierce, his attire was quite formal, but his hair was dyed in an unconventional color. Zhou Xufang handed over the porridge. ¡°Your delivery.¡± He didn¡¯t take it, his gaze swept over Xufang¡¯s face, and he smiled like a little rascal, ¡°Miss, give me your WeChat.¡± Scoundrel. Zhou Xufang remained expressionless, ¡°I don¡¯t use WeChat.¡± The man poked the delivery bag with one finger, smiling roguishly, ¡°No WeChat? Then I¡¯ll give you a bad review.¡± Zhou Xufang put down the stuff and walked away. Hey, she¡¯s quite wild. The man closed the door and carried the bag back to his seat. There were quite a few men and women in the room, someone teased, ¡°Mr. Ming, you don¡¯t even let the delivery girl go?¡± The man called Mr. Ming tore off his tie, ¡°A pretty girl, not flirting is a waste of resources.¡± The guy next to him laughed at him, ¡°Keep that up, watch out for your sister¡¯s scolding!¡± Mr. Ming bristled, ¡°Don¡¯t mention that tomboy Ming Saiying.¡± ¡°Haha, scared, huh?¡± ¡°Get lost!¡± ¡°¡­¡± The room was filled with people, merry and lively. Jiang Zhi rubbed his temples, the noise from this place made his head hurt. ¡°Mr. Jiang,¡± Ah Wan was thrilled, ¡°look!¡± The person who shielded you from the chicken poop! Fussing so much, what¡¯s that about? Jiang Zhi had seen it already, but he pretended not to. The commotion drew the peculiar person¡¯s attention, and he had to ask, ¡°How many jobs do you work?¡± The person still had that blank, cold expression, ¡°Do you have WeChat?¡± Completely unrelated, what was that all about? Jiang Zhi looked at her, increasingly finding her odd. ¡°Yes.¡± It was Ah Wan who answered on his behalf. He really liked this screen protector girl, hoping she could ¡°straighten out¡± his employer. The employer¡¯s chronic imbalance made his temper too volatile. His unsolicited help earned him a cold glance from the employer. He hugged the chicken and backed off. ¡°Can you give me your WeChat?¡± She actually wanted the address. That chicken made a mess, and she wanted to bring another box of milk as an apology. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you don¡¯t use WeChat?¡± Her eyes, like autumn water, half-opened, half-shuttered, exuded a casual three-part laziness, three-part delicate faintness. It seemed her conversation with that rogue had been overheard. Zhou Xufang honestly responded, ¡°I said I don¡¯t use it because I didn¡¯t want to give it.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t use WeChat either.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Xufang thought, he was still mad because of that cock that defecated everywhere. She glanced at the chicken in Ah Wan¡¯s hands, pulled down her yellow delivery cap, and walked away with her head lowered. Ah Wan felt that the screen protector girl¡¯s figure looked very dejected, couldn¡¯t help but speak for her, ¡°Mr. Jiang, I think she¡¯s a good person.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t say anything, standing at a fork in the road, watching that person in the black raincoat. Ah Wan was very sure, ¡°And, I think she likes you.¡± She came to ask for WeChat after all! Jiang Zhi turned and walked another path, he wasn¡¯t in high spirits, his steps were slow and labored. He asked a completely unrelated question, ¡°What¡¯s your IQ?¡± Why suddenly ask this sad question? Ah Wan answered truthfully, ¡°Just under a hundred.¡± Really, just a little short. Jiang Zhi showed an ¡®I knew it¡¯ expression, ¡°Talk less in the future.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± It felt like he was being looked down upon. Ah Wan had worked for Jiang Zhi for several years, if it weren¡¯t for his worrying IQ, he wouldn¡¯t be doing all sorts of chores for him. It was two years ago, Ah Wan¡¯s mother had uremia, needed a kidney transplant. At that time, Ah Wan was a nameless boxer, couldn¡¯t afford his mother¡¯s surgery. He thought it over for three nights and decided to rob someone. After making the decision, Ah Wan lurked at Fusheng Inn for a week, finally chose a target¡ªa rich, frail young master. The process went smoothly, he successfully robbed a very expensive-looking watch, but it was his first time committing a crime, inexperienced, he rode his motorcycle into the police station¡­ The rich, frail young master bore him no grudge. Not only did he not press charges, but he also bailed him out, paid for his mother¡¯s expensive medical bills. At first, he thought he¡¯d met a savior like Guanyin, until that thirty-year long¡ªand a servitude contract! That young master was Jiang Zhi. ¡°Sigh!¡± Ah Wan sighed. The chicken in his arms clucked. Jiang Zhi glanced at the chicken. The chicken immediately stretched its neck and clucked. It was a sturdy cock, had been causing trouble all day but still full of energy. But its fate wasn¡¯t good, Ah Wan said, ¡°I¡¯ll slaughter it when I get home,¡± then added, ¡°I¡¯ll make chicken soup for you tomorrow.¡± There was wind outside, almost winter, the nights were turning chilly. Jiang Zhi¡¯s throat was uncomfortable, he coughed and bent over, looking listless, ¡°I don¡¯t want to drink.¡± If he didn¡¯t want it¡­ Ah Wan asked, ¡°Then what about this chicken?¡± He seemingly replied absent-mindedly, ¡°Keep it.¡± Ah Wan doubted his ears, ¡°Why keep it?¡± A cock can¡¯t be a pet. Why keep it? Jiang Zhi pondered, if it were his own usual self, he would have buried this cock alive while it was still breathing. It¡¯s not that he was moved by pity, he had no such thing. So why keep it? He didn¡¯t know. Just as Xue Baoyi said, his capriciousness had reached a maddening degree. He was curious about the chicken¡¯s owner, so he kept it first. When he got upset, he¡¯d kill it. Dragging his slow steps and drawling tone, he casually gave a reason¡ª ¡°To lay eggs.¡± Was the wind too strong? Did he hear it wrong? Ah Wan scratched his ear, and couldn¡¯t hold it in. He was an honest person, had to speak up, ¡°Mr. Jiang.¡± Jiang Zhi acknowledged with a hum. Well-cared-for rich boys¡¯ ignorance wasn¡¯t surprising, but he still had to inform, ¡°This is a cock. Cocks don¡¯t lay eggs.¡± The cock: ¡°Cluck!¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± This one¡¯s IQ definitely wasn¡¯t just a bit short of a hundred. ¡°Mr. Jiang, where should I take you?¡± ¡°Home.¡± Old Lady Jiang was once a noble lady from a prominent family. Many old customs were retained in Jiang¡¯s house, such as the lanterns lit outside the courtyard at night, which gave a classical charm from afar. The poodle kept by the Old Madam barked in the yard. The Second Madam of the Luo Family stepped out of the hall and asked the housekeeper in the yard, ¡°Who¡¯s back?¡± The housekeeper replied, ¡°Second Madam, it¡¯s the young master.¡± The Second Madam, Luo Changfang, was from the merchant family Luo, and Luo Qinghe addressed her as Third Aunt. Luo Changfang adjusted the shawl around her, ¡°Is it Brother Zhi?¡± ¡°` Chapter 15 - Chapter 15: 015: Jiang Zhi is the most beautiful in the world! Chapter 15: 015: Jiang Zhi is the most beautiful in the world! Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation She opened another can of milk. She didn¡¯t used to drink much milk, but when she bought it for Jiang Zhi, she ordered an extra case and magically found that the milk was really tasty. This was the third can. In one morning, Zhou Xufang drank three cans of imported milk. Probably because of Ah Wan¡¯s comment that ¡°the girl pasting the film likes your looks,¡± Jiang Zhi gave that person a few glances. Then he retracted his gaze and changed his lying position: ¡°Call the vice director over.¡± Ah Wan went to fetch Vice Director Zhao. Vice Director Zhao was a bit panicky when called upon: ¡°Director Jiang, what can I do for you?¡± Jiang Zhi, seemingly absent-minded, was playing with a can of milk aimlessly. With no preamble, he said two words: ¡°Extras.¡± ¡°Uh?¡± Vice Director Zhao couldn¡¯t quite grasp what was meant, ¡°What, what¡¯s wrong with the extras?¡± Was it that they acted poorly, or¡ª ¡°How much per day?¡± Uh¡­ Director Jiang actually started caring about the livelihood of the extras. Vice Director Zhao answered truthfully, ¡°About a hundred to two hundred, maybe a bit higher for special roles.¡± Two hundred. The three cans of milk she drank cost nearly a few hundreds. Jiang Zhi found it bewildering; even if she pasted more films and delivered more food, it wouldn¡¯t be enough for her to drink this much milk. Perhaps all the money she earned from part-time jobs was spent on buying milk? Strange, why was he curious about an extra¡¯s livelihood? He toyed with the milk can in his hand. Maybe he really was too idle these days: ¡°The extras today performed well.¡± What did that mean? Vice Director Zhao scratched his head: ¡°So¡­what do you think¡­should be done?¡± Director Jiang lifted his eyelids. Vice Director Zhao suggested, ¡°Doubling their pay?¡± The director said nothing, just looked at Vice Director Zhao. He was sweating, hurriedly changed his tune: ¡°Twice as much?¡± Pop. The director pulled the tab, opened the milk, and took a sip. Vice Director Zhao wiped his forehead, stammering, ¡°Fi-five times?¡± No response. The person just got up, put on his coat, and started walking off. He seemed unwell, eyes drooping, pulling his coat tighter as he walked, looking frail. What¡¯s going on? Vice Director Zhao was puzzled. After he walked away, the mercurial Jiang Meiren said, ¡°Do as you see fit.¡± ¡°?¡± Vice Director Zhao wiped his sweat, filled with questions. Ah Wan checked the time; it was one o¡¯clock, time for the boss¡¯s lunch break. He followed along. ¡°How¡¯s that chicken lately?¡± Jiang Zhi asked suddenly. Ah Wan replied, ¡°Quite well, it gained two ounces.¡± Then there was nothing but intermittent coughing along the way, suppressed, making one¡¯s chest feel tight. He seemed really unwell, Zhou Xufang thought. ¡°Xufang.¡± Fang Lixiang waved a hand in front of her: ¡°Xufang.¡± Zhou Xufang was still looking into the distance. Fang Lixiang jumped into her line of sight: ¡°Hey, come back to earth!¡± She turned her head: ¡°Hm?¡± The curiosity in her eyes was still there, unlike her usual calm demeanor, showing a hint of liveliness. Fang Lixiang pulled a girl to her: ¡°This is my assistant.¡± She signed with Baoguang, and got some attention, managed by Lin Shang, a top agent of Baoguang. But Lin Shang had other top-tier and mid-tier artists, so he couldn¡¯t give her his full attention. This time, he sent her a dedicated assistant. The girl looked very young, short hair, clean and neat. ¡°Hi, I¡¯m Jiang Wei¡¯er.¡± She smiled sweetly, giving a first impression of being very obedient. Zhou Xufang wasn¡¯t used to making eye contact, instinctively looked down, and said her own name: ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er smiled at her, a dimple appeared on her left cheek, shallow but visible when she showed her teeth. She also had the surname Jiang, she was also good-looking, Zhou Xufang thought. ¡°Xufang, do you have any more milk? Let me have a sip to calm my nerves.¡± Fang Lixiang clutched her chest, eyes shifting rapidly, ¡°I¡¯m about to do a scene with my idol, my heartbeat¡¯s racing.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er¡¯s eyes widened slightly, looking even more spirited: ¡°Your idol is Xiao Linsu?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Fang Lixiang seized any chance to praise her idol, pulled out her phone, found a photo of her idol, and began gushing, ¡°Isn¡¯t he handsome? I could admire this face for a hundred years!¡± The male lead of this film was Xiao Linsu, but Zhou Xufang hadn¡¯t seen him much during her few times as an extra, so she took an extra look at Fang Lixiang¡¯s phone. Then she said, ¡°He¡¯s not as good-looking as Jiang Zhi.¡± She glanced at the photo again, ¡°Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes are better-looking.¡± Three-second pause, ¡°His mouth is too.¡± Everything about him was better. Fang Lixiang gave a death glare. Jiang Wei¡¯er also gave a death glare. Zhou Xufang said no more, handed the opened milk to Fang Lixiang. Ding, Jiang Wei¡¯er¡¯s phone received a message. She glanced at it, then stood up: ¡°I¡¯m going to the restroom.¡± The restroom was connected to the lounge, separated by a corridor. Just as Jiang Wei¡¯er reached the turn, her wrist was grabbed, and she was pulled into a corner. ¡°Wei¡¯er.¡± A man¡¯s voice, low and pleasant. Xiao Linsu, originally a singer, had a naturally good voice. Jiang Wei¡¯er nervously looked around, pulled the man aside, tried to free her hand but it was held tighter: ¡°Let go, we¡¯ll be seen.¡± Xiao Linsu didn¡¯t let go, instead he wrapped an arm around her waist: ¡°If we¡¯re seen, let¡¯s go public.¡± Usually gentle and refined, he rarely threw tantrums like this, but going public was impossible. If her identity was revealed with the Jiang family background, and Jiang Zhi being her nephew, no matter how hard Xiao Linsu worked, people would accuse him of using connections. ¡°You signed with Baoguang?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Xiao Linsu hugged her, chin resting on her shoulder, lightly rubbing, somewhat unhappy: ¡°Why not come to me?¡± He had a mixed heritage, distinct features, a blend of oriental delicacy and western sharpness, especially gentle in nature. He had been a top-tier star for years. ¡°Anywhere is the same,¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er let him hold her, smiling softly, ¡°It¡¯s good to avoid suspicion too.¡± His voice was rich and low, ¡°Wei¡¯er, when I win Best Actor, let¡¯s go public.¡± She smiled, gentle and warm: ¡°Okay.¡± Just then, someone called for Linsu. Jiang Wei¡¯er released her hold and pushed him: ¡°Off you go.¡± He kissed her on the cheek. When he had gone far, Jiang Wei¡¯er came out, raising her head to see two familiar faces. One was Xue Baoyi, the tone in his voice extremely annoyed: ¡°Ugh, ugh,¡± his tone very annoyed, ¡°So clingy, Jiang Zhi¡¯s aunt, aren¡¯t you bright-eyed?¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er ignored him and walked away. ¡°Wei, Wei¡¯er.¡± Xue Bingxue called her anxiously, face flushed red. Jiang Wei¡¯er turned her head: ¡°Hm?¡± She wore a white long dress, light makeup, and had bangs, looking very much like the quintessential girl-next-door, extremely well-behaved. She never used to wear dresses, never used to wear makeup, Xue Bingxue frowned, speaking softly, ¡°If anyone in the circle bullies you, tell, tell me.¡± The sentence was spoken awkwardly. Damn, they¡¯d grown up together wearing the same trousers, yet he was nervous. Xue Baoyi couldn¡¯t bear to look, snorted, ¡°The Fifth Miss of the Jiang family, Jiang Zhi¡¯s Fifth Aunt, who would dare to bully her?¡± His gaze roamed over Jiang Wei¡¯er, that white dress was glaring, anger boiling, he sarcastically remarked, ¡°Jiang Wei¡¯er, aren¡¯t you being pathetic? For a man, pulling out the thorns, from a wildflower to a delicate blossom?¡± She even wore a dress. Before, this girl could kick a two-hundred-pound man. It¡¯s just that the one named Xiao liked delicate types, so this fierce flower pulled out all her thorns, wore a lady¡¯s dress, and mingled in the entertainment industry as an assistant. The more Xue Baoyi thought, the angrier he got: ¡°Where¡¯s your fierceness from before when you could take down three people?¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er couldn¡¯t stand it anymore, went forward, and kicked him: ¡°Get lost! If you meddle in my business again, I¡¯ll beat you to death!¡± After kicking him, she ruffled her short hair and walked off. Xue Baoyi, clutching his leg, grimaced in pain. Damn it! He was furious, steam practically coming out of him: ¡°Just arrogant in front of us, acting like a declawed kitten with Xiao Linsu, you¡¯re hopeless!¡± Xue Bingxue looked pained: ¡°Don¡¯t say that about Wei¡¯er.¡± Xue Baoyi was angry at his uselessness: ¡°You still defend her!¡± He wanted to poke his silly, sweet uncle¡¯s head, ¡°How did our Xue family produce such a coward? Crushing on her for over ten years, and let someone else steal her, isn¡¯t that embarrassing?¡± Xue Bingxue was even more sorrowful, head hanging, self-loathing: ¡°Wei¡¯er doesn¡¯t like me.¡± What could he do? Look at this, so pitiful! Xue Baoyi wished he could kick him: ¡°Couldn¡¯t you use some force?!¡± Xue Bingxue turned bright red, afraid Jiang Wei¡¯er, who hadn¡¯t gone far, would hear and dragged Xue Baoyi to the side, glaring: ¡°Y-you pervert!¡± Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± This kind of silly sweet, deserved to be snatched! Xue Bingxue was the Xue family¡¯s only child late in life, Jiang Wei¡¯er was the Jiang family¡¯s only daughter late in life, their birthdays were a day apart, personalities one dominant and one submissive, an uncle and a great-aunt, a perfect match by all accounts, except Xue Bingxue, from fourteen to twenty-eight, had secretly loved her for over fourteen years, never daring to hold her hand. So angry. Xue Baoyi, in a fit of rebellion, kicked his uncle and ran off. Outside the director¡¯s lounge. Ah Wan stuck to the door and softly called: ¡°Mr. Jiang.¡± The person inside was half-asleep, voice hoarse, with bubbles: ¡°Sleeping, don¡¯t bother me.¡± If it had been anyone else, Ah Wan wouldn¡¯t have dared to disturb this notoriously cranky person, but he said, ¡°Miss Zhou, the one pasting the film, is here.¡± Chapter 15 - Chapter 15: 015: Jiang Zhi is the most beautiful in the world! Chapter 15: 015: Jiang Zhi is the most beautiful in the world! Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation She opened another can of milk. She didn¡¯t used to drink much milk, but when she bought it for Jiang Zhi, she ordered an extra case and magically found that the milk was really tasty. This was the third can. In one morning, Zhou Xufang drank three cans of imported milk. Probably because of Ah Wan¡¯s comment that ¡°the girl pasting the film likes your looks,¡± Jiang Zhi gave that person a few glances. Then he retracted his gaze and changed his lying position: ¡°Call the vice director over.¡± Ah Wan went to fetch Vice Director Zhao. Vice Director Zhao was a bit panicky when called upon: ¡°Director Jiang, what can I do for you?¡± Jiang Zhi, seemingly absent-minded, was playing with a can of milk aimlessly. With no preamble, he said two words: ¡°Extras.¡± ¡°Uh?¡± Vice Director Zhao couldn¡¯t quite grasp what was meant, ¡°What, what¡¯s wrong with the extras?¡± Was it that they acted poorly, or¡ª ¡°How much per day?¡± Uh¡­ Director Jiang actually started caring about the livelihood of the extras. Vice Director Zhao answered truthfully, ¡°About a hundred to two hundred, maybe a bit higher for special roles.¡± Two hundred. The three cans of milk she drank cost nearly a few hundreds. Jiang Zhi found it bewildering; even if she pasted more films and delivered more food, it wouldn¡¯t be enough for her to drink this much milk. Perhaps all the money she earned from part-time jobs was spent on buying milk? Strange, why was he curious about an extra¡¯s livelihood? He toyed with the milk can in his hand. Maybe he really was too idle these days: ¡°The extras today performed well.¡± What did that mean? Vice Director Zhao scratched his head: ¡°So¡­what do you think¡­should be done?¡± Director Jiang lifted his eyelids. Vice Director Zhao suggested, ¡°Doubling their pay?¡± The director said nothing, just looked at Vice Director Zhao. He was sweating, hurriedly changed his tune: ¡°Twice as much?¡± Pop. The director pulled the tab, opened the milk, and took a sip. Vice Director Zhao wiped his forehead, stammering, ¡°Fi-five times?¡± No response. The person just got up, put on his coat, and started walking off. He seemed unwell, eyes drooping, pulling his coat tighter as he walked, looking frail. What¡¯s going on? Vice Director Zhao was puzzled. After he walked away, the mercurial Jiang Meiren said, ¡°Do as you see fit.¡± ¡°?¡± Vice Director Zhao wiped his sweat, filled with questions. Ah Wan checked the time; it was one o¡¯clock, time for the boss¡¯s lunch break. He followed along. ¡°How¡¯s that chicken lately?¡± Jiang Zhi asked suddenly. Ah Wan replied, ¡°Quite well, it gained two ounces.¡± Then there was nothing but intermittent coughing along the way, suppressed, making one¡¯s chest feel tight. He seemed really unwell, Zhou Xufang thought. ¡°Xufang.¡± Fang Lixiang waved a hand in front of her: ¡°Xufang.¡± Zhou Xufang was still looking into the distance. Fang Lixiang jumped into her line of sight: ¡°Hey, come back to earth!¡± She turned her head: ¡°Hm?¡± The curiosity in her eyes was still there, unlike her usual calm demeanor, showing a hint of liveliness. Fang Lixiang pulled a girl to her: ¡°This is my assistant.¡± She signed with Baoguang, and got some attention, managed by Lin Shang, a top agent of Baoguang. But Lin Shang had other top-tier and mid-tier artists, so he couldn¡¯t give her his full attention. This time, he sent her a dedicated assistant. The girl looked very young, short hair, clean and neat. ¡°Hi, I¡¯m Jiang Wei¡¯er.¡± She smiled sweetly, giving a first impression of being very obedient. Zhou Xufang wasn¡¯t used to making eye contact, instinctively looked down, and said her own name: ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er smiled at her, a dimple appeared on her left cheek, shallow but visible when she showed her teeth. She also had the surname Jiang, she was also good-looking, Zhou Xufang thought. ¡°Xufang, do you have any more milk? Let me have a sip to calm my nerves.¡± Fang Lixiang clutched her chest, eyes shifting rapidly, ¡°I¡¯m about to do a scene with my idol, my heartbeat¡¯s racing.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er¡¯s eyes widened slightly, looking even more spirited: ¡°Your idol is Xiao Linsu?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Fang Lixiang seized any chance to praise her idol, pulled out her phone, found a photo of her idol, and began gushing, ¡°Isn¡¯t he handsome? I could admire this face for a hundred years!¡± The male lead of this film was Xiao Linsu, but Zhou Xufang hadn¡¯t seen him much during her few times as an extra, so she took an extra look at Fang Lixiang¡¯s phone. Then she said, ¡°He¡¯s not as good-looking as Jiang Zhi.¡± She glanced at the photo again, ¡°Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes are better-looking.¡± Three-second pause, ¡°His mouth is too.¡± Everything about him was better. Fang Lixiang gave a death glare. Jiang Wei¡¯er also gave a death glare. Zhou Xufang said no more, handed the opened milk to Fang Lixiang. Ding, Jiang Wei¡¯er¡¯s phone received a message. She glanced at it, then stood up: ¡°I¡¯m going to the restroom.¡± The restroom was connected to the lounge, separated by a corridor. Just as Jiang Wei¡¯er reached the turn, her wrist was grabbed, and she was pulled into a corner. ¡°Wei¡¯er.¡± A man¡¯s voice, low and pleasant. Xiao Linsu, originally a singer, had a naturally good voice. Jiang Wei¡¯er nervously looked around, pulled the man aside, tried to free her hand but it was held tighter: ¡°Let go, we¡¯ll be seen.¡± Xiao Linsu didn¡¯t let go, instead he wrapped an arm around her waist: ¡°If we¡¯re seen, let¡¯s go public.¡± Usually gentle and refined, he rarely threw tantrums like this, but going public was impossible. If her identity was revealed with the Jiang family background, and Jiang Zhi being her nephew, no matter how hard Xiao Linsu worked, people would accuse him of using connections. ¡°You signed with Baoguang?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Xiao Linsu hugged her, chin resting on her shoulder, lightly rubbing, somewhat unhappy: ¡°Why not come to me?¡± He had a mixed heritage, distinct features, a blend of oriental delicacy and western sharpness, especially gentle in nature. He had been a top-tier star for years. ¡°Anywhere is the same,¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er let him hold her, smiling softly, ¡°It¡¯s good to avoid suspicion too.¡± His voice was rich and low, ¡°Wei¡¯er, when I win Best Actor, let¡¯s go public.¡± She smiled, gentle and warm: ¡°Okay.¡± Just then, someone called for Linsu. Jiang Wei¡¯er released her hold and pushed him: ¡°Off you go.¡± He kissed her on the cheek. When he had gone far, Jiang Wei¡¯er came out, raising her head to see two familiar faces. One was Xue Baoyi, the tone in his voice extremely annoyed: ¡°Ugh, ugh,¡± his tone very annoyed, ¡°So clingy, Jiang Zhi¡¯s aunt, aren¡¯t you bright-eyed?¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er ignored him and walked away. ¡°Wei, Wei¡¯er.¡± Xue Bingxue called her anxiously, face flushed red. Jiang Wei¡¯er turned her head: ¡°Hm?¡± She wore a white long dress, light makeup, and had bangs, looking very much like the quintessential girl-next-door, extremely well-behaved. She never used to wear dresses, never used to wear makeup, Xue Bingxue frowned, speaking softly, ¡°If anyone in the circle bullies you, tell, tell me.¡± The sentence was spoken awkwardly. Damn, they¡¯d grown up together wearing the same trousers, yet he was nervous. Xue Baoyi couldn¡¯t bear to look, snorted, ¡°The Fifth Miss of the Jiang family, Jiang Zhi¡¯s Fifth Aunt, who would dare to bully her?¡± His gaze roamed over Jiang Wei¡¯er, that white dress was glaring, anger boiling, he sarcastically remarked, ¡°Jiang Wei¡¯er, aren¡¯t you being pathetic? For a man, pulling out the thorns, from a wildflower to a delicate blossom?¡± She even wore a dress. Before, this girl could kick a two-hundred-pound man. It¡¯s just that the one named Xiao liked delicate types, so this fierce flower pulled out all her thorns, wore a lady¡¯s dress, and mingled in the entertainment industry as an assistant. The more Xue Baoyi thought, the angrier he got: ¡°Where¡¯s your fierceness from before when you could take down three people?¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er couldn¡¯t stand it anymore, went forward, and kicked him: ¡°Get lost! If you meddle in my business again, I¡¯ll beat you to death!¡± After kicking him, she ruffled her short hair and walked off. Xue Baoyi, clutching his leg, grimaced in pain. Damn it! He was furious, steam practically coming out of him: ¡°Just arrogant in front of us, acting like a declawed kitten with Xiao Linsu, you¡¯re hopeless!¡± Xue Bingxue looked pained: ¡°Don¡¯t say that about Wei¡¯er.¡± Xue Baoyi was angry at his uselessness: ¡°You still defend her!¡± He wanted to poke his silly, sweet uncle¡¯s head, ¡°How did our Xue family produce such a coward? Crushing on her for over ten years, and let someone else steal her, isn¡¯t that embarrassing?¡± Xue Bingxue was even more sorrowful, head hanging, self-loathing: ¡°Wei¡¯er doesn¡¯t like me.¡± What could he do? Look at this, so pitiful! Xue Baoyi wished he could kick him: ¡°Couldn¡¯t you use some force?!¡± Xue Bingxue turned bright red, afraid Jiang Wei¡¯er, who hadn¡¯t gone far, would hear and dragged Xue Baoyi to the side, glaring: ¡°Y-you pervert!¡± Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± This kind of silly sweet, deserved to be snatched! Xue Bingxue was the Xue family¡¯s only child late in life, Jiang Wei¡¯er was the Jiang family¡¯s only daughter late in life, their birthdays were a day apart, personalities one dominant and one submissive, an uncle and a great-aunt, a perfect match by all accounts, except Xue Bingxue, from fourteen to twenty-eight, had secretly loved her for over fourteen years, never daring to hold her hand. So angry. Xue Baoyi, in a fit of rebellion, kicked his uncle and ran off. Outside the director¡¯s lounge. Ah Wan stuck to the door and softly called: ¡°Mr. Jiang.¡± The person inside was half-asleep, voice hoarse, with bubbles: ¡°Sleeping, don¡¯t bother me.¡± If it had been anyone else, Ah Wan wouldn¡¯t have dared to disturb this notoriously cranky person, but he said, ¡°Miss Zhou, the one pasting the film, is here.¡± Chapter 16 - Chapter 16: 016: Do you have a crush on me? Chapter 16: 016: Do you have a crush on me? Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation If it were someone else, Ah Wan definitely wouldn¡¯t disturb this person who is extremely grumpy upon waking up. He said, ¡°Miss Zhou, who installs the screen protector, is here.¡± It was quiet inside for quite a while. The person who had just woken up, rarely seen to be a bit slow to react, sounded drowsy and surprisingly harmless. He said, ¡°The door¡¯s not locked.¡± When Zhou Xufang came in, Jiang Zhi had just put on his coat. When he raised his hand, she happened to see a hint of skin under his black sweater, but it was quickly covered by the sweater. Jiang Zhi glanced at Ah Wan, ¡°Get out, close the door.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Ah Wan went out, closed the door, and stationed himself at the door of the lounge, pressing his ear against the door, then holding his breath and concentrating. ¡°What do you want from me?¡± Jiang Zhi sat down, holding a cup of hot water to warm his hands. Having just been woken up, there were still two red marks pressed into his face. This person must be a restless sleeper, Zhou Xufang thought. She put down her black backpack on the ground, ¡°A gift for you, a peace offering.¡± The chicken had pooped on him, and she felt really bad about it. Jiang Zhi¡¯s gaze moved from her face to the bag, ¡°More chickens?¡± He couldn¡¯t hide the disdain in his eyes. ¡°No, it¡¯s milk.¡± She paused, then added, ¡°Two crates.¡± When she spoke, she was always expressionless, but her tone was always so earnest, giving off a feeling of being both dull and cold. This brand was very expensive. How long would she have to install screen protectors to afford two crates of milk? Strange person. Jiang Zhi put down the cup, stood up from the sofa, and walked to within a meter of her, looking into her eyes. These eyes were beautiful, but looking too deeply into them made one¡¯s heart race. ¡°Zhou Xufang,¡± he called her name for the first time like this. Zhou Xufang looked up, her eyes fixed as she thought that not only was he handsome, but his voice was also pleasant to hear. Jiang Zhi took another step forward, his expression unclear, his eyes deep and unreadable, pitch black. He asked, ¡°Am I good-looking?¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s expression froze for a moment. He asked casually, ¡°I asked you, am I good-looking or not?¡± Why did he ask when he already knew the answer? He was the most handsome person she had ever seen, just as good-looking as her cotton candy box. She wasn¡¯t blind, her eyesight was so good, how could she not see it? She nodded, ¡°Mm, good-looking.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s mouth curved slightly. Sure enough, his damned good looks. Ah Wan, that intellectually deficient guy, was right this time. This person was indeed attracted to his looks, which is why she made a series of peculiar moves to get his attention. Nothing unusual about it, he had seen it countless times. He tilted his chin up, in a good mood, and his tone was quite friendly as he said, ¡°Don¡¯t fall in love with me. I¡¯m not interested in women.¡± This person, though strange, was quite interesting. If only she was a guy¡ª ¡°Fine, I won¡¯t fall in love with you.¡± Jiang Zhi was choked by her earnest response; a breath got stuck, his face flushed red, and his lungs hurt. He covered his mouth and started coughing violently, ¡°Cough cough cough cough cough cough cough¡­¡± Why was she different from those who pursued him? Shouldn¡¯t she continue to chase him tirelessly after he rejects her? ¡°Cough cough cough cough¡­¡± The more he coughed, the more his lungs hurt! Zhou Xufang stood there calmly, with no special expression on her face, and asked, ¡°Are you okay?¡± Jiang Zhi grabbed the cup by his side and, disregarding the heat, took a big gulp, smoothing his breath. His face was still hot as he looked at her coldly, ¡°Why are you being stubborn? I won¡¯t do anything to you.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s expression shifted from being dumb to confused. She wasn¡¯t being stubborn. The cotton candy box, no matter how pretty it was, she would only look at it more; it wouldn¡¯t change anything. It was the same with Jiang Zhi. She liked his appearance but didn¡¯t covet it. She also liked the new chandelier at the porridge shop, and each time she delivered takeout, she would glance at it a few times, but she wouldn¡¯t steal it home. Jiang Zhi was irritated by her expression. He turned his back to her and started undoing his buttons, ¡°You go out. I¡¯m going back to sleep.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Zhou Xufang just left. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Was her IQ the same as Lin Wanwan¡¯s?! He had only napped for a while. After getting back into bed, he couldn¡¯t fall asleep, his whole body felt uncomfortable. His pride was shattered, and his sense of competitiveness and desire to conquer were aroused like never before. How could he sleep? In the afternoon, there were three scenes to shoot. One actress was not in good condition and kept causing NGs. The director was clearly very angry and had a bad temper, directly throwing down the script. ¡°No need to shoot! Adjust your state. If you¡¯re still like this tomorrow, don¡¯t come.¡± The actress apologized profusely with a pale face. Zhou Xufang asked Fang Lixiang, ¡°Who is she?¡± ¡°You mean Cheng Feiran?¡± Fang Lixiang was playing Chicken, taking a moment to glance, ¡°An artist from Tianxing. Not very famous, seems to be a newcomer¡­ Damn, this noob, can¡¯t they play?!¡± When the game ended, Fang Lixiang, inevitably lost, cursed angrily. She encountered an idiot who was not only terrible but also always pretended. In the final duel¡­ that noob actually blew her, his teammate, up. So frustrating! Fang Lixiang took a deep breath and asked Zhou Xufang, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± She shook her head. Her hearing was too good, and she forgot to bring her noise-canceling earphones today. She just overheard the girl¡¯s phone conversation. ¡°I won¡¯t let you guys off!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll expose all those dirty tricks.¡± ¡°What am I afraid of? At worst, we¡¯ll both lose.¡± Cheng Feiran. Zhou Xufang had seen her at Fusheng Inn where she was bullied by several men. Because Cheng Feiran had too many NGs, the scene originally scheduled to end by five was shot until seven. Zhou Xufang¡¯s part as an extra was the last one to be filmed. By the time she returned to Yuquan Bay, it was almost eight o¡¯clock. She ordered takeout and sat on the sofa eating cotton candy after removing her shoes. Shuangjiang came online to find her, ¡°There¡¯s a new client.¡± She got up to go to the fridge, not deliberately avoiding the computer¡¯s camera. From the sofa to the fridge, with her speed, it took less than two seconds. Opening the fridge door, she took out a can of milk, ¡°What does the client want me to do?¡± She didn¡¯t cook and didn¡¯t have a fridge before. But recently, she had taken a liking to the brand of milk that Jiang Zhi drank, so she bought a fridge, and she discovered it tasted better chilled. ¡°The client stored something at Zhu Feng Building and wants us to retrieve it and deliver it to the TV station in seven days, to be received by Zhou Qing.¡± Shuangjiang typed on the computer screen, ¡°The commission is two million.¡± Two million, not bad. Zhou Xufang leaned against the fridge, drinking the milk very seriously, ¡°What about the client?¡± ¡°I investigated, nothing special, named Cheng Feiran.¡± Cheng Feiran¡­ Her again. ¡°Do you want to take it?¡± Shuangjiang asked her. She finished the last gulp of milk, crushed the can, and threw it into the trash can with a flick of her wrist, ¡°Take it.¡± On the weekend, Xue Baoyi called out a few friends, saying he had something important to discuss. The big thing was¡ªplaying Chicken with him. This guy had recently gotten addicted to the game and was terrible at it. Qiao Nanchu entered the private room while making a call. ¡°That informant is a bit odd.¡± He talked while tugging off his tie, ¡°Already hired a lawyer, then suddenly withdrew the case.¡± ¡°Check again.¡± He reclined on the sofa, his long legs perched on the coffee table, holding an unlit cigarette, ¡°No need to report it yet, find out the details first.¡± After finishing this talk, he moved to another case. Ten minutes into the call, Xue Baoyi threw a lighter at him, ¡°That¡¯s enough, it¡¯s the weekend, stop talking about work. Get online and help me crush this idiot.¡± Qiao Nanchu hung up and laughed, ¡°How old are you? So childish.¡± Twenty-five, and he still got heated playing games. Xue Baoyi wasn¡¯t convinced, ¡°Damn, that guy called me a noob, should I put up with it?¡± No way he could endure it, he urged harshly, ¡°Hurry, get on the game and help me thrash him!¡± Qiao Nanchu snorted, starting the game. Xue Baoyi handed an account to Xue Bingxue and then looked at Jiang Zhi, ¡°Brother Zhi, just need you now.¡± He curled up on the sofa, unmoving, ¡°Tired, don¡¯t want to play.¡± Xue Baoyi went to drag him. He turned away, ¡°Don¡¯t bother me, I¡¯m sleeping!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Damn, he¡¯s just so delicate! Yet this delicate person, lying there doing nothing, occasionally coughing softly, occasionally licking his lips with his red-tipped tongue¡­ as glorious as a peach blossom, such beauty. This fairy! Xue Baoyi kicked the person beside him, ¡°Uncle, call Jiang Zhi¡¯s fifth aunt. She¡¯s great at gaming, let her take over.¡± Xue Bingxue was reluctant, sounding like a little wife, ¡°Don¡¯t bother Wei¡¯er, she posted on her timeline that she¡¯s very busy.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Damn, all a bunch of trolls! Xue Baoyi licked his lips, resigned, and opened PUBG. He had made a pact with the guy who called him a noob to battle at ten o¡¯clock. Whoever didn¡¯t show up was a wimp! Ten minutes later¡­ ¡°Nanchu, hurry, hurry! He¡¯s attacking me!¡± ¡°Uncle, give me a hand.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Help! Come save me!¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to loot the body!¡± ¡°There¡¯s an ambush! Damn, Nanchu, Uncle, where are you?¡± Qiao Nanchu: ¡°¡­¡± Xue Bingxue: ¡°¡­¡± Xue Baoyi was still screaming, ¡°Nanchu, Nanchu¡ª¡± Qiao Nanchu kicked him, ¡°Can you shut up? You¡¯re giving me a headache.¡± Just after scolding, his game character fell backward and was killed. ¡°¡­¡± Qiao Nanchu choked on his own rage, glaring at Xue Baoyi, ¡°Why the hell did you blow me up?¡± Xue Baoyi was sweating nervously, ¡°My hand slipped.¡± Damn it! Qiao Nanchu threw his phone aside and, grabbing a pillow, pressed Xue Baoyi down on the sofa and started beating him. Just then, Ah Wan pushed the door open and came in. ¡°Mr. Jiang,¡± he walked forward, ¡°You¡¯re in the headlines.¡± Qiao Nanchu and Xue Baoyi stopped messing around and looked over. Jiang Zhi still had his eyes closed, sleeping, giving no reaction. Xue Baoyi asked, ¡°What¡¯s it about this time?¡± After all, Jiang Zhi was a big director with such a face, it was common for him to hit the trending headlines. Ah Wan thought for a moment, ¡°It¡¯s kind of a gossip piece.¡± Xue Baoyi got interested, ¡°Oh, Brother Zhi got into a scandal? With whom? Which big star?¡± ¡°With the screen protector girl,¡± Ah Wan said, ¡°Miss Zhou.¡± Jiang Zhi slowly opened his eyes. Chapter 17 - Chapter 17: 017: Did Jiang Mei Ren get slapped in the face today? Chapter 17: 017: Did Jiang Mei Ren get slapped in the face today? Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°` Jiang Zhi slowly opened his eyes. Ah Wan continued, ¡°Miss Zhou was photographed entering your lounge. The internet is abuzz about your relationship.¡± Those photos were not very clear, but those sharp-eyed could recognize Jiang Zhi. Xue Baoyi asked, ¡°Which media company is behind this?¡± So inconsiderate. Ah Wan replied, ¡°The Lu family.¡± No wonder. Most media companies wouldn¡¯t dare provoke the Jiang family¡¯s young master but the Lu family is different. Both are among the Four Great Families, and the Lu family isn¡¯t far behind the Jiang family. The two families have always been at odds. In this Imperial City, only the Lu family dared to annoy Jiang Zhi. Qiao Nanchu glanced at Jiang Zhi, unsure of what he was pondering, with his delicate eyebrows slightly furrowed. Qiao Nanchu tossed him the tablet: ¡°Those paparazzi act fast. They¡¯ve already found the protagonist.¡± On the screen was an enlarged face, which was Zhou Xufang. Jiang Zhi took a quick glance. A group of reporters surrounded Zhou Xufang at the entrance of the film city. She wore a baseball cap, shielding her face with her hand, eyes full of wariness. ¡°Who are you?¡± Her tone was exceptionally cold, almost chilling. ¡°We are reporters from Huayu Daily.¡± She continued covering her face, with tightly knitted brows indicating her vigilance and hostility, ¡°Why are you following me?¡± A reporter said, ¡°We aren¡¯t following you.¡± She repeated, ¡°Why are you following me?¡± ¡°We want to interview you. What¡¯s your relationship with Director Jiang?¡± She remained silent for a long time before realizing who Director Jiang was. She pushed away the camera: ¡°I¡¯m not very familiar with him.¡± The reporter persisted, ¡°Then why did you come from his¨C¡± She pulled down her hat further, covering her face, only showing a pair of sharp eyes: ¡°Don¡¯t follow me anymore.¡± The reporter tried to approach again. She snatched the camera and smashed it, walking away swiftly, leaving everyone stunned. The video ended there. Jiang Zhi¡¯s peach blossom eyes were half-open, making it hard to discern their color. He seemed angry. After all, the rumors were false. Ah Wan asked for instructions: ¡°Mr. Jiang, should we issue a statement to clarify the rumor?¡± He tossed the tablet onto the coffee table, his expression indifferent and slightly annoyed: ¡°Clarify what?¡± He sat up from the sofa, supporting his chin, his gaze shifting slightly, ¡°The girl said it herself, not familiar.¡± What nonsense about being attracted to his looks. He licked his lips, his throat slightly itchy: ¡°I want chicken soup tomorrow.¡± Ah Wan was stunned, ¡°Huh?¡± How did he suddenly bring up chicken soup? Jiang Zhi¡¯s long lashes lifted, casting a shadow under the light: ¡°That chicken, slaughter it.¡± Not familiar? Why didn¡¯t she say that when she gave him the chicken? ¡°Oh.¡± Ah Wan understood, the employer was angry at Miss Zhou for her remarks, so he was taking it out on an innocent rooster. Jiang Zhi sat up again, flipping the tablet on the coffee table, his eyes misty, joy and anger hidden within: ¡°Slaughter it today.¡± Not familiar? Why didn¡¯t she say that when she complimented his looks? Only serves to annoy people! Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± He didn¡¯t know what to say, ¡°Alright.¡± Jiang Zhi lay back on the sofa, closing his eyes, resembling a delicate beauty from ancient times, lazy and sickly. But soon, he started coughing, and the cough grew more severe, reddening his face. Xue Baoyi, having known him for over twenty years, couldn¡¯t fail to see the suppressed anger in him. Quickly, he soothed him, giving a playful smile, ¡°Something¡¯s off, Brother Zhi. Your reaction seems a bit overboard.¡± Rare to see, this reaction, Xue Baoyi gave a mischievous smile, ¡°What, did you fancy that girl?¡± Jiang Zhi slightly furrowed his brows. He detested women. All these years, he never doubted his sexual orientation, but Zhou Xufang was that peculiar existence, so peculiar that she evoked a curiosity towards the opposite sex, even a desire to win, that he had never felt in over twenty years. This realization made him incredibly irritated, extremely irritated. He thought, could it be because her eyes resembled that boy¡¯s, making his heart so unsettled¡­ the more he thought, the more annoyed he became. Jiang Zhi lifted his eyes, ¡°I prefer men.¡± After saying that, he looked at Xue Baoyi, exuding a mildly intoxicated charm without having drunk any alcohol. There it was again, those captivating peach blossom eyes! ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that.¡± Xue Baoyi leaned back, ¡°I¡¯m straight.¡± Don¡¯t even think about turning him; he has a will of steel, he¡¯d never yield! Jiang Zhi narrowed his eyes: ¡°I¡¯m not desperate.¡± Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± If it weren¡¯t for the fact that he¡¯s a beauty, he¡¯d have punched him long ago. This interruption completely killed Jiang Zhi¡¯s mood. He grabbed his coat and got up to leave. Just as he exited the private room, he stopped again. Ah Wan quickly stepped forward, unsure of what the capricious employer would do next. ¡°Don¡¯t slaughter it.¡± He said. ¡°Huh?¡± Ah Wan really couldn¡¯t keep up with his employer¡¯s mercurial thoughts. ¡°That chicken.¡± With that, he quickened his pace, and his coughing grew louder. The employer was so fickle. Ah Wan followed, ¡°So, should I keep raising it?¡± It was just a chicken; what exactly was he fussing about? Jiang Zhi lowered his eyes, furrowing his brows, what was wrong with him? Why did that person ignite a fire in his heart, burning with an increasing sense of dissatisfaction? The elevator doors opened. He paused for a moment, stepped inside, leaned against the side, eyelashes drooping, shadowed by the light, concealing his emotions. Listening closely, there was a hint of annoyance in his voice: ¡°Let it starve for a few meals first.¡± ¡°¡­¡± How infuriating. Jiang Zhi¡¯s scandal stayed on the trending list for two days, then the buzz was overtaken by a shocking news story in the entertainment industry¡ªa famous actress attempted suicide, leaving a note exposing a major entertainment company¡¯s sex scandal. Tianxing Entertainment was also a top-tier entertainment company in the country and a bitter rival of Xue Baoyi¡¯s Baoguang. Hearing the news, Xue Baoyi was gleeful: ¡°Looks like Tianxing is in for a rough time this time.¡± At the dining table, it was just a few old friends, speaking without any reservations. Qiao Nanchu followed up, ¡°Not necessarily.¡± He had some involvement with the Criminal Investigation Team¡¯s affairs, ¡°The victim had gone to the police just days before to file a case but withdrew it soon after. Someone must have intervened.¡± How could a minor celebrity possibly stand up to a major company? Being stonewalled at every turn without any recourse was the harsh reality. Xue Baoyi poured a small glass of red wine, swirling it: ¡°These bastards, driving someone to suicide.¡± The entertainment circle was like this, using human lives to force out some morality, no one cares unless somebody dies. Just then, Xue Baoyi¡¯s secretary came in, handed him a tablet, explained a few things, and left. There had been new developments in the matter. ¡°Tianxing has moved quickly. Their PR strategy to shift the blame is already out.¡± Xue Baoyi handed the tablet to Jiang Zhi. Cheng Feiran¡¯s suicide attempt had failed. Tianxing Entertainment immediately shifted all the blame back, claiming a certain actress fabricated the story for publicity and announced they would pursue the matter to the end. Jiang Zhi asked for a bowl of soup, sipping leisurely: ¡°Who¡¯s managing Tianxing?¡± ¡°The Luo family is the largest shareholder, so it should be Luo Qinghe managing it.¡± Qiao Nanchu leaned lazily against the back of the chair, ¡°You want to get involved too?¡± He neither confirmed nor denied, ¡°Lack substantial evidence.¡± He only drank half the soup before getting tired of it, ¡°Ah Wan, go check on the actress who attempted suicide at the hospital.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Since she had no work during the day, Zhou Xufang was at home sleeping, from morning until dusk. Not having eaten all day, she got hungry, went to the fridge to find something to eat, and had just finished a can of milk when Shuangjiang found her. ¡°Xu Fang, Cheng Feiran is in trouble.¡± On the computer screen, a webpage automatically opened, showing the entire Cheng Feiran incident. Zhou Xufang finished watching, tossed the milk can into the trash: ¡°Did they save her?¡± Online information about Cheng Feiran was scarce, summarizing her situation in eight words: ¡°Attempted suicide with unclear intent.¡± She was probably at the end of her rope with no support. Though she didn¡¯t die, public opinion wasn¡¯t on her side. With the webpages filling the screen, Shuangjiang couldn¡¯t type conveniently and used special speech synthesis software to send a synthesized voice over: ¡°She is out of danger but still in the hospital.¡± Zhou Xufang sat in front of the computer, took out her phone, and ordered takeout, ¡°Today is the seventh day.¡± The client had said to hand over the items after seven days, ¡°Send me the recipient¡¯s detailed information.¡± After some rustling noises, a few A4 papers dropped from the printer connected to the computer. Zhou Xufang picked them up. The synthesized voice sounded very mechanical, reading aloud: ¡°Zhou Qingrang, male, News Broadcast host, 37 years old.¡± This person was Cheng Feiran¡¯s last lifeline. Zhou Xufang looked at the information on the paper, flipping through page by page: ¡°Is he reliable?¡± Shuangjiang didn¡¯t answer, instead asked, ¡°Xu Fang, are you planning something?¡± Aside from matters within the scope of their commission, they never interfered with other related matters. She had a feeling that Zhou Xufang would make an exception this time. ¡°Cheng Feiran didn¡¯t lie. Those people are bad.¡± Zhou Xufang only fought, never cursed, but she had to curse this time, ¡°They¡¯re beasts!¡± Beasts¡­ Shuangjiang let her be: ¡°Okay, I understand. I¡¯ll help you.¡± She added, ¡°I¡¯ve already sent all the information on Zhou Qingrang to you. He should be reliable. He has a grudge against the Luo family behind Tianxing Entertainment. He will definitely make Cheng Feiran¡¯s evidence public.¡± The commission Cheng Feiran gave them was a video of forced sexual entertainment, substantial evidence of the incident. She probably knew she would have no way to seek justice and anticipated that Tianxing Entertainment would not let her go, so she transferred the evidence in advance. Zhou Xufang looked at the photo on the A4 paper: ¡°He looks very young.¡± At thirty-seven, nearing the age of not being easily swayed by desires, perhaps because of his pale complexion, he looked extremely young, with handsome and elegant features, but his eyes were indifferent, lacking in warmth. ¡°Zhou Qingrang had been in a coma for fifteen years. He was hospitalized at fourteen due to a car accident, losing one leg and nearly disabling the other. Doctors diagnosed him as a vegetative state, and he woke up at twenty-nine.¡± The synthesized voice sighed, ¡°What karma did the Luo family bring upon themselves?¡± Should have been a graceful young man, but he was crippled. Fifteen years, from youth to adulthood, the best years of a boy were all buried in the hospital. Zhou Xufang touched the brows and eyes on the photo: ¡°He also has the surname Zhou.¡± Yes, also a Zhou. Zhou Qingrang, a name that sounded elegant and pure. Chapter 18 - Chapter 18: 018: Professional Errand Runner—Zhou Xufang Chapter 18: 018: Professional Errand Runner¡ªZhou Xufang Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Monday, a light drizzle fell continuously, mixed with mist in the winter wind, damp and bone-chilling. The cold spell had lasted for several days; winter was approaching. 7:30, the news broadcast ended. At eight, Tang Ying packed up her things and knocked on the door of the adjacent lounge. ¡°Come in,¡± came the response. Perhaps due to her profession, her first attention was always on voices. In the entire TV station, his voice was the best. Tang Ying pushed open the door but did not enter recklessly, remaining at the doorway: ¡°Senior Brother, I¡¯ll take you home.¡± Her senior brother, Zhou Qingrang, was the only person at the TV station who had taken less than three years to sit in the news broadcast host¡¯s seat. He had already changed out of his suit and into a heavy coat, sitting upright in a wheelchair: ¡°No need.¡± Outside, lights illuminated every household, yet he always seemed devoid of any earthly essence. He was born with a graceful and elegant appearance, reminiscent of figures in old paintings; not rendered with vibrant strokes, but with the delicate and restrained touch of ink wash, drawn with exquisite details. He was not young anymore; there were faint fine lines at the corners of his eyes. He didn¡¯t like to smile or talk, always keeping to himself. His temper was good, very gentle, but beyond work, he was not familiar with anyone. His legs were not in good condition; his left leg was amputated, and he had a prosthetic fitted three years ago. His right leg had undergone surgery, with the steel nails yet to be removed, so he rarely stood up. Though he used a wheelchair, he never troubled anyone. On his wheelchair, there was a pair of crutches that he rarely used. Tang Ying had seen him using them; he bent over, struggling with the crutches, taking very slow, deliberate steps. ¡°Let me take you home,¡± she insisted, sweeping her hair behind her ear, ¡°It¡¯s raining outside, the roads are slippery.¡± He just shook his head, saying nothing more. One must endure countless hardships to reach such inner peace. Tang Ying stood at the doorway for a long while before leaving. She next saw him at the entrance of the TV station. His wheelchair was at the top of the steps, and the security guard approached to offer help. He declined, picked up the crutches on his wheelchair, and with effort, stood up, using just one crutch and lifting the wheelchair with the other hand, descending the steps one by one. Due to the exertion, the veins on the back of his hand stood out visibly. The street lamps cast a diffuse light on the wet ground, blurring the edges of shadows; there was mist and water everywhere. His residence was not far from the TV station. After placing the wheelchair down, he sat and slowly began to push himself home. The distance was short, but there was an uphill section on the way home. The rain made the road slippery, and halfway up the slope, the wheelchair slid backwards. A hand stopped the sliding wheelchair from behind. Zhou Qingrang turned around. Against the light, he couldn¡¯t see the person¡¯s face, only that she was dressed in black. ¡°Thank you,¡± he said. She helped him push the wheelchair to the top of the slope: ¡°No need to thank me.¡± She was a young girl. He thanked her again, gripped the rear wheel, and moved away. It was him. Zhou Xufang stood in place for a long time before wearing her wireless headset: ¡°Cut off the surveillance at Haitang Bay for me.¡± In the headset, an artificial voice, mechanical, and efficient, asked: ¡°What are you going to do?¡± She evaded the question: ¡°His leg is in bad shape.¡± From several meters away, she followed Zhou Qingrang, putting on a jacket, hat, and mask she took out from her backpack as she walked. ¡°If his leg is in bad shape, I have to help him to the end.¡± Shuangjiang didn¡¯t ask more questions: ¡°I understand.¡± In less than half a minute, Shuangjiang¡¯s synthesized voice came through her headset again: ¡°Haitang Bay is only eight hundred meters from the TV station, with four cameras along the way. I have sent interference; you have five minutes.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± She pressed down the brim of her hat and leaped onto the rooftop. Because the road was slippery, what usually took ten minutes took Zhou Qingrang twenty. The night watchman, Lao Ji, was smoking outside the community. When he saw someone approaching, he put out his cigarette, ¡°Mr. Zhou is back.¡± Zhou Qingrang nodded. Lao Ji, in his sixties, had just graduated from the pharmaceutical factory in the first half of the year: ¡°There is a package for you in the security office; it requires your personal signature.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Let me push you there.¡± He did not refuse: ¡°Sorry to trouble you.¡± ¡°Not at all.¡± Zhou Xufang stood on the opposite side of the road, watching the wheelchair enter the community. ¡°Xu Fang, there¡¯s a situation.¡± Zhou Xufang glanced at the height of the community fence. In the headset, Shuangjiang said: ¡°Thirty meters north of the main gate of Haitang Bay, there are two groups of people. One group is Tianxing¡¯s men, the identity of the other group is currently unknown. Every elevator entrance and emergency exit in building nine is being watched.¡± Zhou Qingrang lived in building nine. They had just delivered something to him, and now people were already looking for him. ¡°What now?¡± Shuangjiang asked for Zhou Xufang¡¯s input. She gauged the height, took a step back, bent down, and leaped over the fence: ¡°No choice left,¡± she straightened up, wiped the rainwater from her hands, and took out a pair of black gloves from her coat pocket, ¡°just have to fight.¡± At the entrance of building nine. A man walked out from behind the door: ¡°Younger Luo, Zhou Qingrang has gone upstairs.¡± The shadow on the ground was robust. The man wore a black suit, and had a square face with deep eye sockets. In the headset, a woman¡¯s voice said, ¡°Don¡¯t alert the enemy, first confirm if the item is with him.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Suddenly, a shadow flashed past the man¡¯s eyes, making him immediately turn around, ¡°Who goes there?!¡± There was no one behind him, nor any sound. The voice-activated lights on this floor had been tampered with, providing only faint light from the basement floor. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°It¡¯s noth¡ª¡± Before the man could finish his sentence, his neck was grabbed. He looked up sharply, his pupils contracting: ¡°You, you, are¡ª¡± The person wore a mask, with a face no bigger than the man¡¯s palm, and at her feet were a pair of small-sized canvas shoes. It was a woman. When did she get in front of him? The man tried to open his mouth, but the hand on his neck tightened. She ripped off his wireless headset and said into it, ¡°No matter who you are, stop troubling Zhou Qingrang.¡± Having said this, she smashed the headset to the ground, stepping on it to crush it, then raised her head and released her grip. The man stumbled backwards a couple of steps, rubbing his neck, ¡°Who are you?¡± Who? On her black jacket, at the position of the arm, there was an embroidered letter¡ªZ. The man was dumbfounded: ¡°You, are¡ª¡± She took a step back, leapt up, her left foot touching the wall, and her right leg struck the man¡¯s neck sideways. She lowered her foot slightly, and he collapsed to the ground. His eyes rolled back as he passed out. Zhou Xufang straightened her hat and went up to the second floor. Several cars were parked by the roadside opposite Haitang Bay. At the front was a black Bentley, with the window half-open. The man in the passenger seat was on the phone. He sounded respectful: ¡°Younger Luo.¡± Old Mr. Luo had not been well for years. His eldest son was incompetent, his second son deceased. The Luo family was currently managed by his eldest granddaughter, Luo Qinghe, whom the company employees all referred to as Younger Luo. ¡°Secretary Han.¡± ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am.¡± ¡°If we can¡¯t obtain the item, do you know what to do next?¡± Han Feng, Luo Qinghe¡¯s secretary, had been with her for three years and understood her thoughts clearly: ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t make another mistake, the consequences will be severe.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Luo Qinghe hung up the phone. Han Feng put on his headset and called out a few times. Receiving no response for some time, he got out of the car, seeing someone running out from the underground parking lot, looking panicked. It was one of the men he had sent. Han Feng walked over: ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± The man was drenched in sweat, looking around in a daze, and stammered, trembling: ¡°That¡­ that woman¡­ in the blink of an eye, she went upstairs¡­ like, like a female ghost.¡± Female ghost? Han Feng sneered, kicking the man¡¯s shin: ¡°Idiot, so many of you couldn¡¯t deal with a cripple.¡± He turned and instructed those in a few other cars, ¡°You all go in, use any means necessary, but get the item.¡± No sooner had he finished speaking than someone walked out from behind the streetlight. ¡°What item?¡± Han Feng looked up, hesitating for a moment: ¡°Mr. Qiao.¡± The Qiao family¡¯s young master, Qiao Nanchu. The rain had lessened. He didn¡¯t use an umbrella, leaning against the streetlight, his hair covered in a layer of mist. His eyebrows and eyes were sharp: ¡°You recognize me.¡± Mr. Qiao¡¯s grandfather¡¯s favorite grandson. Who in the Imperial City didn¡¯t recognize him? ¡°If you recognize me, you should know what I do, right?¡± Speaking this to himself, he didn¡¯t wait for an answer. He took out his phone and dialed a number, ¡°Mr. Cheng, some people here look very suspicious. Could you come over?¡± The Qiao family employed a large number of police officers. Han Feng remained calm: ¡°What does Mr. Qiao mean by this?¡± ¡°My childhood friend, Jiang Zhi, heard of him?¡± He pointed to a car not far away, ¡°He just had a twelve-million-yuan watch stolen and is catching the thief.¡± Chapter 19 - Chapter 19: 019: He smelled the milky scent on her. Chapter 19: 019: He smelled the milky scent on her. Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°He just had a watch worth twelve million stolen, and he¡¯s catching the thief now.¡± Han Feng had a cold face and a temper, ¡°We didn¡¯t steal it.¡± Qiao Nanchu pulled out a cigarette and lit it, ¡°Who knows.¡± About ten minutes later, Mr. Cheng from the Criminal Investigation Team arrived and detained Han Feng and his group. Qiao Nanchu wasn¡¯t part of the Criminal Investigation Team, so he just watched from the side, smoked two cigarettes, and was in a good mood when he said to Mr. Cheng, ¡°I suspect they hid the stolen goods in the car.¡± Mr. Cheng¡¯s direct superior was Qiao Nanchu¡¯s cousin-in-law. To be honest, Mr. Cheng still didn¡¯t understand what this young master was up to, but he had to give him face, ¡°Tow the car away too.¡± Just like that, both the people and the car were taken to the station. Additionally, Mr. Cheng left a team at the scene to continue the search. Qiao Nanchu stubbed out his cigarette, crossed the street, and knocked on Jiang Zhi¡¯s car window. ¡°Hand over the stolen goods.¡± Jiang Zhi took off the watch from his wrist and threw it to him. Qiao Nanchu weighed it in his hand, playing with it, ¡°The Luo Family wouldn¡¯t get involved personally. It¡¯s Han Feng who¡¯s covering for them. Mr. Cheng¡¯s team is already checking inside the community. If Han Feng has the goods, the police can find them. If not, then it¡¯s still with Zhou Qingrang.¡± Anyway, as long as it didn¡¯t fall into the hands of the Luo Family, the goal was accomplished. Jiang Zhi disliked the Luo Family and just wanted to stir up some trouble for them, which was why he came to cause some chaos. Qiao Nanchu looked at Jiang Zhi, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going back?¡± He answered irrelevantly, ¡°Zhou Qingrang¡¯s legs don¡¯t work?¡± ¡°Almost, he had one amputated, and the other one¡¯s almost useless too.¡± He either had to use a wheelchair or crutches. His legs were practically useless. Jiang Zhi got out of the car. ¡°What else do you want to do?¡± ¡°That sickly guy can¡¯t beat the Luo Family.¡± If the evidence from the Cheng Feiran incident was still in Zhou Qingrang¡¯s hands and hadn¡¯t been made public yet, the Luo Family wouldn¡¯t miss out on trying to snatch it. Qiao Nanchu found it funny, ¡°Aren¡¯t you a sickly guy too?¡± Jiang Zhi took a woolen black coat from the car and draped it over himself, ¡°Mm, I¡¯m going in to visit a fellow patient.¡± Qiao Nanchu, ¡°¡­¡± Visit my ass! Luo Qinghe had just found out about Zhou Qingrang from Cheng Feiran, and Jiang Zhi followed right after, clearly wanting to mess with the Luo Family and make things difficult for her. The evidence in Zhou Qingrang¡¯s hands couldn¡¯t fall back into the hands of the Luo Family, right? Qiao Nanchu was going to follow, but the Intelligence Department called him with a major case, so he answered the call outside first. The elevator was sealed, with police officers guarding all exits. Ah Wan walked in front, and the voice-activated lights were broken, making it so dark the path was barely visible. Upon reaching the first floor, he discovered someone fainted on the ground and immediately took a defensive stance, ¡°Boss, don¡¯t go up, something¡¯s wrong.¡± It was someone sent by the Luo Family. Who knocked him out? Zhou Qingrang, like his employer, was also a sickly person. Oh, by the way, Ah Wan recently started calling him boss. Because his IQ wasn¡¯t high, his employer showed him extreme disdain. He felt he needed to reinvent himself to showcase his extraordinary abilities to his employer. Jiang Zhi glanced at the person on the ground. Eager to prove himself, Ah Wan immediately stepped forward and said bravely, ¡°Boss, stay behind. I¡¯ll clear the way for you.¡± He wanted to see who else besides the sworn enemies of the Luo Family! Just as Ah Wan finished speaking, a shadow flashed behind him. He turned his head immediately, but it was too late, as a foot swung towards him and struck his waist directly. With a thud, Ah Wan fell flat on the ground. ¡°¡­¡± His supposed invincibility¡­ Damn! He supported himself to get up, but his waist hurt too much, and with another thud, he fell again. ¡°¡­¡± Which path are they from, with such strength? Ah Wan, who never had a temper, was also angry now, ¡°Who the hell are you? Sneaking attacks like a coward!¡± This coward! This voice¡­ Zhou Xufang was stunned. Suddenly, a beam of light shone over. Jiang Zhi held his phone, moving the light beam to scan her face, arms, and the letters on her jacket. ¡°It¡¯s you again.¡± He laughed. Enemies meet on a narrow path. Zhou Xufang raised her hand to block the light from the phone. Taking advantage of her distraction, Ah Wan suddenly jumped up and swung a punch at her. She almost instinctively countered by twisting Ah Wan¡¯s wrist, causing a cracking sound, making him yelp in pain. She immediately let go. Ah Wan took the opportunity to punch her shoulder. Fang Lixiang had mentioned that Ah Wan was once a boxing athlete, having won a national youth boxing championship in his early years. If he hadn¡¯t strayed into robbery, he might have been a world champion by now. He was very strong, and Zhou Xufang was forced to take several steps back after being punched. What should she do? Should she fight him? Zhou Xufang frowned. ¡°Ah Wan.¡± Jiang Zhi shone the phone light at him. Ah Wan got the message and withdrew. ¡°The police are outside,¡± Jiang Zhi walked forward, shining the phone¡¯s flashlight right in her face, ¡°Take off your mask, and I¡¯ll let them release you.¡± She stayed silent. He approached and reached out to remove it. ¡°Boss¡ª¡± She grabbed him and pinned him against the wall. With a crash, the phone fell to the ground, and the blingbling screen protector Xue Baoyi had bought shattered. ¡°Cough cough cough¡­¡± His breathing became heavy instantly, his lips turned pale, and his face flushed. Ah Wan shouted, ¡°Scum, let go of my boss!¡± Jiang Zhi, ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Xufang, ¡°¡­¡± That shout of ¡®scum¡¯ did a fantastic job of diverting attention, and Ah Wan took this chance to punch at the ¡®scum¡¯s¡¯ neck, pulling his knockout move, just like always¨C The ¡®scum¡¯ didn¡¯t even turn his head, kicking sideways so fast it was a blur, hitting Ah Wan squarely in the waist and abdomen, the force making his internal organs shake. Can¡¯t you kick somewhere else?! Ah Wan felt his waist go numb and fell backward. This ¡®scum¡¯ was a martial arts master¡­ he tilted his head and passed out completely. Did she kick too hard? She only used one-tenth of her strength, Zhou Xufang frowned even more. ¡°Trying to kidnap me again?¡± Jiang Zhi was staring at her. The light was dim, but his gaze seemed to light a fire, glowing intensely. Afraid he would see through her, she covered his eyes with her palm, pressing her elbow against his shoulder, lowering her voice, ¡°I¡¯ll be gentle.¡± I¡¯ll be gentle¡ªone of the scum¡¯s iconic lines. Jiang Zhi, ¡°¡­ If you touch me one more time, I¡¯ll¡ª¡± She raised her hand, chopping at his neck. His body went limp and he passed out, sliding down. Zhou Xufang instinctively hugged his waist, supporting him against the wall, muttering, ¡°I¡¯m not a scum.¡± She felt a bit sad, being misunderstood. She put him down, squatted for a while, then stood up, turned around, and started upstairs. She came back again, took off Ah Wan¡¯s coat, and put it on Jiang Zhi. His body was weak, he couldn¡¯t catch a cold. She squatted there, looked at him for a moment, heard footsteps downstairs, then left, heading straight to the rooftop. The police sirens blared downstairs, and she jumped to the opposite building. Ten minutes later, the door to apartment 904 of building nine was knocked on. ¡°Knock, knock.¡± Someone inside opened the door, ¡°May I help you?¡± Mr. Cheng flashed his police badge, ¡°We are the police.¡± Zhou Qingrang leaned on crutches, leaning against the wall with some difficulty, ¡°Is something the matter?¡± ¡°This complex has seen both thieves and robbers. Mr. Zhou, have you noticed anything unusual?¡± It was Young Master Qiao who gave the heads-up; Zhou Qingrang needed to be watched closely, not even a fly could escape. Zhou Qingrang said no. He looked normal, apparently unaware of all the troubles outside. ¡°Our officers will be stationed outside tonight. If you notice anything, just call us.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Mr. Cheng said ¡®sorry for the disturbance¡¯ and turned to make arrangements. Zhou Qingrang closed the door, pushed his wheelchair to the bedroom, took the USB drive from the computer, and held it in his palm. Who sent this thing? Who was helping him? Nearly midnight, Xue Baoyi was having a blast at a night club when Qiao Nanchu called him to the hospital, saying Jiang Zhi had fainted again. ¡°Brother Zhi.¡± ¡°Brother Zhi.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyelashes fluttered and he opened his eyes. Xue Baoyi sat by the bed, peeling a banana, ¡°Finally awake.¡± He grinned, ¡°You delicate beauty, going to the hospital every other day, almost killing me with worry, scared you¡¯d kick the bucket.¡± Jiang Zhi propped himself up to sit. Xue Baoyi quickly supported him. ¡°How¡¯s Zhou Qingrang?¡± Xue Baoyi heard about it from Qiao Nanchu, ¡°Nothing happened. Nanchu has the Criminal Investigation Team guarding him. Don¡¯t worry, they won¡¯t get what he has.¡± Hearing Jiang Zhi still coughing, he threw the banana away and helped him breathe easier, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? That professional errand runner is like your nemesis, sending you to the hospital again.¡± Jiang Zhi kept a cold face, saying nothing. Qiao Nanchu came over, followed by Ah Wan, wrapped in bandages around his waist and looking like he was breathing more than living, such a big guy, almost six feet three, two hundred pounds, so frail. ¡°Awake?¡± Jiang Zhi leaned against the bed weakly, in bad shape. Qiao Nanchu asked, ¡°Did you find anything new this time? What¡¯s special about that Z?¡± The second confrontation, and they still didn¡¯t get much, and couldn¡¯t trace it back. Jiang Zhi thought deeply for a while, looking weary with dark circles under his eyes, ¡°The light was too dim to see clearly, and the voice was disguised, but,¡± ¡°But what?¡± He thought for a moment, ¡°She has a scent.¡± Qiao Nanchu thought he heard wrong, ¡°What scent?¡± Jiang Zhi was sure, ¡°Milk.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Someone the police had been chasing for years without a clue, a professional fighter who could take down over a dozen trained individuals¡­ had a milk scent? Jiang Zhi coughed, caught his breath, ¡°It smells just like the milk I drink.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Qiao Nanchu had nothing to say. Chapter 20 - Chapter 20: 020: Zhou Xufang also has weaknesses Chapter 20: 020: Zhou Xufang also has weaknesses Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Ah Wan spoke up at this moment, ¡°Mr. Qiao.¡± He sniffled, having caught a bit of a cold from being out in the cold. ¡°What did you find out, Ah Wan?¡± Ah Wan looked at his employer cautiously and said, ¡°That Z seems to have taken a liking to my boss.¡± He might even be a scum. The latter part, he thought it better to say in private. Qiao Nanchu glanced at Jiang Zhi and laughed, ¡°How so?¡± Speaking of this matter, Ah Wan was a bit angry, ¡°She actually stripped my clothes off and put them on my boss.¡± This errand runner turns out to be a looks-obsessed dog, utterly contemptible! Just then, his employer¡¯s cold gaze shot over. Due to being sick, a hidden anger colored his cheeks peachy. ¡°Get out.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Ah Wan left the ward, full of worries. At midnight, the clouds dispersed, and a sliver of the moon appeared, faintly visible. Zhou Xufang returned to Yuquan Bay, changed clothes, and after applying medication, grabbed two cans of milk from the fridge. On the computer screen, SpongeBob¡¯s avatar from Shuangjiang was flashing. ¡°Is the injury on your shoulder serious?¡± Zhou Xufang pressed her shoulder and moved it a bit, ¡°It¡¯s already healed.¡± Not on a mission, Shuangjiang didn¡¯t use voice software but typed instead, ¡°You should still apply some medicine.¡± ¡°I did.¡± She pulled the tab on the milk can, ¡°Used two bottles of medicinal wine.¡± Her healing ability was more than eighty times faster than the average person, ordinary medicine didn¡¯t work for her; where others might take one pill for a cold, she¡¯d need half a bowl. ¡°Ah Fang,¡± after a long pause, text rolled out on the computer, ¡°do you have any weaknesses?¡± She took a sip of milk, ¡°Yes.¡± Shuangjiang didn¡¯t ask what they were, sending several warning icons instead, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me, don¡¯t tell anyone. No one should know.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Her self-healing ability was too exceptional, with her unique constitution, if the medical community found out, peace would never be hers again¡­ The milk was tasty, but one can was too little; she opened another. ¡°I placed a micro-monitor with Zhou Qingrang, and the police are there. Tianxing Entertainment probably won¡¯t dare to go again. We shouldn¡¯t intervene for now; I fear it¡¯s not safe.¡± Shuangjiang reminded her, ¡°The Criminal Intelligence Department has their eyes on you.¡± Zhou Xufang nodded, drinking milk and eating cotton candy. She was in a good mood, legs swinging, pink bunny slippers on her feet shaking under the table. Shuangjiang suddenly remembered something, ¡°Who was that person you encountered at the scene?¡± ¡°He is Jiang Zhi.¡± Jiang Zhi? Shuangjiang had some impression of him and knew Zhou Xufang had seen him again after tying him up, ¡°Are you well acquainted with him?¡± Zhou Xufang put down the cotton candy box, finding this brand too sweet compared to the one she used to like. She said, ¡°Not very familiar.¡± Then finished another can of milk, ¡°But he¡¯s very good-looking.¡± Shuangjiang sent a screen full of smiley faces, ¡°Ah Fang, if you ever have someone special, will you take them to Moon Bay to live with you?¡± Someone special? The island had nothing; someone special would be hard to take care of. So Zhou Xufang decided, ¡°I¡¯ll just take a dog.¡± Moon Bay was a deserted island abroad, reputed to be the closest place to the moon, surrounded by the sea. Zhou Xufang planned to save enough money to buy it and live there alone. It had land and water, quite suitable for her as she could live on both land and water. The city was too unsafe for her unique constitution. She could keep a dog on the island, maybe chickens and ducks. Keeping people might be difficult. ¡°Someone is tracking my IP; I¡¯m logging off,¡± said Shuangjiang. ¡°Okay.¡± At the Criminal Intelligence Department, the lights were still on. It was already late, and a few technicians were still at work because of the Tianxing Entertainment case. ¡°Captain Qiao,¡± Yu Fang nudged his glasses up his nose, ¡°found the address.¡± Qiao Nanchu walked to his computer, ¡°Where?¡± ¡°Jiangfeng Mansion, seven buildings, unit 208.¡± Qiao Nanchu smiled, drew a cigarette from the pack on the desk, pulled up a chair, sat down, lit it, and took a puff. Under the light, his disheveled hair looked somewhat despondent, ¡°Jiangfeng Mansion, seven buildings, unit 208.¡± He licked his lips, ¡°That¡¯s my place.¡± Technician Yu Fang: ¡°¡­¡± Fooled by Shuangjiang again! Nearing one in the morning, Qiao Nanchu finally returned to Jiangfeng Mansion. The gate guard who had been dozing in the security room woke up at the sound of a car and helped open the gate, ¡°Mr. Qiao, just now getting back?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± He got out of the police car, said a few words to his colleague inside, holding a cigarette between his fingers, waved, and entered the villa area. ¡°Oh, by the way.¡± The guard suddenly remembered something, ¡°The girl who came to see you last week came by again this morning.¡± Qiao Nanchu stubbed out his cigarette, ¡°Did she leave any message?¡± ¡°No, just left a box of eggs.¡± The guard went back to the security room and brought out the box of eggs, ¡°Said they were free-range eggs from home.¡± There was also an envelope stuck on the box. Qiao Nanchu took the envelope off, inside was a piece of old-timey stationery. He unfolded it; there were only three lines, written in neat, elegant handwriting. ¡°Dear Mr. Qiao, Hoping you are in good health and everything goes well. Respectfully, younger generation.¡± Respectfully? Qiao Nanchu gritted his teeth, smiling. ¡°Mr. Qiao, is she your girlfriend?¡± The security guard had worked at Jiangfeng Mansion for years and had never seen Mr. Qiao bring a woman home. Mr. Qiao looked handsome and drove expensive cars. Many single women in the mansion had an interest in him, but he never talked to them, so they thought he must have someone. ¡°Not a girlfriend.¡± Qiao Nanchu tossed the letter back into the box of eggs, ¡°A student I¡¯m sponsoring.¡± The next day. Early in the morning, Ah Wan arrived at the ward with soup. The employer had just woken up. Apparently, he didn¡¯t sleep well; his face wasn¡¯t looking good, and he seemed sluggish. Ah Wan put down the thermos and saw the phone on the table. ¡°Boss, the screen protector on your phone is cracked.¡± Ah Wan, with a bit of a cold, thinking the employer¡¯s health wasn¡¯t good, wore a mask to avoid spreading germs, ¡°Shall I replace it for you?¡± ¡°Leave it be.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Ah Wan¡¯s back ached too, injured last night, and the pain was unbearable this morning. He pulled up a chair and opened the thermos lid. Jiang Zhi wrinkled his nose at the smell, ¡°Chicken soup?¡± ¡°Yes, yes.¡± Truly, he wasn¡¯t fishing for compliments, ¡°My mom knew you were hospitalized, so she got up early to make it with lots of medicinal herbs. It¡¯s very nourishing, not greasy at all. I had some this morning.¡± He only had a little; his mom wouldn¡¯t let him drink much of it. Ever since Jiang Zhi paid for his mother¡¯s kidney transplant two years ago, she treated Jiang Zhi like a real son, saving all the best foods for him. Knowing Jiang Zhi was hospitalized, his mom scolded him for half an hour last night, calling him useless for not being able to protect Jiang Zhi. She even called him a big, dumb brute. He suspected he might have been adopted. ¡°You guys killed that chicken?¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s sleepy eyes lost their murkiness, gaining a touch of sharpness. Ah Wan explained, ¡°No, my mom bought an old hen.¡± Jiang Zhi responded with a hum, lifted his delicate hand, very genteel, ¡°Serve me a bowl, just the broth, no meat, not even a bit.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± In the evening, Jiang Zhi was discharged. Ah Wan came to pick him up. Maybe because of the previous night¡¯s events, Jiang Zhi hadn¡¯t been very friendly to him, a trace of displeasure on his face, changing like smoke, flaring up unpredictably¡ªsometimes bright, sometimes dark. The car pulled up under Ba Yi Bridge. The person in the backseat, who had been resting with his eyes closed, opened them, ¡°Find a place to park.¡± Ah Wan parked the car, the motion making his back ache, ¡°You need something, I¡¯ll get it for you.¡± ¡°Wait in the car.¡± Leaving the words behind, Jiang Zhi got out. At this time, under Ba Yi Bridge, stalls were set up with all sorts of things for sale. The opposite park was blaring dance music, making his head throb. Jiang Zhi walked and frowned, paused, suddenly realizing why he came here. Rubbing the crack on his phone screen with his thumb, he remembered he was only here to get the screen protector replaced. He walked to a stall, ¡°Where is Zhou Xufang¡¯s stall?¡± The spot where Zhou Xufang usually set up was occupied by a man in his forties, eating fried noodles, who looked up. Two slightly curved brows, a pair of eyes full of complex emotions¡­ Damn! A man who looked stunningly beautiful. The man looked twice, ¡°Who¡¯s Zhou Xufang?¡± There were many passersby under the bridge, jostling, with many snack stalls along the way, the air filled with mixed smells. Jiang Zhi took out a handkerchief, covering his nose and mouth, coughed twice, walked to a less crowded area, ¡°The woman in black, always wearing a hat, who sells screen protectors here.¡± The man noticed his fine clothes and polite speech, ¡°The people setting up stalls here change daily; I don¡¯t know who you mean.¡± With the black silk handkerchief against his face, Jiang Zhi¡¯s skin looked very white. Clearly unaccustomed to the noise and mess, his cheeks were rosy, his breath slightly uneven, ¡°The woman, always in black, wearing a hat.¡± The man took a bite of his noodles, ¡°Oh, I know who you mean. She¡¯s not here today.¡± ¡°Why isn¡¯t she here?¡± ¡°How would I know, we¡¯re rivals, not friends.¡± Looking at this man, clearly someone important, the man asked, ¡°Why are you looking for her?¡± At this moment, a small child bumped into Jiang Zhi. He immediately frowned, showing disgust. The child got scared and ran off. He looked displeased, ¡°I need a screen protector.¡± The man eagerly put down his noodles, ¡°I do screen protectors too, any kind!¡± Believing the other man to be rich, and assuming rich people never had small change, with a favorite phrase of ¡°keep the change.¡± Opportunity knocking! Smiling broadly, ¡°Do you want a screen protector? Free phone case with it.¡± No response. More persuasively, ¡°She charges twenty, I only charge fifteen.¡± Seeing the man turning to leave, the man slapped his thigh, ¡°Ten! Ten for a protector! Final offer!¡± ¡°No.¡± Damn! Instantly the man¡¯s demeanor changed, ¡°You¡¯re crazy!¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Chapter 21 - Chapter 21: 021: Ah Fangs background (Luo Family relationships, see postscript) Chapter 21: 021: Ah Fang¡¯s background (Luo Family relationships, see postscript) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Zhou Xufang did not set up her stall selling screen protectors today; she went to the TV station to deliver food. There were fifteen minutes left before the live broadcast began, and the backstage crew was ready. Tang Ying had finished her makeup and sent her assistant away. ¡°Brother, do you really have to do this?¡± Zhou Qingrang was reading a news script. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°The station head¡ª¡± He put down the script. His fingers, white and slender, slowly buttoned up his suit one by one. ¡°You just cooperate with me. I¡¯ll handle the rest.¡± She had never seen him so stubborn. Tang Ying said no more. The assistant, Xiao Xing, came and knocked on the door. ¡°Mr. Zhou, there¡¯s a Miss Luo here to see you.¡± Before joining the TV station, Zhou Qingrang had been a teacher in the broadcasting department for half a year. Most people at the station called him Mr. Zhou. Tang Ying glanced at the time. ¡°There are still fifteen minutes until the live broadcast.¡± ¡°You go prepare first.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?? Zhou Qingrang pushed his wheelchair out of the break room. The person who had come was the Luo family¡¯s eldest granddaughter, Luo Qinghe. ¡°Long time no see.¡± She put down her teacup, stood up from the sofa, and called out, ¡°Uncle.¡± Uncle? The assistant at the door was stunned. Mr. Zhou and the Luo family were relatives? Click. Zhou Qingrang closed the door, looked up, his eyes cold and clear. ¡°You used to call me a beggar.¡± Luo Qinghe¡¯s smile remained unchanged as she stood up and exhibited perfect junior etiquette. ¡°I was young then, and spoke silly words. I hope Uncle can forgive me.¡± ¡°You¡¯re much like your father.¡± Zhou Qingrang placed his hands on the wheelchair armrests, tightening his grip. ¡°Just as hypocritical.¡± The smile on Luo Qinghe¡¯s face faded. ¡°Zhou Qingrang,¡± she sat down, the slant of her monolid eyes slightly raised, ¡°I respect you, but why are you refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit?¡± Zhou Qingrang ignored her, raising his hand to check the time. ¡°Ten more minutes until seven.¡± Seven o¡¯clock, the news broadcast. His stance was clear¡ªhe wasn¡¯t swayed by either hard or soft tactics. Luo Qinghe smiled, pulling out a lighter. With her red lips and white teeth biting a cigarette, she lit it unhurriedly. ¡°If I were you, I would know when to stop. Fighting against a rock with an egg is foolish.¡± Zhou Qingrang lowered his head, arranging the thin blanket on his knees. His crippled legs were stiff and numb. Throughout, he remained calm and composed. ¡°If it were just fighting against a rock with an egg, you wouldn¡¯t be here today.¡± Luo Qinghe was not surprised as she arrogantly tipped her chin up. ¡°Are you going to fight our Luo family to the end?¡± He neither confirmed nor denied it. Luo Qinghe stubbed out her barely smoked ladies¡¯ cigarette in the ashtray. ¡°Fine. Let me see how capable Zhou Qingrang really is.¡± She stood up, her gaze sweeping over his legs as she passed by him. Zhou Qingrang looked up, his eyes meeting hers. ¡°Do you know why your Luo family will die out?¡± Her expression changed instantly. Mr. Luo had two sons and one daughter. The second son had died early, leaving behind only a daughter. The eldest son, Luo Changde, was promiscuous and had numerous illegitimate daughters, but not a single son. He spoke each word forcefully, clearly. ¡°Because your Luo family has done too many things worse than beasts and must face retribution.¡± Mr. Luo had a younger sister, named Zhi Ning, who married out while she was young. Twenty-four years ago, Luo Zhining and her husband died in an accident, leaving behind a son and a daughter. The girl was called Qing Meng, and the boy was called Qing Rang. Both were under eighteen at the time. The next year, the siblings sought refuge with the Luo family in Imperial City. The Luo family welcomed them. At that time, the sister, Zhou Qingmeng, was under sixteen, and the brother, Zhou Qingrang, was just fourteen. Less than a year later, Zhou Qingmeng died of an unknown illness, with rumors claiming she had an illicit affair and gave birth to a child. In the same year, Zhou Qingrang lost his legs in a car accident and was hospitalized for many years. As for whether Zhou Qingmeng¡¯s child really existed and where they were¡­ it was a forbidden topic in the Luo family, never to be mentioned. ¡°Secretary Han.¡± Luo Qinghe sauntered down the corridor. ¡°Is everything ready?¡± On the phone, Han Feng replied, ¡°Everything¡¯s ready.¡± ¡°Proceed.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Luo Qinghe hung up and, rounding the corner, bumped into someone at the other end of the corridor. She held her shoulder, stumbled a few steps back, and looked up to see a pair of black eyes. The other person was also looking at her. Those eyes, though unfamiliar, felt vaguely familiar. Luo Qinghe looked a couple times more before recovering her composure and walking away. Zhou Xufang was still standing there in a daze. Her ears suddenly rang, and jumbled sounds burst forth uncontrollably. It was a childish voice. ¡°Get lost! You made my place dirty.¡± ¡°My mom said your mom is a fox spirit, and you¡¯re a fool born of a fox spirit.¡± ¡°Little mute, get lost.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to eat my family¡¯s food!¡± ¡°Stinky beggar! Both you and your uncle are stinky beggars!¡± ¡°They said you¡¯re an idiot.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t play with him, he¡¯s an idiot.¡± ¡°. . .¡± Whose voice was that? Zhou Xufang staggered backward, her head splitting with pain. A hand supported her arm. ¡°Careful.¡± Her body stiffened and she turned her head slowly to see a pair of clear eyes. ¡°It¡¯s you.¡± It was him, the person she¡¯d met once before. She said, ¡°Thank you.¡± Zhou Qingrang rarely smiled, but his lips relaxed slightly, and the coldness in his eyes softened. ¡°No need.¡± At quarter past seven, Tianxing Entertainment issued an apology, claiming that it had investigated and found its high-level executives had abused their power to force company artists into sexual transactions, with audio recordings as evidence. All involved executives were publicly named and dismissed. Furthermore, Tianxing Entertainment would take full responsibility for all affected artists, cooperating wholeheartedly with the police investigation without evasion. At 7:30, the news anchor, Zhou Qingrang, publicly revealed evidence of Tianxing Entertainment¡¯s illegal sexual hospitality. Back-to-back, the timings were too precise. Whether it was a coincidence or something more, opinions varied. Some said Tianxing¡¯s move was to dump blame on the executives, allowing the Luo family behind the scenes to escape. Others claimed Tianxing¡¯s response and handling were exemplary for the entertainment industry. Exemplary? Bullshit! Xue Baoyi tossed his phone onto the desk. ¡°That Luo Qinghe is really something. She can shift blame and still come out looking good. No wonder my grandpa says she inherited Mr. Luo¡¯s cunning, full of devious tricks.¡± Opposite him, Jiang Zhi was hogging his office¡¯s leather sofa, insisting on having a clean blanket laid out before lying down, looking like a beautiful drunk, enticing everyone. Originally, they were there to discuss a new movie. This guy, complaining that the sofa was dirty, wouldn¡¯t lie down until a new blanket was brought. They were talking about the Luo family¡¯s affairs when the pretty boy interrupted him, ¡°There¡¯s a smell of smoke, open the window.¡± Xue Baoyi had smoked a cigarette before Jiang Zhi came, and thought his sense of smell was ridiculous. He opened the window. ¡°Don¡¯t complain about the cold now.¡± After opening the window, Xue Baoyi sat back down. Jiang Zhi kicked his leg again. ¡°Get me another blanket.¡± ¡°. . .¡± Damn it! Not even his ancestors bossed him around like this. Fine. Considering he¡¯s beautiful, fragile, and once saved him as a child¡­ Xue Baoyi got another blanket and threw it over Jiang Zhi. ¡°You don¡¯t seem surprised at all by this Tianxing mess. Did you expect it?¡± Jiang Zhi, feeling cold, pulled the blanket tight. ¡°The Luo family won¡¯t fall so easily.¡± True. In Imperial City, the Luo family was among the wealthiest. But that didn¡¯t stop Xue Baoyi from gloating. ¡°Even if they survive this, they¡¯ll shed a layer of skin.¡± In just a few hours, Luo family shares had plummeted, and Tianxing was even worse off. All its artists were caught in the scandal, and Xue Baoyi felt it was time to poach some talent from Tianxing, making the Luo family bleed a little more. ¡°What do you think happened between Zhou Qingrang and the Luo family? To be so fearless and confront them head-on. Once the Luo family smooths things over, Zhou Qingrang¡¯s good days are numbered.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t respond. Xue Baoyi knocked on the table. ¡°Talking to you. Why ignore me?¡± Jiang Zhi looked up, ¡°Come here.¡± What? Xue Baoyi felt uneasy under his gaze. ¡°What?¡± Jiang Zhi shifted his position, lying sideways with his chin propped up, his eyelashes fluttering. ¡°Come here.¡± Damn! This was seduction! His charming peach blossom eyes were both seductive and innocent. This was definitely a fairy spirit. Xue Baoyi remained steadfast. ¡°Jiang Zhi, I¡¯m really straight. Don¡¯t ruin me. I need to carry on the family line.¡± Jiang Zhi lazily reclined, but the movement made him gasp, his breath quickening. ¡°Ruin your sister! Get over here!¡± Tsk, not so cute now that he¡¯s swearing. Xue Baoyi hesitated but moved over reluctantly. Jiang Zhi pulled his right hand out from under the blanket, bringing it to Xue Baoyi¡¯s face. ¡°Smell.¡± What the hell! Xue Baoyi was horrified. ¡°You¡¯re so perverted.¡± Damn it, idiot! Jiang Zhi was uncomfortable, holding back his temper. ¡°Will you smell?¡± Fine. For the sake of his beauty. Xue Baoyi leaned in and sniffed. ¡°Does it smell like milk?¡± He sniffed again. ¡°Yes.¡± Jiang Zhi put his hand back under the blanket. ¡°Remember this smell. The person Z also has it.¡± ¡°Why should I remember?¡± Jiang Zhi also had this milky scent, which effectively meant memorizing Jiang Zhi¡¯s body smell. The idea made Xue Baoyi shudder with disgust. ¡°This brand of milk is unavailable domestically due to its price and origin, limiting its clientele and channels. Investigate and find that person.¡± So, it was about finding someone? Xue Baoyi was unhappy. ¡°You¡¯re asking me to find a needle in a haystack.¡± ¡°Will you do it?¡± Xue Baoyi spread his hands on the sofa, exuding authority. ¡°Brother Zhi, you¡¯re getting too arrogant.¡± Jiang Zhi ignored him, wrapping himself in the blanket and continuing to sleep. Chapter 22 - Chapter 22: 022: Extra Zhou Xufang went to deliver food today Chapter 22: 022: Extra Zhou Xufang went to deliver food today Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Early winter, the sun was not strong, and even at noon, it was still somewhat chilly. The Luo Mansion faced the sun, and in the old master¡¯s study, the sunlight just happened to filter through the window sill. Luo Qinghe pushed the door open and came in. ¡°Grandfather.¡± The old master, Luo Huaiyu, had built his fortune from scratch, initially involved in the building materials industry. In recent years, he had delved into real estate. This old man in his seventies had a full head of white hair but was still vigorous. ¡°Is everything handled?¡± Luo Huaiyu referred to the matter concerning Tianxing. ¡°Yes, the people at Tianxing have been taken care of, and it won¡¯t involve our Luo Family.¡± The Luo Family¡¯s eldest son, Luo Changde, was fatuous and lustful, uninterested in business. After Luo Huaiyu stepped down, the Luo Family had been managed by his eldest granddaughter, Luo Qinghe, who hadn¡¯t made any mistakes over the past few years. This incident, however, was quite a big deal. Luo Huaiyu held a pen in his hand, proficient in calligraphy. The last stroke fell on the paper as he looked up, his gaze sharp: ¡°Don¡¯t leave any hidden dangers. Use some means if necessary.¡± Luo Qinghe nodded in agreement. ¡°This matter must not happen again.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï ¡°Understood.¡± Exiting the study, Luo Qinghe did not linger and left immediately. ¡°Qinghe,¡± a woman came out of the kitchen, calling her gently, ¡°lunch is ready. Would you like to eat before you go?¡± This woman, named Xu Yunci, was the wife of Luo Huaiyu¡¯s second son, Luo Chang¡¯an, and had been widowed for over ten years. She had a daughter named Luo Yinghe. Xu Yunci, at forty-eight, maintained herself well, with a slender and graceful figure, looking like a delicate vine. ¡°I¡¯m not eating.¡± Her attitude was clearly indifferent, even disgusted. At the door, Luo Qinghe stopped and turned back: ¡°Second Aunt, don¡¯t let me see what¡¯s on your neck again.¡± Xu Yunci¡¯s face turned pale instantly, and she subconsciously covered her neck with her hand. Luo Qinghe sneered and turned to leave. A widowed woman, who rarely went outside, yet had love bites glaringly on her neck. Secretary Han Feng¡¯s car was parked outside the mansion. Seeing Luo Qinghe come out, he got out from the driver¡¯s seat and opened the rear door. Luo Qinghe got in. Han Feng handed over a document: ¡°Younger Luo, this is the information on that professional errand runner.¡± Luo Qinghe crossed her legs and flipped through a few pages: ¡°A woman?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± She flipped through the pages one by one, with a meaningful smile: ¡°Not bad.¡± She closed the document. ¡°I like playing with people like this.¡± A professional errand runner, huh? She would like to see if they could turn the sky upside down. The early winter sky was unpredictable. It rained in the evening, with fine, dense raindrops making the air damp. This rain lasted for several days. Tianxing¡¯s scandal had been trending for a week before the storm gradually subsided. ¡°Can¡¯t we catch anyone from the Luo Family?¡± Zhou Xufang took a sip of her drink, its sweetness making her squint, and then she continued gnawing on ribs. Shuangjiang typed quickly: ¡°Tianxing¡¯s upper management has taken the blame, and without other evidence, the police can¡¯t move against the Luo Family. Besides, offending the Luo Family would make life difficult.¡± Finishing a piece of sweet and sour rib, Shuangjiang sent another message. ¡°Zhou Qing has been suspended and demoted to a night show host at the radio station.¡± Zhou Xufang bit down hard, shattering the entire rib. How strong was her bite force? She didn¡¯t remember, but she could easily bite a Luo Family member to death. She spit out the rib pieces and cursed the surname Luo: ¡°Scum.¡± Shuangjiang followed up with a curse, then continued talking about serious matters: ¡°Ah Fang, I¡¯m afraid the next one Luo Qinghe will target is you.¡± Luo Qinghe was extremely vindictive; anyone who crossed her wouldn¡¯t have a peaceful day. Zhou Xufang wasn¡¯t afraid at all. ¡°If she comes to provoke me, I¡¯ll beat her.¡± After speaking, she finished the last piece of rib, wiped her hands: ¡°Time to go to work.¡± Then she turned off the computer, went to the dressing room to change clothes, put on a black fisherman¡¯s hat, carried a skull-patterned bag, and headed to the small supermarket outside the community to work. Wen Baiyang was still working part-time in the store. At this hour, there weren¡¯t many customers. She was leaning on the cash register, drawing, with a laptop next to her. Zhou Xufang walked over. Her shadow blocked the light, casting a shadow over the cash register. Wen Baiyang looked up, smiled at Zhou Xufang, and wrote: ¡°There are still fifteen minutes until eleven.¡± She wrote another sentence, ¡°You can sit for a while.¡± It wasn¡¯t time for her shift yet, so Zhou Xufang found a small stool to sit next to Wen Baiyang. Wen Baiyang put her laptop into her backpack and took out a pack of candy, asking Zhou Xufang: ¡°Want some candy?¡± Zhou Xufang liked sweets. ¡°Yes.¡± She reached out. Wen Baiyang picked a rainbow candy in pink wrapping and placed it in her hand. She unwrapped it and bit it with a crunch. Wen Baiyang placed all the candy on the cash register and pushed it towards Zhou Xufang, writing on a piece of paper: ¡°Want yogurt?¡± Her handwriting was beautiful, neat, and elegant, just like her. Zhou Xufang nodded: ¡°Yes.¡± Wen Baiyang took out a box of yogurt from her bag, inserted a straw, and handed it to Zhou Xufang. She then rummaged through her bag: ¡°I also have jelly.¡± She poured all the jelly on the table. Zhou Xufang had worked part-time at the supermarket several times and had become somewhat familiar with Wen Baiyang. She had brought Wen Baiyang milk last time, and this time Wen Baiyang had brought all her snacks. Zhou Xufang thought Wen Baiyang was like a little fairy. She picked a pink jelly and ate it in small bites: ¡°Are you still studying?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m a freshman at the Imperial Special Education College.¡± Wen Baiyang wrote another sentence on the paper, ¡°I¡¯m in the computer science department.¡± After writing, she looked up to read Zhou Xufang¡¯s lips. Zhou Xufang gave her a thumbs-up: ¡°You¡¯re amazing.¡± Shuangjiang was also in the computer science department, and she thought that anyone in that department was impressive. Wen Baiyang blushed at the compliment, smiling shyly, and wrote slowly on the paper: ¡°Do you eat eggs? My grandmother has many chickens, so we have a lot of free-range eggs.¡± After writing, she turned around and rummaged through another bag for the eggs. Zhou Xufang tugged at her sleeve: ¡°I can¡¯t eat eggs.¡± She said, ¡°The ones you gave me last time, I haven¡¯t eaten them either.¡± Eating eggs made her drunk, and when she was drunk, she did wrong things. She remembered the first time she ate eggs, got drunk, and then climbed up a tree to sing ¡°My Motherland.¡± She refused to come down when others asked her, jumped to another tree, and sang ¡°A Child Without a Mother is Like a Weed.¡± After singing all the songs she knew, she uprooted all the trees and carried them home¡­ Wen Baiyang was very surprised, probably never having heard of someone who couldn¡¯t eat eggs, her eyes wide, cheeks flushed with a cute, innocent look: ¡°Can you eat chicken?¡± Zhou Xufang said: ¡°Chicken is fine.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll bring you hand-pulled chicken next time.¡± Wen Baiyang wrote on the paper, ¡°I can also make marinated chicken feet.¡± Zhou Xufang gave her a thumbs-up again: ¡°You¡¯re amazing.¡± Really, she couldn¡¯t cook anything, didn¡¯t have a kitchen at home, and had to rely on takeout every day. So she thought Wen Baiyang was great. She raised both thumbs, ¡°Really, really amazing.¡± Wen Baiyang smiled, her eyes crinkling into crescent moons, her cheeks even redder. Zhou Xufang thought Wen Baiyang was particularly beautiful. The next day, after several days of rain, the sky finally cleared. With the sky clear, Ah Wan thought, his employer was still in a very bad mood, but why? Why was his employer in such a bad mood? He didn¡¯t know. The employer had only taken two bites of his lunch before tossing his chopsticks aside. He asked, ¡°Does it not suit your taste?¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t say anything, dipping a handkerchief in warm water, carefully wiping his hands, one finger at a time. His fair fingers turned red from the wiping. Ah Wan thought he was too particular about cleanliness, overly fastidious. He continued to ask, ¡°How about a can of milk?¡± Jiang Zhi tossed the handkerchief aside after wiping his hands: ¡°Go get the vice director.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Ah Wan went to get Vice Director Zhao. Vice Director Zhao had been in the middle of his meal and hadn¡¯t even wiped his mouth, which was glistening with oil. He quickly wiped it clean and went in: ¡°Director Jiang, you called for me?¡± The room was heated, and the window was open. Jiang Zhi¡¯s cheeks were a sickly red, whether from the cold wind or the warmth, he seemed indifferent as he asked casually: ¡°Did they replace the extras today?¡± Vice Director Zhao didn¡¯t understand: ¡°No, it¡¯s the same group as last time.¡± Jiang Zhi reclined on the lounge chair: ¡°Get out.¡± Vice Director Zhao: ¡°¡­¡± So, why did the director call him in the first place? Ah Wan followed him out and hinted: ¡°Wasn¡¯t Zhou Xufang supposed to come today?¡± Vice Director Zhao didn¡¯t have a clue: ¡°Zhou Xufang, who¡¯s that?¡± Ah Wan didn¡¯t say more, unsure of his employer¡¯s thoughts. Vice Director Zhao lost his appetite, going around to ask: ¡°Does anyone know who Zhou Xufang is?¡± Newly minted Weaver Fang Lixiang answered loudly: ¡°Vice Director, I know, I know. Zhou Xufang is a particularly excellent extra, really, very excellent. She can bring the dead back to life with her acting!¡± Vice Director Zhao: ¡°¡­¡± Urala Clan¡¯s Lixiang really stood out. Her friend, extra Zhou Xufang, must also be outstanding and excellent. Vice Director Zhao called the head of the extras: ¡°Get Zhou Xufang to come act.¡± And he added: ¡°You can raise her salary.¡± And emphasized: ¡°As long as she comes, I¡¯ll give her more scenes!¡± Maybe she was the next Weaver. Five minutes later, Vice Director Zhao received a reply from the head of the extras: ¡°Extra Zhou Xufang is unavailable today.¡± Vice Director Zhao asked: ¡°What¡¯s she doing?¡± How could she not act, wasting away her talent! The head said: ¡°She¡¯s delivering takeout.¡± Vice Director Zhao: ¡°¡­¡± She even had a side job, this was not an excellent extra! Vice Director Zhao grabbed an assistant: ¡°Go to the director¡¯s rest area and inform them that Zhou Xufang is delivering takeout today, can¡¯t come to act.¡± The assistant relayed the message to Ah Wan. Ah Wan then told his employer: ¡°Boss, Miss Zhou is delivering takeout today.¡± Jiang Zhi pulled the blanket on the lounge chair up to cover the collarbone peeking from his shirt, with a couple of coughs: ¡°When did I ask her?¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± Employer Jiang: ¡°Go warm up some milk for me. It should be 28 degrees, not a degree higher.¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± He had to go home and tell his mom, who treated Jiang Zhi like her own son, that her ¡®own son¡¯ Jiang Zhi was really insufferable. Chapter 23 - Chapter 23: 023: Your delivery has arrived, please give a good review Chapter 23: 023: Your delivery has arrived, please give a good review Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Brother Zhi.¡± The door was pushed open. Short hair and a white dress, it was Jiang Wei¡¯er: ¡°Why are you bullying Ah Wan again?¡± Ah Wan felt that in the entire Jiang family, the only rational ones were Old Lady Jiang and Jiang Wei¡¯er. ¡°Fifth Miss.¡± Ah Wan greatly admired Jiang Wei¡¯er because she had tough fists; she used to practice Taekwondo. Two years ago, she met Xiao Linsu and stopped, which was a pity¡­ Sigh, he went out and ordered takeout for his employer who had barely eaten anything. Jiang Zhi lay on his side and didn¡¯t get up: ¡°What are you here for?¡± ¡°Call me aunt, don¡¯t be so informal.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er lifted her dress, sat down, and placed a foot on the coffee table, shaking her white canvas shoes with a rather bold posture. ¡°Xiao Linsu.¡± Jiang Zhi called out indifferently. As soon as Jiang Wei¡¯er heard it, she thought he was really coming and immediately retracted her foot, bringing her legs together and placing her hands neatly on her knees, sitting up straight like a proper lady, then looked toward the door. There was no sign of Xiao Linsu. Jiang Wei¡¯er pursed her lips, raised her eyebrows, and looked at Jiang Zhi with a smile: ¡°Feeling itchy for a beating?¡± He glanced at her white dress, got up from the lounge chair, wearing only a low-cut sweater, his collarbone faintly visible from the disheveled neckline. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Such fine bones and skin. Jiang Wei¡¯er¡¯s impression of her late third brother and third sister-in-law had become blurry. She didn¡¯t know what kind of looks they had to produce such a stunning appearance as Jiang Zhi. He asked her: ¡°Aren¡¯t you tired?¡± The white dress was something Xiao Linsu liked, the light makeup and soft smile with bright eyes were also what Xiao Linsu liked. The real Jiang Wei¡¯er should be the one in leather jackets and shorts, smoking and fighting, clubbing and DJing, laughing and drinking heartily. Now, as she restrained herself like this, there was none of that uninhibited spirit left. Jiang Wei¡¯er didn¡¯t change her sitting posture, still sitting properly like a lady: ¡°What do you know, this is called being madly in love.¡± She spoke righteously, ¡°When you have your own little ancestor someday, you¡¯ll understand that for love, you can even become a grandson.¡± Jiang Zhi used his finger to hook the collar and pull it up, covering the collarbone. The gray sweater just set off his fair skin. He hummed lightly: ¡°Stop talking nonsense.¡± A grandson? Only a real grandson would become a grandson. Jiang Wei¡¯er didn¡¯t argue with him: ¡°The movie you¡¯re collaborating on with Bao Yi, is it aiming for a big award?¡± He got up, took a pill, and swallowed it with water. Drinking quickly made his throat itch, he suppressed a cough: ¡°Say what you mean.¡± ¡°Is Linsu suitable for that role?¡± Two years ago, Xiao Linsu was still lukewarm in the industry. It was one of Jiang Zhi¡¯s films that made him shine. Xiao Linsu probably still didn¡¯t know that if Jiang Wei¡¯er hadn¡¯t intervened, he would never have gotten that role. Jiang Zhi put the cup down: ¡°Not suitable.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er didn¡¯t say anything else: ¡°Got it, I¡¯m going to work now.¡± The fifth Miss of the Jiang family, with all the wealth she could have, chose to work as an assistant for someone else. ¡°Isn¡¯t it better to be someone else¡¯s ancestor?¡± Jiang Zhi, indifferent to the matter, said: ¡°Why insist on being someone¡¯s grandson?¡± Xue Bingxue treated her like an ancestor, but she chose to be Xiao Linsu¡¯s grandson instead. Such a great ambition. Jiang Wei¡¯er smoothed out her white dress: ¡°Stop mocking me, you¡¯d better be careful or you¡¯ll become a grandson one day.¡± Jiang Zhi took a sip of water, his Adam¡¯s apple rolled: ¡°I¡¯m the ancestor.¡± ¡°Just wait and see.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er smiled and left. At this moment, Ah Wan came in: ¡°Boss, I ordered takeout for you,¡± he particularly added, ¡°Miss Zhou delivered it.¡± Ah Wan felt that Miss Zhou and his employer were meant to be, even ordering takeout could lead to an encounter. Ah, love. ¡°Come in.¡± His voice was a bit hoarse, and his coughing had worsened. It was winter, and his health seemed to have deteriorated. When Zhou Xufang came in carrying the takeout, Jiang Zhi was getting dressed, his fair neck completely covered, wrapped tightly. She had heard from Fang Lixiang that Jiang Zhi was born with weak health, his heart and lungs were in poor condition, and he had chronic organ failure, which was incurable. How pitiful. She recognized Ah Wan¡¯s order, knowing it was for Jiang Zhi, she had specially added a few mantis shrimps for him. Jiang Zhi noticed she was wearing a takeout delivery outfit, with a yellow helmet on her head, and her small face was red from the wind outside. ¡°Are you delivering takeout because you think being an extra doesn¡¯t pay well?¡± His brows were unfriendly, in a bad mood, and not feeling well. Zhou Xufang shook her head and answered honestly: ¡°The owner of the congee shop is someone I know. I only help out when it¡¯s very busy during the weekends.¡± She placed the takeout on the table: ¡°Eat while it¡¯s hot.¡± There were many shrimps inside. Jiang Zhi stood, separated from her by a sofa: ¡°How much do you get for a takeout order?¡± Indeed, he was curious about her. He should have hated women but was incredibly curious about her, a curiosity that drove him mad, made him restless and uncomfortable, even a bit at a loss. Zhou Xufang replied: ¡°It depends on the distance, this order is seven yuan.¡± Her expression was blank and cool, but she was serious, ¡°A good review makes it eight yuan.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Jiang Zhi felt a throbbing pain in his head. Eight yuan, how many orders would she have to deliver to buy a can of imported milk? Zhou Xufang habitually pressed down on the hat on her head, hiding her face: ¡°I¡¯ll go deliver more takeout then.¡± She turned to leave. Jiang Zhi stopped her: ¡°How are you getting there?¡± Zhou Xufang turned back, her hat was a size too big, covering her head, making her face look small and her eyes large, her gaze always cold, solitary yet pure. She answered him: ¡°I drive.¡± Delivering takeout and she could afford a car? At this moment¡ª Assistant Director Zhao yelled through a megaphone outside, the entire set could hear him: ¡°Whose tricycle is this? You can¡¯t park here!¡± Zhou Xufang reacted in a second and ran out: ¡°Mine, mine!¡± It was the first time seeing her being so lively, not lifeless, finally like a girl of her age. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± His head started to hurt again, his lungs too, and his throat felt sore from the coughing. Ah Wan quickly went to get water, not forgetting to speak well of Zhou Xufang: ¡°Miss Zhou works so hard. Boss, let¡¯s give her a good review.¡± He genuinely admired this hardworking girl, despite her poverty. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t say anything, opened the takeout, looked at it for a long while, and then started eating. Seeing no objections, Ah Wan picked up his phone to give a good review and then discovered something amazing: ¡°Wow, there¡¯s an option to tip the rider.¡± Thinking that Miss Zhou had it tough, only earning eight yuan, he suggested, ¡°Boss, let¡¯s tip Miss Zhou.¡± Jiang Zhi held the spoon, his slender fingers gripping the handle. His skin was fair, with a hint of thinness, and faint blue veins showed on the back of his hand: ¡°If you want to tip, then tip, why tell me.¡± Ah Wan went ahead to tip. He didn¡¯t order takeout often and wasn¡¯t familiar with the app, so he fumbled with it for a while and then discovered: ¡°The most I can tip is only fifty yuan.¡± Although his salary wasn¡¯t very high, he wanted to tip a thousand yuan. Never mind, he would tip more next time. After tipping, Ah Wan was a bit excited: ¡°This also has the rider¡¯s phone number, I can add Miss Zhou on WeChat.¡± Clank. The spoon hit the bowl, Jiang Zhi looked up: ¡°Why add her on WeChat?¡± His face was stunning, but those peach blossom eyes always looked like they were hiding something sinister, a true young master from an aristocratic family, his aura was indeed strong. Ah Wan felt uneasy under his gaze, this big guy, six feet three and weighing two hundred pounds, weakly said: ¡°We¡¯re friends, after all.¡± Jiang Zhi threw the spoon and coughed lightly, took a napkin to wipe the corner of his mouth: ¡°I never noticed before how self-deluded you are.¡± ¡°¡­¡± This person was really annoying! Ah Wan insisted on adding her on WeChat. ¡°Give me the phone number.¡± Out of nowhere, Jiang Zhi said. Ah Wan¡¯s brain took a second to catch up: ¡°What phone number?¡± Jiang Zhi squinted his eyes, those peach blossom eyes void of any softness, deep like ink. ¡°Oh.¡± Ah Wan gave his employer the number for Zhou Xufang, the extra who applied screen protectors and delivered takeout on the side. Chapter 24 - Chapter 24: 024: Come on, lets create Chapter 24: 024: Come on, let¡¯s create Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Ah Wan reported the number of Zhou Xufang, the extra who also worked part-time doing food deliveries, to the employer. In the evening, Xue Baoyi called Jiang Zhi out to Fusheng Inn¡¯s Mei Garden, and promised to end by half-past eight, ensuring it wouldn¡¯t delay his sleep time. Jiang Zhi went but lay there, ignoring everyone. Xue Baoyi was playing dice, getting high, and shouted at Jiang Zhi, ¡°Brother Zhi, stop playing with your phone and come join us.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t respond, the light in his eyes seemed faint, occasionally glancing at the phone on the table. Ah Wan stood behind, naturally knowing what the employer was up to, ¡°Boss, Miss Zhou still hasn¡¯t agreed.¡± He felt a bit proud, ¡°She accepted my friend request.¡± Jiang Zhi frowned. The employer was unhappy, so Ah Wan advised, ¡°What name did you use? Did you use your real name?¡± He suddenly felt very clever, as if his brain had become more developed, and got carried away, ¡°Boss, you have to use your real name, or Miss Zhou won¡¯t know who you are and will think you¡¯re a scammer.¡± Jiang Zhi lifted an eyelid; just then, the laser light in the private room fell into his eyes, with a cold, multicolored glare, ¡°Why the fuck do you talk so much?¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± Fine, he wouldn¡¯t speak. The employer had been swearing more frequently lately. Jiang Zhi opened a can of milk, poured it into a goblet, took a few sips, lost interest, and tossed it onto the table. He grabbed his phone from the sofa, changed his name, sent another message, and waited more than ten minutes with no response. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?? Damn it, what stupid thing was he doing? ¡°Whang.¡± He threw the phone onto the table. ¡°Jiang Zhi,¡± Ming Saiying, dressed beautifully with a bright smile, danced over, ¡°Why is your phone screen cracked?¡± He undid a button at his collar, ¡°What¡¯s it to you?¡± ¡°¡­¡± He was in a bad mood today. Ming Saiying sat a bit further away, alright, a beauty should have some temper. She was originally celebrating in the room next door; knowing Jiang Zhi was here, she insisted on coming over. If Jiang Wei hadn¡¯t owed her a favor due to Xiao Linsu, he would probably have thrown her out. After all, she had just kidnapped Jiang Zhi not long ago. She didn¡¯t dare bother him, just quietly¡­ quietly watched the beauty. Xue Baoyi finished playing dice, had a little drink, felt exhilarated, and switched it up, ¡°Come on, come on, let¡¯s have a round of Truth or Dare.¡± Qiao Nanchu threw an orange peel at him, ¡°Xue Baoyi, how low-class can you be?¡± Xue Baoyi got defensive, ¡°So what if it¡¯s low-class, as long as it¡¯s fun.¡± He loved rough games like this, took off his suit jacket, stood up, and called out, ¡°Brother Zhi, come on, stop acting like a girl.¡± Jiang Zhi took his eyes off the phone screen, coughed lightly with a weak breath, but his eyes had a hint of aggression, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll start.¡± Rarely, the sickly beauty was interested. Xue Baoyi rolled up his sleeves, ¡°Fine.¡± Today, he had to pry something out of Jiang Zhi¡­ Result¡ª In the first round, the beer bottle spun in Jiang Zhi¡¯s hand and landed on Xue Baoyi. Fuck! Damn accurate! Xue Baoyi even suspected he practiced, ¡°Brother Zhi, you¡¯re playing me on purpose.¡± Jiang Zhi sat alone on the opposite sofa, legs lazily stretched out, a blanket on his legs. His coat was open, and due to the poor airflow in the room, his eyes were flushed, giving a slightly drunken, powerless look. ¡°Just figuring it out now?¡± He fiddled with the empty bottle, ¡°Choose.¡± That damn, unplaceable dominance! Xue Baoyi felt a bit cowardly, ¡°Dare then.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Jiang Zhi took a wet wipe, cleaned his hands, ¡°Go streaking outside.¡± The first round was already this eye-searing¡­ Xue Baoyi¡¯s face fell, ¡°Ancestor, please don¡¯t.¡± He was, after all, the boss of an entertainment company, a semi-public figure; did he not want his reputation anymore? Jiang Mei Ren licked his lips, letting it slide. ¡°I¡¯ll permit you to keep your underwear.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Don¡¯t play games with Jiang Zhi, he was ruthless. Xue Baoyi, face ashen, undressed, walked out, holding his head the whole time, almost got thrown out by the Fusheng Inn staff as an exhibitionist. ¡°I want to quit.¡± Xue Bingxue was well-behaved, not playing this sort of outrageous game. Xue Baoyi, putting his pants back on, face red, ¡°No way!¡± He pulled Xue Bingxue beside him, ¡°I streaked; no one is getting out of this!¡± Xue Bingxue glanced secretly at Jiang Wei, touching his earlobe. The next spin landed on Ming Saiying. Xue Baoyi¡¯s expression turned sly, ¡°Choose, Ming Lao.¡± Ming Saiying didn¡¯t have the guts to streak, ¡°Truth.¡± Lame. If she had chosen dare, he would have made her either take Jiang Zhi down or strip a piece of his clothing to vent his frustration. ¡°If our Brother Zhi was impotent, would you still like him?¡± Xue Baoyi glanced at Jiang Zhi, the look filled with malicious intentions. Impotent, huh¡­ Whether he was or not, he was close to being infertile. Qiao Nanchu, aware of how sensitive this question was, kicked Xue Baoyi to remind him, ¡°Xue Baoyi, don¡¯t overdo it.¡± Xue Baoyi¡¯s shirt wasn¡¯t buttoned, ¡°I don¡¯t care, I¡¯ll go all out.¡± He wasn¡¯t afraid of trouble, ¡°Ming Lao, answer quickly.¡± Ming Saiying pretended to be shy, ¡°Even if he¡¯s impotent, I still like him.¡± Jiang Zhi licked his teeth. The next round, Ming Saiying spun to Jiang Wei. Jiang Wei put down her wine glass, raised her skirt, placing a foot on the table, ¡°Ask away.¡± ¡°Did you and Xiao Linsu do it?¡± She didn¡¯t even blink, ¡°No, my old lady has old-fashioned ideas; if that layer breaks, I have to marry immediately.¡± People: ¡°¡­¡± That was Jiang Family¡¯s rule indeed, but only she dared to say it. Xue Baoyi glanced at his uncle who was secretly smiling. This fool! Jiang Wei finished, flexed her fingers, twisted the bottle cap energetically. Not too much, exactly three and a half spins, landed on Jiang Zhi. This game, Jiang Zhi could play, and Jiang Wei could too, spinning it to whoever they wanted. Before Jiang Zhi could choose, she asked, ¡°Are you on top or bottom? If not done before, what about in dreams, top or bottom?¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s brows furrowed slightly, the blanket slid down his legs; he picked it up and covered himself again. Xue Baoyi howled and disrupted the scene, as he had been curious for years. Jiang Zhi only said he was gay, but for so many years, no boyfriend was in sight. Was he top or bottom remained a mystery. Jiang Zhi¡¯s temperament was dominant, but his body was quite fragile. Too thrilling! Xue Baoyi couldn¡¯t wait any longer, urging, ¡°Quick, answer!¡± He didn¡¯t believe Jiang Zhi hadn¡¯t even dreamed. Jiang Zhi¡¯s face had little color, his skin pale with an unhealthy cold white, contrasting red lips, whether from coughing or biting them, ¡°Did I say I chose truth?¡± No answer. Jiang Wei blew her bangs playfully, ¡°I know the answer, bottom.¡± She crossed her long legs, arrogantly, ¡°Playing with your aunt, you¡¯re still too young.¡± If he was on top, he would¡¯ve answered. Jiang Zhi tore off his tie, revealing his throat and collarbone, white with a hint of red, ¡°Jiang Wei.¡± Three words, spoken lightly, but with a menacing tone. Indeed, that was Jiang Zhi¡¯s taboo. Xue Baoyi understood, recognizing that in those colored dreams, Jiang Zhi indeed played the bottom role. Jiang Wei knew when to stop, ¡°Alright, you passed, your turn.¡± Jiang Zhi unbuttoned another button on his shirt, sat up, his fingers touched the bottle cap, nails clean and bright. He flicked it lightly and slowly. Half a circle. The bottle pointed at Jiang Wei. ¡°You¡¯re retaliating.¡± Jiang Zhi replied nonchalantly, ¡°Yes.¡± Jiang Wei gritted her teeth, rolling up her sleeves, ¡°I choose dare.¡± Damn. Xue Baoyi gave a thumbs up, ¡°I admire Fifth Aunt¡¯s courage, bring it on!¡± Jiang Zhi rubbed his thumb against his lips, smiled. That smile, a hint of makeup beauty, raised his slender fingers, pointed at Xue Bingxue, ¡°Kiss him forcefully, one minute, not a second less.¡± Xue Bingxue: ¡°¡­¡± He instinctively¡­ swallowed. Chapter 25 - Chapter 25: 025: Jiang Zhi finally added Xu Fang on WeChat Chapter 25: 025: Jiang Zhi finally added Xu Fang on WeChat Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Brother Zhi,¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er changed her sitting position, her face no longer the carefree expression she had earlier as she smoothed out her dress, ¡°Let¡¯s switch, anything else will do. This is inappropriate. Your aunt has a boyfriend.¡± Her tone was somewhat conciliatory. ¡°No.¡± Jiang Zhi, at his core, was a thoroughly bad person. He taunted, ¡°Can¡¯t handle it, can you?¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er had a fatal weakness: she couldn¡¯t be provoked. Once provoked, she¡¯d explode. She poured a glass of wine, drank it all in one go, set the glass down¡ª ¡°Don¡¯t bully Wei¡¯er anymore.¡± Xue Bingxue covered her mouth, her doe-like eyes fluttered as she tried to look at Jiang Wei¡¯er, but then timidly dodged away, her ears turning red as she said, ¡°Wei¡¯er¡¯s boyfriend will be upset with her.¡± If Wei¡¯er¡¯s boyfriend got upset, Wei¡¯er would be unhappy. If Wei¡¯er was unhappy, he would be sad. So, Xue Bingxue pressed her mouth shut firmly. Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï What use was having a teammate like a god? They also had a teammate who was as useless as a pig. Even a stubborn bronze couldn¡¯t be carried to victory by a king. Thud. The empty wine bottle was knocked over by Jiang Zhi, spinning halfway. The air stilled. Xue Bingxue was still sneaking glances at Jiang Wei¡¯er, afraid she¡¯d be upset. If Jiang Zhi got upset¡­ let him be upset, as long as Wei¡¯er wasn¡¯t. This silly yet sweet girl! Xue Baoyi couldn¡¯t bear to watch anymore, stomped on him in exasperation, and cursed in a pinched voice, ¡°Brother Zhi is helping you, you coward!¡± Xue Bingxue was again afraid Jiang Wei¡¯er would hear, so he glared at Xue Baoyi. Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± This pig! ¡°Not playing anymore, this is boring.¡± Jiang Zhi picked up his phone and walked off. Ah Wan went to grab a coat, hurried to follow, and as they looked from behind, they saw Jiang Zhi lowering his head, revealing a stretch of pale, smooth nape that begged to be touched. His profile was coated in a cold, white light reflected by his phone. He was looking at his phone again. Ah Wan couldn¡¯t help it: ¡°Has Miss Zhou not accepted the request yet?¡± ¡°Cough, cough, cough¡­¡± Jiang Zhi coughed so hard his face turned red; he couldn¡¯t even stand straight, leaning against the wall and clutching his chest. He turned back angrily: ¡°None of your damn business.¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± He shrank his neck, ¡°Please calm down, don¡¯t faint.¡± ¡°Cough, cough, cough¡­¡± He was coughing so hard it felt like his lungs were coming out, his eyes were rimmed with red, and his gaze shimmered, beautiful as peach blossoms. This appearance of falling ill¡­ made Xue Baoyi¡¯s heart ache to see. Xue Bingxue hurried over to press on Jiang Zhi¡¯s acupoints to stop the cough. Ah Wan stood rooted to the spot, flustered and at a loss, terrified his employer would die young and leave behind a tragic beauty¡­ Ah Wan wished he could cut his stomach open on the spot! Right! Now! To! Die! ¡°What¡¯s up with Jiang Zhi tonight?¡± Qiao Nanchu, who had a flirtatious look, smiled roguishly, ¡°Something¡¯s not right.¡± Because Ah Wan had made a mistake and was sent home. It was the Fifth Miss who took the employer home. He thought he had gone too far, his brain was dull, and he didn¡¯t know what to say or what not to say. He wanted to make up for it by recalling how the employer liked the shrimp porridge at noon, so he quietly ordered another porridge for his employer. At eight-thirty. Jiang Zhi had just finished his bath when the phone in the security office rang. ¡°Mr. Jiang.¡± He placed a hand on his stomach, his face ghostly pale, becoming whiter than his bathrobe, which emphasized his exposed neck: ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Did you order takeout? There¡¯s a delivery here saying it¡¯s your porridge.¡± He spoke breathlessly in a low, hoarse voice, ¡°I didn¡¯t.¡± With that, he hung up the phone. Just then, Ah Wan¡¯s WeChat message came in: ¡°Boss, I know I did wrong. I got you some night snack, it¡¯s the porridge you had at noon. I specially noted to add more shrimp. Lastly, wishing you good health and a long life.¡± Jiang Zhi glanced at the message, threw the phone to the side, went to the bathroom to get a towel, and dried his hair, pausing mid-action, then went back to pick up the phone. Damn, he was really sick¡­ He put on his coat, over the bathrobe, and coughed heavily as he ran out, irritably calling the security room. ¡°It¡¯s my takeout.¡± ¡°No need, I¡¯ll go down and get it myself.¡± Three minutes later¡­ Outside the villa district, the delivery boy smiled and handed over the porridge: ¡°Seven Villas Room 203, right? Here¡¯s your takeout.¡± Through the iron fence, Jiang Zhi, who wore a coat over his bathrobe, eyed him coldly. The delivery boy was utterly confused. His gaze subconsciously fell on the dripping wet neck, the Adam¡¯s apple, and finally on that exquisitely beautiful face carved out of marble, sculpted with no traces of the mundane world. His voice trembled: ¡°You¡­your takeout, could you give a good review?¡± A pale, slender, and well-defined hand took the bag: ¡°Depends on my mood.¡± ¡°¡­¡± The wind blew, chilling to the bone. The delivery boy stood dazed in the wind, watching that slightly hunched back from the coughing, and despite wearing so many layers, how did he still look like his bone structure was beautiful? The rumored beauty bones? Bam¡ª The door slammed shut, and Jiang Zhi, with a gloomy face, threw the takeout into the trash. ¡°Cough, cough, cough¡­¡± He felt intense pain in his body, had taken an extra pill during the day, and a metallic taste rose in his throat. With winter coming, his body was also in a terrible mess. Moving slowly, he held onto a chair, sat down at the dining table, and poured himself a cup of warm water. ¡°Ding.¡± The phone suddenly pinged. The cup fell back onto the table, and he hesitated momentarily, then picked up the phone. Zhou Xufang¡¯s three words hit his sight, the avatar a black smudge like the night, and there was a line in the chat: I accepted your friend request. Now we can start chatting. And then¡­ No movement. Jiang Zhi stared at the phone in a daze for a while, gulped down the cup of warm water, feeling a bit better in his belly. Just a short trip outside made him sweat coldly all over. He threw the phone aside, went to the bathroom to take another bath, returned, and saw only that one message on WeChat. Water dripped from his hair onto the carpet as he stood there, staring at the phone. Zhou Xufang. Muttering the name, he frowned, resigned, and picked up the phone. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you go deliver takeout?¡± After waiting for over ten seconds. Zhou Xufang replied: ¡°I got off work.¡± She wasn¡¯t typing quickly either, waiting a few more seconds, ¡°Is there something you need?¡± Was there something he needed? How would he know, he thought about it all day and couldn¡¯t figure out why. Why would a genuinely gay man suddenly become endlessly curious about a woman, possibly because of prolonged abstinence? Then again, how long had it been since he¡¯d had those kinds of dreams? He replied with two words: ¡°Nothing.¡± Zhou Xufang sent a period. ¡°What do you mean by sending a period?¡± The ¡®typing¡¯ indicator showed for a long time, before a moderately long text appeared: ¡°I have OCD. It has to be me who ends the conversation. If there¡¯s nothing to say, I¡¯ll send a punctuation mark.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± This person, why always cause problems for him. His finger pad turned slightly red as he tapped the screen: ¡°No words to chat?¡± It took a while again. Zhou Xufang replied: ¡°No.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t argue.¡± ¡°.¡± No words meant she¡¯d send punctuation marks. Still, she had to be the one to end the conversation. Jiang Zhi threw the phone aside, couldn¡¯t stop himself, grabbed a box of cough medicine, took two pills, tilted his head back to swallow them, then poured half a cup of warm water to drink, licked his lips, and his Adam¡¯s apple rolled¡ªit was really damn bitter. The box of marshmallows was on the dining table. He threw one into his mouth and picked up his phone. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± ¡°.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t have words to say, don¡¯t send anything.¡± ¡°.¡± ¡°Alright, go to sleep.¡± ¡°.¡± ¡°You really have OCD?¡± ¡°Mm.¡± ¡°What kind of ailment!¡± ¡°.¡± This OCD! But, it was somewhat interesting. If he wanted to keep chatting, she couldn¡¯t sleep and would have to send periods all night. Jiang Zhi threw the phone aside, yanked the bathrobe¡¯s collar, his hair not yet dry, droplets slid down his temple to his neck, making him itch, he wiped the water with his fingertip, pulled back the covers, lied down, and then started coughing. That night¡¯s sleep quality was horrendous. Chapter 26 - Chapter 26: 026: Hidden Beauty Chapter 26: 026: Hidden Beauty Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation This night¡¯s sleep quality was terrible to the extreme. Winter had already passed, and it was getting colder. Jiang Zhi¡¯s spirits were getting worse, and he was tired for long periods of the day, always lacking energy. At Fusheng Inn¡¯s Bamboo Garden, tea had been changed pot after pot, and the deputy general manager of Huayu was already impatient from waiting. ¡°Why hasn¡¯t Director Jiang come yet?¡± The secretary behind him stepped forward, ¡°Director Jiang¡¯s assistant called, saying Director Jiang caught a cold last night and was feeling unwell, so he¡¯ll be late.¡± Huayu, apart from Xue¡¯s Baoguang and Luo Family¡¯s Tianxing, was the largest entertainment company domestically. This deputy general manager was the current chairman Jin Lei¡¯s brother, Jin Song. At thirty-five years old, Jin Song had good looks, and his name was well-known in the circle for two reasons: his formidable methods and his notorious womanizing. After waiting for half an hour, Jin Song was naturally very unhappy, ¡°This Jiang Zhi, what a big shot.¡± Beside him sat a woman, an extremely beautiful woman. ¡°President Jin,¡± she poured him a cup of tea and said softly, ¡°Don¡¯t rush, have a cup of tea first.¡± The woman was called Su Chan, an artist of Huayu. She was from a minority ethnic group, with features giving her three or four parts of exotic beauty yet still possessing soft grace. She was rare even in the star-filled entertainment circle. She started as a martial arts stunt double and had only been in the industry for four years, but she was the youngest film queen of Huayu. Jin Song slightly gathered himself as his phone rang. He got up and took the call outside. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï ¡°Have all the people I selected signed the contracts?¡± The person on the other end replied, ¡°Tang Yinyin and Fang Zhi were signed by Baoguang.¡± These two were artists under Tianxing. After Tianxing¡¯s scandal broke out, their stock prices plummeted, and many of their artists terminated their contracts. Tianxing¡¯s decline would continue for a while. Artists who had enough strength could establish their studios, but those without sufficient standing had to find new owners. Baoguang and Huayu were the best choices, so the competition for talents between them was fierce. Here, we must mention Baoguang¡¯s owner, Xue Baoyi, a truly overbearing person. Coming from a prestigious family in the Imperial City, he had connections and received many advantages. Jin Song got angry just thinking about it, ¡°That idiot Xue Baoyi, sooner or later I¡¯ll crush¡ª¡± ¡°Cough, cough, cough, cough, cough¡­¡± Suddenly, a low cough interrupted him. Jin Song¡¯s words stopped abruptly, and he glanced back before ending the call, ¡°I¡¯ll talk more when I get back.¡± Hanging up, Jin Song changed his expression, smiling as he greeted, ¡°Director Jiang is here, let¡¯s talk inside.¡± He made a welcoming gesture, his gaze fixed on Jiang Zhi¡¯s face, never moving away. Jiang Zhi entered the private room, took off his coat, and handed it to Ah Wan, who then stepped aside, keeping a wary eye on Jin Song. He felt that Jin Song¡¯s gaze on his employer was somewhat inappropriate. ¡°Su Chan, pour Director Jiang a cup of tea,¡± Jin Song pulled out a chair and sat next to Jiang Zhi. Su Chan stood up, her slender fingers holding the tea cup delicately while she walked gracefully, her movements seductive. However, before the tea was poured, with a soft click, Jiang Zhi placed the lid on his cup. He coughed softly, his skin pale but lips red, and said, ¡°My throat hurts from coughing, I won¡¯t drink tea.¡± Su Chan¡¯s hand holding the teapot stiffened slightly before she smiled and sat back down as if nothing had happened. Jin Song took out the contract. ¡°The contract is ready. I have no issues on my side,¡± he pushed the thick contract towards Jiang Zhi, ¡°Director Jiang, see if there¡¯s anything you need to add.¡± This meeting was for signing a contract. For Jiang Zhi¡¯s new movie, Su Chan was chosen as the leading actress, primarily because of her fame and her skill. Both sides were not particularly concerned about the pay because this movie was a big production aimed at winning awards. They had reached an agreement in no time, only a contract remained. Initially, they thought today would be a mere formality, but¡ª Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t even open the contract, pushing it back untouched. Jin Song¡¯s smile faded, ¡°What do you mean by this?¡± Jiang Zhi calmly lifted his eyelids, seemingly smiling yet not, his profound eyes filled with ambiguous meaning as he asked, ¡°Don¡¯t you know my relationship with Xue Baoyi?¡± Heh, he had overheard the earlier conversation. Jin Song leaned back in his chair, eyes scanning Jiang Zhi¡¯s face with a smile hovering on his lips, a mix of challenge and a deeper implication, ¡°What relationship?¡± Dressed impeccably in suits, reeking of hypocrisy. In the circle, many used these eight words to describe Huayu¡¯s deputy general manager. ¡°What do you think?¡± In a lazy tone, Jiang Zhi threw the question back. What relationship? Rumors in the circle had it that Xue Baoyi and Jiang Zhi had a romantic involvement. Indeed, with Jiang Zhi¡¯s looks¡­ Jin Song took out a cigarette from his pack, offering one to Jiang Zhi, ¡°Director Jiang, for your movie, I doubt you can find anyone more suitable than Su Chan. You should think carefully.¡± Jiang Zhi remained seated, ¡°I don¡¯t smoke.¡± He then lifted his hand, and Ah Wan immediately handed over a business card and a pen. Jiang Zhi took them, wrote a string of numbers on the back of the card, ¡°For compensation matters, please contact my lawyer.¡± He pushed the card to Jin Song, put down the pen, wiped his hands with a handkerchief, and turned to leave. Ah Wan put away the pen and followed. Occasional coughing sounds arose, and Jin Song glanced at the door, seeing Jiang Zhi slightly hunched, exposing a small patch of skin paler than a woman¡¯s. A delicate beauty weakened by illness. The youngest of the Jiang Family in the Imperial City, just as rumored, short of breath every few steps, frequent coughs, unrivaled beauty, surpassed even adorned flowers. ¡°President Jin,¡± Su Chan called softly. Jin Song withdrew his gaze, ¡°This Jiang Zhi,¡± tapping the lighter on the table gently, tick-tack, tick-tack¡­ the sound unhurried and rhythmic, then he paused the motion and stopped speaking, ¡°No wonder even those princely lads are enchanted by him.¡± A man even more beautiful than women. Jiang Zhi had just walked out of the Bamboo Garden when he ran into Xue Baoyi, that flashy butterfly. His buzz cut had just started to grow out and he had dyed it gray again, making him look like a little old man. It was only his ruggedly handsome face that could pull it off. Xue Baoyi had come to have fun. When he saw Jiang Zhi, he was delighted: ¡°Brother Zhi, Brother Zhi!¡± Jiang Zhi glanced at him: ¡°Idiot.¡± Xue Baoyi, whose enthusiasm had been doused with cold water, clutched his heart: ¡°¡­¡± His heart hurt. ¡°What did I do to deserve this?¡± Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t be bothered with him. Ah Wan looked at Xue Baoyi and thought the employer wasn¡¯t all that bad. Sure, he had a bad temper, was moody, sharp-tongued, picky, neurotic, and haughty¡­ but he was very protective. See, he could call Xue Baoyi an idiot, but he wouldn¡¯t let Jin Song do the same. Hmm, that must be a good quality. Ah Wan also reasoned that even though the employer cursed at him every day, if one day he got into a fight and couldn¡¯t win, the employer would drag his sickly body over to help him. The car was parked outside Fusheng Inn, but they hadn¡¯t left yet when Qiao Nanchu called. Jiang Zhi answered: ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°Where are you?¡± Jiang Zhi said: ¡°Out discussing business.¡± ¡°Did you finish?¡± ¡°It fell through.¡± Jiang Zhi popped a marshmallow into his mouth. That idiot, Xue Baoyi! Qiao Nanchu asked him: ¡°Interested in the professional errand runner business?¡± Jiang Zhi stayed silent, fiddling with the marshmallow box, opening and closing it, making occasional clicking sounds. After a moment, he put down the glass box: ¡°I¡¯ll come over.¡± He hung up the phone and instructed Ah Wan, ¡°Go get Xue Baoyi.¡± Jiangfeng Mansion. It was nine in the morning, and the sun was just beginning to peek out from the clouds. Despite the cold of late winter, the seasonal begonias in the mansion had already bloomed. ¡°Back again?¡± The security guard uncle was leaning out the window, greeting the girl outside. The girl nodded. Her cheeks were reddened from the wind, making her look even more flushed. The security guard uncle saw she had a large canvas bag on her back and asked with a smile, ¡°Bringing food for Mr. Qiao again?¡± She nodded again, smiling, and took the canvas bag off to hand it over. The security guard uncle took it: ¡°Mr. Qiao is at home today. Aren¡¯t you going up?¡± She shook her head and took out a pen and paper from her coat, writing, ¡°No, please give it to him for me.¡± She then took a small lunchbox from the canvas bag, reached over the window, and placed it on the table. ¡°This is for you, homemade braised chicken feet and shredded chicken. Try some.¡± ¡°I get some too?¡± The security guard uncle¡¯s face wrinkled with a smile. ¡°Thank you. I don¡¯t know your name yet.¡± She turned to a new piece of paper and wrote her name carefully. ¡°Wen Baiyang.¡± She was called Wen Baiyang, like the white poplar tree. Both Jiang Zhi and Xue Baoyi owned property at Jiangfeng Mansion, though they rarely stayed there. When they did come over, they usually stayed at Qiao Nanchu¡¯s place. The security guard recognized the two of them. ¡°Mr. Jiang and Mr. Xue are here,¡± he said, opening the gate for them. ¡°Going to Mr. Qiao¡¯s place?¡± Xue Baoyi responded affirmatively. Mr. Jiang seemed unapproachable, but Mr. Xue had a good temper. The security guard seized the opportunity and handed over the package left by the girl earlier. ¡°This is for Mr. Qiao, brought by a girl just now. It¡¯s food. Could you take it up for me?¡± Xue Baoyi reached out from the passenger seat, ¡°I¡¯ll take it.¡± The security guard handed it over. Inside the car, Xue Baoyi sniffed. Damn! It smelled delicious! Three minutes later, even before they arrived, Qiao Nanchu heard Xue Baoyi¡¯s shout. ¡°Open the door!¡± Qiao Nanchu opened the door. Xue Baoyi burst in noisily: ¡°Qiao Nanchu, you¡¯re hiding a mistress behind my back!¡± ¡°As if!¡± Qiao Nanchu glanced at Xue Baoyi¡¯s shoes on the carpet and kicked at him, ¡°Damn it, change your shoes.¡± Xue Baoyi juggled his shoes off and waved the package at Qiao Nanchu¡¯s face, looking overly excited for no reason: ¡°Look, there¡¯s evidence. Don¡¯t try to deny it.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Qiao Nanchu barely glanced and walked off to fetch Jiang Zhi a pair of clean disposable slippers. ¡°A girl brought it, see?¡± Xue Baoyi waggled his eyebrows, grinning mischievously, ¡°Don¡¯t deny it. Spill the beans. When did you start keeping a mistress?¡± The old man at home always used Qiao Nanchu as a model for teaching him to keep himself clean. Pfft, what a joke! Qiao Nanchu looked at him as if he was an idiot: ¡°You think I¡¯m like you.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Damn it, he got praised by elders all the time, and for what? Xue Baoyi took out the cartoonishly cute pink lunchbox from the canvas bag: ¡°Then what is this?¡± Still denying it! Qiao Nanchu took one look and snatched the lunchbox, ignoring Xue Baoyi¡¯s protests, and put it straight in the fridge: ¡°She¡¯s my stepsister. I supported her for a few years. She¡¯s still young, don¡¯t make fun of her.¡± Damn! Xue Baoyi remembered: ¡°You mean that girl you brought back from Da Mai Mountain five years ago?¡± Chapter 27 - Chapter 27: 027: Jiang Zhi is very bad Chapter 27: 027: Jiang Zhi is very bad Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Xue Baoyi remembered, ¡°The one you brought back from Da Mai Mountain five years ago?¡± Qiao Nanchu responded with a hum. Xue Baoyi fell silent. That girl was somewhat special, she was mute and deaf. Qiao Nanchu¡¯s stepmother was a ruthless woman; she abandoned the girl to marry into the Qiao Family. The girl was different from ordinary people; she was born with disabilities due to being the product of close relatives. In the backward and feudal place like Da Mai Mountain, five years ago, the people there wanted to drown the girl. It was rumored that it wasn¡¯t the first time they had ¡®punished¡¯ her. Qiao Nanchu brought the girl to the Imperial City. At the time, Xue Baoyi had asked him why he brought that burden along. How did he reply back then? ¡°Maybe I¡¯m just kind-hearted.¡± Kind-hearted, my ass! Xue Baoyi thought for a while, ¡°Nanchu, seriously, are you raising a wife or a daughter?¡± None of them were saints, helping a little girl for no reason? He didn¡¯t believe there weren¡¯t ulterior motives. Qiao Nanchu didn¡¯t joke around with him, ¡°Mind your own business. If you keep talking, I¡¯ll throw you out.¡± He glanced at Jiang Zhi, who was curled up on the sofa. ¡°Cold?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï ¡°Yes.¡± So damn delicate. Qiao Nanchu went to get him a blanket and got down to business, ¡°There was a home invasion robbery last week, and this week, there was another theft.¡± Jiang Zhi sat up, wrapped himself in the blanket, and lay back down. ¡°What does it have to do with her?¡± Xue Baoyi leaned in to listen. Qiao Nanchu spread the documents from the file on the table, pointing at the photos. ¡°Traces were left at the scene, and her hat was found there.¡± The hat had embroidery, the letter Z. Jiang Zhi had seen that letter on the sleeve of that professional errand runner. ¡°It¡¯s not her.¡± Jiang Zhi spoke with certainty. Qiao Nanchu smiled faintly, glancing at him. ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s not her. Our Criminal Investigation Team and the Intelligence Division have been chasing this for so long without finding a single clue. With her professional skills, how could she leave traces at the scene?¡± He tapped the photo with his finger intermittently. ¡°Either it¡¯s a setup, someone is trying to trouble her, or they¡¯re trying to lure her out.¡± ¡°Who did she offend?¡± Xue Baoyi crossed his arms, tapping his foot, looking quite serious. ¡°There are many.¡± Qiao Nanchu casually listed a few. ¡°Her peers, her clients, her clients¡¯ rivals.¡± If she were just an ordinary errand runner, it would be fine. But that Z, her capabilities were too strong. Even if she didn¡¯t take on murder or arson requests, she would still be involved in many morally ambiguous areas. Naturally, many were watching her. ¡°Brother Zhi,¡± Xue Baoyi teased, ¡°why are you so interested in this errand runner?¡± Jiang Zhi lazily lowered his eyelids, nonchalantly replying, ¡°She knocked me out twice, I need to know who she is.¡± ¡°Love-hate relationship, huh?¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t entertain his nonsense, ¡°Did you find out about the milk?¡± ¡°Do I ever screw up what you ask me to do?¡± Xue Baoyi put on an inviting look, ¡°Just had someone send it to your email.¡± His face displayed a ¡®Mr. is impressive¡¯ expression. Mr. really was impressive! Ah Wan still admired Second Young Master Xue a lot, then used his phone to log into the employer¡¯s email and pulled out the information to hand over. It was just one page. Jiang Zhi glanced at it and his gaze froze. ¡°Boss!¡± Ah Wan exclaimed, hunched over, peeking, ¡°I see Miss Zhou¡¯s name, right below yours!¡± What a divine coincidence! He always said these two were meant to be. Miss Zhou even bought the milk to give to the employer, sending a total of three boxes. For a poor girl like Miss Zhou who worked multiple jobs to barely make ends meet, to give such expensive milk, she must really like the employer¡­ huh? ¡°Miss Zhou bought over thirty boxes!¡± Ah Wan was shocked! Jiang Zhi raised his eyes, giving a cold glance. Ah Wan stepped back and silently wondered, did Miss Zhou spend all her savings on milk? ¡°I¡¯ve investigated everyone inside. The ones circled in red are all likely to be that errand runner. Also, I checked Zhou Xufang¡¯s background, it¡¯s as clean as a whistle, nothing special. She has very little in terms of assets, the house she¡¯s living in is still registered under someone else¡¯s name. But, it could be hidden deeply.¡± Xue Baoyi paused, feeling the need to mention, ¡°She lives alone, an orphan.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s lowered eyelashes fluttered momentarily, lost in thought, then closed again. Xue Baoyi noticed, this Zhou Xufang seemed a bit special to Jiang Zhi. Exactly how special? Without Jiang Zhi saying, no one could guess. His thoughts were always hard to gauge. This matter could wait. Qiao Nanchu kicked Xue Baoyi¡¯s pant leg, ¡°Baoyi, go downstairs and get my package. I have something to discuss with Jiang Zhi.¡± Although Xue Baoyi was unhappy, he moved his feet, ¡°You all just keep ordering me around. What a pain you all are!¡± Ah Wan was still immersed in the sadness that Miss Zhou was an orphan. Only when his employer called him did he come back to his senses. ¡°You go help.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Once everyone was sent away, Qiao Nanchu spoke, ¡°That medical project has been secured. However, JC has gained a lot of fame this time, the Jiang Family and the Lu Family have noticed something. They will probably start investigating JC¡¯s background soon.¡± It was a project supported from above. Many people wanted a piece of the pie, but JC swallowed it all without a word. From then on, in the Imperial City business world, who would dare underestimate this black horse that suddenly appeared? Jiang Zhi appeared indifferent, ¡°If you can¡¯t cover it up, then show your face.¡± Qiao Nanchu couldn¡¯t figure out his game plan, ¡°You have enough capital now, when do you plan to settle accounts with the Jiang Family?¡± He had been preparing for years; it was time to stretch his muscles. Jiang Zhi covered his mouth and coughed twice. He seemed uninterested but his eyes turned somewhat gloomy, ¡°Depends on my mood.¡± Jiang Zhi was a very strange person. More than ten years ago, they all lived in the compound. At that time, there was him, Xue Baoyi, Xue Bingxue¡ªthey were the ¡®little gang¡¯ in the compound. Jiang Zhi was a sickly child; he didn¡¯t even leave the Jiang Mansion, let alone make friends. Later, during their middle school years, Xue Baoyi became rebellious, hanging out with people outside and causing trouble. He ended up in a fight with a group of young people from society. The three of them got cornered in a secluded alley and took quite a beating. One fearless young man even pulled out a knife. Just as the knife was about to pierce Xue Baoyi¡¯s stomach, Jiang Zhi, frail and sickly, walked out from the alley entrance with a baseball bat in his hand. Though he seemed weak, he somehow found the strength to break the ribs of the small gang leader. After the fight, Jiang Zhi fell unconscious for three days. After that incident, Xue Baoyi regarded Jiang Zhi as his lifesaver, almost treating him like a deity. Qiao Nanchu chuckled, still unable to understand him, ¡°To what extent? Just a lesson, or bringing them down completely?¡± ¡°Nanchu.¡± He didn¡¯t even lift his eyelids and said nonchalantly, ¡°Do you think I¡¯m that kind-hearted?¡± Qiao Nanchu was speechless. Jiang Zhi once had a cat. He loved that cat dearly, even built a golden house for it. Later, the cat died mysteriously. Following that, certain people in the Jiang Family also mysteriously lost half their lives. How ruthless Jiang Zhi could be, Qiao Nanchu couldn¡¯t fathom even after knowing him for over twenty years. He remembered something Jiang Zhi said when he buried the cat. ¡°Killing is bad,¡± the sixteen-year-old boy knelt under the evergreen tree at the Jiang Mansion, digging the ground with his bare hands, dirtying his clean, thin hands. He then placed the cat¡¯s body neatly in the soil, ¡°If you¡¯re dead, you won¡¯t feel pain anymore.¡± Whenever Qiao Nanchu thought of Jiang Zhi at that time, chills would run down his spine. In the small supermarket at Yuquan Bay, Wen Baiyang was packing up, getting ready to hand over to Zhou Xufang. ¡°Take this home to eat.¡± Wen Baiyang handed Zhou Xufang a cloth bag containing two large lunch boxes, ¡°I made a lot, keep the leftovers in the fridge.¡± They contained shredded chicken and marinated chicken feet. Wen Baiyang had mentioned last time that she would make some for her. ¡°Okay.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t smile much, and her upward-curving lips appeared somewhat stiff, but she was happy. She moved over a carton of milk placed on the ground. ¡°For you,¡± she said, ¡°this tastes really good.¡± Wen Baiyang made a gesture with her hand, and Zhou Xufang, who had learned the simplest sign language, understood that she was saying thank you. Then Wen Baiyang rode her second-hand bicycle home with the milk, and Zhou Xufang thought, next time she would give Wen Baiyang a new bicycle. Although she wanted to give a sports car, Wen Baiyang couldn¡¯t hear, so she couldn¡¯t drive a car. At one in the morning, Zhou Xufang finished work and went home with the shredded chicken and marinated chicken feet. As soon as she got home, her computer started up automatically, and SpongeBob Squarpants patterns filled the screen. ¡°Ah Fang.¡± Zhou Xufang put the shredded chicken and marinated chicken feet in the fridge. Shuangjiang used red fonts, indicating urgency, ¡°Someone is committing crimes in your name.¡± Zhou Xufang sat at the computer desk, which was piled high with milk cartons. She had bought more than thirty boxes, creating a wall of milk. Looking at the milk made her happy. She thought that next time she would build a wall entirely of marshmallows and sit on it to eat. She leaned forward and reached out to grab a can of milk, ¡°Is it something serious?¡± ¡°Theft, robbery.¡± Zhou Xufang frowned, her face cold. She never stole or robbed. She tore open two packets of marshmallows and poured them into a glass box to eat. She hooked her finger into the milk pull tab, pulled it off, then crushed it. Shuangjiang typed quickly, lines of red text rolling out, ¡°Recently we haven¡¯t taken any big orders, the only people we¡¯ve offended are Jiang Zhi and Luo Qing, but it could also be our peers. Many people have been trying to learn to be a professional errand runner recently.¡± Zhou Xufang closed the marshmallow box, ¡°It¡¯s not Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Why?¡± She frowned, thinking for a long time for a reason, ¡°He¡¯s very good-looking.¡± The SpongeBob on the computer screen lay still for half a minute before Shuangjiang typed back, ¡°Ah Fang, good-looking people aren¡¯t necessarily kind-hearted.¡± Zhou Xufang had met very few people and knew little about human nature, but she still believed Jiang Zhi was a good person with a beautiful heart. So she argued, ¡°He even gave me a good review.¡± ¡°What kind of review?¡± ¡°For a food delivery.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t know that the good review¡ªthe one with hundreds of words praising the rider¡ªwas written by Ah Wan. ¡°Ah Fang,¡± the text on the computer screen changed from red to white, ¡°There¡¯s a new client.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t ask for specifics, she refused directly, ¡°No more jobs, things aren¡¯t peaceful right now. We are on vacation.¡± Shuangjiang hesitated for a moment. ¡°It¡¯s related to Jiang Zhi.¡± Hearing this, Zhou Xufang¡¯s mind went blank for a moment. She crushed the milk can in her hand. Chapter 28 - Chapter 28: 028: Xu Fang to be a body double? Chapter 28: 028: Xu Fang to be a body double? Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Zhou Xu heard this and was momentarily stunned, crushing the milk can in her hand. ¡°Someone wants to kidnap him again.¡± Zhou Xu was silent for a while, then her face returned to its usual cold expression: ¡°What do they want with him?¡± ¡°The client didn¡¯t say. They only mentioned the time and place, and offered a very high price,¡± Shuangjiang sent over a figure. Seven zeros, ten million. This was an astronomical amount in the industry. Who could it be, willing to spend so much money to kidnap Jiang Zhi? Zhou Xu put the milk down, losing her appetite: ¡°Find out why they want to kidnap him?¡± She had rules for taking tasks. The purpose must be stated and it must not be illegal or unethical. If the client lied, she would breach the contract. Five minutes later, Shuangjiang replied. ¡°The client refused to state the purpose, but they raised the offer, now it¡¯s twenty million.¡± Willing to offer twenty million, they must be determined. The reflection of Zhou Xu¡¯s face on the dark computer screen showed her frowning tighter: ¡°Can we trace the client?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?¦Ï ¡°Proxy IP, can¡¯t trace it.¡± Even Shuangjiang couldn¡¯t trace it, this wasn¡¯t a simple person. Offering such a high price without stating the purpose, there must be a problem. Was it for Jiang Zhi¡¯s beauty¡­ Zhou Xu fell into deep thought. ¡°Shall we take it?¡± Zhou Xu, twisting the strap on her hoodie, hesitated and tied a knot: ¡°Take it.¡± If she didn¡¯t take it, someone else would. In the end, he would be kidnapped by someone else. Zhou Xu couldn¡¯t bear the thought of Jiang Zhi being kidnapped by someone else. Beautiful things should be well-protected, like her cotton candy box, which still looked new after being used for a long time. She also wanted Jiang Zhi to always look as new as ever, forever beautiful. But if she broke the contract or failed the mission, she would have to compensate double the commission amount, which would be forty million¡­ Zhou Xu felt a bit disheartened: ¡°It looks like I¡¯ll have to postpone buying Moon Bay.¡± Beautiful people indeed cost a lot of money. No, she had to work harder to earn money. She opened her phone and sent a WeChat message to the group leader: ¡°Do you have any roles that pay more?¡± Lao Wei, the group leader, replied to her three minutes later. ¡°Can you play any role?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°How about being a double?¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine.¡± Zhou Xu had seen others doing stunt doubles. It seemed simple to her; she just needed to control her strength so as not to hurt anyone, considering how strong she was. ¡°Send your weight, height, and measurements, along with a full-body photo,¡± Lao Wei thought she was an experienced group actor and should understand the industry slang, so he didn¡¯t elaborate. ¡°You might not get the role though, I¡¯ll give it a try.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Zhou Xu sent over the information and photo. Half an hour later, just as she was dozing off, Lao Wei replied: ¡°Yu Ran is very satisfied. You can come tomorrow to be her double for a scene, eight thousand yuan per shot.¡± Eight thousand. So much money. Being a stunt double was quite lucrative. Zhou Xu had never earned so much before, she was very happy: ¡°I¡¯ll come tomorrow.¡± ¡°When you arrive, go directly to the costume group and find Anna.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Lao Wei sent an emoji. Zhou Xu replied with a period. Lao Wei sent another emoji. Zhou Xu responded with another period. ¡°Alright, stop it, go to sleep now.¡± ¡°.¡± This girl! She always ended conversations with a period. The next day, Zhou Xu put on a military coat, wore a hat, wrapped herself well from head to toe, and went to the film city early. Apart from the staff, the actors hadn¡¯t arrived yet, and neither had Lixiang. She went straight to the costume group. Anna was already there, staring at her for quite a while: ¡°Are you the double Lao Wei found?¡± Zhou Xu nodded. Anna looked her up and down; she was wearing too many clothes, wrapped too tightly, making it hard to see her figure, so she asked: ¡°Have you done this before?¡± Zhou Xu said: ¡°No.¡± She hadn¡¯t been a double and feared she might hurt someone by not controlling her strength well. Anna could only see half of her face exposed outside the hat, which was quite calm. She offered routine comfort: ¡°The assistant director will clear the set, and someone will guide you through the actions. You don¡¯t need to be too nervous.¡± Zhou Xu remained expressionless, she wasn¡¯t nervous at all¡­ Having never been a double, Zhou Xu didn¡¯t know there was something called a body double. As the sun rose and the sky brightened, the mornings of severe winter didn¡¯t have harsh sunlight, and outside, it was foggy. Jiang Zhi had woken up too early and hadn¡¯t slept enough, making his temper not so good. As he sat in the chair resting, he opened his half-sleepy eyes, which were like the twilight of winter, with deep shadows, looking cold and gloomy. ¡°Still not starting?¡± His morning grumpiness hadn¡¯t dissipated, and there was anger in his words. Assistant Director Zhao was terrified of him and answered with a slight tremble: ¡°The actors are not ready yet.¡± Jiang Zhi raised his wrist to look at his watch: ¡°Eight forty-seven.¡± He looked up at Assistant Director Zhao, ¡°Making the whole crew wait for one person. Is this her first day? Doesn¡¯t she know my rules?¡± It was a cold winter day, and sweat immediately broke out on Assistant Director Zhao¡¯s forehead. The female lead Yu Ran¡¯s manager, Xu Lu, hurried over to apologize and explain: ¡°Sorry, Director Jiang, the stunt double isn¡¯t ready yet, we¡¯ve already urged her.¡± ¡°Stunt double?¡± Jiang Zhi looked at his own hand; his fingertips were reddened from the cold, and the weather was irritating him. He threw the script away and put his hands under the blanket to warm them, lifting his eyelids nonchalantly: ¡°When did I agree to use a stunt double?¡± In the winter, he looked lazy and weak, and his complexion was very pale. But this sickly appearance terrified people, and Xu Lu¡¯s heart pounded, making her swallow her pride and plead for her artist: ¡°Yu Ran is a new actress, her foundation isn¡¯t strong yet, and most of her fans are male. After several discussions at the studio, it was decided to use a double.¡± This film was a national drama, a spy war story, and the female lead was an intelligence agent. There was a bed scene that required exposure from the nape to the lower back. The scope wasn¡¯t large, but it did require undressing. ¡°What you¡¯re saying,¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s speech was slow, occasionally accompanied by two coughs, sounding weak. He dragged his words, finishing the sentence, ¡°Does it have anything to do with my film?¡± He gave no face at all. ¡°Yu Ran, she,¡± Xu Lu panicked and made up a story, ¡°She has a scar on her back, it wouldn¡¯t look good on camera.¡± Female actors couldn¡¯t easily reveal their bodies, especially since Yu Ran had a pure image. Because of this, she brazenly went against his orders once. Jiang Zhi shook the milk can in his hand without speaking. Xu Lu quickly seized the opportunity and continued to persuade: ¡°The stunt double I¡¯ve found is in great shape, she will definitely give a better effect. Director Jiang, how about trying a take with her first?¡± Assistant Director Zhao also tried to smooth things over: ¡°Why don¡¯t we meet the stunt double first? Take a look at her back and then¡ª¡± Before he could finish. ¡°Boss!¡± ¡°Boss!¡± The six-foot-two hulking figure of Ah Wan stumbled over, out of breath. ¡°Miss Zhou, she,¡± Ah Wan gasped, ¡°She,¡± He choked on a breath of cold air and couldn¡¯t speak. Jiang Zhi glanced coldly, displeased: ¡°Straighten your tongue.¡± Ah Wan took a deep breath and exhaled: ¡°Miss Zhou wants to be the body double!¡± Body double¡­ Jiang Zhi squinted, sat up from the lounge chair, and his gaze shifted lightly, revealing a touch of sky blue: ¡°Who is the stunt double you found?¡± How would they know! Assistant Director Zhao hurriedly called out: ¡°Lao Wei.¡± His voice urgent, ¡°Lao Wei!¡± Lao Wei was one of the top group leaders at the film city, with a multitude of stunt doubles, background extras, and actors under his wing. He had been a long-time collaborator. Lao Wei ran onto the set: ¡°What is it, Assistant Director?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the name of the stunt double you found?¡± ¡°Her name is Zhou Xu,¡± Lao Wei scratched his head, ¡°Why? Is there a problem?¡± It¡¯s that Zhou girl again. Assistant Director Zhao wiped his sweat nervously, not daring to speak further, watching for Jiang Zhi¡¯s reaction only to see his eyes, previously sparkling like rippling water, darken. The atmosphere suddenly became oppressive. Lao Wei, seeing the director for the first time and unaware of his temper, couldn¡¯t help but say something nice: ¡°Director, Zhou Xu is very good. Although she hasn¡¯t been a double before, she has been an extra for a long time and is very experienced. Also, several team leads, including me, have seen her photos, her figure and¡ª¡± Bang. The milk can fell from Jiang Zhi¡¯s hand, rolling on the ground. Instantly, no one dared to breathe heavily. ¡°Break for twenty minutes.¡± Jiang Zhi left that statement, stood up, and his gaze lazily fell on the late-arriving Yu Ran: ¡°Can¡¯t shoot the back scene?¡± She bit her lip and remained silent. Jiang Zhi restrained his gaze, his slender fingers slowly buttoning up his coat one by one, speaking nonchalantly: ¡°If she can¡¯t shoot, find someone who can.¡± Xu Lu panicked: ¡°Director Jiang¡ª¡± Yu Ran pulled at her: ¡°I can do it.¡± Her face turned pale as she spoke each word, ¡°I can film it.¡± If she dared to say no, Jiang Zhi would replace her. On that gloomy day, the sound of coughing was carried away by the wind. ¡°Where is she?¡± Ah Wan was stunned. Jiang Zhi stopped in his tracks, turned back, his gaze darkening slightly, wrapped in an imperceptible anger: ¡°Zhou Xu, where is she?¡± Chapter 29 - Chapter 29: 029: Oh no, its the feeling of a heart attack Chapter 29: 029: Oh no, it¡¯s the feeling of a heart attack Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Jiang Zhi stopped in his tracks, turned his head, and his eyes darkened with a trace of barely detectable anger. ¡°Zhou Xufang, where is she?¡± Ah Wan felt a cold wave rushing towards her and quickly shrank her neck. ¡°In the changing room.¡± At the moment, there was no one in the changing room. ¡°Xu Fang!¡± ¡°Xu Fang!¡± Fang Lixiang rushed in, but saw no one; only the curtain was drawn. Without thinking, she yanked open the curtain. ¡°Xu¡ª¡± The voice was stuck in her throat as she stared at Zhou Xufang¡¯s exposed shoulder, her eyes nearly popping out. So white¡­ That was her first reaction. The second reaction was shock. There was a scar under Zhou Xufang¡¯s shoulder, about the size of a thumb, and a black string hung around her neck, tied to a polished metal round piece. She covered it with her clothes. ¡°I¡¯m changing.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï Then, she pulled the curtain closed with one hand. Fang Lixiang stood there, still shocked, only slowly calming down after a long while. ¡°Xu Fang, that necklace on your neck¡ª¡± The curtain was pulled open. Zhou Xufang came out, wrapped tightly as usual. Fang Lixiang, wearing heavy makeup and a costume, asked Zhou Xufang casually, ¡°That necklace is very special, where did you buy it?¡± She buttoned up her military coat, put on her hat, and zipped up to the top, covering her neck. ¡°I didn¡¯t buy it.¡± ¡°Was it given to you by someone else?¡± She looked up, stared directly at Fang Lixiang. ¡°Why do you keep asking about my necklace?¡± As she spoke, her pupils turned the darkest of black. Fang Lixiang had never seen Zhou Xufang with such a cold gaze. Fang Lixiang looked away first. ¡°Because your necklace is very beautiful.¡± ¡°My family left it to me.¡± Zhou Xufang lowered her head, hiding the wariness in her eyes, and said, ¡°You are sweating.¡± Fang Lixiang hastily wiped her forehead. ¡°It¡¯s a bit hot.¡± She fanned her face with her hand, again in a carefree manner, ¡°I almost forgot the main thing, Xu Fang, do you want to be a body double?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t be.¡± Zhou Xufang had just found out that the crew wanted her as a body double, so she told Anna she¡¯d pay to back out, then changed out of her costume. ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Fang Lixiang let out a sigh of relief and, like a mother, admonished her, ¡°I¡¯m telling you, don¡¯t ever be a body double. It¡¯s bad for your reputation. When I become famous, I¡¯ll take you to make your debut.¡± Zhou Xufang was about to say she didn¡¯t need a debut. Someone called her from outside, ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± The voice was low, like it was suppressing anger, along with a cough. It was Jiang Zhi. Zhou Xufang tilted her head to look over. ¡°Hmm?¡± Jiang Zhi did not enter the women¡¯s changing room, using a commanding tone. ¡°Come out for a moment.¡± Oh. Zhou Xufang adjusted the hat on her military coat and went out. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Jiang Zhi stood against the wall. Perhaps he had rushed over too quickly, causing his face to be slightly flushed, and his eyes were rimmed with a blush. ¡°Are you in desperate need of money?¡± He spoke, still panting a little. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t know what he meant and answered truthfully, ¡°Not very desperate.¡± It was just that she had lost a few million and now couldn¡¯t afford Moon Bay. He stared at her for quite a while. ¡°Turn around.¡± Still a commanding tone. Why turn around? Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t move. Exposing one¡¯s back to someone else was dangerous. He suppressed the itch in his throat and held back his cough. ¡°I just want to take a look.¡± His tone softened a bit. Zhou Xufang felt he looked weak, like he would faint if he couldn¡¯t catch his breath, much like a fragile lady in those TV shows. After thinking for a while, she turned around, showing her back to him. She believed Jiang Zhi was a good person and wouldn¡¯t harm her. She couldn¡¯t see his face anymore, but she could hear his breathing, which had grown heavier. Jiang Zhi reached out, his fingertips reddening, moving closer to her back under the military coat. Zhou Xufang suddenly turned her head. ¡°You¡ª¡± He had just said one word when she grabbed his wrist, her eyes full of wariness. ¡°Why are you touching my back?¡± What had a girl in her early twenties been through to be so guarded? This was the first time Jiang Zhi saw in her eyes a vast emptiness, like cold, dark magnetism that could draw one in. His complexion turned pale. ¡°Let go.¡± She didn¡¯t release her grip, still staring at him. His throat surged with a breath. ¡°Cough, cough, cough, cough¡­¡± His eyes turned red, and he squeezed out words from his chest painfully, ¡°Zhou Xufang¡­ it hurts.¡± The last word had no strength at all. So delicate, like hitting a pillow with a punch, all the force was rebounded back, like a cat¡¯s paw, soft. Zhou Xufang froze, still holding his hand, forgetting to move. Jiang Zhi was already unwell; her grip was strong, and he struggled twice but couldn¡¯t break free, his body teetering, becoming furious out of shame. ¡°Damn it, you hurt me!¡± Hurt me! Hurt! Me! Zhou Xufang suddenly let go, seeing a red mark instantly appear on Jiang Zhi¡¯s fair wrist. His hands were beautifully pale, standing out sharply. She apologized immediately, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, did I hurt you?¡± This tone of self-blame, this guilt¡­ Ah Wan, who had just caught up, thought she had stumbled upon a female bully harassing a good young man. Ah Wan squinted over, seeing her employer¡¯s flushed face, hurried breaths, teary eyes, and rubbing his wrist. ¡°How can a woman have such strength?¡± It was her fault for being too strong. Zhou Xufang felt even more guilty. ¡°I¡¯ll be gentler next time.¡± Next time? Gentler? The more she spoke, the more she sounded like a rogue. Jiang Zhi coughed in frustration. Zhou Xufang reached out, wanting to pat his back, but awkwardly didn¡¯t know how to do it properly. Her hand stiffly stayed there for a long time and then silently retracted. ¡°You still haven¡¯t said why you were touching my back.¡± Jiang Zhi rested a while, finally stopping the cough, the fine veins on his neck visible, ears tinged red, panting, looking like he had been seriously bullied. He was very angry, his tone particularly bad. ¡°Script reading.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t understand. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to be the body double for the lead female role in my movie?¡± His peach blossom eyes, rimmed with red, scanned her up and down. ¡°Forget it, you¡¯re not qualified.¡± The words were harsh, his temper was terrible. Maybe good-looking people had some temper; like noble daughters spoiled in big houses. Oh, right, Jiang Zhi was also the pampered young master of the Jiang Family. He must have been spoiled. Zhou Xufang: ¡°Oh.¡± Oh? That¡¯s it? Jiang Zhi felt a blockage in his chest. ¡°In the future¡ª¡± He didn¡¯t finish his sentence. Zhou Xufang waited a long time without hearing the rest, looking up from under the military coat hat. ¡°What?¡± What¡¯s with this outfit?! Jiang Zhi felt somewhat frustrated, not knowing why he was angry, just feeling inexplicably displeased. He forcefully tore open the coat¡¯s buttons, exhaling deeply. ¡°Don¡¯t ever be a body double again. If you need money, come to me for auditions.¡± A simple sentence, said with so much frustration. Yet Zhou Xufang knew, Jiang Zhi just had a bit of a bad temper, but he was a good person. She honestly, coldly, woodenly said, ¡°You¡¯re a really nice person.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Jiang Zhi almost choked on his breath, his throat burning. Nice person? To hell with being a nice person, he was very ill! Seeing him coughing severely, Zhou Xufang, conflicted, reached out and gently patted his back, careful not to hurt him, patting very lightly. Jiang Zhi was taken aback, turning his head. Her fingertips brushed against his face, icy cold against his burning skin, the extremes colliding, a fine needle poking at the heart, numbing and itching, with a slight tinge of pain. Jiang Zhi almost staggered away, his face and ears instantly flushed red, his voice hoarse. ¡°Your¡ªyour hands are so cold.¡± Oh, her body temperature was lower than normal. Zhou Xufang withdrew her hand, her expression unchanging, unlike Jiang Zhi¡¯s embarrassment. ¡°I¡¯m cold.¡± His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed, suddenly at a loss for words, feeling thirsty and breathless. ¡°I also have something to say to you.¡± He averted his eyes, responding only with a hum. She said, ¡°You must be careful in the future, do not go out alone, especially not at night.¡± Someone had offered two million to assault him. He turned to look at her. ¡°What do you mean?¡± She glanced around, took a step closer, stood on tiptoe, and whispered in his ear: ¡°You need to hide, or someone will covet your beauty.¡± That year, the mute boy from the Luo Family had also told him, standing on tiptoe by his ear, ¡°You must hide, they will make you drink poison, they are all bad people.¡± Oh, so he wasn¡¯t mute. That year, that boy died in a fire, never again warning him to hide because someone wanted to harm him. Jiang Zhi stared blankly at Zhou Xufang. Her eyes, looking at him solemnly, were exactly the same as that boy¡¯s, which was why, why she made his heart helpless and lost. Chapter 30 - Chapter 30: 030: Jiang Zhi got a disease called Zhou Xufang Chapter 30: 030: Jiang Zhi got a disease called Zhou Xufang Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Zhou Xufang couldn¡¯t tell why he was in a daze. She had finished saying what she needed to say, ¡°Then I¡¯m leaving.¡± He still didn¡¯t speak. Zhou Xufang left. For a long while, Jiang Zhi stood motionless until Ah Wan called out to him. ¡°Boss.¡± ¡°Boss.¡± His boss didn¡¯t respond. Ah Wan waved a hand in front of him, trying to bring him back to reality, ¡°Boss.¡± Jiang Zhi finally came to his senses, still looking confused. The more Ah Wan looked at him, the more worried he became, ¡°Your face is so red.¡± His gaze was blank, and he mechanically raised a hand to his heart. Then he stumbled and leaned heavily against the wall, breathing deeply. This reaction scared Ah Wan. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Boss? Are you not feeling well?¡± The boss leaned against the wall, coughing and breathing heavily. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?0 Ah Wan was frantic, ¡°Oh no, your ears are also red. Are you having an episode?¡± He quickly dialed the phone, ¡°Hello, Dr. Xue? My boss isn¡¯t feeling well.¡± Xue Bingxue asked for symptoms over the phone. Ah Wan hurriedly described them in detail. ¡°Coughing badly.¡± ¡°No blood in his sputum.¡± ¡°Should be a bit feverish, his face is very red, everywhere is red.¡± ¡°He seems to be out of breath.¡± Ah Wan started to sweat, ¡°It looks like symptoms of a myocardial infarction.¡± Last year, around this same time, as winter set in, the employer started coughing up blood. Ah Wan dreaded that his employer might have a short life. Though he had a bad temper, Ah Wan didn¡¯t want him to die. Ah Wan almost cried, ¡°He isn¡¯t walking well either¡­ seems like he might pass out¡­¡± My poor employer¡­ only twenty-four years old¡­ Please, heavens, have mercy¡­ Jiang Zhi stumbled back to the lounge, took a couple of tranquilizers, but they had no effect. His heartbeat was irregular, and he gasped for air, lying on the chair, taking large breaths. Ah Wan, with reddened eyes, stayed close by. ¡°Boss.¡± Jiang Zhi had no interest in responding to him. Ah Wan wanted to cry, pinching his thigh to hold back the tears, ¡°How do you feel? Do you want some hot water?¡± Without an answer, he quickly fetched a cup of hot water, presenting it with both hands, ¡°Dr. Xue will be here soon; please hold on.¡± The heat on Jiang Zhi¡¯s face hadn¡¯t subsided. His lips were redder than usual, adding an unusual touch of allure to his sickly look. He seemed very upset, roughly pulling off the blanket from the recliner and throwing it at Ah Wan. ¡°Send this to Zhou Xufang.¡± Ah Wan looked dumbfounded, ¡°Huh?¡± Jiang Zhi impatiently said, ¡°She¡¯s cold, take it to her.¡± Her hands were like ice blocks, she¡¯d freeze to death. Even at such a time, he was worried about someone else being cold. Ah Wan held the blanket in one hand, offering the hot water again, ¡°Aren¡¯t you cold?¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t take it; his peach blossom eyes seemed to hold water, his expression blurred. He said, ¡°I¡¯m hot.¡± Hot? Ah Wan saw his red face and ears, growing even more worried, ¡°Do you have a fever?¡± Jiang Zhi took a deep breath, ¡°Hurry up and go.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Ah Wan ran off to deliver the blanket. Inside, only Jiang Zhi remained, lying on the chair, his eyes staring blankly. He raised a hand, pressing the back of it to his forehead. Damn, he was really burning up; his whole body was on fire! Xue Bingxue arrived twenty minutes later. ¡°Give me your hand.¡± Jiang Zhi lowered his eyes, lost in thought. Xue Bingxue called him, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± No response. ¡°Jiang Zhi!¡± He lifted his eyes, ¡°Hmm?¡± Xue Bingxue looked at his face; it wasn¡¯t as bad as Ah Wan had described. His face was pale, but his eyes held a soft tenderness, still in decent condition. ¡°Give me your hand, for a pulse check.¡± Jiang Zhi extended his hand to the chair¡¯s armrest. Xue Bingxue was trained in traditional Chinese medicine, particularly skilled at pulse diagnosis. He felt Jiang Zhi¡¯s pulse several times, ¡°How many of the pills I gave you did you take this week?¡± Jiang Zhi seemed to be distracted, ¡°One.¡± That medicine harmed the lungs: taking it would cause coughing and even spitting blood. He absolutely couldn¡¯t take too much. Infertility was minor; it could be life-threatening. Of course, Xue Bingxue didn¡¯t know the full story, assuming it was just a medication issue. He advised Jiang Zhi, ¡°Your pulse is erratic. Stop the medication for now and try other treatments. Avoid going back to the Jiang Family these days. I¡¯ll prescribe something else to ease your condition.¡± That drug was still in the experimental phase, who knew what other side effects it might have besides infertility. Not sure if Jiang Zhi paid attention, he frowned the whole time, lost in thought. ¡°Can I ask you something?¡± He sat up from the chair. Xue Bingxue was writing a prescription, ¡°Go ahead.¡± ¡°Can sexual orientation change?¡± Xue Bingxue suddenly looked up. Jiang Zhi repeated, ¡°Can sexual orientation change?¡± His frown deepened. Was it because she resembled someone who had passed? Or because she was uniquely quirky? Or was he just curious about the opposite sex? Or¡­ was it simply because of this heart that beat chaotically? He couldn¡¯t be sure; all he knew was, she was different. Xue Bingxue, perhaps shocked by the question, had a puzzled look on his delicate face, his mouth slightly open. After a while, he responded, ¡°I don¡¯t know about you, but for me, no.¡± He was a bit shy but still firm, ¡°I will always only like Wei¡¯er.¡± Here he went again with Jiang Wei¡¯er! Pathetic! Jiang Zhi¡¯s already chaotic thoughts were further stirred by Xue Bingxue, making him annoyed as he scolded, ¡°If you like her, go after her.¡± In his view, anything he wanted, he had to get, by any means necessary. Xue Bingxue was different, though. Being the cherished child born late to elderly parents, he was a naive and pampered sweetie, ¡°She has a boyfriend; if I go after her, I¡¯d be the third wheel.¡± Jiang Zhi was dismissive, ¡°So what?¡± His tone was arrogant, his gaze challenging. That¡¯s just how Jiang Zhi was. He did whatever he wanted, didn¡¯t care about right or wrong; his sense of right and wrong was his own, unchangeable by anyone. An absolute egotist. Xue Bingxue didn¡¯t argue, his face sad. Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t bear his pathetic look and coldly said with his beautiful eyes, ¡°If it were someone I liked,¡± he licked his lips, ¡°I¡¯d even get her to divorce if she were married.¡± He was determined to have her. Make¡­ make them divorce?! ¡°!¡± Naive Xue Bingxue was stunned, his worldview shattered! Suddenly, a voice cut in, ¡°What are you talking about?¡± The door was pushed open forcefully, and Jiang Wei¡¯er walked in, lifting her dress, giving Jiang Zhi a glare, ¡°Watch your language.¡± Xue Bingxue immediately stood up, his face turning beet red, swallowing a big gulp of saliva, ¡°Wei, Wei¡¯er.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er saw his red ears, ¡°Did Brother Zhi bully you again?¡± His head shook vigorously, ¡°No!¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er didn¡¯t believe it, giving him a glance before looking at Jiang Zhi. Compared to his aggressive wolf-like eyes, Xue Bingxue was like a harmless little rabbit. She earnestly advised Xue Bingxue, ¡°Spend less time with those guys in the future; they¡¯ll only corrupt you.¡± Xue Baoyi was carefree; Qiao Nanchu was also sly and wicked¡ªnot one of them was honest! Xue Bingxue was extremely obedient, nodding like a pecking chick, ¡°Mm-hmm ~¡± Whatever Wei¡¯er said was right! He¡¯d listen to whatever Wei¡¯er said! Jiang Wei¡¯er saw his bright eyes like a harmless little animal and felt an urge to pet him. Among the group of young masters from back then, he was the most obedient. But too obedient, easy to deceive. While thinking, she received a call. Seeing the caller ID, she turned away to answer. ¡°Are you here?¡± Her voice was gentle and sweet. It was Xiao Linsu¡¯s call. She spoke to him like this, softly like a little white flower, ¡°Wait for me in the car.¡± Hanging up, her tone changed to domineering, ¡°I have something to do, leaving now. Brother Zhi, stop bullying Xue Bingxue.¡± Jiang Zhi responded with an indifferent look. Waving goodbye, Jiang Wei¡¯er left. Xue Bingxue reluctantly followed to the door, his eyes filled with sorrow. Jiang Zhi rubbed his brow, wanting to punch the wimp, and called out, ¡°Ah Wan.¡± Ah Wan stepped forward. Jiang Zhi frowned again, ¡°Arrange an appointment with a psychologist.¡± He needed to understand his feelings for Zhou Xufang. Was it because she resembled someone from the past? It didn¡¯t seem like it. Ah Wan found the boss extra weird today and asked, ¡°Why do you need a psychologist?¡± Was it because he was so ill that he broke down mentally? Jiang Zhi looked up, his eyes coldly sweeping over. Ah Wan quickly shut his mouth, promising not to ask more. Chapter 31 - Chapter 31: 031: Brother Zhi Longing for Spring (Part 1) Chapter 31: 031: Brother Zhi Longing for Spring (Part 1) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation There was only one parking lot in the film city, nearly a kilometer away from Jiang Zhi¡¯s filming location. Jiang Wei¡¯er walked there, being particularly careful along the way. After ensuring no one was following her, she got into a car. As soon as she sat down, she was pulled over by a hand. Xiao Linsu didn¡¯t even wear a mask, smiling as he looked at her. Jiang Wei¡¯er, worried about paparazzi, backed away a little: ¡°Don¡¯t you have a schedule?¡± He refused, pulling her into his arms: ¡°I missed you.¡± His voice was hoarse beyond belief; he must¡¯ve been utterly exhausted. Just as Jiang Wei¡¯er wanted to ask why he came back so suddenly, he hugged her tightly, leaving her somewhat bewildered. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Xiao Linsu rested his chin on her shoulder: ¡°Wei¡¯er.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± He didn¡¯t say anything more, just kissed her. Worried that they were outside, Jiang Wei¡¯er pushed him away: ¡°We might get photographed.¡± ¡°Let them,¡± he moved closer and gently kissed the corner of her lips. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Jiang Wei¡¯er¡¯s heart softened, letting him be. As she lowered her head, she saw a small patch of exposed skin on his wrist: ¡°What¡¯s wrong with your hand?¡± He lowered his hand: ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just got hurt while filming.¡± She was still worried and tried to pull up his sleeve. ¡°Don¡¯t look.¡± Xiao Linsu held her hand. ¡°Let me see.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er undid his cufflinks and rolled up his sleeve, her brows furrowing instantly, ¡°You¡¯re lying. This wasn¡¯t from filming, these are cigarette burns.¡± His arm had two cigarette burn scars. Xiao Linsu laughed: ¡°You found out.¡± He loved to laugh, and when he did, his eyes brightened, now looking at her a bit pleadingly as he confessed, ¡°I just secretly smoked one.¡± He had always been good-tempered and gentle. Jiang Wei¡¯er couldn¡¯t bring herself to get angry with him, feeling merely heartbroken looking at the burns on his arm: ¡°It was so hard for you to quit.¡± He laughed and pecked her on the cheek: ¡°I won¡¯t dare again, I promise.¡± He used to smoke heavily, and it was Jiang Wei¡¯er who made him quit. Fifty meters away, Fang Lixiang was crouching, leaning against a parking lot pillar, bent at a ninety-degree angle, eavesdropping with focused concentration. Suddenly, someone patted her on the back. ¡°Lixiang.¡± She turned around quickly, pressing a finger to her lips: ¡°Shh.¡± Seeing how mysteriously she was acting, Zhou Xufang spoke in a low voice: ¡°What are you doing?¡± Fang Lixiang¡¯s face showed a mixture of excitement and sadness. Speaking in a high-pitched voice, she said: ¡°My assistant is having an affair with my idol!¡± After saying this, she strained her ears to listen again, her little face scrunched up tightly. ¡°Ugh, I can¡¯t hear anything!¡± So frustrating. Zhou Xufang had excellent hearing, able to catch even the slightest sound within a hundred meters if she wanted. She then faithfully recited the following dialogue. ¡°Baby, kiss me again.¡± with no expression. ¡°You can kiss, but don¡¯t say anything.¡± again with no expression. ¡°Mm, won¡¯t say anything.¡± still with no expression. ¡°Annoying.¡± still expressionless. Reciting the little love words, Zhou Xufang did so mechanically, her tone as if reciting a text. Fang Lixiang didn¡¯t react for a moment: ¡°What are you doing?¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s expression was both serious and calm: ¡°Didn¡¯t you want to hear? I heard their affair talk, so I¡¯m telling you.¡± Fang Lixiang: ¡°¡­¡± This is a gem right here. Fang Lixiang thought Zhou Xufang was both cold and cute and well-behaved. Eavesdropping wasn¡¯t a task that would set the innocent Zhou Xufang on the wrong path. So, they left together. ¡°Xu Fang, are you short of money recently?¡± Zhou Xufang kept a bit of a distance from her, seemingly not liking others getting too close. Her face was also hidden within the hood of her military coat. She said: ¡°I have something very expensive to buy.¡± Knowing that Zhou Xufang had mild social difficulties, Fang Lixiang kept a distance walking behind her: ¡°Then I¡¯ll introduce you to a part-time job.¡± She said: ¡°I don¡¯t do nudity.¡± ¡°Not nudity, my cousin is opening a salon and recently looking for hair models.¡± Fang Lixiang felt that Zhou Xufang carried a mysterious sense of abstinence, looking particularly cool and handsome. However, with just a frown, she¡¯d have an advanced melancholic look, decadent yet chic. Anyway, she looked good no matter what, but Fang had never seen her smile and wondered how she looked when she did. ¡°What do I have to do?¡± Fang Lixiang responded generously: ¡°You don¡¯t have to do anything, just let him do your hair, and you can ask for any price!¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Because the nudity job didn¡¯t work out, Zhou Xufang went home earlier, and then went to Ba Yi Bridge early to set up her screen protector stall. The whole afternoon, the atmosphere on set was a bit off, though it was hard to pinpoint why. Anyway, the female lead Yu Ran got scolded to tears by Jiang Zhi, who said her acting was crap. Seven in the evening. Ah Wan had reserved a spot for Jiang Zhi at Hulun Tea House, arranging a meeting with a renowned psychologist in the Imperial City. ¡°Doctor Qiu is already waiting inside for you.¡± It started raining in the evening, and winter rain was chillingly cold. Jiang Zhi wore a mask: ¡°You don¡¯t need to follow.¡± He left Ah Wan behind, opened the car door, and walked into the rain with a black umbrella. Through the misty rain, Ah Wan saw him walking with his head down, coughing all the way. Alas, the employer was not just physically sick, but also mentally sick lately as well. Hulun Tea House had private seating areas ensuring good privacy. Jiang Zhi opened the door; someone was already waiting inside. The middle-aged man in a suit and tie stood up immediately upon seeing him, somewhat nervously calling out: ¡°Mr. Jiang.¡± Jiang Zhi took off his mask and his coat, the temperature difference quickly reddening his pale face: ¡°Sit down.¡± His voice lacked strength. Just like the rumors, he really was a sickly person. Doctor Qiu raised his head for a quick glance and immediately lowered it again. That face, rumored to be, indeed, as delicate and beautiful as a pear blossom. Jiang Zhi sat down, wiping the rainwater from his fingertips with a cloth: ¡°I¡¯m consulting you on something, and I hope none of the Jiang Family knows about it.¡± Doctor Qiu¡¯s heart beat faster, sincerely afraid: ¡°I understand.¡± Jiang Zhi casually poured himself a cup of tea, moistening his lips: ¡°Don¡¯t be nervous. It¡¯s nothing serious, just a few questions.¡± ¡°Please, go ahead.¡± He remained silent for a moment, seemingly not knowing how to start, his brows furrowed for quite a while: ¡°I have a friend.¡± After a three-second pause, he emphasized, ¡°This is about my friend.¡± Doctor Qiu, now embarrassed but forgetting his nervousness: ¡°¡­¡± The little tyrant of the Jiang Family was also using the ¡°friend¡± line? As if afraid he wouldn¡¯t believe him, Jiang Zhi further explained very nonchalantly: ¡°You know Xue Baoyi, the second son of the Xue Family, this concerns him.¡± Knowing everything yet pretending otherwise, Doctor Qiu put on a serious expression: ¡°Mm, understood, it¡¯s about the Second Young Master Xue.¡± Mr. Jiang, whatever you say goes. Jiang Zhi took a sip of tea, savoring it elegantly: ¡°He is gay, but he recently suspects he has been turned straight.¡± He took another sip, now a bit absent-minded, ¡°I want to know if a homosexual can be turned straight.¡± So, Mr. Jiang has been turned straight? Big news! Doctor Qiu, nervous yet excited, said: ¡°It¡¯s possible, sexual orientation is greatly influenced by one¡¯s environment.¡± As soon as he finished, Jiang Zhi furrowed his sharp eyebrows. ¡°He¡¯s only suspicious; how can he be sure?¡± Jiang Zhi put down the cup, his Adam¡¯s apple moving as he sat up straighter. From his micro-expressions, it was clear he was anxious. Doctor Qiu, also growing anxious, asked: ¡°Can you tell me more about how your¡­ your friend, the Second Young Master Xue, is different now?¡± Jiang Zhi, his eyes as pretty as peach blossoms in March, seemed lost in thought for a long time. ¡°He keeps thinking about that woman, but he feels restless when he sees her.¡± Frowning, he picked up the cup again, this time taking a big gulp, licking his lips as if still thirsty, ¡°Not seeing her makes him feel even worse.¡± Chapter 32 - Chapter 32: 032: You Must Lust After My Beauty (Chapter 2) Chapter 32: 032: You Must Lust After My Beauty (Chapter 2) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Can¡¯t see her, feel even worse.¡± This symptom¡­ ¡°How about physical contact? Do you reject it?¡± Doctor Qiu asked. This time, Jiang Zhi answered quickly, ¡°No.¡± ¡°Is it just her you don¡¯t reject, or all the opposite sex?¡± A bewildered expression appeared in his peach blossom eyes, ¡°Not sure.¡± As if anyone else dared to pinch him and touch him like she did. After this line of questioning, Doctor Qiu¡¯s curiosity was piqued. He wondered which extraordinary woman had managed to straighten the Imperial City¡¯s most beautiful man. He spoke too quickly, ¡°Do you¡ª¡± His words were sharply interrupted, ¡°I said, this is Xue Baoyi¡¯s problem, not mine.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Was he angry? Sensing the tension, Doctor Qiu quickly rephrased his question, ¡°Is Second Young Master Xue curious about that woman?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã? Jiang Zhi shot him a cold glance, seemingly warning him not to make another mistake in his words. His posture became even more relaxed. He responded with a casual ¡°Mm,¡± admitting it, and then, topping it off, he added, ¡°Very curious.¡± Doctor Qiu felt this psychological consultation increasingly resembled an emotional consultation, so he boldly asked the crux of the matter, ¡°Is your heart moved?¡± He emphasized, ¡°I mean Second Young Master.¡± Jiang Zhi became lost in thought for a moment. Heart moved? When he was a teenager, he was fond of a boy. At that time, they were both kids. Before he could confirm if it was deep love, the boy was gone. Heart moved? He couldn¡¯t quite grasp it. He only knew he had missed him all these years and couldn¡¯t let go. He turned his face away and awkwardly lifted a teacup to hide, ¡°What does it count as?¡± ¡°Your heartbeat speeds up, your body heats up, like,¡± Doctor Qiu considered that the other party was a frail person and used a relatively apt description, ¡°like myocardial infarction.¡± Bang. Jiang Zhi set the cup down with a changed expression. Myocardial infarction, my ass! Where did they find this idiot psychologist? ¡°Let¡¯s end it here today.¡± He grabbed his coat and stood up. Rising too quickly, he coughed a few times in haste. It was unclear which sentence had upset the little tough guy. Doctor Qiu had to steel himself, handing over a business card, ¡°Th-this is my card. If Mr. Jiang has any more questions, you can contact me anytime.¡± Jiang Zhi deliberated with a downcast gaze. After a moment, he took the card. He pushed open the door and walked out of the private room. Someone was smoking in the hallway, and the smell irritated him. He crumpled the business card in his hand, walked to the corner, hesitated a moment, then threw the card in the trash. Turning around, he bumped into Zhou Xufang, who was wearing a black coat. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Two words, cold and unremarkable. Yet, it struck him harder than any other reaction anyone had ever given him, like a heavy hammer, abruptly and fiercely hitting his heart. Then, like that damn psychologist described, his heartbeat accelerated, and his body heated up. He instinctively swallowed, ¡°W-what are you doing here?¡± Her eyes carried a hint of affection, a gaze enveloped in a smoky veil of peach blossom. Zhou Xufang¡¯s expression was peculiar, one she didn¡¯t understand, so she chose not to look at him, ¡°I¡¯m here to deliver food.¡± His eyes reddened at the corners, the water glistening in his peach blossom eyes, which kept staring at her, his breath somewhat rapid. Zhou Xufang felt uncomfortable under his gaze, took a step back, and looked up at him, ¡°Your face is very red, are you feeling unwell?¡± Yes, unwell. Seeing her, his heart felt unwell. Before Jiang Zhi could speak, a drunk man staggered along, leaning against the corner, tripped, and fell towards Jiang Zhi. Zhou Xufang immediately grabbed him by the hand, gave a forceful tug, and threw the drunk far, far away against a wall, leaving him gasping with a red face. Holding back a cough, Jiang Zhi looked stunned, staring at his own hand that Zhou Xufang had grabbed. The back of his fair hand, now marked by two vivid red finger marks. The drunk had already staggered far away. Zhou Xufang realized her earlier action was inappropriate, ¡°Did I hurt you again?¡± She pursed her lips, feeling regretful, ¡°Sorry, I used too much force.¡± Jiang Zhi remained silent, only feeling the spot she touched was burning hot, even a bit numb. This woman, always pinching and touching him without warning. Zhou Xufang waited a long time for Jiang Zhi to speak, but he didn¡¯t. Her desolate eyes showed a rare confusion. She pulled at her hat, ¡°Then I¡¯ll go deliver the food now.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t speak. ¡°Goodbye.¡± Without a word, she truly left. She calmly intruded into his sight, then left indifferently. And he, like an idiot, stood there dazed, his mind wandering. Damn it. Jiang Zhi kicked over the trash can and then grabbed his short hair, feeling dissatisfied and unhappy, yet resignedly picked up the business card. Ah Wan felt the employer was in a daze the whole way. Zhou Xufang delivered six orders of food and returned home by nearly eleven o¡¯clock. She just opened the fridge and took out two cans of milk when Shuangjiang started her computer. ¡°Ah Fang, the client has confirmed the mission time.¡± Holding a can of milk, she bit open the tab with her teeth, ¡°When?¡± ¡°Tomorrow night at nine, deliver the person to Jiajing Garden, building seven, unit 101.¡± Zhou Xufang sat drinking two cans of milk. After eating some cotton candy, she kicked off her pink bunny slippers under the bed and lay on the black bed sheets for a while. Forty million. Jiang Zhi and forty million¡­ Jiang Zhi was so beautiful; she might as well give up the forty million. She got up to grab her phone and texted Jiang Zhi on WeChat. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± He replied quickly, stingily, just with one word. ¡°Mm.¡± Zhou Xufang typed slowly, ¡°Can you not go out tomorrow night?¡± Over there, the beauty, awakened in the middle of the night, listlessly got up from bed, only those burning peach blossom eyes were hot and completely sleepless. ¡°Reason.¡± Reason, huh. She couldn¡¯t say someone was planning to kidnap him. Zhou Xufang thought for a moment, expressing it differently, ¡°You¡¯re too good-looking, and it¡¯s dangerous to go out.¡± She was telling the truth, ¡°There are a lot of perverts outside.¡± A few seconds later. ¡°How is my safety any of your business?¡± Zhou Xufang had a piece of cotton candy in her mouth. The sweetness melted and made her smile slightly as she slowly and methodically typed. ¡°It isn¡¯t.¡± She sent another message, sincerely, ¡°But you¡¯re a good person, and I don¡¯t want others to harm you.¡± Staring at his phone, Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Good person my ass! He threw his phone aside, knocking over the cup on the table. Hot water spilled onto his clothes, but not caring about it, he grabbed the phone first. Woken up in the middle of the night, logically, he should have been furious. Instead, he was nervous, sweaty-palmed, and eager. Unable to restrain himself, he poked the dark profile picture again and sent two messages. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± ¡°Are you also admiring my beauty?¡± Chapter 33 - Chapter 33: 033: Hands look good, want to touch (first update) Chapter 33: 033: Hands look good, want to touch (first update) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Are you also attracted to my beauty?¡± He shouldn¡¯t have asked, it was too abrupt. Without sorting himself out first, he impulsively pushed forward, which was indeed improper. But if he didn¡¯t ask, he felt uneasy. Within seconds, Zhou Xufang replied; four continuous beeps. She sent four messages, and as he clicked on her avatar, his palms began to sweat. Zhou Xufang: ¡°I am not.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°Really, I¡¯m not.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°You have to believe me.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°I am not attracted!¡± Four consecutive messages, each more urgent and sincere than the last, even using exclamation marks. She was just short of swearing to heaven to show her sincerity. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Great, after asking, he felt even more uneasy. This Zhou Xufang! Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Jiang Zhi threw his phone aside again, forcibly pulled two tissues, and impatiently wiped the stains on his pants. If he dealt with her again, he was a dog. Zhou Xufang hadn¡¯t received a reply from Jiang Zhi for a long time and thought he wouldn¡¯t respond anymore. Just as she was about to get up to rinse¡ª Ding. Another message came, eight minutes after the last one. ¡°The crew needs a hand double, are you in? Only hand shots.¡± Hand double? Zhou Xufang pondered. Jiang Zhi sent another message: ¡°The pay is twenty thousand.¡± She quickly replied: ¡°I¡¯m in.¡± Twenty thousand, she could buy a wall of cotton candy, how happy. ¡°Then come over at eight tomorrow morning.¡± The corners of her mouth curved slightly, an inadvertent smile, and the indifference in her eyes faded, replaced by vibrant brilliance. She replied: ¡°Okay.¡± So happy, she was going to eat a few cotton candies. WeChat was still ringing. Zhou Xufang couldn¡¯t find her slippers, didn¡¯t know where she¡¯d kicked them, went barefoot to get her phone, and stuffed three candies into her mouth, squinting from the sweetness. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Jiang Zhi said nothing else, just continued sending her name. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± She had nothing to say: ¡°.¡± Then WeChat went quiet, but only for a while before Jiang Zhi called her again. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Zhou Xufang put the pretty cotton candy box away. Lately, she thought Jiang Zhi was even prettier than that box. Since he was so pretty, she wouldn¡¯t mind his annoyance. She liked everything pretty and pleasant, especially these days when she was a bit more wicked, wanting to steal all the beautiful things. She even wanted to take the pretty lamp from the congee shop home, to look at day and night. If she didn¡¯t go to Moon Bay, she might even steal Jiang Zhi and place him by her bedside, so she would see him as soon as she opened her eyes. Forget about Moon Bay, she couldn¡¯t steal Jiang Zhi; he was fragile, and Moon Bay was cold. He would freeze to death. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t continue daydreaming and replied to Jiang Zhi: ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± ¡°But you kept calling me.¡± Jiang Zhi typed especially fast. Each message only took a few seconds: ¡°Just wanted to see how severe your OCD is.¡± Zhou Xufang, with nothing to say: ¡°.¡± ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± ¡°My OCD is really severe; stop messaging, I¡¯m going to sleep.¡± ¡°Sleep then.¡± ¡°.¡± Zhou Xufang went to bed barefoot. Just as she put her phone down, WeChat rang again. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± She pursed her lips, reached for her phone: ¡°I¡¯m sleeping.¡± ¡°You sleep, I¡¯ll text.¡± ¡°.¡± ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Her cheeks puffed up. For the first time, she found this person so annoying, wanting to pinch him until he cried. She lay there, too tired to move, shut her eyes and tried to fall asleep. No, she had to get up and reply. She got up, irritably tugged at her hair, reached for her phone, and replied with a period. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± She yawned, so sleepy: ¡°.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°Last time, don¡¯t reply, go to sleep.¡± She put down her phone and lay down. No, she had to reply¡­ She got up again, reached for her phone, and wiped away the physiological tears that welled up from tiredness, replying: ¡°.¡± Then, finally, it was quiet. Zhou Xufang crawled into her pitch-black blanket, wrapping herself up like a silkworm cocoon. Before falling asleep, she pondered, what if Jiang Zhi keeps doing this to her in the future¡­ Should she block him? No, he had a bad temper and would get mad. If he got mad, she might lose her role as an extra. Then should she steal him, so he couldn¡¯t use his phone at night? No, that would expose her. Jiang Zhi might call the cops and capture her, thinking she was a scum who kidnapped him for lust. Maybe just steal his phone at night and return it during the day¡­ Thinking this, Zhou Xufang fell asleep. She rarely dreamed but had a dream about Jiang Zhi. He was tied to the pretty lamp in the congee shop, crying and calling her a scum and a villain for kidnapping both him and the lamp¡­ Zhou Xufang woke up in fright, saw the time, and realized she had only slept for half an hour. She turned over and continued to sleep. On the other side, Jiang Zhi stared at the period on his phone screen, smiled a bit, then his face darkened, his eyes turning cold instantly. Damn, what was he doing? Was he a dog? He grabbed a blanket and lay on the sofa. It was already the latter half of the night, yet he wasn¡¯t sleepy at all. The light was glaring, so he raised his hand to block the light above his head and naturally saw the two red marks on the back of his hand. That girl had quite the grip; the marks hadn¡¯t faded yet. That hand¡­ that hand was quite pretty, very white¡­ Jiang Zhi suddenly sat up, irritably sighed, and fished for his phone to dial a number. Vice Director Zhao received a call from the privileged director in the middle of the night, instantly waking up: ¡°Director Jiang?¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Vice Director Zhao checked the time on his phone. Crap, it was two in the morning. ¡°It¡¯s so late. Do you need something?¡± When did this master start staying up late? Doesn¡¯t he usually sleep by eight? Jiang Zhi¡¯s voice was hoarse from lack of sleep, but he was mentally alert: ¡°I found a hand double, prepare for it. Tomorrow you personally guide her on set.¡± ¡°A hand double?¡± Saying that so late at night? Vice Director Zhao wondered if he was dreaming. ¡°For whom?¡± Jiang Zhi gritted his teeth, his voice low and hoarse: ¡°Who do you think?¡± The tone, unexpectedly seductive, making Vice Director Zhao think of a sexy, lazy cat in heat, even though the cat¡¯s claws were too sharp, making one uneasy. ¡°Yu Ran¡ª she needs a hand double?¡± Before Vice Director Zhao could finish asking, Jiang Zhi lazily replied, ¡°Her hands are prettier, why not a double?¡± Vice Director Zhao: ¡°¡­¡± Where did this sense of pride come from? He wondered if the director had a condition from staying up late. Next day, on set. Ah Wan felt something was off when his employer stared at the same spot for over ten minutes. ¡°Boss.¡± No reaction. Ah Wan raised his voice: ¡°Boss?¡± Still no reaction. Ah Wan walked in front of him: ¡°What are you looking at?¡± His gaze was like a monk seeing meat. Jiang Zhi¡¯s sharp brows furrowed, his eyes instantly turning from warm blossoms to icy flowers: ¡°You¡¯re in my way.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Ah Wan silently moved aside and secretly followed his employer¡¯s line of sight. Oh, it was Miss Zhou, who was applying film. Jiang Zhi stared at Zhou Xufang¡¯s hands, looking again and again, thinking they were increasingly beautiful. Wanting to touch. Really wanting to. He was watching intently when a figure in a cheongsam blocked his view. It was Fang Lixiang, in her costume, twisting her way to Zhou Xufang, smiling like a flower: ¡°Xu Fang, are you cold?¡± The sun was out today, it was about four to five degrees. Zhou Xufang shook her head. She couldn¡¯t really feel the cold or heat, just had a low body temperature and told people she was afraid of the cold, so she could bundle up more. But Fang Lixiang thought she was cold and draped her own down jacket over her. Then she asked, ¡°Xu Fang, are you hungry?¡± Zhou Xufang had just had breakfast, eaten three crates of soup dumplings, and drank two cans of milk, so she shook her head: ¡°I¡¯m not hungry.¡± Fang Lixiang, as if not hearing, shoved two big bags of snacks in Zhou Xufang¡¯s hands: ¡°I bought you some tasty snacks, eat them when you¡¯re hungry.¡± Today, Urala¡¯s Lixiang was particularly enthusiastic. Zhou Xufang took them: ¡°Thank you.¡± Courtesy dictates reciprocity; next time, she had to buy Fang Lixiang two bags. Having taken care of Zhou Xufang¡¯s food and warmth, Fang Lixiang asked again, ¡°Thirsty?¡± Before Zhou Xufang could answer. Fang Lixiang brought over a box of AD calcium milk: ¡°I bought you some milk. The brand you usually drink is imported; I haven¡¯t gotten it yet. Drink this for now; it¡¯s also very tasty.¡± Zhou Xufang hadn¡¯t tried this one before. She put the two bags of snacks down and blankly took the milk, feeling a bit unaccustomed to Fang Lixiang¡¯s enthusiasm. ¡°Xu Fang, if anyone bullies you on set, you must tell me, okay?¡± She looked righteous and brave, ¡°Urala¡¯s Lixiang has your back.¡± Just as she finished her heroic words, Vice Director Zhao roared. ¡°Fang Lixiang, get over here and start working!¡± Chapter 34 - Chapter 34: 034: Touched (Second Update) Chapter 34: 034: Touched (Second Update) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Fang Lixiang, come here and start working!¡± Fang Lixiang turned around in shock, ¡°Isn¡¯t my scene scheduled for ten?¡± It¡¯s only eight now! Vice Director Zhao rolled his eyes at her, ¡°Who told you to wander around aimlessly? Director Jiang is very dissatisfied with you.¡± Director Jiang specifically called him over to manage this flitting busybody. Fang Lixiang, feeling wronged for no reason, was of course upset, ¡°I¡¯m just wandering, how does that bother him?¡± Vice Director Zhao dragged her over, sneakily glanced at Zhou Xufang, and mumbled, ¡°How would I know?¡± This Zhou Xufang¡­ It¡¯s hard to say. Then, Ah Wan noticed that his employer¡¯s furrowed brow relaxed, and he continued to stare intently at the girl¡¯s hand, a suspicious smile forming at the corner of his mouth. When Ah Wan had previously robbed Jiang Zhi of his ridiculously expensive watch and spent a night in a cell, he thought his employer¡¯s current expression was exactly like that of the voyeur he had seen back then. Zhou Xufang was scheduled to have her hand double¡¯s scenes after Fang Lixiang, and it passed in just one take. Vice Director Zhao gave her twenty thousand yuan in cash, a thick wad, and Zhou Xufang was obviously in a very good mood. She treated a few extras around her to a can of milk each. Jiang Zhi thought, why doesn¡¯t she laugh? When she laughs, it must be beautiful. At lunchtime, Fang Lixiang wandered in front of Zhou Xufang again, carrying two large bags of takeout, as enthusiastic as a honeybee collecting nectar. ¡°The set meal isn¡¯t tasty. I ordered this specially, for you.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 After handing it to Zhou Xufang, Fang Lixiang ran off. Zhou Xufang scratched her head, lost in thought. Over there, Fang Lixiang¡¯s assistant, Jiang Wei¡¯er, also thought her enthusiasm was over the top, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± She could see that when Fang Lixiang looked at Zhou Xufang, there was guilt in her eyes. Fang Lixiang grinned, unclear if it was genuine or not, and casually made up an excuse, ¡°I owed her in a past life. In this life, Zhou Xufang is the heart, the liver, and the precious sweetie of the Fang family.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er: ¡°¡­¡± Something¡¯s not right. Fang Lixiang didn¡¯t mention it again. She opened a game and started arguing with someone in the game. ¡°Why do I always run into these noobs?¡± She cursed the noob thoroughly, but then the noob wanted to add her as a game friend. ¡°Why do you want to add me as a friend?¡± After thinking about it, Fang Lixiang clicked accept, ¡°Damn it, you can¡¯t beat me in the game, and you have the nerve to come and curse me. Today I¡¯ll show you why the flowers are so red!¡± After cursing, she started typing away. Jiang Zhi barely ate a few bites of lunch before putting down his chopsticks. Considerate Ah Wan asked, ¡°Boss, is it not to your taste? Shall I order something else?¡± He stared at his hand, absentmindedly saying, ¡°Call Zhou Xufang over.¡± Ah Wan¡¯s curiosity got the better of him, ¡°What do you need her for?¡± Jiang Zhi threw his phone on the table. ¡°To apply a screen protector.¡± His phone¡¯s screen protector had been cracked for a while. Ah Wan had suggested replacing it several times, but Jiang Zhi hadn¡¯t mentioned going to get it fixed. Now, he was refusing to eat lunch and insisting on fixing it. What was up with him? Who indulged him in this! ¡°Miss Zhou definitely wouldn¡¯t carry a screen protector to the set. If you need it done now, I¡¯ll go outside to get you one¡ª¡± Jiang Zhi interrupted, ¡°Lin Wanwan.¡± He called her name with a dragged-out tone that carried a hint of dangerous menace. Ah Wan¡¯s sense of justice always bowed to tyranny, ¡°Oh, I¡¯ll go get her right away.¡± In less than five minutes, Ah Wan brought Zhou Xufang into Jiang Zhi¡¯s private lounge. ¡°You wanted to see me?¡± She was wearing Fang Lixiang¡¯s white down jacket, making her skin look even fairer. She wore a hat, revealing only a palm-sized face. She looked better in black. Jiang Zhi looked over her and said to Ah Wan, ¡°Get out.¡± Ah Wan left silently, closing the door behind him, then pressed his ear against the door. A lonely man and woman, dry wood and a fierce fire¡­ If he didn¡¯t eavesdrop, he would be a fool. Zhou Xufang stood five meters away from Jiang Zhi, not advancing any further. Jiang Zhi sat, the warm weather giving him a healthy complexion, though there were dark circles under his eyes, indicating poor sleep, ¡°My phone¡¯s screen protector is cracked.¡± He pointed to the phone on the table. Zhou Xufang glanced at it, unsure of his intent. She just said, ¡°Oh.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± He started to feel breathless, he never kept his composure when she was around. He stood up, moved closer to her, though not too close, and in an almost commanding tone said, ¡°Apply it for me.¡± It was definitely a commanding tone, but upon close listening, there was a hint of awkwardness. Zhou Xufang finally understood the purpose of his call, realizing he wanted to support her business. What a nice person, ¡°I can¡¯t do it here. All my stuff is at home.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyelashes fluttered like falling butterfly wings, ¡°Take out your phone.¡± Not knowing his intention, Zhou Xufang still obediently took out her phone. The butterfly wings seemed to lift, revealing Jiang Zhi¡¯s pair of enchanting yet not effeminate peach blossom eyes, ¡°Same model as mine.¡± So? So, he said, ¡°Take your screen protector off and put it on mine.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± Fang Lixiang was strange today, but Jiang Zhi was even stranger. Zhou Xufang had an exceptionally high IQ but didn¡¯t really understand these complex and contradictory human emotions, ¡°Are you seriously ill today?¡± Besides this reason, she couldn¡¯t think of another. After all, Jiang Zhi was a terminally ill, fragile person. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t deny it. He was seriously ill. Otherwise, why had he been incessantly wanting to look at her hand and touch her hand since last night? And Jiang Zhi would do anything he felt like, even to the extent of tearing the sky apart. ¡°Name your price.¡± This girl loved money. Zhou Xufang considered for a very short time. If it were someone else, she wouldn¡¯t bother, but it was Jiang Zhi. He looked so good and was so frail. Zhou Xufang agreed, ¡°One screen protector is twenty yuan, but this one is old. I¡¯ll charge you ten yuan.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± At this moment, he wasn¡¯t thinking clearly, his mind muddled. Even if she had asked for a billion, he would have given it. But she only asked for ten yuan. Without further delay, Zhou Xufang squatted by the coffee table, took out a wet wipe to clean the phone screen, then peeled off her own phone¡¯s protector and applied it to Jiang Zhi¡¯s phone, although it was old and didn¡¯t stick well. Her movements were very skilled, and Jiang Zhi stared at her hands. ¡°It¡¯s done.¡± She turned around and met Jiang Zhi¡¯s gaze. He had a pair of beautiful peach blossom eyes, with long eyelashes, more attractive than many girls. Zhou Xufang rarely made eye contact with people, afraid they would see through her. She always hid her gaze, and it seemed she had only looked at Jiang Zhi like this. His eyes grew brighter, like a falling starry river. ¡°I don¡¯t have any small change,¡± he said. Zhou Xufang stood up, walked over, and handed him the phone, ¡°No problem, give it to me next time.¡± Her hand was very white, with a sickly pallor from lack of sunlight. Jiang Zhi looked at her hand and, against all reason, reached out and covered it. He touched her hand. Chapter 35 - Chapter 35: 035: Devil Jiang Zhi Online (Update 1) Chapter 35: 035: Devil Jiang Zhi Online (Update 1) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Ãþµ½ÁË,ËýµÄÊÖ. Miss Zhou¡¯s eyelashes fluttered once, and she stood there dumbfounded, letting the cellphone in her palm slide away. ¡°Bang.¡± The phone hit the edge of the glass coffee table, and the screen cracked instantly. Her expression and movements froze. Her speed and agility far exceeded that of normal people by dozens of times. For her, dropping the phone was a significant accident. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± She looked up, still a bit dazed: ¡°Huh?¡± Jiang Zhi, who was much taller than her, was looking down at her: ¡°The phone screen broke again.¡± His voice was tense, his forehead was sweaty, and a thin pink flush slowly appeared around his eyes as he stared at her intensely. No wonder people on set said that Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes could captivate souls. Zhou Xufang herself noticed that her reactions seemed to slow down significantly at this moment, and her expression became more wooden and dull. She just remembered to say: ¡°It seems the screen is broken.¡± She even forgot about the burning hot hand still covering the back of her hand. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï A hint of satisfaction curved Jiang Zhi¡¯s lips: ¡°So, how will you compensate me?¡± Obviously, her stunned reaction amused him. ¡°You touched it first¡ª¡± Mid-sentence, Zhou Xufang looked down and realized that his palm was still stuck on the back of her hand. One cold, one hot, an extreme contrast. Reflexively, she pulled her hand back with force, then grabbed Jiang Zhi¡¯s wrist and twisted it hard, as she did countless times out of self-preservation instinct. Outside, Ah Wan heard a scream. Without a second thought, he kicked the door open and saw his employer clutching his hand, glaring at Zhou Xufang with his captivating, watery eyes. Blushing like a naive young boy unfamiliar with love and romance, he said: ¡°Dropping my phone can be forgiven, but hurting my hand cannot be overlooked.¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± The scene of a well-behaved young man and a female bully forced Ah Wan to withdraw his foot and, unable to help himself, sneak a glance at ¡®the female bully.¡¯ ¡®The female bully¡¯ frowned, showing a guilty and regretful expression, not knowing how to handle the situation. After a while, she still extended her hand: ¡°Since I hurt your hand, you can pinch mine too.¡± Ah Wan understood. Miss Zhou had hurt the employer again. Now, Ah Wan was sure that their employer was the submissive type in past relationships, even to the bone. So, even now when he¡¯s not in such relationships, his nature is hard to change. And Miss Zhou was the definite dominant one. Miss ¡°Outright Dominant¡± Zhou even sincerely said: ¡°I don¡¯t fear pain; you can pinch harder.¡± After all, since she made him feel so much pain, she had to repay. In Ah Wan¡¯s opinion, Miss Zhou was a steel-hearted straight woman meeting a scheming submissive, and he was very excited to watch the show. Although his brain wasn¡¯t very developed, he had seen enough Korean romance dramas to understand a bit. The frown on Jiang Zhi¡¯s face softened, and his misty peach blossom eyes cleared up, suddenly brightened: ¡°You said it.¡± He stepped forward, ¡°This time, don¡¯t dodge.¡± She didn¡¯t dodge. He held her hand. For a long time, she didn¡¯t dodge. It turned out that a normal human¡¯s body temperature was so warm, unlike her, cold all over like a monster. His hand was so big it could wrap around her entire hand, transferring warmth to her bit by bit. In the end, she withdrew her hand and, without a word, walked out of the lounge. ¡°Boss.¡± ¡°Boss.¡± Jiang Zhi was in a daze. Ah Wan hesitated for a while, unable to resist his curiosity: ¡°Do you,¡± he covered his mouth and whispered, ¡°do you like Miss Zhou?¡± No wonder he had been acting strangely lately. It was because of love. Jiang Zhi withdrew his gaze from the door, with the lingering heat of excitement in his eyes, still showing that captivating red hue: ¡°What did you see just now?¡± Ah Wan weakly told the truth: ¡°I saw you touch her hand.¡± Not just a touch, a stroke! Surprisingly, Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t get angry. Instead, he stared at his hand, continuing to be lost in thought. Oh, he wasn¡¯t dreaming; he must have lost his mind. After a moment. ¡°Go out, close the door.¡± Ah Wan sneaked a look at his despondent employer: ¡°Oh.¡± Jiang Zhi sat quietly for a while, then picked up the phone with the cracked screen and dialed a number. He didn¡¯t know why he did it, but he saved the damned psychologist¡¯s number from the last time. ¡°Mr. Jiang.¡± On the phone, Doctor Qiu¡¯s voice trembled as if he had been greatly frightened. Jiang Zhi lay back on the sofa, stretched his legs on the coffee table, and spoke in a lazy, weak tone, as if talking to himself: ¡°Now, I think about her not only in my thoughts; I also want to touch her.¡± Doctor Qiu, who hadn¡¯t understood the situation: ¡°¡­¡± Is this series not pretending to be friends anymore? Jiang Zhi put the phone on speaker and threw it onto the sofa, lying on the sofa with his arms outstretched, looking up at the ceiling light: ¡°I just touched her hand.¡± With an unhurried, spine-chilling tone. The more Doctor Qiu listened, the more terrified he felt: ¡°¡­¡± Jiang Zhi narrowed his eyes, his peach blossom eyes elongated into the shape of a half-crescent moon. His gaze, unfocused, emitted a contradictory excitement and eagerness like a hound ready to hunt prey. ¡°That¡¯s not enough. Now, I want to touch her face.¡± Doctor Qiu gulped a mouthful of saliva out of fear: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I wonder what else I¡¯ll want to touch after her face?¡± Doctor Qiu shivered, trembling all over: ¡°¡­¡± What¡¯s with this overwhelming demonic aura? After describing, Jiang Zhi ended his illogical and spontaneous comments with a sickly tone: ¡°Do you think I¡¯m sick?¡± Chapter 36 - Chapter 36: 036: Three Beastly Deeds of the Jiang Family (Part 2) Chapter 36: 036: Three Beastly Deeds of the Jiang Family (Part 2) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Do you think I¡¯m sick?¡± Sure! Doctor Qiu suggested sincerely, trembling, ¡°Mr. Jiang, when you have time, would you like to come to the consultation room for a checkup?¡± There was no response from the other end. Doctor Qiu, perhaps scared out of his wits, asked an especially stupid question, ¡°Wasn¡¯t it Second Young Master Xue who touched it?¡± It was agreed to be Second Young Master Xue¡¯s matter. The call was decisively cut off. ¡°Beep beep beep beep beep beep¡­¡± Doctor Qiu: ¡°¡­¡± From the force of the phone being slammed down, it could be judged how agitated the patient was. Jiang Zhi had insomnia during his nap. When he closed his eyes, all he could see was Zhou Xufang¡¯s hand, Zhou Xufang¡¯s face, Zhou Xufang¡¯s back¡­ The initial plan was to start shooting at 1 PM. However, the director, who was always punctual, hadn¡¯t shown up even by 2:30 PM. At this time, Vice Director Zhao received a call from the director¡¯s assistant, Lin Wanwan. ¡°Brother Wan.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?? Despite Ah Wan having such a sissy name like Lin Wanwan, due to his criminal physique, people in society called him Brother Wan. In private, Ah Wan was still very imposing. After all, he was nine feet tall and nearly 200 pounds: ¡°Cut out the part with Zhou Xufang¡¯s hand double from the final cut.¡± Vice Director Zhao asked, ¡°Is Director Jiang unsatisfied? Should I call the stand-in for a reshoot?¡± He remembered Director Jiang being quite satisfied while shooting, otherwise, why would he have been staring at the stand-in¡¯s hand all the time? Ah Wan didn¡¯t reveal much, ¡°No need, just edit that part out and send it to my boss.¡± Vice Director Zhao didn¡¯t understand, nor did he dare ask further, ¡°What about the afternoon¡¯s shoot then?¡± ¡°Delay it for two hours.¡± ¡°Is Director Jiang unwell?¡± The weather wasn¡¯t even that cold today. Ah Wan lied solemnly, ¡°Yes, he had a myocardial infarction.¡± Vice Director Zhao: ¡°¡­¡± Rich young masters sure have a lot of issues. One hour later, Jiang Family¡¯s family doctor arrived to check on Jiang Zhi. The Old Lady Jiang, hearing Jiang Zhi¡¯s voice was off, immediately sent someone over. ¡°Boss, Dr. Qin is here.¡± Jiang Zhi responded. Ah Wan brought him in, closed the door, and stood by. The man was very young, ¡°Mr. Jiang.¡± His tone was respectful but not subservient. He was the Jiang family¡¯s family doctor, named Qin Shiyu, in his early thirties, but his medical skills were extraordinary. Old Lady Jiang sent him to check Jiang Zhi¡¯s pulse regularly. Today, Qin Shiyu wasn¡¯t wearing a white coat but a suit, exuding a scholarly aura of warmth and refinement. He managed himself with grace. Jiang Zhi invited him to sit, ¡°I heard you were just promoted to director last week, Dr. Qin.¡± Qin Shiyu¡¯s great-grandfather was a doctor from Old Lady Jiang¡¯s family, considered a family servant in the old days, before coming to the Jiang family with Old Lady Jiang. For generations, they served at Jiang family hospitals. Qin Shiyu was the most talented among his generation, with exceptional demeanor and capability. He replied humbly, ¡°It¡¯s all because of the eldest son¡¯s support, Shiyu feels undeserved.¡± The Jiang family was a century-old family with deep roots, speaking in an extremely refined manner. The Fifth Hospital was currently managed by Jiang Xiaolin, the eldest grandson of the Jiang family, with Qin Shiyu working under him for many years, mastering the bureaucratic double-speak. Jiang Zhi despised it the most. One by one, all pretending to be gentlemen. ¡°Qin Shiyu,¡± he called him by his full name. Qin Shiyu opened his medical kit to take out the pulse pillow, ¡°Mr. Jiang, what do you need?¡± Jiang Zhi lazily stretched out his hand, letting him take his pulse, and joked casually, ¡°If one day Jiang Xiaolin and Jiang Fuli were hit by a car and you had to perform surgery, who would you save first, Jiang Xiaolin or Jiang Fuli?¡± Jiang Xiaolin from the first house and Jiang Fuli from the second house, one the eldest grandson and the other the eldest granddaughter, both with real power and openly at odds. Qin Shiyu¡¯s smile remained unchanged, his eyes calm as if indifferent to contention, ¡°That hypothesis doesn¡¯t exist.¡± Jiang Zhi looked at him leisurely, ¡°Oh? Why does it not exist?¡± ¡°Which car would be so oblivious to simultaneously hit two of the Jiang family¡¯s esteemed masters?¡± Masters? When did Qin Shiyu start considering himself a servant? His intricate mind was hard to fathom. Jiang Zhi smiled with a hint of cynicism, ¡°You never know.¡± Maybe one day, if he got upset, he¡¯d kill them all. With so few people left in the Jiang family, they were all beasts anyway. ¡°If it truly came to that, I¡¯d naturally follow Old Madam¡¯s orders,¡± Qin Shiyu replied without revealing any hint of intention. Qin Shiyu was either deeply hidden or sharply observant. Jiang Zhi leaned back on the sofa, his gaze wandering. Qin Shiyu finished taking his pulse, ¡°Have you been coughing badly recently, Mr. Jiang?¡± Jiang Zhi took a wet wipe, slowly wiping his wrist, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s winter.¡± Every winter, he couldn¡¯t stand the cold and coughed severely. It had been the same for years. ¡°I¡¯ll prescribe some cough medicine first. After the full examination results are out, I¡¯ll discuss a conservative treatment plan with Dr. Shao and Dr. Chen,¡± Qin Shiyu said. Jiang Zhi responded indifferently, ¡°Do you think I¡¯ll make it past next winter with this body of mine?¡± Qin Shiyu, looking composed, replied evenly, ¡°The lab has been working on new medications for you. There¡¯s some progress. Mr. Jiang, you needn¡¯t be too pessimistic.¡± Jiang Zhi sneered, ¡°They said I wouldn¡¯t live past twenty-five. That was what your father said.¡± Initially, Qin Shiyu¡¯s father, Qin Yin, was Jiang Zhi¡¯s primary doctor. A few years ago, after Qin Yin passed away, Qin Shiyu took over treating this chronically ill patient. Old Lady Jiang didn¡¯t trust outsiders and selected the most talented Qin Shiyu. ¡°In my father¡¯s time, medical techniques were not as advanced as they are now,¡± Qin Shiyu explained. ¡°Advanced medicine?¡± Jiang Zhi laughed with blatant mockery, ¡°So advanced that my congenital deficiencies have been treated for over twenty years.¡± Not only that, but the condition only worsened, with no diagnosis found. Qin Shiyu remained unaffected, prescribing medication and stating that the medicine would be delivered to the Jiang family. Old Lady Jiang was cautious; Jiang Zhi¡¯s medications always needed approval from the Jiang family before being sent over. After he left, ¡°Ah Wan,¡± Jiang Zhi lay there, looking listless, ¡°Who do you think Qin Shiyu works for?¡± The Jiang family¡¯s complex structure was beyond Ah Wan¡¯s simple mind, he shook his head, ¡°He doesn¡¯t seem to interact much privately with Jiang Xiaolin or Jiang Fuli.¡± Qin Shiyu¡¯s image in the Jiang family was of someone without ambition, content and without conflicts, trusted by Old Madam Jiang. Jiang Zhi looked at Ah Wan, ¡°With your IQ, would you even notice if he did?¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± He decided to express his defiance through silence. Chapter 37 - Chapter 37: 037: He just listened to Zhou Xufang (first update) Chapter 37: 037: He just listened to Zhou Xufang (first update) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation He decided to express his defiance through silence. Jiang Zhi glanced at him with an expression of disdain, then lay back and closed his eyes, ignoring him. The phone with the broken screen rang. It was Xue Baoyi calling. Jiang Zhi was too lazy to move, so he raised his hand slightly. Ah Wan understood and went to answer the call, putting it on speaker. ¡°Brother Zhi, the Lu Family is hosting a business banquet at seven tonight. Are you coming?¡± With a weak voice, Jiang Zhi replied, ¡°Not going.¡± Xue Baoyi, who enjoyed a wild time, coaxed him over the phone, ¡°Lu Sheng, that little girl, is bound to stir up trouble. Aren¡¯t you coming to check it out?¡± Among the Four Great Families, the Lu Family and the Jiang Family had always been at odds. The elders of both families had some unknown grudge against each other, and they had been openly and secretly competing for decades without any respite. The eldest son of the Lu Family had a sleeping disorder and was rarely awake during the day. Currently, the management was under the second daughter, Lu Sheng. At just over twenty, Lu Sheng was quite impressive, a domineering female CEO, not an average person. Jiang Zhi still showed no interest, ¡°I¡¯m not going out today.¡± Xue Baoyi snorted, ¡°What, are you cultivating moral character?¡± The banquet at the Lu Family, surely someone from the Jiang Mansion would attend. Jiang Zhi was overly leisurely and relaxed for someone from such a wealthy family. Xue Baoyi was quite anxious for him. Although the Old Madam of the Jiang Family doted on Jiang Zhi the most, Jiang Zhi¡¯s health was a disappointment. He didn¡¯t have much real power, all of it being held by the first and second branches of the family. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï Jiang Zhi remained indifferent and lazy, ¡°It¡¯s unsafe to go out at night. I¡¯m a short-lived ghost, I need to treasure my life.¡± ¡°What kind of nonsense are you talking about?¡± Jiang Zhi turned over without any sleepiness, sat up, and stared at his own hand absentmindedly, ¡°Looking this good, I¡¯ll get kidnapped if I go out.¡± Zhou Xufang had told him not to go out tonight. Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± By dusk, the filming ended. Ah Wan happened to return from an errand, putting a new phone in front of his employer, ¡°The phone has been replaced.¡± Also, ¡°The screen protector has been applied as well.¡± So dutiful! ¡°Ah Wan.¡± ¡°Yes, boss.¡± Jiang Zhi fiddled with the new phone, rubbing the screen absentmindedly, ¡°You¡¯re not very bright, don¡¯t try to be clever.¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± The screen protector was applied for free by the phone store! Was it his fault?! Jiang Zhi tore off the screen protector, tossed it into the trash, took his coat, and stood up. Ah Wan followed, ¡°Should I drive you back?¡± Jiang Zhi walked out, a faint smile appearing on his lips, barely noticeable, making his sickly look slightly better and his features even more striking. Like a fairy. The Jiang Fairy said, ¡°No rush, it¡¯s still early.¡± Early? The sun had already set outside. Ah Wan took out the car keys and asked, ¡°Where to then?¡± ¡°Ba Yi Bridge.¡± Tsk tsk tsk, no wonder his eyes were brimming with flirtation. Ah Wan was clever this time, ¡°Going to find Miss Zhou to apply a screen protector?¡± Ah Wan thought, the employer was quite clingy. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t respond, just asked lightly, ¡°How¡¯s that chicken Zhou Xufang gave me?¡± Ah Wan wasn¡¯t trying to take credit, just inexplicably proud, happily reporting to his employer, ¡°Good teeth, good stomach, good body, everything¡¯s delicious.¡± Jiang Zhi hummed in acknowledgment, the curve of his lips lifting slightly again. Ah Wan thought, that chicken had really good luck, just because it was a token of affection, its status was elevated from a dish to a beloved pet. Before six, Zhou Xufang had already set up a stall under Ba Yi Bridge. It was Friday, her business was good; she applied eight screen protectors in half an hour. Across the bridge, many people were dancing in the square, the music was loud and lively. Next to Zhou Xufang, an auntie was selling stinky tofu. She didn¡¯t have many customers and was bored, so she struck up a conversation with Zhou Xufang. ¡°Xiao Zhou, why are you here so early today?¡± Zhou Xufang, with her head lowered, replied in a soft and cool voice, ¡°The shoot ended early.¡± The auntie had been here for half a year, knowing Zhou Xufang wasn¡¯t talkative but polite and hardworking. She had a good impression of her and suddenly had the idea of matchmaking her with her single son. ¡°You are really hardworking, unlike my good-for-nothing son, who just plays games all day.¡± She laughed, a bit of pride showing on her face, ¡°That rascal is unambitious but has a decent face.¡± Zhou Xufang wasn¡¯t good at socializing, so she just listened without commenting. ¡°How old are you, Xiao Zhou?¡± She didn¡¯t remember her birthday. The person who saved her had told her the year she was born. She answered, ¡°I¡¯m twenty-two.¡± At twenty-two, setting up a stall, the aunt guessed she hadn¡¯t had much education, ¡°My son is two years older than you, he¡¯s twenty-four. Been out of college for two years and still doesn¡¯t find a job, hasn¡¯t dated anyone, just fiddles with starting a business all day.¡± The conversation flowed naturally, ¡°What about you, Xiao Zhou, do you have a boyfriend?¡± Though this girl lacked education, she had good looks and a nice temperament. The more the aunt looked, the more she liked her. Zhou Xufang frowned slightly, ¡°No.¡± Perfect! The aunt smiled so much that her wrinkles showed, ¡°Auntie sees you alone every day without friends. Why not give me your WeChat, I¡¯ll have my son add you. It¡¯s good for young people to have things to talk about and make friends.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t want to give her contact information to strangers and was at a loss how to refuse when a voice answered for her. ¡°She doesn¡¯t use WeChat.¡± The voice was pleasant. She knew it was Jiang Zhi, looking up, her frown relaxed. The aunt obviously wasn¡¯t happy with this unexpected interference, glaring over at the source of the voice, ¡°And who are you?¡± This guy was excessively handsome! Jiang Zhi tossed his phone in front of Zhou Xufang, raising an eyebrow, ¡°Here to get a screen protector.¡± Just another customer needing a screen protector. The aunt didn¡¯t bother further, as another customer came over for stinky tofu. She handed Zhou Xufang a piece of paper, ¡°Xiao Zhou, write your WeChat for me. Auntie¡¯s old, can¡¯t remember it without writing.¡± Zhou Xufang hesitated briefly, then returned the paper, ¡°I don¡¯t use WeChat.¡± ¡°¡­¡± The aunt sulked, throwing several white-eyed glances at Jiang Zhi, who was smiling provocatively, cursing internally, ¡°What¡¯s so great about being handsome?¡± ¡°Hi, hello.¡± It was the young woman buying stinky tofu, shyly looking at Jiang Zhi, ¡°Can I have your WeChat?¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s smile faded, his peach blossom eyes cold, ¡°No.¡± The aunt: ¡°¡­¡± This world where looks mattered was infuriating. The aunt¡¯s hands shook, accidentally dropping two pieces of stinky tofu back into the oil, angrily asking the young woman if she wanted it spicy. The young woman left ten yuan, not taking the tofu, running away red-faced and embarrassed. The aunt: ¡°¡­¡± Amid the bustling crowd, Jiang Zhi frowned and moved closer to Zhou Xufang, found a spot, and squatted down. Wearing high-end tailored clothes that clashed with the market vibe, he didn¡¯t care, staring at her face, ¡°Do people often hit on you here at the stall?¡± Chapter 38 - Chapter 38: 038: Want to Touch Her Face (Second Update) Chapter 38: 038: Want to Touch Her Face (Second Update) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°You set up a stall here. Do people often strike up a conversation with you?¡± Zhou Xufang picked up the phone he had placed on the small table, ¡°Which kind of screen protector do you want?¡± ¡°The most expensive one.¡± The expensive one should earn her a bit more. Zhou Xufang took out a tempered glass from the bag behind her and opened the package, ¡°No one strikes up a conversation.¡± She focused on her work, ¡°Many people are afraid of me.¡± She kept her head down, and his eyes became more unrestrained, gazing at her, ¡°Why are they afraid of you?¡± She spoke casually, ¡°They say I look like a ghost.¡± She wore black again today, with a fisherman¡¯s hat, wrapped tightly from head to toe, only a small portion of her pale, translucent face visible, always expressionless, with thin lips pressed together, looking cold and strange. Jiang Zhi glanced at her, not knowing who he was dissatisfied with, but he was very dissatisfied. His charming eyes grew more hostile, ¡°Who says you look like a ghost?¡± How could a ghost be this pretty? Zhou Xufang raised her head and shone a small desk lamp on her face, ¡°Don¡¯t I look like a ghost?¡± Under the black fisherman¡¯s hat, her palm-sized face was lit pale white by the flashlight. Mm, he saw clearly now. There was a faint mole at the end of her eyebrow, hidden in her messy hair, small and pretty. Her eyelashes were long, dense, and curled up like a soft fan, also very pretty. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï He stared for a long time, making Zhou Xufang uncomfortable, and she lowered her head again. The sky was completely dark now, and the light from the small desk lamp was weak. Due to the angle, it cast patches of light and shadow on her face. Jiang Zhi squatted, slightly tilting his head, watching her under the light, ¡°Aren¡¯t you strong? If someone says that, just beat them up.¡± Zhou Xufang lowered her eyelids, seriously applying the screen protector, ¡°If I beat them up, I have to pay for damages.¡± ¡°Do you love money that much?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± She wiped the phone screen with a clean cloth, ¡°It¡¯s done, sixty yuan.¡± The most expensive was only sixty yuan. Jiang Zhi took out a hundred-yuan note from his wallet, placed it beside her hand, wanting to touch her hand but resisted, ¡°Keep the change.¡± Zhou Xufang stored away the money, thanked him earnestly, then took her bag and rummaged through it. Dissatisfied, Jiang Zhi tugged at her fisherman¡¯s hat, tilting it before letting go, ¡°I said, keep the change.¡± Wearing the crooked hat, her expression became a bit dumbfounded. After a moment of daze, she pulled out a can of milk from her bag and pushed it, along with the phone with the new protector, towards Jiang Zhi, ¡°This is for you.¡± So cute. He wanted to touch her face. Jiang Zhi reached out again, but she moved back, blinking. He didn¡¯t retract his hand, ¡°Your hat is crooked, don¡¯t move.¡± She really didn¡¯t move. So obedient. He wanted to touch her face even more now. His fingertips trembled slightly, brushing past her face as he straightened her tilted fisherman¡¯s hat. The back of his hand touched her hair, it felt itchy, and he withdrew awkwardly, turning his head away, his ears turning red, ¡°I, I am leaving.¡± Under the hat, Zhou Xufang looked up at him, ¡°Goodbye.¡± Her expression remained unchanged. Jiang Zhi¡¯s face flushed, his chest felt tight. He squeezed the milk can hard and turned to leave. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± He immediately turned back. Her face, lit by the desk lamp, looked softer, ¡°Don¡¯t go out tonight.¡± The furrowed brows of a second ago smoothed out. He lightly hummed, an uncontrollable warmth filling his eyes. A new customer approached for a screen protector. Zhou Xufang said another goodbye and paid no more attention to Jiang Zhi. Left standing in the middle of the road, Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± He turned and walked away! For the first time, he felt this way. His heart was like being on a rollercoaster, up and down, never at peace for a moment. After finishing applying a screen protector, Zhou Xufang saw Jiang Zhi already far away. She frowned, sat for a while, and took out her phone to send an email to Shuangjiang. Shuangjiang usually used email more. Soon, a call from an unfamiliar number came in. Zhou Xufang answered, and a synthetic mechanical voice spoke, ¡°Ah Fang, what do you want to do?¡± She looked at the distant road; Jiang Zhi¡¯s car was no longer visible, ¡°I¡¯m worried.¡± ¡°Worried about Jiang Zhi?¡± ¡°Yes, if the client made two sets of plans, if I don¡¯t rob him, someone else will.¡± Shuangjiang always let her have her way, ¡°How can I help you?¡± Zhou Xufang turned off the small desk lamp and packed up the stall, ¡°There are many surveillance cameras near where Jiang Zhi lives, I can¡¯t get in.¡± ¡°Give me twenty minutes.¡± Driving from Ba Yi Bridge to Jiang Zhi¡¯s residence at Qingshan Mansion took more than forty minutes. When Jiang Zhi arrived home, it was nearly eight o¡¯clock. He opened the door and was about to turn on the light when a hand pulled him inside. Bang¡ª The door was slammed shut. Almost simultaneously, he was pushed against the wall. A woman¡¯s deliberately low voice sounded in his ear, ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡± He didn¡¯t move, not even his eyelids, maintaining a calm demeanor. His tone remained lazily drawn out, showing no panic, ¡°It¡¯s you again.¡± It was her again, the professional errand runner. She remained silent, one hand gripping his waist, the other pressing against his shoulder. The room¡¯s lights were off, the moonlight from outside casting a blurry outline. He could only vaguely see the faint blue reflection from her glasses. ¡°Who sent you to rob me this time?¡± She deliberately lowered her voice further, ¡°I¡¯m not robbing you, don¡¯t move, and don¡¯t make a sound. I¡¯ll leave at dawn.¡± Being so close, he smelled the milky scent on her again. Click. The door suddenly made a sound, followed by Ah Wan¡¯s voice, ¡°Boss, you left your script in my car¡ª¡± The light from the door¡¯s crack fell on the glow in Zhou Xufang¡¯s eyes behind the lens. Ah Wan¡¯s voice abruptly stopped. After a few seconds of hesitation, he kicked the door open, ¡°You scum!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Her lips under the mask twitched slightly. Zhou Xufang firmly corrected, ¡°I¡¯m not a scum.¡± Ah Wan took a step back, assumed a defensive posture, and shouted, ¡°Scum, let go of my boss!¡± She definitely wasn¡¯t a scum! She got a bit angry and coldly reminded, ¡°Behind you.¡± Ah Wan didn¡¯t listen, aggressively glaring at the ¡®scum,¡¯ shouting fiercely, ¡°Stop talking nonsense, let go of my boss!¡± Wearing a mask, hat, and glasses, Zhou Xufang leisurely said the last two words, ¡°Someone¡¯s there.¡± The lights suddenly turned on. Ah Wan turned around, and a club was swung at him. He dodged, and the stick missed his head, hitting his shoulder instead. At this moment, seven or eight burly men rushed in, each holding a club, and engaged in a brawl with Ah Wan. Chapter 39 - Chapter 39: 039: Jiang Zhi becomes suspicious of Z (Part 1) Chapter 39: 039: Jiang Zhi becomes suspicious of Z (Part 1) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation At this moment, seven or eight tall and burly men rushed in, each holding a bat, and started fighting with Ah Wan. Ah Wan was very skilled, but he was outnumbered. Zhou Xufang released her hand from Jiang Zhi¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Stay here and don¡¯t move.¡± She lowered the brim of her hat, turned around, and kicked away the bat that was swinging towards Ah Wan¡¯s back, ¡°Who sent you?¡± The leader, wearing a mask, raised his hand to signal his men to stop, ¡°Are you Z?¡± ¡°I am.¡± The man scrutinized her, ¡°Mr. sent us to assist you.¡± Indeed, preparations were made for both outcomes. Zhou Xufang adjusted her special-material glasses, facing the man, ¡°I don¡¯t need it.¡± ¡°We won¡¯t interfere with your task, just deliver the person to the designated place and we¡¯ll leave. We won¡¯t hinder you.¡± Her voice was extremely low, and the coldness in her eyes behind the blue lenses suggested restrained anger, her whole being exuding an aura of hostility, ¡°I don¡¯t like others meddling in the jobs I take.¡± This was her rule, to act alone, never to accept collaboration. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï The man seemed to have anticipated this, saying no more, ¡°We also get paid to do our job, no offense.¡± At his command, his men surrounded Zhou Xufang, swinging iron rods and stun batons at her in a disorganized manner. She had no weapon, engaging them with her bare hands. Ah Wan felt dizzy¡ªthe aggressive attacks seemed to turn into soft blows upon reaching the errand runner. She moved quickly, dodging effortlessly, without even attacking, just defending. Ah Wan watched in astonishment for a while, then turned to ask Jiang Zhi, who was also watching, ¡°Boss, aren¡¯t they on the same side? Why are they fighting?¡± ¡°Shut your mouth.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Jiang Zhi supported himself up, dragging his sickly steps towards the fighting crowd. Ah Wan shouted for him to stay back. A man holding a stun baton turned towards Jiang Zhi upon hearing the shout, swinging his baton. Ah Wan leapt forward to kick, only to see Jiang Zhi weakly raising a hand, gently pinching the man¡¯s wrist. The stun baton clattered to the ground, and the man groaned in pain, rolling his eyes. Ah Wan was dumbfounded, where did the feeble patient go? ¡°Boss, have you been trained?¡± Such strength couldn¡¯t come without training, and that precise move to catch the baton, an ordinary person couldn¡¯t do it. Jiang Zhi pulled out a handkerchief from his coat to wipe his hands, ¡°No.¡± As he said this, he kicked down a man over six feet tall, then stepped on him unhurriedly, grinding his toe, and casually tossed the handkerchief, flexing his wrists, ¡°Who did you hire, so useless.¡± He coughed lightly, the misty water in his peach blossom eyes hiding all the fierce light. Ah Wan, ¡°!¡± He thought, after discovering the boss¡¯s six-pack abs, he now found another secret, lost in his thoughts¡ª ¡°Clang.¡± The blue and white porcelain tea cup on the coffee table was knocked and shattered by a staggering man. Jiang Zhi glanced over, frowning. That set of cups had cost him five million at auction, a centuries-old antique, what a pity. At this moment, the man who was kicked onto the coffee table lost his balance, falling backward and stabbing his back on the broken porcelain pieces. He turned pale from the pain, cursed lowly, pulled out a dagger from his coat, and ferociously lunged at Jiang Zhi. Ah Wan screamed, ¡°Boss, be careful!¡± Jiang Zhi! Zhou Xufang forced back two assailants and swiftly stepped in front of Jiang Zhi, reaching out to intercept the dagger, her arm was seized. She turned back. Jiang Zhi stared at her, his gaze burning. As the dagger approached, he yanked her arm, spinning around and kicking the man in the abdomen, causing him to cry out and fall, the dagger clattering to the ground. ¡°Who exactly are you?¡± These eyes¡­ Jiang Zhi stared into the eyes behind her glasses for just a second, reaching to remove her mask. Almost simultaneously, the man on the ground quickly picked up the dagger, slashing at Jiang Zhi¡¯s outstretched hand. There was no time to think; Zhou Xufang pushed Jiang Zhi away, the dagger grazed her right arm, blood instantly soaking her sleeve. Without blinking, she kicked the man down. Jiang Zhi stumbled back from the push. Ah Wan rushed to support him, sweating profusely, ¡°Boss, are you okay?¡± He didn¡¯t move, his gaze fixed on Zhou Xufang surrounded by the seven or eight men. She pressed her bleeding arm with one hand, kicked up the broken porcelain pieces, hitting the chandelier, plunging the room into darkness, no one could see her eyes turning red. It had been a long time since she got angry, whenever she got angry, her pupils turned red, as red as blood. In the dim light, the men holding bats groped closer. She leapt, wrapping her foot around a man¡¯s neck, slamming him hard, causing him to faint on the spot. Such speed! Giving no time to react, she jumped and side-kicked, punching out with three-tenths of her strength, causing two more to scream and drop. ¡°Leave now, or I won¡¯t show mercy.¡± She glanced at them, her eyes cold and filled with killing intent. There were always rumors in the industry about errand runner Z¡ªthat she was incredibly strong, as fast as lightning, and the tales were even more exaggerated, saying she could do anything from water to sky. The men looked at each other knowingly but eventually withdrew, knowing they couldn¡¯t win even with their numbers. After the men were gone, Zhou Xufang closed the door and turned around. Ah Wan immediately blocked Jiang Zhi, trying to look fierce, ¡°Don¡¯t come over, I¡¯ve called the police.¡± This ¡®scum¡¯ had formidable fighting skills, if he got violent, his employer¡¯s chastity wouldn¡¯t stand a chance. She did not advance, standing by the door, devoid of the earlier killing intent. Her expression was calm, the room dark, her mask, and hat concealing her, even her eyes behind the lenses were blurred. Her voice was low, hoarse, ¡°Do nothing, sit there and do not move, I will leave when the police arrive.¡± What did that mean? Not here to assault? Ah Wan¡¯s mind was muddled, completely confused, side-eyeing the employer, who was calm, eyes fixed on the errand runner. ¡°Who hired you?¡± She remained silent. Jiang Zhi asked again, ¡°What is your purpose?¡± In the dark, his gaze seeking out hers, intensely locking onto her, ¡°Why not capture me?¡± She said nothing, pressing her wound, quietly standing by the door. Jiang Zhi could smell the faint scent of blood. He pondered for a long time, then kicked the medical kit under the coffee table towards her. Chapter 40 - Chapter 40: 040: Behind the scenes emerges (second update) Chapter 40: 040: Behind the scenes emerges (second update) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Jiang Zhi smelled the scent of blood, faintly. He pondered for a long time and kicked the medical kit under the coffee table over. Zhou Xufang¡¯s regeneration and self-healing speed was eighty-four times that of a normal human. This was the data measured in the laboratory seven or eight years ago; she wasn¡¯t sure what it was now. However, the dagger wound had already scabbed over. It should only take a short time before the scab fell off, and then the skin would be restored as before. At most a day, and even the scar would disappear completely. She glanced at the medical kit on the ground but did not move. At this moment, the police siren sounded outside. The police should have arrived, and the blood-red in her pupils had almost faded. ¡°Be careful these days.¡± Leaving a sentence, she opened the door and quickly disappeared from Jiang Zhi¡¯s sight. After confirming that she had left, Ah Wan got up and went to the door to check. In the blink of an eye, there was no trace of her. A rabbit? Running so fast! ¡°Boss,¡± Ah Wan scratched his head, ¡°why do I feel that Z wasn¡¯t here to assault, but to help us?¡± Jiang Zhi lowered his eyes in silence, not knowing what he was thinking about, dazed and lost in thought. Ah Wan pondered, ¡°And her voice, why does it sound familiar?¡± Yes, it was familiar. Despite being deliberately suppressed, one could still hear a bit of her original tone, and her eyes, her body temperature, even the force when she pressed against him¡­ Jiang Zhi licked his dry lips, and waves surged in his eyes. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã0 A few minutes later, Qiao Nanchu and Mr. Cheng from the Criminal Investigation Team came up with people. Qiao Nanchu carefully examined the interior and asked Jiang Zhi, ¡°Are you hurt?¡± He shook his head, still seemingly lost in thought. ¡°Do you know who did it?¡± Distracted, not knowing what he was thinking, he replied perfunctorily, ¡°Many people want to mess with me. Can¡¯t guess.¡± People from the Jiang Family, enemies of the Jiang Family, openly and secretly, there were many who couldn¡¯t tolerate this young master of the Jiang Family. Qiao Nanchu thought for a moment, ¡°Move to my place for the next few days.¡± ¡°The old lady at home just called, asking me to return to the old house.¡± His gaze swept to the few dried blood drops on the floor, the light in his eyes flickered, sometimes dim, sometimes bright. ¡°That works too. Under the old lady¡¯s nose, those people will at least restrain themselves somewhat.¡± The phone rang, Qiao Nanchu answered it, listened to the other side for a few minutes, and then hung up, ¡°Just now, half an hour ago, the Criminal Investigation Team received a report that Z committed another crime in the suburbs.¡± This was the fourth case this month. As before, the scene had the mark of the professional errand runner Z. Jiang Zhi¡¯s drooping eyelids lifted, ¡°It wasn¡¯t her; half an hour ago, she was with me.¡± In those words, there seemed to be a hint of protection. Qiao Nanchu sat on the sofa, leisurely looking at Jiang Zhi, ¡°How can you be sure the one with you was the real one?¡± Jiang Zhi was restless, the waves in his peach blossom eyes still chaotic. He casually replied, ¡°She smelled of milk.¡± Qiao Nanchu smiled without saying anything. It was past nine, and outside the floor-to-ceiling windows of the Huayu Building, the lights were dim and scattered. There was a knock on the door outside. ¡°President Jin.¡± ¡°Come in.¡± The secretary pushed the door open and came in. Jin Song, with his shirt unbuttoned, sat in the boss¡¯s chair, leisurely swirling a glass of red wine, ¡°Where¡¯s the person, did you bring them?¡± The secretary shook his head. Jin Song put down the glass, leaned back with his hands open, a faint and somewhat grim smile at the corner of his mouth, ¡°I paid twenty million, and this is how you handle things?¡± The secretary explained, ¡°I¡¯ve already contacted the runners.¡± Jin Song shook his leg, silent and contemplative. The secretary stepped forward and reported another matter, ¡°There¡¯s one more thing, it¡¯s a bit strange.¡± Jin Song raised his eyes, indicating for him to continue. ¡°Besides the errand runners we hired, there¡¯s another group.¡± Jin Song thought for a moment and sneered, ¡°They even made a backup plan.¡± Sitting in the boss¡¯s chair, he turned half a circle, stood up, and dialed a number. Jin Song got straight to the point, ¡°Mr. Jiang, did you hire another group of people because you don¡¯t trust me?¡± The person on the other end of the line gave a brief explanation, not wanting to say more. At this moment, there was a knock on the door, and someone pushed it open, ¡°President Jin.¡± Jin Song looked at the man at the door, then returned to the person on the phone, ¡°Rest assured, once the funds are in place, my mouth will be sealed tight.¡± The other side hung up first. Jin Song smirked mockingly, threw the phone on the table, and looked up at the man at the door, ¡°Linsu, come here.¡± The vice president of Huayu, known for his preference for male lovers, wasn¡¯t a secret in the circle. Zhou Xufang returned to Yuquan Bay, and it was almost ten. ¡°You¡¯re hurt?¡± The computer camera was connected to Shuangjiang. As soon as Zhou Xufang walked in, Shuangjiang saw the blood on her arm. Zhou Xufang took off the black hooded jacket and threw it directly into the metal trash can, ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Shuangjiang knew some of her healing abilities. From the camera, the scabbed wound seemed to be no major issue. ¡°The client just contacted me, asking where the person they wanted is.¡± Zhou Xufang took off her hat and mask, threw them together with the jacket, poured some alcohol in, and tossed in a match. The flames instantly reflected in her eyes, flickering lights. She spoke coldly, ¡°Tell him the task failed. Compensation is possible, but there needs to be an explanation. My rule is, once I take a task, no one else can interfere.¡± Shuangjiang understood her intent, ¡°I¡¯ll handle it.¡± Zhou Xufang closed the lid of the metal trash can, and the air was filled with the smell of burning, ¡°Shuangjiang, do me a favor.¡± ¡°What do you need?¡± She threw a marshmallow into her mouth, rolled up her sleeves, and used a wet wipe to clean the dried blood on her arm. Her voice was as cold as her gaze, ¡°I need to know who wants to harm Jiang Zhi.¡± Chapter 41 - Chapter 41: 041: Zhou Xufang teaches Luo Qinghe a lesson Chapter 41: 041: Zhou Xufang teaches Luo Qinghe a lesson Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°I need to know, exactly who is after Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll investigate for you,¡± Shuangjiang typed back. ¡°And there¡¯s something else, someone else has impersonated you and caused trouble again.¡± It wasn¡¯t the first time someone had committed a crime under her guise. Zhou Xufang couldn¡¯t help but get angry, her pupils tinted a faint blood-red. She lowered her head, her eyelashes casting downwards, ¡°Did you find out who it was?¡± ¡°Yes, I found out.¡± Shuangjiang explained, ¡°It¡¯s that Luo surname, the theft and robbery a few days ago were also her doing, setting people up. She¡¯s been holding a grudge since Zhou Qingrang offended her last time, deliberately making trouble for us.¡± Luo Qinghe. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t like this malicious woman, ¡°I¡¯m going to see her.¡± Shuangjiang was worried and advised her, ¡°Ah Fang, it¡¯s a trap to lure you out, don¡¯t go. I¡¯m afraid for your safety, people like Luo Qinghe are despicable and hold grudges.¡± ¡°I must go.¡± Zhou Xufang threw the blood-stained wet cloth into the trash can, ¡°She holds grudges, and I hold grudges too.¡± Besides, if she didn¡¯t seek revenge, she wouldn¡¯t be able to sleep. The crescent moon was like a hook, its glow hazy, shrouding the night sky in a layer of fine gauze. The thirty-six-story skyscraper towered into the clouds, and at the top floor was the office of Younger Luo of the Luo Family. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã¦Ï Secretary Han Feng knocked on the door and went in, ¡°Younger Luo.¡± Luo Qinghe sat in the boss¡¯s chair, holding a cigarette between her fingers, smoke slowly drifting from her fiery red lips, ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°There¡¯s some trouble from Zhou Qingrang¡¯s side.¡± Her nail-pinching fingers were neatly manicured; she tapped the cigarette butt and looked down at the falling ashes, ¡°You can¡¯t handle a cripple?¡± Han Feng¡¯s neck glistened with a thin sweat, he replied cautiously, ¡°I¡¯ve taken care of the radio station, and we could have driven him out, but today someone from the Lu Family got involved.¡± After the sex entertainment incident, Zhou Qingrang was demoted to the nighttime radio station. He still had good relations with the higher-ups in Central Television, and as long as he stayed in the hosting world, his return from the radio station was only a matter of time. Of course, Luo Qinghe was not satisfied with this outcome; she wanted a permanent solution, preferably to keep Zhou Qingrang off the broadcasting desk forever. She snuffed out the cigarette, ¡°Which person from the Lu Family got involved?¡± Among the Four Great Families, the Jiang Family was the most formidable, followed by the Lu Family. Han Feng replied, ¡°It¡¯s Second Miss Lu, Lu Sheng.¡± Lu Sheng, another formidable character. The Lu Family¡¯s eldest son¡¯s narcolepsy was recurrent and unresolved, he didn¡¯t manage the family affairs much, and with few heirs, the vast family fortune was managed by Lu Sheng. This Lu Sheng, steeped in years of business, was not a good Samaritan with a heart of compassion. Luo Qinghe pondered, ¡°How did that crippled Zhou Qingrang get involved with Lu Sheng?¡± Han Feng reported in detail, ¡°Second Miss Lu is a sound fetishist; her subordinates say she¡¯s recently become enamored with Zhou Qingrang¡¯s voice.¡± He paused for a moment, then added, ¡°Zhou Qingrang probably won¡¯t stay in the radio station for long. If Lu Sheng speaks up, even the TV station director would have to give some face to the Lu Family, but perhaps it¡¯s just a novelty, something to dabble in for a while.¡± Luo Qinghe sneered, this Lu Sheng was still just a young girl after all, and Zhou Qingrang was handsome and ethereal. However, he was disabled, and how much protection could he receive, there would always be a time when he would be discarded. ¡°Keep an eye on it for now.¡± Han Feng agreed and was just turning around when the lights in the office suddenly went out. Luo Qinghe¡¯s expression changed abruptly, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Han Feng took out his phone for light, ¡°I¡¯ll go check¡ª¡± Click. The door opened, and Han Feng¡¯s words ceased abruptly as the bright light shining through the door gap dazzled his eyes. He reached out to block the light, about to speak, when a gust of wind swept over his collar, and then he felt a numbness at his neck and fell to the ground. Bang. The door closed again. Luo Qinghe stood up in a rush, ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± In the dimness, only a sliver of moonlight made the figure indistinct; in the enclosed space, a sudden cold voice asked, ¡°Don¡¯t you know who I am?¡± The professional errand runner, Z. Luo Qinghe¡¯s complexion changed drastically, knocking over the ashtray on the desk in a fluster, ¡°How did you get in here?¡± The building was full of people, not to mention the more than twenty bodyguards she had hired herself; how had this person arrived in front of her without a sound? In the darkness, a pair of pupils shone cold and bright, and the deliberately suppressed voice was deep and hoarse, ¡°I¡¯ll tell you now how I got in.¡± At the end of her words, she moved instantaneously, the breeze she created whisking the A4 papers on the table into a whirlwind, and in the blink of an eye, Zhou Xufang, dressed in black, stood before Luo Qinghe. Luo Qinghe was dumbfounded, ¡°You¡ª¡± Before she could finish speaking, her neck was pinched by two fingers, then her entire body was hoisted up. Zhou Xufang spoke slowly, word by word, calmly saying, ¡°With just a light flick of my fingers, I could snap your neck.¡± Luo Qinghe struggled kicking, her cheeks flushed red from lack of oxygen, ¡°You, you¡ª¡± With her throat seized, she couldn¡¯t utter a word, pupils dilated, seeing a pair of eyes gradually turning red. The owner of those eyes was holding her neck with just two fingers, effortlessly lifting her high. ¡°Do you see my eyes? They turn red when I get angry,¡± she said, her voice flat, yet spine-chilling, ¡°Stop provoking me and don¡¯t try to investigate me. It would be very easy for me to kill you.¡± Luo Qinghe opened her mouth gasping for air, the veins in her neck bulging, her flailing legs growing weaker, the oxygen in her chest depleting, her head throbbing, consciousness starting to scatter, fear magnifying endlessly. Even from such a close distance, she couldn¡¯t clearly see the person¡¯s outline. ¡°Do you understand?¡± she asked lightly, her mask concealing her face, exposing only a pair of eyes colder than the night sky of winter. Luo Qinghe squeezed out word by word with difficulty, ¡°Under, stood.¡± Zhou Xufang was satisfied, released her grip, letting Luo Qinghe crash heavily onto the ground. ¡°Oh,¡± she remembered something else, ¡°And Zhou Qingrang, stop bullying him. Otherwise, next time I will snap your neck.¡± After leaving those words behind, she adjusted her cap and turned to leave unhurriedly. ¡°You,¡± Luo Qinghe sat on the ground, breathing heavily, her pale face covered in cold sweat, gaze locked onto the masked face, voice taut, ¡°are you human or a ghost?¡± Such speed, strength, and her eyes, were not of ordinary humans. The person at the door just glanced back before, in the blink of an eye, disappearing. Luo Qinghe¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. Moments later, the security guard hurried upstairs, and upon seeing the situation on the rooftop, was instantly filled with dread. ¡°Younger Luo.¡± As the security approached to help her, Luo Qinghe grabbed an ashtray and hurled it, causing the guard¡¯s head to bleed profusely. Still filled with rage, she demanded loudly, ¡°How did she get up here?¡± The guard¡¯s head was bleeding badly, his face covered in blood, too scared to move in the frigid sweat, ¡°No camera caught her, she must have come from the rooftop¡ª¡± ¡°The rooftop?¡± Luo Qinghe¡¯s eyes were bloodshot as she shouted, ¡°Are you trying to tell me she grew wings and flew to the rooftop?¡± ¡°Not, not yet clear.¡± Infuriated, she exclaimed, ¡°You bunch of useless trash!¡± The guard lowered his head, too afraid to answer back. ¡°That errand runner,¡± she clenched her hand, nails digging into her palm, ¡°find out.¡± Whether she¡¯s a person or a ghost, she made me suffer, and I will make her pay back a thousand times. The next day, the temperature dropped sharply, the outside world freezing, likely to snow¡ªit was the kind of weather Jiang Zhi disliked the most. He slumped in the car seat, listless. Ah Wan drove slowly, meandering along the road. While waiting for a traffic light, he couldn¡¯t help but glance at his employer¡¯s complexion in the rearview mirror. The face was so pale ¨C he didn¡¯t look well, even though just last night, he had kicked over a large man. Ah Wan couldn¡¯t figure it out, so he stopped thinking about it, ¡°Boss, did you not sleep well last night?¡± Those drooping eyelids looked almost unable to stay open. Jiang Zhi was half-asleep, his eyelids didn¡¯t flicker. Ah Wan speculated again, ¡°Are you thinking about that scum?¡± Considering his pride, being played with by that wretch surely hurt his self-esteem, he comforted, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, one day Mr. Qiao will catch that womanly scum who teased you, and then you can do whatever you want with her.¡± Although his impression of the womanly scum wasn¡¯t bad, as he didn¡¯t think she was a bad person, he still couldn¡¯t forgive her lecherous intentions! Suddenly, in the rearview mirror, Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes snapped open, frost gathering within, ¡°She¡¯s not scum.¡± Ah Wan was startled, ¡°Huh?¡± Isn¡¯t she? If she¡¯s not scum, why would she grope and pinch the employer, she must be! Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t be bothered to respond to Ah Wan, his sleepiness gone, head aching slightly. He had not slept all night, his mind hazy, holding a can of milk, in a dazed state of mind. Ah Wan also noticed the can of milk, quite surprised, ¡°Oh, you still haven¡¯t drunk that milk.¡± Ah Wan laughed like a foolish, two-hundred-pounder, ¡°Boss, can¡¯t you bear to finish the milk Miss Zhou gave you?¡± It was just yesterday when she gave it to you during the screen pasting. Why did he recognize that can of milk? Because the boss was afraid of mixing it up, he bit a tooth mark on the can. Ah Wan thought the boss had already finished it. To think he still kept it, after the token chicken, there¡¯s now token milk. Jiang Zhi frowned displeasedly, ¡°Drive your car.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Chapter 42 - Chapter 42: 042: First Phone Call (Part 1) Chapter 42: 042: First Phone Call (Part 1) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Drive your car.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Ah Wan obediently shut her mouth, silent as a chicken. Jiang Zhi¡¯s phone rang. He didn¡¯t bother holding the phone, pressing the speaker button, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± It was Qiao Nanchu, ¡°A guy just came to the police station to surrender, saying he impersonated Z.¡± Jiang Zhi felt a bit more awake, ¡°He confessed to everything?¡± ¡°Yeah, the forensic department did an in-person evidence collection. He did commit those robberies and thefts.¡± He tapped his finger on the milk can in his hand, ¡°Who ordered him?¡± Committing a big frame-up and then turning oneself in, there had to be something fishy. This perpetrator was just a pawn, someone hired to take the fall while the mastermind remained hidden. Qiao Nanchu and Jiang Zhi thought alike, ¡°He refused to say, claimed he did it for money, and was afraid the police would trace it back to him, so he used the name of the professional errand runner Z. But I looked into his background, he used to work for the Luo Family.¡± Qiao Nanchu pondered, ¡°It should be because of Zhou Qingrang¡¯s matter, Luo Qinghe holds a grudge against Z.¡± Jiang Zhi pondered for a moment, ¡°Why did she stop then?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï That part was indeed suspicious. Luo Qinghe was vindictive and sinister, once she bit someone, she wouldn¡¯t let go easily, truly inherited from Mr. Luo, that old fox. Qiao Nanchu was in a good mood, chuckled, and said mischievously, ¡°Who knows, maybe she suffered a loss at Z¡¯s hands.¡± He dragged his tone suggestively, ¡°This Z is quite something.¡± At that moment, Jiang Zhi stayed silent. Qiao Nanchu teased him playfully, ¡°You¡¯ve dealt with her so many times, and besides the milk scent, you found nothing else?¡± Following that¡ª ¡°Beep beep beep beep beep beep¡­¡± Jiang Zhi hung up the phone. Qiao Nanchu rubbed his chin, chuckled quietly, something didn¡¯t seem right. At the film set, Jiang Zhi called Vice Director Zhao over, looked around, and asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Zhou Xufang?¡± First thing he did was ask about Miss Zhou. Vice Director Zhao couldn¡¯t help speculating, replying, ¡°She¡¯s not on set.¡± Jiang Zhi frowned, his peach blossom eyes filled with a smoky look, beautiful yet aggressive. ¡°Call her here.¡± It was a commanding tone. Vice Director Zhao felt a bit troubled, hesitated before speaking, ¡°But there¡¯s no scene with extras today¡­¡± Jiang Zhi squinted his eyes, his proud demeanor imposing, ¡°Can¡¯t you add one?¡± This Miss Zhou had an unusual relationship with the director. Vice Director Zhao was quick-witted, ¡°I¡¯ll add one right away.¡± Then, he took out his phone, about to contact the extras coordinator. Jiang Zhi stopped him, ¡°Forget it.¡± Vice Director Zhao was perplexed, ¡°Huh?¡± Why cancel now? So unpredictable. There, the director lounged on a recliner, resting with his eyes closed for a minute. He changed his posture several times, frowning, then relaxing, hesitating repeatedly, before finally taking out his phone, rubbing the keys for a long time before dialing. ¡°Hello.¡± The voice was perpetually cold. Jiang Zhi cleared his throat seriously, ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± This was Jiang Zhi¡¯s first time calling her, the number memorized from a takeout receipt, familiar by heart but never dialed before. Unaccountably, he felt a bit flustered. Zhou Xufang¡¯s tone was unwaveringly cold, ¡°Who is this?¡± ¡°¡­¡± She didn¡¯t save his number! She couldn¡¯t recognize his voice! Jiang Zhi gave a forceful cough, clearing his throat hoarse from a sleepless night, ¡°It¡¯s Jiang Zhi.¡± His tone was sharp, seventy percent angry, thirty percent reluctant. Upon hearing it was Jiang Zhi, Zhou Xufang remained silent for a few seconds, then greeted him, ¡°Hello, Jiang Zhi.¡± Chapter 43 - Chapter 43: 043: Hug Hug! (Part 2) Chapter 43: 043: Hug Hug! (Part 2) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Hello, Jiang Zhi.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± The formality made him want to hit someone. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Zhou Xufang asked him. Her voice had softened a lot, no longer as cold and indifferent as when she first answered the phone. Jiang Zhi felt better and softened his voice as well, ¡°There¡¯s an impromptu scene that needs extras.¡± She didn¡¯t even consider it, ¡°I¡¯m busy right now.¡± She rejected him! She actually rejected him! Jiang Zhi sat up from the recliner, the blanket on his legs slipping to the floor due to his abrupt movement. He coughed a few times, his cheeks flushed with a sickly red. This annoyed and anxious look made him even more beautiful, like a noble young master from an aristocratic family. But his eyes held a sharp coldness, ¡°Where are you?¡± Zhou Xufang answered truthfully, ¡°I¡¯m on Changdu Road.¡± She added, ¡°Doing a part-time job.¡± Busy making money again, he couldn¡¯t even see her shadow. Jiang Zhi scratched the can of milk he had been holding, ¡°Twenty thousand, will you come?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Money wasn¡¯t an issue for him. As expected, Zhou Xufang was particularly interested in making money, ¡°Can I come in two hours?¡± Her voice was light, and it was clear she was delighted. She was much more passionate about money than she was about him. Jiang Zhi scratched the can of milk forcefully, ¡°Come quickly!¡± His tone was fierce. Zhou Xufang replied, ¡°Okay.¡± Then Jiang Zhi hung up the phone. Zhou Xufang stared at the number for a few seconds, then saved it, started typing the name Jiang Zhi, but deleted it and changed it to ¡°The Most Beautiful Person in the World.¡± At that moment, the salon owner came over. In his thirties, he dressed stylishly and had his hair dyed Granny Smith green. He was Fang Lixiang¡¯s cousin, named Cheng Xin, and was also the chief stylist of the salon. Zhou Xufang glanced at the potion Cheng Xin was holding, hesitant, ¡°Can I not use this color?¡± Cheng Xin called her baby naturally and said with a smile, ¡°This color suits you best. Trust me, after dyeing it, you¡¯ll look absolutely stunning.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t really trust him, but since he offered a high price of five thousand¡­ for the money¡­ She said, ¡°Alright.¡± Two hours later, Zhou Xufang arrived at the set. Because it was windy, she wore a mask and a hat, only revealing a pair of pitch-black eyes¡ªlike a lone wolf in the desert. Fang Lixiang stared at her for over ten seconds, a look of shock in her eyes. ¡°Lixiang,¡± Zhou Xufang called her. Fang Lixiang jumped back, dramatically hugging herself, ¡°Who are you?¡± Zhou Xufang removed her mask and then her hat, ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± It was the same somewhat wooden and extremely cold face, just with a head of fluffy, casually curled hair¡­ Fang Lixiang couldn¡¯t resist touching it, ¡°Did my cousin dye this for you?¡± Zhou Xufang, uncomfortable, pressed down on the fluffy hair on her head, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°What¡¯s this color called?¡± ¡°Matte blue.¡± It was a cold, glamorous matte blue with a bit of Granny Smith gray, cut to ear length with some mid-curls at the ends, very casual, slightly messy, both cool and playful. Both decadent and beautiful. It was indeed Zhou Xufang. Fang Lixiang swallowed and couldn¡¯t dare to look anymore, scared she might bend. She called her cousin, ¡°Cousin, I also want to dye matte blue. I want the same hairstyle as Xu Fang.¡± On the other end, Cheng Xin bluntly knocked her down, ¡°Do you think everyone can pull it off? I¡¯ll dye yours green next time.¡± Fang Lixiang: ¡°¡­¡± Why did she still keep this cousin around? Break ties, it is. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Someone called softly, gasping slightly, accompanied by a cough. It was Jiang Zhi. No one knew when he had arrived or how long he had been standing in the crowd. When Zhou Xufang turned to look at him, he was looking at her too. She answered with a word. He glanced at her hair, ¡°Come with me.¡± Zhou Xufang followed Jiang Zhi to the lounge. He sent Ah Wan away, shut the door, and with the demeanor cultivated by generations of nobility, asked, ¡°Why did you dye your hair?¡± Zhou Xufang kept a safe distance from him, ¡°I¡¯m working as a hair model at the salon.¡± He stared at her hair for a long moment, then at her eyes, ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± She had a wooden expression, ¡°Yes.¡± He took a few steps closer to her, his gaze like a net, tightly wrapping around her, ¡°Can I hold you?¡± She thought for a long time and shook her head. No, she had secrets that needed to be tightly kept, so she always kept her distance from others, always hid in obscure places, always avoided eye contact, not letting anyone see her face. Jiang Zhi was already an exception. She seriously refused, ¡°No.¡± Jiang Zhi seemed to have anticipated this. He calmly took another step towards her, ¡°Since you don¡¯t agree, I can only use force.¡± He reached out and pulled her into his arms. Chapter 44 - Chapter 44: 044: Brother Zhi Who Loves the House and Its Crow (Part 1) Chapter 44: 044: Brother Zhi Who Loves the House and Its Crow (Part 1) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Since you don¡¯t agree, I¡¯ll have to use force.¡± He reached out and pulled her into his arms. Zhou Xu Fang reflexively raised her hand. ¡°Cough, cough, cough¡­¡± His chin rested on her shoulder, and all his coughing sounded in her ear. ¡°I¡¯m not in good health, go easy on me.¡± Her hand stiffened in midair and didn¡¯t come down. He looked pitiable, like the stray gray cat abandoned outside her building; it softened her heart. She barely dared to use any strength, just poking him with one finger. ¡°Let go.¡± She pushed very, very lightly. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t let go. He held her waist tightly and, knowing her strength, used all his might to keep her in his embrace. ¡°Don¡¯t move, just for a while.¡± It felt a bit warm. Zhou Xu Fang¡¯s body temperature was low; she hadn¡¯t felt so hot and flustered in years; her skin was heating up. She was very uncomfortable and pushed Jiang Zhi away forcefully with two fingers. She really only used twenty percent of her strength. Jiang Zhi staggered backward, nearly bumping into the coffee table. His chest tightened, followed by a fit of coughing. ¡°Cough, cough, cough¡­¡± He coughed so hard his eyes turned a bit red. He glared at her with his watery eyes. ¡°You didn¡¯t go easy!¡± He was extremely annoyed, blood rushing to his face, making it blush red. His moist eyes resembled those of a fierce but harmless cub, evoking pity from anyone who saw him. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï Like a cat. Zhou Xu Fang thought Jiang Zhi was just like a high-bred cat, elegant and lazy when calm, so beautiful one would want to give him all the cat food in the world. But once angry, he became dangerous, using hidden claws to slowly and unexpectedly scratch people, hitting their vulnerable spots. Zhou Xu Fang averted her eyes and didn¡¯t look at him. ¡°I was already being gentle.¡± If she had used her full strength, he would be broken by now. Jiang Zhi finally calmed down a bit, wheezing with his hand on his chest, frowning. ¡°When can you wash that hair dye out?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll wash it out tonight when I get back.¡± She used a temporary dye that would wash out after two washes. Jiang Zhi glanced thoughtfully at her arm. Compared to undressing her to check for wounds, holding her was easier. He decided to hold her again tomorrow. The hug earlier had been too short; he didn¡¯t smell the scent of milk, only the harsh smell of hair dye. Should he hug her again? His gaze turned a bit scorching. Zhou Xu Fang took a large step back, saw his face turn cold instantly, and feared he¡¯d get angry. She moved forward a little bit. ¡°Anything else?¡± She was acting as if to guard against a thief! Jiang Zhi ground his teeth. His naturally charming peach blossom eyes now radiated fierceness, like a beast about to prey. He didn¡¯t speak, so Zhou Xu Fang waited a while before saying, ¡°I¡¯m leaving, then.¡± After speaking, she tucked herself into her coat, stepping lightly as she turned. ¡°Zhou Xu Fang.¡± She turned back. Her misty blue short hair was a bit fluffy, and under her bangs, her eyes were particularly dark, like the clearest water in a deep winter well. Zhou Xu Fang¡¯s eyes were just the way he liked them the most, he didn¡¯t even know why he stopped her, so he casually asked, ¡°Where did you get your hair done?¡± ¡°Want to dye yours too?¡± Zhou Xu Fang gave him the exact address. ¡°At No. 43 Changdu Road, at Fang Lixiang¡¯s cousin¡¯s place.¡± She thought for a moment. ¡°The salon is called Fairy Descending.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°It would look even better on you,¡± she said very sincerely before leaving. Jiang Zhi sprawled onto the sofa, massaging his temples. This girl seemed to genuinely think he was good-looking, and didn¡¯t show any yearning for his beauty. The way she looked at him was the same as she looked at that multi-million-yuan vase in the prop room. Bang¡ª He kicked the trash can over. He must have been crazy, actually considering dyeing his hair. The can of milk she gave him was still hidden under the sofa pillow, pressing against his neck uncomfortably. He fished it out and played with it in his hand, touching the teeth marks on the can. What was the name of that shop again¡­ Fairy Descending. Chapter 45 - Chapter 45: 045: Rounding up is a date (part 2) Chapter 45: 045: Rounding up is a date (part 2) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Zhou Xufang returned home at almost eight o¡¯clock. It was a bit late, so she didn¡¯t go out to set up a stall to apply screen protectors. ¡°You dyed your hair,¡± Shuangjiang noticed as soon as she walked in the door. ¡°Mm.¡± ¡°It looks good.¡± Zhou Xufang awkwardly ran her fingers through her hair, ¡°I¡¯ll wash it out later.¡± Her profession was special, and she couldn¡¯t have any noticeable features when going on a task. If Jiang Zhi dyed his hair, it would definitely be beautiful, even more beautiful than the diamonds on a cotton candy box. At the bottom of the computer screen, a line of words scrolled by, ¡°We don¡¯t have to pay for that commission; they breached the contract first.¡± ¡°Did you find out who they were?¡± Zhou Xufang wiggled her pink bunny slippers, her mind wandering off to another place. If Jiang Zhi dyed his hair, it would definitely be especially beautiful¡­ Shuangjiang saw she was distracted and spoke with a synthetic voice instead of typing, ¡°I found out. The client¡¯s name is Jin Song. I sent his data to your email.¡± Zhou Xufang opened her email on another computer. ¡°The group that intervened in our task last night are also professional errand runners, quite famous in the industry. Their leader is a man named Brother Qin. They operate in a company model, with excellent logistics and confidentiality. I can¡¯t get their client information for now. I still don¡¯t know if their client is also this Jin guy.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï That errand runner company was called FOR. Founded less than six months ago, it quickly became famous in the industry. Unlike Zhou Xufang, FOR took on any commission as long as they were paid. Zhou Xufang had competed with them for business a few times and had some understanding. She asked Shuangjiang, ¡°Does this Jin Song have a grudge against Jiang Zhi?¡± ¡°They were supposed to collaborate on a movie, but it fell through for some unknown reason.¡± The synthetic voice stopped abruptly, and a line of bold capital letters rolled across the screen, ¡°Additionally, Jin Song likes men, especially good-looking men.¡± No wonder. Jiang Zhi was a handsome man, an extremely handsome man. Thinking of Jiang Zhi left Zhou Xufang feeling a bit deflated, ¡°Jiang Zhi already suspects me.¡± She didn¡¯t want to move. In the past, if she exposed herself, she would choose to run far away, but Jiang Zhi was so beautiful. If she moved away, she would never see his face again. The more she thought about it, the more she felt discouraged, her head drooping like a listless quail. Shuangjiang asked, ¡°Did you expose anything?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Zhou Xufang said. ¡°Jiang Zhi is very smart.¡± She had deliberately disguised her voice, didn¡¯t dare look him in the eye, yet he still found out. She continued to droop her head, her fog-blue dyed hair limp, looking like a defeated quail. Shuangjiang comforted her, ¡°Ah Fang, you¡¯re smart too.¡± Just too low in emotional intelligence. Zhou Xufang¡¯s eyelids drooped in contemplation, thinking about how to make Jiang Zhi stop suspecting her¡­ Ding. A WeChat message came in. She glanced at it. It was the boss lady of the porridge shop, asking if she could help deliver orders. The shop was too busy. It was gloomy outside; a heavy rain was coming. In this weather, traffic congestion would significantly lower the delivery efficiency of the couriers. Zhou Xufang replied to the boss lady, ¡°Okay.¡± After replying, she thought for a moment, then found Jiang Zhi¡¯s WeChat and sent him a smiley face. ¡°.¡± Jiang Zhi mimicked her and sent a period. She typed letter by letter, ¡°Are you hungry?¡± The other side showed ¡°typing,¡± showed for a long time, but Jiang Zhi¡¯s message didn¡¯t come through. Hm, she must have asked something too weird. Zhou Xufang organized her words and asked again, ¡°I¡¯m about to deliver food; are you hungry?¡± She put her phone on the table, using both hands to find the letters and type faster. She sent another message. ¡°You hired me as an extra. I should thank you.¡± After explaining, she asked again, ¡°Are you hungry?¡± This time, Jiang Zhi replied immediately, ¡°Hungry.¡± The corners of Zhou Xufang¡¯s mouth lifted slightly, not used to smiling, a bit stiff, but her eyes were full of joy, ¡°Then I¡¯ll buy you some porridge.¡± Was she asking him out? On the other end, Jiang Zhi¡¯s palms were sweaty, a bit slippery, nearly dropping his phone. He grabbed a jacket and stood up, ¡°Where are you? I¡¯ll come over.¡± ¡°It¡¯s raining heavily outside. I ordered delivery and will bring it to you.¡± She added, ¡°I asked Ah Wan for your address.¡± His steps paused. Delivery¡­ Couldn¡¯t she invite him to a place with better ambiance? Oh, she had no money¡­ Alright, delivery it is. He walked to the entryway, squatting down to change his shoes, ¡°No need to bring it over. I¡¯ll go to the porridge shop to find you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s cold outside, and your health isn¡¯t good; don¡¯t go out.¡± Quite obedient. Jiang Zhi took off his shoes, unable to suppress the smile at the corner of his mouth, ¡°Okay.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°Hurry up.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°I¡¯m hungry.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°.¡± Chapter 46 - Chapter 46: 046: Can I shower at your place? (Chapter 1) Chapter 46: 046: Can I shower at your place? (Chapter 1) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation A thunderclap echoed through the night. After a loud thunderclap, torrential rain came pouring down. Zhou Xufang hid the porridge she was carrying inside her coat and ran across the street, tugging at her hat. The sudden downpour urged pedestrians to scatter. The night was chilly and the rain wrapped everything in a misty haze. Through the thick veil of water vapor, Zhou Xufang saw a black umbrella. A figure stood under it, backlit, under a tree. The rain splashed up, wetting his white sneakers. Looking up, she saw a pair of beige casual pants, then a pair of long, slender hands holding the umbrella, the fingers delicate and very pale, save for the neatly trimmed nails which glowed with a hue of pink. Zhou Xufang recognized those hands. She ran a little faster: ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± The umbrella lifted slightly and she saw his face. The normally curved line of his lips straightened when he saw her, ¡°It¡¯s pouring rain, you don¡¯t know to use an umbrella?¡± Beneath the umbrella, the beautiful man looked at her with anger in his eyes, his brows furrowed. His rain-soaked eyes stared at her. Jiang Zhi even looked good when he was angry. Zhou Xufang wiped the rain from her face, ¡°It wasn¡¯t raining when I left.¡± Wearing a stern expression, he stepped out from under the tree, seemingly wanting to grab her arm but hesitating. Instead, he reached up and grabbed the drawstring of her hoodie, pulling her under the umbrella, ¡°You¡¯re completely soaked.¡± He pushed the umbrella slightly toward her, ¡°Are you cold?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?0 Zhou Xufang looked down at Jiang Zhi¡¯s sneakers, now mud-stained. Fang Lixiang had said Jiang Zhi came from a wealthy family, he was delicate and insisted on formality. She stepped onto the clean flagstones nearby, replying, ¡°Cold.¡± Jiang Zhi followed her, moving from the muddy grass to the clean flagstones. His umbrella was large, but the little girl standing under it was far off to the side, trying to make herself small. She was soaked, her wet eyes avoiding his gaze. Whether it was from washing or the rain, the dye in her hair from earlier that day had faded, and her wet hair clung to her head like a quail caught in the rain. ¡°Take it.¡± He shoved the umbrella into her hand, bent over to match her height, and took off his coat, draping it over her shoulders. The series of actions was swift and not particularly gentle, even somewhat clumsy. His expression was hardly friendly, resembling some pampered and delicate creature that needed constant comforting. Zhou Xufang stood there holding the umbrella, since she was significantly shorter, she had to stand on tiptoe to hold it over his head, shielding him from the wind and rain. Her other hand held the porridge hidden in her coat. She was cold all over, except for the warmth in her left chest where the porridge was. She looked up, raindrops falling from her eyelashes. She said, ¡°I¡¯m still very cold.¡± For once, she was so obedient and gentle. Jiang Zhi hesitated, wondering if he should warm her hands. But she asked him, ¡°Can I use your place to take a shower?¡± Her voice was low and cautious, her face upturned, eyes like black gemstones full of hope, looking at him with anticipation. Jiang Zhi was momentarily taken aback by her gaze, swallowing a huge gulp of cold air, which chilled him down to his throat. ¡°Cough cough cough cough cough¡­¡± Damn it. He bent over, coughing so hard that his peach blossom eyes were filled with bloodshot lines. Zhou Xufang, seeing him this weak, hurried to take off the coat to return it to him. The movement caused the umbrella to tilt, letting a large amount of rain pour onto her head. His hands, now wet and red from the cold, steadied the umbrella, pulling her and the coat closer, ¡°Wear it properly.¡± Take a shower? Who taught her this, she must have picked up some bad habits, what if she dared to be this reckless with someone else¡­ Jiang Zhi choked with anger, coughed a couple of times, still feeling unwell, but slowly tilted the umbrella more toward her. The rain quickly soaked his sweater, which was black, making his face look especially pale. Zhou Xufang worried that he might faint from the wind, so she stopped dawdling, ¡°If not, I¡¯ll leave.¡± She took the porridge from her coat and hung it on the umbrella handle, ¡°Eat the porridge while it¡¯s hot.¡± After reminding him, she moved to step out from under the umbrella. Jiang Zhi grabbed her hood, not letting her leave, ¡°I didn¡¯t say you couldn¡¯t.¡± He pulled her back under the umbrella, ¡°Move closer, you¡¯re getting soaked.¡± His tone indicated a bit of anger. Chapter 47 - Chapter 47: 047: You Wear Mine (Second Update) Chapter 47: 047: You Wear Mine (Second Update) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation The tone was a bit angry. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t know why he was upset. She stood still obediently and poked the umbrella towards him with a finger: ¡°I¡¯m already wet, it doesn¡¯t matter. You¡¯re delicate, you can¡¯t get wet.¡± Jiang Zhi snorted and stubbornly tilted the umbrella towards her. Under the streetlight, Zhou Xufang looked at him. The rain battered down, leaving his hair flat, without his usual defiant air, he looked more youthful. She felt he looked even more fragile and threw his wool coat over his head before running into the rain, leaving the umbrella with him. She didn¡¯t go far, just a short distance ahead. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± From the gate of the villa area to Jiang Zhi¡¯s house was just a few steps, but the rain was heavy. Zhou Xufang was drenched. She wore black canvas shoes today. With the heavy rain, the soles of her shoes were all muddy. She stared at the doormat at the entrance for a long time but didn¡¯t follow Jiang Zhi inside. ¡°Why not come in?¡± Jiang Zhi squatted, looking for shoes. Zhou Xufang stood at the door: ¡°I¡¯m all wet. I¡¯ll dirty your carpet.¡± The carpet in his house looked very expensive. He rummaged through the cabinet at the entrance for a long time and found a pair of small-sized men¡¯s slippers. Squatting in front of her, he put the shoes by her feet: ¡°No girls¡¯ shoes, you wear these.¡± Then he urged, ¡°Come in quickly, let the carpet get dirty, otherwise why have it.¡± Zhou Xufang thought that made sense. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï She changed into the slippers and walked on the carpet. This wasn¡¯t her first time at Jiang Zhi¡¯s house. The last time it was dark and windy, so she didn¡¯t see much, just the light purple glass chandelier she had broken. Today, it had been replaced with a new one. Tall and crystal-like, it resembled a wind chime and was very beautiful. Zhou Xufang thought it was more delicate than the chandelier she had been eyeing at the porridge shop. She couldn¡¯t help but look at it several times before asking Jiang Zhi: ¡°Where¡¯s the bathroom?¡± She was drenched, chilled. She was fine, not afraid of the cold, but Jiang Zhi was delicate and couldn¡¯t absorb the dampness from her. However, in the cold weather, he seemed a bit feverish and tugged at his sweater collar. ¡°The bathroom is on your left.¡± He was half wet but didn¡¯t care, roughly wiping his hair, ¡°I¡¯ll get you some clothes.¡± ¡°You change first, then get me clothes.¡± He was so delicate, unlike her, who was strong enough to kill a bull with her bare hands. Jiang Zhi poured a cup of hot water and stuffed it into her hands before heading to the closet. Zhou Xufang held the water quietly in the living room, not moving an inch. There was a small puddle of water where she stood. Taking a sip of the hot water, she couldn¡¯t help but look up at the chandelier again. So beautiful. She really wanted to steal it and bring it home¡­ ¡°I don¡¯t have girls¡¯ clothes here.¡± Jiang Zhi quickly returned, still in his wet clothes. Just now his face was just red, but now his neck and ears were also red. He clutched two pieces of loungewear, both white, and handed them to Zhou Xufang, ¡°You wear mine.¡± His neck got even redder. It was unclear whether he had a fever. Zhou Xufang quickly took them: ¡°I¡¯m going to take a shower. You should change clothes quickly.¡± He turned his head aside, looking elsewhere, and muttered, ¡°Mm.¡± Zhou Xufang walked towards the bathroom with the clothes, turned back halfway, and couldn¡¯t help saying: ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± He immediately turned his head toward her: ¡°Mm?¡± ¡°Where did you buy your chandelier? I want to buy one just like it.¡± He glanced at the ceiling. How much was this chandelier again? Oh, about two million. Without batting an eye, he calmly said: ¡°There¡¯s none left. This was the last one.¡± Zhou Xufang showed a disappointed look. She really liked pretty things and wanted to secretly stow them away and bring them to Moon Bay someday, but unfortunately, this chandelier was unavailable. She dropped her head and headed to the bathroom. Jiang Zhi called her back. She turned around: ¡°What do you want?¡± His eyes still had a circle of redness, unlike his usual noble and distant demeanor when dealing with others. His eyes were very warm and bright, reflecting fragmented pieces of chandelier light. He said: ¡°I¡¯ll have someone dismantle this one for you to take.¡± This chandelier, if she bought it, would require her to deliver takeout for decades. Hearing this, Zhou Xufang immediately lit up. Her eyes grew rounder: ¡°Then what should I give you?¡± She said, ¡°There should be an exchange of gifts.¡± She never took things for free. Should she give him a car? Boys seem to like cars. A watch would work too. She could give him a diamond-studded watch, a particularly beautiful one. But Jiang Zhi said: ¡°Native chicken eggs will do.¡± ¡°Mm?¡± ¡°I like eating eggs. Just give native chicken eggs.¡± These are cheap. Chapter 48 - Chapter 48: 048: Jiang Zhi Hides Xu Fang in a Gilded Cage (Part 1) Chapter 48: 048: Jiang Zhi Hides Xu Fang in a Gilded Cage (Part 1) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°I like eating eggs, so you can give me organic eggs.¡± That¡¯s cheap. Zhou Xufang agreed, ¡°Okay.¡± Then she could just give him a truckload of eggs, or send them for a year. She looked up at the chandelier above her head again, feeling very satisfied, wanting to hum the theme song of her favorite TV show. But this was Jiang Zhi¡¯s house, so she held back and said to Jiang Zhi, ¡°You should go change your clothes and then drink your porridge; otherwise, it will get cold.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± He raised the corner of his mouth, and then flattened it again, urging with a stern face, ¡°Are you going to dawdle until dawn?¡± Not cold?! She hurried to the bathroom. Jiang Zhi went to the dressing room and put on a pullover sweatshirt he rarely wore. The porridge was warm. He drank a few sips; it was too fresh, with too much shrimp meat. He got up to pour a glass of cold water and drank half of it in one gulp. He also turned off the heating, but it was still hot, his mouth dry and parched. Maybe the cold wind caused it; his head was vaguely aching too. He thought he needed to find a reliable psychologist to examine his brain. Otherwise, how could giving away a lamp not be enough? He even wanted to throw her a bank card when he saw her eyes glued to that lamp, letting her buy ten or so just to play with. Was he sick? Leading her into the house without reason was one thing, but wanting to pack up all his belongings for her to take away was another. Could it be that this girl really turned him straight? Becoming like that silly, sweet Xue Bingxue who craved for Jiang Wei¡¯er to carve out her heart. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?0 Jiang Zhi unconsciously pressed his chest. If Zhou Xufang asked for his heart, would he dig it out? Damn it! He was sick, thinking about such issues. He gulped down the remaining half glass of cold water and felt somewhat less hot. He poured another glass of water and tapped his fingers on the dining table in thought before dialing Jiang Wei¡¯er¡¯s number. ¡°At this hour, why aren¡¯t you asleep yet?¡± It was noisy on Jiang Wei¡¯er¡¯s end, not sure which high-spirited venue she was at. Jiang Zhi stated his purpose directly, ¡°Get me a set of clothes over here.¡± After a brief pause, he added, ¡°For a girl.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er took several seconds to react, realizing the situation, ¡°Brother Zhi, something¡¯s up, huh.¡± Her words were full of teasing. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t bother with nonsense, ¡°Don¡¯t ask too much.¡± Fine, Jiang Wei¡¯er wouldn¡¯t ask, ¡°At least tell me the size.¡± ¡°170, slender.¡± He answered so quickly that it caught Jiang Wei¡¯er off guard, ¡°Where should I send the clothes?¡± ¡°My house.¡± Who could it be that managed to capture Jiang Zhi¡¯s interest, bending his years of resistance and already gaining house entry so quickly. Jiang Wei¡¯er was extremely curious, teasing obliquely, ¡°I thought you were impotent. Not bad, Brother Zhi, finally coming to life.¡± Jiang Zhi abruptly hung up and downed a glass of cold water. Damn, it was hot. On her end, Jiang Wei¡¯er listened to the busy tone on the phone and laughed silently. Without further delay, she grabbed her coat and stood up, ¡°You guys play, I¡¯m leaving.¡± Xue Baoyi, sitting beside a ¡®graceful¡¯ figure, was playing cards with a group of familiar wealthy young men, blowing smoke rings, ¡°Isn¡¯t Xiao Linsu filming in another province? It¡¯s early, why are you leaving?¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er went straight over and stubbed out his cigarette, ¡°Brother Zhi has a situation; I need to go there.¡± Xue Baoyi¡¯s hand trembled from the cigarette ash burning him, making him play a good card mistakenly, ¡°What situation?¡± She was succinct, ¡°Hidden Beauty.¡± Hidden Beauty? Jiang Zhi?! Xue Baoyi instantly lost interest in the card game, ¡°Damn, take me along.¡± He pushed away the ¡®graceful¡¯ figure beside him, ¡°You go back by yourself, Mr. has to catch a cheater.¡± Zhou Xufang took a quick shower, just ten minutes, and the sound of water stopped in the bathroom. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± She called from inside. Jiang Zhi spilled two drops of the water from his cup, unconsciously licking his lips, ¡°What is it?¡± Zhou Xufang said, ¡°The clothes fell to the floor and got wet.¡± Her tone was very calm, without a hint of ulterior motive, but in Jiang Zhi¡¯s ears, it was like a claw, scratching and itching his heart. He swallowed a big gulp of cold water, his Adam¡¯s apple rolling, ¡°Wait a minute.¡± This girl was probably here just to torment him. He pulled at the collar of his sweatshirt, exhaled deeply, got up, and went to the cloakroom for two more pieces of clothing. He then sidled to the bathroom door and knocked. The door opened a crack, and a tender, white hand reached out. She called him, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Clearly having never seen the sun, her skin was excessively white, showing no guard against him, audaciously exposing half her shoulder. Look away, Jiang Family¡¯s upbringing had always been strict, but at that moment, he forgot all about being a gentleman, his eyes traveling up from her fingertips, then stopping. Her hand hovered in midair for a long time, and she didn¡¯t get the clothes. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± She called again. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t respond. She waved her hand, ¡°Give me the clothes.¡± He was still staring at her outstretched hand, even subconsciously leaning his body forward, scrutinizing her arm. Porcelain white, translucent, with not a single scar. Just one day, how could there be no wounds? It wasn¡¯t her? The voice, eyes, body shape, even the strength were so alike. Then how to explain this? Coincidence? He furrowed his brows, standing in the doorway for a long time, completely puzzled. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Chapter 49 - Chapter 49: 049: Will you drink my milk or not (second update) Chapter 49: 049: Will you drink my milk or not (second update) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Zhou Xufang called him for the third time from inside. Unlike before, her tone had a hint of urgency, and her hand movements became larger, with her collarbone faintly showing. Jiang Zhi snapped back to attention and massaged his temples. It was good that it wasn¡¯t her. He didn¡¯t want her walking on the edge of a knife, living a life stained with blood. He placed the clothes in her hand and grew irritated. ¡°Do you act like this at other people¡¯s houses too?¡± Zhou Xufang took the clothes, pulled her hand back, and closed the door. ¡°I¡¯ve never been to anyone else¡¯s house.¡± Not once. Jiang Zhi¡¯s furrowed brows relaxed at her words. In the steam-filled bathroom, Zhou Xufang reached out to wipe the fog off the mirror. Her reflection became clear, and she looked down at her arm, rubbing it gently with her fingers. Her self-healing seemed to be faster than before. Outside the bathroom, Jiang Zhi¡¯s coughing could be heard occasionally. He had caught a chill. Was his illness getting worse? Lost in thought, her phone rang with an email from Shuangjiang. ¡°Is it done?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?0 Zhou Xufang looked at Jiang Zhi¡¯s clothes and drifted off for a moment before replying, ¡°I don¡¯t have any wounds on my hands. He should be free of suspicion by now.¡± Luckily, it had rained heavily, giving her an excuse to come to Jiang Zhi¡¯s house. She didn¡¯t really like manipulating people and even more so didn¡¯t want to manipulate Jiang Zhi. But she had no choice. She couldn¡¯t expose her identity; at least not before going to Moon Bay. She had to remain unnoticed. ¡°Ah Fang, do you really have to live on Moon Bay?¡± Shuangjiang asked for the first time, with a hint of reluctance. ¡°Yes.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s response was absolute. She had to go. She wasn¡¯t suited for living in a community; she had to live alone. Shuangjiang¡¯s reply came after a long time. ¡°Can¡¯t you not go? You¡¯ll be very lonely on the island by yourself.¡± Can¡¯t you not go? Three years ago, Zhou Xufang had asked herself the same question until her then-neighbor found out about her. She didn¡¯t even have time to explain, and that neighbor, who usually shared half of everything they cooked with her, fainted. After that, she moved away, bought a building to live in alone, and never wanted neighbors again. She never asked herself whether she should go to Moon Bay anymore. ¡°I¡¯m scared,¡± Zhou Xufang said. Shuangjiang asked what she was afraid of. ¡°Afraid that one day, someone will discover my secret and burn me to death.¡± The year she escaped from the lab to Da Mai Mountain, by chance, she saved a couple. At first, they treated her well, but later, they saw her eyes, saw her running, saw her rapidly healing wounds, and then they called her a demon. Many people said the same, and they threw rocks, sticks, and shovels at her and tried to burn her. She was very afraid, afraid of those people, afraid of this cannibalistic world. Jiang Zhi brought her a sweatshirt and a pair of sweatpants. The clothes were too big for her, the pants rolled up three times, highly ill-fitting. From the moment she stepped out, Jiang Zhi had been examining her. Lying on the sofa, his face was pale and sickly, his expression lethargic, but his eyes were lively, like stars in a painting, nonchalantly attracting attention. Feeling uneasy, she pulled the hood of the sweatshirt over her head to hide her face. Jiang Zhi, however, walked over and pulled her hood off. His lips were very red, making his pale complexion stand out even more. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± He took off the dry towel hanging around her neck and placed it on her head, then awkwardly turned away. ¡°Dry your hair.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± She covered her head with the towel and rubbed her hair in all directions. After washing it twice, the misty blue color had faded significantly. Jiang Zhi glanced at her multiple times before looking away, the tips of his ears slightly red. He looked somewhere else and asked, ¡°Do you want milk?¡± She poked her head out of the towel. ¡°Yes.¡± He got two cans of milk and went to the kitchen to heat it. She followed behind, shaking the overly long sleeves. ¡°I can drink it cold.¡± Jiang Zhi had already poured the canned milk into a cup and put it in the microwave. ¡°It¡¯s too cold, don¡¯t drink it cold.¡± She felt even more guilty, feeling she was too bad. Jiang Zhi treated her so kindly, yet she still tricked him. However, when she glanced at the microwave, then looked up at Jiang Zhi, she said, ¡°You didn¡¯t press the heat button.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Press the button? How was he supposed to know? This house¡¯s interior was designed by Xue Baoyi, and it was Xue Baoyi who had unnecessarily added the kitchen appliances. Since moving in, he¡¯d never been in the kitchen. Where was the heat button? Jiang Zhi stared at the microwave, frowning as he studied it. A finger reached over¡ª Ding! Zhou Xufang pressed the heat button. ¡°There, it¡¯s done.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Xue Baoyi, that idiot, what kind of junk did he buy? He coughed twice. ¡°Can you cook?¡± ¡°No,¡± Zhou Xufang habitually hid her head under the hoodie, revealing only her eyes with a serious expression. ¡°But I can use a microwave. I learned when I worked part-time at a porridge shop.¡± Chapter 50 - Chapter 50: 050: Bring a ton of sugar (first update) Chapter 50: 050: Bring a ton of sugar (first update) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°But I know how to use a microwave. I learned while helping at the porridge shop.¡± Jiang Zhi, who didn¡¯t know how to use a microwave, responded with, ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I can teach you.¡± Zhou Xu Fang¡¯s expression was extremely serious. ¡°¡­¡± Jiang Zhi had no interest in learning how to use a microwave. He lazily said, ¡°Hmm, go ahead and teach.¡± Then, Zhou Xu Fang explained the microwave¡¯s button steps and various common heating times to Jiang Zhi in detail. At the end, she turned to him and asked, ¡°Did you learn it?¡± Her eyelashes were very curled. The light shone down from above, casting shadows. When she blinked, the shadows fluttered with her eyelashes, and Jiang Zhi suddenly felt an impulse to reach out and touch them. ¡°Did you learn it?¡± she patiently asked again. Learn what? He had been too focused on looking at her. Who knows what she had said? Jiang Zhi shifted his gaze away. ¡°Yes.¡± Just then, the milk finished heating. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Zhou Xu Fang washed two cups and poured the heated milk into them, one for herself and one for Jiang Zhi. ¡°I¡¯ll help you carry it over.¡± Then she used her sweatshirt sleeves to wrap around her hands, holding the two cups of milk as she skillfully walked to the living room. Jiang Zhi followed behind her. She was wearing his sweatshirt, the same style as the one he wore himself. It truly looked pleasing. Zhou Xu Fang turned to see the faint smile on his lips. He didn¡¯t smile often. Normally, he always looked half-asleep, lazy and indifferent, exuding an aloof elegance that was somewhat detached from the human world. He looked better when he smiled. Zhou Xu Fang thought of a saying, ¡°Beauty can be captivating to the point of causing trouble.¡± She thought, if Jiang Zhi had been born in the old times, he would definitely have been taken to the palace to serve, a beauty that brings disaster. Such looks wouldn¡¯t be fit for an ordinary family. Jiang Zhi pressed his lips together, and the smile disappeared from his eyes, returning to his usual handsome and defiant look. Zhou Xu Fang chose the seat at the farthest edge of the sofa, sipping milk in small sips. Jiang Zhi sat across from her without speaking. She couldn¡¯t openly admire his rare good looks, so she shifted her gaze and attention elsewhere. Then she noticed something surprising: ¡°You also have cotton candy at home?¡± On the third shelf of the built-in wall cabinet across from them, there was a small square glass box filled with colorful cotton candy. She rarely showed such a large emotional reaction. Jiang Zhi glanced at her eyebrows and softly responded, ¡°Mm.¡± ¡°I also like to eat cotton candy.¡± All her joy and excitement were written on her face. The bleak loneliness in her eyes was replaced with brightness. How much did she like that box of cotton candy? Jiang Zhi walked to the wooden cabinet, took down the box of cotton candy, and placed it on the coffee table. ¡°Have some.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Her eyes turned into crescent moons, taking the box in her hands and touching the inlaid rhinestones on top. ¡°Your cotton candy box is prettier than mine.¡± She also wanted to buy one, but Jiang Zhi¡¯s was too exquisite. It must have been custom-made. Never mind. She had already taken his chandelier; she couldn¡¯t possibly covet his cotton candy box as well. So, she didn¡¯t ask him where it was custom-made, just quietly sat on the sofa and ate the candy. Jiang Zhi silently watched her. That year at the Luo Family¡¯s, the emaciated boy had also sat like this, by the small pond, swinging his legs, smiling as he stuffed cotton candy into his mouth one by one. Like her, he also picked the pink ones first. ¡°Have you never eaten it before?¡± Jiang Zhi had been at a rebellious age then. The boy nodded. He was so thin he was out of form, his face dirty, chewing the candy with his cheeks puffed out, a plump orange cat lying at his feet, stretching lazily and rubbing against his darkened hand. ¡°Then wait here for me tomorrow. I¡¯ll bring you cotton candy.¡± The boy gave him a small smile, and the cat meowed a couple of times too. But the next day, he didn¡¯t see the boy. A huge fire had burned the Luo Family¡¯s flower shed to ashes. Others told him the adopted son¡¯s ashes were in that pile of debris. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Zhou Xu Fang called out, looking up with three pieces of candy in her mouth, her cheeks slightly puffed out. ¡°This candy seems to have been discontinued. Where did you buy it?¡± It was her favorite brand. She hadn¡¯t had it in a long time. Jiang Zhi¡¯s thoughts were pulled back by her excited voice. ¡°I bought their factory.¡± Zhou Xu Fang hesitated for a while, then asked him, ¡°Can you give me some?¡± she sincerely requested, ¡°I can pay.¡± It was clear she really liked this candy. After all, she was still just a young girl who liked sweet and pretty things. ¡°You can come to my place to buy it in the future.¡± Jiang Zhi considered himself not someone who liked to share. In his understanding, what he liked, he must have all to himself. No one else was allowed to covet it. She was different, breaking his rules time and time again. She looked genuinely happy, with candy in her mouth and sweetness in her eyes, sincerely praising him, ¡°You are really a good person.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± A good person? To buy that cotton candy factory, he had bankrupted its owner. The doorbell suddenly rang, and Jiang Zhi got up to open the door. Xue Baoyi stood at the door, wearing a flamboyant red coat, smiling charmingly, his manner exaggerated and dramatic, ¡°Brother Zhi¡«¡± Chapter 51 - Chapter 51: 051: Should I take it? Free shipping (second update) Chapter 51: 051: Should I take it? Free shipping (second update) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°` ¡°Brother Zhi~¡± Jiang Zhi directly cast his gaze past him, ¡°Where are the clothes?¡± Wei¡¯er used one finger to hook the handle of the shopping bag and shook it, ¡°Here.¡± Jiang Zhi took the bag, then turned around and slammed the door shut without the slightest pause. The two people outside the door, ¡°¡­¡± Inside the room, Zhou Xufang had already finished eating a whole box of marshmallows, ¡°Who came?¡± Jiang Zhi said, ¡°The one delivering the clothes.¡± She glanced at the bag with the clothes, reluctantly touching the marshmallow box, then stood up, ¡°It¡¯s late, I should go home.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take you.¡± His ears blushed with a thin layer of red again. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t even consider it before refusing, ¡°No need, it¡¯s very cold outside, you¡¯ll catch a cold if you go out.¡± ¡°I said I¡¯ll take you.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï His tone hardened, becoming almost unreasonable. His face pale, his eyes slightly reddened, a frail air exuding from his very bones, reducing much of his aggression. Zhou Xufang still considered his health and put down the marshmallow box, ¡°I¡¯ll go back myself.¡± So disobedient! Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes were dark and murky, his lips pressed into a stiff line, staring at her as he heavily tossed the bag of clothes onto the sofa next to her. ¡°Change clothes before you leave,¡± his tone was indeed unpleasant. Had she made him angry? Zhou Xufang hesitated for a moment, then took the clothes to the bathroom to change. Wei¡¯er had chosen warm-colored girly clothes, a white knitted dress paired with a pink coat. Pink was Zhou Xufang¡¯s favorite color. She touched the sleeves, thinking if she ever stopped being a professional errand runner, she would buy a house full of pink clothes. ¡°Do you like it?¡± Jiang Zhi asked with a bemused smile. The inexplicable anger in his heart dissipated upon seeing her satisfied little gestures. Such emotional ups and downs were truly unlike him. Zhou Xufang touched the collar again and honestly nodded, ¡°Yes, I like pink.¡± She liked milk, she liked marshmallows, and she liked pink. Clearly a little girl at heart, though she always seemed so aloof and mature. Since she liked it¡­ He fetched a large bag of marshmallows from the cupboard, picked out all the pink-packaged ones, filled a bag, and placed it by Zhou Xufang¡¯s feet, ¡°Take this with you to eat. When you finish it, ask me for more.¡± A small smile curved at the corner of his mouth. ¡°Okay.¡± Zhou Xufang was very happy and immediately transferred ten thousand yuan to him on her phone. Jiang Zhi, ¡°¡­¡± She didn¡¯t find it easy to make money either, hadn¡¯t she learned to be more frugal? He didn¡¯t accept her transferred money, sat down on the sofa, crossed his arms, and avoided looking at her, ¡°Take the umbrella.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Zhou Xufang lifted the bag of marshmallows, walked to the entrance, and waved her hand, ¡°Goodbye, Jiang Zhi.¡± Jiang Zhi sat there motionless. Click. As soon as the door opened, Jiang Zhi stood up and followed her to the entrance. Outside, Zhou Xufang just stepped out and saw Wei¡¯er, she was quite surprised. Wei¡¯er was Fang Lixiang¡¯s assistant and had met Zhou Xufang several times. She had a good impression of Zhou Xufang and greeted her with a smile, ¡°I am Jiang Zhi¡¯s aunt.¡± Wei¡¯er¡¯s identity was not disclosed within the circle, and Zhou Xufang wasn¡¯t very curious. She just nodded back without asking anything. Xue Baoyi, standing by, was a lively character, carelessly casual, ¡°Do you remember me?¡± Zhou Xufang wasn¡¯t very good at socializing and just wanted to hide her face in a hat. Unfortunately, the pink coat didn¡¯t have a hood, so she lowered her head, avoiding Xue Baoyi¡¯s gaze. ¡°I¡¯ve put a screen protector on your phone,¡± she said. She had also seen Xue Baoyi¡¯s photos on Weibo, with a certain female celebrity. Fang Lixiang had said he was a scumbag. Xue ¡°Scumbag¡± Baoyi was very familiar, grinning roguishly, ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Jiang Zhi¡¯s childhood friend¡ª¡± ¡°What are you two doing blocking the door?¡± Interrupted, Xue Baoyi, ¡°¡­¡± Jiang Zhi stood leaning against the entrance cabinet, the black hoodie highlighting his pallor, a cold glare in his eyes, ¡°If you¡¯re not coming in, then get lost.¡± Xue Baoyi rolled his eyes. He wasn¡¯t stupid; he could tell Jiang Zhi¡¯s protective stance. ¡°It¡¯s not raining outside, you should head back early,¡± his gaze bypassed Xue Baoyi and landed on Zhou Xufang outside the door. His tone wasn¡¯t exactly gentle, but it was light, speaking slowly. Zhou Xufang agreed, carrying the marshmallows and wet clothes as she left. Xue Baoyi watched her go, then turned back inside, ¡°Brother Zhi, you¡ª¡± ¡°Who told you to step on my carpet? Get off, it¡¯s filthy.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s tone was laced with disdain. Dragging his weak body, he fetched two disposable shoe covers and a dry towel. Despite his sickly face, there was a fierce expression, ¡°Wipe off the water before coming in.¡± Xue Baoyi, ¡°¡­¡± There were water stains on the carpet, clearly already stepped on by someone; it didn¡¯t take much to figure out who. Such blatant favoritism brought a pang of hurt. Xue Baoyi felt a chill in his heart, gazing longingly at Jiang Zhi, ¡°Brother Zhi, don¡¯t you remember? Your Baoyi brother from the lakeside of Daming Lake.¡± Jiang Zhi gave him a glance, ¡°Idiot.¡± Xue Baoyi, full of dramatic flair but unable to continue, ¡°¡­¡± Such a brother, it¡¯s time to cut ties. Chapter 52 - Chapter 52: 052: Oh, its unrequited love (First Update) Chapter 52: 052: Oh, it¡¯s unrequited love (First Update) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Brother Zhi,¡± Wei¡¯er didn¡¯t join in the banter and asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s rain-soaked hair hadn¡¯t dried yet, and he was listless at the moment, lying on the sofa with his peach blossom eyes looking all wilted. ¡°What do you mean, what¡¯s going on?¡± Wei¡¯er asked meaningfully, ¡°Zhou Xufang, of course.¡± Jiang Zhi turned his back, ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± He ignored everyone else, reached for his phone, and dialed Ah Wan, ¡°Have a few people come over tomorrow and take down the chandelier in the living room.¡± Ah Wan was quite surprised. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with the light? Are you not satisfied with it?¡± Jiang Zhi frowned unhappily, ¡°Stop asking so many questions, just take it down if I tell you to.¡± Ah Wan, ¡°Oh.¡± The call hadn¡¯t ended yet when there was an abrupt sound. Jiang Zhi lazily glanced over and then suddenly sat up, ¡°Where did you get that can of milk from?¡± Xue Baoyi had the milk can ring hooked on his pinky finger, ¡°From the sofa.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï Jiang Zhi sat up, ¡°Xue Baoyi.¡± Xue Baoyi¡¯s eyelid twitched, ¡°Hmm?¡± Calling out his full name! Usually, whenever this ancestor called out someone¡¯s full name, it meant no good. Xue Baoyi was startled and was just about to take a sip of milk to calm his nerves when Jiang Zhi kicked over. His breathing was heavy, and his eyes were red with rage. ¡°You damn well better not drink that!¡± Xue Baoyi, ¡°¡­¡± While he was still in a daze, Jiang Zhi had already snatched the milk away, his peach blossom eyes filled with ferocity, mixed with an extremely complex range of emotions, including regret and anger. Xue Baoyi was bewildered by him, unsure of how he had provoked this little beauty. No worries, Mr. was generous and wealthy, ¡°It¡¯s just a can of milk, next time, Mr. will buy you a truckload, no, a houseful!¡± Mr. had money and knew how to care for people. Jiang Zhi, unable to bear it any longer, was so infuriated that his anger surged, causing him to cough heavily with a pale face. ¡°Get, him, out, of, here.¡± He enunciated each word clearly, directing them at Wei¡¯er. Xue Baoyi was heartbroken by his coldness and shouted in pain, ¡°Am I really worth less than a can of milk?!¡± He turned and strode off to show his resolve, ¡°Brother Zhi, I¡¯m cutting ties with you!¡± ¡°Bang!¡± Jiang Zhi slammed the door shut. Xue Baoyi, ¡°¡­¡± Wei¡¯er glanced at Xue Baoyi like he was an idiot and left. Inside, Jiang Zhi leaned against the door, coughing for a long time. The phone was still on speaker, and Ah Wan had heard everything clearly. When the coughing finally stopped, he hesitantly asked, ¡°Boss, did Mr. open the can with the teeth marks on it?¡± ¡°Beep¡­ beep¡­ beep¡­¡± Jiang Zhi had hung up. Ah Wan suddenly understood everything. In the cold winter, Jiang Zhi had been caught in the rain earlier, inhaling some of the chill, which now made him dizzy and groggy. His lungs ached from coughing so much. He got up to find some medicine, swallowed them with warm water, and feeling too weak to move, he lay back down on the sofa, panting, his head aching fiercely. He lay there feebly, looking at the milk can with the opened ring that Xue Baoyi had taken, then got up and dialed a number. In the silent night, past nine, Doctor Qiu¡¯s voice trembled, ¡°Mr. Jiang?¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s lazy voice echoed through the phone, colder because of the late hour, ¡°I let her come over to my house.¡± Doctor Qiu, ¡°Uh¡­¡± Jiang Zhi continued to speak slowly, one sentence at a time. ¡°I let her use my bathroom, my shower gel.¡± He paused, sighing as if baffled, elongating his tone, ¡°And my clothes too.¡± Doctor Qiu, ¡°Uh¡­¡± Jiang Zhi held the opened milk can, examining it closely, muttering as if to himself, ¡°I even gave her a two-million-dollar chandelier.¡± He then held the empty glass candy jar, rubbing it in his hand. ¡°Nobody can touch my candy, but she can.¡± ¡°Cough, cough, cough¡­¡± The coughing came in waves, his eyes slightly red, looking sickly and fragile, ¡°I even thought about giving her the factory.¡± ¡°I want to send her back.¡± ¡°She refuses.¡± His tone suddenly grew heavier, ¡°She actually refuses!¡± That familiar, overwhelming devilish aura. Doctor Qiu, ¡°Uh¡­,¡± his heart trembling! After a moment of silence, Jiang Zhi changed his tone, weak and lazy, yet still imposing like a young master, ¡°Tell me, what kind of illness do I have?¡± To be honest, Doctor Qiu had been practicing for years, having seen countless psychological perversions, but patients like this, seemingly normal yet actually abnormal, were rare. ¡°In my opinion¡­¡± In his opinion, ¡°Mr. Jiang, could it be that you¡¯re unrequitedly in love with that young¡ª¡± He was cut off by a sinister laugh. ¡°Unrequited love?¡± Jiang Zhi licked his red lips, his eyes narrowing into sharp crescents, ¡°I, being a homo, you say I¡¯m unrequitedly in love?¡± A deep-rooted self-assurance from being a homo. People like him, according to psychological theories, once they believe in something or someone, they become extremely obsessive in both thought and behavior. Since direct confrontation was futile, Doctor Qiu could only guide him gradually, ¡°Regarding your sexual orientation, I feel¡­ it might have returned to normal.¡± He cautiously suggested, ¡°If you¡¯re still unsure, you could try it out.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t respond, merely touched the teeth marks on the milk can, then tipped it back to drink. The icy liquid hit his stomach, causing it to cramp painfully. Then, the adviser began to devise a plan. Chapter 53 - Chapter 53: 053: Come on, lets create (second update) Chapter 53: 053: Come on, let¡¯s create (second update) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Afterwards, the adviser began to offer schemes. At ten o¡¯clock at night, Jiang Zhi still hadn¡¯t slept. He gave Qiao Nanchu a call, then left. Before leaving, he casually threw the empty milk can with teeth marks into the¡­ safe box. Xue Baoyi was still angry at Jiang Zhi for his ruthlessness. When Jiang Zhi entered the private room, he snorted, turned his head, and banged his wine glass loudly. The private room had been cleared out, leaving only a few of their friends. Xue Bingxue sat on the side drinking juice, while Qiao Nanchu, sitting beside him, immediately poured himself the strongest liquor. ¡°What¡¯s your deal? Still awake this late?¡± Jiang Zhi lifted his eyes. Ah Wan, who was with him, quickly drew two wet wipes and wiped down all the edges and corners of the sofa, finally laying a clean blanket on it. Only then did Jiang Zhi sit down, speaking slowly and indifferently, ¡°Get me a few men.¡± Qiao Nanchu thought he had misheard: ¡°What did you say?¡± He repeated expressionlessly, ¡°Call a few men over.¡± Xue Baoyi sprang up like a carp, ¡°Brother Zhi, are you running a fever?¡± Jiang Zhi, sick and frail, nestled in, breathing slowly, his eyes half-closed, a delicate charm lingering in his features. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Xue Baoyi thought to himself, ¡°It¡¯s over, with this kind of looks playing with men, how many decent married men will he bend?¡± No way, he needed to stay away! Qiao Nanchu remained much calmer, putting down his glass, smiling roguishly as he eyed Jiang Zhi, ¡°Do you want experienced ones or clean ones?¡± Jiang Zhi nonchalantly remarked, ¡°As long as they have nice eyes.¡± Qiao Nanchu understood now, made a call, and gave succinct instructions. Was he serious?! Xue Baoyi felt a bit exasperated, ¡°Brother Zhi, are you really not sick?¡± Jiang Zhi had been bent for many years, having seen all types of ¡°tops¡± and ¡°bottoms¡± without ever messing around. How did he suddenly change? Could it be after playing with Zhou Xufang, he now felt the truth that male-on-male was true love and male-female was just for procreation? At this moment, Xue Baoyi¡¯s mood reflected that of a worried old mother. He reached out to touch Jiang Zhi¡¯s forehead, only to have his hand slapped away, ¡°Don¡¯t touch me.¡± Was he guarding his purity? Was this the male version of ¡°men shouldn¡¯t touch men¡±? Steel-straight Xue Baoyi shivered, obediently sitting far away. He thought today¡¯s Brother Zhi was too strange, but after reconsideration, he figured, ¡°Well, it¡¯s fine. Later, you can find a few who are good at serving people and have a taste first.¡± In this room, the only one with proper principles was Xue Bingxue. ¡°You guys don¡¯t do this, this is, this is,¡± Xue Bingxue¡¯s face reddened, ¡°this is prostitution.¡± Xue Baoyi grabbed a blanket and tossed it, directly covering Xue Bingxue¡¯s head, ¡°You little chick, don¡¯t look around!¡± Xue Bingxue: ¡°¡­¡± He wasn¡¯t looking! Just then, the door was pushed open from outside, and more than ten boys filed in, entering in a line. Qiao Nanchu raised his chin, signaling Jiang Zhi, ¡°Everyone¡¯s here, pick.¡± He teased, ¡°If you like several, you can take them all at once.¡± These rich young masters had seen all types of play. In this Fusheng Inn, as long as you could afford it, there was nothing you couldn¡¯t get. The young master of the Jiang Family wanted to play, so those brought in were top-notch goods. Looks were just the surface; their aura and character mattered too, not just physical appearance. A dozen youths came in, each having their own unique appeal. Jiang Zhi glanced casually, pointed to a cold-faced handsome guy, ¡°You,¡± then to a delicate and graceful one, ¡°and you, come here.¡± Qiao Nanchu crossed his arms, smilingly watching the scene unfold. ¡°Mr. Jiang.¡± The delicate and graceful boy called out timidly, truly fitting the description of clean, especially those eyes, like a deer¡¯s, moist and innocent. Jiang Zhi half-leaned on the sofa, lazily not moving, and ordered, ¡°Come over and pour me a drink.¡± Chapter 54 - Chapter 54: 054: Jiang Zhi Caught in the Act (Part 1) Chapter 54: 054: Jiang Zhi Caught in the Act (Part 1) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Come here and pour me a drink.¡± The boy stepped forward sluggishly, his eyes misty with tears. He sneaked a glance at Jiang Zhi, hesitated a few times before sitting down, not daring to sit too close. He cautiously poured a glass of wine and handed it over. There was a faint scent of men¡¯s cologne, not too strong. However, Jiang Zhi still found it pungent. Holding back his nausea, he accepted the glass and downed it in one gulp. He then looked up at the other person: ¡°Don¡¯t you know how to serve people?¡± The cold-faced, handsome man exuded an air of elegance. He moved forward and sat down, his hand casually resting on Jiang Zhi¡¯s thigh. ¡°How about this?¡± The man looked at Jiang Zhi, his hand moving up along Jiang Zhi¡¯s thigh. His sharp brows and star-like eyes were impeccably handsome. ¡°What about this, Mr. Jiang?¡± This seductive demeanor wasn¡¯t effeminate at all. Clearly, he had been trained. Jiang Zhi said nothing. The man¡¯s hand continued upwards, along the inner thigh¡ª ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± Jiang Zhi stood up: ¡°Get out.¡± He clutched his abdomen, a thin sheen of sweat on his forehead, the blood vessels on his neck faintly visible. He was at his limit. ¡°All of you, get out!¡± ¡°Not satisfied?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï Looking at Jiang Zhi, pale-faced and red-eyed, Qiao Nanchu found it immensely amusing and teased: ¡°Shall I get you another batch?¡± Jiang Zhi kept a stern face, downed a glass of iced whiskey, and then left the private room. Ah Wan hurriedly followed. Xue Baoyi chased to the door to see Jiang Zhi clutching his abdomen and coughing, fleeing in a panic. He really didn¡¯t understand: ¡°What¡¯s wrong with Brother Zhi?¡± Xue Bingxue, who had been silent, said: ¡°Jiang Zhi suspects he¡¯s been straightened out.¡± Xue Baoyi gave an ¡®oh,¡¯ suddenly understanding. Ten minutes later, Jiang Zhi returned, paler than before, looking completely drained of energy. Xue Baoyi sat down next to him: ¡°Where did you go?¡± Jiang Zhi said nothing. Ah Wan answered for him: ¡°The boss went to throw up.¡± Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± Is this a fake gay? Jiang Zhi leaned against the sofa, lifelessly drooping his eyelids: ¡°Get me a few more women.¡± More? Ah Wan worried his boss¡¯s fragile body couldn¡¯t handle it. Xue Baoyi actively went to arrange it, bustling around like an old madam: ¡°Manager You, get a few women over here, all different types.¡± Xue Bingxue cursed him for being shameless! Qiao Nanchu threw a blanket onto Jiang Zhi: ¡°Still feeling unwell?¡± Jiang Zhi coughed, his eyes watery: ¡°Mmm.¡± His throat itched, and he couldn¡¯t suppress his coughing. He reached out for a glass of wine. Qiao Nanchu snatched it away: ¡°Stop messing around.¡± He replaced it with a clean glass and poured some milk for him. ¡°Don¡¯t drink anymore.¡± By this time, the women had already entered. Xue Baoyi made them stand in a line, heads held high. Before long, the room was filled with the scent of perfume. Jiang Zhi clutched his abdomen. The milk he had just drunk churned violently in his stomach. Too tired to move, he glanced over the group. Among the eight young girls, there were both slender and voluptuous ones, some with delicate features, and some with refined temperaments. There were shy and timid ones, and of course, there were bold and proactive ones. If they could latch onto the little master of the Imperial City Jiang Family, they would have endless wealth and glory. The lady in the red dress thought of this and elegantly approached, her soft, bone-like body sidling up: ¡°Mr. Jiang.¡± The scent of roses mixed with cosmetic powder instantly overwhelmed him¡­ Jiang Zhi¡¯s face changed immediately. Using just one finger, wrapped in his sleeve, he poked the woman¡¯s shoulder and forcefully pushed her away. His peach blossom eyes filled with disdain, suddenly turning fierce. ¡°Ah Wan.¡± Ah Wan rushed over. The woman was shoved to one end of the sofa, while Jiang Zhi sat at the other end, taking off his coat with a dark expression. ¡°Get them out.¡± He weakly but authoritatively commanded, ¡°All of them!¡± He¡¯s not going to faint, is he? Ah Wan didn¡¯t dare delay. He swept the women out, their coughing really scaring him. He feared the boss might cough his lungs out and kept checking back several times. Jiang Zhi leaned on the sofa, panting heavily, his eyes filled with bloodshot veins, sweat beading on his forehead. Oh right, the boss couldn¡¯t stand the smell of rose perfume. Realizing this, Ah Wan grew even more disgusted with the red-dressed woman, thinking her a brazen slut. He roughly pushed her out and was about to close the door when he was startled, quickly clearing his throat and coughing: ¡°Boss, Miss Zhou is here¡ª¡± Too late, Xue Baoyi, that loudmouth, was still shouting: ¡°Brother Zhi, don¡¯t be discouraged. If these aren¡¯t satisfactory, I¡¯ll get another top girl for you.¡± Chapter 55 - Chapter 55: 055: Zhou Xufang gets jealous? (Charges are based on word count) Chapter 55: 055: Zhou Xufang gets jealous? (Charges are based on word count) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Brother Zhi, don¡¯t be discouraged. If you¡¯re not satisfied with these few, I¡¯ll get you another top girl.¡± What Ah Wan really wanted to say was¡ª Boss, Miss Zhou is here. Hurry up and get Mr. to take his women somewhere else to play. This meticulous and loyal act of framing Jiang Zhi ended in failure. Ah Wan smiled awkwardly but politely, ¡°Miss Zhou, what a coincidence.¡± The next second, the coughing abruptly stopped. Ah Wan didn¡¯t even know how his employer got to him. It was as if a gust of wind had blown in. ¡°Y-You, what are you doing here?¡± Jiang Zhi did not know where to look, where to place his hands, and his stammering made him look even more guilty, like a husband caught cheating by his wife. Jiang Zhi just stood at the door in that flustered state, sweating despite the freezing cold. Zhou Xu Fang, on the other hand, had changed from the pink outfit she wore two hours ago into a black one, with her perennial cold face partially hidden under a hat. ¡°I¡¯m going to deliver food now, goodbye.¡± After saying goodbye, she walked away quietly with two bags of pork liver and vegetable porridge, her head down, only sneaking a glance at the eight scantily clad women. Jiang Zhi was stunned for a few seconds before he chased after her. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± She turned around, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Jiang Zhi loosened the collar of his sweater a bit, revealing his fair skin and slightly reddened Adam¡¯s apple. ¡°It¡¯s not what you think.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°Oh.¡± That was it? Was that it? Jiang Zhi felt as if his heart had been stuffed with a wad of cotton, both blocked and itchy. ¡°Then I¡¯ll get back to work.¡± She turned to leave, but just as Jiang Zhi was about to call her back, she turned around by herself, looking very hesitant and conflicted, her brows furrowed. She looked at him and said earnestly, ¡°Jiang Zhi, you must take care of your health.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Damn it, he wasn¡¯t visiting prostitutes! After delivering the food, Zhou Xufang left Fusheng Inn. At the entrance, she saw two women and a man. Despite the cold weather, the women wore very little, hanging onto the man and refusing to let him leave. The man said mischievously, ¡°You can¡¯t bear to be apart? Then come with me.¡± Then the man hugged one woman on his left and the other on his right and got into a sports car. Before he drove off, the phone rang. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Where are you? Why aren¡¯t you back yet?¡± ¡°Working overtime.¡± ¡°What time will you be back? Xiao Bao has a slight fever.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll come home when I¡¯m done.¡± Then the man hung up and drove away. Scoundrel! Scumbag! Zhou Xufang parked her scooter on the side, picked up a stone from the ground, aimed it at the rear tire of the sports car, and kicked it. ¡°Bang!¡± The tire burst. The man cursed loudly. Zhou Xufang snorted inwardly, then put on the yellow helmet designated for delivery people. She pushed her scooter for a few steps before stopping at the sight of a trash bin. She paused, stared at it for a moment, placed her scooter down, walked over, and kicked the trash bin. It was supposed to be a light kick just for fun, but she was too strong. With a loud bang, the trash bin toppled. Why did she have to kick the trash bin? How annoying! Zhou Xufang tugged her hair in frustration, squatted down, and started picking up the trash that had spilled out, one piece at a time¡­ Suddenly, a pair of leather shoes stopped in front of the pile of trash. The shadow covered her. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Zhou Xufang looked up and saw Jiang Zhi. The neon lights behind him created a glow, like specks of light falling in his eyes, resembling the million lights of a city. She looked up at him and said, ¡°I¡¯m picking up trash.¡± Honestly, she didn¡¯t even know what she was doing or saying. It was all a mess. So she added, ¡°You can sell a bottle for a dime.¡± Coincidentally, she was holding a plastic water bottle. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± She squatted there, donning a yellow helmet, looking like a lively mushroom. Jiang Zhi took a couple of steps forward into the light of the neon signs. ¡°Don¡¯t pick it up, it¡¯s dirty.¡± He bent down, grabbed the hood of her sweatshirt, and pulled her to the side. After letting go, he turned back and said, ¡°Ah Wan, you pick it up.¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± All these years, it was honestly his first time picking up trash. Ah Wan felt an indescribable feeling. ¡°Don¡¯t you have something to say to me?¡± Jiang Zhi, wearing just a sweater, stood in the post-rain breeze. His face tightened from the night¡¯s chill, eyes locked on hers. Zhou Xufang was silent for a moment. She thought it was inappropriate to say anything but couldn¡¯t help herself: ¡°Jiang Zhi, don¡¯t fool around with those women.¡± ¡°Why?¡± She answered seriously, ¡°If you solicit prostitutes, you won¡¯t be a good citizen.¡± Jiang ¡°Good Citizen¡± Zhi, thinking she was attracted to him and had a possessive desire: ¡°¡­¡± A ¡°good citizen,¡± my ass! This clueless, unromantic woman! Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t decide whether he was more angry at her or at himself. With a stern face and a rough voice, he said, ¡°I wasn¡¯t soliciting!¡± Chapter 56 - Chapter 56: 056: Jiang Zhi really fell in love. Chapter 56: 056: Jiang Zhi really fell in love. Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°I didn¡¯t sleep with them.¡± The helmet was too large, and it slipped to one side when she moved. She straightened it, ¡°Really?¡± She had been a bit angry just now; her eyes even turned red for a moment. She thought it was very wrong to hire prostitutes and didn¡¯t want Jiang Zhi to stray down the wrong path. In case he actually headed down the wrong path, she wanted to help him find his way back. ¡°Why would I lie to you?¡± Jiang Zhi emphasized particularly, ¡°I didn¡¯t even touch them.¡± He spoke firmly, and there was a hint of anger in his tone. Could she have misunderstood him? Zhou Xufang furrowed her brows, deep in thought. ¡°You don¡¯t believe me?¡± He stared at her, a cluster of peach blossoms blooming in his eyes, alluring and captivating. Zhou Xufang thought deeply again. Hearing is believing; she thought she shouldn¡¯t doubt Jiang Zhi¡¯s character. After so much time together, aside from his sexual orientation, she thought he was a perfect person who was eager to help others and save those in distress. Thinking about it, Jiang Zhi looked like this; he didn¡¯t need to hire prostitutes. On the contrary, more people probably wanted to hire him. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? The more she thought about it, the more Zhou Xufang confirmed that she had misunderstood Jiang Zhi. This time, she didn¡¯t hesitate even a bit, ¡°I believe you.¡± The corners of Jiang Zhi¡¯s mouth lifted instantly. ¡°I knew you were a person of high moral character.¡± Jiang Zhi, the person of high moral character, ¡°¡­¡± Since he hadn¡¯t hired prostitutes, Zhou Xufang breathed a sigh of relief and didn¡¯t linger any longer, ¡°Then I¡¯m off to work.¡± She pushed her little electric bike, ready to return to the porridge shop. Jiang Zhi grabbed the tail of the electric bike. She turned her head. He didn¡¯t look at her eyes, instead, he stared at her yellow helmet, ¡°Don¡¯t go. It¡¯s so late, it¡¯s not safe for a girl like you.¡± See? He was a person of high moral character. Zhou Xufang felt a bit guilty; she had actually suspected him of hiring prostitutes just now. ¡°It¡¯s alright, I¡¯m quite strong.¡± She could kick a sports car¡¯s tire until it burst with one foot, and punch a bull to death with one fist. If it was unsafe, it would be unsafe for others, not her. Jiang Zhi was still holding onto the tail of the electric bike, not letting go. He was dressed lightly, and his fingers had already turned red from the cold. His nose was also a bit red as he inhaled, the cold air making him cough a few times. ¡°It¡¯s very cold, don¡¯t go. If you are short of money,¡± he turned his head away, exposing his red ears to her view, ¡°if you are short of money, I can give you some.¡± Because he had been in the cold wind for a long time, his voice had a bit of nasal sound. Zhou Xufang felt very touched when she heard this; her heart softened almost to the point of melting, ¡°You are a good person, how could I take advantage of you? Your money doesn¡¯t grow on trees either.¡± Jiang Zhi, ¡°¡­¡± Handing out continues good person cards made him want to hit someone. ¡°I have to go, it¡¯s very cold outside, you should hurry back.¡± Zhou Xufang effortlessly lifted the entire electric bike and, with a flick, flung Jiang Zhi¡¯s hand off it. She sat down on it, ¡°Oh, right, Ah Wan, can I have the bottles you picked up?¡± She wanted to give them to the granny picking up trash outside the porridge shop. The retired athlete Ah Wan, who was stunned by the strength of a girl in her twenties, ¡°¡­Sure.¡± Miss Zhou was really impoverished. In the future, he must frequent her screen protector business more often. ¡°Thank you.¡± Zhou Xufang placed the plastic bottles on the electric bike and waved at Jiang Zhi before riding off. Jiang Zhi stood where he was, watching the electric bike disappear into the bustling street. Ah Wan had just collected the trash and, afraid of being disliked by his germophobic employer, didn¡¯t dare get too close, ¡°Boss, let¡¯s go back?¡± He ignored him. Only when the distant neon lights changed from red to blue and finally to purple, reflected in his eyes, did he lower his eyelids, turn around, slightly bend his back, and cough gently. For some reason, Ah Wan thought this employer of his, who was trapped in unrequited love, seemed a little¡­ pitiful. After Jiang Zhi returned to the private room, he felt hot and had a slight fever. How could he not have a fever? It was minus two degrees outside. Xue Bingxue scolded him for his foolishness, saying that messing around with his fragile body was reckless. After scolding, she instructed Ah Wan to get some fever-reducing medicine. Qiao Nanchu asked Jiang Zhi, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± He had no strength to make a fuss now, lying weakly, mumbling with his eyes closed, ¡°I don¡¯t like men.¡± After a while, he added, ¡°I don¡¯t like women either.¡± So? He resigned himself, ¡°But I kind of like her.¡± Liking her meant, most directly, that he had desire for her, a very strong possessiveness, unlike his fondness for certain objects which he could grab or snatch without any reservations. She was different. He did not dare to act rashly with her. ¡°Who is she?¡± Qiao Nanchu asked. Xue Baoyi answered for him, ¡°The one just now, Zhou Xufang, putting screen protectors down under Ba Yi Bridge.¡± Qiao Nanchu had heard the name Zhou Xufang more than once. The last time was yesterday when Jiang Zhi refused to eat, and insisted on having Ah Wan order takeout, specifying that Zhou Xufang should deliver it. ¡°Kind of like?¡± Qiao Nanchu laughed and exposed him, ¡°More than just kind of, Jiang Zhi, you¡¯re overreacting.¡± At minus two degrees, he still dragged his sick self out. If it was just a bit of fondness, he would be at home sleeping at this time. Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyelashes trembled twice, neither admitting nor denying it. Yes, he overreacted. For example ¨C ¡°Xue Baoyi.¡± Jiang Zhi suddenly raised his eyelids. Xue Baoyi¡¯s heart trembled, ¡°Don¡¯t call me that, you scare me.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t your company planning an end-of-year event?¡± This indifferent tone¡­ Xue Baoyi felt a chill, ¡°Just say it, master.¡± ¡°Employee benefits should be phone cases.¡± He was still weak and listless, speaking casually, ¡°Remember to buy them from under Ba Yi Bridge.¡± Xue Baoyi, ¡°¡­¡± Damn it, why not just say Zhou Xufang! The matter of hiring a top performer was now being settled in the fall. What could Xue Baoyi say? He could only nod, ¡°Alright, will a hundred for each person be enough?¡± Jiang Zhi weakly murmured an affirmative. Ah Wan, who had just come back with the medicine, heard this and admired his employer even more. Even when sick, he didn¡¯t forget to bring business to Miss Zhou who puts on screen protectors. It was all because of love! That night, Jiang Zhi lay in bed at two in the morning and only fell asleep at four, then he had a dream. In the dream, Zhou Xufang was like a fairy, softly calling his name constantly. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± He couldn¡¯t bear it, ¡°Stop calling.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± She kept calling endlessly. When he looked up, he saw her sitting in a tree, smiling like a flower, wearing a very short white dress, her bright white legs swinging. She asked him, ¡°Do you like me?¡± He didn¡¯t answer. So she extended her arms and leaped from the tree. Without thinking, he reached out to catch her¡­ ¡°Do you like me?¡± She wrapped her tender white arms around his neck, hugging lightly, clinging to him, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± She wrapped around him like a cloud. He didn¡¯t know where they were, but somewhere outside, under a tree, with stars filling the sky above and her triumphant, happy face below. She raised her body, laying her face against his neck, whispering softly, ¡°Oh, so you like me.¡± He didn¡¯t deny it, so she became bold. Chapter 57 - Chapter 57: 057: The person in Jiang Zhis dream~ Chapter 57: 057: The person in Jiang Zhi¡¯s dream~ Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation She held down his shoulder, ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡± He truly didn¡¯t move. Outside the window, thunder boomed. Jiang Zhi suddenly sat up, waking from a dream. It wasn¡¯t raining outside, just the sound of thunder. The light of dawn was enveloped by thick clouds, making the sky a dull gray. Ten minutes later, rain began to patter down. Jiang Zhi, sleepless, sat up listening to the raindrops hitting the window sill, his thoughts lingering in turmoil. The winter rain lasted for three days. Even Xue Baoyi could see that Jiang Zhi looked very unwell. Halfway through the Xue Family¡¯s birthday banquet, he was nowhere to be seen. After searching around, they found him in the lounge, trying to catch up on sleep. But he wasn¡¯t really asleep, just lying there listlessly. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± He looked extremely lethargic. Xue Baoyi, concerned, called Xue Bingxue over, ¡°Uncle, come have a look at him.¡± He looked as if he were on his deathbed. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Xue Bingxue went over to feel Jiang Zhi¡¯s pulse. ¡°His pulse is very irregular, his body is extremely weak.¡± Xue Bingxue asked him, ¡°What have you been doing these past few days?¡± Jiang Zhi propped himself up to sit, ¡°Nothing much.¡± His tone was very ordinary, as if narrating a matter of course, ¡°Just liked someone, liked them so much I got sick.¡± The Xue uncle and nephew were speechless: ¡°¡­¡± They all knew that Jiang Zhi had feelings for a woman, they just didn¡¯t expect him to be so consumed by it. Xue Baoyi still found it hard to believe, ¡°Really turned straight?¡± ¡°Mm.¡± ¡°Really like her that much?¡± Jiang Zhi struggled for a second, then admitted, ¡°¡­Mm.¡± Tsk. It¡¯s real! To be honest, Xue Baoyi felt a bit sour. After all, their group of brothers had coddled Jiang Zhi, this little beauty, in the palm of their hand for so many years, and within just a few days, he was taken away by someone else¡¯s ¡°pig.¡± He had mixed feelings. Nonetheless, it wasn¡¯t easy for Jiang Zhi, the perennial iron tree, to finally bloom. As his brother, he couldn¡¯t cut short his peach blossom fortune. He had to support him, ¡°Don¡¯t be a chicken. What¡¯s the big deal? Just liking a girl.¡± He had to offer some strategies, ¡°Brother Zhi, don¡¯t overthink it. If you like her, go after her. If you don¡¯t know how, I¡¯ll teach you.¡± After all, he, Second Young Master Xue, had a reputation as a playboy. Xue Baoyi got increasingly excited as he spoke, ¡°Do you want me to teach you some¡ª¡± Jiang Zhi stood up and left. ¡°Where are you going?¡± He went to No. 43 Changdu Road, a beauty salon named Fairy Descending. ¡°You are¡­..¡± The shop owner and chief stylist Cheng Xin hesitated to recognize him, ¡°Director Jiang?¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t often appear in public, but his face was unforgettable. Cheng Xin suspected his eyes were playing tricks, wondering why such a great figure would visit his modest salon. ¡°Shh.¡± Ah Wan gave him a sign to keep it low-key. It was really him! Cheng Xin, overwhelmed with favor, quickly ushered him in, ¡°Director Jiang, are you here for¡­ a haircut?¡± ¡°Mm.¡± He seemed absent-minded, his gaze fixed on a poster at the door. Cheng Xin couldn¡¯t quite understand why the big shot had humbled himself to come here, so he cautiously asked, ¡°What kind of hairstyle would you like, Director Jiang?¡± Jiang Zhi drew back his gaze, ¡°The same as Zhou Xufang¡¯s.¡± Cheng Xin was bewildered, ¡°Ah?¡± ¡°That poster at the door.¡± Jiang Zhi pointed. ¡°Dye my hair the same color as hers.¡± The great director appeared to be in a good mood. Although his face was sickly pale with dark circles under his eyes, his brows and eyes sparkled with energy, his lips were rosy and skin fair, genuinely a beautiful appearance. Cheng Xin couldn¡¯t help but appreciate the beauty for a moment longer, ¡°You want it dyed matte blue?¡± Jiang Zhi glanced at a chair. Ah Wan quickly placed a clean handkerchief on it. Jiang Zhi sat down, ¡°Mm.¡± Matte blue was a trending hair color in the salon, but it was usually favored by young, rebellious men. Cheng Xin thought it wasn¡¯t quite suitable for Jiang Zhi¡¯s status, so he objectively suggested, ¡°Director Jiang, maybe you should reconsider. This color might¡ª¡± Jiang Zhi, expression unchanged, interrupted, ¡°I¡¯m in a hurry, dye it quickly.¡± A great director, wanting to dye his hair the matte blue that playboys loved, it was really a bit¡­ Four hours later. Cheng Xin was genuinely amazed by his own work, ¡°Amazing!¡± My goodness, this looked too good! Dye it! Dye it! Jiang Zhi, who had been resting with his eyes closed the whole time, finally opened them, looking somewhat fatigued, a bit drowsy with a touch of laziness. Hoarsely, he asked, ¡°Looks good?¡± Cheng Xin nodded vigorously. Honestly, after Zhou Xufang, Jiang Zhi once again redefined his perception of matte blue. Plenty of men came to the salon for matte blue, and although it always looked good, it generally carried some air of roguishness. But with Jiang Zhi, his fine features and good bone structure, the dull grayish blue complemented his captivating eyes, making him look both seductive and reserved. The aristocratic aura was there, with a hint of enchantment, yet not a trace of vulgarity. At this hour, there was no one else in the salon. Cheng Xin flattered without restraint, ¡°Director Jiang, you¡¯ll be the most dazzling figure in this area when you walk out!¡± Beside him, Ah Wan, who deeply valued honor, took pride and quickly added, ¡°Of course, our boss¡¯s face is invincible even across the entire Imperial City.¡± Though his temper was bad, his face was undeniably enduring. ¡°Since it looks good,¡± Jiang Zhi stood up, walked to the mirror, and adjusted the hair at his forehead, ¡°can I be a model for your salon?¡± The misty blue tint in his alluring peach blossom eyes made anyone he looked at feel an uncanny stir. Cheng Xin was momentarily stunned, ¡°Ah?¡± ¡°The poster at the door, give it to me, you can name the price.¡± Jiang Zhi said, ¡°You can also use my photo as a model one.¡± Chapter 58 - Chapter 58: 058: Wife, quickly praise me, praise me! Chapter 58: 058: Wife, quickly praise me, praise me! Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation It was almost 2 PM when Xu Fang finally woke up. The blackout curtains didn¡¯t let any light through, making the room dark. A tender, white hand reached out from under the dark bedding, grabbed a phone off the bedside table, checked the time, then put the phone down again. She buried her head in the pillow for a long while before sitting up. Her hair was a mess, and her eyes were blank. ¡°Are you getting up?¡± The mechanical synthesized voice echoed in the large room. ¡°Hmm.¡± Just awake, Xu Fang¡¯s voice was heavily nasal. A tuft of hair stuck up at the top of her head, and she hadn¡¯t fully opened her eyes yet, squinting at the SpongeBob on her computer screen. Shuangjiang asked her, ¡°What time did you get back last night?¡± She hadn¡¯t had enough sleep. She yawned and sniffled, sounding a bit kiddish. ¡°After four.¡± She had taken a late-night gig the night before and got home very late. ¡°Someone¡¯s at the door downstairs.¡± The computer alarm sounded at the same time. Xu Fang had installed a camera at the downstairs door. Whenever someone approached, the alarm and monitoring system would trigger automatically. ¡°It¡¯s the noodles I ordered.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï She ruffled her hair, went to the dressing room to change, and went downstairs to get her lunch. She had ordered noodles again. ¡°Ah Fang.¡± She was busy rating the delivery. ¡°Hmm?¡± Seeing that she was busy, Shuangjiang didn¡¯t type and used the synthesized voice. ¡°I¡¯ve informed Jiang Zhi about Jin Song hiring us, but he hasn¡¯t taken any action. I guess he might have found out who wanted to kidnap him on his own.¡± Xu Fang looked up. ¡°Will Jin Song still try to harm him?¡± Jiang Zhi had already temporarily moved back to the Jiang Family mansion yesterday. There were servants guarding outside at night. She didn¡¯t dare get too close. ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much. Many people in the Jiang Family want to harm him, but he¡¯s managed to survive until now, which shows he¡¯s not simple,¡± Shuangjiang said. ¡°Ah Fang, Jiang Zhi is much more hidden than you think.¡± Xu Fang knew that Jiang Zhi was a very smart person. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have suspected her identity so quickly, but¡ª ¡°He¡¯s not a bad person.¡± Shuangjiang, however, said, ¡°He¡¯s just not bad to you.¡± Jiang Zhi was a deeply hidden person with too many secrets. That sickly appearance was probably just a facade. Xu Fang didn¡¯t argue with Shuangjiang and simply asserted, ¡°He treats me very well. That lamp,¡± she pointed to show Shuangjiang, ¡°He gave it to me.¡± The lamp had just been installed yesterday. The entire room had a dark and cold tone, and suddenly there was this luxurious and exquisite lamp. Though it looked nice, it seemed a bit out of place. But Xu Fang liked it. Sometimes she would jump up and touch the crystal pendant on the chandelier. Oh, Xu Fang remembered something. She put down her chopsticks and opened WeChat to send a message to Wen Baiyang. ¡°Bai Yang.¡± Wen Baiyang replied with a smiley face. Xu Fang was a slow typist, poking out one character at a time. ¡°Will the eggs I ordered arrive today?¡± Wen Baiyang¡¯s hometown was in Da Mai Mountain. Her grandmother raised a lot of free-range chickens, and many villagers made a living that way too. The last time Xu Fang sent Jiang Zhi a chicken, it was also bought by Wen Baiyang. This time, she had ordered a truckload of eggs from her. Wen Baiyang replied, ¡°Yes, the truck will arrive in the Imperial City at three o¡¯clock. Do we need to change the delivery address?¡± ¡°No need to change,¡± Xu Fang typed, ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡± ¡°.¡± She put down her phone and looked up; the computer screen was dark. Shuangjiang had gone offline at some point. She had to go to Jiang Zhi¡¯s set to be an extra at three o¡¯clock, just enough time. Fang Lixiang was also on the set. She was a Weaver Girl and had a lot of scenes. As soon as she saw Xu Fang, she happily fluttered over like a butterfly. ¡°Xu Fang~¡± Xu Fang felt a bit uncomfortable with her enthusiasm. Fang Lixiang, like showing off a treasure, brought a cup of milk tea to her. ¡°I bought you milk tea.¡± Xu Fang liked sweets, especially AD calcium milk and various milk teas. She accepted it and took a sip. ¡°Thank you.¡± She fumbled in her backpack and pulled out four eggs. ¡°Want some free-range eggs?¡± The eggs were stuffed into her bag by Wen Baiyang on the way here for her colleagues. Fang Lixiang was on a diet recently and didn¡¯t want her agent to see, so she quickly hid the eggs in her coat and nibbled on them inside: ¡°You¡¯re not eating?¡± Not wanting to say she gets drunk from eating eggs, Xu Fang lied, ¡°I¡¯m allergic to eggs.¡± There are people allergic to eggs? Fang Lixiang felt she might be illiterate, so ignorant. She stuffed half an egg into her mouth: ¡°Then don¡¯t eat the free meals on set from now on, I¡¯ll bring you food.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Xu Fang thought about giving Fang Lixiang extra money later. ¡°Xu Fang, I have to tell you, I might be in for some luck.¡± Fang Lixiang swallowed the egg, took a sip of milk tea, and chatted with Xu Fang squatting in the corner. ¡°Director Jiang had some fallout with Vice President Jin of Huayu and replaced Su Chan. I heard from Wei¡¯er that they will be selecting a new female lead from Baoguang¡¯s artists, and I¡¯m on the shortlist as Urala Li Xiang?!¡± Urala Li Xiang was dumbfounded herself. Jiang Zhi was known in the industry for being unconventional in casting. As long as the image fit and the acting skills were solid, he didn¡¯t care if the actor was new, old, popular, or forgotten. The sun was out today, and Xu Fang wore a fisherman¡¯s hat, making her face look especially small. She sincerely praised Fang Lixiang, ¡°Your acting is very good.¡± Fang Lixiang smiled broadly. Of course, her acting was good. She was a natural performer. ¡°Xu Fang, when I make it big, I¡¯ll help you debut.¡± Fang Lixiang thought, if she got rich, she wouldn¡¯t forget her friends. She must bring them along to prosperity. But Xu Fang shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t like being in front of the camera. I¡¯m fine being an extra.¡± Extras didn¡¯t have many close-up shots, so she didn¡¯t have to worry about being remembered. True, Xu Fang was too introverted and had some social anxiety. Fang Lixiang thought for a moment, ¡°Then I¡¯ll have the crew heads give you some favoritism.¡± Xu Fang nodded, biting the straw. ¡°Whoa!¡± Fang Lixiang suddenly fixed her gaze. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Fang Lixiang stammered, ¡°Th-th-th-that¡­ that¡¯s Director Jiang?¡± Her eyes widened, ¡°Why did he dye his hair?!¡± Xu Fang was stunned and forgot to respond. Fang Lixiang spat out a mouthful of milk tea, and the pearls slid out. ¡°Wow, matte blue.¡± She glanced at Xu Fang¡¯s medium-short hair under the hat. ¡°Xu Fang, it¡¯s the same as yours.¡± Jiang Zhi had just arrived, and the set suddenly went quiet. Many eyes were on him¡­ and his hair. Xu Fang was also staring. She couldn¡¯t help touching her own hair. ¡°Mine is temporary, it¡¯s already washed out.¡± She whispered, ¡°Jiang Zhi¡¯s looks nice.¡± Even better than hers. Fang Lixiang rubbed her chin: Nice, but not very dignified. Jiang Zhi was already good-looking, and now with matte blue hair, he looked even more like a little demon. That little demon was pacing back and forth five meters away. Fang Lixiang scratched her head. ¡°What¡¯s he doing?¡± She couldn¡¯t understand, ¡°Why is he walking around like this?¡± Showing off his new hairstyle? Xu Fang finished her milk tea, threw it in the trash, and walked over. ¡°You dyed your hair.¡± There were many people around, so she didn¡¯t dare to get too close. Jiang Zhi moved to the side a little. ¡°Hmm.¡± Xu Fang followed, speaking honestly, ¡°It looks good.¡± Matte blue made him look a bit lazy and rascally, less soft, and more aggressive. But it looked good. Jiang Zhi¡¯s lips curved slightly, and he subconsciously moved his head a bit closer to her. ¡°Anything else?¡± He looked like¡­ the gray cat downstairs wanting to be petted. Xu Fang thought, should she praise him some more? Just then, Yu Ran¡¯s fan representative came over to visit the set. Though she was far away, Xu Fang had good hearing and picked up every word. The fan representative was screaming: ¡°Yu Ran, I love you so much, can you give me an autograph?¡± Does this count as praise? Xu Fang thought, then imitated: ¡°Your hair looks beautiful, can you give me an autograph?¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± The fan representative was stomping her feet excitedly. ¡°I really love you, I¡¯ve watched all your movies.¡± ¡°I¡¯m definitely going to support your new movie.¡± ¡°You¡¯re so beautiful.¡± ¡°Sign here, sign here!¡± ¡°Can I take a photo with you?¡± ¡°Oh my god, thank you, goddess!¡± Xu Fang also heard Yu Ran¡¯s laughter, sounding very happy. She thought, maybe normal people liked this kind of admiration. She mimicked that fan¡¯s actions, stomping her foot, then stomping again. ¡°Can I take a photo with you?¡± She gave a thumbs up, seriously emphasizing, ¡°Your hairstyle is really pretty.¡± After she finished, she remembered another line. ¡°I¡¯ve watched everything you¡¯ve made. I will definitely support your new movie.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± The worst thing is when the air suddenly gets quiet¡­ Chapter 59 - Chapter 59: 059: Do you want me? Chapter 59: 059: Do you want me? Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Over there, a fan representative got a photo with their idol and let out a groundhog-like scream. Jiang Zhi only glanced at it and understood. She was learning on the spot. As annoyed as he was, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to say anything to her. Jiang Zhi turned around: ¡°Come with me.¡± Zhou Xufang pulled her hat down and followed with her head lowered. Once they walked away, the people on the set dared to gossip secretly. Producer: ¡°Who is that girl?¡± Crew: ¡°No idea.¡± She was wrapped up too tightly to be seen clearly. Producer was puzzled: ¡°Isn¡¯t Director Jiang gay? How come he¡¯s so close to a girl?¡± Crew speculated: ¡°Could she be a close friend?¡± Producer: ¡°¡­¡± Like hell, a close friend! Assistant Director: ¡°My son is going through his rebellious phase, dyed his hair blue yesterday.¡± That little blue hair was full of attitude, looked like a little rascal. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Crew: ¡°You mean Director Jiang is in his rebellious phase?¡± Assistant Director was confused: ¡°Director Jiang is already twenty-four.¡± Crew guessed: ¡°A late rebellion?¡± Assistant Director slapped him: ¡°Watch out, Director Jiang will hear you and have your head!¡± Crew rubbed his head. We don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on, and we don¡¯t dare to ask. Outside the director¡¯s lounge, Ah Wan stood firm like a pine tree, leaning against the door and concentrating on¡­ eavesdropping. ¡°Are you afraid of me?¡± ¡°No.¡± Jiang Zhi sat while Zhou Xufang stood, more than five meters apart. He suppressed the wild thoughts in his mind and didn¡¯t pull her over. ¡°Then why are you standing so far?¡± He pointed to the sofa opposite him, ¡°Sit here.¡± Zhou Xufang hesitated for a moment, then sat down. He went to get her two cans of milk and a box of marshmallows, placing them in front of her. Zhou Xufang said, ¡°Thank you.¡± Then she held the box, putting one piece after another into her mouth. Like a food-stashing hamster. Last night she appeared in his dream, looking just like this. But in the dream, she was even more obedient, sitting on his lap eating candy, hugging him when asked, kissing him when asked, making him want to pile the world¡¯s candy in front of her. The more Jiang Zhi thought about it, the itchier his heart became: ¡°Have you finished the candy I gave you?¡± Zhou Xufang opened a can of milk, gave one to Jiang Zhi, then opened another for herself: ¡°No.¡± ¡°Call me when you finish them.¡± She said okay. So well-behaved. The smile on Jiang Zhi¡¯s lips never faded, his eyes shimmering, filled with springtime brightness. His tired look from lack of sleep vanished when he saw her, making him look vibrant and radiant. ¡°Don¡¯t go to the hair salon as a model anymore. Too much hair dye is bad,¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t bother hiding his concern, ¡°If you need money, I can give you a role.¡± He didn¡¯t like her photos being posted everywhere, nor did he like her working odd jobs. But giving her money outright, she would surely refuse. Letting her act was also good. At least, he could keep an eye on her anytime. Zhou Xufang took his concern at face value and agreed: ¡°Okay.¡± So good. Someone this good, should be easy to win over, right? ¡°You,¡± Before he could finish, his body started heating up, feeling restless. He inadvertently messed up the blanket on the sofa. Zhou Xufang, with a few candies in her cheeks, looked at him blankly: ¡°Hm?¡± ¡°Ahem.¡± He faked a cough, his eyes drifting from her face to her marshmallow-holding fingers, asking awkwardly, ¡°Do you think I look good?¡± Coy and cautious. Xue Baoyi often said, with a face like his, attracting people was effortless. Sure enough¡ª Despite feeling shy, she nodded. She was always honest. Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyebrows instantly filled with springtime brightness. His eyes were scorching, like a hungry wolf tasting the first bite of meat, all his desires triggered. He even swallowed once, his gaze tightly fixed on her, full of overwhelming affection, he asked, ¡°Then, do you,¡± his Adam¡¯s apple moved slightly, ¡°want me?¡± His eyes reflected a faint blue shadow, intentionally softened to become charming and seductive, coaxing her. As long as she said she wanted, he would give. But¡­ Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t even think about it: ¡°No.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± The bright flowers in his eyes shattered to pieces instantly. He just wanted to curse, what use was seduction, Xue Baoyi was unreliable, all nonsense! His happiness got dashed, Jiang Zhi looked at her angrily: ¡°Didn¡¯t you say I look good!¡± Zhou Xufang was a bit befuddled by his rapidly changing emotions, showing confusion in her eyes: ¡°Can¡¯t I say it?¡± But everyone thought he looked good, couldn¡¯t she praise him? All his romantic thoughts were doused by a bucket of cold water: ¡°¡­¡± She didn¡¯t desire his looks at all, had no understanding of romance or love¡­ Jiang Zhi frowned, realizing he had been too hasty. Be patient, take it slow. Using the law of the jungle, he didn¡¯t dare. He feared all his lifetime patience would be spent on her. Jiang Zhi took a deep breath, drank half a can of milk in one go, hid his anxious feelings, looked away and coughed a few times, appearing a bit weak: ¡°Are we friends?¡± He knew, Zhou Xufang responded to softness, not hardness. She hesitated, then nodded. ¡°Then invite me to dinner tomorrow night.¡± Afraid she might refuse, Jiang Zhi specifically pointed out, ¡°I gave you that chandelier.¡± This time she agreed quickly: ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll treat you.¡± Jiang Zhi finally smiled. Just then, her phone beeped. After checking it, she asked Jiang Zhi: ¡°Are you free now?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± He would be free even if he wasn¡¯t. ¡°I have something to give you.¡± Then she led Jiang Zhi outside the film set. As soon as they went out, Jiang Zhi heard someone calling his name with a loudspeaker. ¡°Jiang Zhi!¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi!¡± Such clamor in public made Jiang Zhi very displeased. He threw a glance at Ah Wan. Ah Wan immediately got the hint and planned to see who was shouting his employer¡¯s name in broad daylight. ¡°Jiang Zhi!¡± ¡°Who¡¯s Jiang Zhi?¡± Ah Wan looked closely only to see a large truck parked across from the subway entrance. The truck driver was leaning out of the window, shouting with a big red loudspeaker. Ah Wan was about to check it out¡ª Zhou Xufang raised her hand, waving left and right: ¡°Here.¡± Across the street, the truck driver spoke through the loudspeaker: ¡°Are you Jiang Zhi?¡± Zhou Xufang nodded under her fisherman¡¯s hat, with Jiang Zhi following behind her, completely bewildered. The truck driver got out of the truck, wearing just a T-shirt with a cotton vest over it in the winter. Holding a slip in his hand, he walked over, looked Jiang Zhi up and down, and finally fixed his eyes on Jiang Zhi¡¯s hair, saying: ¡°Your eggs are here. A total of 3,496, please sign for them.¡± The truck driver had a thick accent. Jiang Zhi, thinking he misheard, asked Zhou Xufang: ¡°What¡¯s this about?¡± ¡°Your favorite farm eggs.¡± Jiang Zhi looked at the two-meter-tall green truck, 3,496¡­ eggs? He was far from thrilled! He had picked the cheapest option, and she instead sent him a truckload. Without hesitation, he asked the driver: ¡°Can we return them?¡± He had lived over two decades, done many extravagant things, but now he felt heartache over her spending this much. The truck driver looked at him like he was a scoundrel, thinking this blue-haired guy must be a young punk, relying on good looks given by parents, doing useless things. He decisively gave him a white-eye: ¡°The money¡¯s paid, no returns!¡± Social punk Jiang ¡°Blue Hair¡± Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you like it?¡± Zhou Xufang showed confusion again. She remembered Jiang Zhi said he liked farm eggs, not understanding why he was unhappy when she sent so many of his favorites. Jiang Zhi explained: ¡°I can¡¯t eat that many.¡± Not disliking was good. Zhou Xufang took the delivery slip, signed it, then told Jiang Zhi: ¡°There is rice bran and sawdust under the truck. You can bury the eggs in them, they¡¯ll last a long time in winter. If you can¡¯t finish them, you can share with friends and family.¡± Once again, Jiang Zhi looked at the truckload of eggs, feeling conflicted. Satisfied, but also pained by the money she spent: ¡°How much did you spend?¡± ¡°Not much.¡± She suddenly remembered something exciting, ¡°Mr. Xue Baoyi ordered many phone cases from me yesterday. The profit of one case is eight bucks, I made quite a bit.¡± She kept a straight face, seriously said: ¡°I am not short on money.¡± Jiang Zhi was speechless, once again constrained by emotions. Chapter 60 - Chapter 60: 060: They have a relationship where they fight in bed. Chapter 60: 060: They have a relationship where they fight in bed. Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Jiang Zhi once again was left speechless with tears welling up. Ah Wan had a different take. She felt that Miss Zhou, who applied the phone screen protector, was someone who hid her accomplishments and fame, viewing money as dirt, not greedy nor opportunistic. Unlike those gaudy and insatiable women outside, Miss Zhou was different. She was a lady of high moral standards, content with selling a phone case, considering herself rich with just a few hundred thousand yuan¡ªan altitude of spirit not everyone could reach. Moreover, Miss Zhou was truly good to her employer. She bought a whole cart of eggs for him. What kind of divine love was this, as she marveled¡ª ¡°Lin Wanwan.¡± Could you please stop calling Lin! Wan! Wan! Reluctantly, Ah Wan stepped forward: ¡°What is it?!¡± Damn it, he definitely needed to change his name! ¡°Take the eggs to Chang¡¯an Mansion and find some knowledgeable people to help.¡± Jiang Zhi specially instructed, ¡°Don¡¯t break them.¡± These rural chicken eggs worth a few bucks each were heading to a mansion worth tens of millions. Suddenly, Ah Wan felt very melancholic, without even enough savings for a wife: ¡°Oh.¡± The truck driver, seeing the large order of eggs, agreed to deliver them on-site right away. Zhou Xufang thanked him and told Jiang Zhi: ¡°Then I¡¯ll go in now.¡± ¡°Together.¡± Ah Wan thought his employer¡¯s action of following behind was like a small, obedient wife. But¡­ Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t wait for Jiang Zhi at all. Seeing many pedestrians, afraid of being seen, she hurried ahead and disappeared in a flash. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± He wanted to catch her and give her a good thrashing! Ah Wan covered his mouth, hiding aside and snickering. Seeing his employer at a disadvantage made him very happy. So, he cheerfully patted the eggs on the truck: ¡°Boss, you can¡¯t eat all these rural eggs yourself. Can I take a few home to eat?¡± Jiang Zhi cast a cold glance at him, exuding his noble aura: ¡°Three thousand four hundred ninety-six, miss one, it¡¯ll come out of your salary.¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± So annoying! Ah Wan thought his employer, this scoundrel, was unworthy of someone as excellent, remarkable, and of high moral standards as Miss Zhou. At four in the afternoon, Xue Baoyi came to the film set. ¡°Wow! Your hair is quite avant-garde.¡± Xue Baoyi touched his own equally avant-garde gray-haired old-man short hair, wondering if he should also go for blue. Jiang Zhi ignored him; his mind was full of that little girl. He already felt uneasy after not seeing her for a while. Xue Baoyi looked and asked: ¡°Not bad, where¡¯d you get it dyed?¡± This little rascal¡¯s hair color really set off Jiang Zhi¡¯s ten-level pale complexion, making it look desolate, transforming his once noble air into a charm. He now looked like a little demon, even more attractive. That little demon was quite cold: ¡°With your face, dyeing this color, you going to collect debts?¡± Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± This tormenting little demon. Forget it, Mr. would be magnanimous and not stoop to the level of this little beauty. He threw down the file folder he brought: ¡°The things you asked for.¡± He took off his suit and lay down on Jiang Zhi¡¯s customized couch. Jiang Zhi tore open the folder and casually flipped through a couple of pages. From the corner of his eye, he gave Xue Baoyi a quick glance full of naked disdain and warning. This finicky cleanliness freak. Xue Baoyi laughed and cursed, getting up from the couch and obediently sitting back on the sofa: ¡°Tang Heng¡¯s financing project was a mess created by Jin Song. I looked into his account and also checked Tang Heng¡¯s finances¡ªthere were many issues. I¡¯m guessing Jin Song wants to hollow out Tang Heng behind Jin Lei¡¯s back.¡± He looked at Jiang Zhi, ¡°How do you want to settle this?¡± Jin Song dared to hire people to plunder; he had to take the consequences. Jiang Zhi¡¯s fingers gently rubbed over the paper, smiling as if talking to himself: ¡°From the same root, why the rush to fry each other.¡± Xue Baoyi only felt a chill. Brother Zhi was up to something. ¡°You want the brothers to tear each other apart?¡± Jin Song was an illegitimate child, and Jin Lei had been good to him. Brothers turning into ungrateful wolves¡ªthis drama just got more intense. Jiang Zhi asked back coldly: ¡°What else?¡± He leaned weakly against the sofa, breathing lightly, ¡°A sickly man like me needs to recuperate¡ªI¡¯m not capable of scheming.¡± Xue Baoyi was amused, saying that? When he had done more than enough scheming already! Who¡¯d believe that nonsense! Still, Xue Baoyi said: ¡°Good for you not to dirty your hands, preventing the Jiang Family from targeting you again.¡± Better to quietly be a sickly man, ideally waiting for the Jiang Family to tear each other apart before closing the net. Jiang Zhi showed no interest and didn¡¯t respond. Xue Baoyi suddenly remembered something: ¡°I heard from Nanchu that the professional errand runner gave you a heads-up, sent you an email specifically to warn you about Jin Song.¡± He laughed mischievously, ¡°What¡¯s going on Tian Zhi, have you struck up feelings with that errand runner? She¡¯s even protecting you now.¡± Jiang Zhi, treasuring his words like gold: ¡°Mind your own business.¡± Xue Baoyi, loving gossip, had to tease him: ¡°I reckon, your peach blossom luck is about to overflow. One after another.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°Get lost.¡± See, so like a heartless, unreasonable little demon. Xue Baoyi insisted on not leaving, instead sitting beside him, mimicking a woman¡¯s mannerisms, acting theatrical: ¡°Zhi Ge, you don¡¯t talk to me like that in bed.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± wanted to kick him to death. At this moment, there was a thud as something heavy hit the door. Jiang Zhi¡¯s expression turned instantly grim: ¡°Who?¡± ¡°It¡¯s me¡­¡± After a weak voice, a trembling little hand pushed open the door, revealing a cute little face with two dimples. It was Fang Lixiang, the only son of the Fang family¡¯s fourth generation. ¡°The screenwriter revised the script and asked me to bring it for you to look at.¡± Sneaky like a timid yet curious mouse poking its head. This girl Xue Baoyi had seen in photos¡ªhis company¡¯s new signee, an actress with some natural talent. Little did he know she had paparazzi potential too. ¡°Put it there.¡± Jiang Zhi pointed to the cabinet near the door. Fang Lixiang put the script down, stealing a few more glances, scratching her nose, hunched her shoulders: ¡°Then I won¡¯t disturb you.¡± After saying that, she silently turned around. At the door, she couldn¡¯t help but turn back and sincerely assured, ¡°Director Jiang, President Xue, I will definitely keep your secret.¡± She wouldn¡¯t tell anyone that Director Jiang and President Xue had a fighting-in-bed relationship. Having said that, she successfully exited, making space for ¡®lovers.¡¯ As she walked out, she saw Zhou Xufang squatting in the corner. The urge to leak the news exploded within her. ¡°Xu Fang! Xu Fang!¡± Zhou Xufang lifted her head: ¡°Hmm?¡± Fang Lixiang sprinted over, plopping down beside her, looking excited, actions sneaky, voice vibrating: ¡°Let me tell you, Director Jiang and our boss are having an affair in the lounge.¡± An affair. That word made Zhou Xufang take a whole five seconds to process: ¡°Jiang Zhi and Mr. Xue Baoyi?¡± Fang Lixiang vigorously nodded: ¡°I heard it with my own ears. Don¡¯t tell anyone.¡± She leaned closer, secretly whispered in Zhou Xufang¡¯s ear, ¡°They have a relationship on the bed.¡± Ow, ow! Fang Lixiang¡¯s fujoshi heart was about to explode, imagining two little figures fighting¡ªone with mist-blue hair, the other with gray-white hair¡­ Oh, nosebleed was imminent. Fang Lixiang felt her nose: ¡°I just wonder if they¡¯re friends or just playing around.¡± Saying this, she felt these two gays definitely had a deep connection. Beside her, Zhou Xufang squatted silently, the milk can in her hand tilted unknowingly, spilling milk all over the ground. Crunch! The milk can was crushed by her grip. Fang Lixiang asked what was up. She drank up all the milk in the can, then stomped on it, crushing it, and tossed it into the trash bag: ¡°Time for shooting. I¡¯ll go change.¡± Where was the trash bin? She suddenly felt like kicking something. Oh, there were plenty of trash bins near the parking lot. Walking in the parking lot, Zhou Xufang suddenly paused, then moved behind a pillar. About a hundred meters away, she could hear voices clearly. ¡°You¡¯re meeting Jiang Wei¡¯er?¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± The later voice was familiar to Zhou Xufang¡ªit was Jiang Wei¡¯er¡¯s boyfriend. A woman got off the nanny van, wearing a neatly pressed professional suit, her long hair, reaching her waist, was chestnut-colored, curled into big waves, around thirtyish, not striking in appearance but neat in demeanor. ¡°The set is crowded with nosy people. It¡¯s best you don¡¯t meet privately.¡± Xiao Linsu, wearing a mask with his baseball cap pressed low: ¡°Stay out of my business with her.¡± Unlike his usual gentle demeanor, his eyes were cold, his black coat making him look gloomy and brooding. ¡°I¡¯m your manager; I need to manage your affairs.¡± ¡°Lin Shuang, you¡¯ve forgotten your duties.¡± ¡°Linsu.¡± Xiao Linsu ignored her, just as he was about to step away, the woman anxiously grabbed his suit sleeve, her voice choked with sobs: ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± He stayed silent, shaking off her hand. Zhou Xufang squatted behind the pillar, thinking Xiao Linsu and Jiang Wei¡¯er also had an affair in this parking lot last time. She didn¡¯t understand why people liked having affairs. The woman named Lin Shuang stood there for a while before getting back into the car and leaving. Zhou Xufang stood up and walked to the entrance, giving a trash bin a kick and knocking it over. The next second, she squatted down and diligently picked up the garbage. Chapter 61 - Chapter 61: 061: This pair is full of passion, huh Chapter 61: 061: This pair is full of passion, huh Back on the film set, the sole heir of the fourth generation, Fang Lixiang, was quite shocked by the ¡°affair¡± scandal. So, during her break, she squatted in a corner to play a game to calm her nerves. And the result? Calming her nerves, my ass¡ªshe was about to explode with rage. ¡°Hide behind me.¡± ¡°Move your ass!¡± ¡°Holy crap, can¡¯t you throw your grenades more accurately? You almost blew me up.¡± ¡°Why do I always bump into such noobs day after day?¡± Yes, the champion Chicken King player that she was, she once again encountered teammates who were so bronze they couldn¡¯t be carried. That would have been fine, except noobs love to throw grenades, especially at her. Several close calls nearly ended her. ¡°Ancestor, can you please hide? I get chills down my spine just from you following me,¡± she muttered, fearing a clumsy teammate might accidentally send her to heaven. As she was gripped with fear¡ª ¡°Fang Lixiang.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Wearing headphones, Fang Lixiang couldn¡¯t hear clearly. It took her a while to turn around, then she made a foolish face: ¡°B-, Boss?¡± There stood her ultimate boss¡ªBoss Xue! It was horrifying. She shivered, lost her balance, and landed on her butt. Her hand trembled, she didn¡¯t aim her M249 properly, and the enemy blew her head off with a shot. On the game screen, ¡®I¡¯m Your Ancestor¡¯ lay dead. Game over! Boss Xue glanced at her phone screen and, rather than getting angry, chuckled: ¡°The company didn¡¯t invest in you to play games.¡± To Fang Lixiang, that laugh felt like the chill of death. She hastily removed her headphones and scrambled to her feet with agile limbs, showing her utmost loyalty: ¡°I¡¯ll uninstall the game right now.¡± Because if she failed to appease the big boss, she could kiss her career goodbye. The big boss let out a barely perceptible snort through her nose. Fang Lixiang shivered uncontrollably, thinking, surely the big boss isn¡¯t contemplating eradicating a witness, right? Good Lord, she¡¯s a sole heir! Seriously, how scared could she look? Boss Xue saw she was scared out of her wits and decided not to frighten her further, adopting the demeanor she usually displayed as a big CEO: ¡°Act well and cut down on the gaming.¡± The nodding, groveling, meek person replied: ¡°Yes¡ª¡± Boss Xue glanced over with her noble eyes and then shifted her esteemed footing. Fang Lixiang transformed into a lackey, bowing deeply: ¡°Farewell, Boss.¡± She had just managed a three-step send-off¡ª Boss Xue turned back: ¡°And another thing,¡± her tone suddenly turned fierce, ¡°curse less at the noobs!¡± Fang Xiaodi: ¡°?!¡± Why was the boss mad? She hadn¡¯t called her a noob. After watching the boss leave, Fang Lixiang decided to play another round to calm her nerves and soothe her frightened little heart. Uninstall the game? Hah, she¡¯d never uninstall it in her lifetime. Boss Xue¡¯s secretary, Xiao Zhuang, was a little plump, at five-foot-three and weighing 170 pounds, he waddled like a rolling ball. His only saving grace was his good skin, plump with collagen, resembling an inflated boiled egg¡ªquite distinctive, really. Xiao Zhuang had just received a call from the company president¡¯s office, instructing him to notify the boss of a meeting. The boss started a game as soon as he got into his car, and off he went without saying where. ¡°Mr. Xue.¡± Boss Xue wasn¡¯t having any of it. Xiao Zhuang poked his round, cheerful head from the front seat to the back: ¡°Mr. Xue.¡± Boss Xue was getting annoyed: ¡°I¡¯m playing a game; don¡¯t bother me.¡± Damn it, hardly ten minutes since he told her to focus on acting and there she was caught in PUBG. Xiao Zhuang didn¡¯t dare to push further and secretly took out his phone to play Miracle Nuan Nuan. The car was parked in the quiet basement garage. Boss Xue didn¡¯t have his headphones plugged in, so the game¡¯s sounds were crystal clear, including the cursing of teammates. ¡°Not you again, you noob! I must be cursed with bad luck!¡± Boss Xue was so mad he turned purple: ¡°¡­¡± I¡¯m Your Ancestor. That name¡­ he remembered it well, even adding it as a game friend for the sole purpose of arguments. Undoubtedly, in that round, Fang Lixiang once again perished at the hands of her nemesis. How she kept getting blasted away by the same stunning ¡°Handsome¡± in PUBG was truly a cursed fate. That evening, two pieces of news sent shockwaves through the entertainment world. The first was about the genius director, Jiang Wei¡¯er, acting as a special model for an eighteenth-tier hair salon. The hairstyle she sported gained popularity as soon as it was introduced. The second was the scandal involving Huayu¡¯s vice president Jin Song, who maintained inappropriate relationships with several artists under the label. At seven in the evening, the Fairy Descending salon was swamped with people. The owner and chief hairstylist Cheng Xin was as busy as a dog, still hadn¡¯t managed to eat dinner, and the customers kept coming non-stop¡ªnot all for hairdo¡¯s but for photos too. The poster by the door was rushed and printed without any retouching, but it¡¯s all good because Jiang Wei¡¯er¡¯s face was resilient to any bad shot¡ªjust stick her face on anything and it becomes a money magnet. Thanks to the blessing of the Wealth God, Fairy Descending made it onto the Hot Search list again. ¡°What color should we dye?¡± ¡°The Jiang Wei¡¯er style?¡± ¡°Xiao Chuan, do we still have the misty blue dye?¡± ¡°No more.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t change to a different color?¡± ¡°No need to change, just go to the front desk and queue up for an appointment.¡± This is the celebrity effect. At 8 o¡¯clock in the evening, Fusheng Inn was a dazzle of paper and gold. Behind the screen, geishas were playing the pipa, the food on the table was barely touched, and wine cups were filled one after another. The door pushed open, and the arrival was hurried. Jin Song raised his hand, and the serving woman pouring the drink put down the cup, exiting the room along with the music-playing geishas. ¡°President Jin.¡± Jin Song took a sip of baijiu, slightly tipsy, ¡°What did he say?¡± The secretary stepped forward and said, ¡°The Chairman said you don¡¯t need to go to Huayu for now, and Tang Heng¡¯s financing project is also on hold.¡± Jin Song swirled the drink in his cup and laughed, ¡°What a clever scheme to kill with a borrowed knife.¡± The secretary was silent as if chilled to the bone. Clang¡ª A table of banquet was flipped over entirely, and Jin Song stood up, walking to the old wooden sofa, ¡°Is your contract almost up?¡± Someone else was in the room. He replied, ¡°Twenty-three days left.¡± ¡°Want to get that video back?¡± It was then that the person on the sofa looked up. Jin Song leaned over, placing his hand on his shoulder, ¡°Help me with one last thing, and once it¡¯s done, I¡¯ll destroy all that stuff.¡± Xiao Linsu started his career as a singer and had been with Huayu for ten years, from eighteen to twenty-eight years old. ¡°What do you want me to do?¡± The hand resting on his shoulder slowly moved from his neck to his chest, teasing subtly. ¡°No rush, we¡¯ll talk it through slowly.¡± Click. The metallic sound of a belt buckle was piercing, and Jin Song laughed as he pulled out the long, slender belt from his waist. When Xiao Linsu came out again, it was an hour later, limping slowly. Lin Shuang had just arrived and was stunned for a moment before running up to him. ¡°Linsu¡ª¡± She hadn¡¯t touched him when she was pushed away, ¡°Get lost.¡± He was wearing a mask, clothes unscathed, but he couldn¡¯t straighten up, bent at the waist. Lin Shuang¡¯s eyes were already red, ¡°Can you get your wounds treated first?¡± He looked up, sweat rolling down, ¡°I told you to get lost.¡± Lin Shuang¡¯s outstretched hand froze, ultimately not daring to support him. The phone rang. Xiao Linsu leaned against the wall, staring at the screen for a long time before answering. ¡°Wei¡¯er.¡± His voice was very low, with a faint echo in the empty hallway. ¡°I¡¯ll be back the day after tomorrow.¡± The harsh winter had arrived, ice pellets fell in the evening, a prelude to heavy snow. The wind blew the leaves, howling in the cold outside, too cold¡ªJiang Wei¡¯er stood under a tree, wrapped in a thick down jacket, talking on the phone for a long time. An old voice called her ¡®Fifth Miss.¡¯ ¡°Old Madam is calling for you inside.¡± The messenger was Gui Family, who had served by Old Lady Jiang¡¯s side before she was married. After becoming a widow, Gui Family stayed with Old Lady Jiang in the Jiang Mansion. ¡°I¡¯ll call you back later,¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er ended the call, heading inside, ¡°Has Brother Zhi arrived yet?¡± Gui Family followed with an umbrella, replying from behind, ¡°Not yet. The icy pellets on the road made it slippery and inconvenient; he¡¯ll be late.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er entered the house. Old Madam sat in the place of honor facing south, the eldest son of the big room sat facing east, the second son of the second room sat facing west, and then the grandsons were seated facing north in order. The cadets and those born out of the main line stood. The Jiang Family was always strict with their ranking of seniority. Jiang Xiaolin and Jiang Fuli each called out ¡®Fifth Aunt,¡¯ standing obediently, waiting for Jiang Wei¡¯er to take her seat. She was the most informal one, pulling up a chair directly next to Jiang Weikai, the eldest son of the Jiang family. Old Madam said nothing, and naturally, no one else dared to speak. ¡°Auntie,¡± It was Jiang Fuxi from the fourth branch; she brought over tea, ¡°I wasn¡¯t sure if your tastes had changed, so Sister Xi took the liberty to brew some Huangshan Maofeng for you.¡± Of all the Jiang family, the one most skilled at observing others¡¯ moods was Sister Xi from the fourth branch. Taking her mother¡¯s surname, she had lived cautiously and prudently within the Jiang family for a long time, always acting carefully and steadily. Jiang Wei¡¯er accepted the teacup; it was just the right temperature and didn¡¯t burn the hand, ¡°Thank you for the tea, Sister Xi.¡± Jiang Fuxi smiled and returned to stand beside Old Madam. Chapter 62 - Chapter 62: 062: The Jiang Familys Secret, Jiang Zhis Illness Chapter 62: 062: The Jiang Family¡¯s Secret, Jiang Zhi¡¯s Illness ¡°Last time I saw you was Mid-Autumn Festival last year,¡± Jiang Weikai said with a stern face, ¡°Fifth, what have you been so busy with that you can¡¯t even find time to come back?¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er answered casually, ¡°Not busy with much, just messing around.¡± ¡°Still at the Taekwondo Hall?¡± At this moment, Jiang Weili across the table joined in, seemingly joking, ¡°Big brother, you might not know, but Wei¡¯er has switched careers.¡± Wei Li, who often dealt with political affairs, was a smiling tiger, and his wife, Luo Changfang, a businesswoman from the Luo Family, was diplomatic. The couple had only one daughter, Jiang Fuli, whom they raised to be intelligent and efficient. ¡°Have you returned to the company?¡± Jiang Weikai, who was usually busy, didn¡¯t inquire much about the family matters. He thought that as Fifth was of age, it was time for her to return to the family business. Jiang Wei¡¯er, sipping tea, said evasively, ¡°With my sister-in-law at the company, it¡¯s better I don¡¯t get in the way.¡± Luo Changfang laughed off her nonsense and steered the conversation back, ¡°The entertainment industry is murky. It¡¯s okay for Brother Zhi since he¡¯s a boy, but Wei¡¯er, you need to be cautious.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er put down her teacup. This couple from the second branch¡­ ¡°You entered the entertainment industry?¡± Jiang Weikai finally realized she had switched to an entirely different line of work. Lazily sitting, she responded, ¡°Just assisting someone, not really an insider, just playing around.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï ¡°You are a girl after all¡ª¡± She cut off her elder brother, quickly pleading, ¡°Big brother, I rarely come back, please don¡¯t nag me anymore.¡± Jiang Weikai¡¯s face stiffened, and he dropped the subject. Outside, the old butler, Jiang Chuan came in to announce, ¡°Old Madam, the young master has arrived.¡± Hearing this, Old Lady Jiang got up with the aid of her walking stick and instructed the maidservant beside her, ¡°Ah Gui, go fetch two hand-warming stoves.¡± ¡°Yes, Old Madam.¡± The courtyard door was open, letting bursts of winter wind in, and at this moment, the servants outside cried, ¡°Young Master!¡± Jiang Fuxi stepped forward, received the guests, took over their wind-chilled coats, and handed out a towel, ¡°Xiao Rong, go to Brother Zhi¡¯s room and fetch some clean clothes.¡± Xiao Rong acknowledged. Jiang Zhi, wiping his hands with the towel, walked slowly inside. The room had its door wide open, a brazier burning inside. The Jiang family, quite conservative in their ways, knew he was susceptible to cold; during winter, Old Lady Jiang would always have a brazier lit and several hand-warming stoves ready for him. Old Madam had passed her septuagenarian years, her hair white and hairdo meticulous, making her look spirited, though her mobility was hindered, needing a walking stick to move around. ¡°Brother Zhi, what happened to your hair?¡± As soon as Jiang Zhi entered, Old Madam¡¯s gaze fixed onto him. Jiang Zhi, taking the coat handed to him by a servant and putting it on, replied, ¡°I dyed it.¡± ¡°Just normal, why dye it such an indecent color?¡± Old Madam stared at his blue hair, hardly befitting a nobleman, too plebeian. Jiang Zhi disagreed, ¡°What¡¯s indecent about it?¡± Old Madam scolded him fondly, ¡°Nonsense.¡± He chose a spot nearest the brazier to sit and still felt cold, he drew his clothes tighter, took the tea offered by a servant but before he could drink, a coughing fit came over him. As he coughed, some tea spilled from his cup. ¡°Why such severe coughing?¡± Old Lady Jiang asked, ¡°Your medicine, did you take it on time?¡± His voice hoarse from coughing, ¡°I did.¡± ¡°What does Shiyu say?¡± Covering his mouth with a towel, his eyes tinged red, ¡°The medicine isn¡¯t really working anymore, judging by the time,¡± he said nonchalantly, ¡°my end is probably near.¡± Old Madam scolded, ¡°What nonsense are you talking!¡± She walked over to her grandson leaning on her walking stick, instructed a servant, ¡°No need to set the meal, take Brother Zhi¡¯s soup and medicinal dishes to his room.¡± ¡°Yes, Old Madam.¡± ¡°Fuxi, come help Brother Zhi.¡± Jiang Fuxi stepped forward to assist, but Jiang Zhi dodged, laboriously dragging his steps toward the stairs, his cough still audible from afar. Jiang Fuxi paused briefly, then followed upstairs. Jiang Zhi¡¯s bedroom was on the second floor, the room with the best light. Due to his frail health and aversion to cold, the floor was covered with warm jade. Old Madam doted on him, moving all sorts of fine objects into his room, including the most paintings and vases. Jiang Zhi, refusing assistance, laid down by himself. His pale, delicate face struggled for breath, not to mention how frail he looked. Old Madam sitting by the bed asked, ¡°Feeling any better?¡± He responded weakly, ¡°Yeah.¡± After his response, he started coughing again. Old Madam, both angry and distressed, helped smooth his breathing, chiding him, ¡°Don¡¯t scare this old lady by pretending to be so weak; you¡¯re not going to die.¡± Jiang Zhi replied weakly, ¡°Qin Shiyu said all my internal organs are ruined.¡± ¡°Even if they are completely ruined, I can still keep you breathing with medicine,¡± his grandma retorted. He grunted, breathing heavily, lacking the energy to speak. Seeing him like this, Old Lady Jiang spared him further lecturing, ¡°Fuxi, go to the kitchen and hurry them up. Why hasn¡¯t Brother Zhi¡¯s soup been served yet?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go right now.¡± After Jiang Fuxi left, she closed the door behind her. With everyone else gone, Old Lady Jiang spoke to Jiang Zhi, ¡°Xiaolin and Fuli have lately been increasingly unrestrained.¡± ¡°Uh-huh, I¡¯ve heard,¡± he responded listlessly, his pale-blue hair limp over his brows, casting scattered shadows in his eyes, which carried a hint of lazy despondence. ¡°You¡¯ll just let them mess with the family business? You don¡¯t plan to come back and take control?¡± He slouched bonelessly, ¡°It¡¯s cold, I can¡¯t manage.¡± ¡°You just trouble this old bag of bones then,¡± the Old Madam scolded, no longer indulging his recklessness, ¡°When spring comes, I¡¯ll transfer your father¡¯s portion to you. Grandma is old; one foot is already in the coffin. The road ahead, Brother Zhi, you must walk on your own.¡± The Old Master Jiang had left a will when he passed away, dividing the family estate into six parts¡ªone for each of his five children and his wife. However, it was not equally divided, nor did he appoint a head of the family, creating restlessness among them all. Only the youngest, Jiang Zhi was sick, and had become a hands-off manager. He still had no proper concern, ¡°Both my feet are in the coffin, yet I can¡¯t die. You, on the other hand, still have life left.¡± Old Madam chuckled and scolded him for being a rascal. ¡°You may let other matters slide, but for those involving the Lu Family, you must handle them personally.¡± Speaking of the Lu Family sparked a hint of interest in Jiang Zhi, ¡°Did the Lu Family secure that piece of land?¡± ¡°They did, and thanks to your maneuver, they paid extra, which really annoyed them,¡± Old Lady Jiang said with a laugh, her eyes revealing undeniable pleasure and satisfaction. Among the Four Great Families, the Jiang and Lu Families were like fire and water, famously at odds with each other in the Imperial City. They had been covertly and overtly fighting for over a decade, yet why and for whom they fought remained a mystery. Even Jiang Zhi was kept in the dark. ¡°Grandma, give me some straight answers today,¡± he looked up at the Old Lady, ¡°What exactly is the grudge between you and the Lu Family?¡± This required personal involvement indeed. Truly curious. He joked in a casual tone, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that you once had a special relationship with the deceased Old Sir Lu.¡± Such words, only he dared to utter. Old Lady Jiang glared at him, ¡°Once you take over the Jiang Family, Grandma will tell you everything.¡± He harrumphed, dropping the conversation. ¡°Is the trouble with the Jin brothers your doing?¡± ¡°Mm.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it from now on,¡± Old Madam stood up leaning on her cane, ¡°Those who bully the Jiang Family really think this old woman is dead.¡± Outside, dark clouds obscured the moon. The Lu Family ancestors had started with the jade business, possessing wealth comparable to the Jiang Family. They had ventured into the pharmaceutical industry starting from Old Sir Lu¡¯s generation. The Lu Family tower was located in the most prosperous area in Imperial City, the tallest building in the city, offering a panoramic view of the city¡¯s neon lights from the top floor. ¡°Miss Second.¡± A young girl sat in the boss chair, squinting and napping, not bothering to open her eyes, she asked, ¡°Did you find out?¡± ¡°The one competing with us was indeed the Young Master of the Jiang Family,¡± said the secretary approaching her, impeccably dressed, his hair neatly combed. ¡°Somehow he got wind that we must obtain that plot of land, so he deliberately doubled the auction price.¡± The girl opened her eyes. Her eyes were long and sharp, her face small, her arched eyebrows spirited, her appearance exquisite, her demeanor striking. Despite her youthful appearance, barely in her early twenties, her single eyelids and lustrous black pupils exuded an assertive presence. Yet a slight upward curve at the corners of her lips added a touch of girl-next-door charm and cleanliness. She rubbed her brow, annoyed, ¡°This Jiang Zhi is really bothersome.¡± She muttered, then lowered her head to check her watch, ¡°It¡¯s nine o¡¯clock.¡± The secretary was momentarily puzzled by her half-statement. ¡°His radio show is starting.¡± She then pushed aside the project files worth hundreds of millions on her table and turned on the radio on her tablet. ¡°I really like a passage by Wang Xiaobo¡ªI give you my entire soul, along with its quirks, moods, light and darkness, and a thousand and eight hundred flaws. It¡¯s truly annoying, with only one redeemable quality¡ªits love for you.¡± The male voice on the radio was warm and deep, intoxicating like wine, like the wind in April, like a cello softly playing by the ear. ¡°Good evening, I¡¯m Zhou Qingrang.¡± The secretary, oblivious to the allure of the voice, was puzzled. Miss Second had recently become a fan of a radio host named Zhou, what was the term for it? Oh, a voice fetish. Chapter 63 - Chapter 63: 063: Jiang Zhi just became a father like that Chapter 63: 063: Jiang Zhi just became a father like that ¡°` The dead of night was cold and silent, with the winter wind biting fiercely. ¡°Old Madam, Old Madam!¡± Outside, Gui Family¡¯s lady called out in a frantic tone. Old Lady Jiang got dressed and rose to her feet, ¡°What¡¯s all this noise in the middle of the night?¡± ¡°Old Madam, the young master is coughing up blood.¡± Outside the room, the first snowfall of winter began to flutter down with white, grey-white snowflakes. It had been eagerly anticipated for days and had finally arrived. ¡°What¡¯s going on out there?¡± The servants outside replied, ¡°They say the young master¡¯s chronic illness has flared up, and he has coughed up quite a bit of blood.¡± Afterward, Luo Changfang called for Fuli. Jiang Fuli got up, put on a coat, and went to open the door. Luo Changfang ordered the servants to stand guard at the door, entered the room, sat down, and poured a cup of tea, ¡°I had someone check Brother Zhi¡¯s medical records, and there are some issues with his internal organs.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã? Every year was the same, come winter, the sole scion of the third room would be hanging between life and death, with not a single one of his organs in good health, yet somehow he kept grasping at life. ¡°Not long ago, Dr. Hong from the clinic mentioned some drugs that, if taken for a long period, could lead to cardiopulmonary failure.¡± The lamp on the wall was old, and its dim light fell on Jiang Fuli¡¯s face. She shared a resemblance with Luo Changfang, about three or four points worth¡ªplump lips, deep-set eyes, and a facial structure that was sharp and distinct. When combined, however, they possessed an androgynous charm. In the Jiang Family, the most business-savvy was the first house¡¯s Jiang Xiaolin, but when it came to thoroughness and shrewdness, Jiang Fuli was by no means inferior. ¡°Do you suspect something about Brother Zhi¡¯s illness?¡± She did suspect something, ¡°That fox of his has become too cunning for his own good, I have to be wary.¡± If he wasn¡¯t cunning, he would already be a ghost. ¡°Have you had it tested?¡± She hummed in affirmation but did not elaborate, turning instead to instruct the servants outside, ¡°Go take a look and see if it¡¯s true or false.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± At three in the morning, Jiang Zhi was taken to the hospital, Qin Shiyu left at three thirty, and Xue Bingxue arrived on his heels. He took one look at the blood-stained tissues in the trash can and knew what was happening, ¡°How many pills have you taken?¡± ¡°Three.¡± Xue Bingxue immediately stiffened his face, which looked no older than eighteen, ¡°Have you no regard for your life?¡± The medicine was still in the developmental phase, with severe side effects. One pill was enough to sap his strength for a week, but he wasn¡¯t afraid to die, taking three at once. He said nonchalantly, ¡°I cough up blood every winter, it won¡¯t kill me.¡± But it would damage the liver and lungs! And could cause infertility! Xue Bingxue wanted to scold him but wasn¡¯t good at it and couldn¡¯t win against him, so he glared instead, ¡°Has someone in the Jiang Family grown suspicious?¡± He hummed in response, having vomited blood earlier, his face now as white as paper, ¡°Without Jiang Family¡¯s support, Jin Song wouldn¡¯t dare tamper with things over my head.¡± The attempted seduction was just a front; there were two groups that night. The first was to divert attention; the second was there to test his mettle. So, he coughed up blood to put those people ¡®at ease.¡¯ ¡°Brother Zhi,¡± Xue Bingxue said with a seriousness that made him seem like a little old man, ¡°Do you really like that girl with the facial mask?¡± Jiang Zhi choked. ¡°` Why are you suddenly asking this?! ¡°If you really like her and want to spend the rest of your life with her, don¡¯t recklessly take medicine anymore,¡± Xue Bingxue said, ¡°Brother Zhi, you need to start cherishing your life.¡± Among this group, Xue Bingxue was the oldest, despite having the face of an eighteen-year-old and being cowardly in front of the girl he had secretly adored for over a decade. But his thoughts were always the most comprehensive and mature¡ªhis principles so upright that even in this dark world, he could find a large patch of pure land. Jiang Zhi was different. He had no principles, no bottom line, was harsh on others, and even harsher on himself. He didn¡¯t value life, didn¡¯t fear death¡ªgetting involved for fun when interested, and resorting to taking medicine when bored. He cared neither for himself nor for others¡ªa person who was both righteous and wicked, acting on a whim. He once said something that Xue Bingxue always remembered. ¡°Dead is dead, killed is killed.¡± The former referred to Jiang Zhi himself, while the latter referred to all the people he didn¡¯t care about. But this time, Xue Bingxue¡¯s words had stunned him. He needed to start cherishing his life¡­ He had to stop treating life as a game, stop playing with it for applause. He started fearing death because of Zhou Xufang. After a long while, he said to Xue Bingxue, ¡°Don¡¯t prescribe me any more medicine from now on.¡± Snow had fallen all night, and by morning, the world was enveloped in a clean, white layer. The snow in the Imperial City always fell fast and hard, with the wind turning it into an apocalyptic spectacle. At noon, Ah Wan had finished eating and came over, shook off the snow on his body, and waited at the doorway until the cold dampness had dissipated before entering the ward. Jiang Zhi lay there, looking out the window. Ah Wan thought he might be pondering life. ¡°Boss, would you like a bowl of hearty soup?¡± He set the soup he brought on the cabinet and highly recommended it, ¡°My mom has been simmering it all morning.¡± It wasn¡¯t an exaggeration¡ªhis mother¡¯s soup-making skills could rival those of a five-star chef, and it was all thanks to Jiang Zhi. Ever since the kidney transplant, his mother had treated Jiang Zhi like her own son, and she would worry more than anyone else whenever Jiang Zhi was hospitalized, thinking of all ways to nourish his body, hence mastering the art of soup-making. His mother, Ms. Song, might have forgotten that although it was Jiang Zhi who paid for that kidney, her own son had signed a thirty-year indenture. Ah Wan had grown used to it and was no longer sad. He filled a large bowl with soup and brought it over. Jiang Zhi maintained his position, not moving an inch. ¡°Go and arrange my discharge.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not advisable. With your current condition, you can¡¯t be reckless. It¡¯s snowing heavily outside, and it¡¯s cold. It¡¯s better if you stay in the hospital.¡± Don¡¯t go out and risk dying young from the cold. ¡°When I tell you to go, you go.¡± His look was as cold as the early winter¡¯s snow outside. Ah Wan shivered from his frostiness, shrank his neck, and moved back. ¡°I daren¡¯t. Old Lady Jiang said this morning when she left, to make sure I keep an eye on you.¡± Look at him, his employer¡¯s face pale with just a touch of red¡ªthe spitting image of someone on their deathbed. He dared not let him go out. After giving it some thought, Ah Wan asked, ¡°Do you want to be discharged because of Miss Zhou?¡± His employer was shameless enough to use his illness as an excuse, insisting that poor Miss Zhou, who was struggling to make ends meet, invite him to a meal. Jiang Zhi remained silent and just used his enchanting peach blossom eyes to casually shoot out cold air. Ah Wan moved back further. ¡°How about you tell Miss Zhou that you¡¯re ill and can¡¯t make it?¡± ¡°That won¡¯t do.¡± His tone was uncompromising, leaving no room for negotiation. Ah Wan racked his brains. ¡°Boss, Miss Zhou is such a nice person. If she knew you were hospitalized, she would surely come to see you. Nowadays, girls can¡¯t stand the ¡®beauty trap¡¯ or ¡®suffering act¡¯.¡± Hmm, comrade Lin Wanwan is a collector of Korean drama tropes. Although not the sharpest, she understands much more than most when it comes to matters of men and women. Jiang Zhi was silent for a moment. Ah Wan continued to persuade. ¡°The weather isn¡¯t good today, and since the restaurant hasn¡¯t been booked yet, it¡¯s the perfect opportunity to arrange another time with Miss Zhou. If Miss Zhou comes to visit you at the hospital, you¡¯ll have another chance to see her.¡± Indeed¡ª After a moment of consideration, Jiang Zhi took out his phone and sent a WeChat message to Zhou Xufang. ¡°I¡¯m sick.¡± Then three minutes went by, ten minutes passed, twenty minutes elapsed¡­ And she still hadn¡¯t replied! Miss Zhou, smacked in the face: ¡°¡­¡± Jiang Zhi threw his phone onto the table, his eyes seemed to melt with the heavy snow outside: ¡°Didn¡¯t you say she would come to the hospital to see me?¡± Ah Wan scratched his head, trying to appear as sincere and innocent as possible: ¡°Maybe she¡¯s busy and didn¡¯t see the WeChat message. Why don¡¯t you call her?¡± Jiang Zhi kicked the blanket off his feet, turned over to lie down, and sulked as if he were holding a grudge against someone. Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± The mood swings of a boy in unrequited love, indeed so fickle and childish. Let¡¯s see how long you can keep it up! Less than thirty seconds later¡ª ¡°Cough cough cough cough cough¡­¡± He coughed and wheezed, propped up his sickly body to sit up, drank a few sips of soup, then listlessly reached for the water cup on the cabinet, took a sip, and casually grabbed his phone. Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± Ah, men. Pretending to know nothing, Ah Wan sneakily glanced at his boss¡¯s phone. He had saved her name as a Zhou Xufang, at the very top of the contact list. The phone rang for a while before it was picked up. ¡°Hello.¡± Over the phone, the wind was louder than her voice; she must have been outside. Jiang Zhi coughed, cleared his throat: ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± ¡°I know it¡¯s you.¡± Hmm, obedient enough. Jiang Zhi leaned against the pillows, his bones felt as soft as a delicate patient who needed tender care. He asked her, a bit annoyed: ¡°Why aren¡¯t you checking WeChat?¡± Zhou Xufang said: ¡°I¡¯m distributing flyers.¡± ¡°¡­¡± How many jobs is she working! She doesn¡¯t even rest in such heavy snow. He coughed a few times: ¡°I¡¯m hospitalized.¡± His voice sounded weak, his tone quite pampered, as if saying: I¡¯m sick! How dare you not comply with my wishes? Upon hearing this, Zhou Xufang immediately asked: ¡°Are you sick? Is it serious?¡± ¡°Cough cough cough cough cough¡­¡± He replied weakly, ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s serious.¡± Zhou Xufang decided on the spot: ¡°Then I¡¯ll come see you after I¡¯m done handing out flyers.¡± Why wait until after handing out flyers?! Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t wait: ¡°You¡ª¡± Now! Come! See! Me! But she didn¡¯t wait for him to finish speaking, hastily interrupted: ¡°The foreman is here, I have to hang up.¡± Then there was a series of beeping sounds. Jiang Zhi, who just spat blood last night and felt like doing so again: ¡°¡­¡± This feeling, it was like being kicked in the chest by a grass mud horse; pain was secondary, the main thing was¡ªit hurt his pride. Crash! Jiang Zhi threw his phone hard onto the cabinet. ¡°Lin Wanwan.¡± Ah Wan¡¯s scalp tingled with fear, but luckily, his phone rang just in time: ¡°My mom is video calling.¡± He turned his back to answer the video call from Ms. Song, ¡°Mom!¡± You truly are a Guanyin saving the suffering! On the phone screen, there was Ms. Song¡¯s face, round as if drawn with a compass, with a head full of fashionable instant noodle curls, and a girl¡¯s hair clip despite being close to sixty. ¡°Did you give Jiang Zhi the soup?¡± Ms. Song asked about Jiang Zhi as soon as she spoke. Ah Wan nodded and shook his head, his eyes carrying the grievance of a son: ¡°I did.¡± Although Ms. Song had a girly heart, she had quite a fierce temper: ¡°What are you shaking at? Move aside, don¡¯t block my camera.¡± This is one¡¯s own mother, one¡¯s own mother! Ah Wan silently moved his head out of the camera¡¯s view, letting Jiang Zhi appear on screen. The lioness¡¯s face from a second ago transformed to that of a blooming flower: ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Ah, Ms. Song was a face-con, switching male idols every three days, but Jiang Zhi had been favored for two years. Jiang Zhi called her auntie. ¡°Are you feeling better?¡± Ms. Song¡¯s eyes looked as though they could squeeze out water with their tenderness. Jiang Zhi, not too close but polite and patient: ¡°Much better.¡± ¡°I put some warming and supplementing herbs in the soup I stewed for you; you should drink more.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± That¡¯s when, in the video, a rooster crowed. Then Ms. Song¡¯s round face moved away from the screen, revealing a chicken¡¯s head. Ms. Song holding the chicken: ¡°Shuangxi, come and bow to your daddy.¡± Jiang Zhi, who suddenly became a daddy: ¡°¡­¡± He barely recognized that chicken; it had plumped up more than a size since Zhou Xufang had given it to him, now dressed in a pink skirt, wearing a red bow tie, and a green head flower, looking like a festive and comical mascot. Ah Wan explained on the side: ¡°My mom named your pet chicken Shuangxi, and made a bunch of little skirts for it.¡± No matter how many times he stated that it was a rooster, it still couldn¡¯t stop Ms. Song¡¯s overflowing maternal love and dressing habits. The Shuangxi in the video was excited, fluttering its wings and clucking. Ms. Song said Shuangxi was bowing to daddy. Jiang Zhi, possibly infertile and now a rooster¡¯s daddy: ¡°¡­¡± Daddy? His heart felt as if it was being scratched by chicken claws, it was painful and irritating, and oddly enough, it itched. After hanging up the video call, the pressure in the sickroom remained low. Ah Wan felt it too, almost unable to breathe; perhaps it was time to go to the restroom. And as Ah Wan took his fourth trip to the toilet, Shuangxi¡¯s ¡®mommy,¡¯ Zhou Xufang, finally arrived. Chapter 64 - Chapter 64: 064: Cant Help But Confess Chapter 64: 064: Can¡¯t Help But Confess While Ah Wan was making her fourth trip to the bathroom, Shuangxi¡¯s ¡°mom¡± Zhou Xufang finally arrived. She wore a fluffy hat and her black down jacket wrapped her from head to toe. ¡°Are you feeling better?¡± As soon as Jiang Zhi heard the voice, he turned around immediately, the corner of his mouth curved for a second before he suppressed it, and he looked at the door instead of her: ¡°No.¡± She was still carrying big and small packages. Ah Wan took the initiative to take the items: ¡°Miss Zhou, what are these?¡± ¡°Health supplements.¡± Ah Wan counted them, a total of eight boxes: ¡°Are they all for my boss?¡± Yes, he asked knowingly on purpose. Zhou Xufang touched the pompom on her wool hat and nodded. Jiang Zhi sat up from the hospital bed. He was particular, disliking the hospital¡¯s sick clothes for being unclean, and wore pajamas instead. His misty blue short hair was tousled and a strand stood up on his forehead. In this state, he had no aggressiveness at all. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï ¡°Do you have too much money? Why buy all these things?¡± Listening closely, one could hear a hint of smugness and pleasure in the scolding tone. Zhou Xufang said, ¡°To replenish your body.¡± Just like that¡­ his anger was soothed, the pique he wagered was gone, and the spring scenery burst crazily from his eyes again: ¡°How much do you earn a day from handing out flyers?¡± She answered precisely: ¡°Usually 150 yuan, but with the snow today, it¡¯s 300 yuan.¡± She had only a few flyers left when he called her, so that¡¯s why she waited to finish distributing them before coming. ¡°And how much did you spend on these things?¡± ¡°Eight thousand four hundred and thirty-seven.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± He wanted to shove his card at her, to save worrying about her spending recklessly without money. ¡°Just come by yourself next time, don¡¯t buy anything else.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°Okay.¡± She thought, she couldn¡¯t really come empty-handed, it would be impolite not to bring anything for a visit. ¡°Why are you standing so far away? Come sit closer.¡± Zhou Xufang was too shy to sit on his hospital bed, so she moved a chair over, placing it not too far away from him. ¡°Are you hot?¡± The room had the heater on. She was bundled up tight in her hat and down jacket, her cheeks showing a layer of red, though it was uncertain if it was from the heat or the wind outside. Zhou Xufang shook her head: ¡°Not hot.¡± Jiang Zhi turned the temperature down by two degrees anyway and put on his coat: ¡°Do you want soup? Ah Wan¡¯s mother made it, it tastes very good.¡± ¡°I do.¡± He served her a big bowl, scooping all the precious medicinal ingredients and meat into it for her. Zhou Xufang said thank you, holding the bowl as she consumed the soup and meat. She couldn¡¯t help herself and asked, ¡°Didn¡¯t Mr. Xue come to keep you company?¡± Was Jiang Zhi dating Mr. Xue? These past few days, she had been contemplating this question, while working, even while sleeping, to the extent that it disturbed her sleep. Jiang Zhi stared at her frowning little face: ¡°Are you talking about Xue Baoyi or Xue Bingxue?¡± ¡°Mr. Xue Baoyi.¡± He shifted his position, leaning against the pillow sideways: ¡°Why would I want him to accompany me?¡± Her frown deepened, the look on her face confused and troubled, and after a long while she murmured softly, ¡°Isn¡¯t he your boyfriend?¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± He was so choked up that a rush of blood surged to his face, turning his otherwise pale complexion a bit rosy: ¡°Who told you he¡¯s my boyfriend?¡± Zhou Xufang said nothing then, she definitely couldn¡¯t betray Fang Lixiang. He gasped for air, propping himself up to sit straight: ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± The expression on her face was simply¡­ a mess, looking bewildered, stupid, cute, and perplexed. He had been annoyed with her lack of understanding, but as he watched her face, he felt an urge to poke and touch it. In the end, he was neither angry nor willing to scold her, his voice softened by several degrees: ¡°Did someone tell you that I am gay?¡± She nodded. Jiang Zhi was silent for a moment, then his tone became suddenly serious: ¡°I¡¯m not, currently.¡± Currently? Zhou Xufang looked up at him with a completely baffled expression. He grew impatient and blurted out: ¡°I don¡¯t like anyone else, I¡ª¡± Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. ¡°Knock! Knock! Knock!¡± The words Jiang Zhi was about to say were all stifled in his throat, leaving him so frustrated he felt like hitting someone, his temper flaring up: ¡°What is it!¡± ¡°Mr. Jiang,¡± the head nurse was cowed by his shouting, ¡°It¡¯s, it¡¯s time. We need to draw some blood.¡± Jiang Zhi glanced at Zhou Xufang; she still had the same expression as before. Irritably, he ran his fingers through his hair, ¡°Come in.¡± The head nurse pushed the door open and entered; the atmosphere was tense, and she dared not breathe too heavily. Mr. Jiang¡¯s temper was well-known among the hospital¡¯s doctors and nurses; he wasn¡¯t the type to make things difficult for people on purpose, but whenever he looked coldly with those beautiful eyes of his, it felt like a barrage of ice shards pounding down¡ªit didn¡¯t kill you, but it pierced your heart. At this moment, the patriarch was wearing a stern face. ¡°Left hand or right hand?¡± With trembling hands, the head nurse placed the medical tray down, ¡°Right hand.¡± Jiang Zhi lay back and stretched out his arm, rolling up his sleeve. His veins were thin, but his skin was so pale it made them clearly visible. As the needle pierced his skin, he watched Zhou Xufang, who was watching his hand. Her expression was grave, ¡°Does it hurt?¡± He had been a ¡°sick seedling¡± for more than twenty years and was used to all sorts of pain, numb to it all, but this was the first time someone had asked him if it hurt. The question made his heart itch. ¡°It hurts,¡± he looked at her, ¡°Blow on it, and it won¡¯t hurt anymore.¡± Zhou Xufang, as if realizing something, turned her head, ¡°Nurse sister, could you blow on it for him?¡± The head nurse: ¡°¡­¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Is this an ice sculpture? Completely unresponsive! Of course, the head nurse didn¡¯t dare blow on Jiang Zhi. She quickly drew two tubes of blood and scampered off. Zhou Xufang only sat for about twenty minutes before she left. Before going, she made plans with Jiang Zhi to eat together again the next evening. She seemed to be in a good mood, unusually greeting the patients she met at the door and even helped a female patient on her way to the restroom carry her IV drip. Jiang Zhi wasn¡¯t gay and wasn¡¯t friends with Mr. Xue Baoyi. She had to hurry and tell Fang Lixiang not to continue the misunderstanding. After Zhou Xufang left, Ah Wan approached the bedside. ¡°Boss,¡± he couldn¡¯t hold back, ¡°were you trying to confess just now?¡± Jiang Zhi neither admitted nor denied, fixated on the door, his mind elsewhere. Ah Wan considered for a moment, ¡°I think it¡¯s inappropriate.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyelids twitched, and his gaze turned to him. Although his employer was fussy and had a bad temper, Ah Wan had professional ethics; he was about to offer his unsolicited advice. ¡°I heard that actress called Lixiang say that Miss Zhou¡¯s IQ is over 130, which is very high, probably exchanged for EQ.¡± Lin Wanwan, with an IQ below 100, at this moment felt an inexplicable confidence. ¡°Plus, you see, Miss Zhou is completely clueless about you. If you confess hurriedly, you might scare her off.¡± Jiang Zhi pondered. Lifting his eyelids, he asked somewhat unnaturally, ¡°So, what do I do?¡± Ah Wan¡¯s face had an air of profound wisdom, ¡°Boss, you need to boil the frog in warm water, gradually and slowly infiltrate, until she gets used to your countless kindnesses, and then she can¡¯t leave you anymore.¡± He felt like he could be a relationship expert¡ªhe was particularly confident, ¡°I watched an idol drama a few days ago, and that¡¯s how the male lead got the girl.¡± Although he wasn¡¯t very sharp and his brain was quite simple, Lin Wanwan had been watching Korean dramas with Ms. Song since she was ten years old; she didn¡¯t get the nickname ¡®harvester¡¯ for nothing. When it came to matters of men and women, Jiang Zhi was a mere fledgling. ¡°Cough cough,¡± Jiang Zhi cleared his throat in a feigned manner and casually asked, ¡°What¡¯s that drama called?¡± ¡°The Overbearing CEO Falls in Love with Me.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± He must be really desperate to believe the nonsense from Lin Wanwan. Contemplating for three seconds¡ª ¡°Send it to me.¡± The next day, the snow continued, covering the path as before. Jiang Zhi and Zhou Xufang had agreed to meet at the porridge shop, the one where Zhou Xufang worked. Jiang Zhi had chosen the place, and why didn¡¯t he choose somewhere more upscale, with more style? Because he wanted to save her money. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t allow Jiang Zhi to come and pick her up; they scheduled to meet at 6:30 PM at the entrance of the porridge shop. Ah Wan thought his employer had issues; he had him drive over at 4 PM, didn¡¯t go inside the shop, just waiting in the freezing snow. The car parked across from the porridge shop, Jiang Zhi looked at his watch and asked Ah Wan, ¡°What time is it?¡± He suspected his watch was broken. ¡°Boss, it¡¯s only 5 PM.¡± Ah Wan couldn¡¯t help but comment, ¡°You¡¯re here too early.¡± Jiang Zhi flicked his eyelashes. Ah Wan immediately shut up, turned his head to look at the swirling snowflakes, the world draped in a silver veil, visibility obscured. Suddenly, he spotted a familiar figure and exclaimed, ¡°Ah! Miss Zhou is delivering orders!¡± At the entrance of the porridge shop, Zhou Xufang had just come out, wearing an eye-catching, delivery staff-exclusive, yellow helmet. Without even an umbrella, Jiang Zhi got out of the car, called out to Zhou Xufang, and then, amidst the falling snow, he stood across the street, waving his hand at her. She turned back and saw him, saw the snow on his shoulders, saw the matte black buttons on his coat, saw his smile¡ªfaint, but pleasant, like a youth hurriedly returning home. Then, from behind him on the road, a sedan crossed the zebra crossing and suddenly accelerated. The bag in Zhou Xufang¡¯s hand dropped. ¡°Jiang Zhi!¡± Chapter 65 - Chapter 65: 065: Xu Fangs vest has fallen off Chapter 65: 065: Xu Fang¡¯s vest has fallen off ¡°Jiang Zhi!¡± Ah Wan cried out ¡°Watch out!¡± Jiang Zhi instinctively turned around, just as a fast-moving car crashed into his field of vision, getting closer and closer¡­ ¡°Boss!¡± He only managed to move one step before his waist was seized, and then his whole body fell backward, rolling twice amidst the dizzying world, as the falling snow mingled with the reflection of a yellow helmet in his eyes. The wind howled in his ears as the black sedan nearly brushed his back, quickly disappearing from view. After that, he let the owner of the yellow helmet press down on him, let her crash wildly through his thoughts. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Zhou Xufang called his name twice. But he showed no sign of hearing, his gaze fixated on her. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã? Zhou Xufang¡¯s hat was askew, snow clung to the tip of her eyebrow. Ice chips hung from her eyelashes, trembling violently, as she frantically wrinkled her little face, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you speaking? Are you hurt somewhere?¡± She was still kneeling, a complete mess. Jiang Zhi sat on the snow, equally disheveled, covered in snow. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± He didn¡¯t respond but extended a hand, reaching out to her. His long, slender fingers were slightly curved, covering half of her face, leaving only a pair of eyes to lock with his. Zhou Xufang suddenly pulled back. Jiang Zhi caught her hand, ¡°Is it you?¡± ¡°What?¡± After asking, she looked down, avoiding his gaze as her hat drooped, concealing half of her already small face. Jiang Zhi did not speak again, pulling at her hand and, with a tug, embraced her. Without thinking, Zhou Xufang raised her hand¡ª ¡°Xu Fang,¡± he bowed his head, his voice a low murmur next to her ear, ¡°don¡¯t hit, I¡¯m still sick.¡± Xu Fang. He called her Xu Fang. In the freezing cold, the bone-chilling wind carried only the warmth of his breath by her ear, ¡°Count to ten, and I¡¯ll let go.¡± His chin rested on her shoulder. She smelled of milk, just like that professional errand runner. One, two, three¡­ Zhou Xufang lowered her hand, silently counting. Jiang Zhi was still sitting on the snowy ground, the piercing cold seeping through the thick layers of clothing, his hands holding her, trembling faintly, ¡°In such a short time, how did you get to my side?¡± She wasn¡¯t used to being this close, her whole body stiff, ¡°I ran here.¡± ¡°In just three seconds?¡± ¡°I run fast.¡± She paused, ¡°You were also close to me.¡± Jiang Zhi coughed by her ear, his breath growing heavier, ¡°But you were clearly across the street.¡± ¡°The snow was heavy; you saw wrong.¡± ¡°Zhou Xufang¡ª¡± His words were cut off, ¡°The count is over.¡± Then, she pushed him away, stepping back to straighten her hat, ¡°Even from across the street, it would take a minute to run; you saw wrong.¡± Having said that, she assumed her usual indifferent expression. Jiang Zhi steadied himself on the lamppost and stood up, brushing off the snow from his body, then lifted his head, his eyes blazing as he looked at her. For the first time, Zhou Xufang felt as though all her pretenses had been stripped away, leaving nowhere to hide. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± She lowered her head, and the oversized yellow helmet slipped, covering her forehead. Her voice was muffled as she muttered, ¡°My hand hurts.¡± Shuangjiang had said, girls should know how to show vulnerability. Sure enough, Jiang Zhi was thrown into complete chaos, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± he asked, visibly flustered, ¡°Where does it hurt? Did you fall?¡± Zhou Xufang gently shook her arm, purposely swaying it close to him, ¡°I bumped it just now.¡± ¡°That was a feigned injury strategy.¡± Zhou Xufang used it for the first time. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the hospital.¡± Jiang Zhi reached out his hand, intending to pull hers, but fearing he might hurt her, he instead pulled her hood and called back, ¡°Lin Wanwan, why don¡¯t you go start the car!¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± The dinner, again, did not happen. Jiang Zhi took Zhou Xufang to the hospital for X-rays, assuring himself that her bones were not injured, and only after all of this did he feel at ease. By the time they were done, it was already past nine. In reality, her arm didn¡¯t hurt at all, but Jiang Zhi insisted that the doctor wrap it with a bandage and repeatedly glared at the doctor, demanding assurance that not a single hair on her head was harmed before he was willing to leave the orthopedic department with her. Zhou Xufang felt even guiltier because of this. She was still carrying the helmet of the delivery person, hanging her head with a particularly listless look, ¡°It¡¯s late. I should go back.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take you.¡± Zhou Xufang refused: ¡°It¡¯s cold outside, don¡¯t escort me.¡± Jiang Zhi was reluctant, looking at her ¡®pitiable¡¯ state, he couldn¡¯t bear to refuse, ¡°Then, I¡¯ll walk you to the door.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Ah Wan behind them: ¡°¡­¡± What to do, he felt that the boss was acting weak. Jiang Zhi took Zhou Xufang to the door, a five-minute walk that, because he was ¡®gasping every three steps and coughing every five steps, frail and breathless, tenderly gasping¡¯, took a full fifteen minutes. Once outside the hospital entrance, Zhou Xufang would not let him escort her any further. The heavy snow had just ceased, and everything outside was covered in a vast white expanse. Zhou Xufang stood at the bottom of the steps and after saying goodbye to Jiang Zhi, she earnestly warned him, ¡°The car that hit you had its plate covered by snow. Be careful, this was no accident.¡± Jiang Zhi stood higher up, bending over to listen to her, ¡°I know.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯m leaving.¡± Then she turned around. ¡°Xu Fang,¡± he grasped her hand that was not wrapped in bandages. She cocked her head to look at him, ¡°Hm?¡± Her hand was still as cold as ice, but it was different from before; she no longer instinctively pushed him away. Of course, she still guarded herself tightly, not revealing a single drop. ¡°You can say anything to me,¡± he said. Zhou Xufang looked at him, her gaze vacant. Jiang Zhi stepped down the stairs, ¡°Do you understand what I mean?¡± She shook her head. Jiang Zhi reached out his hand to cover her head, touching the helmet on her head. ¡°You¡¯re different from others. You can do anything to me,¡± including taking his candy, hitting his people, or even, pressing down on his body. All these were permissible; he thought about it, and it seemed there wasn¡¯t anything he couldn¡¯t tolerate her doing, including hiding or deceiving. Zhou Xufang, being unaccustomed to physical contact, stepped back, her cheeks flushed red by the cold wind. She blinked and said, ¡°My hair is messy.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Was her hair the point! ¡°If it¡¯s messy, let it be,¡± he ruffled her hair on her forehead forcefully and then pulled the hood of his jacket over her helmet, ¡°Go back now, and call me when you get there.¡± Zhou Xufang was silent for a while, ¡°Goodbye, Jiang Zhi.¡± Then, she walked away. Jiang Zhi stood at the hospital entrance for a long time, waiting until she was far away, and he could not bear it anymore, bending over and coughing violently. Ah Wan stepped forward, ¡°Boss, it¡¯s windy outside, let¡¯s go in.¡± Jiang Zhi did not move, his gaze fixed on the trail of footprints on the ground, ¡°Did you check the surveillance?¡± ¡°I did, but the snow was too heavy in the evening, and the camera malfunctioned.¡± He retracted his gaze, his eyes covered in a deep dusky haze, dark and hard to read, ¡°Did you see where she was standing at the beginning?¡± Ah Wan nodded. Then he shook his head, confused and troubled, ¡°But it doesn¡¯t make sense.¡± The speed of a normal person couldn¡¯t be that fast. Ah Wan couldn¡¯t figure it out, ¡°Boss, are we seeing things?¡± Jiang Zhi remained silent. Chapter 66 - Chapter 66: 066: Jiang Zhi Tests the Professional Errand Runner Chapter 66: 066: Jiang Zhi Tests the Professional Errand Runner Jiang Zhi said nothing. Ah Wan chattered on and on, ¡°Do you think Miss Zhou could be a fairy that descended from Heaven? Once she passes her ordeal, she¡¯ll ascend back to Heaven.¡± What an imagination! Ah Wan even admired his own creativity; he could debut as a scriptwriter. In the dead of night, the only sounds in the corridor were coughs and the boss¡¯s cold, disdainful voice, ¡°What kind of messy TV show have you been watching again?¡± What do you mean messy! Ah Wan straightened up, ¡°I¡¯ve been following ¡®Three Lives and Thirty Miles of Chrysanthemums¡¯ recently.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Speaking of Three Lives and Thirty Miles of Chrysanthemums, Ah Wan¡¯s mental fan fiction simply couldn¡¯t stop. ¡°If Miss Zhou really is here for an ordeal, then it must be a romantic one,¡± Ah Wan, who didn¡¯t know why he was so excited, was indeed very excited, ¡°Boss, you¡¯re Miss Zhou¡¯s destined tribulation.¡± If there really was a Heaven, he would build a nuclear bomb to blast it to pieces, and then get a spaceship to snatch Zhou Xufang over, whether she¡¯s human or a fairy, he would claim her. Jiang Zhi put a stop to this idiotic idea, turning around, ¡°Are you an idiot?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?0 Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± You are! Your whole family is! Ah Wan decided that once he got back, he would have Shuangxi call him ¡®Grandpa¡¯ and call Jiang Zhi ¡®Chicken Dad¡¯. Back in the ward, the nurse came to administer an injection, which inevitably led to a gentle admonition about how Mr. Jiang¡¯s health was weak and how he shouldn¡¯t go out into the cold. Jiang Zhi, annoyed by the noise, told the nurse to shut up. ¡°Go check on Jin Song.¡± Ah Wan was still immersed in the fantasy of Shuangxi calling him grandpa and Jiang Zhi dad, and his brain didn¡¯t switch gears right away, responding after a long pause, ¡°Isn¡¯t he one of the Jiang Family?¡± ¡°The Jiang Family isn¡¯t that stupid.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t explain and just listlessly lay down. Ah Wan didn¡¯t understand, but he also didn¡¯t dare to ask. After Zhou Xufang got home, it was almost ten, and she hadn¡¯t changed her clothes when she turned on her computer. ¡°Shuangjiang.¡± Shuangjiang immediately typed back, ¡°I¡¯m here.¡± ¡°Did the surveillance catch me?¡± Jiang Zhi, with his meticulous mind, would surely check. Zhou Xufang had contacted Shuangjiang by phone from the hospital during the filming, hoping to mend the situation, but she wasn¡¯t sure if it was too late. ¡°Caught you.¡± Shuangjiang quickly added another line, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I blocked the video for you.¡± Zhou Xufang finally breathed a sigh of relief, ¡°Thanks.¡± She stood up and took a can of cold milk from the fridge, ¡°What about the car?¡± ¡°It was also caught on camera, but the snow was too heavy, you couldn¡¯t see clearly, and the person driving was wearing a mask, couldn¡¯t make out if it was a man or a woman.¡± Zhou Xufang returned to the computer, ¡°What about the car model?¡± ¡°I checked that too, a standard model BMW, nothing special.¡± The license plate was also covered, meaning there wasn¡¯t any usable evidence. Zhou Xufang looked down, pondering. Shuangjiang asked her, ¡°Are you going to get involved in Jiang Zhi¡¯s situation?¡± She didn¡¯t hesitate, ¡°I will.¡± She wouldn¡¯t let anyone harm Jiang Zhi. No one could. However, Shuangjiang was concerned, ¡°But Jiang Zhi has become suspicious of you, and he¡¯s cunning. I¡¯m afraid he might figure something out.¡± The wounds, the speed, her unusualness had already aroused Jiang Zhi¡¯s attention. Zhou Xufang stayed silent. She was very afraid of people discovering her secret, scared of being seen as a monster, most of all afraid that Jiang Zhi would look at her with disgust, stop being her friend, stop talking to her, stop giving her candy, stop giving her lanterns. ¡°Ah Fang, if you don¡¯t want to be exposed, you should keep your distance.¡± Crack¡ª Zhou Xufang accidentally crushed the can in her hand, milk spilling everywhere, she pursed her lips in annoyance, ¡°I know.¡± A look of loss appeared on her face. It was the first time Shuangjiang had seen such a vivid expression on her. ¡°Help me look up something else.¡± Zhou Xufang wiped her hands clean, ¡°A square-shaped Peace Talisman charm, made from yellow satin, with a ¡®Book¡¯ character embroidered on the bottom left corner with blue thread.¡± The person driving the car that hit someone was dressed entirely in black, the hat pulled down low, gloves and mask firmly in place, no distinguishing features at all. Zhou Xufang, with her good eyesight, remembered the charm on the car, about the size of half a palm. She pulled out paper and pen to try to draw the Peace Talisman, but after several attempts, it ended up twisted and didn¡¯t look right at all. She really had no talent for drawing. Her cell phone, left to the side, rang. She picked it up and saw a WeChat message from Jiang Zhi. ¡°Are you home yet?¡± She replied, ¡°Home.¡± ¡°Send me a photo,¡± Jiang Zhi sent another message, ¡°to confirm your safety.¡± Zhou Xufang stood up and snapped a picture of her front door for him. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± He didn¡¯t want to see her house¡¯s door! ¡°Take a picture of yourself.¡± Oh. Zhou Xufang sent him a half-face selfie. In the photo, her gaze seemed absent and her expression was perplexed, as if she was searching for the camera lens but couldn¡¯t quite find it. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± This girl probably had never taken a selfie before, possibly didn¡¯t use a smartphone often. He had noticed the last time they video-chatted that she couldn¡¯t find the camera lens. So smart, yet so adorably clueless. Jiang Zhi stopped typing and sent a voice message instead, ¡°Did you finish the cotton candy?¡± His voice sounded a bit hoarse. Zhou Xufang rarely used voice messages and wasn¡¯t very good at it, still slowly typing, ¡°Almost finished.¡± ¡°You come to the set tomorrow, I¡¯ll bring some for you.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± She immediately transferred ten thousand yuan to Jiang Zhi. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t accept it. ¡°Do you have a lot of money?¡± Zhou Xufang thought for a moment, ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± She couldn¡¯t tell the truth; Jiang Zhi was too astute. He then asked, ¡°How did you earn it?¡± She replied, ¡°By working.¡± ¡°What kind of work?¡± His tone was casual, sounding like small talk. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t hesitate for long and began to list them one by one. ¡°Applying screen protectors.¡± ¡°Delivering takeout.¡± ¡°Being an extra in films.¡± ¡°Modeling.¡± ¡°Distributing flyers.¡± ¡°Driving for hire.¡± ¡°Moving bricks.¡± ¡°¡­¡± She listed a dozen more types of jobs. Just not a professional errand runner. Wait¡ª Jiang Zhi¡¯s tone even escalated, ¡°You actually move bricks?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± she said, ¡°it pays well.¡± Mainly because she was strong, able to move three times the amount a man could. At that moment, Jiang Zhi envisioned a frail figure, wearing a red safety helmet among a bunch of stinky men, clad in ill-fitting clothes, wearing gloves with many holes, feet in liberation shoes, stooping dust-covered and pitifully moving bricks¡­ He couldn¡¯t bear to think about it; it was heart-wrenching! He almost shouted, ¡°No more moving bricks in the future!¡± Why not? Moving bricks was easy and profitable, Zhou Xufang couldn¡¯t understand, but she agreed anyway, ¡°Oh.¡± Such a good girl. If only she stayed this obedient. Jiang Zhi said, ¡°Xu Fang.¡± Zhou Xufang said nothing. ¡°Go to sleep, it¡¯s late.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Goodnight.¡± ¡°Goodnight.¡± Finally, Jiang Zhi sent an emoticon he had saved from Xue Baoyi, ¡°As long as you¡¯re obedient, I¡¯ll buy you a ¡®gai¡¯.¡± Zhou Xufang replied with a period. Then the chat did not continue. Jiang Zhi had wanted to talk more, but when he thought about Zhou Xufang having to do so many jobs and even moving bricks, he didn¡¯t want to delay her sleep. He stared at that period. The chat background was her picture, obtained from the hair salon owner. She rarely took photos; her expression was blank, her eyes empty, her face displaying the original expression pack¡ª¡±Who am I, where am I, what am I going to do?!¡± The room was dark, and Ah Wan came in to see a beam of mobile phone light illuminating his boss¡¯s enchantingly beautiful face in the middle of the night, like a glamorous female ghost. He didn¡¯t know when his boss had developed the habit of staying up late. Ah Wan friendly reminded him, ¡°Boss, aren¡¯t you going to sleep? It¡¯s past ten.¡± He was still staring at his phone, ¡°How did the investigation go?¡± ¡°Miss Zhou doesn¡¯t appear to have any properties registered in her name, nor is the house registered under her account.¡± Her bank savings were also pity-inducingly meager. Jiang Zhi was silent, his finger lingering on the WeChat page, caressing Zhou Xufang¡¯s pitch-black profile picture. If she really was a professional errand runner, it was normal not to find anything. But how could he explain the injury on her arm the other time? And how could he explain her running across the street to him in just three seconds today? He was utterly clueless. Ah Wan felt it was time to express his thoughts, ¡°Boss, do you suspect Miss Zhou is that scum who abducted you?¡± His tone was certain, ¡°You must be mistaken, Miss Zhou is such a high-principled and righteous person, how could she be a scum?¡± Jiang Zhi looked up, the light of the phone casting a cold white glow on his face, ¡°Stop calling her ¡®scum.''¡± Hah! Protective much! Hmph! Ah Wan didn¡¯t want to argue. Jiang Zhi put down his phone and went back to lying on the hospital bed, ¡°Pass a message to the old lady.¡± ¡°What message?¡± ¡°Just say,¡± his tone had a hint of mischief, ¡°just say there¡¯s always someone sinister trying to kill me.¡± And then? Was he expecting the old lady to help take down the sinister people? Ah Wan was about to ask for clarification. Jiang Zhi continued instructing, ¡°Then add another line.¡± ¡°What line?¡± His tone was languid, probably from the fatigue and sickness, soft and gentle, ¡°Mention that you¡¯re no match in strength or combat, and also tell the old lady that there¡¯s a formidable professional errand runner in Imperial City recently, highly skilled, powerful in execution, a bodyguard a hundred times stronger than you.¡± Ah Wan, who was no match in strength or combat, said, ¡°¡­¡± He really wanted to curse. Hold it in, just hold it in. Couldn¡¯t hold back anymore! Damn it! Chapter 67 - Chapter 67: 067: The Wife-Protecting Maniac is now online Chapter 67: 067: The Wife-Protecting Maniac is now online The next day, the heavy snow had paused, leaving the ground blanketed in white. Zhou Xufang had a shoot at nine, but she left the house just after seven, wearing a huge down jacket and a cotton hat that covered her ears and chin, leaving only her nose and eyes exposed. The ground was covered with thick snow, making a crunching sound as she walked on it. She jumped up and down in her snow boots, once, and then again. ¡°Miss Zhou.¡± Someone called out to her from behind. Zhou Xufang stood still, not jumping anymore. ¡°Miss Zhou.¡± She turned around and saw a round-faced, round-bellied old man: ¡°Are you calling me?¡± The old man chuckled with glee. ¡°Yes, yes.¡± He had his hands tucked into his sleeves, probably to ward off the cold, hunching and looking chubby, very cute and kind, ¡°I¡¯m the new security guard around here. If you run into any trouble, Miss Zhou, just come and find me, okay?¡± The previous security guard had been scared off by her bloodshot eyes. ¡°Okay.¡± Zhou Xufang kept her head down, avoiding eye contact, ¡°Thank you.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? The old man looked at her with affectionate eyes, waving his hand, his eyes smiling so hard they became thin slits, ¡°Well, you head to work. Be careful on the road.¡± Zhou Xufang went on her way, head buried. After walking four or five meters¡ª She turned back, ¡°Uncle, what¡¯s your surname?¡± After just a short time outside, the old man¡¯s nose had turned red from the cold. It was slightly comical but cute. He blew into his hands and said, ¡°My surname is Fang.¡± Oh, another Fang. Zhou Xufang thought all Fangs were good people: ¡°Goodbye.¡± She bid the old man a polite farewell, then continued trudging through the snow to the set. Uncle Fang watched Zhou Xufang leave with a fond look, then rubbed his hands together and ran back to the security room, tucking a hand warmer into his pocket and pulling out his phone to make a call. ¡°Hello, my girl.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve seen her, I¡¯ve seen her.¡± ¡°She sure is pretty.¡± ¡°Oh, my memory, I forgot to give her the AD calcium milk.¡± When Zhou Xufang arrived at the film city, it was not yet half-past eight. She was early, and there weren¡¯t many people on set. ¡°Xu Fang, Xu Fang.¡± From a distance, she saw Fang Lixiang waving at her with a soup dumpling that he had taken a bite of in his hand. Zhou Xufang kept her hands in the sleeves of her down jacket, swinging left and right, acknowledging him. Ahead, the path was narrow, and an actress from another crew came walking toward them, exuding a strong presence with several assistants following her. Her dress was gorgeous, with a long train spreading over the ground. As they got closer, Zhou Xufang moved aside into the corner, not wanting to step on the beautiful dress. Hiss! The actress¡¯s dress nevertheless got torn with a large rip. Zhou Xufang glanced at it, then kept her head down and walked on. ¡°Hey.¡± Hey? Was she calling her? Zhou Xufang turned around. The actress had delicately done makeup, especially her eyeliner, attractively accentuated, but she had a stern look on her face: ¡°Are you blind?¡± Big eyes, small mouth, high nose bridge, sharp chin, a beautiful face. Zhou Xufang felt like she had seen this person before. Oh, she remembered now¡ªlast time when her computer had a virus, a pop-up with a scantily clad girl winking appeared, resembling this actress. Of course, Zhou Xufang, who rarely surfed the internet, didn¡¯t know about the phrase ¡°plastic surgery internet celebrity face.¡± Zhou Xufang, not comfortable under scrutiny, adjusted her cotton hat, ¡°I didn¡¯t step on it.¡± But the other woman wouldn¡¯t listen or believe her, lifting her sharp chin, ¡°If it wasn¡¯t you who stepped on it, did it tear itself?¡± Yet she really hadn¡¯t stepped on it. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t want to argue and turned to leave. The actress suddenly raised her voice, ¡°Did I say you could leave?¡± Zhou Xufang frowned, a bit annoyed. Behind her, the actress¡¯s assistant stepped forward and called out, ¡°Sister Ying.¡± ¡°Which film crew does this woman belong to?¡± she asked, pointing at Zhou Xufang. The assistant replied, ¡°I¡¯ve never seen her before.¡± ¡°Get her out of here.¡± The ancient street from the Republic era was rented out by the ¡°Wilderness¡± film crew. At this time, there were hardly any people around and no onlookers to worry about, so the actress¡¯s assistant unhesitatingly moved forward to drag Zhou Xufang away. Suddenly¡ª A soup dumpling came flying, hitting the female assistant smack in the forehead, the soup splashing everywhere. Then came a carefree shout, ¡°Do you own this movie town?¡± Fang Lixiang arrived, her mouth still stuffed with a soup dumpling. First, she glanced at the actress. Damn, a member of the Luo Family! Don¡¯t panic! Fang Lixiang instantly calmed down, then pulled a mask out of her cotton jacket pocket, put it on Zhou Xufang, and whispered instructions to her, ¡°Xu Fang, cover your face quickly. If she asks who you are, don¡¯t you dare tell.¡± She couldn¡¯t afford to get pegged by the Luo Family! ¡°And who might you be?¡± Such arrogance, if not from a Miss Luo, then who? The Luo Family had many daughters in this generation, but only two from respectable backgrounds, Luo Qinghe and Luo Yinghe. Both were born with a silver spoon, but their temperaments were worlds apart. Luo Qinghe managed the household affairs, known for her shrewd intelligence, while Luo Yinghe entered the entertainment industry, notorious for her arrogant and domineering behavior. Fang Lixiang naturally recognized this face, altered to look like a snake spirit, but was she the type to bow to evil forces? Of course not! ¡°I am who I am, my name and surname remain unchanged,¡± Fang Lixiang declared confidently, ¡°I am Ullala Li Xiang!¡± Ullala Li Xiang had previously been an extra, and although she¡¯d recently risen to the rank of Weaver, her movie hadn¡¯t been released yet, and she was not famous. Luo Ying evidently didn¡¯t recognize her from Adam. ¡°So you want to stand up for her, huh?¡± Luo Ying crossed her arms, provoking, ¡°Fine, then you can pay for this dress.¡± This dress¡­ It looked really expensive. Fang Lixiang turned to look at Zhou Xufang. To avoid revealing Zhou Xufang¡¯s identity, she didn¡¯t call her by name but instead used a makeshift codename, ¡°Huifanala Shifang, did you step on it?¡± Huifanala Shifang shook her head. Fang Lixiang figured out the situation¡ªit was a sham, someone looking for a pretext. She was a bit of an idealist, quick to step in when she saw injustice. Rolling up her sleeves and stomping her feet, she spoke with a strong Beijing accent, ¡°I¡¯ll pay for your grandpa.¡± Luo Ying¡¯s face immediately changed color. The actress¡¯s assistant, emboldened by her status, stepped forward to teach her a lesson, ¡°You¡ª¡± Fang Lixiang gave a deceptive smile, ¡°Let me tell you, I¡¯ve got a fierce temper, so you¡¯d better not try to boss me around.¡± But the female assistant insisted on pointing at her forehead, ¡°Our Sister Ying says she has to pay, what¡¯s it to you!¡± This is a civilized society. One should be civilized. Never mind. Fang Lixiang grinned, displaying a thuggish smile, ¡°Told you I have a hot temper.¡± Then she grabbed the assistant by the hair, ¡°Pay for your grandma¡¯s pay!¡± Rewinding five minutes earlier. Ah Wan rushed into the lounge, hurried and frenetic. ¡°Boss!¡± ¡°Boss!¡± Leaning against the wall, Ah Wan gasped like a dog. Jiang Zhi, half-asleep, rubbed her eyes, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a commotion outside.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t sleep well last night and woke up in an extraordinarily foul mood, her tone particularly irritable, ¡°Why come to me? Can¡¯t you call the police?¡± Ah Wan scratched his head, ¡°But it seems like Miss Zhou is leading it.¡± Just as he finished¡ª Jiang Zhi suddenly stood up so quickly she coughed for a while, ¡°With whom?¡± ¡°The second young mistress of the Luo Family.¡± That Luo Family was famously difficult to deal with. Chapter 68 - Chapter 68: 068: Domineering Mr. Jiang Spoils His Wife (Part 1) Chapter 68: 068: Domineering Mr. Jiang Spoils His Wife (Part 1) The Luo family is notorious for their obstinacy. Of course, our Ullala Li Xiang didn¡¯t just eat plain vegetables either. Ah Wan was dumbfounded when she saw that frail-looking girl clutching a handful of hair, her ruthless character betrayed by her few words, ¡°Compensate your grandma for compensation!¡± Having spat out the threat, she was ready to start a fight! Suddenly, there was a snap. It was the sound of a milk carton¡¯s ring pull. Fang Lixiang, with her sharp ears, froze midway through pulling hair. Stiff-necked, she turned around, ¡°Dir, Director.¡± There were rules on the film set; troublemakers were to get lost. Caught in the act against the rules, Fang Lixiang felt guilty, gasping and trembling, ¡°That¡­ it¡¯s, it¡¯s a misunderstanding.¡± Everyone looked over in unison to see the director holding the milk carton between two slender fingers, not pouring it into his mouth but playfully swinging it back and forth. His tall figure was draped in a long black coat that reached his ankles. Standing there, he seemed like a perfect edited picture from a magazine with added filters, with the vast white snow as his backdrop. Out of the picture he stepped, lips red and teeth white, with a demeanor that was so arresting. Seven parts bewitching, three parts delicate. Add to that the leisurely grace cultivated by his wealthy upbringing; truly undetachable from one¡¯s gaze. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.?¦Ï He spoke with a lazy drawl, ¡°First, catch your breath for me.¡± His gaze had fallen on the face under the earmuff hat, his iridescent pupils reflecting the small face. Fang Lixiang, seeing the director wasn¡¯t angry and assuming he wasn¡¯t there to find fault, suddenly felt emboldened, straightened her back, and calmed her tumultuous heart and rash breaths. Jiang Zhi was the epitome of calm, ¡°Tell me, what happened?¡± Luo Yinghe glanced at Jiang Zhi just once and immediately felt intimidated. Her eyes darted about, void of the brash confidence from moments before. On the contrary, Fang Lixiang now had someone defending her, and she was righteous indignation personified as she pointed at Luo Yinghe and started to wail, ¡°Her dress got ruined, and she insists that it was stepped on by our Huifanala Shifang. She demands compensation, and we refuse to pay, she wouldn¡¯t let us leave. I could tolerate the verbal humiliation, but then,¡± she blinked, and tears started streaming down, ¡°she wanted to hit us¡­ wuuuu wuuuu¡­¡± Everyone: ¡°¡­¡± Indeed, the Weaver¡¯s acting skills were impeccable. Jiang Zhi took a sip of milk and casually tossed the carton in a parabola into the bin three meters away, then raised his eyebrows to look at Luo Yinghe, ¡°Is that so?¡± Luo Yinghe had met Jiang Zhi before, recognized him from when they were young. During her girlhood yearnings, like her older cousin, she harbored a crush on this handsome young man until that year when the Luo family mansion burned down. The lowly foster son died in that fire. At that time, Jiang Zhi was only sixteen, dragging a body weakened by chronic illness to the Luo family¡¯s doorstep and set fire to it. No one dared to stop him, and they watched as the young man with fiery red eyes smashed the ancestral plaques of the Luo family into dust. Since then, Jiang Zhi and the Luo family were at odds. Luo Yinghe couldn¡¯t muster any romantic feelings toward him any longer; fear was all that was left. She knew very well that if Jiang Zhi got tough, he wouldn¡¯t hesitate to do anything. She stuttered in response to Jiang Zhi, ¡°It, it was her who stepped on it.¡± He walked forward with a saunter, casual in his demeanor, ¡°They are both from my crew. It¡¯s just a dress, I will compensate.¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t me who stepped on it,¡± Zhou Xufang who had been silent the whole time repeated, ¡°It wasn¡¯t me who stepped on it.¡± Jiang Zhi walked up to her, blocking the line of sight of the people behind him, and patted her hat, ¡°No worries, our film set isn¡¯t short of money.¡± His voice was very light. Zhou Xufang was mollified by him and didn¡¯t speak up again. Jiang Zhi turned back around, ¡°Name your price.¡± Luo Yinghe didn¡¯t dare to take Jiang Zhi¡¯s money; she lowered her tone and posture by several degrees, ¡°Never mind, no need for compensation.¡± Never mind? On his turf, after bullying his people, it could be settled just like that? Jiang Zhi covered his mouth, coughing lightly twice, ¡°You said the compensation was needed, and now you are the one saying it¡¯s not? Is my film crew without its own authority?¡± Luo Yinghe lost color. Lifting his eyes, reddened by the cough, he still carried a feeble look, but his ink-black pupils were like flames glistening, killing without being seen. ¡°Name your price,¡± he commanded. Luo Yinghe was truly panicked, ¡°Eight hundred thousand.¡± ¡°Zhao Zhong, give her the money,¡± Jiang Zhi instructed. Finished, Vice Director Zhao grandly wrote a check for eight hundred thousand yuan on the spot and handed it to Luo Yinghe¡¯s assistant. Luo Yinghe¡¯s face turned pale, without lingering any longer, she lifted her skirt and left. ¡°Wait a second.¡± Her steps halted, her spine chilled. From behind, a slow, steady voice came through, ¡°Money¡¯s paid now, does this dress belong to me?¡± Luo Yinghe was horrified, ¡°Jiang Zhi¡ª¡± He flicked his misty blue short hair, ¡°Take it off.¡± In front of everyone, he ruthlessly embarrassed her. Luo Yinghe¡¯s face went from white to red, the ultimate in humiliation. She clenched her teeth and said, ¡°I will have someone send it over in a moment.¡± Jiang Zhi remained unphased, his peach blossom eyes radiated the chill of three thousand feet of snow, ¡°No, take it off for me right now.¡± This was the first time Zhou Xufang heard Jiang Zhi speak to someone in such a way. He rarely referred to himself as ¡°Crown Prince,¡± and though he had a bad temper, he was taught noble etiquette by the Jiang family; he rarely lost his grace. But still, he was a scion of a prominent family, and when that authority was wielded, who would dare to defy it? No one dared to step forward to persuade him. Even Fang Lixiang, audacious as she was in society, held her breath, thinking to herself, the Crown Prince was indeed the Crown Prince; no ordinary person could rival his presence despite his frail health. The several assistants with Luo Yinghe didn¡¯t dare to make a sound. Jiang Zhi was running out of patience, ¡°Aren¡¯t you taking it off yet? Should I find someone to help?¡± ¡°I, I,¡± Luo Ying stammered, already sweating profusely, her hands gripping the dress; she had to swallow her humiliation and admit, ¡°I was wrong. Please show mercy and let this one go.¡± What use was her unwillingness? The Luo family might be rich and powerful, but next to the Jiang family, they were insignificant. Today, she had to submit whether she liked it or not. Jiang Zhi stood with crossed arms in front of Zhou Xufang, ¡°Where did you go wrong?¡± ¡°The dress, the dress was torn by the stones on the ground,¡± she was just in a bad mood and wanted to vent her frustration on someone, not expecting them to be from Jiang Zhi¡¯s crew. ¡°Now that you know what you did wrong, leave the money. And,¡± he stepped aside, grabbing Zhou Xufang¡¯s hat, pulling her forward, ¡°bow deeply at ninety degrees and apologize sincerely to her.¡± Chapter 69 - Chapter 69: 069: Xu Fang is intrigued Chapter 69: 069: Xu Fang is intrigued ¡°Bow 90 degrees again and apologize to her sincerely.¡± Damn you, Jiang Zhi! Luo Yinghe¡¯s palms were clenched so tight they almost bled. Step by step, very slowly, she approached Zhou Xufang, bent down, and bit her lip, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, it was my fault.¡± Zhou Xufang was totally confused the entire time, not knowing what to say, and turned her head to look at Jiang Zhi. This was the first time someone had stood up for her. She didn¡¯t know what to do. Jiang Zhi curled the corners of his mouth, grabbed her hat, and hid her behind him, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, ¡°Taking photos is fine, but if you dare to leak them to the media,¡± He didn¡¯t finish the threat¡ªeveryone could weigh the consequences themselves. In the end, he waved his hand, gasping for air. The previous aura was gone, replaced by a listless air, ¡°Alright, disperse now.¡± Luo Yinghe was helped away by two assistants, and the crowd wiped their cold sweat and scattered like birds and beasts. ¡°Xu Fang,¡± Jiang Zhi turned back, ¡°Come with me.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Zhou Xufang obediently followed him. Fang Lixiang was left behind, contemplating life. ¡°I feel,¡± Fang Lixiang stroked her chin, ¡°Director Jiang seems to have taken a fancy to our Fang.¡± Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t be so protective of her. Next to her, Vice Director Zhao chimed in, ¡°Impossible, Director Jiang is gay.¡± Fang Lixiang immediately retorted righteously, ¡°Even gay people need to continue their family line, right?¡± She was really worried that Zhou Xufang would be tricked by a gay man to ensure the continuation of the Jiang family line. Zhou Xufang was led by Jiang Zhi to the resting room to ensure the continuation of the line¡­ Ugh, to be questioned alone. Jiang Zhi closed the door and fetched a can of milk for Zhou Xufang, asking her, ¡°Did you suffer any loss?¡± ¡°No,¡± she said, ¡°Thank you.¡± She knew Jiang Zhi had just been trying to stand up for her, which was why he was so tough on Luo Yinghe. Jiang Zhi really was a great guy. He opened the can of milk before handing it to her, ¡°In the future, if you encounter a similar situation, don¡¯t just bear it. If you can win, fight; if you can¡¯t, come find me.¡± Zhou Xufang took a sip of milk, ¡°If I break something, I¡¯ll have to compensate.¡± She was strong, and once she started, it was hard to stop and would surely end up paying a lot in medical bills. But Jiang Zhi said, ¡°Why be afraid, the crew will reimburse you.¡± Go ahead and fight! Even if she was a professional errand runner and injured someone badly, he could take care of it for her. Zhou Xufang was moved, her usually cold gaze turned warm. She nodded vigorously, ¡°Okay.¡± Jiang Zhi was really nice! Not realizing he had been handed a kindness card, Jiang Zhi was soothed by her obedience and brought a box of cotton candy from the cupboard, placing it on the coffee table, ¡°Take this home to eat.¡± In Zhou Xufang¡¯s memory, no one had ever been this nice to her. She felt warmth in her eyes, an odd feeling, and she rubbed them with her hand. Suddenly, she felt an intense desire to be good to Jiang Zhi, to really take care of him, but Jiang Zhi came from a wealthy background, he had everything, and she didn¡¯t know what she could offer him. After some thought, she asked, ¡°Have you finished the eggs I gave you?¡± ¡°Not yet.¡± He hadn¡¯t eaten any of them; they were all stored in the wine cellar of his villa, waiting for a while before he would donate the egg whites and keep the shells. Zhou Xufang said, ¡°Then let me know when you¡¯ve finished them, and I¡¯ll buy more for you.¡± If only Jiang Zhi were a bit poorer, then she could buy him a house, a car, a diamond watch. But Jiang Zhi was easy to please, a few eggs were enough to make his cheeks blush with joy, and he nodded hastily in agreement. Then Zhou Xufang stopped talking, planning the amount of eggs to bring next time. After sitting a while, she finished a can of milk, ¡°Then I¡¯ll be going.¡± She bent over to pick up the box of cotton candy. Jiang Zhi suddenly covered his mouth and coughed, ¡°Cough cough cough cough¡­¡± Zhou Xufang paused, then sat back down, ¡°Do you always cough so severely in the winter?¡± He slumped on the sofa, looking wilted and weak, ¡°Mhm.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t it be cured?¡± she asked, Fang Lixiang had told her that the Jiang family was in the pharmaceutical business. He lay there with a misty fog in his eyes from the coughing, his skin pale, lips red, and his eyes brimming with a fragile charm laced with a hint of seductiveness. He said, ¡°Can¡¯t be cured at the moment.¡± Zhou Xufang grew anxious, ¡°Then what should we do?¡± What should they do indeed? Jiang Zhi weakly convinced her, ¡°Just pat me on the back, that will make it better.¡± Pat on the back? She was afraid she would pat him to his last breath. She hesitated. ¡°Cough cough cough cough¡­¡± Jiang Zhi coughed more violently, looking at her with watery eyes, appearing utterly helpless. Zhou Xufang¡¯s heart immediately turned soft, and she set the box of cotton candy down, moved closer, stiffly placed her hand on Jiang Zhi¡¯s chest, and then didn¡¯t move for several seconds. Then she lifted her hand and gently lowered it, patting him slowly and softly¡­ She almost held her breath, fearing that she might use too much force and hurt him. Her actions and expression were so earnest they bordered on reverence. Jiang Zhi looked up and could see her face, so close, her presence enveloping him, invading without restraint. ¡°Your face is so red,¡± Zhou Xufang stared at his face, leaning in closer, ¡°Do you have a fever?¡± He gasped for breath, his hand sweaty, his fingers involuntarily curling up, ¡°You¡ªyou feel it.¡± Zhou Xufang had strong defenses. But for some reason, Jiang Zhi had become the exception. She had no guard up against him, the coldness and desolation in her eyes gone, leaving only Jiang Zhi¡¯s reflection. As if compelled, she laid her hand on Jiang Zhi¡¯s forehead. She didn¡¯t immediately remove her hand, noting, ¡°It¡¯s very hot.¡± Could he be running a fever? Should she call a doctor? As she was thinking, Jiang Zhi suddenly looked up. Before she could withdraw her hand, his lips were pressed to her palm. Boom! A firework exploded in her head. Dazed for three seconds, she abruptly retreated but tripped over the leg of the sofa and staggered, landing on the floor with a thump. Chapter 70 - Chapter 70: 070: A Kiss-Induced Sickness Chapter 70: 070: A Kiss-Induced Sickness She jerked back, but her foot got caught on the sofa leg, and she stumbled before landing flat on her rear on the floor. Then¡ª With her cheeks sporting two patches of ¡°highland red,¡± her mouth slightly open and her gaze vacant, her kissed hand remained motionless, held aloft as if frozen. Adorable overload! Wanting to kiss her again. Jiang Zhi licked his lips and dragged the beast raging within him back into its cage, but he couldn¡¯t quite contain the timid spring hues dancing in his eyes. ¡°Ahem¡­¡± He feigned a cough, his eyes brimming with peach blossom allure, like well-mixed watercolor too stunning to contain, unable to suppress the smile tugging at his lips. He rose and crouched down beside Zhou Xufang. With both hands reaching out, he picked her up like a child, bundled her up, placed her on the couch, then crouched before her to gaze up at her face. She, on the other hand, was like a statue, not even blinking. Jiang Zhi¡¯s tiger teeth showed as he laughed, his ears reddening, yet his gaze was unflinching, intensely staring at her, ¡°Why so careless, did you hurt yourself?¡± Her expression remained dazed, the kissed hand still stiff, but upon closer inspection, her five fingers slightly curled. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?? Jiang Zhi, worrying her hand might cramp, pressed it down and poked her cheek with a finger, ¡°Gone silly?¡± She gazed foolishly at him, her face growing redder and redder¡­ Click. The door was suddenly pushed open, followed by the heavily accented Beijing dialect. ¡°Brother Zhi~¡± This offbeat person could be none other than Second Young Master Xue. This startling interruption snapped Zhou Xufang out of it; she leapt up, her knee accidentally striking Jiang Zhi and sending him flying. Thud. Jiang Zhi landed on the carpet, his hand knocking over a box on the coffee table, showering him with marshmallows. Zhou Xufang crouched, grabbed a couple of packets, and bolted. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Now it was his turn to be dumbfounded. ¡°Tsk tsk tsk.¡± Xue Baoyi glanced at the swiftly departing girl, ¡°Brother Zhi, what mischievous act were you attempting that scared the poor lady so?¡± He casually picked up a bag of marshmallows, about to open it¡ª Jiang Zhi snatched it back, still sitting on the carpet, and despite coughing, he started collecting the marshmallows back into the box. ¡°Ah Wan.¡± Ah Wan, hearing his call, entered. He steadied himself on the coffee table, ¡°Take this box of candies to Zhou Xufang.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Xue Baoyi¡¯s eyes nearly rolled back in exasperation, really wanting to hit someone, but seeing Jiang Zhi coughing, with his peach blossom eyes and tender pale face, his inherent compassion couldn¡¯t help but swell. That¡¯s him, can¡¯t stand to see a beauty suffer. Well, he forgave him. Xue Baoyi sat down, a leg casually draped over the other, giving some advice to Jiang Mei Ren, the little virgin, ¡°Your girl is clearly naive; don¡¯t be too aggressive, or you¡¯ll scare her off.¡± See, she¡¯s run off. Jiang Zhi lay down, blowing a tuft of hair from his forehead. Just now, he hadn¡¯t held back. He was a bit restless. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Xue Baoyi got serious, ¡°Got a role for you in your new movie,¡± he pulled up the information on his phone, showing it to Jiang Zhi, ¡°These three are pretty good, take your pick.¡± The first two were Baoguang staples, one a film queen, the other a top actress, but the last one was a newcomer. Jiang Zhi swiped to the last page. Xue Baoyi took a glance, ¡°Don¡¯t you want to think it over?¡± He was a bit troubled, why he had chosen her, ¡°This girl is a bit wild, hard to handle.¡± Especially when playing video games¡ªoutrageously fierce, her insults unmatched, not repeating a single one in half an hour. But, to be fair, the girl had acting talent, an unpolished gem. Jiang Zhi indolently withdrew his hand, ¡°Her.¡± This girl, her earlier hair pulling was just perfect, promising. The promising Lixiang was now eating soup dumplings, stuffing one after another, face shiny with oil. Beside her, Zhou Xufang clutched two packets of pink marshmallows, her head down, still as a rock. Fang Lixiang finished the last dumpling, ¡°Xu Fang.¡± The ¡®rock¡¯ didn¡¯t budge. Fang Lixiang called out again, ¡°Xu Fang.¡± The ¡®rock¡¯ lifted her head, ¡°Huh?¡± Fang Lixiang noticed something was off, ¡°Why are you so distracted, did Director Jiang do something to you?¡± She immediately shook her head and clenched her right hand, placing it behind her back, ¡°No!¡± What¡¯s the matter? Why does it sound like she¡¯s hiding something? Fang Lixiang stared at her, ¡°Why is your face so red?¡± She didn¡¯t know. It was a bit hot. She took off her earmuff hat, still clutching it in her right hand behind her back, and fanned her face with her left hand. ¡°Xu Fang, let me tell you,¡± Fang Lixiang spoke to her in a motherly tone, ¡°you need to be very cautious around Director Jiang.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t understand, ¡°Why should I be cautious?¡± Fang Lixiang looked around and then leaned in close to Zhou Xufang, whispering, ¡°Isn¡¯t he gay? He¡¯s already twenty-four this year, his family will definitely start pressing him to marry and have kids. A family like the Jiang Family won¡¯t let Jiang Zhi marry a man, so,¡± she said with certainty, ¡°he¡¯ll definitely find a woman to continue his lineage.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s fanning paused, then she realized. Oh, so Jiang Zhi wants her to help him continue his lineage. The right hand Jiang Zhi had kissed made her sweat. She wiped it on her body, then said, ¡°I won¡¯t help him continue his lineage.¡± She was a monster herself, how could she bring another little monster into the world. Fang Lixiang was reassured: ¡°You¡¯re really awesome, Fang!¡± Zhou Xufang was still caught up in the matter of continuing lineage, her expression complex. ¡°Oh, there¡¯s something else that¡¯s very important.¡± Fang Lixiang beckoned Zhou Xufang closer. ¡°That Luo Yinghe, you must stay away from her.¡± Fang Lixiang spoke very earnestly, ¡°That evil woman holds grudges, I¡¯m afraid she¡¯ll cause you trouble.¡± Luo Yinghe¡¯s notorious and domineering reputation was known throughout the circle. Zhou Xufang covered her scorching face with her cool hands, trying to cool down: ¡°I understand.¡± But Fang Lixiang still wore a deeply concerned expression. Uncharacteristically serious, she advised Zhou Xufang, ¡°It¡¯s not just Luo Yinghe. Stay away from anyone with the surname Luo.¡± Zhou Xufang asked why. Fang Lixiang¡¯s eyes drifted away: ¡°I heard,¡± she whispered to Zhou Xufang, ¡°people from the Luo Family, they¡¯re all beasts.¡± If they weren¡¯t beasts, why would they even spare a child. ¡°Oh.¡± Zhou Xufang nodded, slightly distracted. Only then did Fang Lixiang notice the sweat on her head, ¡°Why is your face still so red?¡± Zhou Xufang looked blank. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± She tugged at her collar, ¡°I¡¯m so hot.¡± Fang Lixiang examined her closely and saw that not only her face, but also her ears, neck, and even the skin on her wrists were red. Fang Lixiang hurriedly touched her head. One touch, and it was clear something was seriously wrong! ¡°Vice Director, Fang has a high fever!¡± Vice Director Zhao asked who? Fang Lixiang quickly pulled Zhou Xufang over and asked if there was a doctor with them. Vice Director Zhao saw that it was Zhou Xufang¡ªthe crowd actor that Director Jiang was most concerned about. He quickly had his assistant bring over a thermometer. They took her temperature and were shocked. It was 104 degrees! There was no doctor with the film crew. Fang Lixiang was so anxious she could have jumped, ¡°Fang, hang in there, I¡¯ll call an ambulance right now!¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s face was as red as blood, but expressionless: ¡°No need.¡± Then, she picked up her backpack, ¡°I¡¯ll just go buy some medicine.¡± She would avoid the hospital if possible, fearing the doctors might find something abnormal. Zhou Xufang took some time off and was about to leave, but Fang Lixiang insisted on going with her. Zhou Xufang just¡­ just ran, ran very fast. Because she was going to buy medicine. She was feeling some discomfort in her heart, scared to go to the hospital and not wanting to risk it, she bought lots of fever medicine and secretly hid to take a dose. But it was useless. Her normal body temperature was only around 68 degrees, and this was the first time it had spiked to 104 degrees. There was a scene today, just in extras there were more than five hundred people. Vice Director Zhao had worked hard to arrange the extras¡¯ positions. Just as the clapperboard sounded¡ª Jiang Zhi called a halt. Vice Director Zhao asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± His gaze moved across the crowd, circling once, and he frowned: ¡°Where¡¯s Zhou Xufang?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Vice Director Zhao was curious, not knowing how the great director could tell from five hundred extras that one was missing: ¡°She¡¯s taken sick leave.¡± Jiang Zhi heard this, stood up from his chair too quickly, even knocking over a nearby thermos: ¡°What¡¯s wrong with her? Is it serious? Where is she now?¡± His peach blossom eyes suddenly flared, the intense glow inside made them hard to look directly at. Vice Director Zhao shuddered: ¡°She, she has a high fever.¡± The rest he didn¡¯t know. Chapter 71 - Chapter 71: 071: Come on, feel it (first update) Chapter 71: 071: Come on, feel it (first update) Vice Director Zhao shivered, ¡°She, she has a high fever.¡± The rest was unknown. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t ask further, ¡°Filming stops for today.¡± As the big snow approached, the air seemed even colder. Vice Director Zhao hunched his neck, ¡°Bu-but¡ª¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t wait for him to finish speaking, he turned and walked away, ¡°Ah Wan, go start the car.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Everyone was left there, as the director just left, from the producer coordinator to the lead actors, not one dared to stop Jiang Zhi. Vice Director Zhao scratched his head, sighing. Another loss of several million, so annoying! Fifteen minutes later, Ah Wan had the car on the driveway, driving faster than ever before. Jiang Zhi, sitting in the back seat, kept dialing numbers in silence, his handsome face as cold as the long-accumulated snow outside, because he couldn¡¯t get through. Ah Wan felt the atmosphere was somewhat suffocating and thought he should say something to ease the tension. What should he say? Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.?¦Ï Of course, he¡¯d talk about the employer¡¯s favorite. ¡°Miss Zhou gave the address to the crew group chat, but it was fake,¡± Ah Wan said casually, as if making small talk. Jiang Zhi kept dialing, not giving any response. Ah Wan cleared his throat, less awkwardly continuing the conversation he started himself, ¡°But no worries, last time we investigated Miss Zhou¡¯s address.¡± Getting carried away, Ah Wan exclaimed, ¡°Miss Zhou is so poor, she¡¯s renting a house! Plus, there¡¯s no one else in that building, the landlord immigrated abroad, and Miss Zhou lives there all quiet by herself.¡± Ah Wan found the landlord quite a character, owning a building and renting out just one apartment. Of course, what Ah Wan didn¡¯t know was that the ¡®landlord¡¯ was fake, and the whole building belonged to Zhou Xufang. Ah Wan was still immersed in pity for the ¡®film-covered¡¯ Miss Zhou, so poor, and couldn¡¯t help feeling heartache, ¡°Boss, I think Miss Zhou is in such poverty, won¡¯t you gift her an apartment?¡± After such ¡®heartfelt¡¯ words, Jiang Zhi finally lifted his eyelids. ¡°Can you shut your mouth?¡± An embarrassed Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± Alright, he shut up. Jiang Zhi kept calling Zhou Xu¡¯s phone, over and over, but she wouldn¡¯t answer. He was so anxious he felt like hitting someone. At this point, Zhou Xu was at home trying to sleep but seemed to be suffering from insomnia; she just couldn¡¯t sleep. She got up and measured her temperature with a special material thermometer, 28 degrees. She sighed in relief, crawled out of bed, ordered some takeout, and turned on her computer. ¡°You there?¡± SpongeBob popped up on the screen. Shuangjiang typed back, ¡°Here.¡± Zhou Xu asked her, ¡°Any clue about that car hanging ornament?¡± The computer had voice-to-text software installed, Zhou Xu didn¡¯t have to type, her hands freed, she started to unwrap and eat the two packs of cotton candy she¡¯d picked up from Jiang Zhi. Maybe it was the fever, but she was very hungry and thirsty. She grabbed two cans of milk. Shuangjiang seemed more accustomed to typing, ¡°It¡¯s a Peace Talisman from Lingdu Temple in Imperial City. Many people go there to pray; there¡¯s a registration list, but it¡¯s too long to investigate.¡± ¡°Send me the list.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Suddenly, SpongeBob on the computer screen changed to Zhou Xu¡¯s face, Shuangjiang asked, ¡°Ah Fang, are you sweating?¡± Zhou Xu found the camera on her computer, looked closely, and sure enough, her forehead hair was soaked. She nodded yes and grabbed a couple of tissues to wipe the sweat. ¡°It¡¯s my first time seeing you sweat so much.¡± After all, her body temperature was so low, and it was freezing outside. ¡°I fell ill today.¡± Zhou Xu touched her face, not so hot anymore, but she was still thirsty, so she took another sip of milk, ¡°It¡¯s also my first time having a fever.¡± Shuangjiang was aware of her physical condition and was worried, ¡°Did you take any medicine?¡± ¡°I did.¡± But Zhou Xu wasn¡¯t sure if it was the medicine that worked or if she had recovered on her own. She had a strong recuperative ability, very strong. ¡°You¡¯re not afraid of the cold, how did you suddenly fall ill?¡± Zhou Xu thought about what she did that day, then shook her head blankly, ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Was there anything else she shouldn¡¯t be exposed to besides Penicillin? She couldn¡¯t figure it out. Shuangjiang was concerned for her, ¡°Do you want to check into a private hospital?¡± Zhou Xu just sat there, suddenly unresponsive. ¡°Ah Fang.¡± She still didn¡¯t move, her gaze fixed somewhere. Shuangjiang stopped typing and switched to synthetic voice, calling her, ¡°Ah Fang, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Zhou Xu¡¯s eyelashes trembled. She moved and said, ¡°I heard Jiang Zhi¡¯s voice.¡± She froze again, listening intently, ¡°He¡¯s coughing.¡± She could tell it was Jiang Zhi by the coughing sounds? ¡°How could Jiang Zhi be here, you must have heard wrong¡ª¡± But in front of the computer, Zhou Xu¡¯s figure was no longer there; in a teleportation, she was gone. Shuangjiang was a bit worried, feeling like Zhou Xu¡¯s soul had been hooked away. At the front of Building Seventeen in Yuquan Bay, Ah Wan was sticking to a door at the staircase entrance, straining his ears, but no, he heard nothing. Ah Wan was puzzled, muttering, ¡°This is the building, right? Why is the door locked?¡± Jiang Zhi left in such a hurry, thinly dressed, the wind was strong, ruffling his blue, foggy short hair into a mess. He coughed while pushing Ah Wan away from the door with his foot. ¡°Cough cough cough¡­ move away.¡± Ah Wan moved to the side. Jiang Zhi raised his hand to knock on the door¡ª Click. The door suddenly opened on its own, and then Jiang Zhi saw the face he¡¯d been longing for. Zhou Xu wore a hoodie covered by a down coat reaching her ankles, with the Zipper undone. She didn¡¯t wear a hat, her hair just long enough to reach her shoulders, messy and fluffy from sleep, her face very pale but her eyes very dark. She was looking at Jiang Zhi with eyes bright like stars in the desert. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Jiang Zhi was still stunned. She leaned against the door frame, looking up at him, ¡°Why are you here?¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s gaze rested on the pink rabbit-eared slippers beneath her feet for a few seconds, then back to her. Without explaining why he was there, he reached out and placed his hand on her forehead. Zhou Xu was taken aback. Jiang Zhi switched from the palm to the back of his hand, again touching her forehead, ¡°Why are you so cold?¡± Wasn¡¯t it a fever? Chapter 72 - Chapter 72: 072: First Kiss, Here Goes (Second Update) Chapter 72: 072: First Kiss, Here Goes (Second Update) ¡°Why is it so cold?¡± Shouldn¡¯t you have a fever? Zhou Xufang blinked her eyes, blinked again, and staggered backward. She buried her head, staring at the rabbit head on her shoe, ¡°My fever has already subsided.¡± Outside, the heavy snow fluttered down, the hexagonal snowflakes landing on his hair, ¡°Have you been to the hospital?¡± Zhou Xufang shook her head, ¡°I¡¯ve taken medicine.¡± The wind was strong, blowing against his tender neck, quickly turning it red. He looked away, coughed twice, leaned on the door to catch his breath, and said, ¡°I¡¯ll take you to the hospital.¡± Zhou Xufang refused to go. Jiang Zhi furrowed his brows in anger, calling her by her full name, ¡°Zhou Xufang,¡± he wanted to scold her for not taking care of herself, but he still couldn¡¯t bear to be harsh on her. The words lightened on his lips, and after much strain, he managed to choke out two awkward words, ¡°Be good.¡± Be good. It was the first time Zhou Xufang heard such pleasant words, like the curly-haired old lady next door cooing at her newborn grandson, incredibly gentle, incredibly loving. She exhaled a breath of warm air, feeling as if her recently lowered body temperature was making a comeback, a bit warm. She gathered her hair scattered around her neck and pulled it back, saying, ¡°I don¡¯t need to go to the hospital. I¡¯m very healthy, completely recovered.¡± Disobedient again. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Unable to scold or beat her, Jiang Zhi found himself at a loss, ¡°Fine, we won¡¯t go to the hospital.¡± Then he¡¯d have to stay by her side. He brushed the snow off his shoulder, coughed a few times, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to invite me in?¡± Zhou Xufang blocked the doorway and didn¡¯t move aside, her nails subconsciously scratching the door, too hard, leaving behind marks. She frowned in thought, then showed a troubled expression, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, my home can¡¯t entertain guests.¡± He was rejected. He! Was! Actually! Rejected! Jiang Zhi licked his lips, silent for a long time, then grabbed her wrist, ¡°Then come with me.¡± She refused him again, ¡°I can¡¯t.¡± And then, she remained immovable. Jiang Zhi exerted force, damn it¡­ he couldn¡¯t budge her! He was about to explode with anger! Still gripping her wrist, refusing to let go, pulling with all his might. Zhou Xufang gently withdrew her hand, really, it was gentle. Jiang Zhi stumbled from her pull, his shoulder banging against the door. Zhou Xufang immediately apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, did I hurt you?¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± He turned his head away, not wanting to say a word, or he¡¯d end up being a fool. He seemed mad. Zhou Xufang felt very guilty. ¡°Ah Wan, could you please excuse us.¡± She looked at Jiang Zhi, ¡°I have something to tell you.¡± Jiang Zhi glanced at Ah Wan, and dismissed him, ¡°Go wait in the car. Don¡¯t come out unless I call you.¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± He found his employer obnoxious, as annoying as the petted and arrogant Shuangxi rooster at home. Recently, Shuangxi had been Ms. Song¡¯s favorite, becoming too good for rice and eating only meat. Zhou Xufang led Jiang Zhi to the community square, at the far end there were two swings. She walked over and brushed the snow off one swing with her sleeve. She said to Jiang Zhi, ¡°You sit here.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t sit, walked over, directly lifted her up, and placed her on the swing, then blushed and crouched in front of her, ¡°I¡¯ll just squat here.¡± He was only mad at her for a few dozen seconds. He couldn¡¯t stay mad anymore. She had only slipped on a pair of slippers to come down, and he, worried that she would be cold, took the scarf from around his neck and wrapped it around her ankles. Zhou Xufang sat on the swing, swinging back and forth, her thoughts seemingly adrift. This wasn¡¯t the first time Jiang Zhi had held her. She had taken a long time to snap back to reality, and she didn¡¯t know what was wrong with her. All her usual defenses, her instinctive reflex to guard herself, had disappeared in Jiang Zhi¡¯s presence. She would never have allowed herself to be this close to someone else, let alone let someone touch her body. Jiang Zhi was different, he wasn¡¯t like anyone else. ¡°At the film studio,¡± without much thought, she blurted out, ¡°when you kissed my hand, did you do it on purpose?¡± Jiang Zhi squatted beside her swing, looking up at her. ¡°I did it on purpose.¡± ¡°Then why did you kiss me?¡± She had no parents or relatives, and not many friends. Before becoming a professional errand runner, she barely left the house, staying in a dark space cut off from the outside world. No one had taught her how to interact with boys or how to conduct herself in society. However, she had watched television and seen all of Jiang Zhi¡¯s movies. She knew that boys shouldn¡¯t casually kiss girls, not even on the hand. Jiang Zhi, holding onto the swing¡¯s rope, gently rocked it, his peach blossom eyes reflecting her swinging shadow: ¡°You¡¯re asking why I kissed you?¡± He swallowed nervously. ¡°Is it because,¡± Zhou Xufang planted her feet to stop the swing, and looked firmly at Jiang Zhi, ¡°is it because you want me to bear you a child?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Jiang Zhi was taken aback. He had only thought of convincing her to come over, and she was already thinking about having children. His mind involuntarily raced with the thought¡ªhaving children, if with her, wouldn¡¯t be so bad¡­ Zhou Xufang interrupted Jiang Zhi¡¯s whimsical thoughts: ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Jiang Zhi, I can¡¯t continue your family line. If your family truly doesn¡¯t approve of you marrying a boy, you should¡ªjust¡ª¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s rising smile quickly fell: ¡°I should do what?¡± She wanted to say, you should find someone else to continue the family line. But for some reason, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to say it. However, it seemed Jiang Zhi understood; this girl with an IQ of over 130 was incredibly obtuse, so slow to catch on that he couldn¡¯t afford to take it step by step any longer. All this taking it slow like a boiling frog was nonsense; he couldn¡¯t wait any longer. He grabbed the rope of the swing and gave a strong pull, dragging her right in front of him. His ears flushed red with a mix of shyness and boldness, like a fairy just descended into the mortal world, naively flirting: ¡°You think I kissed you just to find a woman to continue the Jiang family¡¯s bloodline?¡± Wasn¡¯t it? Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t really understand men¡¯s thoughts. The shadows in Jiang Zhi¡¯s gaze sunk and floated: ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Zhou Xufang stayed still, feeling like he might be angry. ¡°I¡¯ve told you already, I¡¯m not gay anymore.¡± He looked up, snowflakes on his eyelashes, the world clad in silver, but a hint of pink bloomed at the corners of his eyes, his beautiful pupils reflecting her image. Her beauty was paired with the gentle breeze, a face as lovely as peach blossoms. Jiang Zhi was the most handsome person Zhou Xufang had ever seen. As he gazed at her intently, her mind turned to mush, muddled, and she struggled to keep up, hardly knowing what she was saying: ¡°If you¡¯re not gay, then why do you want me to continue your bloodline?¡± Jiang Zhi inhaled a gust of cold air, which made him cough so hard he nearly spat out blood, and blurted out without thinking: ¡°Who said I want you to continue my bloodline, I¡¯m infertile! Continue what goddamn bloodline!¡± Zhou Xufang, frozen like an ice sculpture: ¡°¡­¡± Jiang Zhi, unable to continue the family line due to infertility: ¡°¡­¡± He was stunned; what had he just said? The air became dreadfully still¡­ After a long pause, Zhou Xufang stuttered out: ¡°You, you, you¡¯re infertile.¡± She fiddled with her fingers, ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to poke at your wound, I¡ª¡± Her left hand was grabbed. Jiang Zhi pulled hard, leaned in close, and sealed her incessantly babbling mouth with his. Chapter 73 - Chapter 73: 073: Kissed, hugged, touched, now you should take responsibility. Chapter 73: 073: Kissed, hugged, touched, now you should take responsibility. Jiang Zhi gave a hard tug and immediately moved in to seal her incessantly babbling mouth. Then¡ª She became like an ice sculpture. He stood there dumbstruck. For a whole half-minute, they just stared into each other¡¯s eyes, mouth to mouth, her face and neck flushing red, his face and neck also turning red. Then¡ª There was no then. To put it in Second Young Master Xue¡¯s words, what, were you expecting a chick who¡¯s never even seen an ¡°action movie¡± to turn into a wolf? Besides, this chick had been oppressed in her dreams for so many years. The snow fell heavier and heavier, and in the icy, snowy world, Jiang Zhi¡¯s palms were sweaty, his beautiful peach blossom eyes misty with moisture, blurring all images except for her clear shadow. Her eyelashes trembled incessantly, and her face grew redder and redder. Jiang Zhi had directed quite a few passionate scenes before, the kind where clothes come off, and there¡¯s biting and rolling, but he had never taken much interest in such pure kiss scenes. As a result¡ªhe had no experience. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï So, he held Zhou Xufang¡¯s head still, not letting her move, and then on her lips¡ªhe rubbed, and¡ªchafed. Her eyelashes shook even more fiercely, hands pulling on the swing¡¯s rope, pulling harder and harder. Just as Jiang Zhi thought about making another move, with a snap, the swing broke. Zhou Xufang was on top, Jiang Zhi below, and she fell onto him, both of them tumbling into the snow. He instinctively wrapped his arms around her waist, getting a chest full of impact. The wind blew the snow, fluffy white flakes fluttering from her face onto his. She lay stiff and motionless, her face taut, giving him the illusion of holding an ice sculpture. Her fists clenched tight; she was actually holding her breath. Jiang Zhi propped himself up with one hand, poking her face with the other: ¡°Breathe.¡± Oh, breathe. Zhou Xu drew in a deep breath. Jiang Zhi laid himself directly onto the snowy ground, then without struggling, without resisting, let her lie on top of him. The curve of his mouth grew larger and larger until he burst out laughing, his eyes blossoming with thousands upon thousands of peach blossom trees, each flower representing the charming allure of spring. But it was different for Zhou Xu. She sat with a dazed face, taking a long time to figure out her bearings, then she tried to climb off him, but her limbs had no strength at all, and her whole body flopped over, rolling into a snowbank beside them. Jiang Zhi turned over, propped his chin up, and smiled as he watched her. Zhou Xufang felt he was particularly like those fairies in TV dramas that exclusively suck the lifeblood of humans; she scooted back and shrank away, glaring at him: ¡°You, you, you, you¡ª¡± She kept saying ¡°you¡± for a long time but couldn¡¯t utter a complete sentence. Jiang Zhi got up from the ground, squatted down, and moved closer to her: ¡°Want to ask me why I kissed you?¡± Zhou Xufang, using both hands and feet, got up and squatted down, nodding vigorously. The sky was a white expanse, the earth was a white expanse, him and her, drenched by the snow, became white expanses as well, squatting face to face¡ªstill looking like two tender mushrooms. Jiang Mushroom tilted his head, asking Zhou Mushroom: ¡°Have you seen a romance movie?¡± Zhou Mushroom nodded. Jiang Mushroom moved a step closer to her, brushed the snowflakes off her pink bunny slippers with his hand, and looked up: ¡°Do you know what a kiss means?¡± Zhou Mushroom, a little slow, nodded at first but then shook her head, staring blankly at Jiang Mushroom. Then, Jiang Mushroom held Zhou Mushroom¡¯s face with both hands. ¡°It means,¡± His eyes shone like the stars, the bright, clear light reflecting her face. Jiang Zhi said, ¡°Zhou Xufang, I like you.¡± Seven words, resonating profoundly. His hands were icy cold. And her face was burning hot. The clash of cold and heat left her dizzy. Zhou Xufang, I like you¡­ I like you¡­ The wind howled, but she couldn¡¯t hear it anymore, with only Jiang Zhi¡¯s voice in her ears. It was as if her ears were ringing; his words kept reverberating, burrowing in and out. No one had ever expressed liking her before, leading her to believe that no one in this world would ever like her. Then Jiang Zhi said he liked her. She couldn¡¯t help but wonder if there would be someone who would grieve for her should she one day be burned at the stake, or if she were taken to a laboratory to have her organs and blood all taken away¡ªwould there be someone who would miss her then? ¡°Do you understand what I mean?¡± Amid the howling wind, Jiang Zhi¡¯s voice gently, softly twined into her ears. His face flushed, he suppressed all his shyness and spoke earnestly, ¡°Zhou Xufang, I like you. It¡¯s not about sexual orientation or carrying on the family line; it¡¯s just me, Jiang Zhi, liking you, Zhou Xufang.¡± Would you cry if I were burned to death? Suddenly, she wanted to ask him this question, but she didn¡¯t; her body was hot, her throat was dry, she couldn¡¯t make a sound, squatting there motionless. She remained silent, so Jiang Zhi reached out to touch her cheek, red as an apple, and she flinched back. ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s hand was still touching her face, and she didn¡¯t move again. He smiled, cocking his head and bringing his handsome face close to her eyes, looking just like that fairy from the television, beginning to seductively charm her. ¡°May I have another kiss, please?¡± Yes, please. She was bewitched and almost spoke out loud. Jiang Zhi wasn¡¯t actually seeking consent; right after asking, he didn¡¯t wait for an answer¡ªhe leaned in, lightly pressed his lips to hers, and even more outrageous, he stuck out his tongue and licked her. That lick¡ª Zhou Xufang was startled once again and, with her eyes wide, immediately pushed him away. Really, it was just a gentle lick¡ª Jiang Zhi fell backward, collapsing into a large mound of snow. Jiang Zhi, who hadn¡¯t yet had his fill of kisses: ¡°¡­¡± He was so unwilling, so angry, so aggrieved: ¡°Zhou Xufang, did you hit me again?!¡± The expression on Zhou Xufang¡¯s flushed face stiffened: ¡°I, I, I¡­ I didn¡¯t.¡± Her tongue was tied! Surely, it was his lick that caused the problem! Zhou Xufang suddenly panicked! Jiang Zhi still sat in the snow, not getting up, accusing her of turning on him after a kiss: ¡°Don¡¯t you feel sorry for me?!¡± He turned his head and began to cough violently. In the swirling snow, the red lips and white teeth of his delicate and beautiful face stood out more than ever, unable to sit up because of the coughing, half-laying in the white expanse, his body facing the wind, tempting and alluring. Zhou Xufang suddenly felt she had gone too far; how could she push Jiang Zhi, who was so fragile, so beautiful, so delicate? She hurried over in her slippers, a worried expression on her face: ¡°Are you okay? Did you get hurt?¡± Jiang Zhi turned his head, humming: ¡°I¡¯m hurt, I can¡¯t get up.¡± Then he extended his delicate hand towards her¡ªthe once wild lion turned into a weak, helpless lamb in an instant, ¡°Help me up.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s mind was blank, unable to think. She wiped the sweat from the palm of her hand and reached out to pull him up. But as soon as she extended her hand, Jiang Zhi grabbed it, yanked her towards him, and pulled her into his arms, both tumbling into the snowy heap. Before she could push him away, he feigned weakness and coughed twice: ¡°Don¡¯t push, answer two questions for me first.¡± Zhou Xufang curled into a tiny ball, placing her hands behind her. She truly didn¡¯t want to hurt him inadvertently. Jiang Zhi flipped over, supporting himself on his hands on either side of her waist: ¡°Zhou Xufang, what do you think of me?¡± His presence and his breath bore down on her. Zhou Xufang felt extremely hot, her breathing uneven, panting in short gasps, her face sweaty, and she replied honestly, ¡°You¡¯re very nice.¡± Very nice, indeed. ¡°I¡¯m this nice¡ªdo you want me?¡± He leaned in closer, a thin blush spreading over his ears, ¡°Just nod, and from now on, Jiang Zhi will be yours.¡± His voice was light and soft, the lilt at the end like a hook, ensnaring her spirit. He coaxed her gently. Asking, ¡°Do you want me?¡± Chapter 74 - Chapter 74: 074: If you take me, then you can control me Chapter 74: 074: If you take me, then you can control me Asked, ¡°Do you want me?¡± Do you? The climate at Moon Bay was damp and cold. It took a whole day by boat to reach the nearest land. In the winter, the water would freeze, and there might even be herds of animals migrating over. Most importantly, there was no doctor on the deserted island. If Jiang Zhi were to settle down there with her¡­ She looked serious as she thought for a long while. Her brows relaxed and then furrowed intermittently. After more than ten seconds, her eyes filled with sorrow as she shook her head. She! Shook! Her! Head! She! Didn¡¯t! Want! Him! Jiang Zhi was so angry he wanted to pin her down in the snow and have his way with her. He took a deep breath of the cold air, ¡°Fine.¡± With one hand braced on the outside of her arm, he leaned his body toward her, ¡°Since you don¡¯t want me, I¡¯ve got no choice but to cling to you. Wherever you go, I¡¯ll follow.¡± Anyway, he had set his sights on her. Whether by stealing, robbing, or using any means of trickery and deceit, he had to have her. But no sooner had he finished speaking his unreasonable words¡ª Zhou Xufang crawled out from his squeaky embrace, swiftly propping herself up with her hands, then she was suddenly far from him. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï With a flushed yet expressionless face, she said in a very formal tone, ¡°My takeout has arrived, I need to go get my takeout.¡± After that, she turned and ran. ¡°¡­¡± Ran? She actually ran! Jiang Zhi sat on the ground, beginning to question his life. Was he even less important than takeout?! Click. Shuangjiang looked over at the sound. The door opened and Zhou Xufang entered, her head hanging low, despondent, like a rooster that had lost a fight, with bleakness in her eyes and no trace of spirit. Shuangjiang let out a series of beeps. She walked by as if she heard nothing, her soul seemingly adrift, slowly ambling until suddenly, her footsteps halted. The room had been fitted with special soundproofing materials during renovations, so actually, it was quite hard to hear outside noises. But strangely, she could still hear Jiang Zhi talking with Ah Wan. ¡°Boss, why are you sitting in the snow?¡± Ah Wan¡¯s voice was a bit muffled. Jiang Zhi sounded displeased as he snapped at him, ¡°Who told you to get out of the car!¡± Ah Wan responded with a wronged tone, ¡°I saw it was snowing and specially came over to bring you an umbrella.¡± Then, surprised, he asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Miss Zhou? Why did she leave you here alone?¡± Jiang Zhi sounded like he was in a bad temper, ¡°Quick, come help me up.¡± ¡°Ah?¡± Ah Wan seemed puzzled. Jiang Zhi panted and yelled, ¡°I told you to come help me, damn it, cough cough cough¡­ my legs are frozen stiff.¡± Legs frozen stiff? Zhou Xufang¡¯s brow furrowed deeply. Shuangjiang asked her with a synthetic voice, ¡°What¡¯s taking so long?¡± She sat down in front of the computer, her head lowered as she fiddled with the seat cushion, replying, ¡°Oh.¡± Downstairs, the wind howled. ¡°Boss, shall we go back?¡± Whether it was the prolonged exposure to the wind or not, Jiang Zhi¡¯s voice had a nasal sound, ¡°Not going back.¡± Ah Wan then asked, ¡°If we¡¯re not going back, then what are we doing here?¡± In this heavy snow, someone could freeze to death. ¡°Chasing after a girlfriend, haven¡¯t you seen it before?¡± The second half of the sentence was said with some irritation, unclear at whom. ¡°¡­¡± Ah Wan stayed silent for quite a while, before speaking with a motherly tone, ¡°The snow is getting heavier, I¡¯m worried you can¡¯t withstand it.¡± ¡°Cough cough cough¡­ cough cough cough¡­¡± Jiang Zhi coughed for a long time, managing to choke out a single word: ¡°Scram.¡± As if the cold wind had struck his chest, he coughed violently. Could he faint? Zhou Xufang was worried. Shuangjiang asked her, ¡°Has Jiang Zhi left?¡± She placed the takeout she was holding down, replying, ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°What did he say to you?¡± There was something haunting about her. Yet again, she responded, ¡°Oh.¡± Shuangjiang laughed. She had come back, but her soul had not. ¡°Your face is very red.¡± Zhou Xufang grunted in acknowledgement, took off her down jacket and threw it aside, then tugged at the sweatshirt underneath, muttering, ¡°I feel so hot.¡± After speaking, she touched her lip, then bent a corner of her eye with every touch. Shuangjiang asked, ¡°Are you feverish again?¡± She pressed her cool palm against her face for a while, but it was still hot, so she stood up to get a thermometer and measured her temperature. Forty-one degrees. She had fallen sick again. Her body seemed to have gone haywire, one moment as cold as ice and the next blazing like fire. She felt no discomfort, only a heat that made her restless, with a desire to leap and bounce around, to jump into the sky and split the air. Then, with a fierce leap, the ceiling light clanged loudly. Shuangjiang: ¡°¡­¡± She felt that Zhou Xufang was behaving too oddly. ¡°Is there any medicine left at home?¡± Zhou Xufang looked up for a while and fortunately, the lamp Jiang Zhi had given her was not damaged. She was sweating and thirsty, gulping down two cans of milk in one go. She said, ¡°None left.¡± She had consumed all the fever medicine. Moreover, aside from feeling hot, she didn¡¯t seem to feel unwell anywhere else, but¡­ It was so hot. She couldn¡¯t stay put any longer, ¡°I¡¯m going out for a bit.¡± Shuangjiang asked her, ¡°To buy medicine?¡± No. She dressed and donned a black, fluffy hat, saying, ¡°Jiang Zhi¡¯s scarf is still on the floor, I forgot to pick it up.¡± Shuangjiang: ¡°¡­¡± Then, Zhou Xufang vanished from the room in an instant. Shuangjiang felt that during her fever, her speed seemed even faster¡­ At the entrance to building seven, Jiang Zhi was still standing there, with Ah Wan carefully holding an umbrella behind him. ¡°Boss, you¡­¡± Ah Wan paused, trying to hold back, but he couldn¡¯t. He spoke up again, ¡°You¡­¡± And once more, ¡°You¡­¡± Repeatedly starting and stopping, he hadn¡¯t dared to speak his mind. Such indecisiveness was annoying. Jiang Zhi turned and gave him a cold glance, ¡°Is your tongue twisted, or can¡¯t you keep your mouth shut?¡± Ah Wan straightened his tongue to speak, ¡°Did Miss Zhou reject you?¡± Just one sentence. Successfully turned the blossoms in Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes into ice, freezing to three feet deep, and the light shooting from within was bone-chilling. He said, ¡°Give me the umbrella.¡± Ah Wan shuddered, ¡°Oh.¡± He quickly handed over the umbrella. Jiang Zhi held the umbrella in one hand and brushed snow off his shoulder with the other. His misty blue hair was weighed down until it drooped, his eyes held moist vapor, misting into fog, making his entire appearance seem a lot more obedient and harmless, but¡ª His body was full of hostility, ¡°Move out from under the umbrella.¡± Because he wasn¡¯t allowed to share the umbrella, Ah Wan¡¯s heart suddenly grew cold, ¡°Oh¡­¡± He hugged himself tightly, bracing against the wind and snow, hunched over and shuffled to one side, enduring the torment of the cold. It was so excessive, so heartless, so capricious¡­ As Ah Wan was mentally greeting his employer, the sound of a door came from the stairwell entrance. Oh, the bane to the employer¡¯s existence had arrived. Look at the boss, as his eyes went from winter to spring in an instant, ¡°Why have you come down again?¡± He knew she couldn¡¯t bear to leave him. Zhou Xufang, with a face flushed red, expression serious, ¡°Scarf.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t understand, ¡°Hmm?¡± She said, ¡°I forgot to pick up the scarf.¡± So, she didn¡¯t come for him? The fingers of the hand clutching the umbrella turned white from gripping so tightly, and the spring in his eyes vanished completely, ¡°So, you don¡¯t bother picking up a living person like me, but you come down to pick up a scarf?¡± His face was red with embarrassment and annoyance, like a newlywed bride. Zhou Xufang hung her head in silence. Not obedient at all! Jiang Zhi was so angered by her that it pained him, and he called out to Ah Wan. ¡°Ah?¡± Jiang Zhi commanded, ¡°You go pick it up.¡± Hmph! You only take it out on me! Dare to do that with Miss Zhou! Using soft tactics on the weak but fearing the wife! After Ah Wan finished grumbling internally, he clutched his shivering self, ¡°Oh.¡± The scarf was picked up. He didn¡¯t look like he would faint either. Zhou Xufang then said, ¡°I¡¯ll go back up.¡± Just as she turned around, Jiang Zhi grabbed her hat, ¡°Won¡¯t you take me with you?¡± He couldn¡¯t be at peace with her going back alone. And also, he wanted to go to her place! Zhou Xufang stopped for a moment and pulled her hat back down, wearing it askew, ¡°You should go home, it¡¯s very cold.¡± She was worried he might fall sick. He was too fragile. Jiang Zhi, still holding the umbrella, continued to stand at the door entrance. The wind was strong, swirling snowflakes chaotically, many of them landing on him. His lips were a delicate shade of pink, which made his face look even paler. He did not insist on entering, remaining quiet and still. He began to cough again, ¡°Not going back, want to see you some more.¡± Zhou Xufang turned around, ¡°Jiang Zhi¡ª¡± He interrupted her, ¡°Didn¡¯t you want to be rid of me? You can only tell me what to do if you accept me.¡± Chapter 75 - Chapter 75: 075: Oh, its mutual affection. Chapter 75: 075: Oh, it¡¯s mutual affection. ¡°You don¡¯t want me, do you? You can only tell me what to do if you take me.¡± Zhou Xufang then fell silent. Jiang Zhi was upset by her again. After a while, she lowered her head and said, ¡°Sorry.¡± Ten seconds had passed, and Jiang Zhi was still angry. He said to her irritably, ¡°Who asked for your apology?¡± The next second he bent down to look at her face and immediately forgot about being angry. ¡°Why is your face still so red? Are you still running a fever?¡± He reached out, wanting to touch her head. She covered her head with her hands and jumped backwards. She was treating him like a thief! ¡°Did you take your medicine?¡± His tone was still annoyed, but he couldn¡¯t bring himself to speak harshly anymore. Zhou Xufang dishonestly nodded, ¡°Yes.¡± Her fever was severe, not only her face, but even her forehead was red. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã0 Jiang Zhi was overtaken with worry and insisted, ¡°Forget about me, go and lie down.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t move, ¡°You go back first.¡± Still trying to send him away even when she was sick like this. What to do? What could he do, he had to put up with it for the girl he had fallen for. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll go back.¡± He still wasn¡¯t at ease, he peered through the door at her for a long time, inelegantly reminding her like an old woman, ¡°Get some good sleep, and if the medicine doesn¡¯t work, you must go to the hospital.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± He emphasized specially, ¡°You must call me.¡± Zhou Xufang hesitated for a moment, then obediently nodded, ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯m leaving.¡± And he really left. Jiang Zhi walked slowly, clutching his umbrella at a tortoise¡¯s pace. Zhou Xufang called out to him, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± He stood in the snow, immediately turning to look at her. The white expanse of snow blurred his vision, the black umbrella was thick with snow, and beneath it, the man¡¯s beautiful eyes were fixed on her; everything else faded to the background, he only gazed at her. Never had anyone shown her such concern, such reluctance to leave. Zhou Xufang lowered her head, her eyes growing warm; she said softly, ¡°Be careful on the road.¡± Jiang Zhi waved to her, ¡°Go back.¡± She closed the door and didn¡¯t go upstairs, standing behind the door, listening to his footsteps growing further and further away. Ah Wan had parked the car on the roadside outside the residential complex, he shook off the snow from his body and gently opened the car door for his frail employer. Jiang Zhi got into the back seat. Ah Wan, covered in snow, didn¡¯t dare bring the cold into the car and used a towel to dry himself off before getting in. ¡°Boss, should we go back to the old house or the apartment?¡± If we stay parked here any longer, we might get a ticket. Jiang Zhi was distracted, he was physically back, but his gaze and soul were still outside: ¡°Just find a parking spot and stay put.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not going back?¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t say a word, fixating on the direction of Zhou Xufang¡¯s home from the car window. Ah Wan felt that his employer¡¯s unrequited love had come on a bit strong, with his mind full of Miss Zhou who was keen on applying cling film, he was on the verge of losing himself. The snow showed no sign of stopping, falling incessantly. Ah Wan was sitting in the driver¡¯s seat until he felt his discs might protrude; finally, Zhou Xufang¡¯s call came through. The phone had only rung once when Jiang Zhi answered, ¡°Has your fever gone down?¡± ¡°It has.¡± Her voice sounded a bit hoarse, weak and breathless. Jiang Zhi still didn¡¯t feel at ease, ¡°Video call me, I want to see whether your face is still red or not.¡± Zhou Xufang then hung up the phone and started a video call. The first thing she said was, ¡°Go home.¡± He was extremely upset, ¡°Always rushing me off.¡± The girl on the other end of the phone still could not find the camera lens as usual, looking blank and confused about where to stare, she brought the phone very close so that her face filled the screen. Her face was not red anymore, it looked sweaty, and her eyes were moist. Jiang Zhi felt a pang of heartache as he watched, unable to bear not listening to her anymore, ¡°Alright, stop rushing me. I¡¯ll go back once we hang up.¡± What he meant was to keep on video calling because he hadn¡¯t had his fill of watching her yet. And then¡ª Zhou Xufang disconnected the video call. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡± ¡°` He really was her ancestor! He was so angry that he dragged out her WeChat and sent over a ferocious voice message. ¡°Zhou Xufang!¡± Zhou Xufang replied with a ¡°.¡± Her tone was still soft, and he called out to her with his back turned to Ah Wan¡¯s gaze, ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± ¡°.¡± The more Jiang Zhi looked at it, the more he found those periods annoying. He was also a coward; he could never stay angry with her for more than a few seconds. He continued to send her voice messages, instructing her warmly and gently in a tone he despised himself: ¡°Stop ordering takeout, I¡¯ll have someone deliver dinner to you tonight.¡± Zhou Xufang replied quickly: ¡°No need.¡± Jiang Zhi put the phone to his mouth, his fierce tone full of indulgence: ¡°I insist on sending it, and if you don¡¯t eat it, just throw it away!¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°.¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± Deaf, are you? Unperturbed, Jiang Zhi continued to instruct his little ancestor: ¡°Rest well these few days, don¡¯t go out to work.¡± Zhou Xuzong replied, ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll buy you some tonics later.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to come over,¡± Zhou Xufang sent in a voice message, ¡°It¡¯s very cold.¡± Jiang Zhi listened to it twice, the corners of his mouth curving higher and higher: ¡°I won¡¯t come, I¡¯ll have someone else deliver it.¡± She replied with a period. At that moment, Jiang Zhi lifted his head and glared at the back of Ah Wan¡¯s head, finding it exceedingly irritating. He stopped sending voice messages and began to type. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± ¡°Uh.¡± He smiled and typed four words to her: ¡°I like you.¡± And he changed his nickname to ¡®My Little Ancestor.¡¯ Zhou Xufang: ¡°.¡± ¡°I really like you.¡± He was crazy, just wanted her to hear it. He had never been like this before, his heart floating, swirling around her, helpless to do anything but worship her. Zhou Xufang: ¡°.¡± Jiang Zhi was annoyed by the series of periods: ¡°If you send another period, I¡¯ll take it as you have feelings for me too.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t continue. Damn ellipsis! After she sent the last ellipsis, Zhou Xufang stared at her phone for a long time, making sure that Jiang Zhi wouldn¡¯t reply again, before she put down the phone. Shuangjiang had been online the whole time, witnessing all of Zhou Xufang¡¯s expressions ¨C her worry, her joy, complex and vivid, brimming with life. ¡°Did Jiang Zhi confess to you?¡± Zhou Xufang stared intently at her phone for a long time before she finally nodded. ¡°Ah Fang, do you know what liking someone means?¡± Shuangjiang added, ¡°It¡¯s not the same as liking chandeliers or cotton candy.¡± Ever since she could remember, Zhou Xufang had been alone; no one had ever taught her these things. She nodded as if she understood, then shook her head. ¡°Let me give you an example, if your favorite lamp broke, what would you do?¡± She thought for a moment and said seriously: ¡°Bury it.¡± Shuangjiang: ¡°¡­¡± Then she asked, ¡°What if Jiang Zhi was gone?¡± Her brow furrowed: ¡°Why would he be gone?¡± ¡°If he were to be killed by someone¡ª¡± She didn¡¯t even let her finish, her expression turned fierce immediately: ¡°I wouldn¡¯t let anyone hurt him.¡± She looked up, her pupils reddening slightly beneath her thick lashes, ¡°Whoever dares to harm him, I¡¯ll break their arms and legs.¡± When Zhou Xufang was angry, her eyes would turn red. It was just a hypothetical situation, and she was already angry. Perhaps she didn¡¯t even know herself how much she treasured that boy. Shuangjiang rarely saw her with red eyes, and although she never tried to hide it: ¡°Do you understand now? Jiang Zhi is different from the chandelier.¡± Zhou Xufang seemed to realize afterward and nodded. She said: ¡°He¡¯s different from chandeliers, chandeliers can be buried at Moon Bay, but he can¡¯t.¡± She couldn¡¯t bear it. Jiang Zhi was so wonderful, she hoped he¡¯d be in the best place, with the best people, living the best life, instead of following her, boring and lifeless, adrift on a desolate, uninhabited island. And moreover¡ª She suddenly felt very despondent: ¡°If Jiang Zhi knew I was a freak, he wouldn¡¯t like me anymore.¡± ¡°` Chapter 76 - Chapter 76: 076: I am willing to let her ride on my head~ Chapter 76: 076: I am willing to let her ride on my head~ Xue Baoyi was restless, always needing to be on the move or he¡¯d feel uneasy all over. In the evening, he called everyone out, insisting on playing mahjong. Jiang Zhi was disinterested. Qiao Nanchu arrived fashionably late. Upon entering, he snuffed out his cigarette and immediately noticed Jiang Zhi slumped on the sofa. He teased, ¡°What¡¯s up with you? Looking all listless.¡± Xue Baoyi, whilst shaking the dice and amusing himself, chimed in, ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious? He got the cold shoulder from Zhou Xufang.¡± Jiang Zhi shot him a glare. Xue Baoyi quickly got the hint and zipped his lips with a hand gesture: ¡°I¡¯m not saying anything more, nothing more.¡± Lifeless. Unable to really get into the card game, Xue Baoyi then called Xue Bingxue over to play video games. Ah Wan came in from outside, hung up his coat, and listened to Mr. exclaiming in anguish as he got killed in the game. Calmly, he walked over to where Jiang Zhi was lying on the sofa. ¡°Boss, Jin Song has found some clues.¡± In the game, Xue Baoyi momentarily looked up as Ah Wan spoke: ¡°Was it really Jin Song who hired someone to hit him?¡± Ah Wan didn¡¯t answer but leaned in and whispered something to Jiang Zhi. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã0 Jiang Zhi sat up straight on the sofa and lazily crossed his legs, calling out, ¡°Bingxue.¡± Xue Bingxue, who was gaming, looked up. Jiang Zhi said, ¡°Go wait outside for ten minutes.¡± Xue Bingxue¡¯s face showed confusion: ¡°Why?¡± Just then, Xue Baoyi yelped again. He hadn¡¯t managed to grab a weapon upon landing and got instantly shot in the head, swearing in a Beijing accent out of frustration. Jiang Zhi kicked Xue Baoyi¡¯s shin with the back of his foot. That quieted Xue Baoyi. Jiang Zhi glanced at Xue Bingxue and slowly said, ¡°We¡¯re about to discuss something vile, don¡¯t wanna scare you.¡± Xue Bingxue looked at the three ¡®animals¡¯ in the room, decided not to ask further, and left. Xue Baoyi shook his head, puzzled by who had raised such a tactful and honest nephew, rendering his own big nephew embarrassed to look directly at him. Once he was alone, Jiang Zhi asked Ah Wan, ¡°What¡¯s Jiang Wei¡¯er¡¯s involvement?¡± Xue Baoyi was about to operate his 98k when his fingers paused. Bang! He was headshot again. After tossing his phone aside, Xue Baoyi looked up. Ah Wan replied, ¡°It¡¯s not related to Fifth Miss; it¡¯s Fifth Miss¡¯s boyfriend.¡± Qiao Nanchu poured a drink and sat next to Jiang Zhi, ¡°So, the one who hit Brother Zhi that day was Xiao Linsu?¡± Ah Wan said, ¡°We haven¡¯t found evidence of that yet.¡± ¡°What did you find out then?¡± Ah Wan rubbed his buzz cut, ¡°Xiao Linsu and Jin Song have an unusual relationship.¡± Xue Baoyi leaned in, ¡°How unusual?¡± Ah Wan had a shocked expression as if his whole worldview had been shattered: ¡°Xiao Linsu spent the night at Jin Song¡¯s place!¡± Xue Baoyi laughed, ¡°Wow, they¡¯re playing big.¡± No wonder Jiang Zhi sent his uncle away, otherwise if his uncle found out about Xiao Linsu¡¯s disloyalty to Jiang Wei¡¯er, he might abandon his long-held beliefs of twenty-eight years and go on a rampage. But they couldn¡¯t tip their hand yet; they needed solid evidence. ¡°Ah Wan.¡± ¡°Boss, go ahead.¡± Jiang Zhi poured a small glass of red wine and took a delicate sip, ¡°Send Jin Song¡¯s investigation files to Old Lady Jiang.¡± Ah Wan nodded, ¡°Oh.¡± Qiao Nanchu intercepted Jiang Zhi¡¯s glass and replaced it with a glass of milk, ¡°Do you have something on Jin Song?¡± He sighed weakly, holding his chest and coughing slightly, his complexion pale and breath short, ¡°Can¡¯t a sick man protect himself?¡± Qiao Nanchu cursed jokingly and downed Jiang Zhi¡¯s wine. Xue Baoyi grabbed a handful of his freshly styled hair. Something wasn¡¯t right. If Jiang Zhi had leverage, why involve Old Lady Jiang? Couldn¡¯t he just take action directly? Whether it was grandson or grandmother, wouldn¡¯t the impact be the same? Just as Xue Baoyi was about to ask for clarification, Xue Bingxue came back on his own. ¡°Brother Zhi,¡± Xue Bingxue stood at the door. ¡°I saw your family¡¯s Miss Zhou sticking films.¡± The joke about sticking films was getting old. Jiang Zhi stood up at the mention, ¡°Where?¡± ¡°She¡¯s outside handing out flyers.¡± Qiao Nanchu chuckled, ¡°Is this girl a model worker or something?¡± Without another word, Jiang Zhi left his friends to find his industrious girl. By then, the night had completely fallen; the street was brilliantly lit with neon lights. Due to the heavy snow, there were few pedestrians who, reluctant to take out their hands in the bitter cold, refused the flyers being handed to them. Zhou Xufang was about to move to a more crowded area when someone called her name fiercely from behind. ¡°Zhou Xufang!¡± Oh, it was the world¡¯s most beautiful beauty, Jiang Zhi. Zhou Xufang turned around, her previously expressionless face now softened. She thought to herself: How wonderful, I¡¯ve met him again today. Jiang Zhi stormed out of Fusheng Inn, without even bothering to use an umbrella, and began scolding, ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you not to come out and work?¡± How can you be so disobedient! Zhou Xufang was clad in a black raincoat, with a large hood covering her entire head, and she also wore a mask, only revealing a pair of dark eyes. Her feet were shod in black rain boots. In the dead of night, she looked like¡­ like a female ghost. No wonder pedestrians not only refused her flyers but also avoided her by a wide margin. However, Zhou Xufang was sincere in her work, never lazy, willing to endure hardship. On this cold winter night, she was the only one willing to work, so the hotpot restaurant¡¯s owner, out of desperation, had offered her a ¡®high price¡¯ to come and help. The Zhou Xufang, who had been recruited for a ¡®high price,¡¯ was holding a stack of flyers for the hotpot restaurant. She told Jiang Zhi, ¡°I¡¯m already better.¡± To prove her recovery, she bounced in place twice, ¡°Really, I am completely healed.¡± Not long after Jiang Zhi left, her fever had subsided. Moreover, she hadn¡¯t actually felt unwell; even when she had a fever, she felt only warmth and no other discomfort, instead feeling an abundance of energy. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t believe her. He lifted the hood of her raincoat to see if her forehead was still red. Zhou Xufang cooperatively lifted her head and obediently took off her mask, saying, ¡°See, the fever has gone down.¡± Her lips were rosy, parting and closing as she spoke. Made him want to kiss her. Ahem, ahem, ahem¡­ Jiang Zhi coughed a few times. His Adam¡¯s apple, tinged with a blush, bobbed as he swallowed. He pulled her raincoat¡¯s hood back over her head and turned his head away, saying petulantly, ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to get sick again.¡± Zhou Xufang was troubled, ¡°But I¡¯ve already promised Boss Zhang.¡± A person ought to keep their word, plus the hotpot restaurant¡¯s Boss Zhang was very kind and often looked out for her at work. Today, with the heavy snow being perfect hotpot weather, Boss Zhang couldn¡¯t find anyone else to distribute flyers and had specially asked her. She couldn¡¯t break her word. Jiang Zhi snatched the flyers from her hand, ¡°I¡¯ll distribute them for you. You go inside.¡± Zhou Xufang stood stunned, not moving. Jiang Zhi urged, ¡°Go inside quick.¡± Then to the onlookers at the doorway who had come to enjoy the show, he bellowed, ¡°What are you few still standing around for? Come and help me!¡± Xue Bingxue: ¡°¡­¡± Qiao Nanchu: ¡°¡­¡± Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± The three young masters, who knew little of the hardships of the common folk, internally resisted, but seeing Jiang Zhi, who had never touched cold water since childhood, distributing flyers in the snow, how could they, as his brothers, not help? The three young masters could only step into the snow to distribute flyers together with Jiang Family¡¯s young master. Ah Wan, standing behind helping her frail employer hold an umbrella, inwardly sighed, it really was a world that judged by appearances. Their master, with a face that looked like someone owed him a billion, had yet to have a single flyer refused. Xue Baoyi, unaccustomed to such hardships, soon had hands red from the cold. He couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°Brother Zhi, this is a bit much.¡± Jiang Zhi was unfeeling, ¡°Speak human.¡± Xue Baoyi sincerely said, ¡°A woman shouldn¡¯t be spoiled too much, or she¡¯ll climb onto your head.¡± Like his two uncles, who because they doted on women too much, couldn¡¯t tell apart home from outside, resulting in constant turmoil in the family. Concubines, heavily pregnant, would run to the wife to make trouble, outrageously audacious. Honestly, it wasn¡¯t unusual for men from wealthy families to mess around, but like his two uncles, ruining their reputations was just idiotic, all brought about by spoiling women, otherwise why would each one daringly have secret affairs? But Jiang Zhi was utterly unconcerned, ¡°If I want her to climb, what about it.¡± He looked towards the entrance of Fusheng Inn, where the girl in the raincoat stood quietly, obediently watching him. Forget climbing on him, as long as Zhou Xufang was willing, he was up for anything. Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± What about it? Done for. After distributing the flyers, Jiang Zhi escorted Zhou Xufang home. Xue Baoyi, no longer in the mood for fun, watched as his good buddy fell headfirst into love. Feeling somewhat gloomy, he pulled out his phone to start a game of game, perhaps spurred by Jiang Zhi¡¯s actions, he uncharacteristically invited his arch-nemesis¡ªI¡¯m Your Ancestor. Moreover, he sent a private message: ¡°It¡¯s time you experienced my true skills.¡± On the other end, Fang Lixiang, playing the game while squatting in the restroom, curled the corners of her mouth, sneering. She accepted the invitation and readied to see how this noob would make a fool of himself. Not five minutes into the game¡ª The headset was filled with a cacophony of yells: ¡°Ah, ah, ah, don¡¯t hit me!¡± Truth be told, Xue Baoyi was usually a domineering CEO type, certainly a refined young master with an imposing aura, but once he entered the battleground¡­ He couldn¡¯t control himself: ¡°Quick, come here, they¡¯re hitting me!¡± ¡°Teammate! Teammate! Where are you? Teammate!!!¡± ¡°They¡¯re coming, help me! Quick, help me up!¡± Fang Lixiang¡¯s eardrums hurt from the shouting inside her headset. This noob¡¯s voice sounded somewhat like her boss? ¡°Teammate! Teammate, come quick!¡± ¡°Help me, help me get up aaaah!¡± Fang Lixiang picked her ears and drove over, ¡°Damn it, stop yelling, I¡¯m here.¡± Then, she got out of the vehicle, just as she was helping the person up, a fire started behind her. Fang Lixiang exploded in irritation, ¡°What the hell, why did you throw a Molotov?!¡± Xue Baoyi stammered, scared, ¡°To¡­ to kill the enemy.¡± Fang Lixiang was on the verge of a breakdown, ¡°To kill your grandma, you threw it at me, I¡¯m going to be burned alive by you!¡± In the game, I¡¯m Your Ancestor had already been killed. The game hadn¡¯t even lasted five minutes, she hadn¡¯t killed a single person yet, had picked up several guns, but hadn¡¯t managed to fire a single bullet before being burned to death by a teammate¡­ Fang Lixiang roared, ¡°It¡¯s all your fault!¡± The other party was unrepentant, ¡°Who told you to be behind me.¡± Damn, he even found an excuse. Fang Lixiang was furious to the point of nearly dropping dead on the spot: ¡°Wasn¡¯t it you who freaking told me to come help you?¡± She couldn¡¯t hold back any longer, really couldn¡¯t hold back, ¡°You noob! And you have the nerve to go by ¡®A lifetime of handsome,¡¯ I think you should be ¡®A lifetime of noob¡¯!¡± Xue¡¤Noob¡¤Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± She despised those players who cursed their teammates for being noobs after dying. Chapter 77 - Chapter 77: 077: Brother Zhi is so bad~ Chapter 77: 077: Brother Zhi is so bad~ The next day, a financial news story hit the top of Weibo¡¯s trending search. Vice President Jin Song of Huayu was urgently arrested on suspicion of tax evasion and bribery. His brother, Jin Lei, claimed to be unaware and would fully cooperate with the police investigation. Snow continued for two days, and the sun only appeared on the third day. At nine in the morning, the police station had a visitor. Tap, tap, tap, tap¡­ Jin Song, sitting in the interrogation room, could hear the sound of a walking stick hitting the ground before he saw the person. The visitor was an elderly person with graying hair. She was assisted by someone, holding a walking cane, wearing an emerald and translucent bracelet, her makeup and hair meticulously perfect. ¡°Are you Jin Song?¡± At ten, Qiao Nanchu visited Qingshan Mansion. Jiang Zhi had just woken up, still appearing sleepy. Qiao Nanchu teased him a bit before getting down to business, ¡°Jin Song has been released.¡± Jiang Zhi grunted, his spirit was down, his face showing no surprise, still appearing half-asleep. ¡°Expected that?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã? He did not commit to an answer, grabbed a pullover sweater to put on, and ruffled his tousled hair, ¡°Old Mrs. Jiang still has a sharp edge.¡± Qiao Nanchu also inquired with the Criminal Investigation Team. It definitely was Old Lady Jiang¡¯s doing, and he grew curious, ¡°You handed Jin Song¡¯s leverage to Old Mrs. Jiang? Weren¡¯t you aiming to take down Jin Song?¡± It had only been forty-eight hours, and the man was already out. This was not like Jiang Zhi¡¯s style. ¡°Yeah, to finish him off.¡± Jiang Zhi, sitting on the couch, slowly sipping warm milk, leisurely responded with this. ¡°Why was he released then?¡± Qiao Nanchu, today in a police uniform, his tie undone and slouching against the couch, his righteous expression unable to hide a mischievous smile, asked cheekily, ¡°What is your Old Lady Jiang up to? Sending someone in and then pulling him back out¡ªwhat¡¯s the meaning of all this?¡± Jiang Zhi put down his cup, tossing a marshmallow into his mouth, ¡°Who said it was Old Mrs. Jiang who sent him in?¡± Qiao Nanchu raised an eyebrow. ¡°I gave the stuff to Old Mrs. Jiang, she just handed it to Jin Lei,¡± holding a glass candy jar without leaving his hand, Jiang Zhi idly fiddled with it, ¡°We, the Jiang Family, don¡¯t like to dirty our own hands.¡± Qiao Nanchu unfastened a button of his police uniform, leaned back, and lounged into the sofa, ¡°Old Mrs. Jiang even used Jin Lei¡¯s hand to put the man inside, then why release him?¡± ¡°My Fifth Aunt was insulted; how could Old Mrs. Jiang just sit by?¡± If his guess was right, Old Mrs. Jiang would have demanded some compensation before pulling the strings to get him out. Such cunning. Qiao Nanchu laughed, ¡°Your Old Lady Jiang uses others to do her killing. What about you?¡± He looked at Jiang Zhi, eager, ¡°You¡¯re not just playing around with this whole act, right?¡± Indeed, Old Mrs. Jiang was an old fox. And Jiang Zhi? A cunning fox with even deeper tricks. He still appeared unconcerned and lazy. ¡°I just said it.¡± What did he just say? ¡°Finish off Jin Song?¡± Jiang Zhi, slightly drowsy, lay there with his peach blossom eyes drooping, a faint red at the corners not very noticeable, more charming than a lady but always with a hint of severe allure, didn¡¯t confirm but instead posed Qiao Nanchu a question, ¡°What would you do if someone put you in jail and then you got out?¡± ¡°Seek revenge.¡± He smiled, as delightful as peach blossoms, ¡°I just love watching the brothers turn against one another and bite each other like dogs.¡± No wonder he sent the stuff to Old Lady Jiang and stayed out of it directly. This man plays with people¡¯s hearts and to be honest, Qiao Nanchu has never seen anyone more sinister than Jiang Zhi. ¡°You Jiang Family folks really don¡¯t like to get your own hands dirty.¡± Old Mrs. Jiang is one, and Jiang Zhi is certainly no less. He still languidly lay there, absently saying, ¡°Send a message to Bao Yi. Huayu is about to implode internally. Tell him not to sit idle but to start closing the net.¡± Jin Lei and Jin Song, the brothers turned on each other, a classic case of the fisherman benefiting from the snipe and clam¡¯s fight. Jiang Zhi, oh Jiang Zhi, ruthlessly cunning. Qiao Nanchu laughed and cursed him as shameless. Jiang Zhi hummed, unapologetically, grabbed his phone and dialed a number. ¡°Vice Director Zhao.¡± As soon as Vice Director Zhao picked up the call from this big shot, his voice trembled, ¡°Director Jiang, what can I do for you?¡± Seemingly casual, Jiang Zhi asked, ¡°No extras in the scenes this afternoon?¡± Vice Director Zhao honestly reported, ¡°No, the afternoon is all main character scenes.¡± He didn¡¯t know what he had done to upset the big shot, as the voice came unfriendly, ¡°Why not add some?¡± A scene where the main characters confess their love¡ªhow do you add extras to that, tell me, how do you add them? Stick in a third wheel?! Vice Director Zhao was helpless, ¡°It really wouldn¡¯t be appropriate¡ª¡± Before he could finish, the call was hung up. ¡°¡­¡± Really! Vice Director Zhao was even starting to doubt his life choices, wondering if Director Jiang wasn¡¯t really shooting a grand national espionage film but rather the rise of extras. At eleven, Zhou Xufang received a message from the group leader, asking if she would take an extra¡¯s role in a scene where the main characters kiss. She would just need to express surprise and then walk by without showing her face, just one shot, and she could name her price. Name her price¡­ It must be Jiang Zhi trying to look out for her. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t immediately reply to the group leader. She sat in front of the computer, her expression a bit bleak. Shuangjiang was originally discussing with her the property issue of this building, fearing Jiang Zhi might find something out; they might have to make another move. Zhou Xufang¡¯s crestfallen mood came abruptly. ¡°Why so gloomy?¡± Zhou Xufang let her head sag, unhappy, ¡°I can¡¯t do the extra work.¡± Shuangjiang didn¡¯t understand what she meant and sent a string of question marks. She said, ¡°I¡¯m supposed to go to Moon Bay and can¡¯t bring Jiang Zhi along. I should keep my distance from him.¡± As she spoke, she became even more despondent, her face showing an utterly defeated expression, ¡°It¡¯s all over TV, stringing someone along when you can¡¯t be together is just trashy.¡± Shuangjiang: ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Xufang even knew the term ¡°trashy.¡± ¡°But I really want to act,¡± Zhou Xufang sighed, ¡°they pay a lot.¡± Shuangjiang immediately typed a line: ¡°Ah Fang, be honest, it¡¯s not about the money, you just want to see Jiang Zhi.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s face blushed instantly, she lowered her head, silent, her ears also turning red, then she put her hands on the keyboard and manually replied: ¡°.¡± Shuangjiang: ¡°¡­¡± This girl really likes Jiang Zhi a lot. She had a feeling Moon Bay wasn¡¯t going to happen. ¡°Ah Fang,¡± Shuangjiang¡¯s font suddenly turned red, ¡°there¡¯s a new hiring mission.¡± Zhou Xufang was still listless: ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°It involves protecting someone.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Shuangjiang used a large bold font: ¡°The beneficiary, Jiang Zhi.¡± Zhou Xufang paused for a moment, her eyes widened, ¡°Who¡¯s hiring?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Jiang Zhi¡¯s grandmother.¡± Shuangjiang added, ¡°The hiring period is one month, with a commission of twenty million.¡± She asked Zhou Xufang, ¡°Will you take it?¡± Zhou Xufang frowned, then relaxed, and tightened again, battling internally for a long time, finally, she said, ¡°I¡¯ll take it.¡± ¡°Not keeping your distance from Jiang Zhi anymore?¡± Shuangjiang teased her playfully. She turned her head away in embarrassment, speaking earnestly and softly, ¡°I need to make money, or I won¡¯t be able to afford Moon Bay.¡± Shuangjiang chuckled. Zhou Xufang ah, you¡¯ve learned to lie. The dispirited Zhou Xufang was suddenly spirited again; she replied to the group leader with a ¡®go¡¯, then got up to change clothes in the dressing room, carrying two packs of cotton candy Jiang Zhi had given her to eat on the way. ¡°I¡¯m off to work,¡± she told Shuangjiang, ¡°Goodbye.¡± Chapter 78 - Chapter 78: 078: Wear Pink on a Date (First Update) Chapter 78: 078: Wear Pink on a Date (First Update) ¡°I¡¯m off to work,¡± she told Shuangjiang, ¡°goodbye.¡± Then she headed out to work as usual, wearing her face mask and hat securely and wrapped in a black down jacket from head to foot. The only difference today was that she wore a pink hoodie under her down jacket. As soon as she stepped downstairs, someone called out to her. ¡°Xu Fang.¡± The voice sounded very familiar. It was the new security guard, an old man who was very enthusiastic. He hadn¡¯t been around long but had already become friendly with everyone in the community, including Zhou Xufang, whose reputation had always been rather poor in the community. Every time she passed by, he greeted her. Everyone in the community called him Mr. Fang. Zhou Xufang politely greeted him back, ¡°Hello, uncle.¡± Mr. Fang always looked at her with affection, ¡°Are you going on a date?¡± It was the first time he had seen her wear pink; she looked as pretty as his own daughter. Hearing this, Zhou Xufang immediately shook her head seriously, ¡°No, it¡¯s not a date.¡± Her face flushed as she explained seriously, ¡°I¡¯m going to work.¡± Oh, she¡¯s shy. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã? Mr. Fang, as someone who had been through it all, didn¡¯t spell it out. He took out a row of AD calcium milk bottles warmed from his greatcoat and handed them to Zhou Xufang, ¡°Take this, drink it on the way.¡± Zhou Xufang was surprisingly flattered and hesitated for a while before accepting them, hurriedly saying, ¡°Thank you.¡± Mr. Fang chuckled in an aunty-like manner and waved her off, ¡°Go on, take care on the road.¡± She said ¡®goodbye¡¯ and then walked out of the community with a row of AD calcium milk. When she passed the community supermarket, she gave two bottles to Wen Baiyang. When she arrived at the film set, it was just one o¡¯clock in the afternoon, still early. Zhou Xufang had good eyesight and good hearing; from afar, she saw the noisy perimeter of the set, and at the corner, a man crouched, wearing just a white shirt on such a cold day, his back straight as a rod. In the corner, a mixed-breed puppy shivered, very small and extremely skinny, its fur tangled into clumps. Its front leg was still bleeding. The man¡¯s hands were clean and pale, pressing on the puppy¡¯s wound, soft-spokenly he asked it, ¡°Were you beaten by someone again?¡± Perhaps it was in pain, the puppy whimpered a few times. He dirtied his hand but didn¡¯t mind, taking off the handkerchief from his shirt pocket, gently wrapped it around the puppy¡¯s injured leg. His movements were gentle and slow. This stray dog was very obedient, neither moving nor barking, allowing him to bandage it. After he had bandaged the wound, the man used his blood-stained palm to caress the dirty head of the puppy, advising it, ¡°Don¡¯t go stealing food anymore, come to me if you¡¯re hungry.¡± Zhou Xufang had seen this dog once before, not knowing where this stray came from. It occasionally ran to the set but often provoked the set¡¯s crew who would then chase it while yelling. Zhou Xufang continued towards the set when the man turned around, his gaze colliding with hers. He was Jiang Zhi¡¯s aunt¡¯s boyfriend, Zhou Xufang recognized him. She was wearing a mask and a hat, and he clearly didn¡¯t recognize her, greeting her with a gentle and polite smile, ¡°Are you here for an autograph?¡± He thought she was a fan. In fact, Zhou Xufang had seen Xiao Linsu several times on the set, though she was always crouching in inconspicuous corners, unnoticed by Xiao Linsu. In her impression, Linsu was a gentle and kind person to everyone. Seeing her not speaking, Xiao Linsu asked her, ¡°Do you have any paper?¡± Zhou Xufang shook her head. He thought for a very short moment, then took out a cigarette box, which had only one cigarette left. He took out the cigarette, placed it in his mouth, then pulled out a pen from his shirt pocket, signed his name on the cigarette box, and handed it to Zhou Xufang with a smile. Since he had touched the dog¡¯s wound, there was blood on his palm, which stained both the pen and the cigarette box. Zhou Xufang was about to explain that she wasn¡¯t a fan when someone behind her called out. ¡°Xu Fang!¡± It was Fang Lixiang, hanging around the entrance of the set urging her, ¡°Hurry up, I bought soup dumplings.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t explain, took the cigarette box, thanked him, and entered the set, where Fang Lixiang was chattering nonstop. Zhou Xufang couldn¡¯t help but look back, seeing Xiao Linsu returning to the spot. He squatted down, smoked for a while, then put out his cigarette. He looked at the dog, gently asking, ¡°Does it hurt a lot?¡± The puppy softly whined at him. He reached out his hand to its head, gently rubbing with a natural and practiced motion, as if he had done this thousands of times. He asked the dog, that clearly didn¡¯t understand human speech, ¡°Do you want to come with me?¡± It barked once in response. He smiled, tossed the cigarette butt, picked up the dog¡ªits injured leg bled onto him. Zhou Xufang recognized the shirt; Xiao Linsu was the male lead in ¡°Wilderness¡± and that shirt was his costume. She thought, perhaps the dog had come to the set looking for him; others might yell at it, but it still came. ¡°Xu Fang.¡± Fang Lixiang waved her hand in front of Zhou Xufang. Zhou Xufang diverted her gaze, asking her, ¡°Lixiang, do you know Xiao Linsu well?¡± Fang Lixiang glanced toward the crowd, saw the manager was not around, quickly stuffed the soup dumplings hidden in her coat into her mouth, and mumbled unclearly, ¡°Can¡¯t say I know him well, but I really liked him when he first started out.¡± Speaking of her idol, she seemed melancholic, ¡°He was only eighteen then, a very warm person.¡± ¡°And now?¡± Zhou Xufang felt he wasn¡¯t a bad person, although she had seen him pulling and tugging with his manager in the parking lot. Fang Lixiang thought for a moment, ¡°Quite melancholic.¡± Asked Zhou Xufang, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Zhou Xufang shook her head. She just felt that him squatting there, with the abandoned, yelled-at stray dog, was very similar. They didn¡¯t mention Xiao Linsu anymore. Fang Lixiang was surprised to find something, ¡°You¡¯re actually wearing pink today.¡± Although Zhou Xufang was young, she dressed and behaved like someone cut off from the world, an old cadre; her clothes were always black. Fang Lixiang found it a bit subtle, ¡°This is the first time I¡¯ve seen you wear pink.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t speak, silently zipped up her down jacket, covering the pink hoodie inside. Then, someone suddenly called her. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Chapter 79 - Chapter 79: 079: Shocking! He actually treated her like a beast (second update Chapter 79: 079: Shocking! He actually treated her like a beast (second update ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Fang Lixiang looked up to see a beautiful face, and then sneakily winked at Zhou Xufang, ¡°Director Jiang is calling you.¡± Zhou Xufang uttered an ¡°oh¡± before silently pulling down the zipper of her down jacket, revealing the pink sweatshirt inside. Only then did she turn around, a bit too quickly, causing the motion to yank on her pocket. The cigarette case that Xiao Linsu had signed for her fell out and rolled right to Jiang Zhi¡¯s feet. Jiang Zhi¡¯s smile tightened slightly, ¡°You smoke?¡± Who led her astray! Zhou Xufang immediately shook her head, ¡°It¡¯s not mine.¡± Jiang Zhi picked up the cigarette case, flipped it over for a look. The bloodstains Zhou Xufang¡¯s pocket had rubbed off, and the pen ink was a bit smudged, but it was still recognizable. ¡°Xiao Linsu?¡± Xiao Linsu¡¯s handwriting was very nice, the signature done neatly. That¡¯s what Zhou Xufang was thinking in her head. Jiang Zhi¡¯s tone suddenly turned fierce, ¡°Come with me!¡± Why is he angry? ¡°Oh.¡± Zhou Xufang followed. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.?¦Ï Jiang Zhi led her into his private rest room and then, turning back with an indifferent expression, commanded Ah Wan, ¡°Stand guard outside.¡± Ah Wan felt like this was a secret affair. He was a diligent and good assistant, ¡°Yes, boss.¡± Bang! The door was slammed shut by Jiang Zhi, who then turned to face Zhou Xufang, pinching the autographed cigarette case between two fingers, with a look of disgust and anger on his face. He questioned Zhou Xufang, ¡°Is this cigarette case Xiao Linsu¡¯s?¡± She actually kept another man¡¯s cigarette case in her pocket! She has never kept him in her pocket! Zhou Xufang nodded. And she doesn¡¯t even explain! Jiang Zhi never thought he had a bad temper before, but now he felt truly irritable, and really wanted to scold her, but was afraid of scaring her. He forced himself to ask in a gentle voice while his face turned red, ¡°Why did he give you the cigarette case?¡± Zhou Xufang answered straightforwardly, ¡°He mistook me for his fan and signed it for me.¡± A fan? Shameless man! Jiang Zhi was still a bit angry at her and continued to question her awkwardly, ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you throw it away?¡± Zhou Xufang replied, ¡°It would be impolite to throw it away.¡± Impolite? Hah! Jiang Zhi pinched the case with two fingers, squashed it, and then casually threw it into the trash can. With a stern face, he instructed her, ¡°Stay away from that Xiao guy from now on.¡± No, that¡¯s still not enough. He changed his phrasing, emphasizing, ¡°From now on, whenever you see a man, you need to stay away.¡± She was so adorable and her EQ was so low, it was too easy for someone to deceive her. Must! Watch! Her! Closely! Zhou Xufang really did have a low EQ and didn¡¯t understand, ¡°Why?¡± Jiang Zhi gave her a reason without changing his expression, ¡°All men are beasts.¡± She disagreed, ¡°Not all.¡± She looked at Jiang Zhi with a very serious gaze, stating firmly and earnestly, ¡°You¡¯re not.¡± Jiang Zhi was charmed by her, yet still insisted stubbornly, ¡°I am, too.¡± ¡°` This phrase, however, did not scare her. He really was a beast, eager to snatch her back to his den. Zhou Xufang remained adamant, completely unaware that Jiang Zhi¡¯s gaze had turned aggressive, nor did she understand the heated, explicit scrutiny, sticking to her guns and saying, ¡°You are a good person.¡± A good person, huh. Jiang Zhi chuckled, then leaned forward, seeking her lips to close in. Her eyelashes fluttered, she quickly retreated, covering her mouth. What are you dodging for? Not cute at all! Jiang Zhi did not back down, still bent at the waist, speaking close enough for his breath to deliberately fall on her neck, his voice deliberately suppressed, low and rough. Like temptation. He asked her, ¡°Have you ever seen that kind of film?¡± the corners of his eyes flushed with a shy peach blossom hue. A fiery red climbed over Zhou Xufang¡¯s face, she stiffened without moving, her eyelashes trembling with nervousness, but she did not dodge, obediently and cleverly looking up at Jiang Zhi, her right hand still covering her mouth, her voice muffled, she asked him, ¡°Which kind?¡± Jiang Zhi narrowed his eyes slightly, the corners dragging out, the elegance of a noble¡¯s son thrown cleanly away, seductively beckoning her. ¡°The kind without clothes.¡± His breath fell entirely on her neck, the small patch of skin visible underneath the pink sweatshirt reddening at a rate visible to the naked eye. Zhou Xufang was not very good at lying, she hesitated for a while, then nodded. She had seen all of Director Jiang¡¯s movies, which included the kind he mentioned, not particularly explicit, but still undressed, Director Jiang had a firm grasp on it, not vulgar, but teasing enough to make one itch, she watched with her eyes covered. Suddenly, He moved in even closer, his peach blossom eyes intently fixated on her fluttering lashes, his voice like a captivating hook, he said, ¡°I¡¯ve even done such things to you in my dreams.¡± His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed, his ears turning red. She understood. Jiang Zhi slightly tilted his head, his lips almost imperceptibly brushing past her ear, ¡°Do you still think I¡¯m a good person?¡± She thought about it, then nodded again. Even though he suspected her to be a professional errand runner, he had never harbored any ill intentions towards her, he had given her the greatest kindness and tolerance, in her eyes, he truly was a very good person. Jiang Zhi laughed, a hearty laugh. She stepped back a little, wanting to ask why he laughed. Director Jiang spoke first, ¡°I¡¯m not a good person.¡± Having said that, he leaned his body toward her, placing his lips on the back of her hand, licking it like a cat¡¯s tongue. ¡°!¡± Zhou Xufang fled in a panic, before escaping, she did not forget to leave a bottle of AD calcium milk she had warmed with her hand on the table. Jiang Zhi drank the AD calcium milk while pondering adviser Xue Baoyi¡¯s words. ¡°With that kind of face, don¡¯t waste it man, go for the seduction, allure, strip!!!!¡± Should he strip next time? Jiang Zhi sank into thought and after a while, he got up to pour a glass of cold water, gulping it down his throat, licking his lips, still hot¡­ Without a doubt, Zhou Xufang had a fever again, but not sure if her body had produced antibodies, it only lasted a short while before subsiding. The extras¡¯ scenes were shot smoothly, getting it in one take, just that Xiao Linsu¡¯s costume got dirty, and the assistant director had a couple of words to say. After the shooting ended, Jiang Zhi disregarded the gazes of others, under the public¡¯s eye, he approached Zhou Xufang. He said, ¡°Your pink sweatshirt looks very nice.¡± Zhou Xufang had just finished acting as an extra, not wearing a mask or hat, disliking being the center of attention like this, unconsciously pressing her head lower and lower, quietly responding to Jiang Zhi, ¡°Thank you.¡± Actually, she was not wearing that pink sweatshirt now, but an old-fashioned costume. Jiang Zhi complimented again how beautiful it was, and then asked her, ¡°Is there a version for men?¡± ¡°` Chapter 80 - Chapter 80: 080: Got her in the bag! Chapter 80: 080: Got her in the bag! Jiang Zhi complimented her again for being very beautiful and then asked her, ¡°Do they have men¡¯s styles?¡± She said she didn¡¯t know. He asked, ¡°Where did you buy it?¡± She honestly replied, ¡°Online.¡± ¡°Send me the link.¡± She immediately nodded, ¡°Oh.¡± She secretly thought, Jiang Zhi wearing pink must be the best-looking in the world. Then Jiang Zhi left the set. Then all sorts of gossip started on the set. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Did Director Jiang take a fancy to that extra?¡± ¡°I thought he was gay?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã0 ¡°Who knows, he could be bisexual.¡± ¡°She¡¯s so lucky.¡± ¡°Lucky? Haven¡¯t you heard, Director Jiang has erectile dysfunction.¡± ¡°Really?!¡± ¡°Of course, it¡¯s true. With Director Jiang¡¯s frail body, he might have the desire but not the strength. It¡¯s been spread around the circle that Director Jiang isn¡¯t physically able to perform, and can only be on the bottom.¡± ¡°With that face of his, turns out he¡¯s a¡­ tsk tsk, such a waste.¡± ¡°Who cares if he can get it up or not, being noticed by Director Jiang is already a stroke of luck; at least she can make her debut. Just a little promotion and she could be famous.¡± ¡°What does she look like? I¡¯ve never really seen her face.¡± ¡°Me neither, she¡¯s always keeping her head down, dressed all in dark clothes, like a female ghost.¡± Female ghost Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± Her hearing was too good, really, she could hear everything. It didn¡¯t matter that they compared her to a female ghost, but how could they talk about Jiang Zhi! She was a bit angry, and lowered her head even more, afraid her red eyes would frighten them to death. In small groups, they were all quietly discussing when Vice Director Zhao came out and spoke, ¡°It¡¯s fine to talk about it here, but once you step outside, keep your mouths shut.¡± Even the Assistant Director spoke up¡­ Such a warning convinced the onlookers even more that there was no smoke without fire, and so they all cast curious, probing, and respectful glances at Zhou Xufang. Only Fang Lixiang was full of worry. ¡°Fang ah.¡± ¡°Hm?¡± Zhou Xufang kept her head down, hiding her face. Fang Lixiang tugged at her clothes and pulled her aside, whispering, ¡°Did Jiang Zhi get his hands on you?¡± Get his hands on¡­ Such a crude phrase. Zhou Xufang murmured, ¡°Don¡¯t say ¡®get his hands on.''¡± Little hooligans are the ones who do that, not Jiang Zhi. Jiang Zhi is a good person. Is ¡®get his hands on¡¯ the focus? It¡¯s getting his hands on her that¡¯s the focus! Fang Lixiang was truly shocked, ¡°You didn¡¯t even deny it!¡± She put on a look of utter hopelessness, ¡°It¡¯s over, our Fang has been seduced by that outsider little demon.¡± Zhou Xufang immediately corrected her, ¡°Jiang Zhi is not a little demon.¡± Fang Lixiang: ¡°¡­¡± It¡¯s over, she¡¯s been completely bewitched by the little demon, completely taken! Let¡¯s not dwell on this; there¡¯s an even more important question, ¡°Tell me, is he really gay or not?¡± Zhou Xufang looked around and whispered softly, ¡°He¡¯s not.¡± He liked her. Fang Lixiang looked at Zhou Xufang, wondering why it felt like her act of blushing and hiding her face in her collar was a bit too much like the saying ¡®there¡¯s no silver here¡¯. Something strange was going on. Fang Lixiang continued probing, ¡°Have you confirmed whether or not he¡¯s gay?¡± Zhou Xufang looked confused, not quite understanding. Fang Lixiang beckoned her over, leaning in to ask outright, suggestive, ¡°Can ¡®he¡¯ get it up with women?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Lixiang is so¡­ lewd. Zhou Xufang took out a face mask, put it on, and went to the side to blush in hiding. Fang Lixiang stroked her chin, deep in thought, wondering how such purity could be deceived by the big bad wolves on the outside. There were two more scenes in the afternoon, both involving the male and female leads. Director Jiang made some last-minute changes that once again required the participation of the crowd actor Zhou Xufang. There was a half-hour break in the middle of the day. Jiang Wei¡¯er went to return something she got from a sponsor and didn¡¯t come to the set until almost two o¡¯clock. Ever since Fang Lixiang found out about her and Xiao Linsu¡¯s relationship, she had been helping her cover things up. From a distance, she could hear the quarreling coming from Xiao Linsu¡¯s resting room. ¡°Why do you care about my private life?¡± Xiao Linsu was usually even-tempered and rarely got angry like this. ¡°I just want to help¡ª¡± ¡°Lin Shuang!¡± He warned her coldly, ¡°Don¡¯t meddle in my affairs.¡± As Jiang Wei¡¯er approached, the argument inside had already settled down. Lin Shuang ran out with tearful eyes, and when she saw Jiang Wei¡¯er, she twitched her sleeve subconsciously and looked away, ¡°You¡¯re here.¡± ¡°Pfft.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er¡¯s gaze swept over her arm. She naturally placed her hands behind her back, ¡°Linsu is inside.¡± She smiled, ¡°I¡¯ve asked the assistant to keep an eye out for you guys outside.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± She said no thanks were needed and turned to leave. Jiang Wei returned his gaze and slightly furrowed his brows. As an agent for over a decade, Lin Shuang was used to being strong-willed and proud, but she seemed a bit too careful when it came to Xiao Linsu. The injuries on her arm looked like they were from cigarette burns. Jiang Wei¡¯er withdrew her attention and lifted her skirt to enter Xiao Linsu¡¯s dressing room. Inside, the smell of smoke was heavy. He was sneaking a smoke again. Seeing her enter, he panicked and tried to hide the cigarette behind his back, standing there awkwardly. Jiang Wei¡¯er chuckled, ¡°I already saw it, what¡¯s the point in hiding it?¡± He then crushed the cigarette and went to embrace her, not sure how many he had smoked, his voice slightly hoarse, ¡°Why are you here?¡± ¡°I came to see you.¡± He held her, motion careful and gentle, ¡°Have you eaten?¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er nestled in his embrace and looked up, ¡°Not yet.¡± He immediately put on a stern face, ¡°You just had a stomachache last month, why are you being careless?¡± After scolding her, he turned to rummage through his things to find her something to eat, ¡°There¡¯s only chocolate. Eat this to hold you over, I¡¯ll order you a meal.¡± He unwrapped the chocolate and fed it to her. She took a bite, ¡°Linsu, has Lin Shuang got a boyfriend?¡± He lowered his head, ¡°Not sure, why do you ask about her?¡± ¡°Just curious, she¡¯s not young anymore.¡± She ate a few bites of chocolate fed to her, and it was so sweet it made her feel sick, ¡°No more, it¡¯s too sweet.¡± Xiao Linsu coaxed her, ¡°A little bit more.¡± She shook her head. He ate the leftover chocolate and made a call to his assistant, ¡°Help me order a meal. No spicy, no garlic, make it light.¡± In the end, he gave a special instruction, ¡°No shrimp.¡± Her stomach was not good. She didn¡¯t eat spicy. She was allergic to shrimp. Yet she always took it for granted, and he had to remember. After the shoot, the sun was almost setting. Zhou Xufang packed her bag to go home, and Fang Lixiang hopped over, bursting with enthusiasm. ¡°Xufang, I have great news for you!¡± Zhou Xufang slung on her backpack and turned around, listening seriously. ¡°Director Jiang¡¯s new film, I got selected!¡± Fang Lixiang excitedly spun around on the spot, howling, ¡°I¡¯m the female lead!¡± Zhou Xufang raised both thumbs, praising soberly, ¡°You¡¯re amazing.¡± ¡°¡­¡± That sudden onset of veteran cadre vibes. Why can¡¯t this girl be like her peers, all jumpy and lively? ¡°Xufang.¡± At the door, Jiang Zhi called her. Zhou Xufang tilted her head back, ¡°Hmm?¡± Jiang Zhi had her hands in her pockets, leaning on the door frame, looking like she was waiting for someone, ¡°I¡¯ll take you home.¡± Zhou Xufang thought for three seconds. ¡°Okay.¡± She turned back to Fang Lixiang, ¡°Lixiang, goodbye.¡± After speaking, she hopped a few times, moving to Jiang Zhi¡¯s side, and after hopping as if realizing something amiss, she shrank back into her large down jacket and proceeded modestly. Fang Lixiang rubbed her eyes, wondering if she was seeing things. She just saw Zhou Xufang, that old cadre, jumping and bouncing around. Jiang Zhi had no intention of sneaking around, and quite openly led her into his flashy sports car. Ah Wan drove, playing the ¡®mute¡¯ perfectly, not disrupting his employer¡¯s flirting, and very considerately drove super slow, advancing at a snail¡¯s pace. See, what an understanding person he was! Zhou Xufang, since getting into the car, had not spoken a word, sitting very upright, with eyes straight ahead, her posture like a student paying careful attention in class. Unlike Jiang Zhi, looking boneless, half-leaning, half-reclining, with his long legs restlessly placed wherever. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you speaking?¡± Jiang Zhi looked at her. Since getting into the car, he only had eyes for her. Zhou Xufang turned to him, blinking. What should she say? With her fingers twisting around each other, her palms started to sweat. This look of someone waiting for a dressing down from the principal made Jiang Zhi itch to tease her, but he refrained, afraid to scare her away. He shifted his position, still lounging in his seat, but now nudging closer to her. The red in his eyes, coupled with his pale skin, gave him an almost sickly but delicate charm, always looking heartbreakingly appealing. He asked her, ¡°Do you live alone?¡± Zhou Xufang replied, ¡°Yeah.¡± Seemingly casually fixating on her, he asked again, ¡°What about your family?¡± Without thinking, she said, ¡°I don¡¯t have a family.¡± How did she grow up if she didn¡¯t have a family? Jiang Zhi had originally planned to probe a bit of her background with a couple of questions, but he couldn¡¯t continue, finding it too heart-wrenching to hear. Chapter 81 - Chapter 79: 079: Shocking! He actually treated her like a beast (second update Chapter 79: 079: Shocking! He actually treated her like a beast (second update ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Fang Lixiang looked up to see a beautiful face, and then sneakily winked at Zhou Xufang, ¡°Director Jiang is calling you.¡± Zhou Xufang uttered an ¡°oh¡± before silently pulling down the zipper of her down jacket, revealing the pink sweatshirt inside. Only then did she turn around, a bit too quickly, causing the motion to yank on her pocket. The cigarette case that Xiao Linsu had signed for her fell out and rolled right to Jiang Zhi¡¯s feet. Jiang Zhi¡¯s smile tightened slightly, ¡°You smoke?¡± Who led her astray! Zhou Xufang immediately shook her head, ¡°It¡¯s not mine.¡± Jiang Zhi picked up the cigarette case, flipped it over for a look. The bloodstains Zhou Xufang¡¯s pocket had rubbed off, and the pen ink was a bit smudged, but it was still recognizable. ¡°Xiao Linsu?¡± Xiao Linsu¡¯s handwriting was very nice, the signature done neatly. That¡¯s what Zhou Xufang was thinking in her head. Jiang Zhi¡¯s tone suddenly turned fierce, ¡°Come with me!¡± Why is he angry? ¡°Oh.¡± Zhou Xufang followed. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Jiang Zhi led her into his private rest room and then, turning back with an indifferent expression, commanded Ah Wan, ¡°Stand guard outside.¡± Ah Wan felt like this was a secret affair. He was a diligent and good assistant, ¡°Yes, boss.¡± Bang! The door was slammed shut by Jiang Zhi, who then turned to face Zhou Xufang, pinching the autographed cigarette case between two fingers, with a look of disgust and anger on his face. He questioned Zhou Xufang, ¡°Is this cigarette case Xiao Linsu¡¯s?¡± She actually kept another man¡¯s cigarette case in her pocket! She has never kept him in her pocket! Zhou Xufang nodded. And she doesn¡¯t even explain! Jiang Zhi never thought he had a bad temper before, but now he felt truly irritable, and really wanted to scold her, but was afraid of scaring her. He forced himself to ask in a gentle voice while his face turned red, ¡°Why did he give you the cigarette case?¡± Zhou Xufang answered straightforwardly, ¡°He mistook me for his fan and signed it for me.¡± A fan? Shameless man! Jiang Zhi was still a bit angry at her and continued to question her awkwardly, ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you throw it away?¡± Zhou Xufang replied, ¡°It would be impolite to throw it away.¡± Impolite? Hah! Jiang Zhi pinched the case with two fingers, squashed it, and then casually threw it into the trash can. With a stern face, he instructed her, ¡°Stay away from that Xiao guy from now on.¡± No, that¡¯s still not enough. He changed his phrasing, emphasizing, ¡°From now on, whenever you see a man, you need to stay away.¡± She was so adorable and her EQ was so low, it was too easy for someone to deceive her. Must! Watch! Her! Closely! Zhou Xufang really did have a low EQ and didn¡¯t understand, ¡°Why?¡± Jiang Zhi gave her a reason without changing his expression, ¡°All men are beasts.¡± She disagreed, ¡°Not all.¡± She looked at Jiang Zhi with a very serious gaze, stating firmly and earnestly, ¡°You¡¯re not.¡± Jiang Zhi was charmed by her, yet still insisted stubbornly, ¡°I am, too.¡± ¡°` This phrase, however, did not scare her. He really was a beast, eager to snatch her back to his den. Zhou Xufang remained adamant, completely unaware that Jiang Zhi¡¯s gaze had turned aggressive, nor did she understand the heated, explicit scrutiny, sticking to her guns and saying, ¡°You are a good person.¡± A good person, huh. Jiang Zhi chuckled, then leaned forward, seeking her lips to close in. Her eyelashes fluttered, she quickly retreated, covering her mouth. What are you dodging for? Not cute at all! Jiang Zhi did not back down, still bent at the waist, speaking close enough for his breath to deliberately fall on her neck, his voice deliberately suppressed, low and rough. Like temptation. He asked her, ¡°Have you ever seen that kind of film?¡± the corners of his eyes flushed with a shy peach blossom hue. A fiery red climbed over Zhou Xufang¡¯s face, she stiffened without moving, her eyelashes trembling with nervousness, but she did not dodge, obediently and cleverly looking up at Jiang Zhi, her right hand still covering her mouth, her voice muffled, she asked him, ¡°Which kind?¡± Jiang Zhi narrowed his eyes slightly, the corners dragging out, the elegance of a noble¡¯s son thrown cleanly away, seductively beckoning her. ¡°The kind without clothes.¡± His breath fell entirely on her neck, the small patch of skin visible underneath the pink sweatshirt reddening at a rate visible to the naked eye. Zhou Xufang was not very good at lying, she hesitated for a while, then nodded. She had seen all of Director Jiang¡¯s movies, which included the kind he mentioned, not particularly explicit, but still undressed, Director Jiang had a firm grasp on it, not vulgar, but teasing enough to make one itch, she watched with her eyes covered. Suddenly, He moved in even closer, his peach blossom eyes intently fixated on her fluttering lashes, his voice like a captivating hook, he said, ¡°I¡¯ve even done such things to you in my dreams.¡± His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed, his ears turning red. She understood. Jiang Zhi slightly tilted his head, his lips almost imperceptibly brushing past her ear, ¡°Do you still think I¡¯m a good person?¡± She thought about it, then nodded again. Even though he suspected her to be a professional errand runner, he had never harbored any ill intentions towards her, he had given her the greatest kindness and tolerance, in her eyes, he truly was a very good person. Jiang Zhi laughed, a hearty laugh. She stepped back a little, wanting to ask why he laughed. Director Jiang spoke first, ¡°I¡¯m not a good person.¡± Having said that, he leaned his body toward her, placing his lips on the back of her hand, licking it like a cat¡¯s tongue. ¡°!¡± Zhou Xufang fled in a panic, before escaping, she did not forget to leave a bottle of AD calcium milk she had warmed with her hand on the table. Jiang Zhi drank the AD calcium milk while pondering adviser Xue Baoyi¡¯s words. ¡°With that kind of face, don¡¯t waste it man, go for the seduction, allure, strip!!!!¡± Should he strip next time? Jiang Zhi sank into thought and after a while, he got up to pour a glass of cold water, gulping it down his throat, licking his lips, still hot¡­ Without a doubt, Zhou Xufang had a fever again, but not sure if her body had produced antibodies, it only lasted a short while before subsiding. The extras¡¯ scenes were shot smoothly, getting it in one take, just that Xiao Linsu¡¯s costume got dirty, and the assistant director had a couple of words to say. After the shooting ended, Jiang Zhi disregarded the gazes of others, under the public¡¯s eye, he approached Zhou Xufang. He said, ¡°Your pink sweatshirt looks very nice.¡± Zhou Xufang had just finished acting as an extra, not wearing a mask or hat, disliking being the center of attention like this, unconsciously pressing her head lower and lower, quietly responding to Jiang Zhi, ¡°Thank you.¡± Actually, she was not wearing that pink sweatshirt now, but an old-fashioned costume. Jiang Zhi complimented again how beautiful it was, and then asked her, ¡°Is there a version for men?¡± ¡°` Chapter 82 - Chapter 82: 082: The Jealousy Routine of the Husband-Protecting Maniac (Second Update) Chapter 82: 082: The Jealousy Routine of the Husband-Protecting Maniac (Second Update) On the way back, the employer instructed, ¡°Slow down a bit.¡± Ah Wan once again slowed the sports car to a snail¡¯s pace, and for the sixth time turned his head to look at the employer in the back, ¡°Boss, what are you looking at?¡± Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t be bothered to answer him, her gaze fixed outside the car window. Ah Wan guessed, ¡°Are you looking for that Z?¡± Jiang Zhi finished scanning the bustling roads and then looked up high. Ah Wan felt his employer was going crazy; anyhow, he didn¡¯t believe that scum was the kind-hearted and morally upright Miss Zhou. He couldn¡¯t help but mutter, ¡°She¡¯s not a three-headed, six-armed creature, nor can she scale walls and roofs.¡± Those people must¡¯ve been exaggerating; they¡¯d all had nine years of compulsory education, and he didn¡¯t think that Z had any supernatural abilities. Night fell quickly in winter, neon lights flickered everywhere, and the lights of a thousand homes shimmered in dwindling twilight, with the towering Imperial Buildings rising into the clouds, linking the far horizon. Tonight, there were no stars, the thick clouds obscuring the moonlight. So Zhou Xufang weaved between high-rises, jumping from one to another, not blinking as she went, dashing through the pitch-black night like an agile cheetah. Only¡­ Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Suddenly, the sky began to drop ice pellets, paining her face as they fell. Approaching the traffic light intersection, Jiang Zhi suddenly said, ¡°Let¡¯s find a warm place to rest, wait for the ice pellets to stop before we go back.¡± The dim-witted tall man in front was a bit slow on the uptake, ¡°Huh?¡± Jiang Zhi rolled down the window, caught some ice pellets in her hand, and said, ¡°Park the car, I¡¯m tired.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Ah Wan found a high-end tea house. The place was a bit secluded, but he had been there several times. It was where the elite of the Imperial City went; he had driven his employer there many times and knew the way well. Perhaps it was the abruptness of the ice pellets, but the tea house was overcrowded; private rooms were all taken, so Ah Wan chose a secluded spot outside. But even that couldn¡¯t block his employer¡¯s widespread allure. ¡°Jiang Zhi?¡± It was the fourth daughter of the Ming family, dressed in an attention-grabbing fiery red dress, looking like a perfectly ripe chili pepper. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t even lift an eyelid. Ming Saiying was bold and proactive, especially towards Jiang Zhi, tirelessly teasing, ¡°Where did you get this hair done?¡± The foggy blue dye favored by the little rascals, looking both bewitching and beautiful on Jiang Zhi, made her seem like a lovable little demon. The little Jiang demon ignored her. Not discouraged, Ming Saiying smiled dazzlingly, ¡°Why so stingy? Are you afraid I¡¯ll copy your style?¡± The little Jiang demon still treated her as if she were thin air. The young man beside Ming Saiying couldn¡¯t stand it any longer, tugged at Ming Saiying, annoyed yet not daring to lose his temper, and hurried her in a pinched voice, ¡°Let¡¯s go, sis.¡± The young man had a scrappy foil perm, and looked fierce like a dashing little hooligan. He was Ming Saiying¡¯s younger brother, the sixth child of the Ming family, Ming Yanghua, known in the Imperial City as Young Master Hua. However, Young Master Ming despised such unwarrior-like nicknames, only allowing people to call him Mr. Ming, although, privately, everyone quietly called him Xiao Hua. Ming Saiying shrugged him off, ¡°Wait over there.¡± Ming Yanghua snorted and walked away, unable to bear seeing his tomboy sister unable to move whenever she saw Jiang Zhi. ¡°Jiang Zhi,¡± said Ming Saiying, who was stuck in place, her eyes smiling brightly, ¡°let¡¯s share a table.¡± Jiang Zhi finally deigned to speak, ¡°No.¡± She looked good. Her voice sounded good, too. Ming Saiying was itching inside, ¡°I¡¯ll just sit down; I¡¯ll leave right after drinking.¡± She was in pursuit of a beauty, and having finally encountered her, she couldn¡¯t just walk away. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t even bother to talk back, showed impatience on her face, and called out to Ah Wan, making a shooing gesture. Getting the hint, Ah Wan was about to step forward to drag her off when Ming Saiying suddenly moved back, accidentally bumping into a tea-serving waiter. Losing her balance, she lurched toward Jiang Zhi. Solidly, she ended up sprawled across Jiang Zhi¡¯s legs. A beautiful face on Jiang Zhi quickly turned cold, her body stiffening with disgust. ¡°Ming Saiying,¡± his voice was muddled, biting off his words, and his beautiful eyes were already showing a frightening look. Curiously enough¡ª Ming Saiying thought his angry demeanor was full of attack, both forbidden and desirous, which left her stunned for a moment. ¡°Huh?¡± He was yanking at the corner of his coat on his thigh, fiercely tearing it away. ¡°Get off.¡± Jiang Zhi hated women and roses the most in his life. Of course, Ming Saiying knew that. She scrambled up in a hurry, blushing for the first time with a thick-skinned innocence, ¡°I really didn¡¯t mean to.¡± Jiang Zhi looked up at her with anger in his eyes, his gaze intense. She¡¯s angered him! Ming Saiying touched her nose. ¡°Your body is delicate; don¡¯t be angry.¡± It would hurt her if she got upset, ¡°I¡¯ll roll away myself.¡± And with that, she cleverly rolled away. Outside the tea pavilion, a pair of eyes stared fixedly through the glass. Touched¡­ That woman¡¯s hand had touched Jiang Zhi¡¯s leg, and she wanted to twist that hand off. Really wanted to. Zhou Xufang was fixated on the woman¡¯s hand in a daze when suddenly someone bumped into his shoulder, causing his glasses to drop to the ground. ¡°Sorry about that. Did I hit you?¡± The tone of the apology was a bit frivolous. Zhou Xufang looked up. ¡°You you you you¡­¡± The man was so frightened that his hair stood on end, stuttering for a long time. His face, pampered and delicate, quivered as he asked, ¡°Are you a human or a ghost?¡± The figure in black was dressed head-to-toe, with only a pair of crimson eyes exposed. Lowering her voice, her gaze chilling, she replied, ¡°A ghost.¡± Ming Yanghua rolled her eyes back and fainted, lying sprawled on the ground. Now, Zhou Xufang was petrified as well. If Jiang Zhi saw her looking like this, would he be the same? Would he be scared of her, disgusted by her? Ice pellets hit her face, and it hurt. Her eyes grew redder, but she put on her glasses, squatted down, picked up the person, and tossed them into a large trash can by the roadside. Then she heard the woman in the red dress inside the tea pavilion yelling anxiously and irately. Zhou Xufang felt the ice pellets were not as painful anymore. In the corridor of the tea pavilion, wind chimes tinkled in the breeze, mixed with the sound of a wheelchair rolling across the floor. The threshold was just too high; the wheelchair couldn¡¯t pass. The man in the wheelchair leaned on a crutch to stand, while the person behind him grew impatient, ¡°Excuse me.¡± He turned his head. It was a handsome face with a slight flicker in his eyes. What a small world for enemies to meet. Luo Qinghe stood behind with folded arms, a sly smile playing on his lips, ¡°You¡¯re blocking my way.¡± Without a word, he moved aside, relying on just one crutch to support his prosthetic leg, limping to the side. Just a few steps made sweat bead on his forehead. Luo Qinghe stepped over the threshold, took a few steps, then turned back with a nonchalant smile. ¡°Still have the leisure to come here for tea, it seems Uncle Zhou you¡¯re quite comfortable at the radio station.¡± Zhou Qingrang said nothing, looking down as he pulled the wheelchair to one side, his eyes cold and clear. Luo Qinghe nodded towards his coat, ¡°Since your leg is crippled, better behave.¡± With that, she walked away in her high heels, with leisurely steps, the hem of her coat under her dress fluttering, conjuring lotuses with every step. That was until someone blocked her path around the corner. She looked up, the smile gone, ¡°Second Miss Lu, what brings you here?¡± The other was young, commanding without anger, ¡°Luo Qinghe,¡± she paused slightly, her gaze becoming more piercing, ¡°Do you know whose turf this is?¡± The second child of the Lu Family, Lu Sheng. She was just over twenty, with a dashing and exquisite appearance, but her aura, few weren¡¯t intimidated by her. Chapter 85 - Chapter 85: 085: Sweet Pink Bubbles Chapter 85: 085: Sweet Pink Bubbles Jiang Zhi had just snapped back from his reverie, ¡°Hmm?¡± Zhou Xufang glanced at the hand he was holding and hesitated but didn¡¯t pull away, ¡°Are you feeling unwell?¡± He shook his head without letting go of her hand and led her into the private room with slow steps, not watching the road but turning his head back to look at her, ¡°If one day you want flowers, I¡¯ll buy them for you, but can I not buy roses?¡± She said, ¡°I don¡¯t like flowers.¡± Jiang Zhi felt once again that everything Xue Baoyi had said was bullshit. The reserved room was on the second floor, nicely decorated and near a window, where with just a glance up one could see the neon lights at the street corner. However, Jiang Zhi liked cleanliness and had Ah Wan wipe down the table and chairs before he would sit. Zhou Xufang pushed the menu towards him. He pushed it back to her, ¡°You order for me.¡± Ah Wan, standing silently to the side, felt that there was something off about her employer¡¯s persona. ¡°Do you have any food dislikes?¡± Jiang Zhi said he didn¡¯t have any, ¡°Order what you like.¡± Ah Wan rolled her eyes, wondering how many finicky, annoying habits this stubborn ancestor of hers had¨Che wouldn¡¯t eat onions, ginger, or garlic, couldn¡¯t handle fish with bones, wouldn¡¯t eat shrimp that weren¡¯t peeled, porridge couldn¡¯t be too thin or too thick, rice couldn¡¯t be too soft or too hard, couldn¡¯t tolerate even a bit of fat on meat, and would throw a fit if lean meat was even slightly tough¡­ Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï No food dislikes? Ha! Zhou Xufang ordered the signature seafood porridge for Jiang Zhi just like hers but requested hers without egg and added a dozen or so dim sums and all of the signature dishes from the restaurant. Jiang Zhi frowned deeply at the abundance. ¡°Don¡¯t order so much.¡± Thinking about her earning money through hard labor, he couldn¡¯t bear the extra expense and took a pen, crossing out over half of what she had ordered. Zhou Xufang reached for the pen again, ¡°I¡¯m afraid it won¡¯t be enough for you.¡± Jiang Zhi closed the menu decisively and handed it back to the waiter behind him, ¡°I don¡¯t eat much.¡± He took off his coat and casually slid his chair closer to hers, claiming coolly, ¡°I¡¯m easy to feed.¡± Ah Wan felt like scoffing again. Easy to feed? Shameless, not knowing who was so picky that he drove several chefs away. And there was something even more shameless¡ª ¡°Are you hot?¡± Zhou Xufang nodded. With utmost naturalness, he responded, ¡°Then take off your coat.¡± The heater was on in the room and indeed it was a bit warm, so Zhou Xufang took off her coat. Jiang Zhi glanced at the pink sweatshirt she was wearing, and the more he looked, the more pleasing it was to his eye. With an artistic flair, he was completely at ease, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you come to the set yesterday?¡± ¡°I went to clean some windows.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyebrows tightened abruptly, ¡°Clean what windows?¡± Zhou Xufang pointed to the high-rise buildings outside the window in a typical, serious tone, ¡°The ones like that.¡± The skyscrapers outside soared into the clouds, towering over a hundred meters high. Jiang Zhi took one look at it and his expression darkened before he fell silent, just watching her. After a long while, she realized that he seemed to be angry. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you talking?¡± She didn¡¯t know what had suddenly annoyed him. When he wasn¡¯t smiling, with his eyebrows tightly knit, his eyes were filled with severity, ¡°Don¡¯t you know how dangerous working at heights is?¡± Oh, he was worried about her. Patiently, she explained, ¡°It¡¯s okay, I have a professional qualification certificate.¡± She even got a certificate¡­ He fell silent again. Unable to scold her, he could only sulk. Seeing that he wasn¡¯t talking, Zhou Xufang also remained silent, poured herself a cup of sweet tea, and sipped it slowly. She could still drink her tea! Jiang Zhi grew even more annoyed, ¡°Zhou Xufang!¡± His expression was fierce, but because he wore a pink outfit today and his hair was a matte warm color, with an unhealthy pallor over his face making him look delirately gentle, he didn¡¯t seem so imposing. Instead, he looked like a tiny kitten that was angry and trying to be ferocious but had yet to grow claws. Even when he bared his teeth and waved his paws, he had no real power. Zhou Xufang was not afraid of him at all and even agreed with him. Jiang Zhi felt like she had scratched the tip of his heart. It was painful and itchy, and he grabbed a handful of his own hair, frustrated and angry, and complained to her, ¡°If I don¡¯t talk to you, can¡¯t you initiate conversation with me?¡± His expression was still fierce, but his tone had softened. Coquetry, Jiang Zhi found, was quite addictive, because she ate it up, and he increasingly took it up with ease. Zhou Xufang was both confused and stunned. ¡°What should I talk about then?¡± ¡°Say that you¡¯ll never work outside again.¡± That wouldn¡¯t work; she wanted to buy Moon Bay. Afraid that Jiang Zhi would get angry, she muttered softly, ¡°I still need to work.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± When obedient, you could make his heart itch. When disobedient, you could make his hair stand on end. Such a pain! Jiang Zhi took a deep breath, unable to outstubborn her, and could only compromise, ¡°Then can you not do anything dangerous? No window washing, no brick-moving.¡± Zhou Xufang thought for a moment, then agreed. No brick-moving¡ªshe could work with concrete pumps. No window washing¡ªshe could scrub toilets. Jiang Zhi was naturally still worried, pondered for a moment, ¡°Would you want to become a celebrity?¡± Zhou Xufang shook her head without thinking. Compared to letting her work outside, Jiang Zhi would rather bring her into his own circle, ¡°The entertainment industry is exceedingly profitable, why not join? It¡¯s just about making money, and if you want, I can make you earn until your hands ache.¡± She honestly discussed the matter, ¡°I¡¯m not good at acting, singing, or dancing.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to be, my support is enough.¡± That¡¯s how peculiar the entertainment circle was¡ªthere were countless ways to be famous, not necessarily through talent. Zhou Xufang still shook her head, unexplained. She was not like most people, too much exposure made her feel a severe sense of crisis; she was only suited for solitude, preferably somewhere isolated like Moon Bay. Jiang Zhi poured himself a cup of tea and gulped it down to cool his temper. He wasn¡¯t angry with her, but with himself because he couldn¡¯t handle her. At that moment, his phone rang. It was Xue Baoyi. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± His tone was as explosive as if he had swallowed a ton of dynamite. Xue Baoyi still teasingly ridiculed him from the other end, ¡°Why so angry? Did Zhou Xufang upset you?¡± Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t be bothered to discuss it, ¡°Hanging up.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± he hastily got to the point, ¡°there¡¯s a bit of a tricky situation at Huayu, Jin Lei has made some secondary preparations, it seems you can¡¯t swallow it all at once.¡± Jin Lei and Jin Song, the two brothers fighting like dogs, and plenty of others wanted a piece of it too. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t reply to Xue Baoyi, pressed the phone against his ear, and instructed Zhou Xufang, ¡°Don¡¯t move, wait for me here.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± He grabbed his coat, stood up, and left to take the call. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t know what it was about, but could Ah Wan not know? It was about discussing thuggish schemes, sneaking in where they¡¯re not wanted¡ªthat¡¯s why he was deliberately avoiding the high-principled and morally righteous Miss Zhou. In the lobby of the porridge shop, a child was crying. The crying annoyed Jiang Zhi, and he pulled a face mask out of his pocket, put it on, and walked outside. Hearing the sob, the waiter set down his tray and went over to comfort the child. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, little buddy?¡± Just then, Jiang Zhi pushed open the door. The night breeze slipped in, knocking a note off the tray. The child was still sobbing intermittently, unable to find his mother. The waiter took him to the information desk, made sure everything was handed off at the front, then returned to continue his service, noticing the note had flipped over. Assuming a passing guest had accidentally touched the tray, he didn¡¯t pay much attention, directly taking it into a private room. ¡°Your seafood porridge.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Zhou Xufang asked the waiter, ¡°Which bowl doesn¡¯t have egg in it?¡± ¡°The one on the left.¡± Zhou Xufang thanked him and moved that bowl in front of herself. More than ten minutes passed before Jiang Zhi returned to the room, finding Zhou Xufang motionless, lying with her head on the table. Chapter 84 - Chapter 84: 084: Her Past Identity and Nostalgic Hits Chapter 84: 084: Her Past Identity and Nostalgic Hits ¡°Then shut your mouth for me.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Ah Wan felt a bit wronged, but he didn¡¯t dare to resist. If he did, he¡¯d only be suppressed even more by his employer. In order to survive, he had no choice but to swallow his pride. Ah, the sorrow of the common folk. At this time, it was the rush hour for getting off work. Passersby couldn¡¯t help but give the flashy car a second glance, and then looked at Ah Wan, who stood at one meter ninety and weighed two hundred pounds. Their meaningful, secretive smiles made Ah Wan feel like he was on the verge of a breakdown. Fortunately, the wait was only a short while. Ah Wan was like he had seen his own mother: ¡°Miss Zhou has come down!¡± I saw it. Jiang Zhi got out of the car and walked up to meet her. Zhou Xufang wasn¡¯t wearing a mask today. She donned a black lamb¡¯s wool coat over a pink sweatshirt, her hair pulled back and tied with a black hairband into a bun¡ªapparently done with a bit of inexperience, slightly messy. The band had a tiny, tiny pink diamond that was only noticeable upon closer inspection. Ah, she truly liked pink. Jiang Zhi unbuttoned one button of his coat, not minding the cold, and left it open. He pointed to the matching sweatshirt inside his coat, ¡°What a coincidence, we¡¯ve matched our outfits.¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± How shameless! Never have I seen such brazen shamelessness! The schemes of the romantic world are seen as a kind of charm. However, Zhou Xufang wasn¡¯t quite so good at playing along, she simply blurted out, ¡°You look really good,¡± then ducked her head and climbed into the car. She only sat on a small portion of the seat, leaving plenty of space for Jiang Zhi. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 The flattered Jiang Zhi irritably tugged on the drawstring of his sweatshirt and sat down next to Zhou Xufang, then methodically took off his coat. Only after he glanced at the pink on Zhou Xufang did his mood begin to lighten. As soon as she got in the car, she didn¡¯t give him a glance. She looked at the stickers on the car window, then at the plushies on the seat cushion. Finally, her gaze firmly landed on the pink crystal pendant on the seat. Her eyes curved up in delight, ¡°Everything inside the car is pink.¡± Waiting for the praise, Jiang Zhi lifted his chin thirty degrees, ¡°Hmm.¡± She earnestly complimented, ¡°It¡¯s very beautiful.¡± In Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes, a brilliant and pink peach blossom bloomed, ¡°Hmm.¡± She then put up her thumb and continued to sincerely flatter, ¡°Especially, especially beautiful. You have great taste!¡± Such a sweet demeanor. Jiang Zhi grinned, showing a small canine tooth, ¡°I¡¯ll give it to you.¡± As long as she wanted it, he could buy a dozen cars like this for her. It was also what Xue Baoyi said¡ªlike her, give her cars, give her houses. But Zhou Xufang flatly declined without hesitation, ¡°No need, I can buy my own.¡± Jiang Zhi, who very much wanted to give cars and houses, was silent¡­ She wasn¡¯t following the script. She played with the pink pendant on the seat for a while, then her gaze shifted to the glass candy box behind her. She asked politely, ¡°May I have some of this cotton candy?¡± So, what she loved most was still sweets. Jiang Zhi placed the glass box into her hands, and the doting in his eyes turned into ripples of spring water, ¡°You like sweets that much?¡± She nodded. He smiled and gave her another box too. His girl sure didn¡¯t follow the ordinary path. She didn¡¯t want a car; a box of sweets was enough to satisfy her. Watching her demurely eating the candy, he suddenly thought, in the future, if he stopped directing, he could switch to candy making, build her a house of sugar, and let her nibble wherever she went. Outside the car window, the setting sun had fallen, and neon lights lit up together with the homes of thousands, glowing in the fading evening. Unluckily, just as they arrived, there was a young man in the porridge shop proposing. In tears, with snot and all, he clutched a bunch of huge roses, the ground also scattered with petals. Zhou Xufang couldn¡¯t help but observe a few more times. ¡°Do you like it?¡± She turned her head, ¡°What?¡± Jiang Zhi was walking behind her, overshadowing her silhouette, ¡°Roses.¡± That adviser of Xue Baoyi even said, women all like flowers. If she liked them, he could give them too. But Zhou Xufang said, ¡°I don¡¯t like them.¡± Her brow furrowed slightly, and she pursed her lips, ¡°I don¡¯t like roses.¡± Jiang Zhi leaned in closer, bending over to talk to her, his voice as gently unaware, ¡°Why?¡± That damn adviser¡¯s words were all bullshit. Her gaze blanked out for a moment, and a hint of coolness seeped through her dark pupils. She lowered her head, her voice softened, ¡°The thorns of roses are very painful.¡± Jiang Zhi suddenly stopped in his tracks. Ah Wan immediately sensed something off from behind, ¡°Boss, are you okay?¡± Zhou Xufang became anxious upon hearing that, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Jiang Zhi stared at her silently, his eyes a thousand clusters of light turning into fireworks, the numerous roses casting red shadows on the ground. Ah Wan explained on the side, ¡°The boss is allergic to roses.¡± Without hesitation, Zhou Xufang grabbed Jiang Zhi¡¯s hand, ¡°Let¡¯s go somewhere else.¡± Her hand was really cold. Jiang Zhi naturally took hold of her and brought her to his side, ¡°No need to change, I am not allergic. Like you, I just hate roses.¡± The flower he hated most was the rose, almost to an intolerable extent. Word got around, and it became known that he was allergic; he was too lazy to correct it ¨C he simply did not want to see those thorny things. That year, he was not yet sixteen and was a spirited young man. The Luo Family¡¯s Second Madam loved flowers, and as it happened, the first time he visited the Luo Family was during the rose blooming season. From a distance, he could hear the curses of a young girl in the greenhouse. ¡°Does it hurt?¡± ¡°Why aren¡¯t you shouting? Why don¡¯t you shout?¡± The ground was covered with roses, and all that could be seen was a trembling figure in the bushes and the girl¡¯s provocative and arrogant smile. ¡°Oh, I forgot, you¡¯re a mute.¡± The girl leaned over with her arms crossed and looked down at the person on the ground with undisguised hatred in her eyes, ¡°What¡¯s the point of you being alive? You can¡¯t speak, you don¡¯t feel pain, and you don¡¯t even know when to eat when you¡¯re hungry.¡± She threw the wilted rose in her hand and broke off two more branches to twirl between her fingers, ¡°If I were you, I¡¯d have killed myself.¡± She laughed for a while. ¡°People like you, a retardation, are a waste of food from my Luo Family.¡± ¡°Ah, there¡¯s blood.¡± ¡°Does it still not hurt?¡± ¡°Indeed, you¡¯re a little monster, born to be punished.¡± The teenage girl, lively and captivating, held two thorny roses and repeatedly whipped the thin and sallow young man lying on the ground. He did not cry out or shout, only convulsing continuously as rose petals scattered all over him, as red as blood. Couldn¡ät speak? ¡°Who is he?¡± The Jiang Family¡¯s accompanying steward replied, ¡°Young Master, that is the Luo Family¡¯s eldest lady.¡± Jiang Zhi looked towards the greenhouse, ¡°I wasn¡¯t asking about her.¡± He pointed to the ground, ¡°Who is that child?¡± That child was actually not young anymore, merely always undernourished and small compared to others his age. The steward glanced briefly and replied, ¡°He is a foster child of the Luo Family. Mr. Luo never gave him a name, everyone just calls him Luo San.¡± The steward diverted his gaze, ¡°Young Master, I¡¯ll take you to the living room.¡± After all, it was another family¡¯s domestic affair, and it wasn¡¯t appropriate for him to intercede. Nevertheless, Jiang Zhi ignored the steward and headed towards the greenhouse, his steps slightly hurried, feeling unwell and coughing severely. He called out, ¡°Hey.¡± The girl turned her head and seeing his sickly but graceful appearance, she knew who he was and smiled sweetly, ¡°You must be Jiang Zhi.¡± The Luo Family¡¯s eldest lady, Luo Qinghe. That was the first time Jiang Zhi saw her, his gaze lingered only for a moment before shifting to the ground, ¡°Come here.¡± He pointed to the thin and gangly child, ¡°Come and show me the way.¡± The girl dropped the rose and wiped her hands with a delicate handkerchief, ¡°I¡¯ll show you the way.¡± ¡°I want him to lead.¡± Jiang Zhi did not even glance at the girl, only staring at the child curled up on the ground, ¡°Can you hear me? Come here.¡± Jiang Zhi only knew that he couldn¡¯t speak; he did not know if he could hear. He moved; he could hear. Still shivering, he slowly shuffled forward, draped in clothes too big for him, torn by the roses¡¯ thorns, blood streaking his attire. He hunched in front of Jiang Zhi. ¡°Can¡¯t you speak?¡± He nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t feel pain either?¡± He nodded again. ¡°Come to the front, show me the way.¡± He wiped the blood from his face caused by the thorns and limped to the front of Jiang Zhi, continuously shaking the whole way. He really couldn¡¯t feel pain? Jiang Zhi wondered about this all the way. Later, Jiang Zhi heard that the Luo Family¡¯s foster child was an idiot; they said he had a chromosomal disorder, didn¡¯t feel pain, didn¡¯t feel hunger, and couldn¡¯t speak. Thus, when others hit him, he never dodged, never cried out, and never begged for mercy. A fourteen-year-old boy, both thin and short. The Luo Family grew a garden full of flowers; those beasts preferred to whip him with flowers, especially thorny roses. At that time, Jiang Zhi was already a young man, much taller than that boy. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Zhou Xufang called out to him twice. Jiang Zhi came back to his senses from the memories, ¡°Hmm?¡± Chapter 85 - Chapter 85: 085: Sweet Pink Bubbles Chapter 85: 085: Sweet Pink Bubbles Jiang Zhi had just snapped back from his reverie, ¡°Hmm?¡± Zhou Xufang glanced at the hand he was holding and hesitated but didn¡¯t pull away, ¡°Are you feeling unwell?¡± He shook his head without letting go of her hand and led her into the private room with slow steps, not watching the road but turning his head back to look at her, ¡°If one day you want flowers, I¡¯ll buy them for you, but can I not buy roses?¡± She said, ¡°I don¡¯t like flowers.¡± Jiang Zhi felt once again that everything Xue Baoyi had said was bullshit. The reserved room was on the second floor, nicely decorated and near a window, where with just a glance up one could see the neon lights at the street corner. However, Jiang Zhi liked cleanliness and had Ah Wan wipe down the table and chairs before he would sit. Zhou Xufang pushed the menu towards him. He pushed it back to her, ¡°You order for me.¡± Ah Wan, standing silently to the side, felt that there was something off about her employer¡¯s persona. ¡°Do you have any food dislikes?¡± Jiang Zhi said he didn¡¯t have any, ¡°Order what you like.¡± Ah Wan rolled her eyes, wondering how many finicky, annoying habits this stubborn ancestor of hers had¨Che wouldn¡¯t eat onions, ginger, or garlic, couldn¡¯t handle fish with bones, wouldn¡¯t eat shrimp that weren¡¯t peeled, porridge couldn¡¯t be too thin or too thick, rice couldn¡¯t be too soft or too hard, couldn¡¯t tolerate even a bit of fat on meat, and would throw a fit if lean meat was even slightly tough¡­ Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï No food dislikes? Ha! Zhou Xufang ordered the signature seafood porridge for Jiang Zhi just like hers but requested hers without egg and added a dozen or so dim sums and all of the signature dishes from the restaurant. Jiang Zhi frowned deeply at the abundance. ¡°Don¡¯t order so much.¡± Thinking about her earning money through hard labor, he couldn¡¯t bear the extra expense and took a pen, crossing out over half of what she had ordered. Zhou Xufang reached for the pen again, ¡°I¡¯m afraid it won¡¯t be enough for you.¡± Jiang Zhi closed the menu decisively and handed it back to the waiter behind him, ¡°I don¡¯t eat much.¡± He took off his coat and casually slid his chair closer to hers, claiming coolly, ¡°I¡¯m easy to feed.¡± Ah Wan felt like scoffing again. Easy to feed? Shameless, not knowing who was so picky that he drove several chefs away. And there was something even more shameless¡ª ¡°Are you hot?¡± Zhou Xufang nodded. With utmost naturalness, he responded, ¡°Then take off your coat.¡± The heater was on in the room and indeed it was a bit warm, so Zhou Xufang took off her coat. Jiang Zhi glanced at the pink sweatshirt she was wearing, and the more he looked, the more pleasing it was to his eye. With an artistic flair, he was completely at ease, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you come to the set yesterday?¡± ¡°I went to clean some windows.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyebrows tightened abruptly, ¡°Clean what windows?¡± Zhou Xufang pointed to the high-rise buildings outside the window in a typical, serious tone, ¡°The ones like that.¡± The skyscrapers outside soared into the clouds, towering over a hundred meters high. Jiang Zhi took one look at it and his expression darkened before he fell silent, just watching her. After a long while, she realized that he seemed to be angry. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you talking?¡± She didn¡¯t know what had suddenly annoyed him. When he wasn¡¯t smiling, with his eyebrows tightly knit, his eyes were filled with severity, ¡°Don¡¯t you know how dangerous working at heights is?¡± Oh, he was worried about her. Patiently, she explained, ¡°It¡¯s okay, I have a professional qualification certificate.¡± She even got a certificate¡­ He fell silent again. Unable to scold her, he could only sulk. Seeing that he wasn¡¯t talking, Zhou Xufang also remained silent, poured herself a cup of sweet tea, and sipped it slowly. She could still drink her tea! Jiang Zhi grew even more annoyed, ¡°Zhou Xufang!¡± His expression was fierce, but because he wore a pink outfit today and his hair was a matte warm color, with an unhealthy pallor over his face making him look delirately gentle, he didn¡¯t seem so imposing. Instead, he looked like a tiny kitten that was angry and trying to be ferocious but had yet to grow claws. Even when he bared his teeth and waved his paws, he had no real power. Zhou Xufang was not afraid of him at all and even agreed with him. Jiang Zhi felt like she had scratched the tip of his heart. It was painful and itchy, and he grabbed a handful of his own hair, frustrated and angry, and complained to her, ¡°If I don¡¯t talk to you, can¡¯t you initiate conversation with me?¡± His expression was still fierce, but his tone had softened. Coquetry, Jiang Zhi found, was quite addictive, because she ate it up, and he increasingly took it up with ease. Zhou Xufang was both confused and stunned. ¡°What should I talk about then?¡± ¡°Say that you¡¯ll never work outside again.¡± That wouldn¡¯t work; she wanted to buy Moon Bay. Afraid that Jiang Zhi would get angry, she muttered softly, ¡°I still need to work.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± When obedient, you could make his heart itch. When disobedient, you could make his hair stand on end. Such a pain! Jiang Zhi took a deep breath, unable to outstubborn her, and could only compromise, ¡°Then can you not do anything dangerous? No window washing, no brick-moving.¡± Zhou Xufang thought for a moment, then agreed. No brick-moving¡ªshe could work with concrete pumps. No window washing¡ªshe could scrub toilets. Jiang Zhi was naturally still worried, pondered for a moment, ¡°Would you want to become a celebrity?¡± Zhou Xufang shook her head without thinking. Compared to letting her work outside, Jiang Zhi would rather bring her into his own circle, ¡°The entertainment industry is exceedingly profitable, why not join? It¡¯s just about making money, and if you want, I can make you earn until your hands ache.¡± She honestly discussed the matter, ¡°I¡¯m not good at acting, singing, or dancing.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to be, my support is enough.¡± That¡¯s how peculiar the entertainment circle was¡ªthere were countless ways to be famous, not necessarily through talent. Zhou Xufang still shook her head, unexplained. She was not like most people, too much exposure made her feel a severe sense of crisis; she was only suited for solitude, preferably somewhere isolated like Moon Bay. Jiang Zhi poured himself a cup of tea and gulped it down to cool his temper. He wasn¡¯t angry with her, but with himself because he couldn¡¯t handle her. At that moment, his phone rang. It was Xue Baoyi. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± His tone was as explosive as if he had swallowed a ton of dynamite. Xue Baoyi still teasingly ridiculed him from the other end, ¡°Why so angry? Did Zhou Xufang upset you?¡± Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t be bothered to discuss it, ¡°Hanging up.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± he hastily got to the point, ¡°there¡¯s a bit of a tricky situation at Huayu, Jin Lei has made some secondary preparations, it seems you can¡¯t swallow it all at once.¡± Jin Lei and Jin Song, the two brothers fighting like dogs, and plenty of others wanted a piece of it too. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t reply to Xue Baoyi, pressed the phone against his ear, and instructed Zhou Xufang, ¡°Don¡¯t move, wait for me here.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± He grabbed his coat, stood up, and left to take the call. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t know what it was about, but could Ah Wan not know? It was about discussing thuggish schemes, sneaking in where they¡¯re not wanted¡ªthat¡¯s why he was deliberately avoiding the high-principled and morally righteous Miss Zhou. In the lobby of the porridge shop, a child was crying. The crying annoyed Jiang Zhi, and he pulled a face mask out of his pocket, put it on, and walked outside. Hearing the sob, the waiter set down his tray and went over to comfort the child. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, little buddy?¡± Just then, Jiang Zhi pushed open the door. The night breeze slipped in, knocking a note off the tray. The child was still sobbing intermittently, unable to find his mother. The waiter took him to the information desk, made sure everything was handed off at the front, then returned to continue his service, noticing the note had flipped over. Assuming a passing guest had accidentally touched the tray, he didn¡¯t pay much attention, directly taking it into a private room. ¡°Your seafood porridge.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Zhou Xufang asked the waiter, ¡°Which bowl doesn¡¯t have egg in it?¡± ¡°The one on the left.¡± Zhou Xufang thanked him and moved that bowl in front of herself. More than ten minutes passed before Jiang Zhi returned to the room, finding Zhou Xufang motionless, lying with her head on the table. Chapter 86 - Chapter 86: 086: Ah Fang is drunk, Jiang Zhis welfare Chapter 86: 086: Ah Fang is drunk, Jiang Zhi¡¯s welfare Jiang Zhi returned to the box more than ten minutes later and found Zhou Xufang sprawled motionless on the table. ¡°Xu Fang.¡± No response. Jiang Zhi bent over and called her, ¡°Xu Fang.¡± She still lay motionless. Jiang Zhi called Ah Wan over, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with her?¡± Ah Wan scratched his head, equally puzzled, ¡°I don¡¯t know either.¡± He was considerate and had intentionally gone to the next room to eat to avoid being a third wheel. Jiang Zhi pulled up a chair and sat next to Zhou Xufang, leaned down close to her ear, and softly called, ¡°Xu Fang.¡± She looked up, staring blankly ahead, ¡°Hmm?¡± He moved his face into her line of sight, observed her bleary appearance, and couldn¡¯t resist patting her head, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you sleepy?¡± Her head wobbled, and her eyes welled up with tears, ¡°Stop shaking; it¡¯s making my eyes blur.¡± He wasn¡¯t shaking though. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã? Jiang Zhi leaned in closer with his nose, sniffed, and asked, ¡°Have you been drinking?¡± She suddenly giggled, continuing to sway her head. Ah Wan muttered, ¡°There was no alcohol ordered.¡± Jiang Zhi leaned in closer and sniffed again but still couldn¡¯t smell any alcohol, ¡°Xu Fang, you¡ª¡± Before he could finish, two ice-cold hands cupped his face. She turned her head to look at him, her eyes wet and lashes fluttering, with a vague yet intense gaze, she asked him, ¡°Are you Jiang Zhi?¡± Her eyes were hazy, and her voice soft and limp, like she had pulled all her prickles out, turning into a soft bundle, tickling your heart. Jiang Zhi¡¯s heart melted. He smiled and patted her face, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m Jiang Zhi.¡± She blankly processed this for a moment, then lifted her hand and gently patted his face, the action extremely light. After patting, her hand hung around his neck; she leaned in and nuzzled his shoulder, adorably helpless, ¡°Can you carry me home? I want to sleep.¡± Her cool face rested against his neck, moving haphazardly. Jiang Zhi felt a ticklish itch, his fingers curling, he steadied her restless self. ¡°Aren¡¯t you eating anything?¡± She shook her head, her cheeks flushed and eyes moist. So adorable. And she didn¡¯t throw a drunken tantrum. Jiang Zhi grabbed her coat, helped her into it, then squatted in front of her, ¡°Climb on, I¡¯ll carry you.¡± She pursed her lips, giggled, and clambered onto his back. At this moment, she was utterly defenseless against him, tilting her head to whisper by his ear, ¡°Can I bite you?¡± Jiang Zhi turned around, ¡°Lin Wanwan, please leave.¡± Lin Wanwan: ¡°!¡± Boss, please be a decent human being! Ah Wan, too nervous to intervene, anxiously looked back three times as he exited. Once the door closed, Jiang Zhi set her down on a chair and knelt before her. The old lady at home often advised that a gentleman should know what to do and what not to do; The young master of the Jiang Family should epitomize morality, demeanour, and integrity. He had never agreed with this doctrine of gentlemanliness, favoring tactics of supporting those who align with him and opposing those who don¡¯t. Usually, he would play the role, acting like a graceful gentleman from a painting. But not today, not in front of her. He steadied her and freed one hand to tug down the collar of her sweatshirt, ¡°Lightly, do you understand?¡± It took a long time before they emerged. Ah Wan hurried over, checking on the employer with the unconscious person on his back, ¡°Boss, is Miss Zhou alright?¡± Jiang Zhi ignored him and continued walking with her on his back. Ah Wan, frantic, couldn¡¯t keep his words to himself, ¡°And you¡¯re okay?¡± He didn¡¯t dare to ask outright if he had behaved decently, instead offering, ¡°Let me carry her; you¡¯re not in good shape yourself.¡± The ¡®not in good shape¡¯ Jiang Zhi looked back with a cold glare, ¡°Go pay the bill.¡± His aggressiveness was palpable, like a wolf guarding its food. Ah Wan reflexively shuddered, ¡°Oh.¡± Truly a beast! Fortunately, this meal ultimately didn¡¯t cost Miss Zhou¡¯s ¡®hard-earned money.¡¯ At the ground floor, Jiang Zhi put a facemask on Zhou Xufang as the Boss Lady approached, ¡°Heading out?¡± Zhou Xufang had been helping in the shop with deliveries, and they had become somewhat acquainted, so the Boss Lady casually asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with Xu Fang?¡± ¡°She¡¯s drunk.¡± ¡°Last time was the same, got drunk without drinking anything.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t want to elaborate and headed for the exit. The person on his back suddenly stirred. Jiang Zhi stopped to ask what was wrong. She slurred unclearly, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± She looked up, pointing to the ceiling, ¡°I want to jump up there.¡± Jiang Zhi looked up, momentarily dazzled by the chandelier¡¯s bright light. By his ear, the girl quietly said, ¡°I¡¯ll tell you a secret, I can jump really high.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t rush out but turned to listen closely, ¡°Why do you want to jump up there?¡± Her face flushed as she gazed upward, her eyes catching the light, shimmering mesmerizingly. She said, ¡°I want to take that chandelier home.¡± Her head wobbling, she mused dreamily, ¡°It¡¯s so beautiful; I want to hide it away.¡± She seemed to really like beautiful things. Jiang Zhi looked up at the porcelain-carved lamp on the ceiling, ¡°You want that lamp?¡± She nodded vigorously, ¡°Mm-hmm.¡± Jiang Zhi, still carrying her, returned to the cashier counter and asked the Boss Lady, ¡°Could you sell me that chandelier?¡± The Boss Lady hesitated, ¡°This¡­¡± Jiang Zhi cut to the chase, ¡°Name your price.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± The Boss Lady quickly agreed. Zhou Xufang cuddled against Jiang Zhi¡¯s neck, giggling foolishly¡ªit really was a foolish giggle. She rarely laughed, and when she did, her expression was somewhat stiff, resembling an innocent child unversed in worldly matters. Jiang Zhi, shielded by the facemask, kissed her cheek and carried her out of the porridge shop. Ah Wan was left behind. After the shop closed, he would need to contact someone to remove the lamp, but he was truly worried about Miss Zhou, unconscious and in the clutches of his beastly employer. Chapter 87 - Chapter 87: 087: Show affection all the way to the police station Chapter 87: 087: Show affection all the way to the police station Jiang Zhi¡¯s car was parked across the street, and there was a bit of distance to cover. Zhou Xufang was light, and although he walked slowly, she wasn¡¯t very calm, constantly moving and continuously calling his name while on his back. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± Incessantly, she tilted her head and called into his ear, never tiring of it, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Jiang Zhi stopped walking, ¡°Why do you keep calling me?¡± She didn¡¯t speak but buried her head in his neck, rubbing against it. After a while, she muttered in a muffled voice, ¡°When I leave, will you miss me?¡± Carrying her on his back and standing under the streetlight, their shadows intertwined tightly. He glanced at them and couldn¡¯t help but smile, ¡°Where are you going?¡± She didn¡¯t answer but kept pressing, ¡°Will you?¡± Her hands clung to his neck, her legs kicking gently, urging him to respond, ¡°Will you or won¡¯t you?¡± He adjusted her slightly, securing her position, ¡°I will.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Where could she go anyway? Wherever she went, he would follow. Zhou Xufang was delighted to hear that, swinging her legs and saying, ¡°Then I¡¯ll swim back to see you.¡± Her drunken ramblings were gentle and incessant, her breath warm against Jiang Zhi¡¯s ear, reddening a patch of skin there. Under the light, his eyes began to redden too; his breathing became unsteady, and he felt overwhelmingly flush. ¡°Why would you swim back?¡± She said, ¡°Because I¡¯m in the water.¡± She was truly drunk, uttering complete nonsense. ¡°Do you still feel uncomfortable?¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± She found the mask uncomfortable, so she yanked it off, crumpled it into a ball, and stuffed it into Jiang Zhi¡¯s shirt collar. Then, holding his neck, she buried her face in his clothes, whimpering about her discomfort. His heart was nearly melted by her. Jiang Zhi caressed her head with his cheek, ¡°Then let¡¯s not talk, sleep for a bit.¡± She sniffled, her voice a bit babyish, ¡°I won¡¯t sleep, I¡¯ll sing for you instead.¡± She tightened her grip around his neck, swinging her slender legs, and began to sing in a crooked, wobbling tune, ¡°Lanterns in the first month, kites in the second, in the third month watch for pretty girls from a boat, in the fourth month traffic wears bamboo hats, the fifth month under the sun the fleas¡­¡± This nursery rhyme was an interlude in a movie Jiang Zhi had worked on. She was completely off-key as she sang, yet for some reason, it pained him to listen¡ªnot knowing exactly what he felt pity for, just feeling the girl on his back had perhaps suffered a lot. He suddenly felt bewildered, ¡°Fang Bao.¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± She responded. No one had called her that before, nor had Jiang Zhi called anyone else in such a way. He stopped, standing amidst the neon lights, and asked her, ¡°Do you like me?¡± She didn¡¯t make a sound, uncertain whether she was asleep. Jiang Zhi turned his head and nuzzled her face with his chin, persistently asking, ¡°Do you like me?¡± She murmured, dreamily confessing her liking. Then, Jiang Zhi gratuitously made a comparison. ¡°Do you like me, or do you like the lamp at the congee shop?¡± Zhou Xufang, groggy with sleep, caught only the last word, ¡°Lamp¡­¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± He was being ridiculous earlier, it didn¡¯t count. He asked again formally, ¡°Answer again, do you like the lamp at the congee shop or Jiang Zhi?¡± He emphasized the last two words particularly. ¡°Jiang Zhi¡­¡± Jiang Zhi then smiled, ¡°Good baby.¡± He soothed her to sleep and happily hummed a few lines of the tune she had just sung. But Zhou Xufang only slept briefly and hadn¡¯t even reached the street across when the sudden lighting of a lamp on a street tree startled her from her slumber. The winter solstice was nearing, and little strings of lights were hung on the street-side trees, flickering lively and festive at night. Zhou Xufang was startled awake by the lights, straightening her back alertly and excitedly tugging at the hood of Jiang Zhi¡¯s sweatshirt, ¡°Jiang Zhi, look, the lights are on!¡± She really did like lights, all kinds of shiny lights. ¡°I see them.¡± She was thrilled, her eyes curving into crescent moons, her chin resting on top of Jiang Zhi¡¯s head, mussing up his hair, contentedly and cheerfully saying, ¡°The lights are beautiful, and the trees are too.¡± On the ground, Jiang Zhi¡¯s shadow¡¯s hair started to bristle a bit. Worried she might fall, he lifted his hand to support her, ¡°Lie down nicely, don¡¯t move.¡± Her interest in the little strings of lights on the tree was intense, and while staring at them, she let go of his hat and cupped his face, asking, ¡°Do you like them?¡± Seeing her joy, Jiang Zhi¡¯s heart softened beyond recognition, ¡°I like them.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll steal them and give them to you.¡± After she spoke, she kicked her legs and leaped high into the air. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Was this girl a monkey? He hadn¡¯t clearly seen how she had jumped down when she had already darted to the base of the tree. ¡°There¡¯s electricity, don¡¯t¡ª¡± Too late, before he could finish his sentence, the ground shook a couple of times, and the camphor tree was uprooted by her. Then, bang, bang, bang, bang¡ª An entire street¡¯s little string lights all short-circuited simultaneously. ¡°Jiang Zhi, Jiang Zhi!¡± The girl who had pulled out the tree joyfully carried the nearly ten-meter-tall tree, sprinting over to Jiang Zhi with agile steps, seeming as though she were carrying a bundle of cotton, effortlessly flipping the tree upright with one hand, and presented it to Jiang Zhi, ¡°Here, for you.¡± Jiang Zhi was dumbfounded. ¡°Who?!¡± ¡°Who is damaging public property?¡± A traffic police officer, holding an electric baton, chased from the guardhouse across the street. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± He paused for just five seconds, then quickly reacted, ¡°Good baby, quickly throw away the tree.¡± Zhou Xufang was dazed for a few seconds, then obediently tossed the tree, emitting a loud Duang sound. Jiang Zhi pulled out a mask, quickly put it on her, and brushed off the dirt clinging to her body, and with a kick, he tried to shove away the tree. However, his kick didn¡¯t move the tree an inch. By this time, the traffic police officer had caught up, roughly in his forties or fifties, short and chubby, he had run a short distance and was panting heavily, brandishing his electric baton aggressively, and demanded, ¡°Was it you two damaging public property?¡± Jiang Zhi shielded Zhou Xufang behind him, denying without a change in expression, ¡°It wasn¡¯t us.¡± Still not admitting it? He had clearly seen them from across the street! The police officer immediately called for a patrol officer, ¡°Officer Liu, there are two drunkards here damaging public property.¡± Fake drunk Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Real drunk Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± Fifteen minutes later, a patrolling officer took the two to the police station. The duty officer, Officer Zhao, yawned, ¡°Names.¡± The man across him looked outstanding, dressed fine, not much like a criminal, quite the demeanor of a noble young master, except for a head of dyed blue hair, likely a trendy young man with taste. ¡®Trendy young man¡¯ responded, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± That name sounds familiar. Officer Zhao glanced again, mmm, this excessively handsome face also looked a bit familiar, but he couldn¡¯t recall where he had seen it. Officer Zhao continued with the paperwork, glancing at the young girl sleeping in the ¡®trendy young man¡¯s arms, ¡°And her, name.¡± ¡°My girlfriend had too much to drink, she can¡¯t do the paperwork,¡± the person in his arms stirred, and Jiang Zhi gently soothed her, ¡°Good, sleep for a while.¡± Sleep? What kind of place did he think a police station was! Officer Zhao¡¯s voice rose a bit, using his absolute authority, ¡°ID number.¡± Jiang Zhi recited a series of numbers. Officer Zhao checked the identification details, beginning the interrogation, ¡°Why were you damaging public property?¡± Jiang Zhi took off his jacket, draped it over Zhou Xufang, tugged her mask, covering her completely from head to toe, and never once raised his head, ¡°We didn¡¯t damage public property.¡± Look at that! This trendy young man still dared to defy the officers! Officer Zhao directly pulled up the surveillance footage, his voice fierce, ¡°The cameras caught everything, and you still want to argue?¡± Finally, the ¡®blue-haired trendy young man¡¯ looked up, casually pushed back his hair from his forehead, the matte, misty blue making his complexion appear fair, seven parts aristocratic mixed with three parts laziness in his enticing peach blossom eyes, a hint of untamed wildness flickering within them. ¡°How heavy is that tree?¡± Officer Zhao was taken aback by the question, ¡°Uh¡­ around two hundred kilograms?¡± ¡°You think,¡± his voice disturbed the person in his arms, and he softly soothed her with a couple of whispers before continuing, ¡°how much strength it would take to uproot that tree with its roots intact?¡± Chapter 88 - Chapter 88: 088: Take home overnight~ Chapter 88: 088: Take home overnight~ ¡°How much strength would it take to uproot that tree completely?¡± Officer Zhao thought for a moment and chuckled, ¡°Are you playing with me?¡± How could a normal person possibly uproot a nearly ten-meter-tall tree! ¡°Officer, it¡¯s you who¡¯s playing with us.¡± Jiang Zhi slung the girl in his arms, with one hand on her back, lightly patting it now and then, ¡°My girlfriend is just a tiny girl under hundred pounds, fragile as can be, where would she get the strength to damage a tree over ten meters tall?¡± Officer Zhao thought about it¡­ that did seem reasonable. However, Officer Zhao wasn¡¯t easy to fool either, ¡°Then how did the surveillance capture her pulling at the tree?¡± Jiang Zhi turned the computer at a different angle, pointed at the screen without any sign of nervousness in the police station, calm and collected, he said, ¡°At that time, the wind was blowing, bending the tree. My girlfriend kindly went over to support it, but the wind was so strong that it blew the tree onto her shoulder. You don¡¯t even give my girlfriend a good citizen award, yet you falsely accuse her of damaging public property.¡± He dragged out his words lazily, ¡°Officer, where¡¯s the logic in that?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Officer Zhao was at a loss for words, looking at this ¡®blue-haired young society member¡¯, feeling a wicked vibe rushing towards him, and yet there was a composed grandeur about him. Truly remarkable. It seemed he wasn¡¯t just an ordinary member; he was big brother level. Officer Zhao calmed himself down, tidied up his thoughts, ¡°Can tonight¡¯s wind pull a tree up by its roots?¡± Jiang Zhi shifted his legs, changing the girl¡¯s sleeping position in his arms, ¡°Then do you think my girlfriend could?¡± This, this, this¡­ Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã? Officer Zhao was speechless. The man remained casual, unhurried, ¡°Any more questions?¡± That lazy tone, somehow mixed with a decisive authority. Officer Zhao¡¯s voice somehow weakened, ¡°¡­ no, not for now.¡± Just then, the sound of a door opening was heard, a gust of wind came through the door, Officer Zhao looked up, surprised, ¡°Captain Qiao, why are you here?¡± The head of the Criminal Intelligence Department had arrived. This Captain Qiao from the Criminal Intelligence Department was a legendary figure, rising to the top at a young age. Regardless of whether or not he had family connections, he certainly had the capability. Soon after taking office, he had shaped up the department impressively, and most importantly, Captain Qiao had single-handedly increased the number of female applicants at the police academy. In this era of valuing appearances, it was helpless, the Criminal Investigation Team recently got two new female interns who were all drawn by this ¡®police grass¡¯. Qiao Nanchu was handsome, but frankly speaking, he had a bit of a frivolous air, lacking the compelling righteousness of public servants. His eyes always carried a faint trace of heartlessness and a mischievous bad boy charm. With a cigarette in his mouth, he smiled with a mix of roguishness and indifference, ¡°I came to get someone.¡± He raised a hand and pointed, with a nod, ¡°These two are my friends.¡± Officer Zhao remembered then. Captain Qiao had a childhood friend who was into film making, he had made the headlines alright, no wonder he looked familiar. It turned out this ¡®blue-haired young society member¡¯ was actually quite the young master. After completing the procedures, Qiao Nanchu led people out of the police station. He glanced at the girl in Jiang Zhi¡¯s arms, ¡°What happened?¡± Jiang Zhi, careful not to let the girl fall, gently supported her waist, coaxing her not to move, coaxed, then looked up at his brother, his eyes were not so tender and loving anymore, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± Qiao Nanchu couldn¡¯t stand seeing him like this, ineffectually ensnared, scolded him jokingly, asking, ¡°Is she drunk?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Well done, Brother Zhi, quite the progress.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t respond, focused on comforting the girl in his arms; it seemed she was mumbling about discomfort, he patted and soothed her more, his winter coat now on the girl as he broke out in a thin sweat. Qiao Nanchu chuckled, having never seen Jiang Zhi so tenderly compromising his assertiveness; he lit another cigarette, zipping up his police uniform all the way. ¡°Why did you even end up at the police station? If you were photographed, you¡¯d be in trouble.¡± Although directors weren¡¯t as high-profile as artists, they were still somewhat public figures. He took a few puffs of his cigarette, exhaling smoke rings with practiced ease, ¡°Do you want to go public?¡± Jiang Zhi shook his head, ¡°Not now, the Jiang Family is keeping a tight watch.¡± He wasn¡¯t afraid of trouble, just of annoying her, ¡°Help me get in touch with your uncle and let him know, they can photograph me, but Xu Fang cannot show her face.¡± Qiao Nanchu¡¯s uncle worked in media and journalism, so blocking a piece of news wasn¡¯t difficult. ¡°Your family?¡± Qiao Nanchu, with a cigarette between his lips, slowly exhaled a dense cloud of smoke, taunting, ¡°Have you got it secured already? Still ¡®your family¡¯?¡± The girl in Jiang Zhi¡¯s arms coughed twice from the smell of smoke. He gave a look of displeasure, ¡°Put out the cigarette.¡± Such a protective guy! Qiao Nanchu chuckled and swore, then stubbed out the cigarette, ¡°Take it easy.¡± He pulled a set of car keys from his police uniform pocket and threw them to Jiang Zhi, ¡°I¡¯ve got matters to attend to at the station, I¡¯m heading out first.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± Qiao Nanchu waved his hand and left first. Jiang Zhi lifted her into the car, buckled her seatbelt. She slept restlessly, tossing a bit, pouting her lips, and mumbling something in her sleep, unclear, murmuring indistinctly. Jiang Zhi leaned in, observing her intently for a long while, then poked her cheek, ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± She murmured a response but didn¡¯t wake up. Through the mask, Jiang Zhi rubbed his chin against her face, ¡°What else are you still hiding from me?¡± Startled, she fluttered her eyelashes, opened her eyes, and met Jiang Zhi¡¯s gaze unguarded, her eyes clear, reflecting only his outline. She cooed softly to him, ¡°Jiang Zhi, I¡¯m thirsty.¡± Jiang Zhi smiled and ruffled her hair, ¡°I¡¯ll get you something to drink.¡± It was fine with him, whether she spoke or not, he didn¡¯t mind anymore, as long as it was her. Clouds covered the moon, the night was pitch black, not a star in sight. Zhou Xufang¡¯s place was too far, Jiang Zhi took her back to his apartment. She woke up on the way but was still drunk, humming and chirping, singing some unknown tune. Click¡ª Jiang Zhi opened the door, supporting her into the house. She clumsily moved in his arms, afraid to fall, she held onto his clothes obediently, her eyes bleary as she asked him, ¡°Where is this?¡± Jiang Zhi shut the door, ¡°My place.¡± She hummed in acknowledgment, then nestled against his shoulder, quiet again like a restless animal, clinging tightly to him, behaving herself. Jiang Zhi fetched slippers from the shoe cabinet and placed them under her feet, ¡°Lift your feet.¡± She didn¡¯t move. Jiang Zhi had to lift her onto a cabinet in the entryway, bent down to change her shoes, her legs swinging, hitting his hands several times. He coaxed her not to move several times before he successfully changed her shoes and then carried her down from the cabinet, pinching her face, ¡°You really are a handful.¡± She grinned and echoed, ¡°A handful.¡± Jiang Zhi laughed. She too laughed, pulling on his hand unwilling to move, wanting him to carry her. Jiang Zhi was just about to squat down when she stopped moving and squatted beside him, staring at him with longing eyes, ¡°Jiang Zhi, I¡¯m thirsty again.¡± Chapter 89 - Chapter 89: 089: Tossed and turned all night~ Chapter 89: 089: Tossed and turned all night~ ¡°Jiang Zhi, I¡¯m thirsty again.¡± She licked her lips, squatting and curled into a ball. Jiang Zhi chuckled and squatted down to talk to her, ¡°Do you want water or milk?¡± ¡°Milk.¡± Jiang Zhi stood up. She followed suit, trailing him to the kitchen wherever he went. He had just taken out two cans of milk when she said, ¡°I want it cold.¡± ¡°No,¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t give in to her, opened a can, poured it into a cup, and handed it to her, ¡°It¡¯s too cold outside to drink it cold.¡± Zhou Xufang, unhappy, pinched the cup without opening her mouth, scratched the rim twice, and then¡ª ¡°Clang!¡± She crushed the cup, splashing milk all over the floor. ¡°¡­¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? Was the girl a strongwoman? ¡°Why did you use so much strength!¡± He had just finished speaking when her head drooped, she glanced at him, and muttered, ¡°Jiang Zhi scolded me.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi scolded me.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi scolded me.¡± She repeated it three times in a row! Then, she showed an injured expression, as though the sky had fallen. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Are all the girls who¡¯ve been drinking so charming? Not daring to speak to her loudly anymore, Jiang Zhi touched her head, his technique¡­ well, was much like petting a cat. He spoke softly and gently this time, ¡°I¡¯m not scolding you, I¡¯m worried you¡¯ll get hurt.¡± Zhou Xufang paused for three seconds: ¡°Oh.¡± She was easy to console and immediately snapped out of her sadness, standing unsteadily, swaying. ¡°Let me see your hand.¡± She held out both hands. Fortunately, she was not cut by glass, just a hand covered with milk. Jiang Zhi took some paper towels to clean her up, then led her out of the kitchen, placed a chair for her to sit on. He went back to the kitchen for more milk. Zhou Xufang followed him. ¡°Sit here and wait.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± She sat back down, shaking her head and swaying. Jiang Zhi warmed up two cans of milk in the kitchen, this time not letting her hold the cup herself. He fed her, and she sipped daintily. Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t take his eyes off her: ¡°Is it good?¡± She licked her lips, her eyes forming two narrow curves, nodded her head, and said it was delicious. She didn¡¯t look at all like her usual stiff and serious self; her eyes were misty, like a lonely star shrouded in moisture, the desolation and solitude gone, only leaving an irresistible gentleness. She was just a sheep in wolf¡¯s clothing, with sharp claws, behind the mask, actually not aggressive at all. She licked her lips again. Her tongue tip was red¡­ Jiang Zhi¡¯s gaze grew warmer: ¡°Let me taste it?¡± She agreed, pushing the cup in his hand toward his lips. He took her hand away, set down the cup, leaned over, his hand bracing against the back of the chair, the other lifting her chin, and bent down to kiss her. Her eyes widened in surprise, her already flushed face turned thoroughly red. Jiang Zhi wasn¡¯t much better off, with his ears tinged red; the sickly pallor on his face now looked more beautiful with a flush of emotion, his hand on her waist slightly sweaty. He sucked gently, nipping at her. The light fell on the left side, casting shadows in Jiang Zhi¡¯s open collar, on his neck where the skin showed carelessly, marked by three or four hickeys. Zhou Xufang had ¡°bitten¡± those in the private room. Jiang Zhi thought he could bite back, opened his mouth, but just as his tongue touched her lips, she pushed him away, mischievously. ¡°Hot¡­¡± She said it was hot. Only then did Jiang Zhi realize how hot her skin felt to the touch, and all his romantic imaginations vanished. He stepped back a few paces and reached out to touch her face. ¡°Why is it so hot?¡± She kept saying it was very hot, not just her face, all the exposed skin was red. ¡°Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not uncomfortable.¡± Jiang Zhi was a bit flustered and touched her forehead with his face, but still felt it was abnormally hot. He then carried her to the master bedroom, removed her shoes and jacket, and wrapped her with the blanket. She complained of the heat and tried to kick it off; as soon as her foot lifted, Jiang Zhi pressed it down, ¡°Be good, lie still, don¡¯t kick the blanket.¡± She didn¡¯t kick anymore and laid there like a log, perfectly still except for her eyelids, not moving an inch. Jiang Zhi rummaged through drawers and cabinets for quite a while before he found the medicine box. When he returned to the master bedroom with the thermometer, her eyelids had already closed, and she was sleeping in a daze. ¡°Xu Fang.¡± She hummed in response. Jiang Zhi sat by the bed, warming his hand before reaching under the blanket, ¡°Lift your arm for me.¡± She obediently lifted her arm. Jiang Zhi placed the thermometer under her armpit, waited a few minutes before taking it out. Just these few actions had him fumbling nervously, sweating profusely. 42 degrees, it was a high fever. He threw the thermometer aside and bent over to pick her up. Zhou Xufang turned over, refusing to be carried, ¡°Leave me alone, I want to sleep.¡± ¡°You can sleep later, we need to go to the hospital first.¡± Hospital? ¡°I don¡¯t want to go!¡± She turned to her side and pushed with her hand. Jiang Zhi, completely unprepared, was pushed off the bed, landing with a solid thud. At twelve o¡¯clock, Xue Bingxue was awakened by the ringing of his cellphone. Irritated by the disruption of his sleep in the middle of the night, even with his good temper, he was annoyed. It took him some time before reaching out of the covers to find his phone on the bedside table, without even opening his eyes. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Fever.¡± Concise and to the point, just two words, it was Jiang Zhi¡¯s voice. Xue Bingxue scratched his head and slowly climbed out from under the covers, glanced at the time on his phone, voice sleepy, ¡°Didn¡¯t you stop taking your medicine?¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s voice was urgent, ¡°It¡¯s not me.¡± Oh, Xue Bingxue understood now, ¡°Is it Zhou Xufang who has a fever?¡± ¡°What should I do?¡± Just from the tone, it was clear how frantic Jiang Zhi was. This guy had been in and out of the ICU countless times over the past dozen years without ever panicking, yet Zhou Xufang¡¯s fever had him completely disoriented. Xue Bingxue rubbed his eyes, very sleepy, ¡°What do you mean what to do, take her to the hospital.¡± ¡°She doesn¡¯t want to go to the hospital.¡± ¡°Do you have any fever reducers at home?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Start by giving her the medicine.¡± Xue Bingxue yawned and wiped away the drowsiness, instructing Jiang Zhi on how to cool her down physically over the phone. On the other end, Jiang Zhi hung up the phone and went to give Zhou Xufang the medicine. She was sleeping heavily and refused to open her mouth, so he had to crush the pill and mix it with water to feed her. As soon as she tasted it, Zhou Xufang wrinkled her small face, ¡°Bitter.¡± She must really detest the bitterness, her eyebrows deeply furrowed. The sleepiness faded half way, but after Jiang Zhi softly coaxed her twice, she opened her mouth and drank the medicine. After feeding her the medicine, Jiang Zhi gave her a pink cotton candy, ¡°Still bitter?¡± ¡°Still bitter.¡± He fed her another candy, then got up to fetch some alcohol and water. He needed to use diluted alcohol for a body rub¡­ This was what Xue Bingxue had said. Jiang Zhi took off his sweater, feeling a bit hot. By the time he prepared the alcohol and returned to the room, Zhou Xufang had already crawled under the covers, sleeping soundly. She slept neatly, like a perfectly straight ¡®log of wood¡¯. Jiang Zhi placed the towel and basin on the bedside table, ¡°Xu Fang.¡± She didn¡¯t wake up. Good, at that moment, his desire was flaring, and he couldn¡¯t bear to see those eyes of hers that could captivate his soul. He pulled the blanket down a bit, watched her for a while before leaning down next to her ear, whispering, ¡°Someday in the future, I¡¯ll put you in a wedding dress.¡± Undressing a girl meant he had to cloak her in a wedding gown. He kissed her forehead, his hand slipping under the blanket, reaching for her waist¡­ So cold. It stayed for just a short time before he pulled his hand back out, placing it on her forehead. ¡°¡­¡± There wasn¡¯t a hint of fever to her, she was like a piece of ice. The next day dawned with a faint clear sky. Chapter 90 - Chapter 90: 090: Lets date Chapter 90: 090: Let¡¯s date The next day, the sky was slightly clear. The weak warmth of the early winter sun filtered through the window cracks, scattering dancing patches of light all around, making the person on the bed squint in the sunshine, frown and flutter her eyelashes before finally opening her eyes. The chandelier on the ceiling was really pretty. Zhou Xufang rubbed her eyes, still groggy from sleep, and stared at the chandelier for a long time. Blinking, she then suddenly sat up. This wasn¡¯t home¡­ Her first reaction was to clench her fists and guard her chest, then she looked around warily¡ª All the guard in her eyes fell away when she saw Jiang Zhi, lying beside her bed. He was still asleep, his hair messy and sticking out on all sides, his thin clothes shifted to one side revealing a hint of his collarbone, gleaming under the sun¡¯s rays, porcelain white. His sleeping posture wasn¡¯t great, and his legs were too long, stretched out carelessly. The patches of light from the window just happened to land on his face, his skin fair and lips red. With his eyes closed and silent, he resembled a painting of a beautiful person. Normally, his peach blossom eyes, not prone to flirtation, were hidden under his soft, obedient eyelashes, casting a few shadows. He seemed not at all like a young master but more like a gentle youth. She, as if possessed, reached out her hand to touch him. Jiang Zhi suddenly opened his eyes, and she froze in her movement. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã¦Ï There wasn¡¯t a trace of sleepiness in his eyes, only a joyful and triumphant smile, ¡°What are you doing?¡± propping himself up on the bed, he leaned toward her with the clear light of his peach blossom eyes, ¡°Do you want to touch me?¡± Zhou Xufang moved back, ¡°No!¡± She said it particularly loudly. Bluffing, really bluffing. Not teasing her anymore, Jiang Zhi stood up, not caring about his messy hair, touched her face, then her forehead, ¡°You don¡¯t have a fever anymore.¡± After he moved back and sat down, Zhou Xufang, who had been holding her breath, finally breathed quietly. ¡°Do you remember much about yesterday?¡± Yesterday¡¯s events¡­ Events and scenes rapidly flooded into Zhou Xufang¡¯s mind. It was annoying, her memory was very good, she didn¡¯t know how many times better than normal people. Feeling somewhat guilty, she hung her head, her hair as messy as Jiang Zhi¡¯s, and confessed in a small voice, ¡°I uprooted a tree.¡± Jiang Zhi leaned back in his chair, crossed his right leg over his left, hummed, waiting for her to continue. Zhou Xufang continued confessing honestly, ¡°We also went to the police station.¡± Jiang Zhi hummed, ¡°What else?¡± Her head buried even lower, her voice fainter, ¡°¡­ I don¡¯t remember.¡± But she remembered biting him, for a long time. She sneakily glanced at Jiang Zhi¡¯s neck, full of bite marks¡­ She frustratingly tugged at her clothes, her face flushed and scratching her palm, wondering if Jiang Zhi would think she was a lecherous demoness¡­ ¡°Do you remember you kissed me?¡± Her voice broke, ¡°I didn¡¯t, it was you¡ª¡± Jiang Zhi laughed, ¡°You remember, huh.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Suddenly, she thought Jiang Zhi was a little bit bad, just a little. He looked into her eyes, his gaze intense, ¡°So, should you explain how you managed to uproot a tree weighing several hundred pounds?¡± Why? Actually, to be precise, she didn¡¯t know why either. Her memory stopped at that human genetic laboratory where she had lots of blood drawn, took many pills, and underwent many radiation experiments, and after all that, she became this way. Before that, she couldn¡¯t remember anything but knew that many people called her a Monster, others called her a legend in genetic medicine. She didn¡¯t look into Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes anymore, ¡°I¡¯m strong.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s tone was casual, not like an accusation, more like making conversation, ¡°What about the alcohol? Who gave you the drink?¡± ¡°I bought it myself.¡± Her ears turned red. This girl was probably not good at lying, her panic and guilt were written all over her face. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t expose her, ¡°You had a fever last night.¡± Within less than five minutes, it dropped from over forty degrees to the twenties, which was very abnormal. Zhou Xufang hung her head and fiddled with her fingers, unsure how to explain. She had been having frequent fevers lately, which hadn¡¯t happened before, and she still hadn¡¯t figured out why. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± She immediately sat up straight. Still unwilling to say anything, Jiang Zhi felt a sense of powerlessness as if he could be abandoned at any moment. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the edge of the bed, ¡°What is our relationship?¡± She blankly asked back, ¡°What relationship?¡± Jiang Zhi tugged at his collar, revealing his collarbone and shoulder, ¡°Who bit this?¡± The bite marks were red with a hint of purple, very noticeable against his fair skin. She felt like crushing her own teeth, ¡°¡­It was me.¡± He accused her righteously, ¡°You also touched me.¡± His tone was forceful, but his eyes gleamed with pleasure as he emphasized the location and duration, ¡°In the private room, for a long time.¡± Zhou Xufang was speechless, ¡°¡­¡± It was he who had put her hand inside his clothes, she only touched his abs¡­ ¡°You kissed and you touched, aren¡¯t you responsible?¡± So, his goal was, ¡°Let¡¯s date.¡± It didn¡¯t matter if she wasn¡¯t upfront, first he had to win her over. She suddenly fell silent. Jiang Zhi still didn¡¯t know that her eyes could turn red, her self-healing ability was more than eighty times that of humans, she was an amphibian, her bite force comparable to that of a wild beast. Jiang Zhi still didn¡¯t know that she had scared many people into fainting, many wanted her dead, so she wanted to buy an island and live hidden in the water. Jiang Zhi also didn¡¯t know she really, really liked him, wanting to take him to Moon Bay, wanting to give him her favorite lamp, favorite cotton candy, and milk. Lixiang said, Jiang Zhi was cold-sensitive and water-fearing, and needed medication to cope every winter. Jiang Zhi had three good childhood friends, a grandmother who loved him dearly, and a Genetic Laboratory specifically for treating his chronic conditions. ¡°Not good.¡± She said it wasn¡¯t good. He became annoyed, his eyes reddening, coughing out of anger, ¡°Zhou Xufang¡­cough, cough, cough¡­you¡¯re rejecting me again!¡± Her eyes teary, she looked down, unable to look at him anymore, her throat rough, no longer speaking. Jiang Zhi really was irritated by her, coughing until his face looked awful, ¡°You¡¯re so stubborn, I should have dealt with you yesterday!¡± After speaking, he stormed out of the room without another word. Zhou Xufang sat there, her eyes becoming warm. Later, there was a loud clanging outside the door, she got up, opened it, and saw the towel and toothbrush Jiang Zhi had left at the door. Her coat had been dirtied by milk the night before, and there was a men¡¯s hoodie on a cabinet by the door, in her favorite pink color. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t know many people, she could count them on her fingers, she didn¡¯t know how many people were in the world, but she was sure, Jiang Zhi was the best to her in this world. After freshening up, she came out to find Jiang Zhi sitting on the lazy chair on the balcony, his back to her, not turning around to look at her. ¡°I¡¯m going home now.¡± Jiang Zhi hummed, refusing to talk to her. She said, ¡°Goodbye.¡± After standing for a while, she walked towards the entrance, not yet reaching the doorstep when Jiang Zhi called her back, ¡°Come back.¡± So she walked back. Jiang Zhi still didn¡¯t look at her, just showed her the back of his head, ¡°Take the breakfast from the table, throw it away if you don¡¯t eat it!¡± His tone was still angry. But Zhou Xufang knew, he couldn¡¯t bear to let her starve. She took the breakfast with her, leaving Jiang Zhi¡¯s house, finished it at the doorstep, and walked out of the compound with red eyes. Chapter 91 - Chapter 91: 091: Xu Fang: I dumped Jiang Zhi! Chapter 91: 091: Xu Fang: I dumped Jiang Zhi! At nine o¡¯clock, Zhou Xufang returned home, did nothing, and just sat still for an hour. The computer was on, and messages from Shuangjiang kept coming one after another. ¡°I have managed your properties and funds, Jiang Zhi won¡¯t find out.¡± ¡°I did an estimate, and you¡¯re still short by about one billion.¡± ¡°I tried to check the Peace Talisman hangings from Lingdu Temple, I¡¯ve sent you the new list.¡± Zhou Xufang had no reaction; though her eyes were on the computer, her mind was elsewhere. ¡°Xu Fang.¡± Shuangjiang made a clicking sound. She was still zoning out. Shuangjiang clicked again in a series, ¡°Xu Fang.¡± She finally looked up, her gaze empty, speaking to herself, ¡°Jiang Zhi is mad at me.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi is ignoring me.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï ¡°Jiang Zhi isn¡¯t talking to me.¡± She said it three times, each more panicky and remorseful than the last; she even ripped the cushion and bit her lip until it bled. Shuangjiang sent a question mark. ¡°I sent Jiang Zhi so many periods, and he hasn¡¯t responded to me,¡± Zhou Xufang spoke more and more sorrowfully, her shoulders slumped, devoid of any spirit, looking like the sky was falling, ¡°he doesn¡¯t want to bother with me.¡± She felt terrible. Shuangjiang didn¡¯t know how to console her, and after seeing her sit a while longer, she couldn¡¯t sit still anymore. ¡°Where are you going?¡± She stood up from the chair, her expression desolate, ¡°I¡¯m going on a mission.¡± Even if Jiang Zhi was ignoring her, she would still protect him. The computer screen suddenly switched to a surveillance feed. Shuangjiang sent a message, ¡°Someone¡¯s at the door.¡± Only then did Zhou Xufang gather a trace of spirit to listen to the noises downstairs; after making sure of the footsteps, she put on a coat that wrapped her from head to foot and went downstairs. With her hood on, she opened the door and only poked her head out, ¡°Who¡¯s it?¡± Her voice was a bit cold and listless. At the door stood three men, all in the uniforms of a logistics company, with the two at the back carrying a box, and the man at the front asking, ¡°Are you Miss Zhou Xufang?¡± ¡°I am.¡± Her face was small, half-hidden in her clothing. The delivery man couldn¡¯t make out her face and found her chill, piercing eyes a bit disconcerting, he handed over the delivery slip, ¡°Your chandelier, please sign here.¡± She looked up upon hearing that. Only then did the delivery guy see her face clearly, a pretty girl with an aura of keeping others at a distance. She took the slip, signed, and handed it back, ¡°Thank you.¡± Her hands were pale and delicate, clearly not often exposed to sunlight. The delivery guy, without any ill intentions, took a second look and asked, ¡°Do you need us to carry it upstairs for you?¡± It¡¯s very heavy; how could a delicate girl like you lift it? Her response was cold and blunt, ¡°No need.¡± She reached out from behind the door, took the box with one hand, and effortlessly lifted it, not even fluttering an eyelash. ¡°!¡± The delivery guy was shocked, ¡°Do you need help installing it?¡± She shook her head and said thank you. She had once worked part-time as an electrician and could install it herself; she carried the box into the building, said thanks again, and closed the door. The delivery guy was stunned again and couldn¡¯t help asking his colleague, ¡°How heavy is that box?¡± ¡°Over a hundred pounds.¡± ¡°I watched that girl lift it like it was a head of cabbage.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Xufang carried the ¡®cabbage¡¯ into the house with one hand, opened the box to take a look, and felt even more disheartened. She squatted down beside the box, her head hanging down, once again muttering to herself. ¡°Jiang Zhi bought me a lamp.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi carried me last night.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi is too good to me.¡± ¡°He¡¯s so good to me, and I still made him angry.¡± She was so regretful. ¡°I¡¯m so awful.¡± So despondent. ¡°I am trashy!¡± So annoyed! Zhou Xufang felt exceedingly terrible, her world seemed grayed out; without being with him, how could she so recklessly get close to Jiang Zhi, and even more recklessly accept his kindness. She was angry with herself, ¡°I am a major trashy woman!¡± Shuangjiang: ¡°¡­¡± Seeing Zhou Xufang self-criticize in such a way, Shuangjiang suggested, ¡°Why not try to smooth things over with him?¡± Smooth things over? Zhou Xufang was lost in confusion. By four o¡¯clock in the afternoon, the top trending headline was ¡°Famous Director Jiang Visits Police Station with a Beautiful Woman at Night¡±, whereas the second and third headlines were about a celebrity couple¡¯s wedding. The wedding was held on a cruise ship and almost half of the entertainment industry was invited, including the infamous Director Jiang. The wedding was not open to the media, maintaining a high level of secrecy. Journalist friends could only lie in wait outside the yacht on the red carpet, snagging whoever came by and digging up whatever they could. Media friends found that Director Jiang¡¯s mood was extremely bad today, incredibly explosive! ¡°Director Jiang, could you answer a question? Last night at the police station¡ª¡± He didn¡¯t let them finish, his eyes turning cold, ¡°None of your business!¡± ¡°And the lady who was with you¡ª¡± Again, not letting them finish, Director Jiang straightforwardly pushed away the camera, his sickly yet beautiful face showing no trace of amiability, all but distant and indifferent, ¡°Which media are you from?¡± Media friends: ¡°!¡± You¡¯re the boss, I won¡¯t dare to ask anymore, no more daring to ask¡­ Jiang Wei¡¯er also came today, not as the Fifth Miss of the Jiang Family, but as a new assistant to the Weaver, who was known for her wild nature and had vanished as soon as she got on the cruise, not knowing where she had gone off to roam. Taking advantage of the absence of others on the deck, Jiang Wei¡¯er called out ¡°Brother Zhi¡±, ¡°Why are you so angry?¡± Since boarding, he had been sulking, his face wearing an ¡®stay away from me¡¯ expression and he didn¡¯t seem in good spirit, covering his mouth and nose with a handkerchief and coughing intermittently. ¡°This cough of yours doesn¡¯t seem to get any better.¡± ¡°It won¡¯t get better.¡± His lips were slightly pale, and it was unclear who he was irritated at; his temper flared, partly despairing, ¡°Next year I¡¯ll be twenty-five, should start preparing for my coffin.¡± It was rumored that the young master of the Jiang Family wouldn¡¯t live past twenty-five. Jiang Wei¡¯er just laughed, throwing his words right back at him, ¡°No need for a coffin, misfortune lingers for a thousand years.¡± She stopped joking and then mentioned something serious, ¡°Just now, the old lady called me.¡± Jiang Zhi was not very interested. She continued, ¡°She asked me if you were in love.¡± With all the fuss on Weibo, naturally, the old lady had also heard the rumors and had even started probing her. Then, Jiang Zhi finally turned to look at her. ¡°I said yes,¡± she joked pretentiously, ¡°I said our little ancestor of the Jiang Family is out there acting like someone else¡¯s grandson.¡± No sooner had she finished than his face clouded over, fury shooting from his peach blossom eyes, as if it could materialize, sharp enough to draw blood if it could. Zhou Xufang was truly dear to his heart, not to be spoken of lightly. Jiang Wei¡¯er chuckled, ¡°I was joking.¡± Strangely enough, ¡°What, can¡¯t I say that?¡± ¡°Fifth Aunt.¡± He suddenly addressed her so solemnly. Jiang Wei¡¯er was taken aback, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Such a grave tone.¡± It was unusual. Jiang Zhi, rarely this somber and focused, ¡°Don¡¯t mention anything about Zhou Xufang to any of the Jiang Family members.¡± Knowing his seriousness, only a few people were in the know. His tone was almost pleading as he lowered his own stance. Although Jiang Wei¡¯er had never confronted him directly before, his typical indifferent and detached demeanor as a result of being raised in a prominent family like the Jiangs made him appear as though he had stepped right out of an ancient painting, devoid of vitality, rarely showing such heartfelt concern. She asked, ¡°Does that include your grandmother?¡± Jiang Zhi replied, ¡°Including her.¡± This pair of grandfather and grandson, one insinuating indirectly, the other secretly diverting, both had their own schemes. ¡°Understood.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er lifted her skirt and headed towards the cruise ship¡¯s guest rooms, leaving a remark as she walked away, ¡°Brother Zhi, you¡¯re still a Jiang after all.¡± Just as she left, the Xue Family uncle and nephew arrived. Xue Baoyi happened to hear Jiang Wei¡¯er¡¯s last remark, sensing a palpable tension, ¡°What¡¯s up with you two, your expressions so serious?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± Jiang Zhi did not wish to elaborate. Xue Bingxue¡¯s eyes reluctantly moved away from the direction Jiang Wei¡¯er had left, glaring at Jiang Zhi, ¡°Jiang Zhi, did you bully Wei¡¯er again?¡± Jiang Zhi gave no definite response, eyeing his protective demeanor, ¡°If she felt wronged, would you stand up for her?¡± Without a second thought, Xue Bingxue replied, ¡°Of course.¡± Fine. Jiang Zhi casually threw out, ¡°Xue Bingxue, your Jiang Wei¡¯er has been cuckolded.¡± Xue Bingxue¡¯s youthful, collagen-rich face tightened, ¡°What did you say?¡± He did not continue, ¡°Just wait, the old lady will come looking for you.¡± After that, he left with a drag in his steps. Xue Bingxue stood stunned for a moment then chased after Jiang Wei¡¯er. Xue Baoyi was utterly confused, unable to grasp the situation. Glancing from side to side, he followed Jiang Zhi, ¡°Brother Zhi, what are you implying? Didn¡¯t you not want my uncle involved in this mess?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to, but he¡¯s already involved.¡± Xue Baoyi didn¡¯t understand, ¡°What do you mean?¡± Jiang Zhi gave him a sidelong glance, ¡°Do you know what my grandmother is best at?¡± What? What?! Xue Baoyi was about to explode, ¡°Can¡¯t you speak plainly?¡± Dammit, he felt like his intelligence wasn¡¯t sufficient. Chapter 92 - Chapter 92: 092: Brother Zhi Excels in Fun Games Chapter 92: 092: Brother Zhi Excels in Fun Games Jiang Zhi walked slowly, coughing occasionally, ¡°She loves to kill with a borrowed knife.¡± Xue Baoyi knew this too, but¡ª ¡°What does this have to do with my uncle?¡± ¡°The internal strife in the Jin Family was stirred up by our Old Lady Jiang. No matter who wins in the end, Old Lady Jiang can¡¯t live peacefully. Behind Huayu and Tang Heng, there is the entire Jin Family. Your Baoguang alone can¡¯t swallow them all. At this time, it¡¯s best to have someone take care of everything at once, to eliminate Old Lady Jiang¡¯s worries.¡± Killing with a borrowed knife, once and for all. Old Lady Jiang had sat in a high position for so many years, her skills were no mere few. Jiang Zhi was different. He liked to manipulate hearts; he would just look around leisurely and occasionally take action. Then all the trends would blow according to his whims. Old and young psychopaths. Xue Baoyi couldn¡¯t figure out the old psychopath¡¯s plan. She asked the young psychopath, ¡°Why is it my uncle?¡± ¡°It¡¯s related to my Fifth Aunt, the best one to use is Bingxue.¡± Xue Baoyi was straightforward, always fighting openly. Facing Jiang Zhi, this manipulative young psychopath, her intelligence felt challenged, her mind almost exploded, ¡°My uncle is just a traditional Chinese medicine doctor.¡± Jiang Zhi glanced at him, ¡°Do you know why your Xue family¡¯s heritage wasn¡¯t passed down to you?¡± Xue Baoyi pondered, wasn¡¯t it because he was too reckless? Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 ¡°Because your grandfather wanted to keep it for Bingxue.¡± Xue Baoyi couldn¡¯t believe it, ¡°He is just a simple, naive sweetie.¡± Jiang Zhi looked at him as if looking at someone intellectually challenged, ¡°You¡¯re even more simple and na?ve than him.¡± It was a miracle how a family¡¯s son had grown up so straightforward and simple-minded. Xue Baoyi was speechless. ¡°Your Xue Family isn¡¯t much simpler than my Jiang Family; how could your family¡¯s darling youngest son not be cunning?¡± Xue Bingxue just dislikes using schemes, he has morals like his mom, too upright. But if he really starts scheming, he¡¯s not inferior to anyone. Xue Baoyi was speechless. At that moment, Xue Baoyi felt the world was so complicated! ¡°Brother Zhi, how do you know everything?¡± In the matter of Jin Song, Jiang Zhi had hardly taken any action, just played with intelligence. However, he guessed almost every move of his Old Madam. With an air of nonchalance, he replied, ¡°Because I have brains.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Was he saying he didn¡¯t have brains? Honestly, Xue Baoyi wasn¡¯t worried about his uncle since Jiang Zhi had anticipated everything. The outcome must also be within his expectations. Despite being twisted, hypocritical, sinister, and shameless¡­ besides beauty, Jiang Zhi had one more quality, he was very protective. Xue Baoyi started to probe, ¡°Then let me ask your brains, can my uncle win over your aunt?¡± ¡°If he can be a bit more hypocritical and shameless,¡± Jiang Zhi picked a table by the side, pulled out a piece of paper to wipe the table and chair, and sat down, ¡°he can.¡± What did that mean? Xue Baoyi once again felt his intelligence in crisis, sinking into deep thought. His uncle, that man, was still too honest. The honest Xue Bingxue was beating someone at that moment. Time rewound five minutes. ¡°Wei¡¯er.¡± He had followed Jiang Wei¡¯er all the way to the aft deck before he called out to her. Jiang Wei¡¯er turned around, ¡°What is it?¡± He was at a loss for words again. The wind swayed her white skirt, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you speaking?¡± He thought she looked better in black, ¡°Xiao¡ª¡± His words were interrupted. ¡°Wei¡¯er, Wei¡¯er!¡± Fang Lixiang was waving vigorously at the top deck, like a brothel¡¯s Madam, ¡°Come, come~¡± The wind was strong on the cruise ship, Jiang Wei¡¯er¡¯s skirt exposing her ankles, she wasn¡¯t afraid of the cold in such weather. Xue Bingxue took off his coat for her, ¡°You go ahead, I¡¯ll wait here.¡± She didn¡¯t take it, claimed she wasn¡¯t cold, waved at him, and left first. Not long after her departure, two people, a man and a woman, came out from the viewing room in the distance. The woman handed over something, the man took a long while to accept. ¡°Don¡¯t wait for someone else to tell her¡­ also no turning back¡­¡± The sound was intermittent, distorted by the sea wind, and soon it was unclear. Xue Bingxue took a few steps closer. It was Xiao Linsu and his agent Lin Shuang. As they got closer, Lin Shuang¡¯s voice became clearer, ¡°Jin Song that beast still kept a backup, I¡¯m afraid the thing has already ended up in the Jiang Family¡¯s hands, Linsu, we can¡¯t delay any longer, you¡ª¡± ¡°Does the cigarette burn hurt?¡± He didn¡¯t know if he was listening, his gaze fell on her hand, he raised his hand, pulled up the sleeve of her suit, the burn on her arm had already scabbed over, looking somewhat fierce. The wind was too strong, making Lin Shuang¡¯s eyes red, she shook her head, ¡°It doesn¡¯t hurt.¡± Xiao Linsu loosened his hand, his voice low and soft, almost inaudible, he muttered to himself, ¡°How could it not hurt.¡± Cigarette burns are the most painful, more painful than a whip. ¡°Xiao Linsu!¡± It was Xue Bingxue. His eyes were red with anger, he charged over, and kicked Xiao Linsu in the chest, Xiao Linsu took the blow solidly, stumbling and falling. Xue Bingxue didn¡¯t wait for him to get up, he pinned him down with his knee on his stomach, choking him like an enraged beast, ¡°You dare deceive her, you dare deceive her!¡± He swung his fist and smashed it down into his stomach. Lin Shuang was stunned for a moment, then came to her senses, ¡°Mr. Xue, please speak calmly, don¡¯t resort to violence.¡± ¡°Get lost!¡± Xue Bingxue¡¯s eyes were full of blood. No one had seen him angry before, they thought such a gentle and obedient person would never strike someone, this was the only time, he lost his reason, using all his brute strength, punching Xiao Linsu in the body, in the face. ¡°You beast!¡± He couldn¡¯t curse well, the few phrases he knew were all taught by Xue Baoyi, but he was very angry, wanted to use the most venomous words to curse him, use the greatest strength to punish him, ¡°Are you even human, Wei¡¯er never wore skirts before, not even once!¡± Lin Shuang couldn¡¯t hold him back, he fiercely kept hitting. Xiao Linsu lay there, motionless. ¡°Fight back, damn it!¡± Xiao Linsu wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his gaze empty, as if smiling, unsure what he was smiling at. Xue Bingxue¡¯s hands were covered in blood, he tore off his tie, ¡°If you won¡¯t fight back, fine, then I¡¯ll beat you to death!¡± He pressed down on Xiao Linsu, raising his fist to smash. ¡°Xue Bingxue!¡± It was Wei¡¯er¡¯s voice. He froze in his movement, looking back slowly and blankly. Jiang Wei¡¯er¡¯s gaze was intensely hot, she walked closer, grabbed his hand, her voice mixed with the sea wind, carrying a coolness, ¡°Stop this, Xue Bingxue.¡± As soon as he saw her, Xue Bingxue¡¯s expression became chaotic, the color draining from his face bit by bit, ¡°I¡¯m not causing trouble.¡± She was looking at Xiao Linsu, all the sorrow, all the reluctance written across her face. Xue Bingxue always knew, she really liked someone else, he always knew. ¡°I¡¯m not causing trouble!¡± his eyes slightly reddened, this was the first time, he yelled at Jiang Wei¡¯er, ¡°I just can¡¯t stand to see him bully you.¡± She was unaware, slightly stunned, ¡°We¡¯ll talk about it later.¡± She squatted down to help Xiao Linsu, ¡°Are you alright?¡± Xiao Linsu shook his head, bracing himself to stand up. ¡°Go to the guest room first.¡± She supported him, turning to leave. Xue Bingxue called out from behind, ¡°I have something to say to you.¡± His voice trembled low, ¡°Wei¡¯er, don¡¯t go with him.¡± He was showing weakness, pleading with her. Jiang Wei¡¯er had known him for over twenty years, how could she not understand him, he wouldn¡¯t hit someone for no reason, but, matters of the heart, it wasn¡¯t appropriate for him to intervene. ¡°Lixiang, bring your boss over.¡± Fang Lixiang, still holding the selfie stick, was a bit confused, ¡°¡­Oh.¡± Oh, this Mr. Xue is his uncle¡¯s boss. Jiang Wei¡¯er tried to remain calm, turning back to look at Xue Bingxue, ¡°Your hand is swollen, go get it treated first.¡± Both of them needed some quiet, couldn¡¯t stay together, she also needed to sort things out. After leaving those words, Jiang Wei¡¯er helped Xiao Linsu leave. Xue Bingxue stood in place, his eyes filled with loss and panic. Dark clouds covered the moon, the night wind was cold. Chapter 93 - Chapter 93: 093: Nostalgia Kill - About First Love Chapter 93: 093: Nostalgia Kill ¨C About First Love The silence was pervasive, only the wind could be heard. Suddenly, a phone rang; it was Old Lady Jiang calling. ¡°Bingxue.¡± ¡°Speak, Auntie.¡± He walked to the side to answer the call. Fang Lixiang stood there stunned for a moment, then took out his phone, found the boss¡¯s number, and dialed. Knock, knock, knock. Jiang Wei¡¯er opened the door; the server was standing at the doorstep, handing over a medical kit, ¡°Here¡¯s the spare medicine you asked for.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er closed the door and carried the medical kit to the bedside, ¡°Don¡¯t you have anything to say to me?¡± Since entering the room, there had been no explanation, only silence. ¡°Linsu¡ª¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï He looked up at her, his eyes bloodshot. The medical kit in her hand fell to the floor, and she suddenly panicked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er had only seen Xiao Linsu cry on TV before; this was the first time she had seen his eyes redden in front of her. She couldn¡¯t bear seeing him like this, and her eyes reddened too, ¡°Don¡¯t cry, I won¡¯t ask anymore, I won¡¯t ask.¡± ¡°Wei¡¯er.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± He reached out his hand, wanting to touch her face, but his hands were bloody and dirty, so he bowed his head and kissed her eyes instead, ¡°Don¡¯t you like wearing white dresses?¡± As he bowed his head, his tears fell onto her face. ¡°If you like it, then I like it.¡± She grabbed his hand, pressing it against her face, not minding the dirt or the semi-dry bloodstains that smeared her face, ¡°Before we were together, I watched many of your interviews. You said you liked girls who wear white dresses, ones who smile tenderly.¡± Back then, before they were together, she had tried every which way to become everything he liked¡ªshe started growing her hair long, wearing dresses, and sitting and walking properly. ¡°Do you know why?¡± She shook her head. His voice choked and hoarse, ¡°Because of you.¡± There was no such thing as an ideal type; it had always been her. ¡°Xue Bingxue said you never used to wear dresses, but that¡¯s not true; you did.¡± He didn¡¯t know she disliked dresses, but the first time he saw her, she was wearing a white dress. After that, the woman in his dreams, all his preferences, it was all her. Back then, he was just eighteen, and in his most disheveled state when he met her. ¡°Sorry, did you fall anywhere?¡± It was he who had stumbled and bumped into her. He didn¡¯t stand steady and fell to the ground. She went over to help him, but he shouted at her, ¡°Don¡¯t touch me!¡± Back then, Jiang Wei¡¯er was also only eighteen and was frightened by the guarded look in his eyes. He got up on his own and stumbled out. That place was the entrance of a hotel; that day was Jiang Wei¡¯er¡¯s coming of age celebration. Even the hotel lobby had exaggeratedly hoisted a banner wishing her a happy birthday. The banner was made by Xue Baoyi, who always tended to overdo things¡ªonly fifteen but with a wildly non-mainstream hairstyle, acting as if he owned the world. ¡°What kind of insolent kid is this, treating our cousin like that?¡± Xue Baoyi, still a young boy, had the look of a little ruffian, and gestured with his chin toward Jiang Wei¡¯er, ¡°Look, your dress is dirty now.¡± She touched the stained spot. ¡°It¡¯s blood.¡± The one who spoke was a young boy next to Xue Baoyi, still looking very youthful yet undeniably handsome, but his frail body looked sickly and exceedingly thin. That was the fourteen-year-old Jiang Zhi. ¡°When will my uncle get here, Wei¡¯er has finally gambled and worn a dress for once. We have to let him see how awkwardly she walks in it.¡± ¡°Get lost.¡± Xue Baoyi snorted. He was still apprehensive around Jiang Wei¡¯er; she had always been keen on kicking people since they were kids. ¡°You guys go ahead and wait for me inside,¡± the birthday boy suddenly changed direction, heading out. ¡°Where are you going?¡± She waved her hand behind her and ran across the street. Across the street, there was a park, turn left from the park for five hundred meters, and there was a pharmacy. She ran there, and ran back, panting and sweating profusely. ¡°Hey!¡± She called out. The boy sitting by the fountain looked up, always wearing a mask, only his beautiful eyes visible, indeed the person who had bumped into her in the hotel. It was the eighteen-year-old Xiao Linsu. In the middle of summer, he was dressed in long clothes, his exposed skin was minimal, but even that tiny bit was covered in injuries¡ªcuts and burns, most had scabbed over, only his left wrist was still bleeding. His eyes were very red, he had been crying. ¡°Why are you crying?¡± He remained silent. She shook the bag of medicine in front of him, ¡°Here, for you.¡± But he didn¡¯t take it, turned his back, and ignored her. The eighteen-year-old girl was at an age marked by sharpness, born lucky, and had yet to encounter anyone who gave her such attitude, she laughed, ¡°You dirtied my dress, and still have such a temper?¡± Still silent. After a long time, he turned back to look at her dress, its white hem stained with blood from when he had bumped into her. The wound on his wrist, as if inflicted by a sharp knife, continued to bleed profusely. It looked terribly painful; she sighed, took out a bottle of hydrogen peroxide from her bag, and was about to disinfect his wound by pulling his hand toward her when he reacted strongly and jerked away, retreating backwards. ¡°I am very dirty.¡± His voice still carried the clarity of youth, but it was as if his throat was torn, both dry and hoarse. His shoulders shook as he mutely repeated, ¡°I am very dirty.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll wash it off, and then you won¡¯t be dirty anymore,¡± she said, grabbing his hand and pouring the diluted hydrogen peroxide on it. He flinched. ¡°Does it hurt?¡± He avoided her probing gaze and remained silent. Dipping some ointment, she applied it to his wound, and then awkwardly wrapped it with a bandage. ¡°If it hurts, you can cry.¡± She saw the sadness and despair in his eyes. Perhaps it was the gentleness in the girl¡¯s voice that quietly breached his defenses; he bowed his head, and tears hit the ground before he hugged his knees and sobbed loudly¡­ The sun was bright, a slight breeze in the air, and through his tear-blurred vision, all he could see was the swaying of the girl¡¯s dress. She placed her baseball cap on his head, pressing it down until it almost covered half of his face. ¡°Now, no one can see you.¡± He cried for a long time, eventually quieting down, while she remained sitting silently beside him on a stone, waiting until he stopped crying and looked up before she stood, her face now sunburned. Though tears blurred his vision, he still saw her clearly¡ªshort hair to her ears, delicate and beautiful. She said, ¡°Then I¡¯m leaving.¡± ¡°Wei¡¯er! Jiang Wei¡¯er!¡± In the distance, the boys called for her. She turned and replied, ¡°Don¡¯t rush, I¡¯m coming.¡± Then she threw the medicine to him, ¡°Apply this one three times a day, and this one, once a day.¡± ¡°Wei¡¯er!¡± ¡°Coming, coming.¡± She ran into the crowd, her white dress fluttering long in his vision. Jiang Wei¡¯er. Her name was Jiang Wei¡¯er. That day was Jiang Wei¡¯er¡¯s eighteenth birthday. She lost a bet and wore a white dress she would never normally wear. Xue Bingxue missed her coming of age ceremony and didn¡¯t see the awkward way she walked in the dress. That day, Xiao Linsu was first selling himself for a hundred thousand yuan at Jin Song¡¯s, pitifully tarnished, when she appeared. Their next meeting was six years later. He was an actor, she a Taekwondo Hall coach, his martial arts instructor. She didn¡¯t recognize him, she didn¡¯t even remember a boy who had wept in front of her six years ago. ¡°Did you recognize me back at the Taekwondo Hall?¡± Xiao Linsu nodded. How could he not recognize her? He knew her at first glance, then¡­ step by step, it all went wrong. He placed the USB drive he had held for a long time into her hand. ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s evidence.¡± It was the evidence of his insatiable mistakes. He didn¡¯t know how long he had held the metal USB drive; it was warm and covered in sweat. Jiang Wei¡¯er¡¯s heart raced, panic stricken: ¡°Did Xue Bingxue get violent with you because of this too?¡± He said yes, ¡°Xue Bingxue did nothing wrong, it was my fault.¡± ¡°You¡ª¡± Suddenly, an alarm sounded. Soon after, Jiang Wei¡¯er¡¯s phone rang too. She swallowed her words and answered the call first. It was Xue Baoyi: ¡°Wei¡¯er, Jiang Zhi is in trouble.¡± Time rewound fifteen minutes. The wedding march had just begun, and Xue Baoyi received a call from an unknown number. The caller¡¯s voice trembled: ¡°Boss.¡± Xue Baoyi did not recognize the timid voice at first: ¡°Who is this?¡± The timid one said: ¡°Boss, it¡¯s me.¡± Damn it, Xue Baoyi was out of patience: ¡°Who are you?¡± The dry voice on the other end of the phone said: ¡°I¡¯m the new Weaver, Fang Lixiang. Don¡¯t you remember me, boss?¡± Xue Baoyi put down her drink and laughed: ¡°I remember, vividly.¡± The guy who loved cursing in games. Right now, the guy who loved to curse in games was very respectful on the phone: ¡°Boss, your uncle got into a fight. Oh, don¡¯t worry, it was just your uncle beating up someone else. Then he injured his own hand. Are you free to come over and pick up the patient? He seems very unstable, and we¡¯re at the stern. He might do something foolish¡­¡± She paused. ¡°Boss, are you listening?¡± Xue Baoyi tapped on the table: ¡°Listening.¡± Fang Lixiang then asked, ¡°So, will you come over?¡± Emperor Xue: ¡°Hmm.¡± Fang the Palace Maid: ¡°Then I will wait respectfully over here.¡± Drama queen! Chapter 94 - Chapter 94: 094: The Husband-Protecting Maniac Zhou Xufang Goes Online Again Chapter 94: 094: The Husband-Protecting Maniac Zhou Xufang Goes Online Again Drama queen! Xue Baoyi hung up the phone and got up from her seat, ¡°My uncle ended up hurting himself while beating someone up, I¡¯m off to pick him up.¡± Jiang Zhi held a glass of wine in her hand, just toying with it without drinking. Xue Baoyi had barely budged before someone had set their sights on her seat. ¡°Jiang Zhi, Jiang Zhi!¡± Ming Saiying swished her skirt and plonked herself down. And honestly, this Ming Lao¡¯s stamina was quite commendable. Even Xue Baoyi admired her spirit of ¡°Though Jiang Zhi tortures me a thousand times over, I still regard Jiang Zhi with the freshness of a first love.¡± The girl wasn¡¯t bad, actually¡ªshe had curves in all the right places, but she was a bit single-minded. Ming Saiying, with curves and single-mindedness, had no sense of the awareness expected of a female artist and stared at Jiang Zhi like a crazed fan. Jiang Zhi stood up and left. Xue Baoyi asked, ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°To see the stars.¡± Ming Saiying looked up, ¡°¡­¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?0 But tonight the clouds obscured the moon, and not a single star was visible. The wedding was set up on the top deck of the cruise ship, while the lower three decks were reserved for guest rooms. Currently, the wedding ceremony was underway, so the guest room floors were empty except for some staff to guide guests at the entrances. In the second-floor corridor, a man and a woman were struggling. ¡°Let go.¡± The woman wore a black gown that trailed on the floor, her long hair tied in a high ponytail¡ªsleek yet feminine. But on the verge of anger, she glared with an intensity that made her difficult to approach. The man, however, remained unfazed, one hand gripping the woman¡¯s wrist and the other pressing on her shoulder, effectively trapping her between his hands. He smirked, ¡°I refuse to let go.¡± Dressed in a suit and shoes, he had a handsome and resolute appearance, though a hint of dominance in his eyes made it hard for anyone to look him in the eye. Angered by his illogical response, the woman snapped, ¡°Jiang Xiaolin!¡± The man was none other than the eldest grandson of the main branch of the Jiang family¡ªJiang Xiaolin. The usually composed and steady Jiang Xiaolin was uncharacteristically rascally and shameless. Lifting his leg, he pressed his knee against the woman¡¯s, his laugh was actually quite rakish, ¡°You¡¯re calling me rather sweetly, come on, call me again.¡± The headstrong woman, flushed with anger, retorted, ¡°Are you fucking sick or what!¡± ¡°I am sick.¡± He leaned in close to her ear, ¡°That year, you were the one who reported me to the school, claiming I was a pervert who specialized in stealing women¡¯s underwear.¡± ¡°¡­¡± The beautiful woman rolled her eyes indelicately, ¡°That was years ago, and you¡¯re dredging up old grievances.¡± At that moment, a cough interrupted their standoff. Jiang Xiaolin turned to look and upon seeing who it was, he let go and leisurely straightened his suit, his gaze changing to one without a trace of his earlier ¡®sleazy rou¨¦¡¯ behavior, the act of loosening his cuff button was elegant and haughty, ¡°I thought you wouldn¡¯t come in such cold weather.¡± Jiang Xiaolin, four or five years older than Jiang Zhi, was a cousin who rarely interacted with her. When not at the old house, he couldn¡¯t even be bothered to be courteous. Jiang Zhi almost impersonally ¡°Hmm¡¯d¡± in response and walked past them both. The woman¡¯s gaze followed him. Jiang Xiaolin pinched her chin and turned her face towards him, ¡°If you can¡¯t bear to part with him, why not chase after him?¡± The woman pushed his hand away, ¡°That¡¯s exactly what I intend to do.¡± Finishing her declaration, she turned and walked away. Jiang Xiaolin grabbed hold of her. Without a word, she struck out with her claws. Instantly, three scratch marks appeared on the back of his hand, ¡°Tang Xiang!¡± The woman turned with a charming smile, ¡°It sounds quite nice when you call me, come on, call me again.¡± Jiang Xiaolin: ¡°¡­¡± Who is Tang Xiang? Aside from that iron-fisted Miss Luo of the Luo Family, the most well-known person was this thunderously efficient female butler. Despite her young age, she was the old patriarch¡¯s most dependable aide. In the Luo Family, even the legitimate masters would have to lower their heads a bit in Tang Xiang¡¯s presence. Speaking of the history between Tang Xiang and Jiang Xiaolin, one would have to go back seven or eight years. They were classmates, one ranked first and the other second in their grade, each finding the other intolerable. By the way, Tang Xiang was number one, while Jiang Xiaolin was perpetually second. There was only one time he scored higher than her, but due to behavioural issues, he was docked five points for moral character, once again reverting to second-best. And regarding the deductions of moral character points, it was apparently because Tang Xiang¡¯s undergarments were found in Jiang Xiaolin¡¯s backpack¡­ Let¡¯s talk about Jiang Zhi. He had just descended the stairs when someone called out to him. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± It was Luo Qinghe. Jiang Zhi ignored her as if he had heard nothing and continued walking without turning back. With arms crossed, Luo Qinghe leaned casually against the doorframe: ¡°You seem to really dislike me.¡± She watched the person in front of her leisurely, ¡°Because of Luo San?¡± Jiang Zhi halted, then turned around. ¡°Knowing that I dislike you, how come you don¡¯t know to stay away from me?¡± Luo Qinghe wasn¡¯t upset; she brushed the long hair beside her ear, her appearance might not have been stunning, but her bone structure was exceptionally delicate, especially her elegant collarbones. She said with a half-serious, half-joking tone: ¡°Luo San has been dead for so many years now, yet he still holds a place at the top of your heart.¡± In his youth, Jiang Zhi often mingled with the Luo Family. The Luo daughters were numerous, with Luo Qinghe and Luo Yinghe, the pair of legitimate cousin sisters, leading them; the illegitimate ones were countless. Whatever shape or form you could imagine, they had; but the young Jiang Zhi only played with the Little Mute, disregarding everyone else. ¡°You don¡¯t need to know whether he is still in my heart,¡± Jiang Zhi spoke in an even tempo, ¡°You just need to remember firmly that your Luo Family is still an eyesore to me.¡± Having said that, he turned and left swiftly. Luo Qinghe¡¯s smile faded slowly. ¡°Young Mr. Luo.¡± It was the secretary Han Feng, who had just come down from upstairs. She withdrew her gaze: ¡°Where is Luo Changde?¡± Han Feng leaned in, whispering a few words. Upon hearing this, Luo Qinghe¡¯s expression darkened dramatically: ¡°That worthless piece of trash.¡± After cursing, she turned and headed toward the stairwell, but she had barely taken a step when her knee went numb, and she fell to her knees without any warning. ¡°Young Mr. Luo!¡± She fell hard, and Luo Qinghe couldn¡¯t get up for a while; below her left knee was a fiery sting, and she was unable to move for a moment. Less than an inch from where her knee hit the ground, there was a spoon with a severely bent handle. She picked up the spoon, enduring the pain, and stood up with the support of the wall. Seeing this, Han Feng approached the corner of the corridor. ¡°Come out!¡± After he yelled, there was silence. ¡°Who?¡± asked Luo Qinghe. Han Feng shook his head; there was no one around the corner, only a puddle of water on the ground. Hmph! Bad woman! I¡¯ll hit you with a spoon again next time! Zhou Xufang cursed the bad woman several times in her heart before stopping, crouching at the staircase near the stern of the boat, twisting the water from her sleeve and frowning in thought. Who was Luo San? Jiang Zhi¡¯s good friend? She was so deep in thought that she didn¡¯t notice the footsteps behind her. ¡°Who¡¯s there?!¡± It was a waiter from the cruise, still holding a bottle of red wine. Zhou Xufang turned around; she didn¡¯t have an invitation, and had to swim over from the sea, recently climbing up from the water, her eyes still red; not the pretty red of cosmetic contacts, but the color of blood. She knew it was terrifying. ¡°Crash!¡± The red wine shattered, the waitress¡¯ legs gave out, and she sat on the floor: ¡°Demon, demon¡­¡± In the blink of an eye, the red-eyed ¡®demon¡¯ was in front of her, and she opened her mouth to scream. Zhou Xufang covered her mouth: ¡°Don¡¯t scream.¡± The demon¡¯s hand was so cold¡­ That waitress was scared out of her wits, trembling as she said: ¡°I, I won¡¯t¡­ won¡¯t scream.¡± Good, if she doesn¡¯t scream, I won¡¯t have to hit her. Zhou Xufang pointed to the nearest cabin: ¡°Go inside and take off your clothes for me.¡± Chapter 95 - Chapter 95: 095: Xu Fang plays the hero to save the beauty Chapter 95: 095: Xu Fang plays the hero to save the beauty Knock, knock, knock. The sound of knocking thrice, yet no response came from within. Luo Qinghe stood at the doorway, ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± After she spoke, someone inside finally responded, though notably impatient, ¡°What is it?¡± The door opened, and Luo Changde stood disheveled, his neck and chest covered with scratches from a woman¡¯s nails. Luo Qinghe¡¯s expression instantly turned cold. She entered with her secretary and slammed the door forcefully, ¡°You still ask me what it is, Luo Changde? Look at the mess you¡¯ve made.¡± Luo Changde, just over fifty, had swollen eyes that made him look older. Due to his physical disability, he had become even more unrestrained in his antics over the years. He sneered, ¡°It¡¯s just a woman.¡± Just a woman? Hmph, just a woman who had left him childless and without descendants. Luo Qinghe scanned the room; a pen lay on the floor, its tip bloody. The woman on the bed lay motionless, her legs spread, still bleeding from down below. More than twenty years ago, Luo Changde had been rendered impotent, and ever since, he had taken pleasure in doing this to others. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï ¡°You really can¡¯t teach an old dog new tricks.¡± Contempt and disdain filled her eyes, unhidden. Luo Changde could not stand her domineering attitude. His murky eyes narrowed, ¡°Who taught you to be so disrespectful to your elders?¡± Despite having led a frivolous life in recent years, the once head of the Luo Family, Luo Changde, still retained a ruthless streak. Luo Qinghe chuckled coldly, ¡°My mom¡¯s dead. Who do you think taught me?¡± ¡°You¡ª¡± She was utterly repulsed, not wanting to hear another word, ¡°I don¡¯t care what you do outside, but within my sight and the influence of the Luo Family, you¡¯d better restrain yourself. The Luo Family is under my command now.¡± Luo Changde laughed scornfully, not showing whether he took her words to heart. He took a piece of paper from the bedside, wrapped the pen with it to wipe it clean, and tossed it into the trash can. His back was slightly hunched, his hair peppered with gray, and his lean figure bent forward as he tucked his shirt into his belt, ¡°Clean this place up¡­ and take care of this woman.¡± The swearing-in of the newcomers concluded, and fireworks lit up the sky from the top deck of the cruise ship. In the sky, myriad trees blossomed brightly, illuminating the night like daylight. Zhou Xufang, wearing a waiter¡¯s uniform, her large face mask covering half her face, adjusted the special glasses on the bridge of her nose. ¡°Is there surveillance here?¡± Shuangjiang replied, ¡°The wedding guests are either public figures or business magnates, requiring high confidentiality. There¡¯s no surveillance in the guest rooms on the first and second floors.¡± Zhou Xufang asked directly, ¡°Where is Jiang Zhi?¡± ¡°He¡¯s not in the surveillance area.¡± Which meant, he was on either the first or second floor. Zhou Xufang was on the second floor and began searching room by room. Just as she reached the end of the hallway, a blood-soaked woman suddenly tumbled out from around the corner. Her gown was tattered. She curled up on the ground barely clothed, her blood flowing down her legs and onto the floor. ¡°Save, save,¡± she extended her hand towards Zhou Xufang, her nails caked with blood, ¡°Save¡­ me¡­¡± Bang! Bang! Bang! The fireworks exploded in the sky, dazzlingly bright in the starless winter night, disrupting the noisy revelry of the guests aboard with their booming echoes. Jiang Zhi felt irritable as he walked toward the stern of the ship. Over the phone, Qiao Nanchu¡¯s voice sounded somewhat weary, ¡°I¡¯ve visited the arsonist.¡± ¡°Will he change his statement?¡± ¡°He¡¯s still sticking to his story, no matter how much pressure is applied.¡± Jiang Zhi stood at the stern, sea spray flying high, the cool mist dampening his legs. The wind tousled his dusky blue hair, and he casually raked a hand through it, ¡°If we can¡¯t pry his mouth open, we¡¯ll start with the people around him.¡± Qiao Nanchu speculated, ¡°Maybe he is the murderer?¡± The sea breeze was strong, the waves gently rocked the ship, and footstep sounds were drowned out by the ongoing fireworks. Leaning against the railing, Jiang Zhi surveyed the sea of fireworks and the endless ocean, ¡°Two people died in the Luo Mansion fire back then, and no death sentence was handed down. Does that make sense?¡± Qiao Nanchu remained silent about the Luo Mansion fire, instead questioning Jiang Zhi, ¡°You really want to get involved in this?¡± His reply was nonchalant, ¡°Yeah.¡± There was the sound of a lighter from the phone; Qiao Nanchu lit a cigarette, ¡°Are you still concerned about that child from the Luo Family?¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s tone suddenly became serious, ¡°I already have Zhou Xufang. Don¡¯t bring this up again.¡± Qiao Nanchu chuckled, ¡°Then why?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t stand the Luo Family.¡± At that moment, A hand slowly extended from behind. The roar of fireworks was deafening by his ears, drowning out all other sounds. Having just thought of his beloved, Jiang Zhi¡¯s mind was restless. He wondered what kind of reaction Zhou Xufang would have if she knew about that Luo Family¡¯s young man. If only he could make her jealous¡­ Lost in thought, he grew absentminded: ¡°That case¡ª¡± A forceful push came from behind¡ª At that moment, with his mind full of Zhou Xufang, Jiang Zhi forgot to be cautious. His body flipped over the railing and plunged straight into the sea. Clang! His phone landed on the deck, followed by the sound of water splashing. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi!¡± Qiao Nanchu shouted loudly from the phone. That hand was large and strong, with a few scratch marks on the back and wearing a watch. It picked up the phone and forcefully cast it into the depths of the sea. At this time, Zhou Xufang had just carried a woman to the staff changing room when an emergency alert from Shuangjiang came through his earpiece. ¡°Xu Fang!¡± Zhou Xufang acknowledged with a sound and opened the cupboard, placing the woman inside. ¡°Jiang Zhi¡¯s phone suddenly got cut off.¡± Her movements froze briefly, her eyelashes fluttering. After a moment of being stunned, she quickly snatched a coat and tossed it to the woman: ¡°This place is safe. Wait until the ship stops before calling for help.¡± After giving instructions, she vanished in the blink of an eye, with only the door clanging shut behind. The woman covered her mouth, shutting the cupboard door as she trembled. The carpet in front of the guest room door was flipped up, like a gust of wind had swept by. Under the light, a complete silhouette was uncatchable, only a fleeting shadow, belonging to the running Zhou Xufang. ¡°Shuangjiang, help me check possible places Jiang Zhi could be.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Ten seconds later. Shuangjiang spoke, ¡°The first-floor stern or the second-floor observation area.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s speed and leaping power were thirty-three times that of a normal human, getting from the second floor to the first-floor stern in a mere instant. Without concern of being noticed, she kicked open the stairwell door. The force caused the entire vessel to sway slightly. The deck was deserted. Zhou Xufang was already sweating, ¡°He¡¯s not here.¡± She had a very bad feeling. After searching the area and finding no abnormalities, she was about to leave when Shuangjiang sent another alert: ¡°Criminal Intelligence Department has breached the cruise¡¯s top-level surveillance. Qiao Nanchu has sent a distress signal.¡± Shuangjiang paused, ¡°Xu Fang, something might have happened to Jiang Zhi.¡± As long as the person was onboard, Xue Baoyi must be able to rescue them immediately, unless¡­ Zhou Xufang turned and headed towards the ship¡¯s stern, and before removing her earpiece, she only said one thing, ¡°Keep an eye on the ship for me.¡± ¡°Xu Fang¡ª¡± The connection was lost. Zhou Xufang tossed aside her earpiece and leaped, diving into the sea. That year, it was also winter, dreadfully cold, the swimming pool at the Luo Mansion had a thin layer of ice. Suddenly, the ice broke and splashed, and someone was floundering in the pool. The servants in the greenhouse hurried over at the noise, crowding near the pool to watch the commotion. ¡°What¡¯s happened here?¡± ¡°Look, someone¡¯s fallen in.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that Luo San?¡± ¡°Yes, it is.¡± ¡°He offended the second Miss and got punished to clean the pool.¡± ¡°Fool¡¯s a fool, doesn¡¯t even know to drain the water first.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Whether discussing or silent, no one got into the pool to rescue. This was because the haughty second Miss Luo said, until the pool was cleaned, no one was allowed up. Then, there was another splash. Someone had entered the water. When they were pulled up, they realized it was Young Master Jiang, a visitor to the Luo Family. For some reason, the distinguished young master, who couldn¡¯t swim, had jumped into the water. With the day being cold and the pool water icy, the frail Young Master Jiang, with his weak constitution, swallowed a lot of water. The frigid water filled his lungs; because of this, Young Master Jiang fell seriously ill, nearly losing his life. It was after this incident that Young Master Jiang developed a fear of water. Qiao Nanchu once asked him, ¡°Why jump in if you can¡¯t swim?¡± He said, ¡°If I didn¡¯t go into the water, nobody else would have come to rescue.¡± Later, whenever Young Master Jiang visited the Luo Family, that silly Luo San would hide behind the house, stealthily watching him. If caught, he would hurriedly give him the little stars he had folded for a long time. That fool couldn¡¯t speak, but he would smile dimly at Jiang Zhi, secretly burying his ¡®treasures¡¯ under the tree in the greenhouse. When Jiang Zhi arrived, he would dig them out; all for Jiang Zhi, candies, beautiful stones, paper-folded little stars, and even tightly wrapped white-steamed buns. Back then, that silly boy of the Luo Family thought steamed buns were the best thing in the world. The sea breeze was relentless, causing ear pain, while fireworks continued to explode, casting a mottled reflection on the sea¡¯s surface. In the flickering light, a slender figure emerged from the water. She emerged, carrying a person on her back from the glittering water. Chapter 96 - Chapter 96: 096: Jiang Zhi: Zhou Xufang, is it you? Chapter 96: 096: Jiang Zhi: Zhou Xufang, is it you? She carried a person on her back, emerging from the shimmering water, her eyes wet and red as blood. The winter night was cold, and the rocks were chilling to the bone. She placed him on a dry patch of grass, laying him flat, and knelt beside him. ¡°Jiang Zhi!¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi!¡± No matter how she called, he wouldn¡¯t wake up. She took off her mask, her eyes red, and kept pressing on his chest, constantly performing CPR. ¡°Jiang Zhi!¡± ¡°Wake up, Jiang Zhi!¡± Zhou Xufang had never been so scared. If Jiang Zhi were gone, if Jiang Zhi were gone¡­ Her hands shook, her whole body trembled, and she didn¡¯t even have the strength to give him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. When she bowed her head, tears fell, mixing with the seawater, running from her face to the corner of his mouth, both salty and bitter. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã? Her voice choked in the wind, ¡°Don¡¯t you die¡­¡± Then¡ª Jiang Zhi spat out a mouthful of water onto her face. ¡°Cough, cough, cough¡­ cough¡­¡± His body curled up, coughing continuously. Zhou Xufang¡¯s tense nerves suddenly relaxed, and she collapsed onto the ground, gasping for breath. He was alive, he was alive¡­ ¡°Zhou Xufang,¡± The next second, cold hands grabbed her wrist. ¡°Is it you?¡± He could only see half of her face in the blurry night. Zhou Xufang violently turned around. ¡°Cough, cough, cough¡­¡± He struggled as she pulled away, and he fell back heavily onto the ground. It took a long while before he propped himself up and reached for her still dripping sleeve. ¡°Turn around, let me have a look at you.¡± His voice, raspy from swallowing seawater, broke as he spoke. Zhou Xufang, standing with her back to him, deliberately suppressed her voice, ¡°I¡¯m just an errand runner, taking people¡¯s money to solve their problems.¡± After saying this, she put on her mask, lowered her eyelashes to cover her reddened eyes, and turned to walk away. The sea breeze was painfully sharp, the wind whistled past her ears, and he kept coughing behind her. Zhou Xufang wiped her eyes, which were scorchingly hot. At this hour, there were only a few people on the beach, all appearing cold and desolate. She had thought there would be many reporters, but it turned out they had been cleared away, an utter waste of his new sunglasses. Why wear sunglasses at night? What an act! Ming Yanghua took off his pretentious accessory, no longer posing, kicking the stones by the seaside as he walked, with his friends calling out on the phone. ¡°Ming Xiaohua, where are you, why aren¡¯t you here yet?¡± His friends liked to tease his name, his ancestors! How could Sixth Master Ming put up with that? He immediately showed his displeasure, ¡°Your mother, if you call me Xiao Hua again, I¡¯ll hammer you to death!¡± His friends chuckled mischievously, not taking anything seriously, ¡°Alright, alright, Young Master Ming, just come on over, we¡¯re all waiting for you.¡± There was nothing serious going on. His friends were all wealthy idlers with money to burn, spending their days not doing anything constructive, just enjoying singing KTV, flirting, and playing mahjong with him. Ming Yanghua ran his fingers through his tin-foil-permed hair, ¡°I¡¯m not coming.¡± His friends were displeased, ¡°Why not?¡± Ming Yanghua made up an excuse, ¡°Ying Xianxian from Tingyu Building has invited me over to enjoy some music.¡± In reality, his tomboy sister insisted he come pick someone up. If he didn¡¯t, his sister could have their dad cut off his card, and his dad, being utterly devoted to his daughter, would definitely comply. His bold friends dared to expose him, ¡°Ying Xianxian is at our place, got dragged by your sister to work again, huh?¡± Ming Yanghua hated it when people said he was weak or scared of his sister, how could he tolerate this? ¡°Put your damn¡ª¡± ¡°That thing said, ¡®Someone fell into the water, call an ambulance.''¡± Wearing a mask, her face not visible, cars sped by on the roadside, their headlights flickering momentarily over that ¡®thing¡¯¡ªbarely qualifying as a person¡ªuntil Ming Yanghua saw her eyes. ¡°You, you, you, you¡­ you are that, that, that thing from Tingyu Building¡­¡± That female ghost with red eyes who had thrown him into the trash! Zhou Xufang was out of patience and commanded, ¡°Hurry and call an ambulance.¡± Ming Yanghua¡¯s face had turned pale, his body shaking uncontrollably: ¡°You, you, you, you¡ª¡± He screamed as if his life depended on it, ¡°Ahhhh! A ghost!¡± Ming Yanghua was afraid of ghosts, had been since he was young. His limited-edition versatile tool was lost; he was just about to ¡®escape for his life¡¯ when that ¡®female ghost¡¯ suddenly leaped in front of him¡ªreally, just like that! This ¡®female ghost¡¯ could even drift¡­ His eyes rolled back, and he fainted, his cellphone dropping to the ground while his mischievous friends still called out for ¡®Xiao Hua.¡¯ Zhou Xufang picked up his phone and dialed for emergency services. In the man¡¯s contacts, there was also a number she recognized¡ªit was Xue Baoyi¡¯s. Within ten minutes, Xue Baoyi found Jiang Zhi by the seaside. The ambulance arrived quickly; because a young master of the Jiang family had had an accident, the cruise wedding was hastily concluded. At ten o¡¯clock, doctors lined up in two rows at the entrance of the hospital. At quarter past ten, the two rows of doctors moved to the emergency room. At half-past ten, in the empty hallway, the sound of a cane hitting the floor grew closer and closer, tap, tap, tap¡­ it was chilling to hear. Vice Dean Sun hurriedly advanced, ¡°Old Madam, how come you are here?¡± The arriving figure, leaning on a cane, dressed in a button-embroidered overcoat, hair meticulously combed, was none other than Old Madam Jiang from the Xu Jiu Ru family. Old Madam¡¯s expression was cold, her presence commanding without anger: ¡°My grandson is in the hospital; how could I not be here?¡± She supported by others, walked to the emergency room door, glanced around at everyone, and asked, ¡°How is Brother Zhi?¡± Vice Dean Sun replied, trembling, ¡°Still, still in emergency treatment.¡± She then asked, ¡°Which doctor is in charge?¡± ¡°Dr. Xue.¡± Ah, Xue Bingxue. Accompanying her was the newly appointed Dean of the Fifth Hospital, Qin Shiyu. He stood beside Old Madam Jiang, slightly lowering his head, yet neither servile nor overbearing, he asked, ¡°Old Madam, do you need me to go in and check?¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s chronic illness had always been treated by him; he knew the situation better than anyone. Old Madam Jiang dismissed the offer: ¡°No need, let¡¯s wait for Bingxue to come out.¡± Qin Shiyu agreed and said nothing more. The emergency room was silent, only the sound of the heart monitor audible. The person on the bed, having just undergone emergency treatment, moved his fingers. ¡°Awake?¡± He awoke quite quickly. Jiang Zhi stared at the ceiling, distracted for a moment, then reached up to remove his oxygen mask. Xue Bingxue said, ¡°You can¡¯t remove that yet.¡± Ignoring her, he took it off anyway, his handsome face unnaturally pale, his body weak, his dull blue hair limp; he began to cough as soon as he opened his mouth: ¡°Cough, cough¡­ Zhou¡­ cough, cough¡­¡± Opening his eyes, he asked for Zhou Xufang. Xue Bingxue pressed the oxygen mask back on him: ¡°Don¡¯t speak yet.¡± With a stern expression on her doll-like face, she spoke with a maturity beyond her years, ¡°You¡¯ve only recently stopped your medication, your body hasn¡¯t recovered, and you¡¯ve ingested a lot of water this time, which isn¡¯t good.¡± The most critical issue was his lungs. Jiang Zhi¡¯s body had been ill for too long, all his organs were damaged; he needed careful nursing, having only recently stopped the medication that caused his condition, his body hadn¡¯t recovered yet, and this incident was a major setback. ¡°If you still want to keep this life, then you better stay in bed these next few days.¡± Xue Bingxue sternly lectured, ¡°Qin Shiyu is also here; I¡¯ll administer your medication in a bit, but you¡¯ll stay in the ICU for now.¡± Qin Shiyu couldn¡¯t be fully trusted, and it was unclear whose side he was on; precautions were necessary. Jiang Zhi opened his mouth, his voice hoarse as if smoke-damaged: ¡°Help me.¡± Xue Bingxue didn¡¯t quite catch that, leaning closer: ¡°What?¡± He said, ¡°I want to be discharged.¡± Xue Bingxue thought he was being reckless: ¡°Jiang Zhi, don¡¯t act rashly.¡± This wasn¡¯t up for discussion. Jiang Zhi pushed himself upright, pulling out his IV: ¡°Don¡¯t let the old lady know; get me out of here, I¡¯ll come back soon.¡± ¡°Planning to see Zhou Xufang?¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Chapter 97 - Chapter 97: 097: Jiang Zhi: Ah Fang, please coax me (first update) Chapter 97: 097: Jiang Zhi: Ah Fang, please coax me (first update) At 10:40 p.m., Xue Bingxue came out of the emergency room. Old Lady Jiang, supported by others, rose to her feet, ¡°Bingxue, how is Brother Zhi doing?¡± Xue Bingxue pulled down her mask, ¡°Seawater has caused aspiratory pneumonia; we need to proceed with anti-inflammatory and antiviral treatments.¡± ¡°Is there a risk to his life?¡± Xue Bingxue¡¯s expression grew grave, ¡°His cardio-pulmonary condition isn¡¯t very good; we still need to observe him.¡± Hearing this, Old Lady Jiang staggered. The Gui Family hastily spoke soothing words, urging the Old Madam not to upset herself too much. ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much. Once Brother Zhi¡¯s condition stabilizes, I¡¯ll inform you,¡± hesitated Xue Bingxue, ¡°regarding the perpetrator¡­¡± He stopped there, not continuing further. When Old Lady Jiang heard the words ¡°perpetrator,¡± her expression turned cold, ¡°Ah Gui, call Fuxi over to attend to Brother Zhi.¡± Gui complied, ¡°Yes, Old Madam.¡± Old Lady Jiang lifted her gaze and looked over her shoulder, ¡°Lin.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Jiang Xiaolin stepped forward and asked what was the matter. ¡°I heard from the servants below that Fuli also went to the wedding today,¡± the Old Lady seemed to be hinting at something. Jiang Xiaolin replied, ¡°She did go.¡± Aside from Jiang Zhi, those invited from the Jiang Family included the eldest of the first house, Jiang Xiaolin, the second house¡¯s Jiang Fuli, and the Fifth Miss, Jiang Wei¡¯er. Even the subordinates from the Jiang Group had all come to the hospital, yet Jiang Fuli was nowhere to be seen. Old Lady Jiang was visibly angry, ¡°Brother Zhi was pushed into the sea, and she, as his cousin, didn¡¯t even show her face?¡± Jiang Xiaolin, hand on his suit, looked closely, several scratch marks visible on the back of his hand. His expression unchanged, his reply was composed, ¡°She might have had business with the company and left the seat midway. She called just now, saying she would come over later.¡± Clearly annoyed, Old Madam tapped her cane, ¡°Tell her there¡¯s no need to come!¡± Jiang Xiaolin acknowledged he understood. Old Madam then turned to look at Jiang Wei¡¯er, completely ignoring the person beside her, ¡°Wei¡¯er, come with me to the police station.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er subconsciously looked back. Standing behind her was Xiao Linsu. He hadn¡¯t asked a single question about her relationship with the Jiang Family; he just followed her, accompanying her through all the hustle and bustle. This was probably the first time Old Lady Jiang had met him in person. Her demeanor was indifferent, distant, and there was a hint of condescension, ¡°We won¡¯t trouble Mr. Xiao with our Jiang Family affairs.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er was about to defend him. But Xiao Linsu held her back, shaking his head. Jiang Wei¡¯er then refrained from arguing with her mother, feeling somewhat nervous, and instructed him, ¡°Wait for my call.¡± He replied, ¡°Okay.¡± At eleven o¡¯clock at night, there were footsteps outside the ward. The Gui Family hurried forward to greet the visitor, asking, ¡°Is it Sister Xi?¡± The newcomer lowered her hood, with well-proportioned features, she looked dignified and stately, ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± Her voice was gentle and soft, pleasing to the ear, ¡°Is Brother Zhi awake?¡± Jiang Fuxi was only older than Jiang Zhi by some months; they rarely called each other cousins. The Gui Family answered, ¡°Not yet.¡± Stepping forward to take the embroidered cloak from Jiang Fuxi, she conveyed the instructions from the Old Madam one by one, ¡°The Old Madam and Fifth Miss have gone to the police station; Lin has returned to the old house. Before leaving, the Old Madam said that the Young Master doesn¡¯t like strangers and asked Sister Xi to take good care of him.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± Then, the two of them walked together to the intensive care ward. Xue Bingxue just happened to be at the door. Jiang Fuxi approached, ¡°Dr. Xue.¡± Xue Bingxue was not particularly close to Jiang Fuxi; she had been brought up by Old Lady Jiang¡¯s side since childhood and rarely left home. Xue Bingxue nodded; they had little to say to each other. Jiang Fuxi always spoke kindly, inquiring, ¡°May I go in to see Brother Zhi?¡± Xue Bingxue shook her head, her doctor¡¯s white coat making her young-looking face appear more somber, ¡°It¡¯s not visiting hours right now. There¡¯s a family waiting room outside; I¡¯ll let you know once Brother Zhi is past the observation period.¡± Jiang Fuxi thanked her and gazed toward the door for a while before leaving. Once she was far enough away, Xue Bingxue put on her mask and entered the ward. ¡°How are you feeling?¡± The person on the bed moved, ¡°I don¡¯t feel very comfortable.¡± The figure turned over, looking worried, ¡°Third Young Master, what kind of medicine is this? Can it be administered even without any illness? Won¡¯t there be any side effects? I feel like half of my body is all cold.¡± This person was Lin Wanwan. Her employer had slipped away, and she had been brought in to fill in, impersonating someone else was one thing, but this was a bit too realistic; her chest felt numb, could she be electrocuted by the monitor? And also this IV drip¡­ Dr. Xue comforted the ¡®patient¡¯, ¡°It¡¯s just glucose; it¡¯s not harmful to the body.¡± Ah Wan suddenly felt the cold on one side dissipate, ¡°Oh, glucose.¡± But what about the heart monitor? Could that electrocute her? Ah Wan remained filled with worry. Meanwhile, Jiang Zhi, who had slipped away from the hospital, was already on the expressway. For the fourth time, he urged, ¡°Drive faster, cough cough cough cough cough¡­¡± ¡°It felt as if his lungs were on fire. Wrapped in a coat, he curled up on the back seat, coughing more and more violently. Xue Baoyi glanced at him through the rearview mirror. His beautiful face was now as pale as a ghost¡¯s, the rims of his eyes reddened, his expression listless, like a wilted flower, bereft of its vibrant beauty, leaving only delicate frailty. It was heart-wrenchingly pitiful! ¡°We¡¯re already going very fast,¡± Xue Baoyi, seeing his condition, couldn¡¯t help but tease him, ¡°If you keep this up, you¡¯re going to lose that half a life you have left.¡± Really, after all these years, I¡¯ve never seen him act so recklessly. Can a woman be more important than one¡¯s own life? Xue Baoyi couldn¡¯t understand, feeling that Jiang Zhi was going overboard, ¡°Brother Zhi, I mean, do you really have to be this way? If you want to see her, just give her a call. If she doesn¡¯t come, I¡¯ll tie her up and bring her to you. Is it really necessary for you to personally drag yourself over in this state?¡± This will only spoil her, and then she¡¯ll be even more out of control. Jiang Zhi, pinching his forehead, had fingers devoid of color, pale and translucent, truly bereft of strength, weakly said, ¡°My head hurts a lot, stop nagging me.¡± Xue Baoyi hummed, ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t talk anymore. After all, it¡¯s not me who¡¯s being tormented by a woman.¡± Jiang Zhi urged him to drive faster once again. A forty-minute journey was completed in less than half an hour. The on-duty security guard, seeing the luxury car, asked a few questions before letting them through. Xue Baoyi parked the car aside and unbuckled his seatbelt, ¡°I¡¯ll go call her down for you.¡± Jiang Zhi pushed the car door open directly, ¡°No need, I¡¯ll go myself.¡± He adjusted the coat around him and walked into the night. The cold wind of a winter night was bone-chilling; within moments, his pale face flushed with a hint of rosy color. The cold was biting, the night devoid of pedestrians, and the dim streetlights cast splotchy shadows off the branch tips of a cedar tree, scattering points of light. Jiang Zhi hadn¡¯t reached Building 17 when the door on the ground floor opened abruptly without warning. Zhou Xufang, wearing a black hoodie with a cotton coat thrown over it, holding a bag of something, stood at the door, staring blankly at Jiang Zhi. He was looking at her too. Behind him was a sliver of moonlight, peering through dispersing clouds, pale white, mingling with the lamplight, blending into a beautiful color, yet not as fetching as him, not by a fraction. Zhou Xufang watched him for a long while before she turned her head away and stammered, ¡°I came down to take out the trash.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t expose her lie, standing still, the wind blowing his hair and the hem of his clothes, leaving only his weak and hoarse voice in the profound silence. ¡°Zhou Xufang, I don¡¯t have the energy, come here to me.¡± She agreed, setting the trash bag down, and took steps toward him, stopping a meter away from him. Jiang Zhi moved a step forward, extended his hand, and pulled her into his embrace. Not far away, the overhead street light cast a pair of entwined shadows on the ground¡ªhe was much taller than her, and with his arms wide open, he could easily hide her completely in his embrace. He tilted his head slightly, and his chin grazed the soft hair on top of her head, ¡°Do you have any discomfort?¡± Without moving, Zhou Xufang replied, ¡°No.¡± She informed him, ¡°I¡¯m in good health.¡± That¡¯s good. Jiang Zhi rubbed his face against her head, exhaling a long breath of relief. Zhou Xufang tilted her head just a bit, ¡°What about you?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t die.¡± He couldn¡¯t afford to die, not now that he had her. He had to live a bit longer. She was still worried about him, looking up to stare at his face, feeling as if he had gotten thinner, ¡°It¡¯s very windy outside¡ª¡± she began to urge him to go back to the hospital. Jiang Zhi knew too well, cutting her off, holding her without letting go, ¡°Don¡¯t rush me, it wasn¡¯t easy for me to come here.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± He bent down, burying his face in her shoulder, ¡°Let¡¯s hug a bit longer.¡± How bold she was, to leap into the deep sea. He had drunk too much water and couldn¡¯t remember details, only that she kept calling for him, and seemed to be crying. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Zhou Xufang craned her neck to look at him, noticing his eyes were red. She became anxious immediately, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Jiang Zhi let go of her, hastily wiped his eyes, and made up a quick excuse, ¡°The wind is too strong, it¡¯s making my eyes hurt.¡± She believed him and tiptoed to cover his eyes with her hands, shielding him from the wind. She was a smart girl, yet sometimes so naive. Jiang Zhi caught her hand, bringing it to his lips. She instantly pulled back, her expression timid and shy, stepping back a couple of paces, her cheeks reddening, too shy to look at him, she asked softly, ¡°Are we reconciled?¡± She remembered him being angry before. Jiang Zhi, hands in his pockets, found her obedience quite pleasing yet still managed to suppress the smile curving on his lips, ¡°No,¡± he argued illogically, ¡°I don¡¯t make friends with women. If you don¡¯t become my girlfriend, we can¡¯t reconcile.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s eyebrows furrowed, her face quickly showing signs of disappointment and sadness. Jiang Zhi smiled, ¡°Unless,¡± She immediately looked up. He began cajoling, ¡°If you coax me, if you coax me, then I¡¯ll be friends with you.¡± So she had to coax him to be friends. ¡°¡± Shuangjiang also said she needed to coax him. But how? She had never coaxed anyone before. Her eyebrows were furrowed for a long while before she finally said, ¡°I have a gift for you.¡± The gift was at home. ¡°Can you wait here for me, okay?¡± Jiang Zhi said okay. She hurried back, and when she reached the staircase, she looked back: ¡°Do you want to wait here? There¡¯s no wind.¡± He had just fallen into the water not long ago; his body must be very weak and couldn¡¯t be chilled by the cold wind again. Jiang Zhi, of course, would have wished for nothing better: ¡°I can.¡± Not able to enter her room, but at least he made it into her apartment staircase. Zhou Xufang ran up and quickly came down again. The gift she brought Jiang Zhi was a bit¡­ special. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± She handed it over to Jiang Zhi with both hands: ¡°Slippers.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± This one from his family really didn¡¯t follow the beaten path. ¡°Why give me slippers?¡± And they were pink and tender at that¡ªnot only were they pink and tender, but there was also a huge rabbit head on the slippers. Zhou Xufang obviously cherished these slippers, tenderly smoothing down the fur on the rabbit: ¡°I bought a pair too; the pink color is very pretty and they¡¯re especially warm.¡± She felt that when something was good, she wanted to give it all to Jiang Zhi. Jiang Zhi glanced at the girlish rabbit heads on the slippers and resisted inside: ¡°These are women¡¯s.¡± ¡°No, I asked the customer service, and they said size 42 and 43 are for men.¡± Would a man wear such effeminate shoes? Nevermind. After all, it was his little girl¡¯s kind intention, how could he not go along with it? He was rather pleased to accept the gift: ¡°Have you bought these for anyone else?¡± These slippers were hard to buy; they had to be reserved. She had wanted to buy them for Jiang Zhi for a long time, and it took quite a while before they arrived. She shook her head: ¡°No.¡± She had only bought slippers for him. That¡¯s more like it. Jiang Zhi touched the rabbit head¡¯s fur and found it more and more pleasing to the eye. Then suddenly¡ª ¡°Meow!¡± A cat¡¯s meow in the middle of the night sounded a bit eerie. Jiang Zhi turned his head and saw a grey cat emerge from the old furniture in the stairwell: ¡°Where did this cat come from?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a stray cat.¡± That grey cat lashed out at Jiang Zhi a few times with its claws, then it went to Zhou Xufang¡¯s feet and rubbed against her pant leg obediently. Really unlucky¡ªthis cat was dressed all in pink, and the pink dress even featured a large rabbit head. And just so happed it looked exactly the same as the one on Jiang Zhi¡¯s slippers, definitely from the same series at the same store! ¡°Did you buy this stupid cat¡¯s dress too?¡± Yes, stupid cat. Zhou Xufang nodded honestly. Jiang Zhi¡¯s face changed instantly: ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you didn¡¯t buy it for anyone else?¡± He was a little fierce, not very powerful, just like the grey cat usually acted when guarding its food. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t know what he was angry about and didn¡¯t dare to ask, only whispered in defense: ¡°It¡¯s a cat, not a person.¡± Jiang Zhi was still unsatisfied and pointed to the pink dress on the cat: ¡°How much did its dress cost?¡± Zhou Xufang had a good memory: ¡°Three hundred and forty-eight.¡± Jiang Zhi then lifted his slippers to her: ¡°And mine?¡± Zhou Xufang was honest and straightforward: ¡°One, hundred and ninety.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Fine, he was less worthy than a cat. Damn, wanted to kill that stupid cat. ¡°Meow~¡± The cat that was baring its teeth just a moment ago was now shivering and hiding behind Zhou Xufang. The ironclad straight girl Zhou Xufang couldn¡¯t grasp what was in Jiang Zhi¡¯s jealously sensitive young heart: ¡°Are we good now?¡± Jiang Zhi leaned languidly against the wall, appearing quite frail and delicate, huffy as he spoke with a tone that was anything but pleasant: ¡°No.¡± His eyelids drooped as he glowered darkly at the stupid cat, ¡°I¡¯m not that easy to coax.¡± Oh, not yet appeased. Zhou Xufang immediately asked: ¡°What else do you want?¡± She would give it all to him! Jiang Zhi turned away, coughing delicately with a flush on his skin and eyes misty: ¡°Cough, cough¡­ I want you to take me back.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Zhou Xufang went directly to get the vehicle from the garage. Jiang Zhi, looking at the vehicle and holding his slippers, was stunned for a few seconds: ¡°What kind of vehicle is this?¡± ¡°An electric tricycle.¡± Her SUV and sedan had been sent for maintenance, and they were a bit expensive¡ªshe didn¡¯t dare to drive them in front of Jiang Zhi. Only motorcycles, electric scooters, and bicycles remained in the garage. This one had a rain cover, and Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t be exposed to wind, so she brought out the electric tricycle she usually used for her market stall. Jiang Zhi stood in the draft, his blue hair blown into a wild disarray, his expression a bit¡­ hard to describe: ¡°Where should I sit?¡± Zhou Xufang opened the rain canopy in the back: ¡°You sit in the back under the canopy, I¡¯ve laid out a blanket, it¡¯s very warm.¡± Captivated by the sight of the adorable bunny design on the blanket, Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± It was his first time riding in such a posh vehicle as he had grown up. On the way back, Xue Baoyi was driving while talking on the phone to her uncle. Xue Bingxue was urging on the other end, ¡°I¡¯m coming, I¡¯m coming.¡± ¡°Come out to meet me when I get to the hospital.¡± Xue Bingxue instructed her to drive directly to the hospital¡¯s parking lot. So Xue Baoyi just said, ¡°Oh, Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t ride in my car.¡± Whose car did he ride in? Xue Baoyi drove the sports car at a snail¡¯s pace, closely following the tricycle in front: ¡°It¡¯s Zhou Xufang¡¯s vehicle.¡± ¡°It¡¯s an electric tricycle, and Jiang Zhi is sitting in the yellow canopy in the back.¡± ¡°He¡¯s also wearing a yellow helmet for food delivery.¡± It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to be a good bro and laugh at him; I just can¡¯t help it: ¡°Seeing him wrapped in a blanket and sitting in the back, I fucking want to donate to him.¡± ¡°He¡¯s even holding a pair of women¡¯s pink slippers.¡± ¡°The fussiness scared the hell out of me.¡± ¡°He was afraid of making his woman angry and kept glaring at me; I was about to get sick from holding back my laughter!¡± ¡°HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA¡­ Jiang Zhi is ridiculously stupid!¡± Fifty minutes later, Zhou Xufang, carrying the ¡®ridiculously stupid¡¯ Jiang Zhi, arrived at the hospital. She parked the car in a concealed spot and then got out to open the canopy in the back: ¡°Jiang Zhi, we¡¯re here.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t move, waiting for her to assist him. Zhou Xufang reached out her hand. He obediently leaned on her, coughing lightly and gasping as he got off the car. Zhou Xufang felt he was uncomfortable due to the illness and helped him with extra care, afraid that using too much force might hurt him: ¡°Do you want me to take you inside?¡± ¡°No need.¡± He didn¡¯t want the Jiang Family to see her. Zhou Xufang gave an ¡°oh¡±: ¡°Then I¡¯ll be going.¡± Jiang Zhi hadn¡¯t let go yet, his hand resting on her shoulder, not putting all his weight on her, but leaning his entire body towards her, he looked down, making eye contact. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± He touched the yellow delivery helmet on her head, tucking a stray lock of her hair behind her ear: ¡°Come to the hospital to see me tomorrow.¡± Zhou Xufang agreed: ¡°Okay.¡± After a moment of silence, her tone suddenly became solemn, and she looked at him intently, ¡°Jiang Zhi, you need to stay healthy and not get sick.¡± He bent down to tighten her helmet a bit more: ¡°Okay, I promise you.¡± After giving his instructions, Zhou Xufang was about to say goodbye. Jiang Zhi asked her: ¡°Did you get your driver¡¯s license?¡± ¡°I did.¡± ¡°How¡¯s your driving?¡± Zhou Xufang was very honest: ¡°It¡¯s great.¡± Jiang Zhi glanced back: ¡°Xue Baoyi, let her drive your car.¡± Xue Baoyi climbed out of the flashy sports car: ¡°Then what should I drive?¡± Jiang Zhi pointed to Zhou Xufang¡¯s electric tricycle: ¡°Drive this.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xue Baoyi struggled desperately: ¡°Can I refuse?¡± Jiang Zhi took off the ¡®ridiculously stupid¡¯ yellow helmet from his head and threw it to him: ¡°Nope.¡± Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± In the end, Xue Baoyi¡¯s beloved sports car was still given to Jiang Zhi¡¯s darling. Everyone had walked away, yet Jiang Zhi was still standing in the draft, basking in the night as he watched his girl. Xue Baoyi urged: ¡°Okay, she¡¯s out of sight now, let¡¯s go in.¡± ¡°Cough cough cough cough cough¡­¡± Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t hold back anymore, his body swayed, crouching to the ground, coughing out a mouthful of blood. Xue Baoyi, seeing the pool of blood on the ground, panicked. ¡°Third uncle!¡± ¡°Third uncle, come quickly!¡± Chapter 98 - Chapter 98: 098: Apply a heating pad to him, and warm up the sickbed as well. Chapter 98: 098: Apply a heating pad to him, and warm up the sickbed as well. The neon lights outside the car window were rapidly receding. Zhou Xufang put on her headset, ¡°Shuangjiang.¡± Shuangjiang knew what she was going to ask and immediately replied, ¡°I¡¯ve copied out the guest data and surveillance video footage from the cruise ship, but there are no cameras turned on the first and second floors, so there¡¯s not much information available.¡± Zhou Xufang drove with one hand, the wind blowing her hair into disarray, so she simply put on her hat, ¡°Has the Jiang family filed a case?¡± ¡°Yes, Jiang Zhi¡¯s grandmother came forward.¡± After pondering for a moment, she asked, ¡°Is it possible to start from the police side?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll try.¡± After thanking him, Zhou Xufang turned the steering wheel and headed back. In the hospital room, Xue Bingxue had just finished administering emergency treatment to Jiang Zhi. Xue Baoyi was pacing back and forth anxiously, ¡°How is it going?¡± Xue Bingxue, with a stethoscope, listened intently for a while, then removed it, ¡°There¡¯s fluid in the lungs, he needs to undergo thoracentesis.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s lung condition was quite bad, and with the drowning, the presence of fluid was also expected. If it weren¡¯t for his eagerness to meet Zhou Xufang, he should have received thoracentesis earlier. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï Impressive endurance, dragging such a sick body to see his beloved. Jiang Zhi, with half-closed eyes, said, ¡°You do it.¡± ¡°My specialty is traditional Chinese medicine.¡± He lay weakly on his hospital bed, the pair of slippers that Zhou Xufang sent placed beside the pillow. He had no strength, not even wanting to move a finger, ¡°I don¡¯t trust anyone else.¡± Xue Bingxue, although specializing in traditional Chinese medicine, had surgical skills no less than any surgeon¡¯s. ¡°Take off your clothes, I¡¯ll start with acupuncture.¡± Jiang Zhi stripped off his jacket and directly lifted his hospital gown. Xue Baoyi stared unblinkingly, then let out a sound of admiration, ¡°Brother Zhi, you¡¯re so white¡­¡± followed by another exclamation, ¡°Holy shit, you actually have abs!¡± Those few abs¡­ Holy shit! He was even feeling the desire. Jiang Zhi gave him a glance, yanked the blanket, and covered himself, ¡°Get out.¡± Yo, suddenly shy. Xue Baoyi hummed and didn¡¯t leave, ¡°We¡¯re all grown men, what¡¯s the big deal?¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyelids flickered, his brilliant peach blossom eyes coupled with this sickly look were quite enticing, but the words he spoke contrasted starkly, ¡°How few grown men have I turned?¡± Grown man Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Baoyi,¡± Xue Bingxue spoke up, ¡°you go out, don¡¯t hinder me.¡± One should listen to one¡¯s elders, so Xue Baoyi hummed and left. Xue Bingxue put on gloves, took the needles, and lifted Jiang Zhi¡¯s shirt, his needling was quick and light, ¡°What happened to you?¡± Jiang Zhi rested his arm under his neck, playing with the pair of slippers Zhou Xufang sent him, ¡°What happened to what?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you have training? How come you were pushed into the sea?¡± His lack of vigilance didn¡¯t seem like Jiang Zhi¡¯s style. He casually provided a reason, ¡°I was careless, thinking about Zhou Xufang at that moment.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xue Bingxue didn¡¯t know what to say to him anymore; Zhou Xufang¡¯s influence on him was too great. Jiang Zhi changed the topic, ¡°Has my family¡¯s old lady talked to you?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Without asking, Jiang Zhi could guess what the old lady had told him ¡®Jiang Wei¡¯er,¡¯ those three words, were the best bargaining chip, ¡°Most of the Jiang family are self-serving, don¡¯t be too noble yourself.¡± The old lady would play tricks, and so would Jiang Zhi. But Xue Bingxue, he disliked kicking someone when they were down. He even asked a particularly naive and sweet question, with an earnest expression, ¡°If you do something bad and your conscience is uneasy, what do you do?¡± Jiang Zhi laughed, ¡°Conscience?¡± This kid was still too honest. He touched the rabbit head on the pink slippers, ¡°That thing, I don¡¯t have it.¡± Xue Bingxue: ¡°¡­¡± In the early morning, there was the sound of a car horn outside the Jiang Mansion, and the servant on night duty put on a coat, got up, and went to open the door. It was the car from the second branch of the family. ¡°Miss Fuli has returned.¡± Jiang Fuli got out of the car, gave a few instructions to the driver, and then entered the house, heading towards the small building. She took off her outer garment and handed it to the servant, ¡°Stay outside.¡± The servants responded. On the south side of the main building of Jiang Mansion, a covered walkway had been built, lined on one side by a pavilion and an attic for scenic views. Her mother hadn¡¯t retired to bed yet; she was waiting for her in the pavilion. She walked over and took a seat, ¡°Did you have someone check it out?¡± Luo Changfang poured her a cup of tea and said, ¡°We did.¡± After pouring the tea, she added, ¡°Jiang Zhi¡¯s frail body certainly doesn¡¯t seem faked, this fall into the water must have cost him half his life.¡± Jiang Fuli took a sip from her teacup, ¡°To still not die after all that, he¡¯s really quite tenacious.¡± Luo Changfang¡¯s action of pouring tea paused for a moment. She looked around, saw no one, and asked in a low voice, ¡°Fuli, did you do it?¡± Jiang Fuli smiled and pushed aside the tea leaves with the lid, ¡°Mother, you can¡¯t speculate wildly; I have an alibi.¡± The next day, due to the low temperature, the drizzling rain had frozen into ice pellets, hinting at an impending snowfall. At nine in the morning, Jiang Zhi was transferred to a common ward. He only awoke at ten. Coincidentally, Jiang Fuxi was bringing in water, she pushed the door open, her voice soft and gentle, ¡°Is there anywhere else you feel uncomfortable?¡± Jiang Zhi sat up, his eyes clear of any sleepiness, ¡°Why are you here?¡± She set down the basin, ¡°Grandma asked me to come and look after you.¡± She took a clean towel, dampened it with water, wrung it out, and approached the bedside, bending slightly forward to wipe Jiang Zhi¡¯s hands. He avoided her, leaving her gesture incomplete, his expression cold and indifferent, ¡°Leave, let my assistant come in.¡± In the Jiang family generation, only four children were born, none of them close. Even Jiang Zhi and Jiang Fuxi, both reared under Grandma Jiang¡¯s knee, had a rather thin private relationship. Jiang Zhi avoided interaction with others, and Jiang Fuxi seldom left the women¡¯s quarters. The two hadn¡¯t developed any feuds, nor did they share any profound sibling affection. She set down the towel, took the clothes hanging on the rack without any annoyance, her temper still pleasant, her voice still gentle and soft, ¡°I¡¯ll wait outside, call me if you need anything.¡± Jiang Zhi ordered her directly, ¡°Go back to Jiang Mansion, you¡¯re not needed here to look after me.¡± ¡°But grandma¡ª¡± ¡°I will talk to Grandma.¡± She nodded her head, put on her coat¡ªcustom-made just like Grandma Jiang; she too loved embroidery, loved cheongsams, cherished calligraphy, paintings, and books. She always carried an air of fresh ink elegance. ¡°Then I¡¯ll be leaving, take good care of your health.¡± On her way out, she happened to run into Xue Baoyi and Qiao Nanchu at the door, greeted them with a nod, and then left the ward. Once she was far away, Xue Baoyi turned to look back, stroked his chin, ¡°My mother would love someone like Jiang Fuxi.¡± The delicate and virtuous daughters from big households were the type of daughters-in-law that matriarchs from wealthy families adored. Qiao Nanchu teased him, ¡°What, you still have feelings for her?¡± Xue Baoyi immediately changed his tune, scowling, ¡°Don¡¯t bring up such stale news.¡± Jiang Fuxi was Xue Baoyi¡¯s first love. Back then, Xue Baoyi was only a teenager, a brash youth who made waves throughout the estate. At that time, he was buddies with Jiang Zhi and often visited the Jiang family. It was the age of romantic yearnings, and through many visits, he took a fancy to Jiang Fuxi. There was no particular reason; at that age, any girl who a boy spends time with can start to seem appealing. Then, Xue Baoyi chose a perfect moonlit night to courageously confess his feelings, accompanied by a group of childhood friends, spouting nearly ten thousand words of adolescent bravado essentially saying ¡®become my wife, and I¡¯ll look after you.¡¯ The result¡ª The graceful young girl simply replied with, ¡°Are you done? I haven¡¯t finished embroidering my flower.¡± The teenage Xue Baoyi was utterly dumbfounded at the time. Qiao Nanchu didn¡¯t quite remember what happened after, only that Xue Baoyi dragged them all to a bar to drown his sorrows, and then he took a fancy to a bartending sister¡­ In short, this was a rough patch in Xue Baoyi¡¯s youthful indiscretions. ¡°However, she is pretty; she could debut as a star,¡± Xue Baoyi commented objectively, as befits his status as an entertainment industry CEO. Qiao Nanchu entered the ward, pulled up a chair, and sat down, ¡°Didn¡¯t your mom tell you? The prettier a woman is, the more poisonous.¡± Xue Baoyi didn¡¯t deny it. ¡°This Jiang Fuxi,¡± Qiao Nanchu stretched out his legs, hitting the bedpost with his foot, ¡°Jiang Zhi, don¡¯t you think there¡¯s something odd about her?¡± Jiang Zhi said nothing. Xue Baoyi leaned against the cabinet, ¡°What¡¯s odd about her?¡± Qiao Nanchu fiddled with his lighter, ¡°Can¡¯t quite put my finger on it.¡± Without bringing up Jiang Fuxi again, he spoke of more serious matters, ¡°Your grandma has already filed a case; Mr. Cheng will come over soon to take your statement.¡± Jiang Zhi propped himself up with a pillow, not looking too well, ¡°Can we restrict their travel?¡± ¡°Who do you mean?¡± ¡°Everyone on that cruise ship.¡± Qiao Nanchu caressed the roller of his lighter, ¡°That¡¯s difficult, the guests invited last night are all influential, without sufficient evidence, it¡¯s tough to handle.¡± Jiang Zhi abruptly said, ¡°I saw the murderer¡¯s hand.¡± Qiao Nanchu stopped fiddling with the lighter, ¡°Could you recognize it?¡± ¡°Too little time, just an impression.¡± After thinking, Jiang Zhi said, ¡°Left hand, men¡¯s watch, three scratch marks on the back of the hand.¡± Scratch marks¡­ With just this one feature, the range of suspects could be narrowed. Qiao Nanchu stood up and made a phone call to the Criminal Investigation Team, ¡°Scratch marks on the back of the hand, start screening immediately.¡± After giving a few more instructions, Qiao Nanchu had just hung up when someone knocked on the door. Xue Baoyi asked who it was, and went to open the door with her hands in her pockets. The person outside replied, ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± The young girl was carrying two large bags, and introduced herself formulaically, ¡°I¡¯m Zhou Xufang.¡± Jiang Zhi perked up. Xue Baoyi turned back to Jiang Zhi and playfully winked. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t look at him; his gaze was fixed on the girl, eyes brimming with spring charm, but his voice was cold as frost, ¡°Everyone out.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Talk about favoritism. Xue Baoyi clicked his tongue, ¡°A faithless scoundrel when a beauty is near.¡± Turning back, he greeted Zhou Xufang with a roguish charm, ¡°Hello, Miss Zhou.¡± Miss Zhou was a bit unaccustomed to such enthusiasm and avoided his gaze, ¡°Hello, Mr. Xue.¡± She was just about to greet another ¡®Mr. Qiao¡¯ when Jiang Zhi urged her, ¡°Xu Fang, close the door.¡± Zhou Xufang said, ¡°Oh.¡± Snap! The door closed, and Xue Baoyi and Qiao Nanchu were almost left out in the cold, the nerve of these two! Zhou Xufang took a few small steps forward, looking at Jiang Zhi with concern, ¡°Are you feeling better?¡± Jiang Zhi lay there, appearing fragile as if boneless, panting weakly, the embodiment of sickness, ¡°I can¡¯t hear clearly, come closer to talk.¡± His act was like a big bad wolf trying to coax a little white rabbit. Zhou Xufang was particularly gullible; she believed everything Jiang Zhi said, really thinking he couldn¡¯t hear well, so she strode over to him and asked again with concern, ¡°Are you feeling better?¡± He wanted to trick her into worrying about him a little. But he wouldn¡¯t let her be too frightened or anxious. Jiang Zhi suppressed the urge to cough, ¡°It¡¯s nothing, I¡¯ll be better in a few days.¡± He patted the edge of the bed, ¡°Come, sit here.¡± Perhaps because he was ill, she was more obedient than usual and sat on the very edge of the bed, barely touching it. Jiang Zhi took the large bag from her hands, ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°Nutritional supplements I bought for you.¡± More nutritional supplements. Expensive. Jiang Zhi placed the bag on the cabinet, unable to resist nagging her, ¡°I have more than enough supplements, don¡¯t buy any more in the future.¡± Zhou Xufang listened to him, ¡°Okay.¡± Then she¡¯d buy something else. She took down her backpack and said, ¡°I have another gift for you.¡± He had said yesterday that he hadn¡¯t been properly cheered up yet and needed more comforting. Another gift? She rummaged in her backpack and pulled out a pretty pink gift box, straightened the ribbon on top to make it neat, and then presented it to Jiang Zhi. Jiang Zhi looked at the square box, ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Zhou Xufang opened the box, ¡°A heat pack.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Isn¡¯t that something women use? After giving slippers, now a heat pack¡ªa girl¡¯s gift? Was she raising him as her confidante? ¡°The snow will come again soon, and it will be very cold. If you stick this on your body, you won¡¯t be cold.¡± Jiang Zhi was in poor health and afraid of the cold. The heat pack was recommended by Lixiang, and she thought it was very suitable for Jiang Zhi, so she bought a lot. She gave him a small box to try. If it worked well, she would bring all the stock from home for him. However, Jiang Zhi¡¯s expression seemed a bit complicated. She felt a little anxious and unconsciously scratched the box with her fingernail, ¡°Don¡¯t you like it?¡± Seeing her about to frown, Jiang Zhi quickly snatched the box away and even took out a heat pack, caressing it as if it was priceless, ¡°Who said I didn¡¯t like it?¡± Love me, love my dog. Who could blame him for liking her? When Zhou Xufang heard him say that, she finally smiled shyly, ¡°As long as you like it.¡± Then she asked Jiang Zhi, ¡°But do you know how to use it?¡± He hadn¡¯t even seen the thing before. Jiang Zhi pinched a piece in his hands, ¡°You teach me.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll help you put one on,¡± Zhou Xufang said as she took one out and pressed it under the blanket, careful not to touch Jiang Zhi. She occupied just a little space, ¡°You have to warm it up first, otherwise it will be very cold to start.¡± ¡°Then you warm it up.¡± Jiang Zhi took his cotton candy tin and picked out a piece to feed her. She opened her mouth and ate it. ¡°Want more?¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± He fed her another piece. And fed her, kept feeding, kept on feeding¡­ Until her mouth was stuffed with candy, cheeks bulging, she said, ¡°It¡¯s warmed up now.¡± So adorable. The cutest in the world! Jiang Zhi set down the cotton candy tin, leaned back, with an ¡®I won¡¯t resist whatever you do to me¡¯ expression, even a bit anticipatory, ¡°So, where do you put it?¡± Zhou Xufang was an honest child, ¡°Where are you cold?¡± She would put it wherever he was cold. Jiang Zhi pulled away the blanket, lifted the hem of his jacket, ¡°Here.¡± She stared at the hospital gown underneath¡­ Jiang Zhi was in an exceptionally good mood, his eyes gleamed with springtime joviality, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to help me put it on?¡± ¡°Oh.¡± She peeled off the backing paper and, using two fingers, tugged at Jiang Zhi¡¯s hospital gown, covering a small stretch of his exposed pale waist. She compared it a couple of times before sticking it squarely on his abdomen. Zhou Xufang felt a bit hot; she dared not look around aimlessly, her eyes and hands kept proper, focusing on the checks of Jiang Zhi¡¯s hospital gown. It seemed as if she could see a flower¡­ She kept her head down. From Jiang Zhi¡¯s angle, all he could see was the top of her head and her two restlessly placed little fingers, cocked as if afraid of touching him. Her fingers were trembling. Jiang Zhi laughed, ¡°Your hand is shaking.¡± She wouldn¡¯t admit it, ¡°It¡¯s not!¡± He laughed even more joyously, ¡°It is.¡± She felt so annoyed and argued weakly, ¡°¡­No,¡± then ignored him, burying herself in putting the heat pack on him. Pinching it with four fingers, she smoothed it bit by bit; after securing it with a few pokes, she quickly moved back, ¡°Done.¡± Jiang Zhi touched the square thing on his belly. It was actually quite warm. He was about to tease his little girl further when¡ª ¡°Grandma Jiang!¡± It was Xue Baoyi outside the ward. His voice was loud, drawn out, ¡°How come you¡¯re here?¡± ¡°Here to see my Brother Zhi.¡± The sound of a walking stick against the floor grew nearer, mixed with the voices of Jiang Xiaolin and Jiang Fuli. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t have time to think more and lifted the blanket, ¡°Xufang, get in.¡± Zhou Xufang was a bit bewildered, ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Hide under the blanket.¡± She didn¡¯t understand, ¡°Why would I hide?¡± Jiang Zhi stroked her head gently, reassuringly whispered, ¡°Because there are bad people.¡± She didn¡¯t ask any more questions, climbed up, and crawled under the blanket. But she dared not touch him, desperately inching towards the edge. Jiang Zhi watched the lump under the blanket with amusement. He patted her back through the blanket, coaxing her, ¡°Don¡¯t be so distant, Fang Bao, stay close to me.¡± He called her Fang Bao again. Zhou Xufang hid under the blanket, chuckled secretly, and bit by bit moved closer to him. Chapter 99 - Chapter 99: 099: Nurse Ah Fang, patient Jiang Zhi Chapter 99: 099: Nurse Ah Fang, patient Jiang Zhi At that moment, the door to the hospital room swung open. Jiang Zhi bent his legs, propping up the blanket, and casually grabbed a pillow to press to one side, ¡°Why have you come?¡± Old Lady Jiang, leaning on her cane, entered, ¡°If I don¡¯t come and check on this ancestor of mine, how could I possibly sleep?¡± Not only were Jiang Xiaolin and Jiang Fuli there, but someone from the second branch of the Luo Family had also come. She waited on Old Lady Jiang¡¯s side, taking her coat and pulling up a chair for the older woman to sit down. ¡°Feeling any better?¡± Jiang Zhi, listlessly, hummed in response, shifting his position slightly, his hand resting on the pillow beside him. Seeing him in such a sickly state, Old Lady Jiang felt truly heartbroken and, with gentle words, urged him, ¡°Don¡¯t go filming these next few days. Rest well in the hospital.¡± Jiang Zhi agreed. Old Lady Jiang continued her inquiry, ¡°Has anyone from the police station been over?¡± ¡°Nanchu has.¡± She was preoccupied with this matter and immediately asked, ¡°Then, were there any new clues?¡± Jiang Zhi, lethargically squinting, stayed silent. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï Old Lady Jiang was sharp-minded and definitely understood his thoughts. Turning her head, she ordered, ¡°All of you, go out and wait.¡± Luo Changfang, unlike Jiang Xiaolin and Jiang Fuli, who were composed and self-assured, had an expression that seemed unable to hide her unease. However, she dared not speak out, taking the two younger ones with her and leaving the hospital room. After they had all left and the door was closed, Old Lady Jiang then asked Jiang Zhi, ¡°Does it have anything to do with those two?¡± ¡°Those two¡± referred to the first and second branches of the family. Jiang Zhi switched the leg he was bending, with no semblance of a sleeping posture, the blanket becoming uneven. He said, ¡°The killer had scratch marks on the back of their hand.¡± The little girl under the covers was breathing hotly, making him feel warm. ¡°Are you talking about Lin?¡± Jiang Xiaolin hadn¡¯t particularly concealed the injuries on his hands. Old Lady Jiang had seen them the night before. When she asked what had happened, he didn¡¯t tell her. But it turned out the culprit who¡¯d pushed Jiang Zhi into the sea also had scratches. How could it be such a coincidence? ¡°It¡¯s hard to say,¡± Jiang Zhi stretched his hand for a cup, took a sip of lukewarm water to moisten his throat, ¡°If he wanted to kill me, he didn¡¯t need to dirty his own hands.¡± ¡°Perhaps he anticipated you¡¯d think just that and deliberately did the opposite.¡± That possibility couldn¡¯t be ruled out. ¡°That Fuli girl too, she never leaves early or late, but just when you were in trouble, she wasn¡¯t on the boat.¡± Old Lady Jiang huffed, her expression showing displeasure, ¡°Every single one of them is nothing but trouble.¡± The Jiang Family was not as splendid as rumors suggested. With each branch of the family having its own issues, falling apart was just a matter of time ¡ª it was all waiting for this old lady to pass away. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t want to talk further, stating his position, ¡°Leave this matter alone. If the investigation does lead back to our own Jiang Family, it would bring you trouble as well.¡± Old Lady Jiang was unconvinced, her grip on her cane tightening, her tone just as firm, ¡°What trouble? If the police can handle it, let them. If not, whoever dared hurt you, I¡¯ll retaliate in kind. Other matters we can solve behind closed doors, but this murderous behavior cannot go unchecked.¡± They were of the same family tree; unless absolutely necessary, she wouldn¡¯t take extreme measures. ¡°Ms. Xu,¡± Only Jiang Zhi dared to tease the Old Madam like that, ¡°what¡¯s all this about retaliation? Didn¡¯t you always teach me to speak elegantly?¡± This was all because the incident had riled her up! Old Lady Jiang was both exasperated and amused by him, ¡°You¡¯ve learned quite the thuggish ways from the outside world yourself.¡± Deciding to stop joking around, she put on a serious face, ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about that. Tell me about that errand runner you employed. Where was he when you had your accident?¡± A small shape beneath the blanket shifted slightly. Jiang Zhi adjusted his position, his hand naturally sliding under the blanket, finding a head, and gave it a rub, ¡°It has nothing to do with her.¡± His family¡¯s thin one, cowering in a ball under the blanket, was hardly noticeable. He would need to watch her eat from now on. ¡°How can you say it has nothing to do with him? After taking a commission of twenty million, you¡¯d let someone take advantage of this. What¡¯s the use of hiring him?¡± Old Lady Jiang was naturally dissatisfied with the errand runner, having paid a high price yet not receiving the expected service. ¡°She dived into the sea to save me.¡± His tone was still assertive, as if no one could say otherwise. Knowing Jiang Zhi¡¯s temperament well, how could Old Lady Jiang not understand? When had he ever defended someone like this? His protectiveness was truly baffling. ¡°Why are you making excuses for him?¡± He felt the cold little hand of the girl under the blanket, her fingers docile, allowing him to rub and poke them, toying with them made him feel much better. He said, ¡°Let¡¯s stick to the facts.¡± ¡°And your hulking assistant, why didn¡¯t he stay with you?¡± Up until now, Old Lady Jiang had not remembered Lin Wanwan¡¯s name; she always referred to her as ¡°hulking.¡± Speaking of the hulking assistant made Jiang Zhi lose interest, ¡°He gets seasick.¡± ¡°¡­¡± What kind of people were these? Jiang Zhi urged, ¡°When will you go back?¡± This guy, really rushing people off. ¡°Am I, an old woman, being too naggy?¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyelids drooped, ¡°I¡¯m tired and want to sleep.¡± Old Lady Jiang scolded the little ancestor with a smile and got up, ¡°I¡¯ll keep an eye on Lin and Fuli. Don¡¯t be careless yourself. I¡¯ll send some more skilled people over to watch over you tonight.¡± He hummed a response, listless and weak. Old Lady Jiang left after giving a few more instructions. When the door closed, and there was silence in the room, the bundle under the pillow stirred a bit before extending a finger to poke Jiang Zhi¡¯s arm. ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡± Jiang Zhi tossed the pillow aside, ¡°You¡¯re making me itch.¡± Hearing him speak at last, Zhou Xufang dared to squeak, ¡°Is he gone?¡± ¡°He¡¯s gone.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯m coming out.¡± ¡°Come on out.¡± The lump under the blankets slowly shifted backwards, and the head gradually emerged. Just as her head peeked out, a handsome face leaned in. ¡°Jiang¡ª¡± Jiang Zhi planted a kiss directly on her blushing little face. Zhou Xufang: ¡°!¡± Her ears turned red in an instant. She froze for three seconds, then suddenly sprang backward¡ª With a creak, the bed collapsed. Jiang Zhi, who had just wanted to steal a quick kiss and was now half on the ground, half dangling from the hospital bed: ¡°¡­¡± At that moment, there were voices outside the room. ¡°Hold it steady, don¡¯t spill the soup.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi he¡ª¡± The door wasn¡¯t locked, and opened with a twist. Ah Wan and Ms. Song, who¡¯d just pushed the door open: ¡°¡­¡± And Ms. Song¡¯s pet chicken, Shuangxi: ¡°Cluck cluck!¡± What an awkward time to walk in! Bang, bang, bang¡ªthe IV stand shook violently. Zhou Xufang, quick to react, jumped up and stabilized the IV bag with her hands and feet. She looked at Jiang Zhi with concern: ¡°Did you hurt yourself?¡± The puncture site was a bit painful. Jiang Zhi coughed once and said with an unchanged expression, ¡°No.¡± Zhou Xufang felt guilty and proactively approached to support Jiang Zhi, bearing an extremely red face, admitting her mistake, ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have jumped around. This bed,¡± her voice grew fainter, ¡°¡­ it¡¯s not sturdy.¡± She really didn¡¯t use much force; if she had, the bed would¡¯ve been dust by now. So annoying, her strength was so great. She would definitely be extra, extra careful in the future to protect Jiang Zhi and never bump into him again. ¡°Mmh, it¡¯s not your fault.¡± Jiang Zhi glanced at the ultra-luxurious wooden VIP hospital bed that had broken in half without changing his expression, absolving his girlfriend¡¯s responsibility, ¡°It¡¯s all the bed¡¯s fault.¡± Zhou Xufang hung her head in chagrin. The mother and son at the door exchanged glances, both exhibiting the calmness that comes with experience. Ah Wan: ¡°Boss, do you need us to step outside for a moment?¡± How considerate of him. Jiang Zhi showed no embarrassment or guilt of being ¡®caught in the act,¡¯ dressed in checkered hospital pants, embodying the nonchalance of a peerless young master. ¡°Go get me another bed,¡± he added, ¡°Something sturdier.¡± Ah Wan thought to himself: Were they fighting on the bed? Of course, switching beds wouldn¡¯t happen immediately. First, Ah Wan helped his employer switch rooms. And when filling out the bed-change form, under the reason, Ah Wan decisively wrote¡ªintense activity. Oh, his damned clever wit. This was Ms. Song¡¯s first encounter with Zhou Xufang, her curious gaze sizing up the young woman for a long time. With rosy lips and white teeth, the more she looked, the more she liked what she saw. ¡°You must be Miss Zhou.¡± Ms. Song had a round face and could be described as¡­ very robust, with permed trendy hair and a hair clip suited for a young girl attached to her curls. Ah Wan¡¯s build, it turned out, was similar to his mother¡¯s. Zhou Xufang stood as upright as if she were facing an interviewer: ¡°Yes, that¡¯s me.¡± Ms. Song¡¯s wide face broke into a smile, eyes squinting into slits: ¡°I¡¯m Wanwan¡¯s mom.¡± Zhou Xufang was a little shy around strangers, hardly lifting her head, bowing politely: ¡°Nice to meet you, Auntie.¡± Aw, she was like a primary school student. So well-behaved, so sensible. Ms. Song observed her ¡®future daughter-in-law¡¯ with increasing satisfaction and straightened the feathers on the big rooster in her arms: ¡°Shuangxi, say hello.¡± Shuangxi, wearing a pink hand-knitted sweater-dress: ¡°Cluck!¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± Ms. Song was enthusiastic and comfortably familiar: ¡°I heard from Wanwan that Shuangxi was a gift from you to Jiang Zhi.¡± Zhou Xufang looked at the rooster dressed in a pink dress, somewhat befuddled. Jiang Zhi saw her standing there like a block of wood and pulled her to sit down: ¡°It¡¯s that free-range chicken you gave.¡± Oh, it was that chicken that had pooped on Jiang Zhi. Zhou Xufang stared at the rooster more closely: ¡°It seems to have put on weight.¡± It had gotten much rounder, and the chicken legs were also plumper¡ªeating it would probably be very nourishing¡­ Ms. Song gently stroked Shuangxi: ¡°With both you and Jiang Zhi so busy, and since I have nothing much to do at home, I thought I¡¯d take care of it for you. If you want to take care of it yourselves later on, just take it back. After a while, it¡¯ll get familiar with you.¡± As Ah Wan listened, something seemed off. It sounded like his mother was talking about raising a grandson. The conversation about Shuangxi came to an end. Ms. Song started talking business, ¡°Have they caught the guy who pushed you yet?¡± ¡°Not yet.¡± Jiang Zhi played with Zhou Xufang¡¯s hand, pulling it towards him; she pulled it back, and he pulled it back again, seemingly enjoying the game. ¡°That damn bastard!¡± Ms. Song had a temper and was furious, ¡°Wanwan, you move in with Jiang Zhi tomorrow and sleep on the floor. From now on, you can¡¯t let him be alone.¡± Ah Wan really didn¡¯t like her mom calling her Wanwan. He refused, with the reason, ¡°He has germaphobia.¡± Ms. Song¡¯s tone was as spicy and choking as if she had eaten a pound of chili peppers, ¡°You have the nerve to say that, even Shuangxi bathes more often than you.¡± ¡°I¡ª¡± ¡°What about you! If you hadn¡¯t gotten seasick, would Jiang Zhi have been pushed into the sea?¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± Alright, blame him for everything, for getting seasick, for not liking to bathe, for even being born! ¡°It¡¯s not convenient for him to stay with me,¡± Jiang Zhi casually mentioned. Ms. Song immediately revealed a girlish smile, ¡°Not convenient, huh? Fine, then he won¡¯t stay. From now on, make Wanwan go earlier and come back later.¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± This wasn¡¯t his mom, this was Jiang Zhi¡¯s mom. From today onwards, he was an orphan. ¡°Wanwan, quickly pour out some soup for Jiang Zhi to drink.¡± Ah Wan stubbornly held on for three seconds: ¡°¡­Oh.¡± Forget it, it¡¯s his own fault for not being good-looking. Ah Wan poured a bowl of soup, which Ms. Song first handed to Jiang Zhi, then Ah Wan poured another bowl, which Ms. Song gave to Zhou Xufang: ¡°Xiao Fang, you have some too.¡± Xiao Fang took the soup: ¡°¡­¡± Xiao Fang was still not used to this new nickname. Ms. Song drank the third bowl herself. Then the thermos was empty, and Ah Wan¡¯s heart also cooled. Ms. Song still smiled like a blooming spring flower, ¡°You two as well, young and energetic as you are, can¡¯t overdo it. You should wait until your health is better before¡ª¡± Ms. Song coughed twice, pretending, too embarrassed to continue. The ¡®young and vigorous¡¯ Jiang Zhi looked a bit embarrassed, and the ¡®young and vigorous¡¯ Zhou Xufang was so clueless, she didn¡¯t understand the implications of the colorful words spoken. Ms. Song was talkative and sat in the ward for more than ten minutes discussing everything from Ah Wan wetting the bed at seven years old to fainting from nervousness at a boxing match when he was seventeen. Ah Wan felt utterly dispirited throughout. After Ms. Song and her son left, Zhou Xufang said to Jiang Zhi, ¡°Wanwan¡¯s mom is very nice.¡± ¡°Wanwan?¡± It was grating, very grating; Jiang Zhi wasn¡¯t too pleased, and tugging at Zhou Xufang¡¯s clothes, he pulled her close, ¡°Lin Wanwan has a nickname.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°Ah?¡± Jiang Zhi casually made one up: ¡°It¡¯s Lin Dazhuang.¡± Zhou Xufang believed it utterly and corrected herself: ¡°Oh, Lin Dazhuang¡¯s mom is very nice.¡± So well-behaved. Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t help but pat her head, ¡°Yeah, she is nice.¡± He then explained in detail, ¡°Lin Dazhuang¡¯s mom used to have uraemia, and I paid for her surgery.¡± As for the fact that Lin Wanwan had signed a thirty-year indentured servitude contract for that, there was no need to mention. Moved by what she heard, Zhou Xufang said, ¡°You¡¯re really a good person.¡± Jiang ¡¤ Philanthropist ¡¤ Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Xufang checked the time, it was getting late: ¡°I should go back now.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t want her to leave: ¡°Go back for what?¡± She put on her backpack, ¡°I have to go to work.¡± Jiang Zhi took her backpack, tugging her along, coaxing and almost deceiving, ¡°Don¡¯t go, can you work for me here?¡± ¡°What would I do?¡± Anything would work. He coughed, breathing weakly and looking pitiful, ¡°Be my nurse, I have no one to care for me.¡± She seriously considered it for a moment, ¡°Okay.¡± She agreed too quickly, and Jiang Zhi hadn¡¯t expected it, ¡°You agree?¡± She was afraid someone else would harm him again, ¡°Mhm.¡± He smiled, his small tiger teeth hardly noticeable, and he lay back on the hospital bed, extending his delicate and pale hand toward her, ¡°Then start by wiping my hands.¡± Of course, Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t really let Zhou Xufang serve him; instead, as the patient, he spoiled her with delicious treats. He found that Zhou Xufang seemed to like snacks, especially sweets, and there were so many things she had never tried before, as if she had no childhood. Thus, Jiang Zhi sent Ah Wan to buy a bunch of snacks for Zhou Xufang to taste to her heart¡¯s content. In the afternoon, Qiao Nanchu came by and from a distance saw Jiang Zhi, the usually ill-tempered little ancestor, holding a jelly in one hand and a lollipop in the other, offering them to Zhou Xufang, saying she couldn¡¯t eat too much since dinner was soon, and could only have one. ¡°Which one do you like?¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s tone¡­ Qiao Nanchu felt it was exactly like how his cousin would coddle his daughter. Zhou Xufang chose the jelly: ¡°This one.¡± She hadn¡¯t tried it before and found the jelly incredibly tasty; this was the last one left. Jiang Zhi tore open the packaging for her: ¡°Lin Dazhuang, go buy some more jelly.¡± Lin Dazhuang: ¡°¡­¡± In this world, the person he hated the most was Jiang Zhi, and the second one was Ms. Song. Ah Wan turned his head with a grudge and noticed Qiao Nanchu, who was rarely in his crisp police uniform: ¡°You seem quite comfortable in this place.¡± Jiang Zhi ignored his joke and stuffed a few gummies into Zhou Xufang¡¯s hand: ¡°How about you and Lin Dazhuang go buy some jelly together? Pick the flavors you like.¡± He wanted to send her away. Zhou Xufang agreed. When everyone had left, Jiang Zhi then asked Qiao Nanchu, ¡°Have you canvassed?¡± Qiao Nanchu pulled up a chair to sit down and unwrapped a candy, popping it in his mouth: ¡°This case is a bit troublesome.¡± ¡°How so?¡± ¡°Unfortunately, we¡¯ve already caught three with scratch marks on the back of their hands, not to mention another with a burn.¡± Jiang Zhi wasn¡¯t surprised: ¡°Who are they?¡± Qiao Nanchu showed him photos on his phone: ¡°What¡¯s even more coincidental is that they all have some grudge against you or less.¡± The four suspects were either associated with the Jiang Family or the Luo Family. Jiang Zhi¡¯s guess wasn¡¯t too far off: ¡°Do any of them have alibis?¡± Qiao Nanchu went through them one by one: ¡°Huang Peidong said he was in a second-floor cabin on the cruise ship, talking on the phone with Jiang Fuli. We¡¯ve checked the call logs; the timing adds up, but it doesn¡¯t rule out him committing the crime while on the phone.¡± Huang Peidong was familiar to both him and Jiang Zhi, as Jiang Fuli¡¯s right-hand man. ¡°And the scratches? How and when did they happen?¡± ¡°They happened this morning, from his mistress,¡± Qiao Nanchu crumpled the candy wrapper into a ball and tossed it into the trash. ¡°She was interrogated as well, no issues for now.¡± Jiang Zhi pondered for a moment. Qiao Nanchu continued, ¡°Han Feng and Luo Changde were together on the second floor; no surveillance backs them up, they¡¯re each other¡¯s alibis. Moreover, Luo Changde burned his hand last night at home, and because the burn is quite severe, it can¡¯t be confirmed whether there were any scratches before it.¡± Huang Peidong was suspect number one, Han Feng, and Luo Changde were two and three. Whether it was the Jiang Family or the Luo Family, they were all Jiang Zhi¡¯s sworn enemies and all had motives for murder. Jiang Zhi, leaning on his hand, with his jacket sleeve slipping down to reveal a small square of white, asked, ¡°Who scratched Han Feng¡¯s hand?¡± ¡°He said it was Luo Qinghe, for incompetence. The forensic examiner did a live collection of evidence; the results are not out yet.¡± Han Feng was Luo Qinghe¡¯s secretary; with everyone on the same boat, the possibility of colluding testimonies was quite high. ¡°Only Jiang Xiaolin has no proof at all; he says he was in his room alone. As for the scratches on his hand,¡± that guy was quite arrogant, ¡°he said it was a private issue and declined to comment.¡± Aside from Jiang Xiaolin, the other three, regardless of the truth, had alibis and stories to tell; on the surface, Jiang Xiaolin seemed to be the most suspicious. Qiao Nanchu speculated: ¡°All these suspects might have issues.¡± ¡°Then keep an eye on each of them.¡± Jiang Zhi took out a notepad from the cabinet and handed it to Qiao Nanchu, ¡°I¡¯ve drawn a quick sketch; start by checking this men¡¯s wristwatch.¡± Qiao Nanchu glanced at it and laughed: ¡°Brother Zhi, your drawing skills¡­¡± Are beyond words. Jiang Zhi gave him a cold look. He stopped teasing and closed the notebook: ¡°What¡¯s that thing you¡¯ve got on your hand?¡± Jiang Zhi casually pushed up his sleeve, his eyes brimming with pride: ¡°A heat patch, Zhou Xufang put it on for me.¡± He had a total of four patches, all applied by Zhou Xufang. He was even bragging about it now. Qiao Nanchu teased with a laugh: ¡°Virtuous indeed!¡± In the evening. Jiang Zhi received a call from the old mansion, saying Jiang Wei¡¯er and the Old Madam were having a dispute. When he arrived at the Old House, he saw Xiao Linsu outside the door. It was dark by that time; he stood beneath the large lantern at the entrance of the Jiang Family, his back straight, his shadow on the ground solitary and desolate. Jiang Zhi got out of the car and paused when passing by him. It was cold at night, and Xiao Linsu was wrapped in a coat, coughing lightly: ¡°Go back, you can¡¯t enter the doors of our Jiang Family.¡± He stood immobile, his eyes devoid of light and spirit, muttering, ¡°Wei¡¯er is crying inside.¡± Jiang Zhi looked at him: ¡°And?¡± Standing in the light, he looked distantly, weak yet resolute: ¡°I cannot leave.¡± Then keep standing. Jiang Zhi entered the house and from afar saw a courtyard full of people. A screen had been set up on the outdoor lawn, projecting images. It was somewhat dark and unclear, a hazy grey, but the screams were clear. ¡°Scream!¡± ¡°Does it hurt?¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t scream, I¡¯ll beat you to death!¡± As Jiang Zhi drew closer, he recognized the projection on the screen. Jin Song, having grown tired from using a belt, had switched to a cigarette end, pressing an entire handful onto Xiao Linsu¡¯s bare back. He was undressed, lying there like a corpse, neither crying out in pain nor begging for mercy. Both the masters and servants of the Jiang Family were there, all silent. Old Lady Jiang¡¯s face was ashen as she stood beside the screen, while Jiang Wei¡¯er knelt in front of her, wailing loudly: ¡°Please, Mother, stop it¡­¡± Chapter 100 - Chapter 100: 100: Jiang Zhi: Going to give my wife an umbrella~ Chapter 100: 100: Jiang Zhi: Going to give my wife an umbrella~ ¡°I beg you, Mother, please don¡¯t let it play¡­¡± Old Lady Jiang looked down at her. ¡°Have you seen clearly?¡± She knelt on the ground, tears blurring her vision, clutching her palms without answering. ¡°I¡¯m asking you,¡± Old Lady Jiang raised her voice and asked again with a heavy tone, ¡°Have you seen clearly?¡± She dared not hesitate any longer and nodded vigorously: ¡°I¡¯ve seen it, I¡¯ve seen it¡­ Mother,¡± she crept forward on her knees, grasping the edge of the Old Lady¡¯s robes, ¡°please don¡¯t let it play, don¡¯t let it play¡­¡± She was pleading, crying soundlessly. ¡°Wei¡¯er,¡± the Old Lady bent down, her wrinkled hand touching her face, wiping away the tears, her voice finally softening a bit, ¡°Don¡¯t blame your mother for being heartless. If you don¡¯t wake up painfully now, you will suffer for a long time in the future.¡± She choked up, blurting out, ¡°It¡¯s my fault, I shouldn¡¯t have¡ª¡± With that, Old Lady Jiang¡¯s face turned to ice, she hadn¡¯t even finished listening before she became angry: ¡°You¡¯re still defending him.¡± On the screen, Jin Song was holding a knife, carving letters into Xiao Linsu¡¯s back. He laughed as he cursed him for being lowly. Then, with each stroke a trail of blood was written, the character for ¡®lowly¡¯ was carved onto Xiao Linsu¡¯s back; the sheets stained with splotches of blood, his gaze empty, he lay there numb, motionless. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Devoid of dignity. Jiang Wei¡¯er could no longer bear to watch, not even a glance, her heart was in too much pain, the knife seemed to carve into her own flesh, blood spilling violently. ¡°Mother, I have never asked you for anything, just this one time, just this one time,¡± she knelt, bowing deeply, ¡°Mother, Wei¡¯er is begging you.¡± She had seen this video before; she¡¯d only managed to watch less than ten seconds before turning it off. The segment she saw was not of the present Xiao Linsu, but of him at eighteen, when he would still struggle, still cry. She hadn¡¯t watch it to the end, not knowing when he had started to become numb and stopped resisting altogether. Old Lady Jiang moved forward with the support of a cane, lifting her shoulders, urging her to rise: ¡°Stop kneeling. Such a trifle is not worth the Fifth Miss of the Jiang Family bending her back for him.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er lifted her head, tears in her eyes, a solitary defiance swirling within, she wiped her face, placing all her chips on the table: ¡°Don¡¯t force me.¡± Old Lady Jiang, infuriated, laughed: ¡°You still won¡¯t repent?¡± Repentance? Jiang Wei¡¯er raised her hand, pointing towards the screen, her voice trembling, each word choked but resolute: ¡°Then tell me, what have I done wrong? What has he done wrong? Can¡¯t you see it? His eyes are pleading for help.¡± But nobody was saving him. No wonder, she always felt that his eyes held frost, an enduring gloom that couldn¡¯t be swept away. There were so many people standing in the courtyard, yet no one turned off the projector. They just watched indifferently, spectating the play, as the person in the video was humiliated and trampled on without dignity. But nobody was saving him. Everyone was silent, only Old Lady Jiang¡¯s powerful voice resounded, accusatory and aggressive: ¡°You¡¯re not wrong, and perhaps he has his own difficulties, not wrong either. But you know that if you continue to be with him, for the next three, five, or even ten, twenty years, you won¡¯t be able to let go of this incident. Knowing that I, as a mother, will absolutely not allow my daughter to spend half her life paying for someone else¡¯s mistake, yet you still stubbornly pursue this course; that is where you are wrong!¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er glared back with red eyes: ¡°That is my business.¡± ¡°You¡ª¡± The Old Lady¡¯s hand was already raised, on the verge of a harsh slap, but she was interrupted: ¡°Grandmother.¡± Coughs approached from a distance; it was Jiang Zhi. The rain had not yet started, but the air was heavy with moisture. Someone held an umbrella over him as he made his gradual approach, the servants stepping aside to make way for him. Old Lady Jiang swept her eyes over the crowd and spoke sharply: ¡°Who is so blind as to have called the Young Master here?¡± Jiang Zhi moved with a labored breath every three steps, a cough every five, stumbling forward. At this moment, the old butler, Jiang Chuan, spoke up: ¡°It was my meddling, please, Old Lady, calm your anger and don¡¯t let it spoil the harmony.¡± Jiang Chuan was an old member of the Jiang Family. He served by the Old Master¡¯s side when he was still alive, and Old Lady Jiang usually showed him some respect. While she was on the verge of unleashing her wrath, Jiang Zhi spoke: ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± He stepped forward and promptly turned off the projector. Only he dared to turn it off, and only he would do it without anyone daring to stop him. ¡°You¡¯ve given enough lessons; you can state your purpose directly now.¡± Such an attitude, as if watching theater. He said it with ease and relaxation. Old Lady Jiang glared at him: ¡°Don¡¯t interfere in this matter.¡± She turned and instructed, ¡°Ah Gui, take the Young Master back to the hospital.¡± Before Gui Family could speak, Jiang Zhi pulled over a chair and sat down, crossing his legs casually: ¡°I¡¯d like to see who dares to chase me away,¡± he said, coughing twice, looking sick and listless. ¡°Who dares to stop her? What if she faints?¡± After all, the Gui Family did not dare to stop her. This ancestor¡¯s temper was also spoiled by Old Lady Jiang, no one could handle her, ¡°Fuxi, go add a coat to Brother Zhi.¡± Jiang Fuxi nodded, stood up, and went inside to get clothes. Jiang Wei¡¯er was still kneeling, her legs numb and without sensation. Old Madam remained unyielding, her hair meticulously done, ¡°There¡¯s nothing to discuss. I¡¯m giving you one day to break it off with him completely.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er looked up, meeting her gaze, ¡°What if I don¡¯t?¡± In the entire Jiang Family, besides Jiang Zhi, it was Jiang Wei¡¯er who was the most rebellious, stubborn just like Old Lady Jiang in her younger days, the more she was pushed, the more resistant she became. Old Lady Jiang couldn¡¯t be bothered to say more, stating directly, ¡°Then this video won¡¯t just be shown in our Jiang Family.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er scoffed coldly, her eyes blazing, ¡°Mother, did you drive Wei Ning to death the same way?¡± Jiang Weining was the Jiang Family¡¯s fourth child, Fuxi¡¯s mother. With that statement, Jiang Fuxi, who had gone to get the clothes, paused for a moment. She did not turn around, continuing into the room. Then, a loud slap followed. Old Madam had used all her strength, her hand trembling, her voice shaking with rage, ¡°Get out of the Jiang Family right now. Come back when you¡¯ve cleared your head. If you remain confused, then there¡¯s no need to return!¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er did not hesitate, she stood up, her steps faltering. Turning around, she dragged her feet, her legs heavy as if filled with lead, one step at a time, she left the Jiang Family¡¯s territory. On the cobblestone path, Xue Bingxue approached from the other side. He called out to her, ¡°Wei¡¯er.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er didn¡¯t respond, brushing past him. He grabbed her, ¡°Wei¡¯er,¡± clutching her wrist, he exerted a little force. He looked at her swollen eyes, not knowing if she had run there, in the cold winter night, he was sweating, ¡°Don¡¯t go with him.¡± It was like a plea. Jiang Wei¡¯er pushed his hand away, her voice raw and hoarse from crying, ¡°Bingxue, he¡¯s still outside waiting for me.¡± She still intended to leave. Xue Bingxue handed her the umbrella he was holding, ¡°It¡¯s going to rain, don¡¯t get wet.¡± She said thank you, took the umbrella, and turned to exit the Jiang Mansion¡¯s gate. The sky was overcast, with clouds obscuring the moon, a heavy rain was impending. The wind blew at the old-fashioned lanterns in front of the Jiang Mansion¡¯s gate, swaying them to and fro, the shadows on the ground doing the same. Xiao Linsu stood under the lamp, watching her. She crossed the threshold, her eyes red as she looked up at him, ¡°Have you been waiting long?¡± Xiao Linsu shook his head, stepped forward, and bent down to embrace her. His voice made ethereal by the wind, ¡°Wei¡¯er, would you please go back? Speak nicely with your mother, don¡¯t anger her, and don¡¯t speak up for me¡ª¡± She said, ¡°No.¡± The hands Xiao Linsu had wrapped around her back tightened slightly. He bowed his head, but she couldn¡¯t see his reddened eyes. He knew, her mother had slapped her, her face was swollen. Before, she would always talk to him about her mother, saying she was a traditional and strict person who lacked empathy. But out of the five children, her mother loved her the most. Jiang Wei¡¯er rested her face on his shoulder, ¡°It¡¯s going to pour soon, won¡¯t you take me away?¡± Xiao Linsu said okay, wiping away her tears, ¡°Then no more crying.¡± He led her into the night; their shadows clung to each other, elongated by the light of the lanterns. Raindrops began to fall softly, the air damp and foggy. A car sped away, Zhou Xufang wearing a hat and mask crouched on a nearby villa rooftop, watching that car for a long while before flipping the switch on her headset. ¡°Shuangjiang.¡± ¡°Here.¡± Zhou Xufang looked in the direction the car had headed, lying prone, ¡°Among those registered for the peace charm at Lingdu Temple, is Jiang Wei¡¯er included?¡± After half a minute, Shuangjiang replied, ¡°There¡¯s no Jiang Wei¡¯er, but there is another Ms. Jiang registered, called Jiang Wu.¡± Jiang Family¡¯s fifth son, Jiang Wei¡¯er. ¡°That makes sense,¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s voice was quiet as he regarded the yellow satin peace charm with the character ¡®Shu¡¯ embroidered in teal thread, identical to the one hanging in Xiao Linsu¡¯s car. The window on the second floor was left open, allowing the wind to blow in and causing the curtains to flutter all around. Jiang Zhi was nestled on a couch heavily blanketed with layers of warmth, toying with a calligraphy scroll Old Lady Jiang had recently given him, his attention elsewhere as he pondered. Xue Bingxue hadn¡¯t touched her tea and was also lost in thought, until after a long moment, she voiced, ¡°Wei¡¯er has left.¡± Jiang Zhi responded absently, ¡°Isn¡¯t that what you expected?¡± He had expected it; Wei¡¯er was stubborn and deeply loyal; her feelings for Xiao Linsu ran deep, and the video wasn¡¯t enough to break them apart. Xue Bingxue was disheartened, ¡°I just didn¡¯t expect her not to ask a single question before taking his side.¡± She had seen the video, but Wei¡¯er would rather investigate on her own than confront Xiao Linsu; she didn¡¯t doubt or despise him. She must really like Xiao Linsu. Out of the Jiang Family, she was the most stubborn, never begging anyone for anything, never kneeling to anyone, even as a child when Old Lady Jiang opposed her Taekwondo practice and had her beaten as punishment, she didn¡¯t shed a tear. Today, she had done everything she had never done before for Xiao Linsu, casting aside her pride. ¡°Bingxue,¡± Jiang Zhi put down the scroll and suddenly asked, ¡°Do you really want her?¡± Xue Bingxue didn¡¯t hesitate, ¡°Yes.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s health hadn¡¯t recovered yet, his skin pale and almost translucent with a hint of illness, appearing slightly drawn as he spoke lazily, ¡°Then you¡¯ll have to be a bit more shameless and despicable.¡± Xue Bingxue was momentarily speechless. It wasn¡¯t that he lacked plans, but he feared making the wrong move might disgust her, might make her hate him. In this world, the person most wishing for her to live well was himself; he wanted nothing more than for her to be content and safe. From outside the door came a voice, ¡°Third Young Master.¡± It was Ah Gui from Old Madam¡¯s side, who had knocked and come in to relay a message, ¡°Old Madam asks for you to come over.¡± Xue Bingxue knew what Old Lady Jiang was scheming. He had barely stepped out when Jiang Zhi said slowly from behind, ¡°Last time, a car tried to hit me. I did some investigating and found out a few things.¡± Then came a loud rumble from outside. Sudden thunder, accompanied by the sound of rain, startled Zhou Xufang, who was crouched on the roof of the villa. Then large raindrops began to fall, hitting her face with stinging pain. Imperial City sure loved its rain! She wiped the rainwater off her head and retreated under the shelter of the roof¡¯s eaves, hugging herself tightly into a ball. The rain grew heavier, and Jiang Zhi, with an umbrella held high and another in hand, hurriedly left the Jiang Mansion, and Ah Wan, who had been waiting in the car, quickly ran to him with an umbrella held diligently over both their heads. ¡°Boss, it¡¯s pouring! Where are you going?¡± Ah Wan called. Jiang Zhi moved swiftly, the rain pelting down, and soon his hair was wet, ¡°Don¡¯t follow me.¡± Ah Wan jogged behind him, a large man wielding a tiny umbrella, half-soaked to the bone and chilling to the core, yet he remained professional, ¡°How can I do that? If you catch a cold, your body won¡¯t hold up.¡± If he allowed his boss to get sick, Ms. Song would sever ties with him. Ahead, Jiang Zhi stopped and looked around. The Jiang Family¡¯s old mansion was located in an isolated area, surrounded only by a few villas with yards, all belonging to the high-powered elites of the Imperial City. Ah Wan had no clue what his employer was looking for and asked, ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Jiang Zhi ignored him, picked an obvious spot, opened the umbrella he held, and placed it on the ground. Ah Wan was confused, ¡°Why are you leaving an umbrella here?¡± Under a black umbrella, a fair and finely chiseled handsome face peeked out. It seemed as though he wasn¡¯t part of the mundane world, further obscured by the misting rain, appearing like a figure stepped out from a painting. His tone, however, was not as gentle, ¡°I simply don¡¯t wish to drench this patch of land. Is that a problem?¡± This capricious behavior was just like menopausal Ms. Song! Indeed, they were truly mother and son! Ah Wan replied, ¡°Sure!¡± You¡¯re the boss! Whatever you say goes! After Jiang Zhi looked back a few more times, he returned to the mansion. Only after he was far enough away did Zhou Xufang, who had been hiding on the roof of a nearby villa, leap down, pick up the umbrella, and sneakily hop back up, a jump of more than ten meters, flying through the air! Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t stay the night at the old mansion. Despite Old Madam¡¯s efforts to keep him, he insisted on going back to the hospital. Old Madam had no choice but to have someone take him back to the hospital. Arriving at the hospital nearly twenty minutes after him, Zhou Xufang tiptoed into the ward. ¡°Where have you been?¡± Jiang Zhi sat on the hospital bed, his gaze fixed on her. Zhou Xufang picked up the bag in her hand, glanced at the IV stand, then down at the pink bunny slippers she had brought for Jiang Zhi: ¡°I went to buy jelly.¡± As soon as she lied, her eyes began to dart around. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t expose her lie but just beckoned her over. Zhou Xufang, feeling guilty, was especially obedient and immediately ran to him. He touched the back of her hand with his: ¡°Your hand is so cold, aren¡¯t you cold?¡± Zhou Xufang shook her head: ¡°I¡¯m not afraid of the cold.¡± Her perception of temperature was not very sensitive; she wasn¡¯t afraid of the cold or the heat. Jiang Zhi, not caring whether she was cold or not, insisted on holding her hand to warm it. She had intended to pull away, but considering her strength often inadvertently hurt him, she didn¡¯t dare to move again. Jiang Zhi brought a cup from the cupboard to her lips: ¡°Drink this.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Medicine for preventing a cold.¡± She had been caught in the rain, and he was worried she¡¯d get sick. He had prepared several cups, all kept warm waiting for her return. ¡°Oh.¡± Zhou Xufang obediently drank it all. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± When Jiang Zhi called her full name, it was usually for something serious. Zhou Xufang answered formally: ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°If one day, someone forbids you to be with me, what would you do?¡± He thought of Jiang Wei¡¯er and felt she was ultimately too easy to manipulate. If Old Lady Jiang interfered with his relationship with Zhou Xufang, he would turn the Jiang Family upside down for her. Zhou Xufang blushed slightly, shyly looked away, and corrected him in a soft voice: ¡°We¡¯re good friends.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Damn good friends! Who would want to be just friends with her¡ªhe didn¡¯t know how many times she had overpowered him in his dreams! Alright then, he altered his question: ¡°If one day, someone forbids you to be my good friend, what would you do?¡± Zhou Xufang thought for a moment, then answered seriously: ¡°I would beat them up.¡± She used the word ¡°beat up.¡± For someone who was always kind to others, this was a rather aggressive thing to say. Though it was a bit rash, nonetheless¡ª Jiang Zhi grabbed her hand and placed it on his head, guiding her hand to tousle his hair: ¡°That¡¯s my good girl.¡± Zhou Xufang was puzzled by his action¡ªwas he asking her to rub his head? Oh, she understood. She rubs Jiang Zhi¡¯s hair as if she were petting that gray cat. Jiang Zhi was clearly delighted, his eyes sparkling brightly like stars. ¡°Lin Wanwan.¡± Suddenly, Jiang Zhi called out. Zhou Xufang also turned to look at the closed door; Lin Wanwan¡¯s fingernails had accidentally scratched it a few times, and she had heard it. Jiang Zhi said indifferently: ¡°If you keep eavesdropping by the door, I¡¯ll pull off your ears.¡± Ah Wan, who was eavesdropping at the door: ¡°!¡± He quickly stood at attention, chest out, eyes staring straight ahead. Jiang Zhi instructed: ¡°Have someone move a bed over here.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Ah Wan didn¡¯t dare to eavesdrop any longer and went off to move the bed obediently. Zhou Xufang, as Jiang Zhi¡¯s ¡®nurse,¡¯ was meant to stay overnight. Normally, she wasn¡¯t fussy and could squat anywhere for the night: ¡°You don¡¯t need to go to all that trouble, I can sleep on the couch.¡± ¡°No need to move a bed then, you can sleep with me.¡± Chapter 101 - Chapter 101: 101: Jiang Zhi gets jealous; even superpowers have a nemesis. Chapter 101: 101: Jiang Zhi gets jealous; even superpowers have a nemesis. ¡°Not moving the bed works too, you can sleep with me,¡± he said with a pair of peach blossom eyes that seemed inebriated yet lucid. Hmm, he was seducing her. Zhou Xufang stood straight: ¡°I¡¯m going to help Ah Wan move the bed.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Such a pure-hearted girl she was, that little lady of his. Zhou Xufang left the ward to help Ah Wan move the bed, and of course, Ah Wan was very pleased, thinking that Miss Zhou, who patched things up, was a considerate, kindhearted, and friendly person. Unable to help herself, Ah Wan confided in her: ¡°Miss Zhou.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°Hmm?¡± Ah Wan didn¡¯t really have any colleagues, spending all day with her employer and without friends, so finally having met someone she could talk to heart-to-heart, she wanted to share her grievances: ¡°Don¡¯t you think my boss has a bad temper?¡± Zhou Xufang, walking along the wall with her head down: ¡°Jiang Zhi has a very good temper.¡± Ah Wan, having accumulated a belly full of complaints, felt relieved to vent: ¡°He¡¯s also very picky.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°No, he¡¯s very nice.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï Ah Wan felt that Miss Zhou, who was good at mending things, was still too naive and unaware of the wickedness of people¡¯s hearts, and so, Ah Wan felt it necessary to enlighten her a bit: ¡°Then you don¡¯t know, he¡¯s very cunning. Not only does he do misdeeds but also instigates the Third Young Master¡ª¡± Zhou Xufang looked up: ¡°Mr. Lin.¡± Ah Wan was dumbfounded by this alienating ¡®Mr. Lin.¡¯ The little lady who had stopped now looked extremely serious, and moreover, she was seething with rage, and even she, who never had eye contact with strangers, was glaring at someone: ¡°If you keep slandering Jiang Zhi like that, I won¡¯t be polite to you anymore.¡± Mr. Lin: ¡°¡­¡± Was Miss Zhou under some kind of spell cast by her employer? Ah Wan stubbornly whispered, ¡°I¡¯m not slandering¡­¡± Zhou Xufang was already very angry, walking on alone, not wanting to bother with him anymore! It was late at night, and the hospital was quiet. Around the corner, someone was on the phone, clear as day across the hallway. The person was wearing a checkerboard hospital uniform, one hand holding a phone and the other pushing an IV stand, hair permed with foil, likely neglected due to the hospital stay, and turned a bit frizzy. Who else could it be but Ming Yanghua, terrified into hospitalization by a female ghost. At this moment, Sixth Young Master Ming was on the phone, cursing someone: ¡°Your mother¡¯s talking nonsense!¡± Here¡¯s what happened. The news about his hospitalization from being scared fainted had been leaked by some mischievous friends, and his other friends had been mocking him for being a coward. In order to prove he wasn¡¯t a coward, he recounted last night¡¯s seaside supernatural encounter to them in detail. His friends didn¡¯t believe it. Damn it! Ming Yanghua was getting agitated: ¡°How many times do I have to tell you, it was a female ghost, a female ghost!¡± His friends still didn¡¯t believe him, saying he was making it up. ¡°I saw it with my own eyes, how could it be false? She was a red-eyed female water ghost.¡± His friends asked what the female ghost looked like. Was she a beautiful seductive ghost? What did she look like? Ming Yanghua recalled: ¡°Just a black mass, only eyes, no face.¡± Speaking of which, he arrived at the corner. As he turned around, he saw a black mass, fortunately with a face, a beautiful and cold one, radiating an upscale world-weariness. It was the type he liked. Breaking his phone, he grabbed a handful of hair, and with a few swipes, fashioned a heart-shaped fringe. With only one hand available to push the IV stand, he had to tuck the other into his pocket¡ªoh, the hospital uniform didn¡¯t have pockets, so he pretended to tuck his hand in anyway. Regardless, the gesture was cool, not like a little ruffian, but like the leader of the ruffians. In his ruffian-leader swagger, he said: ¡°Girl, how about giving me your WeChat?¡± This was the second time. The previous time was at Bamboo Garden in Fusheng Inn, where she was delivering food, and this young rogue had also asked for her WeChat. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t want to deal with this kind of little ruffian and bypassed him. Ming Yanghua, a veteran of flirting and thick-facedness, dropped his head and caught up: ¡°You look familiar to me, must be fate. How about we add each other on WeChat?¡± Familiar? They had seen each other several times already. Clearly, the little ruffian didn¡¯t remember her. Zhou Xufang¡¯s face was coldly indifferent, ¡°I don¡¯t use WeChat.¡± And¡ª She turned back, ¡°I am a female ghost.¡± She covered her face with one hand, revealing only her eyes, ¡°Just a dark mass, eyes without a face.¡± ¡°¡­¡± This girl, quite spicy. And truth be told, she was dressed in black too, those little eyes quite intimidating. Ming Yanghua found her more and more appealing, ¡°That pretty little ghost, how about giving me your number?¡± Zhou Xufang, dead serious, made up, ¡°We don¡¯t use phones in the underworld.¡± Old hand at love, Ming Yanghua: ¡°¡­¡± This was his Waterloo in the history of flirting, unacceptable, he had to redeem himself¡ªbut then, from behind him, an unexpected voice: ¡°Ming Xiaohua.¡± Ming Lao hated it when people called him Xiaohua. ¡°If you call me Xiaohua again I¡ª¡± He turned around, saw who it was, and the insults got stuck in his throat, his bravado draining away like a little ruffian¡¯s boss coming face to face with the top dog, ¡°Jiang Zhi¡­ Brother.¡± He hesitated for a few seconds, but added a ¡®Brother¡¯ in the end. The Jiang Family and the Ming Family had a lukewarm relationship. Imperial City was full of gents, but there were distinct social strata. There was Mr. This, Third Young Master That¡ªeveryone had such titles, but Jiang Zhi belonged to nobility among the ranks. He was also wearing the hospital¡¯s patient attire, draped in a knee-length black coat. He was delicately handsome with a frail appearance, walking leisurely, with enticing, alluring peach blossom eyes. Yet, within that seemingly intoxicated haze, there was a wildness that captivated the soul. Key point, his face was excessively beautiful. Getting closer, Jiang Zhi raised his hand, pointing to the ¡®little female ghost¡¯, ¡°Do you know who she is?¡± Ming Yanghua didn¡¯t interact much with Jiang Zhi normally. But for some inexplicable reason, he felt uneasy, remaining expressionless as he shook his head. Only to see Jiang Zhi approach the ¡®little female ghost¡¯, chin lifted while looking at him, ¡°She¡¯s the girl I¡¯m pursuing.¡± Ming Yanghua: ¡°¡­¡± That boastful, proud, and warning tone. He doubted his hearing, ¡°You¡¯re not, aren¡¯t you¡ª¡± Jiang Zhi slowly filled in, ¡°Gay?¡± Ming Yanghua truly had little to do with Jiang Zhi, but he had a sister at home who was crazy about Jiang Zhi¡¯s good looks. Thanks to her, he had learned quite a lot about him. For instance, he had come out at the age of eighteen. And, he had an intense aversion to women. Jiang Zhi smiled charmingly, soul-snatching, ¡°How incredible she is to have straightened me out.¡± Ming Yanghua: ¡°¡­¡± His sister always said she couldn¡¯t get Jiang Zhi solely because fate was cruel in making her a woman. Now it seemed, that was all just hot air! Here was this little female ghost who had roped him in. No, she didn¡¯t even need to do anything¡ªjust look at the way Jiang Zhi gazed at her, that sort of liking, as if anyone else giving her an extra glance would turn him into a wolf cub with off-the-charts aggression, dying to take a bite out of you. ¡°Still want her WeChat?¡± Ming Yanghua: ¡°No need any longer.¡± Jiang Zhi took a step forward, tall as he was, he stood protectively, shielding his girl thoroughly: ¡°And the phone number?¡± Ming Yanghua shook his head vigorously. Satisfied at last, Jiang Zhi then turned around, reaching into the air with a slender, graceful hand, ¡°Fang Bao, support me.¡± Fang Bao¡­ Ah Wan felt a pang of jealousy. Zhou Xufang: ¡°Oh.¡± She steadied Jiang Zhi¡¯s hand. Jiang Zhi naturally let the hand resting on her back rest on her shoulder instead, without really pressing his weight on her. He was just very close to her, tossing the Ming Yanghua behind him, and he walked away with his girl. ¡°Do you have your mask with you?¡± Zhou Xufang pulled out a black mask from her pocket: ¡°I have it.¡± He took the mask and put it on her, ¡°From now on, wear a mask when you go out,¡± he said in all seriousness, with a perfectly valid reason, ¡°The lousy weather in the Imperial City is too cold.¡± So she won¡¯t attract attention! Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± Blame the weather again. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t think too much of it: ¡°Okay.¡± Jiang Zhi looked back, and, as expected, that stinking brat from the Ming Family was still watching. He shot him a cold glance, executing him with his gaze, then pulled his girl¡¯s hood over her head. ¡°You should wear your hood too.¡± Zhou Xufang again agreed. Jiang Zhi reevaluated, no, this was too cute. ¡°Actually, let¡¯s not wear the hood.¡± Wearing a hood made her look too cute, not wearing it made her too pretty. Her head was extraordinarily beautiful, and Jiang Zhi felt more and more insecure the more he thought about it. He instructed sternly, ¡°Unless you really need to go out, try to stay indoors.¡± This time Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t immediately agree, hesitating, ¡°But I have to work.¡± ¡°Then you wear that helmet that only shows your eyes when you go out,¡± Jiang Zhi came up with another reason, ¡°The damn weather in the Imperial City always likes to drop ice pellets.¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± And the weather is blamed yet again. Zhou Xufang remembered the previous times her face was pelted with ice, and thought Jiang Zhi made a lot of sense, wholeheartedly agreeing, ¡°You are so right!¡± So gullible, she need to be closely watched. Jiang Zhi pressed his chest, coughed a few times: ¡°The place where I was stabbed hurts a bit, help me back to my room.¡± Upon hearing that he was uncomfortable, Zhou Xufang supported his hand to her shoulder and turned towards Mr. Lin, ¡°Mr. Lin, you move the bed yourself, I¡¯ll help Jiang Zhi back first.¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± Annoyed, still calling him Mr. Lin. Look! Just look! How could he falsely accuse Jiang Zhi, who was not treacherous and despicable? Jealously begrudging, yet speaking righteously and blaming the Imperial City¡¯s weather! While cursing in her mind, Ah Wan went to move the bed. Zhou Xufang supported Jiang Zhi towards the VIP ward, wanting to walk quickly but afraid of jostling him, feeling anxious. ¡°Does it hurt a lot?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± He coughed, his cheeks flushed, looking weak and delicate. Zhou Xufang was worried he would faint on their way: ¡°Let me carry you.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Appreciation was enough, a big guy like him couldn¡¯t let the girl he liked carry him. Jiang Zhi: ¡°No.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°I¡¯m strong.¡± ¡°Still no,¡± he let go of her hand and took hers instead, ¡°No matter how strong you are, you¡¯re still a girl.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t understand. She could lift up to a thousand pounds. Not knowing who raised this girl or how, she was alert to everything and had heavy defenses. There was a solitary chill in her eyes as if she had endured much suffering. Yet she was so pure she seemed like a blank slate. If she was willing to let you see her eyes, a single glance would reveal it all. Jiang Zhi stopped and looked at her, telling her, ¡°It¡¯s okay to be a little spoiled when someone cherishes you.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t quite understand Jiang Zhi¡¯s words. ¡°Don¡¯t understand?¡± She nodded. No one had ever taught her how to be a person, let alone how to be a girl. However, someone had taught her how to maximize the energy within her body. Jiang Zhi bent down and patiently and tenderly taught her, saying, ¡°You¡¯re loved by someone, someone couldn¡¯t bear to lose you, so you need to care for yourself a bit more, don¡¯t just think about others.¡± Zhou Xufang was stunned. This was the first time she¡¯d heard such sweet words in her life. In her simple and monotonous memories, no one had ever told her that she was cherished by someone. Her eyes were about to turn red. Seeing her moved almost to tears, Jiang Zhi wanted to kiss her, and the atmosphere was just right when suddenly¡ª There was a commotion in the ward ahead. ¡°Everyone get out!¡± It was a duck-like voice, probably a teenager still going through puberty. The teenager was violently irritable, and the ward was banging loudly, ¡°I¡¯m about to die, what¡¯s the point of treatment! Get out, all of you, I don¡¯t want to see you!¡± A woman¡¯s voice was urgently concerned, with a sobbing tone, ¡°Yeye¡ª¡± ¡°Get out!¡± As he roared, the teenager in the tumor ward pushed away a nurse, grabbed a bottle of liquid and threw it with force. With a crash, the shards scattered everywhere. Zhou Xufang¡¯s first reaction was to turn around, raise her hand, and firmly shield Jiang Zhi. The shards of the bottle grazed her face, causing a sting, like being pricked by a needle. She immediately covered her face. Just then, Vice President Sun appeared with a group of doctors on a ward round and witnessed the scene. Vice President Sun¡¯s heart almost leaped out, ¡°Mr. Jiang, Mr. Jiang.¡± This Fifth Renmin Hospital, the Jiang family were the biggest shareholders, and Jiang Zhi was the most untouchable little ancestor. Sure enough, the little ancestor was angry. Jiang Zhi¡¯s voice became extremely cold, with restrained fury smoldering in his eyes, ¡°If he doesn¡¯t want treatment, let him pack his things and get out of the hospital immediately.¡± Vice President Sun didn¡¯t dare make a sound, reading Jiang Zhi¡¯s mood. Just a moment ago, the little ancestor who was furious now had a softened gaze, as he carefully bent down to examine the young girl¡¯s face in front of him, reaching to take her hand away from her face. She pressed on her face, refusing to let go, ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Her wounds healed too quickly to be seen by others. ¡°Let me see.¡± She shook her head, ¡°The glass didn¡¯t hit me.¡± Jiang Zhi gently touched the space between her middle and ring fingers with one finger, his eyes brimming with concern that he couldn¡¯t conceal, ¡°You¡¯re bleeding.¡± Hearing this, Zhou Xufang touched it and indeed, blood was still flowing. She turned around, ¡°Was the bottle filled with penicillin?¡± The nurse in the room was surprised, ¡°How did you know?¡± Because penicillin was her nemesis, even a little bit could greatly reduce her self-healing ability, even to less than an ordinary person. She said, ¡°I recognize this type of bottle; it¡¯s used for penicillin.¡± Back in the laboratory, those ¡®experts¡¯ in white coats enjoyed injecting her with it and then watching the speed of her bleeding to calculate the fatalness of penicillin to her. She let go of her hand and checked the blood between her fingers. There wasn¡¯t much blood; the wound must have been very small. She said to Jiang Zhi, ¡°It¡¯s a minor cut, it doesn¡¯t matter.¡± Her pale skin made the small spread of blood on her right cheek stand out even more glaringly. Jiang Zhi frowned, wanting to wipe it off but afraid of hurting her. He had never felt this way before; the sting from the shard felt as if it had embedded in his body, an indescribable dull pain. He was done for. He was bewitched by her. He pulled her to his side, casting a glance at the teenager, who was now panicked and at a loss under the oppressive atmosphere, ¡°Still have the strength to throw a tantrum here, you¡¯re not dying, see. If you really want to die, the window is open, jump yourself. Otherwise, shut your mouth. If you continue to make a fuss, I¡¯ll throw you out myself.¡± The teenager and his mother didn¡¯t dare to make a sound anymore. Jiang Zhi took Zhou Xufang away, leaving a sentence behind, ¡°Have the surgeon come over.¡± Chapter 102 - Chapter 102: 102: Ah Fangs Thirty-Six Strategies to Coax Jiang Zhi Chapter 102: 102: Ah Fang¡¯s Thirty-Six Strategies to Coax Jiang Zhi Vice President Sun called for the chief surgeon, Doctor Wu. Being the leading surgeon for over thirty years, he had never treated such a minor wound, and he was quite frustrated. However, he dared not complain, since his salary was paid by the Jiang Family. He didn¡¯t even ask the nurse to come, but personally cleaned and dressed the patient¡¯s wound. ¡°Is it serious?¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes were fixed on Zhou Xufang¡¯s face. Doctor Wu, feeling nervous under his gaze, replied with a shaky hand, ¡°It¡¯s just a superficial injury.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t lie back on the hospital bed. Instead, he moved a chair next to Zhou Xufang, himself still receiving IV fluids. Ignoring the needle on the back of his hand, he patted the young girl¡¯s back, though it was unclear what he was trying to comfort. He asked again, ¡°Will it leave a scar?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Did Young Master Jiang have some misunderstanding about superficial injuries? Trying to maintain his patience, Doctor Wu explained, ¡°It won¡¯t leave a scar; it¡¯s just a very tiny cut.¡± After disinfecting, applying medication, and covering it with gauze, it took just three minutes. ¡°There, done.¡± Jiang Zhi diverted some of his intense gaze from the girl¡¯s face to glance at Doctor Wu, ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.?¦Ï Otherwise? ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to prescribe any medicine?¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s look was sharp, showing his dissatisfaction. Doctor Wu felt a chill down his spine and fumbled, ¡°No need for medicine. It¡¯s really just a very, very tiny wound¡­¡± Jiang Zhi ignored him, ¡°Vice President Sun, bring me another doctor.¡± The chief surgeon: ¡°¡­¡± Vice President Sun: ¡°¡­¡± Unsure of what to say, he glanced at the injured young girl. The girl was easygoing. She said, ¡°No need, by the time the doctor arrives, the wound would have healed by itself.¡± That made perfect sense. Doctor Wu and Vice President Sun nodded, in agreement. Only then did Jiang Zhi speak, ¡°You all may leave now.¡± ¡°If you need anything, just call me.¡± Vice President Sun hurried away with his chief surgeon. ¡°You, too, get out.¡± Ah Wan: ¡°Oh.¡± Ah Wan also left, closing the door of the ward behind her. After thinking for three seconds, she still pressed her ear against the door. The hospital wasn¡¯t very soundproof, and she heard Miss Zhou¡¯s voice. ¡°Are you angry?¡± Zhou Xufang felt he was angry; his expression was very stern. Jiang Zhi got up from the chair, pushing his IV stand, and went to the bed where he lay down, ¡°Who asked you to take that for me?¡± His tone was like a reprimand. Yes, he was really angry. But Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t understand why he was angry, ¡°We are good friends,¡± she said earnestly and with conviction, ¡°For a friend, sparing no effort is what you do.¡± That line, she had learned it from one of Jiang Zhi¡¯s movies. Zhou Xufang felt it was spot-on, truly worthy of something filmed by Jiang Zhi. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± He was even angrier now! The kind that couldn¡¯t be easily appeased. Zhou Xufang¡¯s emotional intelligence seemed irredeemably low; he didn¡¯t want to talk to her anymore. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Jiang Zhi did not respond. Zhou Xufang got a bit anxious and stepped forward quickly, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± She called his name softly, trying to appease him. She wasn¡¯t good at appeasing either, like coaxing a child, holding snacks in front of him with both hands, ¡°Would you like some jelly?¡± No. ¡°How about cotton candy?¡± No! Jiang Zhi just looked at her. The message was clear; he wanted to be coaxed. Zhou Xufang tilted her head, unsure of what to do. Just then, ice pellets began to fall outside, tapping against the window. She put down the snacks, ¡°Are you cold, Jiang Zhi?¡± She fetched a heating pad, crouched and leaned over the hospital bed like a black mushroom, ¡°If you¡¯re cold, I¡¯ll place this heating pad on you.¡± How could she be so adorable. She was unaware, speaking seriously, and looking sincerely solemn. Jiang Zhi¡¯s heart almost melted at her kindergarten-level coaxing tactics, and he couldn¡¯t bring himself to scold her anymore. This unspoiled young girl, this girl who instinctively used her back to shield others from harm, needed to be slowly taught to care more about herself. Fortunately, he was crafty enough, and his family, too kind at heart. He turned his back to her, lifting the blankets, exposing his back to her, ¡°Place it on my lower back.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± With one heating pad, she had managed to soothe Jiang Zhi. Zhou Xufang believed Jiang Zhi to be the most good-tempered person in the world, Mr. Lin Dazhuang even falsely accused Jiang Zhi of being bad-tempered, which was a bit too much. At the door, Lin Dazhuang: ¡°¡­¡± Boom! Late into the night, thunder suddenly roared. Xiao Linsu had just placed Jiang Wei¡¯er on the bed when she suddenly woke up, her eyes still swollen from crying for so long. She whispered hoarsely, calling out to him, ¡°Linsu.¡± Xiao Linsu tucked her into the covers and responded, ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°I just had a dream.¡± ¡°What did you dream about?¡± Her eyes were gritty and uncomfortable as she rubbed them, ¡°I dreamed about the first time I met you.¡± That day was her birthday. Xiao Linsu took her hand away, wetted a towel, and gently wiped her eyes. His voice was calm and gentle, ¡°That day was also my sister¡¯s birthday.¡± This was the first time Xiao Linsu spoke of his sister. All the light in his eyes seemed to meld together, casting gentle, fragmented shadows, ¡°She was fifteen years younger than me, looked like our mother, a very beautiful and well-behaved child, loved by the nurses and doctors at the hospital.¡± He mentioned the hospital. His sister was ill. Jiang Wei¡¯er sat up, ¡°Where is she now?¡± Xiao Linsu never talked about his family, and whenever she asked, he would only say he had no family. He didn¡¯t mention it, and she was afraid to probe his wounds, so she didn¡¯t ask. He put down the towel, soaked it in hot water, and wrung it out to wipe her hands. His tone was unexpectedly calm as he said, ¡°My sister, she passed away.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er was stunned. ¡°Our second meeting, that day was the day of her funeral.¡± His sister died before she even turned eleven. His parents weren¡¯t around, and he had to conduct the funeral alone with no friends or relatives. He had a few drinks before going to work. He thought that would be his last piece, that he would leave the industry after finishing it, but then she appeared, full of light, bursting into his life. Jiang Wei¡¯er remembered that day, meeting him at the Taekwondo Hall. She thought then how contradictory a person he was, outwardly kind and gentle to everyone, yet his eyes held such deep sadness, as if he had given up hope on the world. It turned out, that day was his sister¡¯s funeral. ¡°Is it because¡­¡± She couldn¡¯t finish her question. Xiao Linsu nodded, knowing what she was about to ask. ¡°My sister had a heart condition, she needed to be hospitalized.¡± He chuckled self-mockingly, ¡°She was unlucky to have a useless brother like me. I couldn¡¯t save her.¡± There was a long pause. Bowing his head, he said, ¡°The money from Jin Song was for saving her life.¡± He talked on and on, his words flowing gently and flat, as if he was talking about someone else¡¯s life. At that time, he had just come of age, his parents both met with hazards¡ª one died, one injured¡ª and he spent all the family savings. His mother was actually saved, but his critically ill sister needed care, and their mother herself removed the respirator. After his parents¡¯ death, all the relatives turned their backs on him. Still young, the most valuable thing he possessed was his youthful body. Jin Song was cunning, signing a contract with him. The money and resources provided could only save lives, not afford him any opportunities to thrive. He was tethered like this for eight years. He set the now cold towel aside, pulling her hand into the covers, ¡°My sister did not wait for a suitable heart transplant and passed away. I wanted to break the contract after that.¡± Then she appeared. Ten years enslaved, the first eight for his sister, the last two for his own selfish desires. ¡°Jin Song has a video, I was afraid you¡¯d find out,¡± he held her hand tightly, showing great force, ¡°I was being selfish.¡± Her eyes reddened again, and even though he spoke so calmly, she knew the kind of life he had led during those long ten years. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t dare.¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t you dare?¡± He was silent for a long time: ¡°I was afraid you¡¯d find me disgusting.¡± She suddenly fell silent. ¡°Wei¡¯er.¡± She reached out, starting to unbutton his shirt. Xiao Linsu held her hand back, ¡°Wei¡¯er.¡± ¡°I want to see.¡± He shook his head, ¡°The wounds are healed.¡± She did not let go, continuing to tug at his buttons, ¡°Let me see.¡± ¡°No need to see,¡± his voice turned hoarse, almost pleading, ¡°Wei¡¯er, I am very dirty.¡± All his self-loathing was evident in his eyes, clearly showing helplessness and hatred. Undeterred, Jiang Wei¡¯er with red eyes shouted at him, ¡°I want to see, I have to see.¡± He hesitated for a moment. ¡°Alright.¡± He loosened his grip, allowing her to unbutton his shirt. Below the collarbone, there were many marks; some had healed, some still bore scars, some were burns from cigarette butts, others from whippings. No wonder, in their two years together, he never touched her. ¡°What caused this?¡± The scar was on his chest, about five centimeters long, and Jiang Wei¡¯er¡¯s fingers gently caressed it. Xiao Linsu thought for a while, ¡°It¡¯s been too long, I don¡¯t remember.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t remember¡­¡± Such an understatement forced tears from her eyes. She leaned in, her lips touching the scar, ¡°Not dirty.¡± Looking up into Xiao Linsu¡¯s eyes, Jiang Wei¡¯er said, ¡°You are not dirty at all.¡± Each word, felt deeply and sincerely. He embraced her, finally showing vulnerability, ¡°Wei¡¯er, I am scared¡­¡± The next day, it rained violently. Imperial City¡¯s winters are always like this, chilling to the bone. This year, the snow and rain were more aggressive than before, seemingly endless. Four o¡¯clock in the afternoon. Jin Song had just finished a TV interview when his secretary came over and said, ¡°Vice President, Chairman Jin has gone to meet the Xue Family.¡± His brother, really wanting to kill him. Walking and tidying his suit cuffs, Jin Song asked, ¡°Which member of the Xue Family?¡± The secretary replied, ¡°Mr. Xue.¡± That traditional Chinese medicine practitioner from the Xue Family? There had previously been no contact between the Jin and Xue families, and amid the internal strife within Jin Family, it was unlikely that Jin Lei was doing something unnecessary. He wondered what he was plotting. ¡°Look into that Mr. Xue.¡± From the adjacent studio, two people emerged. ¡°Wei¡¯er,¡± it was Fang Lixiang, who had just finished recording a variety show and hadn¡¯t removed his makeup yet, ¡°I¡¯m done here. You look unwell; you should head back and rest.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er replied, ¡°No need.¡± Looking up, she saw Jin Song approaching. Jiang Wei¡¯er and Jin Song had met a few times at some upper-class gatherings. Jin Song, impeccably dressed, approached and said warmly, ¡°Long time no see, Miss Jiang.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er met his gaze coldly. His eyes were suggestive, they held each other¡¯s gaze for a moment, then brushed past each other. ¡°Forgot to ask,¡± he suddenly stopped and sneered, ¡°How¡¯s Linsu¡¯s taste? Even though I¡¯ve worn him out, but¡ª¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er couldn¡¯t stand it any longer and lost her temper. She picked up a fire extinguisher from the ground and smashed it hard on his head. Fang Lixiang was stunned, unable to hold him back in time. Blood burst forth from the injury. This was the real Jiang Wei¡¯er, wild and ostentatious. It was just past five o¡¯clock, and it had already grown dark outside. The lights of thousands of homes and neon lights filled the streets; looking out from a high vantage point, the world was ablaze with the lights of human life. Jiang Zhi looked out of the window, his mind wandering somewhere. Possibly due to the cold weather, his lung condition wasn¡¯t going to improve in a day or two; he had been coughing severely these last few days and had just coughed up some blood. His complexion was as pale as paper. Xue Bingxue was performing acupuncture on him, ¡°Your aunt came by yesterday.¡± She had come to check on his illness. Distracted, Jiang Zhi replied, ¡°Hmm.¡± He asked Ah Wan, ¡°What time is it?¡± Ah Wan checked the time and answered, ¡°Five forty-three.¡± He had been asking for the time repeatedly since three in the afternoon. Oh, at three o¡¯clock, Miss Zhou who applied the medical patches had left, saying she would return at six after freshening up at home. Once Miss Zhou left, his spirit seemed to leave as well. Ah Wan felt this symptom was a bit over the top; he thought it might be an illness. He had watched a Korean drama where the male lead was so in love with the female lead that he fell ill, acting like a madman. He locked the female lead up, insisting on being with her day and night. Ah Wan thought his employer might also be exhibiting symptoms of this illness. Xue Bingxue was still discussing serious matters, with a stern expression, ¡°Qin Shiyu has also looked over your medical records.¡± Still distracted, Jiang Zhi responded, ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°It should be fine; the hospital staff are all your people.¡± Jiang Zhi hummed in response. Completely absent-minded. Xue Bingxue lifted his shirt, put on gloves, and pressed on his chest, ¡°Does it hurt?¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°No.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± After listening with a stethoscope for a while, Xue Bingxue said, ¡°You should be able to be discharged in a few days.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s stay for now.¡± He didn¡¯t want to be discharged yet; getting discharged meant his young lady might not come to report every day so obediently. Jiang Zhi looked at Ah Wan again, ¡°What time is it?¡± Unable to bear it! Ah Wan was getting annoyed, ¡°You just asked!¡± Jiang Zhi kept a straight face, his eyes icy as they settled with frost, ¡°What time is it?¡± Ah Wan, succumbing to the tyranny of his employer, replied, ¡°Five forty-five.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s mood soured as he stared at the pair of pink rabbit slippers on the floor. Why hasn¡¯t she arrived yet! He didn¡¯t know when he had developed this irritating habit, but whenever he couldn¡¯t see her, he felt uneasy and panicky. He couldn¡¯t wait any longer and dialed her number, but¡ª She! Didn¡¯t! Pick up! ¡°Miss Zhou isn¡¯t picking up?¡± Ah Wan saw the frost accumulating on his handsome face and suggested, ¡°Maybe she¡¯s busy and can¡¯t answer the phone. You should try sending a WeChat message.¡± Jiang Zhi tossed his phone aside, grabbed a handful of azure blue hair, tore off a heat patch, and threw it into the trash, ¡°Why should I send one?¡± His tone grew increasingly harsh, ¡°Can¡¯t I live without her?¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± Did he say anything? Besides, isn¡¯t that the case? Jiang Zhi scoffed and tore off another heat patch, which Zhou Xufang had applied for him, and threw them all into the trash can. Then, ten seconds later¡ª He picked up his phone and sent a WeChat message to Zhou Xufang, blasting five audio messages. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± A bit fierce. ¡°It¡¯s almost six!¡± Very fierce! ¡°You said you¡¯d be back by six.¡± His tone softened. ¡°Where are you?¡± His tone became gentle. ¡°Where?¡± Finally, he sounded plaintive. Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± He was certain, their employer was just as insane as the male lead in those Korean dramas! Jiang Zhi had sent five voice messages in a row and waited for over ten seconds without a response. Initially annoyed with Zhou Xufang, he couldn¡¯t afford to be annoyed anymore; he started to worry about her. He sent another one, ¡°Why haven¡¯t you returned to the hospital?¡± After waiting about four or five seconds, there was still no response. His tone became urgent, ¡°Reply to me.¡± At last, Zhou Xufang responded, ¡°I¡¯m outside.¡± Jiang Zhi asked, ¡°What are you doing outside?¡± He asked again, ¡°Are you working again?¡± Zhou Xufang typed, slowly, showing ¡®typing¡­¡¯ for a long time, before she finally sent the simple two words: ¡°Something urgent.¡± So simple that Jiang Zhi felt she was brushing him off. Jiang Zhi: ¡°What urgent matter?¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡­ He couldn¡¯t continue the conversation! She was being so disobedient; he wanted to drag her back here and bite her! With a bang, he threw his phone on the table, tore off all the warming patches Zhou Xufang had applied to him, and got up from the sickbed, ¡°I need to go out.¡± Xue Bingxue removed her gloves and scoffed at him, ¡°You just said you were going to stay a few more days.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to catch someone.¡± Jiang Zhi had just removed the IV needle when his phone, which was on the cabinet, rang. Thinking it was Zhou Xufang, his eyes brightened as he picked it up immediately. Upon seeing the caller, his face darkened again. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± The caller spoke for a while. Jiang Zhi asked, ¡°What¡¯s Old Madam¡¯s stance on this?¡± The call was from the Jiang Mansion. ¡°Keep an eye on it,¡± Jiang Zhi hung up and told Xue Bingxue, ¡°My aunt is in the police station.¡± Xue Bingxue became anxious at once, ¡°What happened to Wei¡¯er?¡± ¡°She hit Jin Song, and that beast is now suing her,¡± Jiang Zhi took the coat Ah Wan handed to him, ¡°And the Old Madam has spoken; no one is allowed to bail her out.¡± Old Lady Jiang was waiting, waiting for Linsu to lower his pride. In the evening, the rain had stopped. Outside the police station, under the streetlight, shadows elongated. The air was heavy with moisture from the recent rain, foggy and the light passing through it hazy, reminiscent of a misty Jiangnan landscape. ¡°How will you agree to drop the charges?¡± Under the light, Linsu¡¯s eyes were covered with frost. Jin Song¡¯s head was wrapped in a bandage, he smiled at Linsu, looking decent but his gaze was a mix of light taunting and deep malignance, ¡°You really like her, huh?¡± ¡°It¡¯s none of your business.¡± Jin Song¡¯s smile grew wider, slight wrinkles crinkling at the corners of his eyes, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that you just liked her identity as the Jiang Family¡¯s fifth son?¡± Linsu remained silent, his gaze icy cold. Jin Song then lost his smile, pulled out a cigar from his pocket, and lit it, ¡°You¡¯ve followed me for so many years, there¡¯s no sentiment but there¡¯s face. Listen to me, save yourself, the Old Madam Jiang is too formidable; you¡¯re no match for her.¡± ¡°Are you targeting the Jiang Family?¡± He had sent someone to jail, not just to vent anger but also with ulterior motives. Jin Song didn¡¯t deny it, nor did he try to conceal the contempt and disdain in his gaze: ¡°You see, this is the difference between you and Jiang Wei¡¯er. Let¡¯s not even talk about the Imperial City¡¯s Jiang Family; you don¡¯t even have the capital to negotiate with me.¡± Linsu glared with eyes full of fury. The eighteen-year-old youth, whose wings had already hardened, Jin Song flicked off some cigar ash, ¡°Linsu, remember, if one does not seek his own interest, he courts his own destruction.¡± Snuffing out his cigar, Jin Song left. Linsu stood under the streetlight for a long time before taking out his phone: ¡°Old Madam Jiang, it¡¯s me, Linsu.¡± Jin Song¡¯s secretary was waiting on the opposite side of the road, the car parked by the curb. Seeing someone approach, he got out of the car. ¡°Vice President,¡± the secretary opened the car door for him, ¡°Heading back to the company?¡± Jin Song got in the car: ¡°Help me set up a meeting with Mr. Xue.¡± The secretary had started the car and just responded when suddenly, a shadow lurched onto the road, startling him, and he immediately slammed on the brakes. The car jerked to a halt, Jin Song lurching forward. ¡°What kind of driving is this?¡± ¡°Vice President, there¡¯s someone.¡± Following that¡ª The sound of metal scraping on the ground grew closer and louder. As night fell and all else was silent, this sound was especially chilling. Jin Song looked out the car window and saw a vague outline of a person dressed all in black, the hat almost completely covering the face, leaving only two eyes shining. He couldn¡¯t tell if it was a man or a woman, but they were dragging an iron rod, emerging from the darkness. Jin Song¡¯s nerves were on edge, his voice trembling involuntarily, ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°Come down.¡± The voice was crisp and cold¡ªfemale. ¡°You¡ª¡± She interrupted, ¡°I am Black Impermanence,¡± her voice chillingly emotionless, ¡°I¡¯ve come for your life.¡± Chapter 103 - Chapter 103: 103: Ah Fangs vest dropped again! Chapter 103: 103: Ah Fang¡¯s vest dropped again! She interrupted, ¡°I am Black Impermanence.¡± Her voice was cold and emotionless, ¡°I¡¯m here to take your life.¡± As she finished speaking, she raised the iron rod in her hand, her eyes unblinking, and smashed down fiercely. ¡°Bang!¡± With a loud crash, the car¡¯s windows shattered into pieces, fragments flying everywhere. Several cuts were made on Jin Song¡¯s right cheek, and he was already scared out of his wits, his body unconsciously shrinking back as he stammered, ¡°You, don¡¯t come closer.¡± This person was unknown and very dangerous. Indeed, this dangerous individual was Zhou Xufang, and his strike was effective. Scared now. Good to know fear. She planted the iron rod on the ground and tapped it twice, ¡°Come out.¡± Wearing a cap and an oversized hood over it, her mask was so large that only her eyes were visible. She looked up at the moon obscured by dark clouds, then squatted down and lifted the car. Letting go, with a ¡®Duang¡¯ sound, it shocked the two people inside the car into stupidity, and their courage was shattered. Finally, with an expressionless face, she solemnly recited a phrase, ¡°King Yan commands you to die at midnight.¡± Zhou Xufang had been watching a ghost-hunting TV show recently. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.§ã¦Ï She had a good memory and remembered many lines. It was a deep, silent night, not a soul on the street, surrounded by eerie silence, only the cold wind rustling the leaves. Jin Song felt a tingling on his scalp and shouted twice. ¡°Secretary Pang!¡± ¡°Secretary Pang!¡± Secretary Pang was in the driver¡¯s seat and had turned pale with fright. This ¡®Black-clothed Man¡¯ could¡­ really lift a car with bare hands, it was too eerie! Jin Song commanded, ¡°Get down.¡± In the dead of winter, Secretary Pang sweat profusely, ¡°Vice President¡­¡± He moved to the furthest corner of the back seat and shouted, ¡°Get down!¡± After a long mental preparation, Secretary Pang tremblingly opened the door and kept his distance, ¡°The police station is not far from here, don¡¯t, don¡¯t mess around.¡± She wasn¡¯t going to mess around. She said, ¡°Your time is not up yet.¡± She waved her hand dismissively at the secretary, her voice cold and echoing, ¡°Go.¡± Sweat as big as beans rolled down Secretary Pang¡¯s face. He plucked up his courage, walked forward, bit his lip and reached for the iron rod, ¡°Who sent you?¡± Her eyes were pitch black, her whole body covered so as not to expose an inch of skin. Her voice was stiff, ghostly, ¡°King Yan.¡± ¡°¡­¡± How could there possibly be ghosts in this world! Secretary Pang moved forward silently, taking a small step and stealthily reaching out to grab the iron rod with determination in one swift motion. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t resist and let him take it. Seeing him raise the iron rod, she stood still, tilted her head and asked, ¡°Are you going to hit Lord Black Impermanence?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Secretary Pang¡¯s eyes nearly popped out as he stared at ¡®Lord Black Impermanence¡¯ without hesitation, mustering up his courage, he raised the rod and fiercely smashed down. He used all his strength. Zhou Xufang raised her hand with a light and effortless motion, easily catching the rod. Her voice was also light but stern and rigid, her eyes steady, ¡°This belongs to the underworld, touching it will shorten your life.¡± Secretary Pang was struck dumb by her gaze. The next second, reflexively, the hand holding the iron rod let go. Well, people are still afraid of ghosts. ¡®Black Impermanence¡¯ Zhou Xufang picked up the iron rod without effort, raising and lowering it. ¡°Bang!¡± One end of the rod hit the roof of the car, immediately denting it. Secretary Pang heard the noise and shuddered, about to shrink back when his nape was grabbed. Turning around, he was dumbfounded. ¡®Lord Black Impermanence¡¯ was merely using two fingers to pinch the collar at his nape, effortlessly lifting him up, swaying left and right. Inside the car, Jin Song was already dumbfounded. Secretary Pang¡¯s legs went weak, unable to pedal at all, hanging like a sheet of paper, being carried around. He stuttered, ¡°What¡­ what are you going to do?¡± Zhou Xufang recalled another line from the ghost-hunting TV show and recited it with a deep monotone voice, ¡°How dare you disrespect Lord Black Impermanence.¡± After saying that, she shook him even harder. The strength of normal humans couldn¡¯t possibly be this great¡­ Secretary Pang was both scared and dizzy, nearly vomiting, as his whole body was covered in sweat, shaking with chattering teeth, trembling as he begged for mercy. ¡°Sir, spare my life.¡± ¡°Lord Black Impermanence, spare my life¡­¡± ¡®Lord Black Impermanence¡¯ maintained one expression from beginning to end, that of having no expression, her eyes perhaps the only things moving. She said, ¡°All right.¡± Then she let go. Secretary Pang fell to the ground. ¡®Lord Black Impermanence¡¯ wiped her fingers on herself a couple of times, seeming a bit disgusted, then tapped her iron rod on the ground twice, looking down at the man coldly, ominously saying, ¡°When your destined lifespan is over, I will come to claim your life. You may go.¡± Secretary Pang shakily got up, stumbled a few steps, and then ran off. ¡®Lord Black Impermanence¡¯ quietly curled the corners of her lips. However¡ª As soon as the man, whose ¡®life was not yet over¡¯, ran off, he began to shout loudly, ¡°Someone help! Save me!¡± ¡°Someone!¡± ¡°Quick, someone!¡± Luckily, there weren¡¯t many people on this road at night. Zhou Xufang was a bit angry, grabbing the rod, turning around, and in a flash, she was in front of the man. ¡°Don¡¯t shout.¡± Secretary Pang was completely stunned; this ¡®ghost¡¯ had floated over¡­ His eyes rolled back, and he fainted from fright. Truly faint-hearted. Fearing the passing cars might run him over, Zhou Xufang crouched down, dragged him to the side, then walked back carrying her iron rod. Jin Song took this opportunity to dial the emergency number. His hands trembled continuously, unsure of what he was pressing: ¡°Hello, is this the police station?¡± his speech was unclear from fright, ¡°Someone, someone is trying to kill me, I am at, at¡ª¡± The silhouette in the dark distance had already reached him in the blink of an eye. Jin Song was stupefied. Zhou Xufang tapped the car window with her iron rod: ¡°Hang up the phone, come out.¡± Jin Song¡¯s hand shook and the phone fell: ¡°Don¡¯t, don¡¯t,¡± his hand trembling as though he had Parkinson¡¯s, he pushed open the car door, ¡°don¡¯t kill me.¡± This woman was too bizarre, with such speed and strength, definitely not a normal human. ¡®Non-human¡¯ Zhou Xufang, holding the rod, her pitch-black eyes unmoving said, ¡°It depends on your performance.¡± Jin Song¡¯s legs went weak, leaning on the car, he wiped the sweat from his forehead: ¡°I¡¯ll give you whatever amount you want.¡± She was unmoved, utterly indifferent: ¡°We ghost messengers do not accept bribes.¡± A rod prodded against Jin Song¡¯s lungs, ¡°King Yan asks what wrongful acts you have committed in the past three months?¡± Jin Song toppled over, sitting on the ground, dumbfounded for a long time: ¡°None.¡± Still stubborn. ¡°Lying and withholding information will also be punished.¡± Zhou Xufang leaned forward, the ink in her eyes gradually fading, replaced by a smear of blood-red, slowly emerging, getting darker and deeper. Approaching the color of blood. With her crimson eyes, she stared at the man on the ground: ¡°Don¡¯t you believe I am a ghost messenger?¡± Jin Song opened his mouth, utterly terrified and unable to make a sound. She suddenly reached out, grabbed his neck, leapt onto the rooftop, he hadn¡¯t even reacted when she was holding him, took another leap, jumping between buildings as if on flat ground. Jin Song was completely petrified, his body like a dead corpse, not moving at all, his eyes not even blinking, the wind whooshing by his ears, his pupils reflecting the quickly receding tall buildings, his body swung around, elevated and dropped¡­ This journey was walking through the gates of hell. Finally, Zhou Xufang stopped on the rooftop of a tall building, still holding him, standing at the edge of the skyscraper, her hand stretched outward, his feet dangling in the air, looking down twenty meters below, the vehicles appeared tiny. ¡°Just let me release my grip,¡± Zhou Xufang loosened three fingers, holding with just two, ¡°and you will smash into a mess of flesh.¡± Jin Song snapped out of his trance: ¡°No! Don¡¯t!¡± He stiffened his body, the bandage on his head had long come undone, the blood-stained cloth still wrapped around his neck, his face as if doused with a bucket of water, all sweat, his shirt collar constricting his neck, his face deathly pale, the wound on his head oozing blood, blurring his sight, he didn¡¯t dare to move, fearing she would let go and he¡¯d certainly die beyond recognition from such a height. Zhou Xufang asked, ¡°Confess, or not?¡± Jin Song didn¡¯t dare to hesitate for a second: ¡°I¡¯ll confess!¡± his voice hoarse as he shouted, ¡°I confess!¡± She then carried the man to another location and let go. Jin Song was thrown onto the rooftop, his bones turned soft with fear, and he sat on the ground like a dehydrated fish, gasping for breath, taking a long time to recover. ¡°Spill it fast.¡± Jiang Zhi was still waiting for her at the hospital, and Zhou Xufang had no patience left. Jin Song instinctively shrank back and began tremblingly, ¡°The month before last, I injured someone, whipped them harshly with a belt.¡± Zhou Xufang stared at him coldly, ¡°What else?¡± Jin Song dared not prevaricate, his eyes already bloodshot, and he wiped the blood off his forehead with a shaking hand, ¡°I kidnapped the Jiang Family¡¯s youngest son.¡± Her tone suddenly rose, ¡°Why did you kidnap him?¡± Jin Song choked on his words. She suddenly leaned in close, her blood-red eyes staring him down, repeated, ¡°Why did you kidnap him?¡± Jin Song¡¯s shoulders shivered with fear, hitting the wall of the rooftop, ¡°He replaced the female lead in the movie, causing me a great loss.¡± He swallowed hard, his voice trembling terribly, ¡°I wanted to toy with him, and the Jiang Family wanted me to test him, see if he was faking his illness.¡± The Jiang Family¡­ Zhou Xufang immediately asked, ¡°Which member of the Jiang Family?¡± ¡°Jiang Fuli.¡± I wonder if Jiang Zhi knows? He¡¯s so clever, he must have found out too, so why didn¡¯t he beat up that wicked woman? Could he beat her up? She wanted to beat her up. Zhou Xufang thought for a while, many things she couldn¡¯t understand, glanced at Jin Song with red eyes, ¡°What else?¡± Jin Song, terrified, dared not hide anything, ¡°Last month, I had someone hit him with a car.¡± He shivered as he explained, ¡°But it was unsuccessful.¡± Hearing this, Zhou Xufang¡¯s eyes turned completely cold, as Shuangjiang¡¯s investigation was indeed correct. ¡°Who drove the car?¡± Jin Song¡¯s lips turned purple, cold sweat rolled into the cuts on his face from the car glass, numbing the pain, ¡°Xiao Linsu.¡± It all matched up. Zhou Xufang said, ¡°Continue.¡± ¡°Last week, I had someone kidnap Cheng Lianzhou¡¯s wife and child, forcing him to give me his shares.¡± Cheng Lianzhou was an old shareholder of Jin Family. Jin Song was frozen by the cold wind, unable to move at all, only instinctively shrank back, ¡°The day before yesterday, I manipulated a sixteen-year-old boy into signing with me,¡± he paused, ¡°to serve me in the future.¡± This beast! Zhou Xufang cursed him inwardly, ¡°Anything else?¡± ¡°No, no more.¡± ¡°Really nothing else?¡± Jin Song nodded desperately, ¡°Nothing!¡± Zhou Xufang was finally satisfied, reached into her pocket, turned off the recorder, leaned over, and reached out. Jin Song hastily backed away, ¡°Don¡¯t kill me!¡± Humph, beast! Zhou Xufang picked him up with one hand, walked to the edge of the rooftop, and leaped down. ¡°Ah ah ah ah ah¡ª¡± The scream, like ghosts wailing and wolves howling. After landing, Zhou Xufang threw the man to the ground, wiped her hands on her pants, and said, ¡°King Yan has ordered me to spare you for now. If you commit evil again, I will come for your life.¡± Jin Song was petrified with fear, lying motionless on the ground, his crotch soaked. Zhou Xufang kicked him with the tip of her shoe, her tone serious and stern, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to thank Lord Black Impermanence?¡± She had played a bit player for over a year, and she thought her acting was quite average. But, she felt she was very suited to play a female ghost. Jin Song buried his head, hands clenched at his sides, ¡°Thank¡­ Lord Black Impermanence.¡± How could there be real ghosts in the world. Only those who play tricks and deceive. He clenched his teeth, still shaking, terrified, angry, and outraged. ¡°You object?¡± Zhou Xufang kicked his car, it seems not to use much force, yet the hood caved in. Jin Song trembled even more violently; his legs were too weak to stand, so he crawled backward. Zhou Xufang stepped on his sleeve, leaned over with eyes as red as if they were melting fresh blood inside, and pointed a finger at the back of Jin Song¡¯s head, ¡°In the future, will you dare to do evil again?¡± Jin Song stuttered nervously, ¡°No, I dare not.¡± ¡°Remember what you said today.¡± After she spoke, she raised her hand and knocked him out. Then, clapping her hands and picking up her iron rod, Shuangjiang could only temporarily control the surveillance; it wasn¡¯t suitable for her to stay long. She was about to leave when she heard the sound of a car door opening. Someone was there! Zhou Xufang pulled her hat down. The voice came from behind, ¡°Lord Black Impermanence.¡± That voice¡­ She only needed to hear it once to know who it was. He was five meters away, his words slow and deliberate, ¡°Jiang Family¡¯s youngest son, Jiang Zhi.¡± He walked forward leisurely, ¡°Can you check for me how much longer I have to live?¡± He heard everything! His car was parked five meters away, the night wind was loud and interfering with her hearing; she couldn¡¯t hear the car sound from the rooftop. When had he come? How long had he been here? What had he heard? The more Zhou Xufang thought, the more annoyed she became; she didn¡¯t turn around but hid behind the car. Oh, she nonchalantly replied in a disguised voice, like a ghost, ¡°You have a long life ahead, you¡¯ll live to a ripe old age.¡± Jiang Zhi chuckled softly, his steps halting. Zhou Xufang stood behind the car, afraid he saw her ¡®misdeeds.¡¯ She crouched down, secretly grabbed Jin Song¡¯s leg, and dragged him to the back. Jiang Zhi just stood still, watching her ¡®actions.¡¯ ¡°Did you see?¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t know how much he had seen. Wrapped in a coat, Jiang Zhi coughed in the wind-blown mess of his hair. Under the light, the dim, foggy blue showed a hint of tenderness apart from its flamboyance, ¡°What?¡± Zhou Xufang pushed the car, and it moved. Her strength was truly extraordinary. Jiang Zhi said, ¡°I saw.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you scared?¡± The part where she jumped onto the rooftop and scurried around like a monkey, he probably didn¡¯t see; she could at least be sure that he came after she had reached the rooftop; otherwise, with her hearing, it was impossible not to hear. So, Jiang Zhi only saw her using brute force. No, there was also her crude violence, posing and feigning, and beating people. Zhou Xufang was so annoyed; she should have been more ladylike, like the queen in the TV dramas who spoke with a pinched voice and twisted her fingers¡­ The wind carried Jiang Zhi¡¯s voice over, ¡°Afraid of what? Afraid that Lord Black Impermanence will come for my life?¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± He laughed, his eyes twinkling with stars and lamp light, from a distance, a beautiful figure in the painting, the wind fluttering his coattails, every scene was beautifully exquisite. ¡°So, I¡¯ve done so many terrible things, why haven¡¯t you come for me yet?¡± He drawled with a smile before calling out again, ¡°Lord Black Impermanence.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡®Lord Black Impermanence¡¯ was a bit dazed, a bit stunned, a bit numb, a bit overwhelmed. Suddenly, Jiang Zhi tentatively called her, ¡°Zhou Xufang?¡± ¡®Lord Black Impermanence¡¯ pinched a deep and muffled voice, ¡°I am not Zhou Xufang.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t argue and switched, ¡°Fine, Lord Black Impermanence,¡± his tone slightly heavy and resounding, ¡°turn around.¡± Silence followed, only the sound of the wind. After a long time, she finally turned around. ¡°You only saw the surface.¡± Her eyes had lost their red tint, from a distance, through the light she looked at his ink-smeared eyes, ¡°But I am a hundred times, a thousand times more dangerous than what you saw.¡± She was clad entirely in black, enveloped tightly. She glanced at Jiang Zhi once and dared not meet his gaze again; without waiting for him to come closer, she placed the recording pen on the car, ¡°I took your grandmother¡¯s employment fee, this is all I should do.¡± Having said that, she turned and ran into the night. Jiang Zhi watched the direction in which her figure disappeared, kicked a stone on the ground, ¡°Why hide? I¡¯m not going to eat you.¡± Chapter 104 - Chapter 104: 104: Jiang Zhi elopes with Fang Bao to get married and have children. Chapter 104: 104: Jiang Zhi elopes with Fang Bao to get married and have children. The moon was still hidden behind the dark clouds, gusts of cold wind chilling to the bone. The burly figure hidden in the driver¡¯s seat poked his head out now, looking cautiously around. ¡°Boss.¡± Jiang Zhi continued to stare off into the distance, ignoring him. Ah Wan felt a bit spooked, hugging herself tightly while clutching the steering wheel and extending her head a bit further to ask her employer, ¡°Do you believe in ghosts?¡± Jiang Zhi, standing in the wind, coughed, ¡°I don¡¯t.¡± Ah Wan felt even colder, hugging herself tighter, ¡°I didn¡¯t either.¡± She glanced at Jin Song¡¯s car in the rearview mirror, ¡°Just at that moment, I started to believe.¡± Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t be bothered to engage in this nonsense with him. Ah Wan¡¯s spooky story was becoming more convincing as he spoke; pinching two fingers together, he mimed a flying motion and added a sound effect, ¡°Whoosh¡ª¡± He dragged the ¡®whoosh¡¯ out especially long, ¡°with that sound, a person just appeared, as if falling from the sky¡ªI didn¡¯t even see clearly where she drilled out from with a person in tow.¡± He got himself worked up, finding it unbelievable. He speculated, ¡°Could she have emerged from the ground?¡± He grew more certain, ¡°Boss, she might really be Lord Black Impermanence.¡± Jiang Zhi coldly threw two words at him, ¡°Idiot.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 You¡¯re the idiot! ¡°Boss,¡± He really shouldn¡¯t speak when the employer is in a bad mood, but he couldn¡¯t help it, ¡°Is Lord Black Impermanence truly that errand runner?¡± The employer treated him as an idiot, not answering any of his questions. It didn¡¯t matter. He could deduce it himself using his sharp wits, ¡°Then she definitely isn¡¯t Miss Zhou, who does the film application. Miss Zhou isn¡¯t that violent; Miss Zhou is gentle, kind, pure, adorable, and of noble character¡ª¡± Jiang Zhi got into the back seat and slammed the car door shut, ¡°Shut up and drive.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Ah Wan closed his mouth for all of about fifteen seconds. ¡°Eh, where did Third Young Master go?¡± Third Young Master left too quickly, missing that terrifying scene, otherwise, Ah Wan could ask if he believed in ghosts, ¡°Did he go to the police station already? That was fast indeed, truly a man swift as the wind¡ª¡± ¡°Annoying.¡± ¡°¡­ then I¡¯ll stop talking.¡± Outside the police station, the lights were on, and a person stood straight, smoking a cigarette. Xue Bingxue walked over from the distant streetlight. ¡°Mr. Xiao.¡± Xiao Linsu turned around, saw him approaching, and then put out his cigarette. The air was thick with the scent of tobacco; nearby, a trash can was filled with many cigarette butts. Xue Bingxue glanced at it, then withdrew his gaze, ¡°Wei¡¯er¡¯s mother is still on the way, shall we talk in the meantime?¡± Xiao Linsu tossed his extinguished cigarette into the trash can, ¡°Talk about what?¡± Xue Bingxue cut to the chase, ¡°About Wei¡¯er.¡± Twenty minutes later, Old Lady Jiang also made her way to the police station. Jiang Wei¡¯er wasn¡¯t released; she was detained. It was clear that Old Lady Jiang meant that troubles were brewing; she wanted Wei¡¯er to stay inside as a cautionary measure, to also calm down and reflect. Jiang Zhi made a trip to the Xue Family and by the time he got back to the hospital, it was already nine o¡¯clock. He could see from a distance that there was a dark figure squatting at the hospital entrance, head drooping while playing with the pebbles on the ground. It was Lord Black Impermanence. Jiang Zhi got out of the car and walked over, standing and looking down at the figure, ¡°What are you squatting here for?¡± She forced a not-very-natural smile, ¡°Waiting for you.¡± Nice words to say. This girl wasn¡¯t good at flattering, yet sometimes her dull and dazed words hit right in the heart. Jiang Zhi squatted down, took her hand, and pulled her up. She was docile at that moment, not withdrawing her hand but letting him lead her away instead. She asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t we going back to the ward?¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t answer her, ¡°Lin Wanwan, no need to follow any longer.¡± Ah Wan, who was closely trailing behind, ¡°¡­ Oh.¡± He always felt his employer was about to do something bad with Miss Zhou; it was a pity, really. Now out of earshot, he couldn¡¯t constantly remind or urge his employer. All he could do was pray to the heavens, hoping his employer would be decent. Jiang Zhi led her away to the park behind the hospital, and because it was night, there was no one else in the park, only the sound of the wind rustling through the leaves. The nighttime temperature was very low, a thin layer of ice had formed over the pond, and the light from the streetlamps fell upon it, casting a halo. ¡°Why come here?¡± Jiang Zhi placed his hands on her shoulders, making her sit on a wooden chair, ¡°I have something to tell you.¡± Zhou Xufang looked up at him, ¡°Jiang Zhi¡ª¡± Jiang Zhi suddenly bent down, calling out her name, ¡°You know, I really like you.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Xufang was baffled by this sudden confession; she had thought he was going to interrogate her. ¡°As for how much,¡± he furrowed his beautiful brows, pondering for a moment, ¡°I even doubt if I¡¯m sick, a bit inseparable from you.¡± It was probably more than just a bit. Jiang Zhi sat down next to her, took her hand, and played with it in his, sounding quite casual, as if he was resigned to his fate, ¡°If nothing unexpected happens, we will get married in the future, and you will become my wife.¡± Married¡­ Wife¡­ Zhou Xufang¡¯s eyelashes fluttered in shock. He continued in the same undisturbed tone, speaking slowly, ¡°There won¡¯t be any accidents. If you¡¯re willing, it¡¯ll all come naturally. If you¡¯re not, I¡¯ll be persistent.¡± ¡°We won¡¯t have kids for now, I¡¯m sterile, but if you want, I can get treated, and we can have as many as you like; I can afford to support them.¡± A blush started to creep onto Zhou Xufang¡¯s face. ¡°It¡¯s fine if you¡¯re afraid of people, I can move out with you. Anywhere is fine, those people from the Jiang family, you can see them if you want or I can hide you from them.¡± He also said, ¡°You like money, I can give it all to you, however much you want I can earn for you.¡± His tone was neither light nor heavy, as if he was talking about the most ordinary things. But to Zhou Xufang¡¯s ears, it sounded like a storm surge. He leaned against the back of the chair, spreading one hand behind her, entwining a little tuft of her hair around his finger, ¡°I will live for a long time, I can¡¯t give you a guarantee now, but don¡¯t worry, misfortunes endure for a thousand years, someone as bad as me will surely outlive you.¡± Her eyes stung, and she sniffled. By her ear, Jiang Zhi¡¯s voice was especially tender, devoid of his usual arrogance, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter that you¡¯re different from others, I¡¯m not a good person either, I¡¯ve done so many bad things, I¡¯ve grown bold. You can¡¯t scare me.¡± ¡°Zhou Xufang,¡± She tilted her head, looking at him seriously, Jiang Zhi reached out, cupping her head, stroking it gently, ¡°Think about it carefully. This Jiang Zhi, do you want him or not?¡± After asking, he didn¡¯t wait for her answer. He simply laid down all his words, tearing open his thoughts and attitude and laying them bare before her. ¡°If you don¡¯t want me,¡± he pressed harder, ruffling her hair into a mess before letting go, ¡°I¡¯ll have to resort to tricks on you.¡± Force and might, he could play that game too. But with her, he preferred to persuade and to coax. He had never liked someone this much, nor had he ever said such cheesy things. He was resigned to falling for her. He was getting impatient, afraid ¡®Lord Black Impermanence¡¯ would run away again. ¡°I am a bit anxious now; I can¡¯t take it slow.¡± His face was also very red, even his neck blushed with a touch of spring, his beautiful eyes brimming with emotion, yet he pushed forward recklessly. ¡°We can¡¯t be just good friends, we have to be lovers.¡± He lowered his head, and kissed her trembling eyelid, ¡°Because I like you too much.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s face turned into a bright red Fuji apple. After Jiang Zhi finished speaking, he stood up, tilting her drooping head back up, ¡°I won¡¯t give you much time to think. If you agree to be with me, come kiss me. I won¡¯t wait too long. If you don¡¯t come, I¡¯ll come to get you.¡± He poked her face with his finger, ¡°Do you understand?¡± Zhou Xufang nodded slowly. His home¡¯s slow one probably needed some time to react. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t press her further, lifting her up and dusting off the snowflakes that had just settled on her shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s snowing.¡± Tiny snowflakes, blown by the wind, drifted down. ¡°Oh.¡± Zhou Xufang was still burning up, her mind full of Jiang Zhi¡¯s words, echoing over and over, bombarding her until she felt her head was about to explode with fireworks. Jiang Zhi put the hood of her sweatshirt on her head, tightening it so the wind wouldn¡¯t blow inside her collar, ¡°Are you cold?¡± ¡°Not cold.¡± She was so hot. She felt as if her blood was boiling. Jiang Zhi was very pleased with the tumultuous look in her eyes, smiling with a lifted corner of his mouth, ¡°I¡¯m cold.¡± After saying that, he extended his hand, ¡°Hold it, warm me up.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Still in a whirlwind of emotions, Zhou Xufang dumbly wrapped her hands around Jiang Zhi¡¯s hand, holding his with her two little hands in an extremely awkward and stiff ¡¯embrace¡¯. Ah Wan saw that and became more convinced of her own thought, Miss Zhou¡¯s employer must not be a human. Returning to the sickroom, Zhou Xufang dared not look at Jiang Zhi anymore, a single glance would make her eyes moist and her ears turn red, like¡­ like she had taken a stimulant. Moreover, her footsteps seemed a bit floaty, giving Jiang Zhi the illusion that she might leap into the sky at any moment and stand shoulder to shoulder with the moon. Seeing her dazed, Jiang Zhi helped her take off her coat and hang it on the coat rack, ¡°Why is your face still so red?¡± Zhou Xufang covered her face, ¡°I might have a fever.¡± And the symptoms were quite severe. She really wanted to jump up and down, to roll around and splash in the sea, for some reason, she was so excited, so boiling, so full of hot blood, so restless¡­ Jiang Zhi asked her to sit down, touched her forehead, and sure enough, she had a high fever again. ¡°Lin Wanwan, go call the doctor over.¡± Ah Wan: ¡°Oh.¡± Afraid that she would catch cold, Jiang Zhi turned up the air conditioning a few degrees and put her coat back on her, ¡°Why do you always get fevers?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± She pushed the clothes away, ¡°Don¡¯t wear it, so hot.¡± ¡°Just bear with it for a moment, you¡¯ll catch cold without it.¡± Jiang Zhi insisted on dressing her and zipped up all the way, ¡°Did it happen like this before?¡± Zhou Xufang shook her head. Her health used to be very good, and she hardly ever got sick, Jiang Zhi asked again, ¡°When did it start then?¡± She pondered for a moment. Oh, it started from the first time he kissed the palm of her hand. She was too embarrassed to say it and lowered her head to secretly exhale a big breath, as if it didn¡¯t feel so hot anymore, then she exhaled another big breath, with her tongue out like she was breathing, like a¡­ dog. ¡°Do you often get fevers when I¡¯m not here?¡± Zhou Xufang felt a bit dizzy and blurted out, ¡°No, it only happens when you¡¯re here.¡± After saying that she felt it wasn¡¯t quite right, she explained, ¡°I¡¯m not blaming you.¡± Jiang Zhi did not press further, looking at the little girl¡¯s rosy cheeks, he seemed to be thinking about something. ¡°Boss, the doctor is here.¡± Ah Wan brought in a male doctor in his thirties. Although Jiang Zhi was not pleased, he didn¡¯t say anything, ¡°Have a look at her.¡± The male doctor took a thermometer and asked Zhou Xufang to put it inside her clothes. Zhou Xufang hesitated and did not move, ¡°Can we not take my temperature?¡± Her temperature was not the same as normal people, afraid that it might frighten someone. ¡°Ah?¡± Without taking the temperature, how to proceed? The male doctor thought for a moment, reached out to touch the patient¡¯s forehead to make a rough estimate, but his hand hadn¡¯t even reached halfway¡ª ¡°Where are you touching?¡± This voice was eerie and weird, chilling. The male doctor shuddered, withdrew his hand, and stuttered, ¡°T-t-take the temperature.¡± In front of him, touching his person, was he considered dead? Jiang Zhi glared coldly, stood up, and blocked Zhou Xufang firmly behind him, completely disregarding the demeanor and pride of a family scion, ferociously protective like a mother wolf guarding her cubs, ¡°Back off, stay away from her.¡± Doctor: ¡°¡­¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± Crazy! ¡®Crazy¡¯ Jiang Zhi even put Zhou Xufang¡¯s hat on, not willing to let anyone catch a glimpse of her, he squatted down and touched her forehead. Hmm? He touched her forehead again, ¡°You don¡¯t seem to have a fever anymore.¡± He looked back, ¡°Both of you, get out.¡± Doctor: ¡°¡­¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± Crazy! Ah Wan led the doctor out again, slamming the door shut with great force, then apologetically smiled at the doctor, pointed to the sickroom, pointed to his own head, and shook his head. The doctor instantly understood, giving him a sympathetic look. In the end¡ª The doctor left, and Ah Wan pressed her ear against the door. Jiang Zhi crouched in front of Zhou Xufang, carefully examining her face. He reached out a finger and poked a dimple into her cheek: ¡°What is this body made of?¡± Her face wasn¡¯t very fleshy, but it was soft, creating a small dimple with every poke, turning a bunch of them bright red. Zhou Xufang felt embarrassed and dodged backward, replying, ¡°Blood and flesh.¡± After pausing, she added seriously, ¡°And bones too.¡± Jiang Zhi laughed, ¡°I want to try it.¡± ¡°Try what?¡± He leaned in and pecked her on the left cheek. She froze. Then he pecked the right cheek as well. Her face flushed red, followed by her ears, her neck¡­ even the back of her hands turned red. Her whole body heated up; the temperature that just went down surged back. She was about to stick out her tongue and pant like a dog when a refreshingly cool hand covered her head. ¡°I guessed right, your temperature isn¡¯t rising because of a fever, it¡¯s because of my kisses.¡± ¡°¡­¡± At two in the morning, after Jiang Zhi fell asleep. Zhou Xufang tiptoed stealthily out of the sickroom, went outside, found a spot without people or surveillance, and then began to jump up and down. She wanted to bounce off to the moon and roll around. Occasionally at night, passersby would witness this. Suddenly, a child exclaimed: ¡°Mom, Mom, there¡¯s an alien!¡± The young woman smiled and asked, ¡°Where?¡± The child looked up at the sky: ¡°It jumped to the moon.¡± In the sky, a blob of darkness flitted from east to west and then from west back to east¡­ After numerous repetitions, it plunged into a pond¡­ The next day, light snow fell. With Winter Solstice approaching, the cold air nipped sharply. An attendant at Fusheng Inn led the way ahead: ¡°Third Young Master, this way please.¡± Xue Bingxue entered a private room in Bamboo Garden. Inside, Jin Song had been waiting, and seeing his guest arrive, stood up: ¡°Would Third Young Master like tea or wine?¡± He still had bandages wrapped around his head and several cuts on his face. Xue Bingxue took a seat: ¡°Tea,¡± scrutinizing the time. Thanks to his naturally babyish face, his age wasn¡¯t apparent, and even with a stern expression, he seemed harmless, ¡°I have patients waiting, so I can only spare ten minutes.¡± Jin Song personally poured him a cup of tea; his eyes were surrounded by dark circles, and he looked haggard: ¡°Then I¡¯ll get straight to the point.¡± He approached the topic directly, ¡°I heard that Third Young Master and Fifth Miss of the Jiang Family share a childhood friendship.¡± Xue Bingxue, aware of why he was invited today, simply said, ¡°Speak your terms.¡± Jin Song set down the teapot: ¡°The Xue Family has an investment case that I am very interested in.¡± This investment case had been specially authorized to Xue Bingxue by Old Sir Xue; it was a high-investment, key project. The old man showed his partiality by intentionally handing the lucrative opportunity to his beloved youngest son, aiming to empower him to gain influence and authority. Not only Jin Song but also his older brother Jin Lei was very interested in this project and had already contacted Xue Bingxue in private. ¡°I wonder if Third Young Master is interested in cooperation?¡± Xue Bingxue picked up his teacup, took a sip, and stated, ¡°Get her out as soon as possible.¡± Jin Song raised his cup, ¡°Pleasure doing business.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er was released that afternoon. Jin Song withdrew his lawsuit, and in less than half an hour, rumors began to circulate that the new product development of the Xue Family would cooperate with Tang Heng. As everyone knew, the Jiang and Xue families were old friends. Third Young Master Xue¡¯s decision was most likely also the intent of Old Lady Jiang, hence rumors started to spread in the circles that the vendetta between Old Lady Jiang and the Jin brothers had thawed. When Jiang Wei¡¯er arrived at the old mansion, Old Lady Jiang had just awoken from her nap and was being assisted by servants in washing up. Charcoal burned in the room, crackling softly. Old Lady Jiang took a mouthful of warm water to rinse her mouth, spitting it into a porcelain cup, and glanced over: ¡°You¡¯ve come.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er had just returned from the police station, looking disheveled. ¡°Having spent a day inside, have you sobered up yet?¡± Old Lady Jiang inquired. Her eyes were bloodshot, her complexion pale, and she looked unwell: ¡°Apart from breaking up, I¡¯ll do whatever you want.¡± You¡¯re still muddled,¡± Old Lady Jiang washed her hands and dried them, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, there¡¯s nothing more to say. From now on, you don¡¯t need to enter the Jiang¡¯s doors ever again. I¡¯ll give you the video of Xiao Linsu. As a token of motherly affection, let this be my final gesture of dignity for you.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er immediately knelt down, eyes reddening, ¡°Mother¡ª¡± ¡°No need to call me mother anymore. I¡¯m not worthy to be a mother to someone who resents the matchmaker. From today onwards, you and the Jiang Family have no relationship.¡± After a moment¡¯s pause, Old Lady Jiang said in a stern voice, ¡°Ah Gui, show the guest out.¡± Chapter 105 - Chapter 105: 105: Fang Bao protects her husband, abusing Jiang Fuli Chapter 105: 105: Fang Bao protects her husband, abusing Jiang Fuli Boom! After the flash of lightning and the roar of thunder, the downpour began. ¡°Old Madam,¡± Gui Family looked at the deluge outside, ¡°Fifth Miss is still kneeling out there.¡± Old Lady Jiang was lying on her side on the couch, pinching the bridge of her nose, ¡°Let her kneel. Without a taste of hardship, she will never come to her senses.¡± Gui Family was not at ease and glanced outside several times, ¡°Mr. Xiao has also arrived.¡± After a moment¡¯s thought, she still stepped forward to persuade, ¡°Old Madam, why not let them¡ª¡± Her words were cut off. ¡°Don¡¯t plead for that girl.¡± Old Lady Jiang fell silent for a while, then heaved a long sigh, ¡°That child is not bad, it¡¯s just a pity, her lot in life is poor, and she will not have peace for the rest of her days.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er had been kneeling for five hours, the cold seeping into her bones, her body couldn¡¯t take it, and she fainted. When she woke up again, she was in the hospital. There was no one in the hospital room, it was very quiet. Outside, it had already grown dark and the lights were off, leaving the room dim and shadowy. She lay with her eyes open, took a while to recover, then sat up and called out, ¡°Linsu.¡± ¡°Linsu.¡± No one answered her. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï She put on a piece of clothing, got out of bed, and walked towards the door pushing her IV stand. The room was dark, with only the light from the corridor filtering in. As she got closer, she could hear people talking in the corridor outside; the sound was indistinct and hard to make out. Taking a few more steps towards the door, she finally recognized the voice as Lin Shuang¡¯s. ¡°Did you get the video?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Lin Shuang asked, ¡°When are you going to break up with her?¡± After that, there was a long silence. Xiao Linsu¡¯s originally weak voice laced with a few strands of rage, ¡°It¡¯s none of your business.¡± ¡°Weren¡¯t we in agreement? Once you get the video, you¡¯d break it off cleanly with her. Linsu, have you grown attached to her?¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er had known Lin Shuang for two years. Lin Shuang was decisive and firm in her actions, always swift like the wind in everything she did, indifferent towards everyone. Jiang Wei¡¯er had never heard her speak with such a tone, vulnerable, pleading, and filled with anguish. She even choked up, ¡°You can¡¯t bear to lay a finger on her, yet you didn¡¯t hesitate to burn me with cigarette butts.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t compare yourself to her.¡± Xiao Linsu was a singer by origin, naturally blessed with a gentle voice. However, the words he spoke were invisibly hurtful. ¡°That¡¯s true, what am I compared to her? She is the Fifth Miss of the Jiang Family, a lady favored by the heavens. Without the conveniences provided by her Jiang Family, we would never have been able to flourish under Jin Song¡¯s watchful eye.¡± Lin Shuang said with a bitter laugh, ¡°You knew she was from the Jiang Family from the start, from the beginning, I never measured up to her in your heart.¡± ¡°Enough.¡± He lowered his voice, tossing the words at her face one by one, ¡°Wasn¡¯t this all your own choice? Have I ever coerced you?¡± Lin Shuang found herself at a loss for words. Click¡ª The door was pushed open, and Xiao Linsu turned his head to see Jiang Wei¡¯er standing at the entrance of the hospital room. She stood leaning against the door, unsteady, ¡°What are you talking about? I don¡¯t understand.¡± Xiao Linsu¡¯s first reaction was to avert his gaze, and then he reached out to pull her towards him. ¡°Wei¡¯er.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er stepped back, knocking over the IV stand. The needle was torn from her flesh, and droplets of blood beaded on the back of her hand. She paid it no mind, staring at Xiao Linsu, ¡°You knew who I was from the start, you approached me just to get rid of Jin Song.¡± She paused, a lump in her throat, ¡°Is that what you meant by your conversation just now?¡± He remained silent. Jiang Wei¡¯er staggered a few steps, barely able to stand, her body trembling, her voice quivering, ¡°Fine, you don¡¯t have to answer that. Just answer me one question, the burn on Lin Shuang¡¯s hand, who did it?¡± She had seen the burn scars from cigarette butts on Lin Shuang¡¯s arm. He was still silent. Jiang Wei¡¯er¡¯s eyes were bloodshot as she yelled, ¡°Xiao Linsu!¡± It was at that moment that footsteps approached. Four men, the leader in his thirties with a respectable appearance, came over from the other end of the hallway, ¡°Are you Xiao Linsu?¡± ¡°I am.¡± The man pulled out a badge from his pocket, ¡°I¡¯m Lin Qian from the Criminal Investigation Squad. You¡¯re suspected of being involved in an intentional murder case, and we¡¯re arresting you on an emergency basis. You have the right to remain silent, but anything you say can and will be used in a court of law. Please come with us.¡± As one wave subsided, another arose. The calamity arrived without warning. Jiang Wei¡¯er even doubted that she was hearing things. ¡°Attempted murder,¡± she looked at Xiao Linsu and asked, ¡°who is the victim?¡± Xiao Linsu remained silent the whole time. Lin Qian said, ¡°He hit someone with a car, the victim was the Jiang Family¡¯s youngest son, Jiang Zhi.¡± He added, ¡°It¡¯s an attempted murder, which constitutes a crime.¡± Attempted murder¡­ Jiang Zhi¡­ Jiang Wei¡¯er felt as if all her strength had been drained, and she collapsed backward. ¡°Wei¡¯er!¡± It was Xiao Linsu, calling out her name with a voice hoarse from exertion. Jiang Wei¡¯er had slept for an entire day and had a very long dream. In the dream were Xiao Linsu at eighteen, Xiao Linsu at twenty-eight, her mother, Jin Song in the video wielding a whip, and also Xue Bingxue holding her hand, begging her not to leave. ¡°Wei¡¯er.¡± ¡°Wei¡¯er.¡± Someone was calling her. Jiang Wei¡¯er opened her eyes to blinding lights; she squinted and looked at the person by the bed. ¡°Bingxue.¡± She had had a fever all night, and her voice was completely hoarse. Xue Bingxue got up from the chair and squatted in front of her. ¡°Hm?¡± He had watched over her all night and had barely closed his eyes; his eyes were red with blood vessels. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± He didn¡¯t hear her clearly and leaned in closer, ¡°What?¡± She looked at the ceiling and murmured to herself, ¡°Where did I go wrong¡­¡± Where did she go wrong? Why had things turned out so absurdly? ¡°You did nothing wrong,¡± Xue Bingxue said in her ear, ¡°you¡¯ve done nothing wrong at all.¡± She had simply fallen for someone with all her heart. ¡°I¡¯ll sleep a little more¡­¡± She closed her eyes again, drifting in and out of consciousness. Outside the room, the rain continued to fall. In the evening, Old Madam Jiang had come by and stood outside the hospital room without entering; after a while, she walked away. Jiang Wei¡¯er drifted in and out of consciousness for several days. The high fever would not subside, and she was mostly delirious, having lost a lot of weight. During these days, a lot of things had happened. Mr. Xue and Jin Song had fallen out, with Mr. Xue withdrawing his investment from Tang Heng. Jin Family¡¯s stock price plummeted, and using this as justification, Jin Lei forcefully stripped Jin Song of all his voting rights in the board of directors. The next day, Jin Song was involved in criminal cases and was urgently arrested by the police. When the police came to arrest him, Jin Family¡¯s corporate penthouse was holding a shareholders¡¯ meeting. Jin Song, having been stripped of his powers, had no right to participate. He was causing a scene outside the conference room, and when the doors opened, he realized that Xue Bingxue was also inside, sitting in the top seat, with Jin Lei next to him. Jin Song had an epiphany. He had unwittingly led a wolf into his house. ¡°Xue Bingxue, are you playing me?¡± Xue Bingxue didn¡¯t look like a businessman at all, dressed in a suit, elegant like a gentleman without any aggression: ¡°Yes,¡± he said, ¡°Jiang Zhi is my childhood friend, and Jiang Wei¡¯er is the girl I like. You targeted both of them, so I played you.¡± Everyone said that Mr. Xue was an upright gentleman. Turns out, even upright gentlemen can resort to unscrupulous tactics. Jin Song cursed loudly and lunged forward, wishing he could tear Xue Bingxue apart to vent his anger. The two officers who were restraining him pulled him back, pressing down hard: ¡°Keep it up, and we¡¯ll charge you with assaulting a police officer.¡± He was dragged away, still struggling and cursing for a long time before finally quieting down. The internal strife within Jin Family could now be considered concluded. Jin Song was suspected of several criminal offenses and, once imprisoned, it would not be so easy for him to get out. From then on, Jin Family¡¯s Tang Heng would be dominated by Jin Lei alone. Jin Lei was naturally pleased with the outcome, his mood blooming with joy. He turned around and bowed to Xue Bingxue, ¡°Thank you, Mr. Xue, for your assistance.¡± Xue Bingxue had the face of a child, his expression harmless: ¡°I did not assist you. From now on, our Xue Family will be taking control of Jin Family.¡± Jin Lei was shocked! This too was a wolf that devoured people without spitting out the bones! In the afternoon, Qiao Nanchu came to the hospital; he looked at Jiang Zhi and saw that his complexion was not bad. ¡°Why haven¡¯t you been discharged yet?¡± Jiang Zhi covered his mouth and coughed twice, convincingly, ¡°Seriously ill.¡± Qiao Nanchu threw a fruit peel at him, ¡°Stop faking.¡± He tossed half a tangerine into his mouth and got to the point, ¡°I¡¯ve already given the recording to Mr. Cheng.¡± ¡°Uh-huh.¡± ¡°With the recording and witness testimony, you should be looking at a sentence of maybe ten or twenty years.¡± Qiao Nanchu asked him, ¡°How did you get that recording?¡± Jiang Zhi lay on one arm, looking the picture of sickness, too weak to even move, and said breathily, ¡°Picked it up on the street.¡± This guy couldn¡¯t lie to save his life. Qiao Nanchu didn¡¯t press him for details, peeled another tangerine, stretched out his legs, moved his neck around, and casually said, ¡°Who¡¯s got the clout to make a beast like Jin Song come clean?¡± Jiang Zhi continued the banter, ¡°Could be a Fairy.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Qiao Nanchu choked, laughed, and cursed him for being insane. His phone rang. Qiao Nanchu threw the tangerine peel on the table and picked up. He listened for just over a minute, then hung up, ¡°Someone provided an alibi for Jiang Xiaolin, clearing him from suspicion for the time being.¡± Jiang Zhi lifted his eyelids, ¡°Who?¡± ¡°The Luo Family, Tang Xiang.¡± The chair was too small for comfort, so Qiao Nanchu stood up, kicked the chair away, ¡°Four suspects, all now have alibis. We¡¯ll have to start by investigating who gave false testimony.¡± In the end, whoever pushed Jiang Zhi to the brink wasn¡¯t from the Jiang Family, it was someone from the Luo Family. ¡°What about that watch?¡± Qiao Nanchu rubbed his chin, chuckled, ¡°With your drawing skills, looking for clues is like finding a needle in a haystack.¡± Jiang Zhi directly pelted him with a fruit peel, telling him to get lost. Qiao Nanchu laughed and left with a cigarette in his mouth. At the end of the hospital corridor, someone stood against the light making a call; the light from the window was blocked, casting a slender shadow on the floor. ¡°Tang Xiang?¡± ¡°Check her out for me.¡± She turned around; it was Jiang Fuli. Jiang Fuli¡¯s features were sharp, with deep-set eyes and a high nose bridge, lacking the gentleness and grace of an Eastern woman, yet altogether, she exuded a bold and stunning beauty. She spoke in a low voice, instructing the person on the phone as she walked, ¡°Be careful with Jiang Xiaolin. If he could scratch your hand, he could also land you with an attempted murder charge.¡± The person she was talking to was the prime suspect in pushing Jiang Zhi into danger, Huang Peidong. After a few more instructions, Jiang Fuli hung up the phone and barely took a turn around the corner when someone crashed right into her. With a loud thud. Her phone clattered to the ground; she lost her balance and stumbled backward, slamming hard against the wall, causing half her shoulder to throb with pain. The other person said, ¡°Sorry.¡± Cold and dry, the word lacked any sincerity. It was a young girl dressed in black, head down, avoiding eye contact. Jiang Fuli straightened her business suit a bit, ¡°With so much space, did you do that on purpose?¡± The young girl looked up, expressionless, ¡°No.¡± Jiang Fuli sized her up, ¡°Have we met before?¡± Still with no change in facial expression, ¡°No.¡± ¡°Since we haven¡¯t, why did you bump into me?¡± ¡°Unintentional.¡± Jiang Fuli laughed, revealing a sharpness in her eyes, ¡°Do I look that easy to fool?¡± The girl who¡¯d been allowing her eyelids to droop finally revealed her full eyes: phoenix-shaped, slender and upturned at the corners, cold and detached, ¡°Then are you going to sue me?¡± Not a hint of regret or politeness, full of aggression. Such hostility. Jiang Fuli was puzzled, wondering when she had offended this person. ¡°If you¡¯re not suing, then I¡¯m leaving.¡± She turned her head to go. Jiang Fuli, arms crossed, stood still, ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± She turned back, unfazed, ¡°I¡¯m called Black Impermanence.¡± ¡°` ¡°¡­¡± After Jiang Fuli had walked away, ¡®Black Impermanence¡¯ tiptoed back and chased after her. Reaching the stairwell, she picked up a pebble from a potted plant and peeked over the edge, aiming carefully. After taking aim, she threw the pebble. ¡°Ah!¡± The scream of Jiang Fuli echoed from the stairwell. ¡®Black Impermanence¡¯ finally revealed a satisfied and joyous smile. Humph, it¡¯s this bad woman who bullied Jiang Zhi. After several days of overcast weather, it finally cleared up in the afternoon. Tang Xiang finished giving her statement and signed it, then left the police station. Jiang Xiaolin hadn¡¯t left yet, standing at the entrance with one hand in his pocket and straightening his tie with the other, sporting a pair of rimless glasses today. His features were well-defined, and he had a handsome appearance. Dressed to the nines and looking every bit the part! ¡°Shall I take you?¡± Mature and composed? Apparently, outsiders have a misunderstanding about the eldest grandson of the main branch of the Jiang Family. Tang Xiang thought he was nothing but a wolf in sheep¡¯s clothing. She bypassed him: ¡°I drove here.¡± Jiang Xiaolin leisurely followed her, ¡°That¡¯s perfect, I didn¡¯t drive. You can give me a lift.¡± ¡°¡­¡± He was just like he had been in their school days, going out of his way to annoy her. Turning her head, Tang Xiang said with an indifferent face, ¡°Mr. Jiang, are we that familiar?¡± Jiang Xiaolin calmly adjusted the glasses on the bridge of his nose: ¡°If we¡¯re not familiar, then why did you rush to testify for me?¡± Eager? Damn you! Tang Xiang didn¡¯t want to get into a squabble with him. She took her car keys and strode ahead: ¡°One thing doesn¡¯t relate to the other. I just did what a good citizen should do.¡± She opened the car door, got in, and was about to close it¡ª Jiang Xiaolin raised his hand and held it open: ¡°A good citizen would give me a ride home, right?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Tang Xiang wished she could smash the car keys into his face. Jiang Xiaolin got into the car, and Tang Xiang sat in the driver¡¯s seat and drove in silence. ¡°Why not talk?¡± She kept her eyes on the road: ¡°I have nothing to say to you.¡± Jiang Xiaolin leaned on the car window, looking over at her. The elegance of a young noble was tossed aside. His mature, composed demeanor was gone to the dogs. He spoke disgracefully: ¡°Then let¡¯s talk about your underwear.¡± Tang Xiang turned her head: ¡°Jiang Xiaolin!¡± He acknowledged her with a hum and suddenly changed his demeanor, appearing more respectful: ¡°It wasn¡¯t me who took them.¡± She was at her wit¡¯s end: ¡°Can we not bring this up anymore?¡± That was from their sophomore year. While she was in the bathhouse, someone stole her underwear. Wrapped in a towel, she chased after the thief, only to find Jiang Xiaolin outside the bathhouse with her missing underwear hanging off his backpack. She had directly reported him to the academic affairs office. Because of that incident, Jiang Xiaolin had five points deducted from his conduct score and also got the nickname ¡°lecher¡±. Since then, he had begun to target her. He said, ¡°We can¡¯t turn the page.¡± ¡°Fine.¡± She decided to have it out with him, ¡°If you¡¯re not a lecher, what were you doing outside the women¡¯s bathhouse in the middle of the night?¡± He casually replied: ¡°I was passing by.¡± Passing by? Ha. ¡°Don¡¯t believe me?¡± Suddenly, Jiang Xiaolin moved closer to her, his face devoid of a smile, his presence dominating, ¡°If I were a lecher, would you still be able to sit here arguing with me?¡± Hiss¡ª The car stopped. Tang Xiang yelled at him: ¡°Get out!¡± ¡°` Chapter 106 - Chapter 106: 106: Infighting at Jiang Family, Exclusive Favoritism Towards Jiang Zhi Chapter 106: 106: Infighting at Jiang Family, Exclusive Favoritism Towards Jiang Zhi Tang Xiang yelled at him, ¡°Get out!¡± Jiang Xiaolin wasn¡¯t annoyed, he got out of the car and stood idly, looking at the person inside. She furrowed her brows, her hand resting on the steering wheel. The car didn¡¯t move for a long while, her gaze occasionally swept over the rearview mirror. ¡°Aren¡¯t you leaving? Can¡¯t bear to part with me?¡± He leaned over, coming close to the car window, casually watching her. ¡°Huang Peidong,¡± Tang Xiang turned her head to ask, ¡°is he the murderer?¡± Like Jiang Xiaolin, Huang Peidong had scratch marks on his hand and was also a suspect; furthermore, Huang Peidong was under Jiang Fuli¡¯s command and had sufficient motive to commit the crime. Jiang Xiaolin folded his arms and stood up straight, ¡°That, you¡¯ll have to ask the police.¡± Fine. Tang Xiang immediately closed the car window, but before it was fully shut, a hand stopped it, ¡°He isn¡¯t.¡± In other words, Jiang Zhi being pushed into the sea had nothing to do with Jiang Fuli. Tang Xiang pondered for a moment, then understood and looked at the person outside the window, ¡°Then the scratches on his hand, you did that, right?¡± Jiang Xiaolin neither confirmed nor denied, released his hand, and smiled meaningfully, ¡°You believe what a sex maniac says?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? ¡°¡­¡± She rolled up the car window abruptly and stepped on the accelerator, driving away. She has no patience, after all these years, still the same bad temper! Jiang Xiaolin watched the departing car tail lights and smiled. Moments later. A Bentley parked by the roadside. A middle-aged man got out of the car and walked around to the back seat to open the door. Jiang Xiaolin got into the car, saying, ¡°Back to the old mansion.¡± About an hour later, Jiang Xiaolin arrived at the Jiang family home. The whole family was there, except for Jiang Wei¡¯er who was still in the hospital. Even a few rarely seen in-laws had come, and he was the last to arrive. A servant went ahead to announce, ¡°Old Madam, Lin has arrived.¡± The room fell silent. Jiang Xiaolin entered the room, strolling leisurely, ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m a bit late.¡± Old Madam Jiang sat directly ahead and set down her cup to ask him, ¡°Have you had lunch?¡± Jiang Xiaolin shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± ¡°How can you not eat?¡± the Old Lady instructed, ¡°Ah Gui, ask the kitchen to warm some soup for Lin.¡± Ah Gui agreed and went to the kitchen. At that moment, Jiang Zhi coughed twice. He was at the place closest to the charcoal fire, on Old Madam Jiang¡¯s left hand side. In the Jiang Family, with its many rules, everyone was either sitting or standing, each with heads held high, except for him, half-sitting, half-lying in a rocking chair padded with a thick layer of quilts. His occasional coughs caused the chair to rock as well. Truly pampered. Old Madam Jiang doted on him, fearful that he might catch cold, and called a servant over, ¡°Add some more charcoal.¡± She then hurried the butler, ¡°Why hasn¡¯t the hand warmer been sent over yet?¡± ¡°It¡¯s here, it¡¯s here.¡± Outside the door, Ah Gui carried in some soup and also brought a delicate little hand warmer. That hand warmer was an antique. Old Madam Jiang didn¡¯t hesitate to use it; she covered it with a layer of velvet fabric to warm Jiang Zhi¡¯s hands. With the Winter Solstice approaching, the weather was getting colder. Jiang Zhi held the hand warmer, avoiding people, his continuous coughs making his voice sound somewhat raspy, ¡°Go to my room and fetch me a blanket.¡± Ah Wan was just about to go. Fuxi came over to refill Jiang Zhi¡¯s tea, ¡°I¡¯ll go.¡± In the entire Jiang Family, Miss Fuxi was the best-natured, unpretentious, always gentle and soft-spoken to everyone. Ah Wan thought she was a good person, but for some reason, the master always treated her coldly. ¡°No need.¡± Jiang Zhi glanced back, ¡°Lin Wanwan, you go.¡± Ah Wan: ¡°Oh.¡± After a few exchanges of pleasantries among the people in the room, Old Madam Jiang got to the point. ¡°I called you all here today because there are two matters.¡± The old lady was spirited as she spoke forcefully, ¡°A few days ago, Brother Zhi was pushed into the sea and injured. He¡¯s still in the hospital.¡± The old lady had always kept this in mind and was now ready to settle the account. ¡°I am an old woman and cannot manage business affairs anymore. I can turn a blind eye to the usual squabbles,¡± she continued at a measured pace, ¡°but using such filthy tactics against Brother Zhi¡¯s life, we must get to the bottom of this.¡± The five branches of the Jiang Family were traditionally discordant, competing against each other in business. Old Madam Jiang usually let them fend for themselves, each holding shares and beyond her control, but they couldn¡¯t cross the line¡ªand Jiang Zhi was that line. This was well known among the Jiang Family. ¡°Mother, you are right.¡± The speaker was Jiang Xiaolin¡¯s father, the eldest son of the Jiang Family, Jiang Weikai, who was in politics and rarely involved in family affairs, ¡°Such lowly acts cannot be condoned.¡± Jiang Wei Li hurriedly agreed as well. The two brothers¡ªone never frivolous, the other always smiling¡ªtheir temperaments were nothing alike, representing two extremes. Old Madam Jiang cast a glance at the two brothers, ¡°Among the four suspects, one is from the first house, one from the second house,¡± she paused, ¡°do you have anything to say?¡± Jiang Weikai looked at Jiang Xiaolin, who was sipping his soup silently. The second house spoke first; it was Luo Changfang, Jiang Weili¡¯s wife, who started, smiling without agitation, ¡°Mother, I don¡¯t quite agree with what you said. First of all, whether Huang Peidong is the murderer of Brother Zhi or not, even if he is, what does that have to do with our second house?¡± Luo Changfang from the second house was the third daughter of the Luo Family, as shrewd as her father. Old Madam Jiang was not in a hurry, she spread her hands and argued, ¡°Huang Peidong was promoted to his current position by Fuli, and it was Fuli who provided his alibi. Being a simple-minded old woman, I can only guess this, his close aides, after all, are your second house¡¯s hands.¡± Luo Changfang¡¯s smile faded; just as she was about to defend herself, she was stopped by her daughter, Jiang Fuli. Luo Changfang then withheld her words, allowing Jiang Fuli to speak. ¡°Grandma,¡± she poured a cup of tea, moistening her throat, ¡°then do you think I am foolish?¡± ¡°You,¡± Old Madam Jiang laughed, ¡°are smart.¡± Her mother¡¯s shrewdness and her father¡¯s adaptability, she had learned them all thoroughly. Jiang Fuli spoke calmly and composedly, ¡°That¡¯s it, if I really wanted to harm our Jiang Family people, I wouldn¡¯t be foolish enough to use my own close aides.¡± She set down the cup, her eyes shifting slightly, a touch of sorrow appearing, ¡°Brother Zhi is my direct cousin, his health isn¡¯t good, thinking about how he might¡­¡± Perhaps not live past twenty-five. Where would she need to dirty her hands? She calmed her emotions before continuing, ¡°Thinking like this, the heart of one who is a sister aches as if cut by knives. How could I be so cruel, and besides, such fratricidal behavior would simply disgust you, wouldn¡¯t it, Grandma? Even if I¡¯m muddled, I wouldn¡¯t be foolish to that extent.¡± With just a few words, she absolved herself cleanly. Truly, she had a clever mouth, very articulate. Old Madam Jiang turned her head and asked the eldest grandchild of the main house, ¡°Lin, do you have anything to say?¡± Scratches were also on the back of his hand; he couldn¡¯t shake off the suspicion. Yet, he replied, ¡°No.¡± Setting down his spoon, his expression was calm, showing no signs of panic, ¡°I just came back from the police station, Grandma, you can just inquire with the Criminal Investigation Team. I won¡¯t repeat it, to avoid delaying your rest.¡± One was eloquent, and the other was reticent, each had their own way. Old Madam Jiang picked up her teacup, flicked some tea leaves off her face, and took a sip, ¡°You each stick to your own story, both making sense. I¡¯m old, and my mind is slow, I can¡¯t distinguish the truth from the lies in your words. In that case, let¡¯s wait for the police investigation. Before the murderer is caught, apart from Brother Zhi, you all will stay at the old mansion. If you need to go out for anything, you also have to report it to me. Any objections?¡± Jiang Weikai said, ¡°Mother, your decision stands.¡± Old Madam Jiang set down her cup, ¡°Well, I¡¯ve said my piece, it¡¯s best if the investigation shows it has nothing to do with you, otherwise,¡± she paused briefly, her voice deepening, ¡°I¡¯ll personally clean house.¡± Everyone fell silent. Only Jiang Zhi was coughing, as if uninvolved, not saying a word, just languishing sickly. ¡°I have one more thing.¡± Old Madam Jiang called the butler forward, ¡°Jiang Chuan, play the recording for everyone.¡± The recording wasn¡¯t the original file; it was played on a mobile phone, which included some background noise, but it was still clear. It was Jin Song¡¯s voice. ¡°I abducted the young master of the Jiang Family.¡± His voice sounded trembling, as if he had been frightened. Aside from Jin Song, there was also a girl¡¯s voice, deliberately disguised, sounding very low. ¡°Why did you abduct him?¡± Jin Song did not immediately answer; the girl asked again, ¡°Why did you abduct him?¡± ¡°He changed the female lead of the movie, causing me a huge loss,¡± Jin Song faltered, ¡°Also, I wanted to play with him, and moreover, the Jiang family wanted me to test him to see if he was feigning illness.¡± ¡°Which member of the Jiang family?¡± ¡°Jiang Fuli.¡± ¡°Anything else?¡± ¡°Last month, I had someone ram into him,¡± he explained shakingly, ¡°but it wasn¡¯t successful.¡± ¡°Who drove the car to hit him?¡± ¡°Xiao Linsu.¡± The recording stopped there. The few sentences were very clear in meaning. Old Madam Jiang¡¯s gaze sharpened, ¡°Fuli, do you have any explanation?¡± Without waiting for her to speak, she continued, ¡°I had someone check your interactions with Jin Song, and it indeed happened.¡± It was clear; no need for her to make excuses. Old Madam¡¯s voice deepened, her expression cooling, ¡°Our Jiang Family and the Jin Family have always been on bad terms; I never knew you had contact with Jin Song behind the scenes.¡± Jiang Fuli remained unruffled, not a hint of guilt visible, calmly explaining, ¡°Yes, there were some dealings in the past, business matters, nothing personal.¡± Old Madam snorted, ¡°No personal relations, and yet you asked him to test Brother Zhi?¡± She didn¡¯t even pause to think, quickly responding, logically and coherently, ¡°I was worried about Brother Zhi¡¯s illness, so I asked him to pay more attention, not expecting him to have ill intentions. If I knew he would use such methods, how could I agree?¡± She lifted her head, her eyes meeting the old madam¡¯s without wavering, open and honest, ¡°Moreover, I was afraid it might hurt Brother Zhi, so I specifically sent an additional group of people to watch over him.¡± She spoke succinctly, everything making sense, every statement in its place, without a single flaw. She always remained calm, ¡°Grandma, if you don¡¯t believe me, you can send someone to check. The errand company I hired operates legitimately.¡± Old Lady Jiang was momentarily at a loss for words. She had made secondary preparations, guessing that she couldn¡¯t trust Jin Song and had thus hired someone else. Now, it had become her excuse for exoneration; she had seemingly managed everything perfectly, seamlessly. ¡°I don¡¯t care whether the people you hired are legitimate or not, just give me a reason¡ªwhy on earth are you testing Brother Zhi? He has been sick for over a decade; how could you think he¡¯s faking it?¡± Old Lady Jiang was annoyed, somewhat aggressive, ¡°Besides, even if he were faking it, what are you scheming?¡± Jiang Fuli looked aggrieved, ¡°Grandma, why would you think that?¡± She glanced at Jiang Zhi and said, ¡°Brother Zhi is well, of course I want him to take over my responsibilities. In the fifth branch of the Jiang Family, uncle owns the most shares, and naturally, Brother Zhi should take over that part. My abilities are limited; I genuinely hope Brother Zhi gets well soon to help me share the burden at the company.¡± Silver-tongued indeed, silver-tongued. Old Lady Jiang sighed, ¡°You could even talk a dead person back to life; what more could I say.¡± She probably wouldn¡¯t find anything; her granddaughter was always meticulous in her actions. She smiled, jokingly, ¡°Grandma, your insight is clear.¡± The Jiang Family, oh, just too many clever people. A mess. Old Lady Jiang pinched the bridge of her nose, had a servant add a cup of tea, took a break, and cornered her with her own words, ¡°Since you¡¯ve said your abilities are limited, let Lin take care of the hotel module. When Brother Zhi is a bit better, let him take over.¡± Jiang Fuli agreed quickly, ¡°Okay, Grandma, as you decide.¡± This time, she had to comply. The hotel sector wasn¡¯t small; it was enough to peel off a layer of her skin. But it wasn¡¯t over, Old Lady Jiang continued, ¡°This matter can¡¯t just be left as is. Family siblings should speak openly if they have concerns, not resort to underhanded tactics. Go kneel in my study; you can come out when you have reflected.¡± Standing up for Jiang Zhi. Among all the legitimate and illegitimate descendants of the Jiang Family, Jiang Zhi was Old Lady Jiang¡¯s most treasured. Jiang Fuli¡¯s hand, hanging by her side, clenched a little tighter, her face still smiling, ¡°Hmm, granddaughter knows her mistake.¡± Her gaze casually swept over to the direction of the rocking chair. Everyone in the room was holding their breath, only Jiang Zhi nonchalantly playing with his hand warmer. He was born lucky, his father, Jiang Weixuan, being the Old Madam¡¯s most beloved son, just unlucky to die young. His face resembled his mother¡¯s, similarly a beauty that courted calamity. ¡°Today, since you all are here, I¡¯ll just lay it out¡ªon the business field, it¡¯s every man for himself; I won¡¯t intervene,¡± Old Lady Jiang spoke sharply, ¡°But if anyone dares harbor any inappropriate thoughts privately, I will not be lenient.¡± Several sons and grandsons quickly agreed. Only then did Old Madam rise with her walking stick, ¡°Brother Zhi, come with me.¡± ¡°Cough, cough, cough, cough¡­¡± Jiang Zhi stretched lazily in a dragging manner, taking slow, coughing steps, weak and wobbly, supported by someone. This drama, he just watched, minor squabbles that can¡¯t hurt the muscles or move the bones, utterly uninteresting. Once they reached the bedroom, Old Lady Jiang dismissed the servants and asked Jiang Zhi, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± He walked a few steps and ran out of energy, found a spot to lie down, somewhat weary, ¡°What do you mean ¡®what¡¯s going on¡¯?¡± ¡°Fuli, why would she think you are feigning illness?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a question for her.¡± Jiang Zhi had a slight fever, his cheeks flushed, weakly keeping his eyelids open, ¡°You know I¡¯m ill, she¡¯s ill too.¡± ¡°What illness?¡± He hummed, ¡°Paranoia.¡± Old Lady Jiang scolded him for not being serious but refrained from asking further. Ah Wan, standing by the doorway, felt a bit dizzy, such a contradiction¡ªhow come the Old Madam treats her employer like the apple of her eye, yet this apple doesn¡¯t seem to want to stay in its socket? Just an inexplicable feeling. In the outside hall, people had mostly dispersed; Jiang Fuli stopped Jiang Xiaolin. ¡°Cousin, wait.¡± Jiang Xiaolin¡¯s attitude was neither cold nor warm, ¡°What is it?¡± She approached with a smile, ¡°Nothing much, just curious about how you arranged things; you¡¯re so well-informed. The police had just learned about the scratch marks on the killer¡¯s hand, and you had already added one under my people.¡± This whole basin of dirty water was cast together. He was in trouble, turned around and got her in trouble too; now the Old Madam wouldn¡¯t just focus on his branch of the family, truly shared hardship. Jiang Xiaolin, wearing glasses, his demeanor calm and scholarly, ¡°Trouble comes from the mouth.¡± In an elder¡¯s tone, he almost admonished, ¡°Fuli, be careful what you say without evidence.¡± Old fox! Jiang Fuli smirked, ¡°Thank you for the reminder, big cousin.¡± Jiang Xiaolin said ¡®you¡¯re welcome¡¯, waved his hand, ¡°Go kneel, once you¡¯ve reflected, come and learn from me.¡± ¡°¡­¡± She clenched her teeth in silence. When Jiang Xiaolin left, Luo Changfang muttered, ¡°Doesn¡¯t he hate Brother Zhi? What is this about then? How come he¡¯s matching up with you?¡± This Lin from the Jiang family is both righteous and wicked. His allegiance seems to change all the time. Jiang Weili stood up from his seat and cautioned, ¡°Fuli, don¡¯t be too impatient.¡± Seeing that no one else was around, he said, ¡°Keep an eye on Jin Song. If he dares to speak out of line¡­¡± He left the sentence hanging. Jiang Fuli nodded, understanding. Today, Jiang Zhi was staying overnight at the old house. He looked at his script for a while but couldn¡¯t focus at all. He was completely unable to get into it, his thoughts wandering off to Zhou Xufang. He realized something; ever since this girl started running wild in his heart, he had lost interest in almost everything else. He reached for his phone to send her a voice message. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Zhou Xufang replied with a period. She didn¡¯t even type a word, just answered him with punctuation. Jiang Zhi was slightly annoyed: ¡°What are you doing?¡± Zhou Xufang then replied with two words. ¡°Selling stall.¡± Since Jiang Zhi was staying at the Jiang family house today and didn¡¯t need her to ¡®follow¡¯ him, she had the time to ride her electric trike to work. She really couldn¡¯t sit still for a moment. ¡°Putting on screen protectors again?¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t help but nag her: ¡°Can¡¯t you take a break?¡± Zhou Xufang replied: ¡°.¡± Another period! He had so much he wanted to tell her, yet she had nothing to say back to him?! Jiang Zhi was very displeased inside, crumpling the script into a ball. He held back his anger and asked, ¡°Is it cold outside?¡± ¡°Not cold.¡± ¡°Waiting under the bridge.¡± Zhou Xufang replied with a voice message this time: ¡°Don¡¯t come.¡± She wasn¡¯t afraid of the cold, but Jiang Zhi was quite delicate. Jiang Zhi responded in a rather unreasonable tone: ¡°I¡¯m coming anyway.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°.¡± Another period. Jiang Zhi was increasingly unable to tolerate these periods. They made him feel neglected, brushed off, unloved, and undervalued: ¡°Stop with the periods. If you have nothing to say, just send me a kissy face emoji.¡± Zhou Xufang typed back: ¡°I don¡¯t have any emoji.¡± ¡°Go online and find one.¡± ¡°.¡± Alright. Jiang Zhi found one himself and sent it to her. ¡°Send me this.¡± She probably struggled for a bit, and a few minutes later, she replied, ¡°I don¡¯t know how.¡± Zhou Xufang never used emoji and barely socialized. She knew nothing about social media apps, only capable of basic typing and voice messages. She was a high-IQ life idiot, best at using food delivery apps. ¡°Click this emoji, then add it,¡± Jiang Zhi was stubborn about this kissy face emoji, ¡°and then forward it to me.¡± Zhou Xufang was still figuring it out. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± ¡°Got it yet?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Send it to me.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Zhou Xufang then sent that kissy face emoji over. Jiang Zhi took a screenshot. The irritation in his heart was placated by her actions: ¡°Wait there, I¡¯m coming over now to give you a kiss.¡± Chapter 107 - Chapter 107: 107: Going with my wife to apply a screen protector~ Chapter 107: 107: Going with my wife to apply a screen protector~ ¡°Wait, I¡¯ll come over to kiss you right now.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°.¡± Another period. Jiang Zhi grabbed his coat, walked outside, and sent a voice message: ¡°Don¡¯t use periods.¡± ¡°Send me an emoticon.¡± The late-stage obsessive-compulsive patient, Zhou Xufang, sent an ellipsis back. Jiang Zhi: ¡­ He just couldn¡¯t seem to flirt with her. The drive from the Jiang Mansion to Ba Yi Bridge took over an hour. Ah Wan was a cautious driver and extra slow, which made Jiang Zhi kick him out of the driver¡¯s seat in annoyance. Jiang Zhi¡¯s driving was like drifting. Ah Wan almost threw up. However, they picked the wrong time to arrive. From a distance, they saw a young man with dyed yellow hair sitting at Zhou Xufang¡¯s stall. He was dressed flashily and wore small black diamond earrings that gave off a ¡®street¡¯ vibe. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï The flashy yellow-haired young man was flirting with Zhou Xufang, wearing a self-assured grin that he thought was devastatingly handsome: ¡°Can I get your WeChat? I¡¯ll come back to your stall for screen protector services next time.¡± He was, at best, bronze level. Then, he met the king, Jiang Zhi. Jiang Zhi, with his frosted, muted blue hair, strolled over casually: ¡°Sure.¡± He took out a moon-white handkerchief from his high-end coat pocket, placed it on the seat, and sat down. His peach blossom eyes slightly lifted at the corners as he hooked in the soul of anyone who looked on, his murderous aura tinged with an elegant unworldliness, ¡°You can come directly to me, I¡¯ll do it for you.¡± The flashy yellow-haired young man was stunned, and it took him a long time to stammer out: ¡°You, who are you?¡± He seemed somewhat familiar. Jiang Zhi raised his hand, knocking on the small table Zhou Xufang used for applying screen protectors. His watch knocked against the table corner with a soft clink. He said, ¡°I¡¯m the ¡®Boss Lady¡¯ of this stall.¡± ¡°¡­¡± That watch was worth eight figures. The yellow-haired street youth scurried away, defeated. ¡°Why did you come?¡± Zhou Xufang was very happy, her eyes curving into a smile. Jiang Zhi nonchalantly flirted, ¡°To give you a kiss.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Xufang, bashful and thin-skinned, was afraid someone would overhear them. She looked around nervously, feeling guilty without having done anything wrong. It wasn¡¯t dark yet, and there were already quite a number of street vendors. Next to the screen protector stall was a stir-fried noodle vendor, run by a lady in her fifties who had been quietly watching Jiang Zhi for a long time: ¡°Xiao Zhou, is that your boyfriend?¡± ¡®Xiao Zhou¡¯ was about to explain¡ª ¡®Xiao Zhou¡¯s boyfriend¡¯ with his long legs stepped right over the stall to stand next to Zhou Xufang: ¡°Have you eaten?¡± Zhou Xufang said no. It was just past four. ¡°I brought something for you.¡± Jiang Zhi sent Ah Wan to get the insulated food container from the car. He then pulled up a stool beside Zhou Xufang, ¡°You eat first. I¡¯ll watch the stall for you.¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± That was the dinner his mom had prepared for him! He was so annoyed! In the end, Ah Wan reluctantly handed over his own meal to Zhou Xufang. Zhou Xufang thanked him, took a bite of the rib, and asked Jiang Zhi, ¡°Do you know how to apply it?¡± Meanwhile, Ah Wan watched the rib, his heart bleeding. Jiang Zhi faced the wind, his hair fluttering: ¡°What¡¯s so hard about it?¡± Fifteen minutes later, the first customer arrived. The customer selected a tempered screen protector, twenty yuan. Jiang Zhi professionally peeled off the old phone protector and wiped the screen clean with a little damp cotton cloth before carefully applying the new one¡ª ¡°Hey!¡± The customer, a burly man in his thirties or forties with an intimidating build, looked like he had a short temper. ¡°How did you apply this? The screen is full of bubbles!¡± ¡°It¡¯s crooked!¡± ¡°Do you even know how to do this?!¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± If Zhou Xufang wasn¡¯t there, he might have thrown the man into the river nearby. He restarted, trying to reapply the screen protector. ¡°It¡¯s still crooked!¡± ¡°There¡¯s another bubble underneath.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll scratch my phone if you keep scraping like that.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Clang! She tossed her phone. The other person shut up. ¡°If it¡¯s scratched, I¡¯ll compensate you with a car,¡± Jiang Zhi kicked the small table, her peach blossom eyes lifting with a frosty air, ¡°Are you going to shut up now?¡± Customer: ¡°¡­¡± In Imperial City, every other person is a ¡®master.¡¯ Look at her clothes, look at that demeanor¡­ She could really be a ¡®master.¡¯ The customer stopped talking, eyeing the screen full of air bubbles, with a herd of ¡®f*cks¡¯ galloping in their mind. Zhou Xufang also saw the bubbles: ¡°Let me do it.¡± Jiang Zhi was still scraping bubbles off the screen with a small metal piece, ¡°You eat.¡± She quickly wolfed down a few bites: ¡°I¡¯m done.¡± ¡°You think I did a bad job?¡± he said, and with one forceful scrape, a large scratch appeared on the phone protector. Customer: ¡°¡­¡± If she kept scraping, who knows if the screen would survive¡ªinside, the customer¡¯s herd of ¡®f*cks¡¯ was racing even more fiercely. ¡°That¡­¡± The customer took out a twenty-yuan note from their wallet, placed it on the table, ¡°I won¡¯t put it on.¡± Then they picked up their phone, full of bubbles and scratches, and left. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t care and handed the twenty yuan to Zhou Xufang: ¡°Tell me, do you think I did a bad job?¡± She was irked, ¡°I even made you money.¡± Zhou Xufang said that wasn¡¯t it: ¡°Your hands are all red from the cold.¡± She was concerned for him. Jiang Zhi chuckled with her head tilted back, stuffed the money into her pocket, and then presented her frostbitten hands, eyes gleaming on this cloudy day: ¡°Then warm them up for me.¡± The outdoor temperature had plummeted below zero, it was very cold. Zhou Xufang turned to grab two large boxes used for stocking goods. Digging through them, she found some leftover hand warmers from a few days ago. Ripping one open, she adhered it to Jiang Zhi¡¯s arm through his clothing, then tore another, placing it symmetrically on his other arm, sticking it on straight and proper. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Then Zhou Xufang pulled down Jiang Zhi¡¯s sleeves, adjusted them, and upon looking at him again, noticed: ¡°Your face is red from the cold too.¡± You can¡¯t stick a hand warmer on a face, after all. Jiang Zhi leaned his handsome face closer: ¡°Just covering it with your hand would suffice.¡± Zhou Xufang stared blankly at him for several seconds, then her face dawned with realization; she stood up and fetched the yellow helmet that only showed the eyes from the tricycle, and swiftly put it on Jiang Zhi: ¡°Now the wind won¡¯t get to you.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± What kind of creature was it that he had fallen for? Ah Wan shook her head, unable to bear watching. The Boss Lady at the fried noodle stall couldn¡¯t stand it either: ¡°Xiao Zhou.¡± Xiao Zhou turned her head: ¡°Hmm?¡± The Boss Lady asked: ¡°What does your boyfriend do?¡± Zhou Xufang was quite proud: ¡°He acts in films.¡± Oh, she caught herself and blushed as she explained, ¡°He¡¯s not my boyfriend.¡± The Boss Lady looked at Jiang Zhi several times. The more she looked, the less satisfied she became compared to her own nephew. She wanted to introduce her nephew to Xiao Zhou, seeing that Xiao Zhou was the most hardworking girl on the street, and many stall owners wanted to introduce their relatives to her. As for Xiao Zhou¡¯s ¡®boyfriend¡¯¡­ Sporting a head of blue hair, he didn¡¯t look like any respectable young man at first glance, probably one of those hundred and eighth-rate minor celebrities, with no real talent but still wanting to wear branded clothes every day, probably even relying on Xiao Zhou to make a living. After concocting a million-word backstory in her head, the Boss Lady sighed: ¡°What matters most in life is to be down to earth.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t quite understand but still responded with an ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°And another thing, a man¡¯s looks come second,¡± the Boss Lady spoke earnestly, ¡°He should be ambitious.¡± Zhou Xufang continued with ¡°Oh¡± and asked Jiang Zhi: ¡°Are you still cold?¡± Jiang Zhi said he wasn¡¯t cold but then coughed right after that. The Boss Lady chimed in: ¡°Your boyfriend seems quite delicate.¡± Zhou Xufang understood this time and was a bit upset: ¡°He¡¯s just not very healthy.¡± Even if he were delicate, it wasn¡¯t for others to criticize. ¡°It¡¯s no good for a man to be so weak,¡± the Boss Lady commented. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t want to continue the conversation and smoothed things over for Jiang Zhi. Once he stopped coughing, she said, ¡°There¡¯s a place selling hot water bottles over there. Wait here, I¡¯ll go buy you one.¡± Jiang Zhi, wearing the yellow helmet: ¡°Hmm.¡± Zhou Xufang ran off to buy the hot water bottle. Jiang Zhi removed the helmet and ruffled his hair: ¡°Ah Wan.¡± His voice was not as sweet as it had been in front of Zhou Xufang. Ah Wan came over: ¡°Boss.¡± ¡°Could you check if the land under my feet is for sale?¡± Ah Wan asked, ¡°What do you want to buy land for?¡± ¡°To build a store for Zhou Xufang.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s peach blossom eyes were half-closed, flickering briefly across the fried noodle stall, ¡°Might as well spruce up this street while I¡¯m at it.¡± After giving his instructions, he leaned against the little table where screens were being fitted, propping his chin with one hand, and dialed Xue Baoyi¡¯s number: ¡°Screen fitting?¡± His legs, too long to fit comfortably anywhere, were stretched out lazily under the table. Ah Wan gave an OK sign and, turning his head, ¡®complained¡¯ to the fried noodle stall owner: ¡°Eh, my boss, he¡¯s got too much money.¡± The Boss Lady: ¡°¡­¡± Ah Wan stepped in front of the stall, his large frame blocking half of it, and continued ¡®complaining¡¯: ¡°Yeah, and he¡¯s so delicate. Wherever there¡¯s a breeze, that¡¯s where he decides to build a house. Such a pampered one!¡± The Boss Lady: ¡°¡­¡± Ah Wan fished out car keys from his pocket, toying with them: ¡°He¡¯s too fragile, really. The old lady at home built several medical labs and contracted quite a few hospitals just to take care of him.¡± These car keys you recognize, right? The Boss Lady: ¡°¡­¡± Ah Wan used the car key to clean out his ear: ¡°And he¡¯s not ambitious at all, just prancing around, nothing to do but jet off to international film festivals. Truly, his feet aren¡¯t planted on the ground.¡± Although his employer was indeed quite annoying. But no matter what, this was his employer. As the saying goes, ¡°The ruler¡¯s grain eaten, his affairs done,¡± and he, Lin Wanwan, was a man of integrity and pride. He could have his complaints, but could others? They could not! Ah Wan heaved a deep sigh: ¡°Ah, if he doesn¡¯t get serious about his acting, my boss will have to go home and inherit the family fortune.¡± The fried noodle stall owner: ¡°¡­¡± Her face turning various shades, finally, she forced a ¡®kind and friendly¡¯ smile: ¡°Xiao Zhou¡¯s boyfriend, would you like some rice noodles?¡± Xiao Zhou¡¯s boyfriend was on the phone, saying, ¡°Come to Zhou Xu¡¯s place to pick up goods, name your price, the money will come from me,¡± and after finishing this sentence, he finally turned his attention to the fried noodle stall: ¡°No, thank you.¡± These manners and actions¡­ The more she watched, the more unbelievable it became. Seizing the opportunity, Ah Wan chimed in again: ¡°Look at him, so delicate. His stomach is spoiled by all the fancy foods, can¡¯t eat just anything, unlike me,¡± he swiftly changed the topic, ¡°Madam, I¡¯ll have a bowl of rice noodles.¡± Still engulfed in the anxious thought of ¡®this street is going to be bought by Xiao Zhou¡¯s boyfriend, and the noodle stall might be cleaned out,¡¯ the fried noodle Boss Lady managed an ¡°¡­ Oh.¡± Remembering his pork rib meal that Miss Zhou who was applying screen protectors had eaten, Ah Wan felt very hungry: ¡°Can I add an egg?¡± ¡°Yes, you can.¡± ¡°Then give me four sunny-side-up eggs.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± In the end, the Boss Lady, with trembling hands, served Ah Wan a portion of rice noodles fit for three, adding two large spoonfuls of pork and a spoonful of chicken dices, and absolutely refused to take any money. Ah Wan ate with relish, stuffing a big piece of egg into his mouth, and turned to see Zhou Xufang hurrying back: ¡°Boss, the young Boss Lady is back.¡± Jiang Zhi was visibly delighted by this title, a spring-like joy shimmering in his eyes. Zhou Xufang had run all the way here, the hand warmer stuffed inside her clothing. When she reached Jiang Zhi, she handed over the warmed handwarmer she¡¯d been hiding: ¡°It¡¯s fully charged, hold it.¡± The spring in Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes flourished. His little girl knew how to take care of people. ¡°Xiao Zhou.¡± The neighboring fried noodle stall owner suddenly gave Zhou Xufang a thumbs-up: ¡°Your boyfriend is really good.¡± Zhou Xufang was first dumbfounded, then, touching her hot ears, she sneaked a glance at Jiang Zhi and muttered quietly, ¡°He¡¯s not my boyfriend.¡± The Boss Lady clenched her fists, making an encouraging gesture: ¡°Hold on to him, go for it!¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± This Boss Lady is weird. There were many strange people today. The recent customer was a young man who appeared to have run all the way and was still catching his breath, his head covered with sweat: ¡°Screen fitting?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Zhou Xufang asked the customer, ¡°Which kind do you want to have fitted?¡± The customer said, ¡°Any kind.¡± So Zhou Xufang picked out a tempered glass protector for him. After it was fitted, the customer asked again, ¡°You have phone cases, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Give me ten.¡± Off to the side, the non-grounded, delicate, ambition-lacking Jiang Zhi who might have to go back and inherit his fortune if he doesn¡¯t act properly raised his eyelids slightly. The customer¡¯s voice seemed to tremble, ¡°Twenty?¡± ¡°` ¡°Cough cough cough cough cough¡­¡± Jiang Zhi was coughing. Zhou Xufang immediately turned around, looking at him with concern. Jiang Zhi soothingly rubbed the little girl¡¯s head. The customer then changed their order, ¡°Forty!¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have that many of this model of phone case,¡± Zhou Xufang said. The customer scanned the code and paid directly, ¡°Any model will do.¡± After ten more minutes, another odd customer arrived. Dressed in a suit and leather shoes, like a white-collar worker from a big company, he carried a big bag full of phones, dumping them all onto the table. ¡°Screen protectors.¡± Zhou Xufang was surprised, ¡°All of them?¡± ¡°Yep, all of them.¡± He then asked, ¡°You have phone cases, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take eighty, any model, as long as it¡¯s a phone case.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± It took her more than twenty minutes to finish applying the screen protectors. After the man left, she said to Jiang Zhi, ¡°That man had so many phones.¡± Jiang Zhi sat next to her, seemingly unfazed by the dirt and mess around, holding a hand warmer, wearing a helmet, and patiently waiting for Zhou Xufang to make money from applying screen protectors. He was very well-behaved. He asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Could he be a phone thief?¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± The people Xue Baoyi finds! Zhou Xufang was conflicted, ¡°Should we call the police?¡± Jiang Zhi casually said, ¡°He might be dealing in second-hand phones.¡± So they decided not to call the police. Ding. Zhou Xufang¡¯s WeChat message arrived; she checked it briefly. Jiang Zhi asked, ¡°Who¡¯s looking for you?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Mr. Xue Baoyi, he wants to buy phone cases from me.¡± After reading the message, she put her phone back in her bag with a very happy expression, ¡°I made a lot of money today, Jiang Zhi, I¡¯ll treat you to some fruit jellies.¡± Why fruit jelly? Zhou Xufang had recently taken a liking to fruit jelly, finding strawberry-flavored jelly to be as delightful as cotton candy. Having had a ¡®very good business day,¡¯ she closed up shop early, taking Jiang Zhi to buy two big bags of fruit jelly. Jiang Zhi drove her home, and she ate them the whole way in the car. Jiang Zhi¡¯s car was pink inside, with cotton candy and milk. Zhou Xufang ate her fruit jellies, completely satisfied. Jiang Zhi laughed, ¡°You like it that much?¡± She nodded, bit into a strawberry-flavored jelly, her eyes curving into crescent moons, ¡°I¡¯ve never had it before.¡± ¡°Your parents didn¡¯t buy it for you?¡± Her crescent eyes slowly drooped, and she went silent. She accidentally crushed the plastic jelly container, dropping the jelly onto the car seat. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯ve made your car dirty.¡± She reached out to pick it up. Jiang Zhi took her hand, wiped it clean before bothering about the car seat, ¡°I¡¯ll buy it for you in the future.¡± He patted her head, ¡°Tell me whatever you haven¡¯t had, and I¡¯ll buy them all for you.¡± She lifted her head and smiled again, not showing any sign of loss, smiling quite foolishly. Jiang Zhi opened another fruit jelly for her and fed it to her mouth. She nibbled it gently. ¡°Sweet?¡± ¡°Sweet.¡± He leaned in and tasted it from her lips, ¡°It is very sweet.¡± The Zhou Xufang who just leaked a mouthful of jelly: ¡°¡­¡± She turned as red as a tomato, dumbfounded like a goose, with some jelly remnants on her lips. ¡°Do you have a fever again?¡± As he spoke, Jiang Zhi licked away the jelly remnants, his face also red, with reddened eyes, but his gaze hid none, looking straight at her, then reached out, resting his hand on her forehead. Yes, she was feverish again. Zhou Xufang¡¯s soul floated in the clouds for a good while before returning to her body. In a fluster, she dug out two strawberry-flavored jellies from the bag and handed them to Jiang Zhi, ¡°For you.¡± She pushed open the car door and rushed into the house. Once inside, she started bounding around frantically, hopping here and there like a gust of wind. ¡°` Chapter 108 - Chapter 108: 108: Jiang Zhi has come to rescue Fang Bao~ Chapter 108: 108: Jiang Zhi has come to rescue Fang Bao~ As soon as she entered the house, she started bouncing around wildly, darting back and forth like a gust of wind. After expending her energy, she panted like a dog for a few minutes before finally settling down by the computer desk, still feverish, face flushed and uncomfortable, breathing unevenly, and guzzling several cans of milk. At that moment, Shuangjiang sought her out. ¡°The data from the Criminal Investigation Team is out. Jiang Xiaolin has an alibi, which temporarily rules him out as a suspect. The witness, Tang Xiang, who testified for him, doesn¡¯t have a good relationship with him, so the likelihood of perjury is not high. Among the other three suspects, Han Feng and Luo Changde corroborate each other¡¯s alibis, which I find very suspicious.¡± Click! Zhou Xufang opened the fourth can of milk, ¡°I¡¯m going to the Luo Family tonight.¡± ¡°To look for the watch?¡± At this point, that was the only clue left. Zhou Xufang nodded, ¡°Yes.¡± She then opened a packet of fruit jelly. Shuangjiang didn¡¯t ask further and quickly answered her, ¡°I¡¯ll arrange the route for you.¡± She hummed a response, drew a parabola towards the trash can, intending to toss the empty milk can into it, but her heart was unsettled, and she missed. She got up to pick it up, and with her head lowered, suddenly said, ¡°Shuangjiang, I don¡¯t want to buy Moon Bay anymore.¡± Shuangjiang replied with a question mark. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?0 She sat back down, eating her fruit jelly, and said, ¡°I need to save my money to take care of Jiang Zhi.¡± Shuangjiang sent an exclamation mark. Tonight, the moon was half-visible, a breeze was blowing, and the shadows of the trees swayed gently. The Luo Family¡¯s villa stood alone, very quiet after nightfall. The wind whispered through the cedar trees, rustling softly, the ground covered with scattered, withered leaves from the four-season begonia, floating about. Listening closely, there was a sound from the courtyard, Luo Yinghe, the second youngest daughter of the Luo Family, was outside talking on the phone. ¡°Is Xiao Yusheng coming?¡± The other end of the line answered no. Luo Yinghe then lost interest, ¡°Then never mind, I won¡¯t go either.¡± After a few more words, the topic changed. ¡°The script is not bad, my agent is discussing it.¡± Someone said something on the other side. She laughed lightly, ¡°Of course I¡¯m the female lead, do I look like someone who plays supporting roles?¡± ¡°Who¡¯s Fang Lixiang?¡± Fang Lixiang was a rising star, her reputation building even before her works were released, amassing decent resources and showing up on several variety shows, maintaining a high level of public interest. It seemed Baoguang was promoting her. Friends said that, but Luo Yinghe didn¡¯t think much of it, scoffing dismissively, ¡°Weaver Girl or not, how can she compare to me?¡± Her friend agreed, saying, definitely not, calling her Tianxing¡¯s princess, backed by the entire Luo Family. At this moment, someone from inside the house called out, ¡°Yinghe.¡± ¡°Yinghe.¡± It was Luo Yinghe¡¯s mother, Xu Yunci, calling for her. She ended her call and responded, ¡°Coming!¡± Zhou Xufang saw her running and leapt onto the second-floor balcony of the neighboring building; despite being tens of meters away, she still overheard Luo Yinghe talking with her mother. ¡°Is Qinghe back?¡± ¡°In the garage.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve made soup, tell her to come and have some.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t, she said not to disturb her.¡± ¡°She locked up the garage as soon as she got back, acting all neurotic, I don¡¯t know what she¡¯s up to.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Xufang listened intently for a while, then stopped. It was odd, the Luo Family was unusually quiet today. ¡°Ah Fang.¡± Zhou Xufang adjusted her headset, ¡°Yes?¡± Shuangjiang, using a voice synthesizer, said, ¡°Abort the operation immediately.¡± ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Someone has hacked into the computer, your whereabouts might have been leaked,¡± Shuangjiang urged her, ¡°You need to get out fast, I¡¯m worried there could be an ambush.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t hesitate and prepared to withdraw. But just then, the attic door creaked open, blown by the wind, the street light nearly as tall as the two-story building, its light spilling into the entrance of the little attic. On that door, there was a carving of a plump orange cat. It was unclear what was used to carve it or how long ago it had been done, but the marks were deep and old. Like a child¡¯s doodle, not very lifelike. Strangely, Zhou Xufang glanced at it and then couldn¡¯t look away. Compelled, she approached the attic. The old wooden door creaked as the wind blew, and she stood in front of it, stared at the orange cat for a while, then pushed the door open, the light from the lamp mingling§Ú§é§Ö§ã§ä§Ó§à The room was empty, containing only an old wooden bed and an equally ancient table, with nothing else but spider webs sprawling across the ceiling. She turned on the light, and the room brightened immediately. Oh, there was something carved on the headboard of the wooden bed¡ªit wasn¡¯t an orange cat but a¡­ perhaps a boy, with three strands of hair on his head. The drawing was clumsy. Zhou Xufang wanted to take a closer look, but suddenly, an image flashed into her mind. It was this place, on this bed, where a thin, small child huddled in the corner, eyes red. A woman stood in front of the bed, her back to him, speaking. ¡°Don¡¯t talk to anyone, understand?¡± The child looked about five or six years old, very small, his eyes appearing especially large due to his thinness, sporting a buzzcut, and wearing ill-fitting clothes that hung over him from head to toe. He asked the woman, ¡°Why?¡± His speech was faltering, not fluent at all. Speaking was difficult for him, not very clear, he uttered, word by word, ¡°I¡¯m not mute.¡± ¡°You are!¡± His eyes reddened, holding back tears, ¡°I, am, not.¡± At that age, children¡¯s voices are usually soft and mushy. He wasn¡¯t, he seemed like he had never spoken before, his throat hoarse, but if you listened closely, you could still hear the tender childlike tone. Timid, carrying a fear and anxiety towards the world. He reached out and grabbed the woman¡¯s sleeve, carefully tugging at it, ¡°Aunt Xiu, I can speak, I learned by myself, I didn¡¯t need anyone to teach me.¡± He thought Aunt Xiu would praise him. Since no one had taught him to speak, yet he had learned. Instead, the woman harshly pushed his hand away, scolding him, ¡°If they find out you¡¯re a girl, they¡¯ll kill you. Do you still want to talk?¡± Oh, so the little bald kid was a girl. She nodded while crying, not daring to make a sound, her small body trembling, ¡°I understand.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll never talk again¡­¡± Like an old movie, that frame suddenly pulled away, and another scene burst in. The buzz-cut had turned into a gaunt, small boy, still very thin and rather short. He dragged a pretty boy into the room, the other boy much taller, his skin very fair, coughing. He then helped the boy breathe, stood on his toes, and whispered secretly, ¡°You need to hide, they¡¯ll poison your drink, they are all bad people.¡± It had been too long since he last spoke, his voice rough and hoarse. The boy was surprised, ¡°You can talk?¡± He didn¡¯t answer, instead, he rummaged through his worn pillow and pulled out a pill from the pillowcase, then ran over to the boy, offering him the medicine. He said, ¡°Take this, it¡¯s not poisoned.¡± His vocal cords were strange, the sounds they produced odd. ¡°Bang!¡± Zhou Xufang staggered, unable to stand steadily, and bumped into the corner of the table; the scene in front of her cracked upon impact, colliding in her mind, causing a splitting headache. After jumbling her thoughts topsy-turvy, it vanished into thin air. In just that instant, despite her usually excellent memory, she couldn¡¯t recall the people from the scene, only a vague voice still echoing in her ear. Who was that child? Was it an illusion? Below, someone suddenly exclaimed, ¡°What¡¯s that noise?!¡± ¡°It sounds like it¡¯s from the attic.¡± Zhou Xufang couldn¡¯t wait, she directly jumped out the window, landing on the ground right as a voice came through her earpiece. ¡°Ah Fang, we¡¯ve got trouble.¡± ¡°Get out fast!¡± Zhou Xufang took off her earpiece, listening closely. Footsteps, and the sound of car wheels pressing against the ground, drew closer, increasingly clear. ¡°Surround it.¡± It was Luo Qinghe¡¯s voice, ¡°Don¡¯t let a single fly escape.¡± Zhou Xufang looked in the direction of the sound, her good eyesight allowing her to see the Luo Family garage, hundreds of meters away, where the lift door suddenly flung open, and seven or eight SUVs drove out. This Luo Qinghe, cunning enough to be annoying. Zhou Xufang had initially planned to escape, but suddenly she didn¡¯t want to, she felt like teaching someone a lesson. ¡°Z, right?¡± She walked over from the garage, wearing a dull blue dress, ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for you for a long time.¡± Zhou Xufang, clad in black, stood under a street lamp, her cap casting a shadow over her eyes, ¡°You¡¯ve been investigating me?¡± They even found Shuangjiang, they must have been investigating for a long time. No wonder Lixiang said, ¡°Luo family people are like dogs, once they bite, they never let go.¡± Luo Qinghe flipped her hair beside her ear, she didn¡¯t approach, she just stood far away, watching Zhou Xufang, ¡°How can you play with someone like you without preparing?¡± She had been researching this person for a long time, knowing that the Jiang Family had employed her and aware of her capabilities. Since the Jiang Family initiated the investigation, she had been waiting, hoping they would approach her, as she had long wanted to meet this errand runner. As expected, she came on behalf of the Jiang Family. ¡°Who hired you? Jiang Zhi, or Old Mrs. Jiang?¡± Jiang Zhi had fallen into the water, and a suspect emerged from the Luo Family. This trip of hers was definitely on behalf of the Jiang Family. Zhou Xufang remained silent. Luo Qinghe was not in a hurry either; he waved his hand, signaling the few SUVs to approach, ¡°They all say you can do anything. Today, I want to see how you ascend to the heavens or burrow into the ground.¡± Who are they? They are the twenty-some individuals in those SUVs. Zhou Xufang glanced at the logo pasted on the car, her peers¡ªFOR. The wind was strong; she fastened the hood of her hoodie over her cap, tying the straps and looking toward Luo Qinghe. ¡°I warned you not to investigate or provoke me,¡± she said, squatting down to pick up a pebble the size of a thumb. She tossed it in her hand twice. ¡°I can¡¯t ascend to the heavens or enter the earth, but killing you is much easier than doing either of those.¡± Her voice was cold and steady, devoid of fluctuations. After finishing, she threw the pebble in her hand. The pebble traveled in a straight line, cutting through the wind, grazing Luo Qinghe¡¯s face, and striking an SUV behind her. Thud! The SUV¡¯s window glass cracked. Luo Qinghe turned his head aside, his cheek quickly oozing blood. He touched the half-inch-long cut, his hand coming away bloody. The wound wasn¡¯t deep. He touched his sore cheek, which was starting to feel numb, fire in his eyes: ¡°You won¡¯t kill me. You¡¯ve taken on many errand tasks and have never killed a soul.¡± He laughed, looking at Zhou Xufang, ¡°Will you dare to kill someone?¡± Zhou Xufang clenched her teeth. This woman was too annoying; she had surely investigated her for a long time. ¡°Someone catch her for me. Whoever succeeds, ask for money or power,¡± Luo Qinghe said, dragging the last syllable, ¡°either is fine.¡± With one sentence, the men in the SUVs were all restless. A fight would ensue today. Zhou Xufang pulled out a pair of leather gloves from her pocket, put them on, stepped back, and was about to jump into action when she paused. She heard it, a coughing sound. ¡°Cough, cough, cough, cough¡­¡± Approaching intermittently. It was Jiang Zhi. Then came his lazy voice: ¡°What¡¯s happening here, so lively?¡± Zhou Xufang turned around. Luo Qinghe and his hired thugs also turned around. Under a streetlight outside the fence, wavering slightly, a figure emerged with a long shadow, dyed dark blue hair, walking slowly, backlit; he came from the darkness with a crescent moon behind him, no stars in the sky, but they were in his eyes. They say: beauty lies in the bones, not in the skin. Jiang Zhi looked the part, both in bones and skin. Luo Qinghe wiped the blood from his face with a handkerchief, looking through the fence at the person outside, ¡°You haven¡¯t been to the Luo Family for seven or eight years, what wind brought you here today?¡± He stepped one foot on the Luo Family¡¯s fence, his hair casually cut; the wind blew, covering his eyebrows, his expression, a mix of smiling and non-smiling: ¡°Your father is the suspect who pushed me into the sea; am I wrong in coming to identify the killer?¡± That blue hair¡ªa color that shouldn¡¯t be serious¡ªdyed by him added not less to his noble air, but more defiant and arrogant traits, clearly showing his youth. Like a young man. A young man with fine clothes and high spirits, daring to compare with the heavens. ¡°You haven¡¯t answered me,¡± he said slowly, unhurriedly, asking Luo Qinghe, ¡°What is this? Gathering a crowd to fight?¡± Luo Qinghe replied unflinchingly, ¡°This little thief broke into my Luo Family¡¯s property and I caught her.¡± ¡°Catching a thief?¡± Jiang Zhi glanced at the ¡®little thief,¡¯ the peach blossom eyes brimming with laughter, ¡°Perfect, I brought the police.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Luo Qinghe was speechless. As for Zhou Xufang, she felt a bit stupefied; she just wanted to fight quietly, to teach a lesson quietly¡­ She didn¡¯t want to end up in a cell. Jiang Zhi had already dialed the phone, leaning against the Luo Family¡¯s iron fence, fiddling with the hair blown over his forehead: ¡°Nanchu, have you arrived? Come to ¡®catch the thief.''¡± ¡®Little thief¡¯ Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± Could she still escape now? ¡°wu¡ª¡ªwu¡ª¡ªwu¡ª¡ªwu¡ª¡ª¡± The siren was loud. In less than a minute, Qiao Nanchu arrived, accompanied by the Criminal Investigation Team¡¯s Mr. Cheng. Before entering the Luo Family¡¯s main gate, Jiang Zhi left a message for Qiao Nanchu. ¡°Let her go.¡± Qiao Nanchu looked at him, ¡°What do you mean?¡± He said, ¡°She¡¯s my person.¡± How strange those words sounded. Qiao Nanchu asked, ¡°Did you send her?¡± He didn¡¯t say whether he did or didn¡¯t, but instead commanded, ¡°Don¡¯t hurt her, or else,¡± There was more to it. Qiao Nanchu was waiting for him to continue. Jiang Zhi, rarely this serious, said, ¡°Otherwise, we can¡¯t be brothers.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Well, this isn¡¯t someone recognizing a murderer, this is more like a hero saving the beauty. No longer lingering, Jiang Zhi entered the Luo Family¡¯s gate. The last time he visited the Luo family was eight years ago. Eight years earlier, the Jiang and Luo families had a good relationship. The Jiang family¡¯s second son had married the third daughter of the Luo family, making the two families related by marriage, and they used to visit each other often. Jiang Zhi, not fond of going out, was sixteen when he first visited the Luo family. He saw Luo Qinghe teaching someone a lesson and meddled in, calling over the little mute of the Luo family, specifically asking him to lead the way. That little mute, perhaps due to being whipped with rose bushes for a while, was covered in blood. So thin, barely even ten years old. Jiang Zhi asked him, ¡°What is your name?¡± He picked up a stick and scratched three lines in the dirt. Indeed, he was called Luo San, not even a formal name. Then he asked, ¡°What¡¯s its name?¡± pointing to a fat cat beside his feet which had just come out of hiding. ¡°Meow.¡± The cat was indeed fat. At fourteen years old, the little mute from the Luo family was as thin as a pole; he took the stick and scratched four lines in the dirt. ¡°Four?¡± Jiang Zhi looked at the lines. The little mute awkwardly wrote another character. Luo Si, the orange cat was called Luo Si. And he was Luo San. ¡°You can write?¡± As soon as Jiang Zhi finished speaking, as if greatly startled, the boy immediately rubbed out the awkward Luo character, pointed down the path ahead, then turned and ran away. Indeed, a peculiar person. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t leave until very late that day, having spent most of it at the Luo Family. He didn¡¯t see Luo San again until late evening just as his driver was pulling out of the Luo estate. Someone smashed his car window. The driver stopped, ¡°Young master, it¡¯s the foster son from the Luo family.¡± That little mute, apparently. I heard, he¡¯s also a bit simple-minded. The Luo family even said he was mentally challenged. For reasons unknown, he got out of the car, saw the skinny boy through the fence, and just couldn¡¯t bring himself to reprimand him. He asked, ¡°Why did you smash my car?¡± The little simpleton couldn¡¯t speak; his wrists so thin, they easily slipped through the iron bars to open his hand, revealing a piece of braised pork, oily and glistening. He grabbed a piece of the pork to give to Jiang Zhi. ¡°Why are you giving me a piece of meat?¡± He pointed to his own mouth. ¡°For me to eat?¡± He nodded. Jiang Zhi, at sixteen, was fastidious and somewhat germaphobic, naturally disdainful, but for some unknown reason, he still took it. The little mute dropped the pork and ran off. Jiang Zhi stared at the meat in his hand, a large and fatty piece of braised pork, the first time anyone had ever given him a piece of meat. Knowing his aversion to dirt, the driver quickly handed him a handkerchief and water, ¡°Give it to me, and wash up first.¡± He put it in his mouth and ate. It was too fatty, overwhelmingly so. Jiang Zhi found out later that the piece of meat was stolen; that little mute from the Luo family had been beaten for stealing it, and again, beaten with rose bushes. ¡°Brother Zhi.¡± ¡°Brother Zhi.¡± Luo Changde put down his teacup and called out twice. Jiang Zhi snapped back to the present, suppressing the memory, and with an unfriendly tone said, ¡°Brother Zhi is also something you can call me?¡± Luo Changde: ¡°¡­¡± As families related by marriage, Jiang Zhi was still supposed to address his maternal cousin Jiang Fuli casually as uncle. Chapter 109 - Chapter 109: 109: Fang Bao confessed, together now~ Chapter 109: 109: Fang Bao confessed, together now~ Jiang Zhi had only stayed at the Luo Family for a little over ten minutes. Luo Changde was very skilled at playing Tai Chi, not giving Jiang Zhi a single useful word, so he didn¡¯t bother wasting any more time with him. When he came out, Qiao Nanchu was still in the Luo Family¡¯s courtyard. ¡°Why did you come out so quickly?¡± He was concerned about Zhou Xufang and didn¡¯t care about anything else, ¡°What about her?¡± ¡°She ran off really fast and scaled the wall quite smoothly, who needs me to let her go?¡± Qiao Nanchu said with a cigarette in his mouth, pointing in a direction, ¡°There, she ran that way.¡± Jiang Zhi went after her. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Qiao Nanchu blew a smoke ring and stopped him, asking, ¡°When did you start working with her?¡± So, he was keeping secrets from him. Jiang Zhi turned his head, standing under the streetlight, ¡°It¡¯s none of your business.¡± He looked far off at Qiao Nanchu, his short hair casting broken shadows on his face, half-lit and half-dark, ¡°You already know I¡¯m working with her, so stop tailing her.¡± After finishing his sentence, he resumed his pursuit. Qiao Nanchu flicked the ash off his cigarette, tsk, this was quite unusual. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï The Luo Family¡¯s villa was situated in a somewhat special location, separated by a road opposite to the undeveloped slums, with deep alleys, intertwining paths, and old, chaotically distributed Ping buildings, where dogs barked at night. There were no surveillance cameras here, and with many intersections, it was a good place to hide. Upon reaching the mouth of the alley, Jiang Zhi stopped, slightly out of breath, ¡°Don¡¯t follow.¡± Ah Wan refused sternly, ¡°How can that be okay? What if you encounter criminals¡ª¡± Jiang Zhi looked back with a glance. Ah Wan immediately shut up, ¡°Oh.¡± This damn, ubiquitous, reflexive reaction! Jiang Zhi entered the alley alone, choosing a path away from the light, and upon reaching the deep alley, he stopped and looked around, ¡°There¡¯s no one else here, come out.¡± Zhou Xufang, who was actually lying on the roof of a Ping building: ¡°¡­¡± There were the sounds of dogs barking and cats meowing, but she could only hear Jiang Zhi¡¯s voice, as though it was the wind that brushed in, softening both her ears and heart. He said, ¡°Come out and see me, I have a question for you.¡± Alright. She gave up resisting, jumped down from the Ping building, and after landing, emerged from a dim path. Hearing footsteps, Jiang Zhi turned his head and saw her, a pitch-dark figure with her eyes completely covered by glasses, offering no glimpse at all. It was strange that even in this disguise, he could still recognize her. Worried about scaring her off again, he didn¡¯t approach, standing still, and asked her, ¡°Why did you come to the Luo Family?¡± She answered, ¡°Looking for a watch.¡± She must have researched this case beforehand, or she would not have known about the clue of the watch, which meant that there must be a very capable hacker behind her. This hacker¡­ Are they male or female? Jiang Zhi nearly blurted out the question but controlled himself, asking seriously, ¡°Who hired you to look for the watch?¡± She couldn¡¯t come up with an answer. ¡°If no one hired you,¡± he looked at her, his gaze deep, like an unfathomable and clean sea, ¡°then is it for me?¡± Yes. Zhou Xufang wouldn¡¯t admit it, ¡°Your grandmother paid me twenty million, and I¡¯m helping you because¡ª¡± Jiang Zhi interrupted her, ¡°I will also pay you twenty million to hire you.¡± She was taken aback, then reacted, ¡°What do you want me to do?¡± He stepped forward out of the backlight, the fine shadows in his eyes slowly becoming clear, then reflecting into a pitch-black shape, which was her shadow. He said, ¡°Take off your mask.¡± Zhou Xufang, without thinking, replied, ¡°I don¡¯t accept.¡± She turned to leave. Jiang Zhi called after her from behind, ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Zhou Xufang¡­ How on earth did he recognize her? How could he be so sure, without a shadow of doubt? She should have fled, she should have clung to the chance of not being fully exposed yet, hidden herself tighter, never to reveal that disguise, that protective coloration again, but she couldn¡¯t move, as if nailed to the spot, foolishly letting Jiang Zhi enter her defensive circle. He stood right in front of her, just an arm¡¯s length away, and asked, ¡°What are you afraid of?¡± She feared many things. Crowds, socializing, even just making simple eye contact, which is why she always wore her hat low, crouched in places without people, guarding vigilantly, hiding day and night. ¡°I¡ª¡± She had just lifted her head and hadn¡¯t finished speaking when Jiang Zhi leaned in, placing his lips on hers, through the mask. Her eyes widened, stunned for a moment before coming to her senses, intending to push him away, but he grasped her hand. ¡°Your hand is all red.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s fingers caressed the back of her hand, where the skin swiftly reddened and grew warm, he laughed, released her hand, and placed it on her forehead, ¡°Still won¡¯t admit it?¡± Now, she was utterly exposed. Zhou Xufang bit her lip in regret, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± She no longer masked her voice, nor did she avoid Jiang Zhi¡¯s gaze. Confused and lost, unsure of how to handle him, she watched as he stepped further into her territory, leaving her helpless. Surrender, Zhou Xufang. She stopped running, standing motionlessly as Jiang Zhi removed her glasses, her mask, and then her hat, a sliver of moonlight falling on her fair face. Lips like capsized boats, eyes like phoenixes, cold and aloof when not smiling. Her eyes were very large, distinct in black and white, splashed with the darkest ink, like a solitary star in the desert, coldly shimmering with loneliness. It was Zhou Xufang, a girl who rarely smiled, a girl who didn¡¯t even know how to smile. Jiang Zhi smoothed her messy hair that was disheveled by the hat, without surprise or urgency, in his usual tone, he asked her, ¡°Are you hurt anywhere?¡± Zhou Xufang shook her head and said, ¡°No.¡± He stepped back to take a good look at her, ensuring she was unharmed, then asked again, ¡°Has anyone bullied you?¡± She shook her head again. ¡°Luo Qinghe¡ª¡± Jiang Zhi was about to ask more when she interrupted him. ¡°Aren¡¯t you curious?¡± Even though she hid it, her eyes still betrayed a glint of uneasy fear and caution, ¡°About my identity, my background, my origins, and about me as a person.¡± Jiang Zhi had seen her running swiftly, he had seen her uprooting trees with her bare hands, he had also seen her sudden fever spikes followed by abrupt recoveries. Perhaps, in the eyes of others, she was already a monster. What did he think? Jiang Zhi stood opposite her, looking up to meet the light, his eyes brighter than the stars: ¡°Curious, of course, I¡¯m curious.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t understand: ¡°Then why don¡¯t you ask?¡± Ever since he began to doubt her, he had never pressed her for answers. He accepted all her peculiarities and abnormalities; as long as she didn¡¯t say, he would leave it at that, not questioning, nor investigating. Wasn¡¯t he afraid she was a demon? Or a ghost that roamed at night? Jiang Zhi raised his hand, pressing down a tuft of stray hairs at the back of her head, but the disobedient lock sprang up again the moment he let go. Instead, he simply spread his palm and covered her head with it. He smiled and said, ¡°I¡¯m more curious about when you¡¯ll come to kiss me.¡± How could there be someone like Jiang Zhi? The shadows in his eyes were full, all of them were her, all of her little monster self. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t want to think anymore, couldn¡¯t think; her mind filled with Jiang Zhi¡¯s voice, his appearance, so without pondering deeply, her body made a quicker move than her brain. She tiptoed and kissed him on the face. Then, he was stunned, staring at her without a response for a long time. She tugged at his clothes: ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± His Adam¡¯s apple turned red and bobbed: ¡°You didn¡¯t forget what I said, did you?¡± His speech was still calm, but his fluttering eyelashes betrayed him, ¡°If you kiss me, we¡¯ll be together.¡± That day behind the hospital in the garden, he had said if she agreed to be with him, she should come over and kiss him. Zhou Xufang, who had a good memory, naturally remembered. She tiptoed again and kissed him on the lips, a light touch, and then she stepped back, standing up straight, and declared with the solemnity of an oath: ¡°Jiang Zhi, I like you.¡± Before, she wanted to buy an island, live hidden away by herself, walking on land when no one was around, hiding underwater when people came. Now, she wanted to follow Jiang Zhi. These words, if thought over carefully, she wouldn¡¯t be able to say them, so she seized the moment while the wind blinded her eyes, while Jiang Zhi¡¯s gaze stole her soul, and she said it all at once. ¡°I really like you, I want to be with you for a lifetime.¡± Each word was solemn and earnest, although uttered in the heat of the moment, it was no joke; she was very serious. ¡°Ah Fang,¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes were warm, breaking all the stars apart, reflections scattered and bright. He bent down to her height, his ears reddening, his voice floating: ¡°Say it again, the words you just said.¡± Zhou Xufang repeated with all seriousness and sincerity: ¡°I like you; I want to be with you for a lifetime.¡± Finally, he had waited for this moment. The girl had opened her heart, her words sweet enough to kill. Jiang Zhi opened his arms, hugging her close, his eyes and brows curving into a smile: ¡°From now on, Jiang Zhi is yours.¡± Oh, he was hers. Zhou Xufang was delighted, lifting her hanging hands to embrace him tightly, her Jiang Zhi. In her ears, he was speaking, his voice low, soft, and gentle. ¡°Are you hot?¡± Zhou Xufang answered honestly: ¡°Hot.¡± Her exposed skin was all red, as if boiled, exceptionally warm. Jiang Zhi held her with one hand and touched her forehead with the other: ¡°You have a fever again.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°Oh.¡± So be it if it was a fever. Jiang Zhi was hugging her; she wouldn¡¯t be sad even if she burned to death. No, she couldn¡¯t burn to death; if she did, she couldn¡¯t be hugged anymore. With that thought, Zhou Xufang pushed Jiang Zhi away a little, just a little, so she could breathe. Jiang Zhi relaxed his embrace slightly, tilting his head back, gazing at her face: ¡°Are you in discomfort?¡± ¡°Not at all.¡± It was just a bit of ringing in her ears, as if set off by fireworks, dizzy, with an urge to hop and leap. Jiang Zhi asked again: ¡°Any reactions other than the fever?¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°No.¡± Her heart was leaping wildly. But she couldn¡¯t say it, saying so would scare Jiang Zhi, and what if he never hugged her again¡­ She couldn¡¯t say it! Jiang Zhi still let her go, holding her hand, leaning down, patiently explaining to her: ¡°I know you¡¯re different from ordinary people, you don¡¯t have to say anything you don¡¯t want to, just be my girlfriend, that¡¯s enough, everything else is secondary. But you need to tell me what you can and cannot do.¡± He had held her, embraced her, and even kissed her. Only starting a family was left. ¡°Oh, Jiang Zhi is infertile.¡± Miss Zhou Xufang felt a bit lost since she still had no concept of this matter. She shook her head, ¡°I don¡¯t know either.¡± He was like a big grey wolf coaxing a little lamb to open the door, his peach blossom eyes hooked with seduction, casting a spell to hook out someone¡¯s heart and soul, gently and persuasively, ¡°Then shall we give it a try?¡± Zhou Xiaoyang: ¡°Hmm?¡± He leaned down and kissed her briefly. In the end, he stopped and looked at her. ¡°Your face is very red.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s face turned beet red. Jiang Zhi¡¯s handsome face came close to hers, ¡°Your eyes are a bit red too.¡± In fact, it was the same for him. His eyes misty with moisture, utterly bewildered. He touched the temperature of her neck, ¡°You¡¯re very hot.¡± Probably more than forty degrees, ¡°Does it feel bad?¡± Zhou Xufang was still dazed, her mouth agape, red and moist, with a silly expression, she shook her head stupidly, ¡°It doesn¡¯t feel bad.¡± It¡¯s just tinnitus, just dizziness, just palpitations, just¡­ None of that mattered! She was so excited she wanted to leap to the moon and roll around! Jiang Zhi became worried, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we go to the hospital for a checkup?¡± She said no, and again that it wasn¡¯t necessary, and then, she hopped in place twice, restraining herself from jumping several meters high, saying, ¡°I¡¯m completely fine.¡± Jiang Zhi was amused by her and rubbed her hair, ¡°If you feel unwell, you have to tell me.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Jiang Zhi hugged her back into his arms, caressing her soft hair with his head, ¡°Another kiss.¡± Zhou Xufang timidly said, ¡°Okay.¡± He pulled her into an alley. The moon also hid behind the clouds. After a while, there was a voice. ¡°Wait here for me, I¡¯ll go and distract Lin Wanwan.¡± Zhou Xufang, still with red ears, ¡°Why do you need to distract him?¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s voice was hoarse, saying, ¡°He¡¯s too dumb. I¡¯m not comfortable letting him know about your identity as an errand runner.¡± Zhou Xufang, still with red ears, ¡°Oh.¡± He fixed her hat and mask again, ¡°Hide there and wait for me.¡± Zhou Xufang, still with red ears, ¡°Okay.¡± She followed Jiang Zhi¡¯s instructions, hid in the depths of the alley, crouching in the dark waiting for him. Jiang Zhi emerged from the mouth of the alley, onto the main road, where Ah Wan was still waiting, bored, counting the stones on the ground. ¡°Lin Wanwan.¡± The voice sounded strange, somewhat sultry, somewhat seductive, somewhat beguiling. Iron-straight man Ah Wan didn¡¯t overthink it, ¡°Boss, you finally came out.¡± He looked behind Jiang Zhi, ¡°Where¡¯s that errand runner miss?¡± ¡°She¡¯s gone.¡± ¡°Ah? She left just like that?¡± Such an unprofessional bodyguard! Ah Wan couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Was it Miss Zhou?¡± Jiang Zhi kept a straight face, ¡°No.¡± Upon hearing this, Ah Wan became excited, overzealous: ¡°I knew it! Miss Zhou is so dignified and virtuous, how could she possibly be involved in petty theft?¡± Petty theft¡­ Jiang Zhi wanted to kick him. The man didn¡¯t know when to stop, kept badmouthing, kept blackening, ¡°That errand runner, always clinging to you, must have fallen for your good looks.¡± Jiang Zhi narrowed his eyes. The man grew more excited as he spoke, ¡°Boss, you must be very careful, I think she might be a scum.¡± ¡°Enough!¡± Ah Wan was so startled that his body trembled. So fierce¡­ He was just looking out for him, how wronged, how heartbroken. He didn¡¯t dare to retort, and silently snorted through his nose, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll say no more, just be careful.¡± In the end, if he got molested, it would be his own fault! ¡°Boss, why is your face so red?¡± Jiang Zhi unnaturally turned his head away, licking his lips, ¡°It¡¯s the wind.¡± Naive Ah Wan was so kind, generous, considerate, and professional. He cared without bearing any grudge, ¡°You better get into the car quickly then, don¡¯t get sick from the wind again.¡± Jiang Zhi stood at the mouth of the alley, motionless, ¡°Give me the car keys.¡± Ah Wan: ¡°Ah?¡± ¡°The car keys.¡± Ah Wan handed over the car keys, not understanding what he meant, ¡°What do you need the car keys for?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll drive myself; you go back first.¡± ¡°How can you drive with your condition?¡± What if he fainted halfway through¡­ Ah Wan was scared just thinking about it, standing firm, ¡°No no, I must stick with you. If something were to happen to you, not to mention your family¡¯s old lady, Ms. Song from my family would also kill me.¡± Jiang Zhi casually threw out, ¡°If you don¡¯t leave, I¡¯ll kill you right now.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Not human! Ah Wan shrank her neck, feeling a bit intimidated, ¡°Boss, you¡¯re acting so strange today.¡± Jiang Zhi lost patience and threw her a cutting glare, ¡°Scram.¡± Ah Wan: ¡°Oh, I¡¯m off then.¡± Once she was gone, Jiang Zhi picked up the car keys and turned back into the depths of the alley. ¡°Xu Fang.¡± A head peeked out from around the corner: ¡°Hmm?¡± She was squatting there, like a mushroom. Jiang Zhi walked over and plucked the black mushroom up: ¡°Still feverish?¡± Mushroom Xu Fang said, ¡°Not anymore.¡± Jiang Zhi touched her head, which was no longer hot; her fever had come quickly and dissipated just as swiftly. He led her outside, ¡°I¡¯ll take you home.¡± Xu Fang obediently followed, her mouth still red¡ªwhere he had bitten her earlier, ¡°Aren¡¯t we going to the hospital?¡± He was still admitted there. He pulled her hand into his, their fingers intertwining tightly, ¡°No need, the beds there are uncomfortable.¡± ¡°Then, can you be discharged?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The car was parked on the opposite side of the alley, and Jiang Zhi opened the passenger door. Xu Fang didn¡¯t get in, instead saying, ¡°I¡¯ll drive.¡± Driving was tiring, and her boyfriend was quite delicate. Jiang Zhi agreed, handing her the car keys: ¡°Drive slowly.¡± He wanted to spend more time with her. ¡°Sure.¡± All the way, Jiang Zhi did nothing but watch her. Xu Fang drove with full concentration, never glancing at Jiang Zhi, which made him a bit grumpy. At the traffic lights, he pecked her on the face to ease his irritation. Xu Fang drove unusually slow, taking an hour and a half for a fifty-minute journey, and by the time they reached Yuquan Bay, it was past ten o¡¯clock. She parked the car at the roadside and didn¡¯t drive in. ¡°We¡¯re here.¡± Jiang Zhi furrowed his brows, ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± He sat still without unbuckling his seatbelt and suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s go for another round.¡± Xu Fang chuckled, ¡°Okay.¡± Then, after circling another three times, the car once again stopped at the entrance of Yuquan Bay¡ªnow it was eleven. Usually, Jiang Zhi would have been asleep by this time. He checked the time and unbuckled her seatbelt for her, ¡°If you feel unwell at all, call me.¡± Xu Fang agreed, ¡°Sure.¡± Jiang Zhi got out and opened the car door for her: ¡°When will you let me visit your place?¡± he said with a hint of grievance, ¡°I¡¯m already your boyfriend.¡± It just wasn¡¯t right not having visited his girlfriend¡¯s home yet. Xu Fang replied, ¡°It¡¯s very late now, and you¡¯re not well. You shouldn¡¯t be staying up.¡± Sometimes she was so obedient. And sometimes, she had a rationale for everything. Jiang Zhi had figured out her temperament by now; she was very principled, yet outside those boundaries, her tolerance was quite high. He still needed to coax her slowly. He put the hood of her hoodie on her, ¡°Go upstairs.¡± Xu Fang waved, ¡°Goodbye, Jiang Zhi.¡± After saying that, she walked toward the residential complex. Jiang Zhi leaned against the car door, watching her enter; just as her silhouette disappeared from view, she came darting back. He laughed, ¡°Why did you come back? Can¡¯t bear to leave me?¡± Xu Fang had raced back: ¡°I¡¯ll take you home.¡± ¡°No need.¡± She insisted, ¡°I¡¯ll take you.¡± The world was full of dangers, with so many vile people around, and many who wished to harm Jiang Zhi¡ªa beautiful young man on his own would be in grave danger. Xu Fang couldn¡¯t rest easy. Jiang Zhi, half-amused and half-touched by her earnestness, said, ¡°If you take me home, then I¡¯ll have to drive you back again. Do we even need to sleep tonight?¡± Seeing the little lady standing firm, he had to cajole her, ¡°I¡¯m not so frail. You be good and go sleep. I¡¯m heading to the old house; my grandmother is there, it¡¯s safe.¡± Xu Fang hesitated for a long time: ¡°Then be careful on the way.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Jiang Zhi held her, reluctant to let go, ¡°How about a hug before I go?¡± ¡°Okay.¡± She looked around nervously; once sure no one was around, she timidly and tensely¡­ snuggled into his embrace. ¡°Xu Fang.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Jiang Zhi whispered in her ear, laughing, his eyes shining like the stars, ¡°I had a great time today.¡± She spoke softly, saying that she did too, very, very much. Chapter 110 - Chapter 110: 110: Tons of Dog Food after Falling in Love Chapter 110: 110: Tons of Dog Food after Falling in Love Zhou Xufang was so excited she couldn¡¯t help but jump up and down. She hopped around the entryway for a long time before going to turn on her computer. ¡°Shuangjiang.¡± SpongeBob hadn¡¯t popped up yet. The ecstatic Zhou Xufang had forgotten what time it was and kept poking at the computer, ¡°Shuangjiang.¡± ¡°Are you asleep?¡± On the other side, the young girl, roused by the alarm sound from the computer, crawled out of bed, blinking sleepily with her cheeks flushed red from high altitude, yawned, got out of bed, and sat in front of the computer, sending two words over: ¡°No.¡± On the screen, Zhou Xufang¡¯s enlarged face was red and radiant, like the morning sun. ¡°The morning sun¡± grinned, ¡°I¡¯m very happy today.¡± Shuangjiang was just about to ask why she was so happy. She couldn¡¯t wait to blurt out, ¡°I have a boyfriend now.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?¦Ï The next sentence was even more upbeat, more excited, and filled with joy, ¡°My boyfriend is Jiang Zhi!¡± Shuangjiang wasn¡¯t surprised at all. Zhou Xufang, ah, would sooner or later be whisked away by that pretty boy. ¡°What about Moon Bay?¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t think before answering, ¡°Not going anymore.¡± She said, ¡°I have a boyfriend now.¡± She was incredibly excited, emphatically dancing with joy as she stressed, ¡°My boyfriend is Jiang Zhi.¡± Her tone oozed with pride, ¡°I want to be with my boyfriend.¡± Shuangjiang: ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Xufang, ah, had drunk the love potion Jiang Zhi gave her, and quite a big bowl of it. ¡°Have you told him everything?¡± Shuangjiang adjusted her address, ¡°Have you told your boyfriend Jiang Zhi everything?¡± Zhou Xufang shook her head. The ¡®morning sun¡¯ on the screen suddenly became clouded, revealing a worried expression, ¡°He only knows a little bit; I don¡¯t dare tell him everything.¡± Those eyes of hers that turn red when she¡¯s angry¡ªshe didn¡¯t dare let Jiang Zhi see. Too much like a female ghost¡­ Shuangjiang asked, ¡°What about later?¡± Zhou Xufang had thought about this question, ¡°I¡¯ll tell him everything once he loves me a bit more.¡± By that time, ah, he won¡¯t be able to do without her¡­ Zhou Xufang buried her head and sneakily chuckled. On the screen, Shuangjiang sent her a bunch of little peach hearts, which reflected into Zhou Xufang¡¯s eyes, filling her sight with peachy hues. She laughed to herself for a while, reached for her phone, and said, ¡°I won¡¯t talk to you anymore, I¡¯m going to send Jiang Zhi a WeChat.¡± Then she stopped chatting with Shuangjiang. Her fingers danced on the phone, typing for a long time¡ª ¡°He should still be driving.¡± Driving required focus, so she would wait a bit longer to contact him. Zhou Xufang deleted the message she had typed, just about to put down her phone, when Jiang Zhi sent a video call. She immediately answered. On the screen, Jiang Zhi¡¯s handsome face popped up. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Zhou Xufang looked around for the camera, ¡°Have you arrived home?¡± Jiang Zhi, in profile toward her, was driving, ¡°Still on the road.¡± The sounds of traffic flowed into the video. ¡°Then you drive; don¡¯t talk to me.¡± After saying that, she hung up. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± He wanted to drag her over and nibble on her to vent his annoyance. Jiang Zhi pressed the gas pedal, his car speeding along until he arrived at the old residence. He hadn¡¯t even unbuckled his seatbelt before sending Zhou Xufang a WeChat message. ¡°I¡¯m here.¡± As soon as his voice message was sent, Zhou Xufang initiated a video call. Fine, he wasn¡¯t annoyed with her anymore. It really was strange; ever since he started liking this girl, his level of immaturity had broken records time and again. He accepted the call. On the other end, Zhou Xufang clumsily looked for the camera for a while before she found it and then called out to him, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Jiang Zhi felt his soul being called away. She was incredibly cute. His girlfriend, the cutest in the universe. ¡°What are you doing?¡± He unfastened his seatbelt, got out of the car, and didn¡¯t enter the house. Instead, he stood under the lantern outside the old house, using the lantern¡¯s light to see the girl in the video. She appeared to be sitting on a couch, with a pristine white wall behind her, sitting up straight and answering his questions, ¡°I was waiting for you to send me a WeChat.¡± So well-behaved. His girlfriend, the best-behaved in the universe. At this moment, there was a sound from inside the house. Jiang Zhi covered the phone¡¯s screen, placing it against his lips and whispering quietly, ¡°Xufang, don¡¯t make any noise yet, wait until I get into my room to talk.¡± Zhou Xufang also whispered quietly, ¡°Okay.¡± It was Mrs. Luo from the second branch of the Luo Family who came out. ¡°Brother Zhi has arrived.¡± Jiang Zhi slipped his phone back into his pocket and walked into the house, responding, ¡°Hmm.¡± Luo Changfang held a toy poodle in her hands, her nails shiny and well-maintained. She gently stroked the poodle¡¯s fur, her voice soft and tender, ¡°How come you were discharged? Does your grandma know?¡± ¡°Bark!¡± The poodle barked menacingly at Jiang Zhi. Jiang Zhi slightly raised his brows, a frostiness congealing in his eyes, ¡°If I wish to be discharged, I will be discharged. Who else needs to agree?¡± The poodle immediately quieted down, burying itself into its owner¡¯s embrace. Luo Changfang soothingly patted the toy poodle while her eyes twinkled with amusement, ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant. Since you¡¯ve been discharged, we should be informed in advance, so the servants can prepare your soup and medicine.¡± After winter had set in, Jiang Zhi¡¯s medicine seemed to never run out. He coughed a few times, his lips turned red, but his skin was pale, he slightly gasped, ¡°This old lady is too concerned, it¡¯s unnecessary for second aunt to trouble herself.¡± Luo Changfang nodded, ¡°Alright then, I won¡¯t disturb you any further, you should rest early.¡± He coughed again a few times and went upstairs. Once he entered his room, he locked the door, turned on the light, and took out his cellphone, ¡°We can talk now.¡± Zhou Xufang filled the camera entirely with her face, magnified in such a way that it made her look even more clueless. She asked Jiang Zhi, ¡°Are you feeling unwell again?¡± Jiang Zhi took off his jacket and sat on the bed, ¡°No.¡± She stared at the camera, gaze eager, fixated on Jiang Zhi¡¯s pale face as if she wanted to climb through the screen, ¡°But you coughed.¡± Jiang Zhi responded with a light and nonchalant tone, ¡°Old problem, it¡¯s alright.¡± ¡°How can it be alright, you¡¯re sick!¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s expression was very serious. ¡°Jiang Fuli is not a good person, and her mother definitely isn¡¯t either. You need to be careful living there, don¡¯t eat anything they give you, even the water¡ªdon¡¯t drink carelessly.¡± She was so anxious her face wrinkled up. Jiang Zhi was still smiling, and when he did smile, his eyes bloomed like peach blossoms, becoming unspeakably beautiful, ¡°Mhm, I know.¡± She was still worried, ¡°Show me your room.¡± ¡°What for?¡± ¡°To see if there is any chronic poison or something.¡± She was seriously concerned, saying, ¡°That¡¯s how they show it in the TV dramas.¡± Her expression was a bit innocently dumb. She seldom smiled, with a cold expression, when angry her lips pursed into a straight line, when worried her eyebrows furrowed into furled marks, not many emotions, but all written on her face. Cold but cute. ¡°Xufang.¡± Her focus wavered, ¡°Hmm?¡± Jiang Zhi leaned back on his arms, the top buttons of his shirt were undone revealing a glimpse of his collarbone, and he told his little lady, ¡°Bring your face closer.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± She brought her entire face up to the camera. Jiang Zhi kissed the screen and laughed, ¡°Why are you so obedient.¡± Then the screen went dark. It was Zhou Xufang¡¯s phone that had dropped; she fumbled under the sofa for a while before picking up the phone and putting her face back in the camera, now blushing. ¡°Stop worrying about me.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s fingertip touched the cool screen, gently caressing it, his eyes tender, though his words not so much, ¡°They are bad people but I¡¯m not exactly a good person either. If they really want to play dirty, it¡¯s not clear yet who will play who.¡± Zhou Xufang corrected him, ¡°You are a good person.¡± Jiang Zhi smiled, a small fang barely noticeable, just a pointed tip visible, enough to soften his fierce look, making him appear like a boy, ¡°In this world, only you think I am a good person.¡± His hands were untainted by any blood. But he liked to manipulate others into doing his dirty deeds, it was a common occurrence. ¡°You are!¡± She was quite firm. Jiang Zhi smiled again, not bothering to correct her. ¡°What did you label me as in WeChat?¡± he asked about something important. The most beautiful beauty in the world. Zhou Xufang was too embarrassed to say, so she lied, ¡°I¡¯ve labeled it with your name.¡± Jiang Zhi was unsatisfied, ¡°It needs to change.¡± Right now, he wanted to slap a ¡®Jiang Zhi Exclusive¡¯ label on Zhou Xufang¡¯s forehead, wishing to proclaim to the entire world that he¡¯d got himself a girl, the best one. Childish, right? He admitted, he was childish and cowardly towards her. ¡°Change it to what?¡± He thought for a moment, ¡°Boyfriend Jiang Zhi.¡± Zhou Xufang, ¡°¡­¡± Her ears started to burn. Thinking again, he still felt it was not enough, ¡°My Baby Boyfriend Jiang Zhi, let¡¯s change it to that for now.¡± Zhou Xufang, ¡°¡­¡± Cringeworthy¡­ Seeing she hadn¡¯t agreed, Jiang Zhi sat up from the bed, his hair messed up, appearing a bit irritable, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you speaking?¡± He didn¡¯t even wait for her to respond before he started to get anxious. ¡°Are you not willing to change it?¡± ¡°Do you no longer like your boyfriend?¡± Zhou Xufang, ¡°¡­¡± People in love, regardless of gender, are often sensitive and petty. Jiang Zhi was no exception. Before gaining her, he plotted in every way he could, and after gaining her, he was trembling with fear, worried that he could not hold on to her. He had surrendered all his pride and principles to her. ¡°Zhou Xufang!¡± Zhou Xufang agreed, ¡°I¡¯ll change it.¡± She held up her phone at a forty-five-degree angle above her, with a look on her face as if she embodied ¡®loyal to the nation¡¯, ¡°I¡¯ll change it!¡± Jiang Zhi was truly quick-tempered. And it was also true that he was easy to coax. He laughed, ¡°Then I¡¯ll change it too.¡± His original WeChat note for Zhou Xufang was ¡®My Little Ancestor¡¯, now it became ¡®My Girlfriend Fangbao the Little Ancestor¡¯. Without being in love, he would never have known he could be so cheesily clingy to this extent. He felt it wasn¡¯t his fault, it was Zhou Xufang, she had cast a spell on him. After hanging up the video call, Jiang Zhi was still unable to calm his mind, climbed up like an idiot, ground ink, and wanted to paint a picture for Zhou Xufang. In the end¡ª Forget it, it was so bad he couldn¡¯t even recognize it himself, hard to bear to look at. He wanted to throw it away, but thinking of Zhou Xufang, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to do it. He summoned a servant, even at the midnight hour to get a scroll, mount it properly, and hang the painting by the bed. The servant hesitated to speak, ¡°Young Master, this is¡­¡± he ventured a guess, ¡°Is it for warding off evil spirits?¡± Soul artist Jiang Zhi, ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Get out.¡± When he referred to himself as ¡®Master¡¯, he was mostly annoyed. The servant scurried away. It was already late at night, Jiang Zhi lay there, looking at the painting, his mind filled with thoughts of Zhou Xufang, not sleepy at all. He took out his phone and began to call. The first person, Qiao Nanchu. ¡°Nanchu.¡± Qiao Nanchu was woken up halfway through his sleep and was irritable, ¡°What time is it, can¡¯t you sleep!¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t care, ¡°It¡¯s very important.¡± ¡°Say it.¡± He said, ¡°I¡¯m no longer single.¡± His tone was clearly boastful. Qiao Nanchu: ¡°¡­¡± He glanced at the time, 12:16 am. His drowsiness was also disrupted, he ran his hand through his hair, cursed under his breath, ¡°Just for this?¡± Jiang Zhi hummed a response, his tone drawn out and full of smugness, all chirpy like a little bird. Up late at night, not sleeping, just to boast about his girlfriend. Sick! Qiao Nanchu managed a half-hearted smile, ¡°Congratulations.¡± Jiang Zhi was to the point, ¡°Straight cash.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°The gift for meeting my girlfriend.¡± Qiao Nanchu: ¡°¡­¡± This guy had changed ever since he¡¯d set his heart on Zhou Xufang, the dignity and indifferent coolness that Old Lady Jiang had painstakingly instilled in him all went to waste. It was as if a person from a painting was dragged out, but at least he seemed alive now. Qiao Nanchu didn¡¯t want to banter with him, ¡°I need to sleep now, hanging up.¡± He promptly ended the call. A few seconds later, Jiang Zhi received a money transfer, he accepted it, then dialed the second call. ¡°Xue Baoyi.¡± At this hour, Xue Baoyi was living her nightlife, who knew in which pleasure ground she was reveling, with music loud enough to deafen. On the stage, the DJ was spinning, Xue Baoyi couldn¡¯t hear well, she shouted over the phone, ¡°It¡¯s too noisy here, I¡¯ll call you back later.¡± Jiang Zhi held his phone away from his ear, ¡°Come out.¡± ¡°Give me half a minute,¡± Xue Baoyi found a quieter place, ¡°What is it that you must say right now.¡± ¡°I¡¯m dating Zhou Xufang.¡± No wonder he was up late at night, struck by spring fever. Xue Baoyi laughed, ¡°Your guy is a block of ice and wood, not easy at all, you finally managed to get a bite.¡± Her previously cheerful tone took a sharp turn, ¡°Who are you calling wood?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xue Baoyi shuddered a bit at his imposing harshness, ¡°That¡¯s not the point.¡± But that was exactly the point. ¡°Zhou Xufang is not wood.¡± At first, he was haughty, but as he spoke, he became buoyant with pride. Jiang Zhi said, ¡°She¡¯s really well-behaved.¡± And added, ¡°And cute, too.¡± His tone was proud, ¡°She¡¯s also fierce in a fight.¡± Like a parent boasting about their child, ¡°She can uproot a tree barehanded, can you?¡± Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°The world champions don¡¯t run as fast as she does, what right do you have to call her wood.¡± Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± Just like that, he flaunted his face full of pride. Couldn¡¯t stand him anymore, more outrageous than Qiao Nanchu¡¯s cousin who was enslaved by his daughter, Xue Baoyi snapped, ¡°Too much, Brother Zhi, it¡¯s not like no one has ever had a girlfriend, cut the bragging with me.¡± Jiang Zhi was sarcastic, ¡°Can any of those messy girlfriends of yours compare to Zhou Xufang?¡± Messy?! ¡°Jiang Zhi, you¡¯ve said enough, I don¡¯t want to talk to you!¡± ¡°Get the gift ready for when you meet my girlfriend, don¡¯t come empty-handed.¡± After that, Jiang Zhi hung up the call. Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± Got a girlfriend and making such a fuss? 12:32 am. Xue Bingxue received a call from Jiang Zhi at the hospital. ¡°Bingxue.¡± ¡°I¡¯m busy right now, I have to go change Wei¡¯er¡¯s bandages.¡± The person who usually sleeps after eight and doesn¡¯t stay up late was still very energetic at this time, not coughing or showing signs of asthma anymore, ¡°You do your thing, I¡¯ll say mine.¡± ¡°Oh, then go ahead.¡± Jiang Zhi said, ¡°I¡¯m dating Zhou Xufang.¡± As soon as Xue Bingxue heard it, he immediately asked, ¡°How did you manage to woo her?¡± He wanted to pursue Jiang Wei¡¯er too. ¡°Zhou Xufang and Jiang Wei¡¯er are different.¡± Whenever Jiang Zhi mentioned Zhou Xufang, he was filled with joy, losing all his haughtiness, and just wanting to brag to the whole world about his girl, ¡°Zhou Xufang is a girl who is satisfied with just a pack of cotton candy.¡± Xue Bingxue tried to generalize, ¡°So should I get Wei¡¯er two packs?¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± This silly and naive guy. Jiang Zhi was in a good mood, lazily tossing out a suggestion, ¡°She has a strong personality, but a soft heart, you should stick to her more.¡± ¡°What if she gets annoyed with me?¡± ¡°Give her a beating.¡± As he said this, Xue Bingxue immediately defended, ¡°Wei¡¯er would never hit anyone, she has never hit me.¡± When he thought about it, Jiang Wei¡¯er, who even kicked Qiao Nanchu, rarely ever hit Xue Bingxue. ¡°With a face like yours, I couldn¡¯t bring myself to hit it either.¡± Too tender-looking! Three sentences in, the subject had to come back, Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t steer the conversation away from Zhou Xufang for three sentences, ¡°Still, mine¡¯s the best.¡± ¡°Zhou Xufang has never hit me.¡± ¡°She can¡¯t bear to part with it.¡± The Jiang Zhi who was too lazy to talk before, the Jiang Zhi who was indifferent to everything, the Jiang Zhi who seemed no different from a dead person, the Jiang Zhi who played with people¡¯s hearts as if it were life and death. Now, when he praises Zhou Xufang, he has endless, nauseatingly sweet words to say. Xue Bingxue sincerely felt, ¡°Jiang Zhi, your girlfriend is really a good person.¡± She was able to turn someone like the big demon Jiang Zhi into a flesh-and-blood mortal. Jiang Zhi was very proud, ¡°Of course.¡± Zhou Xufang is the best person in the world. After hanging up the phone, Jiang Zhi posted an update, using his private account visible only to a special group. The content is as follows¡ª My girlfriend. @Zhou Xufang Below it was a photo of Zhou Xufang when she was a hair model for ¡®Fairy Descending.¡¯ Jiang Zhi had gotten that photo from the hair director at that time. Why this photo? Because it¡¯s the only one that¡¯s high resolution. The ones Jiang Zhi secretly took¡­ Zhou Xufang was¡­ just a blob of black. In that group, there were only a few people who had just been called by Jiang Zhi one by one. No one had gone to bed yet. The handsomest man in the capital: Not even a single photo together, I don¡¯t accept this official announcement! Qiao Nanchu: Wishing you an early birth of a precious child. I am a little snowflake replying to Qiao Nanchu: Jiang Zhi is sterile. I am a little snowflake: Wishing you a quick cure for your sterility. The handsomest man in the capital: Girl with the screen protector, come on, call me ¡®brother¡¯ and let me hear it. This flirtatious handsomest man in the capital is, of course, Xue Baoyi. Three minutes later, Jiang Zhi posted another update, just one picture, a composite of him and Zhou Xufang, photoshopped from ¡®Fairy Descending¡¯s hairstyle poster, one with their faces obscured by matte blue, seamlessly joined together. Jiang Zhi felt they looked very much like a married couple and was quite satisfied. The comments followed¡ª Qiao Nanchu: That¡¯s sick! I am a little snowflake: [Smile][Flowers] The handsomest man in the capital: Damn, I thought I stumbled upon a beauty salon advertisement. Jiang Zhi was restless, sitting at the head of the bed and staring at his phone. Ten minutes passed, and the comments and likes page hadn¡¯t moved. Why hadn¡¯t Zhou Xufang liked the post? Why hadn¡¯t Zhou Xufang commented? Why hadn¡¯t Zhou Xufang posted on Moments? Why hadn¡¯t Zhou Xufang shown off their love? Had Zhou Xufang¡¯s feelings changed?! Jiang Zhi¡¯s thoughts reached this point, and he slammed his phone down onto the table. Ding! Jiang Zhi immediately picked up his phone, clicked on WeChat¡ªnot Zhou Xufang, but Xue Baoyi. He was adding fuel to the fire. The handsomest man in the capital: Did your lady go off to apply facial masks? She¡¯s not responding to you. The handsomest man in the capital: Brother Zhi, you¡¯re not favored. Not favored¡­ Not favored¡­ Not favored¡­ Bang! Jiang Zhi tossed his phone away, flipped the covers over himself to sleep, an hour, two hours¡­ two and a half hours later, he got up and glanced at the phone¡­ Seven in the morning, as the sun peeked out just a bit, the winter sun was slightly warm but carried a whiff of cold air. The phone on the coffee table suddenly rang. Zhou Xufang awoke from her dream, sat up abruptly, and after a dozen seconds, answered the phone, ¡°Hello.¡± Her voice was hoarse, throat sore. Having had a high fever for too long yesterday, after the fever broke, she was too active for too long, hyper for quite a while, then the fever continued¡­ repeating this cycle, her energy was depleted, and she fell asleep on the couch, feeling groggy, even dreaming about the attic of the Luo Family. Her head was dizzy. Jiang Zhi¡¯s voice was on the other end, ¡°Are you regretting it?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± The first response was irritation, the next was panic, ¡°You don¡¯t like me anymore?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Right now, Zhou Xufang¡¯s facial expression resembled a dumbfounded emoticon. Jiang Zhi scolded her, not truly scolding, but with unassertive, powerless, and helpless scolding, ¡°Zhou Xufang!¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°Here!¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°How are you?¡± The voice of the young girl on the phone was soft and weak, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Jiang Zhi was silent for a while before speaking up, ¡°I posted on Moments last night, and you didn¡¯t reply to me.¡± He felt like he had been left hanging when announcing their relationship. Zhou Xufang, who had just woken up, was a bit slow to respond and finally uttered an ¡°Oh¡± after a while, ¡°I fell asleep.¡± ¡°¡­¡± He had been longing for her all night long, not closing his eyes for a moment, and she had fallen asleep so quickly? His mind then returned to the jerk Xue Baoyi¡¯s words¡ªnot favored. While he was still indignant, he heard the girl on the phone say, ¡°I don¡¯t have any regrets.¡± She was barely awake, so she answered his initial question one by one, earnestly, ¡°I like it.¡± With those two sentences, all of Jiang Zhi¡¯s uncertainties and fears were soothed. Alright, he forgave her. The corners of his mouth curled up, revealing a hint of a smile, ¡°I¡¯m downstairs at your place.¡± He sniffled, his voice nasally, ¡°If you don¡¯t come get me, your boyfriend is going to freeze to death.¡± He had been waiting outside her apartment complex for two hours, unwilling to disturb her sleep by knocking at her door. Zhou Xufang was startled, then leaped off the couch. Less than ten seconds¡ª Click, the door opened. Jiang Zhi¡¯s left hand still held the phone, his right hand carried a thermos. The cold wind had reddened his eyes and nose. He looked at the girl in front of him, sporting a ¡®bird¡¯s nest¡¯ hairstyle, ¡°Zhou Xufang, did you fly here?¡± That was fast. ¡°No,¡± she said, ¡°I ran.¡± She wasn¡¯t wearing a coat; her clothes were thin, which made her look even more slender. Jiang Zhi took off his jacket, wrapped it around her, and pressed down a tuft of hair sticking out at the top of her head. He asked, ¡°Are you going to let your boyfriend in?¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°Yes.¡± He took her hand, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Chapter 111 - Chapter 111: 111: Go to Fang Baos house to love and cherish each other~ Chapter 111: 111: Go to Fang Bao¡¯s house to love and cherish each other~ He took her hand, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Zhou Xufang lived on the seventh floor without an elevator. She went up and down the stairs without getting red in the face or out of breath. Her door was black, and the gray cat in the pink bunny dress nestled at her doorstep, lazily lounging. When it saw someone coming, it meowed twice and then continued its nap. Zhou Xufang hurried down the stairs, leaving the door ajar. She went inside first and found a pair of slippers in the shoe cabinet for Jiang Zhi, ¡°Wear these.¡± The slippers were blue and based on the size, they were men¡¯s. Jiang Zhi immediately became suspicious, ¡°Whose are these?¡± What man had been here! Zhou Xufang tore open the packaging and then the tag, squatting down to place them beside Jiang Zhi¡¯s feet, ¡°I bought them for you, just hadn¡¯t had the chance to give them to you yet.¡± She had previously given Jiang Zhi a pink pair which Mr. Xue Baoyi saw him wearing when visiting the hospital. He had teased Jiang Zhi for being effeminate, so she bought another pair in blue, not with bunny heads but mushrooms. Jiang Zhi patted her head, praising her, ¡°Good taste.¡± Zhou Xufang smiled shyly, ¡°Sit here, I¡¯m going to brush my teeth.¡± He tousled her already messy hair even more, ¡°Go ahead.¡± Zhou Xufang went off to brush her teeth in the bathroom. Jiang Zhi slipped on the slippers and walked around the apartment, sizing up her place. No wonder she had previously refused to let him in. Just from the several computers and the dressing room, one could tell something was amiss. The two suites were combined into one, with very little furniture¡ªit was all visible at a glance, either gray or black. For a girl who liked pink so much, there wasn¡¯t a hint of warm color in her room. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Oh, except for two lamps. Zhou Xufang came out of the bathroom. Jiang Zhi asked, ¡°Why are those two lamps by the bed?¡± Both were gifts from him, one from his own house and the other from the porridge shop. Zhou Xufang explained, ¡°Because you gave them to me.¡± Originally, they were installed on the ceiling, but she liked these two lamps so much that she always wanted to touch them, so she placed them by the bed. Jiang Zhi looked at the lamps, then at her. This girl, with just a few words, could poke right at his heart. ¡°Come over and have breakfast first.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Zhou Xufang sat on the sofa, and just as she picked up her chopsticks, she noticed she had an unread message¡ªit was a WeChat transfer from Jiang Zhi, sent at five in the morning. She looked at Jiang Zhi, puzzled, ¡°Why did you transfer money to me?¡± Jiang Zhi took out the takeout boxes of crystal buns and shrimp dumplings, about to explain, but she beat him to it, ¡°Am I being kept by you?¡± ¡°¡­¡± The way her mind worked was always so intriguing. Her expression was blank, and Jiang Zhi poked her face lightly, ¡°What kept? Who taught you that word?¡± She had only learned the bad stuff. Zhou Xufang said, ¡°From the television.¡± Jiang Zhi served her some porridge, asking, ¡°Which television show? What¡¯s it called?¡± She recounted precisely, ¡°¡®President Gu, Your Delicate Wife Has Run Off with the Ball Again.''¡± Jiang Zhi, ¡°¡­¡± Those kinds of shows passed the censors? Zhou Xufang had recently become too engrossed in TV dramas. When she was his nurse at the hospital, the moment she had some time, she¡¯d be clutching a tablet, watching a show. That idiot Lin Wanwan even recommended her all sorts of soap operas. All corrupted by Lin Wanwan! ¡°Do you like watching TV dramas?¡± Zhou Xufang nodded eagerly, ¡°Yeah.¡± She used to watch them less but recently discovered they were so entertaining. Jiang Zhi then suggested, ¡°Don¡¯t watch all those messy ones. When I¡¯m done filming the movie, I will shoot a TV drama for you to watch.¡± Zhou Xufang had been secluded for too long, like a blank sheet of paper. He had to keep a close eye on her, not allowing any messy stuff to lead her astray. Zhou Xufang, ¡°Okay.¡± Jiang Zhi fed her a dumpling, ¡°Then what kind of TV drama do you like?¡± Zhou Xufang thought seriously, ¡°¡®President Gu, Your Delicate Wife Has Run Off with the Ball Again,¡¯ like that.¡± Jiang Zhi, ¡°¡­¡± She had truly inherited Lin Wanwan¡¯s teachings. He would remember this and settle it with Lin Wanwan later. Zhou Xufang stuffed a crystal bun in her mouth, ¡°You haven¡¯t said why you transferred money to me.¡± ¡°It¡¯s from Nanchu, a meeting gift.¡± Zhou Xufang checked the amount, ¡°It¡¯s a lot of money, can I accept it?¡± ¡°Keep it. When he gets a girlfriend, I¡¯ll send it back.¡± She put down her chopsticks, ¡°Then I¡¯ll transfer it to you.¡± ¡°It was given to you,¡± Jiang Zhi took away her phone, ¡°Eat.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Zhou Xufang picked up another crystal bun¡ªit was delicious. She pushed the rest of them towards Jiang Zhi, sharing with him. Halfway through their meal, Jiang Zhi received a phone call from Qiao Nanchu. ¡°The agent, Xiao Linsu, has turned herself in, claiming she was the one who drove the car that hit you.¡± Zhou Xufang puffed her cheeks and perked up her ears to listen. Jiang Zhi placed two crystal buns into her bowl, ¡°Did she drive Xiao Linsu¡¯s car?¡± Qiao Nanchu grunted in acknowledgment, ¡°That¡¯s what she¡¯s saying.¡± ¡°Is there any evidence?¡± ¡°There¡¯s dashcam footage.¡± Just when one wave had settled, another had risen. Jiang Zhi asked a few more questions and hung up. Zhou Xufang was staring at him, ¡°Are you going to the police station?¡± She took a sip of the porridge and set down her chopsticks, ¡°If the dashcam footage was tampered with, it¡¯d be pretty easy to find out. The evidence from Lin Shuang¡¯s confession should be real.¡± She thought for a moment, ¡°Whether Xiao Linsu is the principal offender, an accessory, or unaware, that depends on Lin Shuang¡¯s testimony.¡± She had low emotional intelligence, but she was clever. Jiang Zhi leaned back, stretched out his legs, and two blue mushroom slippers peeked out from under the coffee table, ¡°You heard all that?¡± ¡°Mhm,¡± she said, ¡°I have good hearing.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t bother to inquire just how good. ¡°Are you heading to the police station later?¡± she asked. He served her another small bowl of porridge, ¡°Mhm.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll come too.¡± ¡°Finish your meal first.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± She continued eating her porridge, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you eating?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already eaten.¡± Well, okay. She ended up eating all the delicious crystal buns. After breakfast, Zhou Xufang picked out clothes to change into and went to the bathroom, while Jiang Zhi waited outside, leaning against the door, looking at the wardrobe across the way that had every kind of clothing. ¡°Xu Fang.¡± She responded from inside, ¡°Hmm?¡± Jiang Zhi asked her, ¡°Why did you become a professional errand runner?¡± He turned around, the glass being one-way, he could only see her blurry outline, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to say, you don¡¯t have to answer.¡± Zhou Xufang came out dressed, ¡°I need a lot of money.¡± Otherwise, she couldn¡¯t afford Moon Bay. The income of a professional errand runner was high, particularly for her, as she had a high success rate and was well-known within the industry, charging double, if not more, than her peers. Jiang Zhi walked over, his hand on her waist, pinching it gently, ¡°We¡¯ve just started our relationship, and I shouldn¡¯t interfere too much, but this industry is too dangerous, and I worry for you. Whether you switch careers should be your own decision. If you choose to continue, I won¡¯t stop you, but there¡¯s one thing you must promise me.¡± He lowered his head to look into her eyes, ¡°You can¡¯t take on those high-risk jobs anymore, deal?¡± Qiao Nanchu worked in intelligence, so Jiang Zhi knew a bit as well: many of the tasks of a professional errand runner were in a legal gray area, dangerous, and likely to make enemies. Zhou Xufang nodded, saying, ¡°Okay.¡± She had Jiang Zhi now, she thought. She intended to live a long, full life and couldn¡¯t just ¡®roam the martial world, fighting and killing¡¯ anymore. As for other matters, she¡¯d talk about them when she felt like it. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t push any further, he took a card out of his wallet and placed it in her hand, ¡°If you¡¯re ever short on cash, use this.¡± Zhou Xufang refused, pushing it back to him, ¡°I¡¯ve got a lot of money, this entire building is mine.¡± She wasn¡¯t boasting; she spoke with complete sincerity, ¡°I¡¯ve saved a considerable sum. If the Jiang Family ever goes bankrupt, I could support you. I can even build you hospitals and laboratories.¡± Jiang Zhi, ¡°¡­¡± She was adorably impossible for him to handle. Deadly, indeed. By 8:30 a.m., Jiang Zhi and Zhou Xufang had arrived at the police station. ¡°You¡¯re here,¡± Qiao Nanchu, with his flirtatious looks, sipped his instant coffee, dressed in a police uniform, which gave his smile a bit of a roguish edge, ¡°Hello there, little sister-in-law.¡± Little Sister-in-law Zhou, embarrassed, bowed her head, ¡°He- hello.¡± She still wasn¡¯t accustomed to socializing. Jiang Zhi pulled a mask from his coat pocket, put it on Zhou Xufang, and shepherded her behind him, throwing Qiao Nanchu a look that suggested he better cut it out, then asked, ¡°Did you start the interrogation?¡± The sappy smell of romance was in the air. Qiao Nanchu downed the coffee in his disposable cup, threw a perfect parabola, and tossed the cup into the trash can, ¡°We¡¯re in the process, come with me.¡± He led the two of them to the monitoring room next to the interrogation room. Through the special glass, they could see the other side, where Captain Cheng of the Criminal Investigation Team was conducting an interrogation, ¡°Who ordered you to do this?¡± Lin Shuang looked a bit haggard but remained composed, ¡°Jin Song.¡± Captain Cheng persisted, ¡°Does Xiao Linsu know anything about it?¡± Without a moment¡¯s hesitation before answering, ¡°He was completely unaware.¡± Handcuffed, she leaned forward, looked straight into Captain Cheng¡¯s eyes, and stated, ¡°Ask as many times as you want, my answer will remain the same. You can bring in a micro-expression expert to see if I¡¯m lying.¡± She rested her handcuffed hands on the table and leaned back naturally, relaxed and unhurried, ¡°He has no connection to this at all. It was Jin Song who wanted to teach Jiang Zhi a lesson. He blackmailed Linsu with a video, and I was there at the time.¡± Captain Cheng pressed on, ¡°Then why were you the one to hit Jiang Zhi?¡± She picked up the cup beside her and took a sip of water, ¡°Linsu was hesitant, I was afraid Jin Song would release the video, so I made the decision for him.¡± Her expression only changed when talking about Xiao Linsu, ¡°It was my unrequited love for him. I was willing to do anything for him. Officer,¡± her eyes reddened, ¡°He hasn¡¯t broken the law.¡± Still the same line. Lin Shuang persisted in her confession, saying that it was all her doing and had nothing to do with Xiao Linsu. ¡°It¡¯s been reviewed several times, and it¡¯s always the same story,¡± said Vice Captain Xing of the Criminal Investigation Team, speaking to Qiao Nanchu, ¡°If there¡¯s no new evidence, we¡¯ll have to release her.¡± After all, the dashcam footage was irrefutable evidence, clearly capturing the entire process of Lin Shuang driving and hitting someone. Qiao Nanchu looked at Jiang Zhi: ¡°What do you think?¡± Thankfully, the dashcam footage didn¡¯t capture Zhou Xufang. Jiang Zhi was thinking about that. Qiao Nanchu waved his hand in front of his face: ¡°I¡¯m talking to you.¡± He took Zhou Xufang by the hand and left: ¡°Love issues, no point asking me.¡± The case had evolved into a love dispute now. In the end, Xiao Linsu was released, and at the police station entrance, he saw Jiang Wei¡¯er, more than ten days later, when everything had changed profoundly. She had lost a lot of weight. So had he. It was Jiang Wei¡¯er who broke the silence first: ¡°Let¡¯s talk.¡± Xue Bingxue was also standing by her side. Xiao Linsu¡¯s clothes were wrinkled and he looked disheveled: ¡°Okay.¡± The two went to the vacant lot behind the police station, Xue Bingxue didn¡¯t follow, waiting in place for Jiang Wei¡¯er. They faced each other in silence, silent for a long time. Above them, the national flag fluttered in the wind, her voice scattered, ephemeral and uncertain: ¡°Those words you said to Lin Shuang in the hospital, do you have any explanation?¡± She calmed down for a while, had thought of many possibilities, some good and some bad, and only dared to see him once she had calmed down. Xiao Linsu looked at her for a while, his gaze a bit cold and steady, no emotions given away, and spoke plainly, ¡°After my sister passed away, I wanted to break ties with Jin Song, but he had a video, and from that point, I knew it would be difficult to get out unscathed.¡± She listened, saying nothing. He continued: ¡°Lin Shuang said she found me a martial arts instructor, who was the Fifth Miss of the Jiang Family, and also said that the Jiang Family¡¯s Fifth Miss¡¯s idol just happened to be me.¡± Lin Shuang said the opportunity had come. His lifeline had appeared. Jiang Wei¡¯er asked with a slight tremor in her voice, ¡°So, from the beginning, you knew who I was?¡± He nodded: ¡°I just didn¡¯t know that you were the same person I met in my youth before I saw you.¡± He didn¡¯t know the Fifth Miss of the Jiang Family was the girl of his dreams; it started with a mistake, and then, everything went wrong. From then on, without having to say anything, she would help him, and in two years, he went from an unknown singer to a popular actor. ¡°What about the burn on Lin Shuang¡¯s body?¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er¡¯s hands hung at her sides and clenched, ¡°Did you do that?¡± He was silent for a long time: ¡°Yes.¡± His voice was low and hoarse, ¡°After being abused for a long time, one can develop the desire to abuse. I couldn¡¯t bring myself to hurt you, but Lin Shuang was different, she¡ª¡± She couldn¡¯t listen anymore: ¡°I don¡¯t believe it.¡± Her eyes reddened, and her trembling hands were clenched tightly, forcing herself to calm down, ¡°You¡¯ve hidden it for so long, why would you say it that day, outside my hospital room, without any concern? Wasn¡¯t it deliberate for me to hear?¡± He looked her straight in the eyes, unwavering, ¡°Because I got the video, it was time to end things.¡± She shook her head, ¡°You¡¯re not that kind of person¡­¡± she repeated to herself, muttering, ¡°You¡¯re not.¡± ¡°Wei¡¯er.¡± His voice remained gentle when he called her name, he said, ¡°I¡¯m an actor.¡± No matter what role, none were beyond his performance, and what she saw was only what he chose to show her. An actor excels at putting on a fa?ade. Jiang Wei¡¯er felt unsteady, stumbling back a couple of steps: ¡°One last question,¡± she stared at him, her gaze scorching, ¡°Did you truly know nothing about Lin Shuang driving into Jiang Zhi?¡± He replied, ¡°I didn¡¯t know.¡± ¡°If what you¡¯re saying is the truth, then there are two possibilities.¡± Her face was devoid of color, only her bitten lips were a bright red, ¡°First, you didn¡¯t want to work with Jin Song and didn¡¯t want to hurt Jiang Zhi, so it was Lin Shuang acting on her own initiative.¡± That was Lin Shuang¡¯s confession. She looked at him fiercely, ¡°Second, you wanted the video, and you wanted to hurt Jiang Zhi, but you didn¡¯t want to dirty your own hands, so you coaxed her skillfully, you had Lin Shuang walk into the trap willingly, to clear the obstacles for you, because you knew, that woman was foolish, she would do anything for you.¡± Her fists tightened, her nails dug into her skin, feeling no pain, while her feigned composure was close to shattering, her voice trembling, ¡°Which one is it? Xiao Linsu, don¡¯t lie to me.¡± He didn¡¯t answer directly: ¡°Does it still matter which one?¡± ¡°It matters.¡± His expression remained mild and calm, looking at her, composed, ¡°I never forced Lin Shuang to do anything, it was all her voluntary choice, and,¡± finally, his tranquil eyes stirred, ¡°ten years ago, it was Lin Shuang who introduced me to Jin Song.¡± She suddenly laughed. ¡°Are you still the Xiao Linsu I knew?¡± She stood, swaying, reached out, as if wanting to touch his face, but suddenly retracted her hand and hurriedly retreated, ¡°No, have I ever truly seen you?¡± Xiao Linsu just watched her intently, those eyes blurred, filled with desolation. ¡°From now on¡­¡± She began to speak, her voice broke, and the words stuck in her throat: ¡°Let¡¯s not see each other again.¡± He agreed. He said, ¡°Wei¡¯er,¡± his own voice quivered, his eyes reddened, ¡°take care.¡± After speaking, he was the first to turn away. ¡°Linsu.¡± He stood there, not turning around, ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Do you ever love me?¡± ¡°I did.¡± He didn¡¯t turn to look at her; his voice quivered, ¡°It¡¯s just that the world has been so unfair to me, I have to love myself as well.¡± After he finished speaking, he put on his mask and sunglasses, turned his back to her, and walked further and further away. Jiang Wei¡¯er stood still, beginning to smile; soon her face was streaming with tears. ¡°Wei¡¯er.¡± She wiped her eyes and turned to see Xue Bingxue, ¡°Let me see her.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Lin Shuang was taken into custody, and when Jiang Wei¡¯er saw her again, she was already dressed in prison garb. ¡°I asked the lawyer, you¡¯ll get at least three years,¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er said across from her, her eyes red from crying, ¡°Do you regret it?¡± Lin Shuang was calm, ¡°No regrets.¡± ¡°What if he used you, would you regret it then?¡± Lin Shuang shook her head, ¡°There¡¯s no using, it was all my choice.¡± She looked at Wei¡¯er, her eyes full of resignation, ¡°Wei¡¯er, have you ever seen Xiao Linsu at the age of eighteen?¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er said, ¡°I have.¡± I remember how he was covered in wounds. ¡°Have you ever seen him before he debuted?¡± Lin Shuang asked. Jiang Wei¡¯er shook her head. ¡°I have.¡± She seemed to be speaking to herself, smiling with tears in her eyes, ¡°The first time I saw him, he was kneeling under a tree, speaking to a dog, saying,¡± She blinked, and tears fell, ¡°He said, sorry, I can¡¯t take you home, my sister has a heart condition, we can¡¯t keep a dog¡­¡± At that time, he was also just eighteen, youthful and innocent, wearing a clean school uniform, his eyes clear and uncorrupted by the turbid world. The young boy knelt on the ground, took off his school jacket, and laid it on the shivering puppy. Lin Shuang smiled through her tears, ¡°Back then, he was pure and kind.¡± Who hasn¡¯t been untainted once, only to be scarred by the dust of the world¡­ After leaving the police station, Jiang Wei¡¯er squatted on the ground and sobbed uncontrollably. Zhou Xufang stood nearby, struggling to watch, her eyes also reddening, ¡°Jiang Zhi, your aunt is crying.¡± Jiang Zhi patted her head, ¡°Someone¡¯s gone.¡± He took her by the hand, ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go home.¡± Behind them, Jiang Wei¡¯er cried. Xue Bingxue knelt beside her, awkwardly patting her back, unable to comfort, just repeating two words, ¡°Don¡¯t cry, don¡¯t cry, don¡¯t cry¡­¡± It was overcast, with rain on the way. Jiang Zhi hadn¡¯t gone far when Qiao Nanchu called him back with another phone call. ¡°There¡¯s a case,¡± Qiao Nanchu stated briefly, ¡°it¡¯s related to you.¡± Troubles never come singly. One after another. Jiang Zhi and Zhou Xufang returned to the police station. The projector was on, and Vice Captain Xing from the Criminal Investigation Team was presenting the case, ¡°The victim, Duan Xi, twenty-two years old, a female artist from Tianxing.¡± Captain Cheng added a comment, ¡°Tianxing again.¡± The Luo Family sure has had its share of troubles this year. Vice Captain Xing pressed a button to the next slide, and the victim¡¯s photo was projected. Zhou Xufang¡¯s gaze fixed; it was her¡­ ¡°The victim was stabbed four times. The murderer put the body in a suitcase and threw it into a pond in the suburbs. The forensic examination has been done; the victim¡¯s lower body had been assaulted with a sharp object like a pen and was severely injured. However, the assailant left no DNA. The fatal injury was a cut to the carotid artery, and the murder weapon was just an ordinary fruit knife. Since the body had been submerged for a long time, we can only approximate the time of death.¡± Vice Captain Xing looked towards Jiang Zhi, ¡°It¡¯s roughly the same time you were thrown into the sea, Mr. Jiang.¡± Jiang Zhi stayed silent, pulling the girl beside him closer into his arms, fearing the gore, and covered her eyes. Zhou Xufang pushed his hand away; she wanted to see. Vice Captain Xing continued, ¡°Moreover, our investigation found that Duan Xi also attended the cruise ship wedding that day. Witnesses saw her on the boat, meaning, her time of death was after boarding the ship. The first and second floors of the cruise were guest lounges with no surveillance, but we captured the victim at a few staircases. Before her death, two people had come into contact with her.¡± On the projector, two photos were displayed. A ripple stirred in Jiang Zhi¡¯s peach blossom eyes, almost instinctively; he took off Zhou Xufang¡¯s mask. Suspect number one¡ªZhou Xufang. Others couldn¡¯t recognize her, but Jiang Zhi did instantly. Vice Captain Xing explained, ¡°Suspect number one, female, judging by the outfit, seems to be a cruise ship waiter, but she wore a mask and gloves, acting suspiciously, and we have yet to verify her identity.¡± Zhou Xufang appeared lost in thought. But it was Jiang Zhi who, fearing she would be recognized, eagerly hid her in his embrace. ¡°The second suspect, we only captured a hand, but that hand¡¯s watch,¡± Vice Captain Xing asked Jiang Zhi, ¡°do you recognize it, Mr. Jiang?¡± I don¡¯t remember the hand, but I recognize the watch. Jiang Zhi looked at the men¡¯s watch, ¡°It¡¯s the person who pushed me into the sea.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, the same person.¡± Because the man in the photo also had scratch marks on the back of his hand. Chapter 112 - Chapter 112: 112: Fang Bao, pamper me more Chapter 112: 112: Fang Bao, pamper me more That watch¡­ Qiao Nanchu took a few careful looks, then laughed, ¡°Brother Zhi.¡± No joking now, seriously, ¡°You should stop drawing in the future.¡± The soulful artist Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Outside, the clouds dispersed, and the sun emerged again; the weather was fickle and ever-changing. After leaving the police station, Jiang Zhi walked a distance with Zhou Xufang before he asked her, ¡°Do you remember anything about the deceased?¡± Zhou Xufang nodded, ¡°She asked me for help. I was in a hurry to find you, so I hid her in a closet.¡± That room was a gathering place for waiters, which should have been safe in theory. She thought about the details, ¡°When I saw her, she was already injured, with lots of blood on her dress.¡± After pondering for a bit, she said to Jiang Zhi, ¡°She must have been murdered after getting off the boat. If it happened on the boat, it would have been easier for the killer to throw the body into the sea, there would be no need to take it off the boat to find a place to dump it.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s focus was different from Zhou Xufang¡¯s, ¡°Did she touch you when she asked for help?¡± Zhou Xufang nodded. He then asked, ¡°What about the clothes?¡± ¡°Thrown away.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?0 ¡°Think it over, you can¡¯t let the police trace it back to you.¡± Others might die a grievous death, but that was their business; he only cared about his own people. It didn¡¯t matter who the killer was, as long as it didn¡¯t involve Zhou Xufang, not even as a suspect. Not to say it wasn¡¯t her that killed, even if it was¡­ ¡°I was very careful,¡± she said with a tiny hint of pride, ¡°I¡¯ve been a professional errand runner for so long and no one has discovered my identity.¡± Quite impressive! Jiang Zhi: ¡°Didn¡¯t I discover it?¡± True, her little tail was caught by Jiang Zhi. Zhou Xufang felt deflated all of a sudden, unable to understand, ¡°When did I slip up?¡± Her voice was disguised, her face covered, even her footsteps and stride were deliberately varied. ¡°You smell of milk.¡± Oh, the scent. She sniffed, ¡°I can¡¯t smell it.¡± Jiang Zhi smiled, holding her chin to lift her face, ¡°I recognize your eyes too.¡± She blinked. He poked her forehead gently, ¡°And your skull.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I can recognize the back of your head with a touch.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Oh, so her skull and the back of her head were so distinctive! Zhou Xufang became distressed, ¡°So in the future, when I¡¯m on a mission, do I need to wrap up my skull and the back of my head too?¡± That would be so strange, like a female ghost. ¡°No need,¡± said Jiang Zhi, ¡°others definitely won¡¯t recognize you.¡± Zhou Xufang disagreed, feeling like she should still wrap up her skull and the back of her head in the future, ¡°But you recognized me.¡± ¡°Others can¡¯t compare with me.¡± He caressed the back of her head, liking it more and more the more he touched it, unable to let go, ¡°Who loves you as much as I do.¡± The dumbstruck Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± Jiang Zhi was so good at sweet talk, so she had to say something too, ¡°I like your skull and the back of your head as well.¡± After saying it, she became embarrassed and turned her head away, secretly giggling. The skull and the back of the head that were just complimented, Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± He gestured her over, ¡°Come here.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Zhou Xufang shuffled forward slowly. Jiang Zhi touched her head, ¡°You are a bit feverish.¡± She was so used to the fever, ¡°It¡¯s fine, it¡¯ll pass soon.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s hand was cool, resting on her hot face to cool her down, ¡°Do you get a fever when others kiss you, hug you, or say nice things to you?¡± Zhou Xufang shook her head like a rattle, ¡°No fever.¡± She said earnestly, ¡°I would hit him.¡± ¡°So,¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes curved with his smile, ¡°you feel this way because you like me?¡± She was dumbfounded. After recovering, she nodded with a flushed face. Jiang Zhi thought of something else, ¡°What if you stop liking me in the future¡ª¡± Zhou Xufang, whose survival instinct suddenly peaked, said, ¡°My immunity is quite strong. If I stop running a fever in the future, it would mean I¡¯ve become immune, not that I don¡¯t like you.¡± It wasn¡¯t impossible. The first time she had a fever, it lasted a long time, and medicine didn¡¯t help. But now, the fever subsided within minutes. Who knows, maybe in the future, she wouldn¡¯t get a fever at all. Jiang Zhi snorted, his mood soured by his own hypothetical scenario. Zhou Xufang couldn¡¯t figure out his sudden moodiness, so she scooted over, gently shaking his finger to appease him. Jiang Zhi reached out, wrapped his arm around her waist, and pulled her into his embrace, ¡°Say it three times, Zhou Xufang will always like Jiang Zhi.¡± Zhou Xufang, ¡°¡­Oh.¡± Her expression and tone remained constant, like a parrot, as she repeated it three times. ¡°Zhou Xufang will always like Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Zhou Xufang will always like Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Zhou Xufang will always like Jiang Zhi.¡± The girl seemed lost and naive, utterly compliant to him. Jiang Zhi¡¯s heart softened from being so sweetly placated, and he rested his chin in the crook of her shoulder, ¡°I want to kiss you.¡± Zhou Xufang shrank back, ¡°You can¡¯t, not out here.¡± She was too shy to kiss in public. Jiang Zhi pecked her blushing earlobe, ¡°Fine, let¡¯s go to the car.¡± Before he had finished speaking¡ª The third wheel turned on, ¡°Boss! Boss!¡± Ah Wan paid the taxi driver then ran toward his employer, blurting out his frustrations without thinking, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you call me before you left? What if you passed out while driving?!¡± Interrupted, Jiang Zhi was more than just upset, ¡°Who are you complaining to?¡± His peach blossom eyes held a sharp, icy gleam¡ªlike daggers. How scary! Ah Wan stopped his casual banter, ¡°You¡¯ve misunderstood, you are my boss; how could I complain to you? I¡¯m just worried about your well-being.¡± He put on a sincere face, ¡°Is your esteemed self still in good health?¡± What a drama queen. Lin Xijing showed a deeply concerned expression, along with a look of ¡®thank heavens and blessed be the gods, the Boss is alright¡¯: ¡°Seeing your rosy complexion, you must be in good health, that¡¯s a relief to me.¡± Then he naturally changed the subject, glossing over his earlier grumbling, ¡°Miss Zhou is here too.¡± His gaze fell on the intertwined fingers of his employer and Miss Zhou, surprised, ¡°Yikes! You two¡­ made it official?¡± The little white rabbit, Miss Zhou, was finally snatched into the wolf¡¯s den by the big bad wolf. The car parked some hundred meters away, Jiang Zhi walked ahead with Zhou Xufang, ¡°At the Jiang Family¡¯s place, keep your mouth shut.¡± Ah Wan followed behind, ¡°Why?¡± Curiosity piqued, he boldly guessed, ¡°Boss, are you afraid Madam Gu will play the matchbreaker?¡± Jiang Zhi ignored him. The more Ah Wan thought about it, the more he believed it to be the case, feeling somewhat melancholy, ¡°It¡¯s true, Fifth Miss and Mr. Xiao were stricken down with a single blow. Look at Mr. Xiao, he almost ended up in jail, and Fifth Miss¡¯s heart turned to ashes. Madam Gu cares too much about social status. Since you¡¯re her darling, she will definitely meddle in your marriage matters. If Madam Gu finds out Miss Zhou is just a screen protector installer, she might just issue her a hefty check to leave you, like Madam Gu did in ¡®President Gu, Your Dainty Wife has Run off with the Ball Again 2¡¯.¡± Ah Wan had finished all the Korean dramas and recently switched to domestic idol dramas. ¡°Boss, you¡¯re not in the best of health. If Madam Gu really breaks up the pair with a stick, that blow could¡ª¡± Jiang Zhi turned around, his beautiful eyes suddenly frosted over, ¡°Can¡¯t keep your mouth shut, can you?¡± Ah Wan, who had become increasingly bold from his close relationship with the screen protector installer, Miss Zhou, ¡°¡­I can keep it shut.¡± Then, Ah Wan fell silent. But Zhou Xufang piped up, ¡°Ah Wan, is there a second part of ¡®President Gu, Your Dainty Wife has Run off with the Ball Again¡¯? I haven¡¯t seen it.¡± Jiang Zhi, ¡°¡­¡± He couldn¡¯t scold his girlfriend, so what could he do? He just bore with it. Ah Wan, who had an extraordinary relationship with the screen protector installer, Miss Zhou, and had again grown bold, said, ¡°The TV series isn¡¯t out yet, but the novel is.¡± He walked ahead. The large, nearly two-meter-tall, two-hundred-pound figure managed to maintain not only his muscle but also the girlish heart inherited from Ms. Song, with great enthusiasm, ¡°Miss Zhou, you haven¡¯t seen the novel, right?¡± Zhou Xufang said, ¡°No.¡± For Ah Wan, it was time to win over the Boss Lady, ¡°I¡¯ll send you the link.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°Okay.¡± Ah Wan opened the rear door first, then sat in the driver¡¯s seat and continued to chat with the Boss Lady: ¡°I still have an uncut version of the good stuff, do you want it?¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°Yes.¡± Just as Ah Wan was about to share the link through her phone, someone kicked the back of her seat: ¡°Lin Wanwan.¡± Ah Wan¡¯s hand, in the midst of sending the link, trembled. She couldn¡¯t scold her girlfriend, so Jiang Zhi looked up, his reflection in the rearview mirror showcasing a pair of peach blossom eyes sharp enough to draw blood: ¡°Do you think I¡¯m dead?¡± This time, Ah Wan completely shut up, tightly sealed her mouth. Again, it was Zhou Xufang who spoke during the lull: ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± She asked, ¡°What is this uncut version of the good stuff?¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± He gave a glance at the driver¡¯s seat, wishing he could twist off Lin Wanwan¡¯s head. Ah Wan tucked in her head and sneakily peeked at the rearview mirror, seeing the employer leaning close to Miss Zhou¡¯s ear. ¡°Stuff not suitable for children.¡± Zhou Xufang was curious, as it was her first time encountering such things. Jiang Zhi whispered in her ear again: ¡°I¡¯ll teach you later.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± The very Ah Wan who was straining to eavesdrop¡ª ¡°Are you not going to drive? Do you want to stay here overnight?¡± Ah Wan weakly asked for the location. Jiang Zhi said, back to his apartment. They had only just started the car when Zhou Xufang¡¯s phone received a WeChat message. ¡°Who¡¯s looking for you?¡± Zhou Xufang said: ¡°The porridge shop¡¯s Boss Lady, asking if I could help deliver takeout.¡± Today was the weekend, and the porridge shop would be busy. Zhou Xufang worked honestly and could move quickly, so the porridge shop¡¯s Boss Lady often asked for her help when she was swamped. Jiang Zhi was holding onto the corner of a pink cushion: ¡°Are you going?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going; I agreed last week to help.¡± A promise shouldn¡¯t be broken. The pink cushion became crumpled in his grip: ¡°What about me?¡± Zhou Xufang then said: ¡°I¡¯ll take you home first.¡± Even decorated with soft pastel colors, the car couldn¡¯t hide the gloom creeping through Jiang Zhi¡¯s peach blossom eyes: ¡°We were just together yesterday.¡± Zhou Xufang listened. ¡°And today you¡¯re leaving me behind.¡± ¡°Is working more important than me?¡± His tone tinged with annoyance, disappointment, and a barely perceptible hurt. Oh! She realized why he was unhappy. She said: ¡°Working isn¡¯t more important than you.¡± ¡°Then you¡¯re still going to work.¡± He had plans for a date, all set. Zhou Xufang, suffering from severe heterosexual pride, interpreted the meaning: I¡¯m more important than your job, thus you must not work, or you don¡¯t care about me. She then had another thought: ¡°Eating isn¡¯t as important as you either, so in the future,¡± she timidly suggested, ¡°can I no longer eat?¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± To Ah Wan, this logic was flawless, and he felt that maybe they had swapped their scripts. ¡°You go then,¡± Jiang Zhi turned to look out the window. ¡°Just spend your life working.¡± Childish, and unreasonably petulant. It was like being bewitched¡ªno wonder Xue Baoyi said one mustn¡¯t mess with emotions, as they could be deadly. Indeed, if Zhou Xufang wished, she could play to death a man as cowardly and wretched as him. Zhou Xufang tugged at his sleeve: ¡°Are you mad?¡± ¡°No.¡± She was certain now: ¡°You are definitely mad.¡± He remained silent. Reflected on the car window was a beautiful face, with an expression that spelled out in three bold capital letters¡ªHurry! Comfort me! But Zhou Xufang wasn¡¯t good at comforting: ¡°Don¡¯t be mad, I¡¯ll just,¡± also can¡¯t stop eating or working, ¡°I¡¯ll eat a bit less, work a bit less.¡± Since when did he forbid her to eat?! His own girlfriend, whom he couldn¡¯t scold or be angry with, he just chilled his handsome brows and eyes, looked away, not at her: ¡°Lin Wanwan, to the porridge shop.¡± Zhou Xufang said: ¡°I¡¯ll take you home first.¡± ¡°No need.¡± Jiang Zhi was mad at her. Jiang Zhi was ignoring her. Zhou Xufang felt lost, unsure what to do. Behind them, silence filled the air. Ah Wan couldn¡¯t bear to watch any longer, thinking the employer was being downright unreasonable! Did people turn so childish when in love? After about fifteen minutes, they arrived at the porridge shop, Ah Wan parked the car along the roadside. ¡°Jiang Zhi,¡± Zhou Xufang called him. He didn¡¯t respond. She felt a bit sad but didn¡¯t know what was wrong, her voice losing its energy, spiritless: ¡°Then I¡¯m going to deliver the takeout.¡± Slowly, she got out of the car. Jiang Zhi, with a stern face, sat hugging his arms, his gaze enough to bore a hole through the porridge shop¡¯s sign. Ah Wan, the friend of women, felt he needed to speak a fair word: ¡°Boss, I don¡¯t think you¡¯re being fair.¡± ¡°Where am I not fair?¡± With ¡®Boss¡¯ popping out, he was truly annoyed. Ah Wan, a courageous athlete, boldly spoke out: ¡°Although Miss Zhou is your girlfriend, she also has her own career. Maybe in your view, applying screen protectors and delivering takeout aren¡¯t promising, but Miss Zhou doesn¡¯t think so. It¡¯s her workplace, and even a boyfriend shouldn¡¯t interfere. If she has to give up her own career just to be with you, then how are you any different from Mr. Xue¡¯s uncles who keep canaries? And moreover, Miss Zhou promised others earlier, not going would be breaking her word.¡± After finishing, Ah Wan carefully observed the reactions. The employer was in thought. Seeing that he might be taking it in, Ah Wan continued: ¡°I know, you just want Miss Zhou to coddle you, to spend time with you, but she doesn¡¯t know that. She¡¯s so naive, her emotional intelligence is movingly low, she¡¯s never dated, and she doesn¡¯t even have friends.¡± Jiang Zhi suddenly looked up: ¡°Who are you calling emotionally na?ve?¡± Wasn¡¯t that the brutal truth? But that wasn¡¯t important, what¡¯s important was¡ª ¡°You also forbid her to watch TV or read novels, not allowing her to learn and observe, how would she understand a man¡¯s heart?¡± Ah Wan may not have eaten pork, but he¡¯d seen a lot of TV dramas about pigs running. With confidence and the air of a relationship consultant, he said, ¡°This is when you should patiently teach her, how can you just get mad so easily?¡± ¡°And you can¡¯t be so clingy, it suffocates people.¡± To be honest, Ah Wan was shocked himself¡ªhow deeply must he like the girl to feel so insecure? Where did that air of domination he used to carry vanish to? Someone awkwardly asked: ¡°So what should I do now?¡± The relationship consultant Lin Wanwan said: ¡°You can go with her to deliver the takeout. That way, you can take care of Miss Zhou¡¯s career and build your relationship at the same time.¡± Silence for a moment. Jiang Zhi looked at the entrance of the porridge shop: ¡°I¡¯ll go deliver takeout with my girlfriend, what about you?¡± Lin Wanwan, momentarily blank: ¡°Uh¡­¡± Jiang Zhi opened the car door and stepped out: ¡°You do the delivery.¡± Lin Wanwan: ¡°¡­¡± As a person, one shouldn¡¯t get too ahead of oneself. Chapter 113 - Chapter 113: 113: Ah Fang gets jealous, Jiang Zhi placates Chapter 113: 113: Ah Fang gets jealous, Jiang Zhi placates Zhou Xufang had just put on her delivery helmet when the Boss Lady placed the porridge on the cashier counter. ¡°Two portions, one for Jiangyuan Road and one for Tianjing Road.¡± Zhou Xufang held them in her hand: ¡°Okay.¡± As she turned around, she saw Jiang Zhi under the doorway wind chime, which jingled gently. The wind chime was purple, made of seashells, and hung not too low. But Jiang Zhi was too tall, and a small seashell just happened to fall on top of his head. The gloom in Zhou Xufang¡¯s eyebrows had instantly dispersed: ¡°You haven¡¯t left yet.¡± ¡°Um.¡± Jiang Zhi grabbed a handful of his hair, flicking off the wind chime, and walked into the store. He said, ¡°I¡¯ve come to apologize.¡± He walked up to her, his hair tousled by the wind chime, which made him look fluffier and gave off a particularly soft feeling as he pulled down his face mask, ¡°It was my fault for being unreasonable.¡± His eyes looked very obedient. He came to apologize, what to do? If she wasn¡¯t going to coax him, then let him do the coaxing. Zhou Xufang was not angry to begin with, and when he spoke softly, she felt even less of a temper, reaching up on her tiptoes to press down the tuft of his hair that had sprung up. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï The Boss Lady was calling her. Zhou Xufang, seeming like a thief, quickly hid her hands behind her back: ¡°Hmm?¡± The Boss Lady said: ¡°A customer is rushing their order.¡± She responded with an ¡°Oh,¡± then said to Jiang Zhi, ¡°I¡¯ll go deliver the food first, wait for me in the store.¡± Jiang Zhi took the bag in her hand, handed one to Ah Wan, and kept the other: ¡°I¡¯ll come with you.¡± At this hour, the roads were very congested; a vehicle with four wheels was not as fast as one with two. Zhou Xufang would ride an electric bike to make deliveries. Jiang Zhi had been pampered all his life; he was quite delicate. Zhou Xufang said, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t go, it¡¯s very cold outside.¡± He held her and did not let go: ¡°Zhou Xufang, are you taking me with you?¡± His tone was assertive. But Zhou Xufang felt he was being coquettish. How could she resist his coquetry? Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, she gave in: ¡°I¡¯ll take you.¡± Jiang Zhi smiled, which brightened her mood, ¡°Boss Lady, do you have a spare helmet?¡± The Boss Lady said there was one: ¡°I¡¯ll go get it for you.¡± After getting the helmet, the Boss Lady pulled Zhou Xufang aside and whispered a few words. ¡°Is this your boyfriend?¡± Zhou Xufang nodded. The Boss Lady had a good impression of Zhou Xufang and knew she was inexperienced in social affairs, worried she might be taken advantage of, so she asked carefully, looking out for her: ¡°What does he do?¡± Zhou Xufang responded, ¡°He¡¯s a director.¡± Even before the Boss Lady could ask in detail, Zhou Xufang boasted: ¡°He¡¯s a very famous director.¡± ¡°Extremely talented.¡± ¡°He has made many films and won a lot of awards.¡± The usually quiet girl, when praising her boyfriend, had quite a lot to say, and usually not making eye contact, she now looked earnestly at people, her bright eyes filled with many small emotions like expectation, pride, and a bit of smugness: ¡°Boss Lady, have you seen ¡®Chicheng¡¯?¡± The Boss Lady said she had. She became more proud: ¡°That was directed by my boyfriend.¡± Look how proud she was. The Boss Lady was very surprised: ¡°So he¡¯s a big-time director; no wonder he looked familiar.¡± The Boss Lady peeked a couple of times, ¡°He¡¯s also very handsome, even better looking than the male stars on TV.¡± Zhou Xufang nodded vigorously. Jiang Zhi was the most handsome! His looks could make him an artist, yet he chose to be a director: ¡°I wonder how many female stars have fallen for him¡ª¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s head instantly drooped. Realizing her words were inappropriate, the Boss Lady quickly stopped herself: ¡°Oh my, it¡¯s getting late, go deliver the food.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Zhou Xufang, carrying a helmet, went to find Jiang Zhi. They left the porridge shop one after the other; she walked ahead, quickly, and didn¡¯t let Jiang Zhi hold her hand. Jiang Zhi tapped on her yellow helmet: ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± She wore one and held another, her expression complex. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± She fell silent again. Jiang Zhi straightened her slightly crooked helmet, ¡°Why are you unhappy?¡± Zhou Xufang had a small head covered by the hat, her large eyes prominent on her palm-sized face, ¡°Do a lot of female celebrities like you?¡± It was a female celebrity who had instructed her the first time she kidnapped Jiang Zhi. There was also someone named Yu Ran who wore scanty clothes to discuss scripts with Jiang Zhi at night. Thinking about this, Zhou Xufang¡¯s eyebrows were deeply furrowed, ¡°With your capabilities and good looks, there must be many female celebrities who like you.¡± Definitely many female celebrities wearing scanty clothes to see him! Jiang Zhi said no, ¡°I used to be gay.¡± Oh, right. He was gay. With a look of profound grievance, Zhou Xufang corrected, ¡°Then there must be many male celebrities who like you.¡± Definitely many male celebrities wearing scanty clothes to see him! Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± He could smell it, the sourness. ¡°Jealous?¡± he asked laughing, ¡°Are you jealous?¡± Zhou Xufang honestly admitted, ¡°Yes.¡± It¡¯s good that she gets jealous. It shows he¡¯s not so unloved. Jiang Zhi lifted her face and kissed her lips lightly, ¡°Still jealous?¡± She nodded. So he kissed her again, ¡°You have no need to be jealous, I only kiss you.¡± Who could compare with her, even if it¡¯s in dreams, she was the one on top of him. Ah, Zhou Xufang, his queen, who could act up over his head. After two kisses, she was completely soothed, glanced around, then put a mask on Jiang Zhi, her lips and cheeks red, ¡°What if we get caught on camera?¡± Seeing her thief-like nervousness, Jiang Zhi chuckled, ¡°I¡¯m a director, I don¡¯t appear on camera much, not that much attention on me.¡± He was used to keeping a low-profile, setting clear boundaries about his privacy when he entered the circle; moreover, the Jiang family¡¯s standing in Imperial City is well-established, not many dare to gossip without his consent. However¡ª Zhou Xufang took a look at his face and still felt a strong sense of crisis, ¡°You look so handsome, you¡¯re still very conspicuous, boys should also be careful outside.¡± So¡ª ¡°Can you wear a mask when you go out?¡± she said sincerely, ¡°I¡¯ll wear one too, we¡¯ll both wear them.¡± Had someone dared to compliment Jiang Zhi¡¯s looks to his face in the past, He didn¡¯t like being praised for his looks, preferring recognition for his capabilities; usually, any compliments about his face made him uncomfortable. However, somehow when those discomfiting words came from Zhou Xufang, they sounded delightful. Jiang Zhi was in a great mood, ¡°I¡¯ll listen to you.¡± Then he bent down, asking her to put the helmet on him. Each sporting a yellow helmet, Zhou Xufang rode the bike, carrying Jiang Zhi to deliver food. Ah Wan had gone to Jiangyuan Road, they headed to Tianjing Road, a fifteen-minute ride on an electric bike. The destination was secluded, an old residential area, with a construction site opposite, due to the poor environment, most residents had relocated, and most people living there were construction workers. There was no elevator; during the lunch break, the corridors and stairs were crowded with people, mostly men, some shirtless despite the cold, chatting in groups. You could smell it from afar. Jiang Zhi slightly pulled up Zhou Xufang¡¯s mask and pressed down the helmet, ¡°Wait for me outside, I¡¯ll make the delivery.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Call me if you need anything.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Jiang Zhi took a handkerchief, covering his nose and mouth as he went in. Zhou Xufang stood in the lobby on the first floor, gathered her thoughts, listened to the noises upstairs, and as she focused, sounds from all directions flooded her ears. ¡°There¡¯s a new girl on the third floor, she¡¯s a prostitute.¡± ¡°How do you know? Have you tried?¡± ¡°Swaggin¡¯ while walking, it¡¯s obvious by one glance.¡± ¡°You old lecher, aren¡¯t you worried your wife will find out?¡± ¡°My wife¡¯s back in my hometown, she doesn¡¯t care.¡± ¡°¡­¡± The conversation that followed became increasingly unsavory. Most of the tenants in the neighborhood were men, with few women and children¡¯s voices to be heard. ¡°It¡¯s me, Mr. Han.¡± It was a young woman¡¯s voice, sounding like she was smoking, raspy and a bit lazy. ¡°Has the body been found?¡± ¡°You can rest easy, I¡¯ve taken care of everything.¡± ¡°When will you send me the money?¡± At that moment, someone outside shouted. ¡°Delivery.¡± It was Jiang Zhi. Zhou Xufang continued to listen. ¡°I can¡¯t wait too long; it¡¯s best if you settle the payment soon.¡± The woman ended the call, stubbed out her cigarette, put on a coat, and went to open the door, ¡°Coming.¡± Opening the door, there stood a handsome man, his remarkable features apparent even beneath a mask. ¡°Last name Chen?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The woman reached out to take the delivery, revealing her arms marked with several red scratches. Jiang Zhi handed her the delivery and turned to leave. ¡°Wait.¡± The woman, very young and exceptionally charming and alluring at just over twenty, her tight sweater under her open coat accentuating her figure, ¡°Young man, can I have your contact?¡± The ¡®delivery guy¡¯ turned his head back, ¡°I don¡¯t use a phone.¡± The woman laughed, ¡°The delivery app has the rider¡¯s phone number.¡± Under the dim hallway light, a beautiful face shadowed half in light, half in dark, ¡°That¡¯s my girlfriend¡¯s number.¡± Downstairs, Zhou Xufang was covering her mouth and laughing. Soon, Jiang Zhi came out. ¡°That woman flirted with me!¡± He sounded quite displeased, complaining to Zhou Xufang. Zhou Xufang asked, ¡°So did you entertain her?¡± He became even more upset, sucking heavily on her face, ¡°I did, or else I was afraid she¡¯d give you a bad review.¡± He acted as if he had suffered a great injustice and started seeking Zhou Xufang¡¯s comfort again. Zhou Xufang smiled, and he was pacified. Speaking of Ah Wan, who went to deliver to Jiangyuan Road, it was his first time delivering. Ah Wan was a bit excited; Jiangyuan Road is a well-known affluent area, and he had been there a few times with his employer and knew his way around. Since it was an upscale villa area with strict access control, Ah Wan couldn¡¯t get in and used the guardhouse¡¯s communication equipment to contact the seller. ¡°Delivery for 405.¡± The seller said, ¡°Wait at the gate.¡± That voice¡­ sounded familiar. Seven or eight minutes later, a woman in sunglasses and a mask appeared, looking around apprehensively, ¡°Where¡¯s my delivery?¡± Ah Wan handed over the bag, ¡°Miss Ming, your delivery.¡± Ming Saiying, the fourth child of the Ming Family also mingled in the entertainment circle, and had a nickname, ¡®harem professional.¡¯ All in all, a big shot. This big shot had long coveted the beauty of Imperial City¡¯s top beauty, Jiang Zhi, and of course she recognized Ah Wan, quite surprised, ¡°Lin, Lin, Lin¡­¡± What was it again, she just couldn¡¯t remember, ¡°Big guy, it¡¯s you.¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± Does being a big guy mean I don¡¯t deserve to have a name?! Don¡¯t I deserve human rights and respect?! Ah Wan coldly placed the delivery at the guardhouse window, ¡°Enjoy your meal and if it¡¯s convenient, please leave a good review, goodbye.¡± ¡°Wait a minute.¡± Ming Saiying stopped him, ¡°I still have something to ask you.¡± If it weren¡¯t for the five-star rating, Ah Wan wouldn¡¯t have stopped. He could guess what Ming Saiying was going to say with just his toes. ¡°I heard from Ming Xiaohua that Jiang Zhi turned straight and even got a girlfriend, is that true?¡± Many men and women chased after Jiang Zhi, but Ming Saiying was definitely one of the most enduring ones. Of course, don¡¯t think she was deeply in love; she was just obsessed with appearances. Ah Wan remained silent. Ming Saiying put on the air of a major harem player, ¡°Who is that woman?¡± He maintained his silence. She became anxious, ¡°If you don¡¯t tell me, I¡¯ll give a bad review.¡± ¡°Hmph, suit yourself.¡± Ah Wan left directly. Ming Saiying, forgetting she was a public figure, shouted angrily, ¡°Hey big guy, I wasn¡¯t done asking!¡± Ah Wan, ¡°¡­¡± He couldn¡¯t stand it anymore! Using his two-meters and 200 kilograms presence, he said, ¡°My name isn¡¯t ¡®big guy.¡¯ My surname is Lin, Lin Wanwan.¡± Ming Saiying sneered, her laugh as frivolous as a prodigal, ¡°For a big man, your name is more feminine than a lady¡¯s.¡± ¡°¡­¡± How manly do you think a lady¡¯s name can be? Don¡¯t you have any fucking sense?! Ah Wan was so angry he could have died! In the end, he restrained himself, not bothering to argue with the likes of her. By the time he reached the porridge shop, the employer and Miss Zhou had already arrived. The employer stepped aside to take a call. Ah Wan approached, ¡°Miss Zhou.¡± Zhou Xufang was eating porridge, ¡°Mmm.¡± Ah Wan with a heavy expression, ¡°You might be getting a bad review.¡± He had delivered for Miss Zhou, so the rider was Miss Zhou. Zhou Xufang understood what he meant, ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± Ah Wan still felt guilty, ¡°I will definitely help you get your rating back up.¡± Jiang Zhi was outside the porridge shop on the corridor taking a call, from Qiao Nanchu. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°The medical examiner just sent over a new autopsy report. From the height and strength of the fatal wounds, the murderer is very likely a woman.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t respond, his gaze passing through the glass showcase, he was watching Zhou Xufang. ¡°As of now, the biggest suspect is that female waiter,¡± Qiao Nanchu leisurely continued, ¡°If I¡¯m not wrong, she¡¯s that professional errand runner, right?¡± Jiang Zhi neither denied nor confirmed. Qiao Nanchu asked, ¡°What exactly is your relationship with her?¡± Jiang Zhi answered, ¡°An unspeakable relationship.¡± The lunch rush was over and the shop had fewer people. ¡°Auntie.¡± A woman, her hair in a ponytail and wearing a lady¡¯s suit, was helping an elderly lady walk down from the second floor, ¡°Take care of my mom for a bit, I need to step out.¡± The woman was the niece of the Boss Lady. The Boss Lady was at the cashier, sparing a moment to acknowledge her, then she led the elderly lady to sit next to the cashier counter and instructed her a few times before leaving. The elderly lady, clearly not in a normal mental state, sat muttering for a while, then climbed off the chair by herself. The Boss Lady, busy settling bills for customers, didn¡¯t notice. She walked over to Zhou Xufang¡¯s table and said loudly, ¡°Why are you still here?¡± She waved her hands, urging, ¡°Hurry up and work, or else the elder and younger miss will see and whip you.¡± ¡°Are you talking to us?¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t recognize the lady. Ah Wan did. He called out, ¡°Ms. He.¡± Ms. He had returned to the cashier, took a pair of scissors, smiled at Zhou Xufang and waved her over, ¡°Luo San, come here, Aunt Xiu will cut your hair.¡± Aunt Xiu¡­ Zhou Xufang froze. Ms. He had already lifted the scissors over her head, a hand reached from behind and grabbed her hand, ¡°Mom, what are you doing with the scissors?¡± Ms. He¡¯s daughter, recognized by Ah Wan too, was Luo Jiatang. Chapter 114 - Chapter 114: 114: Spinning Brand Dog Food, Sweet Secret Crush Chapter 114: 114: Spinning Brand Dog Food, Sweet Secret Crush Ms. He¡¯s daughter, Ah Wan, also recognized Luo Jiatang. She snatched the scissors. Ms. He screamed twice, looked around frantically with a vacant gaze, and started talking to herself. ¡°I want to cut Luo San¡¯s hair.¡± ¡°They will hit her.¡± ¡°I need to cut hair.¡± ¡°The roses have bloomed¡­ I need to cut Luo San¡¯s hair.¡± She fixed her gaze on Zhou Xufang¡¯s hair, muttering incessantly, her hand continuously pounding on the table. Tang Xiang helped her sit down, whispering words of comfort, ¡°Mom, she¡¯s not Luo San. Luo San was called by the Second Miss to water the flowers.¡± ¡°Has she gone to water the flowers?¡± Tang Xiang nodded. Only then did Ms. He stop making a fuss and stopped pounding on the table, murmuring with her head bowed, ¡°She¡¯s going to get beaten again.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?¦Ï ¡°Little Mute is going to get beaten again.¡± ¡°Where¡¯s the phone? I need to call the old man.¡± Tang Xiang called out ¡®Second Aunt¡¯. The Boss Lady immediately picked up the phone and called Ms. He over. Tang Xiang breathed a sigh of relief, put the scissors away, and approached Zhou Xufang¡¯s table, ¡°I¡¯m very sorry, did I scare you?¡± Zhou Xufang shook his head. The wind blew the door chime, which rang twice. Jiang Zhi entered and asked, ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± The first call was from Zhou Xufang, the second from Tang Xiang. Oh, they all know each other. Tang Xiang looked Zhou Xufang over briefly, nodded politely, then turned to Jiang Zhi, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to introduce us?¡± Jiang Zhi sat down, speaking concisely, just three words: ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± It¡¯s Zhou Xufang. Not girlfriend Zhou Xufang. Zhou Xufang understood that this person needed to be guarded against. ¡°Hello,¡± Tang Xiang smiled lightly, ¡°I¡¯m Tang Xiang.¡± Zhou Xufang looked up, expressionless, ¡°Hello.¡± She was dressed all in black, her face cold and aloof, her eyes watchful, her whole demeanor screaming, ¡°Don¡¯t talk to me, I don¡¯t know you.¡± ¡°Just now I startled Miss Zhou,¡± Tang Xiang apologized again, ¡°I¡¯m truly sorry.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± Her lips were thin, suggesting a strong sense of distance the moment they pursed, and along with her high-class disinterested look, her expression still read¡ªDon¡¯t talk to me, I don¡¯t know you. Such a peculiar person. Tang Xiang glanced at the time, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I have to leave first.¡± Zhou Xufang nodded, indicating¡ªPlease do. After Tang Xiang and her mother had left, Zhou Xufang then asked Jiang Zhi, ¡°Who is she?¡± Jiang Zhi poured a glass of hot water and after cleaning the spoon, she brought her own bowl of porridge over, picking out the shrimp and placing it into Zhou Xufang¡¯s bowl, ¡°Part of the Luo family.¡± No wonder Jiang Zhi was cautious. Zhou Xufang had also heard rumors on the set; it seemed Jiang Zhi and the Luo family were at odds. She asked further, ¡°Why only part?¡± ¡°She and her father were both raised in the Luo family to serve them, outsiders in name.¡± In ancient times, called a family slave. In modern times, called a housekeeper, but Tang Xiang was different; she managed more than just affairs at home, she also managed Luo family¡¯s business, holding significant power. ¡°Tang Xiang is capable and skilled, the old master of the Luo family values her greatly, publicly calling her the righteous daughter of Luo Changde.¡± Zhou Xufang felt it was more than just a part, almost a significant part of the Luo family. ¡°And who is Luo San?¡± she had many questions today. Jiang Zhi¡¯s action of picking shrimps halted for a moment, ¡°Who told you about Luo San?¡± Her gaze cold as she glanced at Ah Wan. Ah Wan: ¡°!¡± Unjustly accused! ¡°Tang Xiang¡¯s mother called me Luo San just now.¡± Ms. He really is severely ill; she can¡¯t even distinguish genders anymore. Jiang Zhi put down her spoon and took a wet wipe to clean her hands. ¡°He is an adopted son of the Luo Family.¡± Zhou Xufang was seriously listening, a rare occurrence of curiosity. Jiang Zhi licked her lips and remained silent for a long time. ¡°Eight years ago, the Luo Family¡¯s house caught fire, and Luo San was burned to death.¡± Her eyelashes drooped, concealing the emotions in her eyes, Jiang Zhi said, ¡°Tang Xiang¡¯s father also died in that fire. After that, her mother became mentally unstable.¡± Her tone was very low. The air pressure was also low. In Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes, Zhou Xufang saw a great cloud of gloom, Oh, she remembered that on the cruise, Luo Qinghe had mentioned that Luo San was someone Jiang Zhi cherished. Now she too was someone cherished by Jiang Zhi, which made Luo San her ¡®neighbor.¡¯ She felt she was about to get jealous, no, she couldn¡¯t get jealous, her ¡®neighbor¡¯ was already deceased, she couldn¡¯t be petty. After calming herself, she continued to ask Jiang Zhi, ¡°Was the Luo Family¡¯s house fire a natural disaster?¡± ¡°It was arson.¡± Zhou Xufang fell into deep thought. Jiang Zhi placed the last piece of shrimp in her bowl, ¡°Why are you curious about this?¡± Zhou Xufang said, ¡°I don¡¯t like the Luo Family.¡± Luo Qinghe is a wicked woman, and so is Luo Yinghe. Jiang Zhi gently touched her seriously expressioned face, ¡°I don¡¯t like them either.¡± See, how perfectly matched she and Jiang Zhi were, Zhou Xufang thought. Jingbai City is the territory of the Lu Family from Imperial City; the seven-story building is located in the city center, with floors one to four being a shopping center, the fifth floor a tea house and restaurant, and the sixth and seventh floors a club and cinema, respectively. Zhou Qingrang had a meeting scheduled in the teahouse on the fifth floor, three o¡¯clock, and the other party arrived on time. ¡°Mr. Zhou.¡± The middle-aged man sat down, sliding a folder over: ¡°The fire eight years ago, the Luo Family probably tampered secretly, all related personnel have been handled.¡± This man worked for a professional errand company, Zhou Qingrang had hired him to investigate the Luo Family¡¯s background. ¡°What about Luo San?¡± Zhou Qingrang opened the folder. The middle-aged man said, ¡°It¡¯s similar to what the Luo Family disclosed publicly; Luo San was a child adopted by Tang Guangji¡¯s couple from their hometown, only the Luo Family and Tang Guangji¡¯s wife, He Xiangxiu, knew from where exactly the child was adopted.¡± The middle-aged man was average in appearance, wearing glasses on his nose, ¡°After Tang Guangji¡¯s death eight years ago, He Xiangxiu became mentally unstable.¡± Zhou Qingrang flipped through a few pages, ¡°Help me check something, during my hospital stay, who was paying for my hospital expenses.¡± The other party responded, ¡°Okay.¡± Zhou Qingrang took out a card from his wallet, placed it on the table, then drank the tea in his cup in one gulp, and pushed his wheelchair out of the teahouse. Since it was the weekend, there were many passersby. When turning the corner in the corridor, his walking stick from the wheelchair scraped against a person. That person was on the phone, quite irritated, and cursed with a swear word: ¡°Damn, can¡¯t you watch where you¡¯re going?¡± Zhou Qingrang moved his wheelchair to the innermost side, and quietly apologized. Probably because his demeanor was elegant, sitting in a wheelchair and hanging his head low, he still exuded an extraordinary aura, which the bumped man disliked at the sight of his suit and shoes, touched the tattoo on his neck, and disdainfully spoke: ¡°If your legs aren¡¯t good, you shouldn¡¯t go out and bother others.¡± What an act of elegance! Feeling vexed, the man spat on the ground to clear the bad luck and continued on the phone: ¡°No worries, just bad luck running into a damn cripple, go on.¡± The temperature had dropped the past couple of days; wearing a prosthetic was too painful. Zhou Qingrang hadn¡¯t worn it today, the blanket covering the empty space under his left leg. He tugged on the blanket to adjust it properly and pushed his wheelchair towards the elevator. The elevator button was a bit high; he couldn¡¯t reach it. A tender hand pressed the button. Then came the clear voice of a girl, ¡°Do you need help?¡± Zhou Qingrang looked up: ¡°No need,¡± he said, ¡°Thank you.¡± The girl said nothing, standing next to him. Once the elevator doors opened, she walked in first to the furthest corner, then Zhou Qingrang followed with his wheelchair, his back to her. She could see his straight back just by lowering her head. Zhou Qingrang. Zhou Qingrang. Zhou Qing¡ª When she silently repeated it for the third time, the man on the wheelchair turned around: ¡°Hello.¡± Lu Sheng was taken aback, stuttering after a long pause, ¡°Hello.¡± His tone was gentle, and he asked politely, ¡°Your umbrella is still with me, could you tell me your address?¡± Address?! ¡°Ah?¡± Lu Sheng had been duking it out in the business world with her father since she was a teenager, so there wasn¡¯t a scenario she hadn¡¯t seen. Her name as Second Miss Lu was well-known in Imperial City. No one had seen her this nervous, swallowing her saliva. ¡°Last month, outside Tingyu Building,¡± Zhou Qingrang patiently explained, ¡°you borrowed my umbrella and have not yet returned it.¡± The voice of a broadcast host, truly one of a kind. Even ordinary sentences, when he slowly recited them, sounded charming. Lu Sheng still remembered the first time she heard Zhou Qingrang¡¯s voice; at that moment, she had only one thought¡ªto keep him to herself, so he could tell her stories by her bedside every day. Later, after meeting him, her thoughts changed; she wanted to coax him into hiding under her sheets. She lost her composure, her eyes wide, unable to conceal her excitement, ¡°You remember me?¡± Zhou Qingrang said, ¡°I remember.¡± Her eyes twinkled as she quickly blinked twice and said, ¡°I can¡¯t tell you my address.¡± Today she was dressed in a black business suit, and her makeup was impeccable, but¡­ She couldn¡¯t help but smile like a schoolgirl, ¡°Can you give me your number? I can come to the station to pick it up.¡± She knew he worked at the radio station. Zhou Qingrang had clear, handsome features, and his gaze when he looked at someone was very mild, ¡°Do you recognize me?¡± Lu Sheng nodded, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m a fan.¡± He smiled, ¡°Good.¡± He took a piece of paper from the storage box beside the wheelchair armrest and wrote down a string of digits for her, ¡°Sorry to bother you.¡± Lu Sheng, ¡°No bother at all!¡± Just then, the elevator reached the ground floor. After Zhou Qingrang nodded, he went out first; Lu Sheng followed, feeling too embarrassed to catch up immediately, so she pretended to head to the reception desk. ¡°Second Miss¡ª¡± Lu Sheng hushed her, and the receptionist quickly closed her mouth. They watched as the young boss of Jingbai City stealthily followed him, glued to the glass for a long time before reluctantly turning back. Secretary Yang Xiu then came over. Lu Sheng straightened her hair beside her ear and asked, ¡°Where is he?¡± The atmosphere suddenly shifted. The title of the little business demon wasn¡¯t for nothing; Yang Xiu carefully responded, ¡°On the second floor.¡± She headed to the second floor, Yang Xiu trailing behind. In the elevator, she suddenly said, ¡°The buttons in the mall¡¯s elevator are too high.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll arrange for someone to come and modify it.¡± ¡°As soon as possible.¡± Every floor of the mall had a lounge that only VIP customers with annual spending over a million could enter; at this moment, the second-floor lounge was cleared, and people were guarding the door. Footsteps were heard before anyone appeared. Two men at the door immediately stood straight and lowered their heads, ¡°Second Miss.¡± She hummed, entered the lounge, took off her coat, and threw it to the female secretary, ¡°Where is he?¡± The secretary signaled with her eyes, and a security guard entered the room and dragged a man out, pushing him onto the couch. ¡°Who¡ªwho are you people?¡± The man being pressed had tattoos on his neck, and he was trembling and struggling. The room filled with security and secretaries remained silent. Lu Sheng said, ¡°Someone to teach you manners.¡± She picked up a bottle of red wine, walked over, and because she was quite young, spoke casually but seriously, ¡°You should be polite when you¡¯re out and about; didn¡¯t your parents teach you that?¡± The tattooed man kicked and struggled; Yang Xiu kicked him directly, making him behave. ¡°Cripple?¡± The young girl laughed. She twirled the wine bottle in her hand, tapping the man¡¯s head lightly and intermittently. She asked with a smile, ¡°Who gave you the audacity to call him a dead cripple?¡± She emphasized the last word, revealing her sharpness. ¡°I¡ªI¡ª¡± Before he could finish, the wine bottle crashed down. ¡°Bang!¡± The wine contained gas, and erupted with a loud sound. Red wine and glass shards splattered the man¡¯s face; he was dumbstruck, staring at the dent made by the wine bottle on the table corner. Of course, he had not been hit. Lu Sheng, a legitimate businesswoman, didn¡¯t engage in illegal acts. She threw away the broken wine bottle, only a small half remaining, wiped her hands with a tissue, and sat on the couch, ¡°He hasn¡¯t gone far. Go downstairs and apologize. If he doesn¡¯t forgive you, I will kill you.¡± ¡°I¡ªI¡ªI¡­¡± Unable to speak, the man trembled as he desperately crawled away. Lu Sheng tossed the used tissue into the trash can, pursed her lips: Humph, really can¡¯t take a scare. ¡°Second Miss.¡± Yang Xiu stepped forward with a cellphone, ¡°Young Master Xinglan¡¯s call.¡± She took it. ¡°Brother.¡± The voice on the other end of the phone was lazy, as if still half-asleep, ¡°Who is Zhou Qingrang?¡± Lu Sheng sat up straight, glanced at the people in the room, ¡°Who went to you again to gossip?¡± Who would dare. ¡°Just now at the dinner table, I met someone from the TV station who told me that Zhou Qingrang would soon be transferred back to the TV station.¡± He spoke unhurriedly, ¡°Tell me, who is Zhou Qingrang?¡± Now that she knew, she couldn¡¯t be bothered to be coy, ¡°He¡¯s the person I like.¡± Speaking of Zhou Qingrang, her eyebrows danced with excitement, and her expression was incredibly animated. There was silence on the other end of the phone for quite some time. ¡°He¡¯s fourteen years older than you, missing one leg, and the other is nearly lame.¡± Lu Xinglan directly called out, ¡°Lu Sheng.¡± His tone turned stern, and Lu Sheng faltered. ¡°Our family doesn¡¯t care about social status, but as your husband,¡± his tone left no room for doubt, ¡°he must at least be in good health.¡± Lu Sheng pouted, ¡°You¡¯re still being picky, and he doesn¡¯t even know who I am.¡± Her tone was extraordinarily dejected but also dissatisfied because she hadn¡¯t yet caught his eye. Lu Xinglan chuckled softly, ¡°So you mean, it¡¯s still unrequited love? You¡ª¡± His sentence suddenly cut off. Lu Sheng called out, ¡°Brother?¡± ¡°Brother?¡± No one responded to her. A moment later, the phone was picked up by someone else, Lu Xinglan¡¯s accompanying secretary, ¡°Second Miss, Young Master Xinglan has fallen asleep again.¡± Lu Sheng, ¡°¡­¡± Her brother¡¯s hypersomnia was getting more severe. After hanging up the phone, she stood up and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, looking downstairs. She had mild nearsightedness and usually disliked wearing glasses. She couldn¡¯t see clearly downstairs and squinted to see. Zhou Qingrang hadn¡¯t gone far indeed; today was a weekend, and there were too many people, making his wheelchair move very slowly. ¡°Sir!¡± ¡°Sir, wait!¡± Zhou Qingrang turned around, ¡°What is it?¡± It was the man who had called him a cripple. The man was covered in sweat, his face and neck still stained with red wine and a few streaks of blood from glass shards, looking very embarrassed and panicked. He ran over, stammering as he began, ¡°I¡ªI came to apologize, I¡¯m sorry for earlier.¡± Zhou Qingrang sat quietly in his wheelchair, not responding. The man glanced at the second floor of the mall, then immediately withdrew his gaze in a fluster, and knelt down, hands pressed together, squeezing out two lines of clear tears, ¡°It was all my fault for not recognizing a great person. I was out of line, and I have no manners.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sir, I know I was wrong, and I will never discriminate against people with disabilities or be so arrogant again, please forgive my ignorance of youth.¡± It was almost as if he would kowtow. Zhou Qingrang silently watched the man kneeling on the ground. ¡°Sir, then have you¡­¡± the man said earnestly, his expression fearful, ¡°forgiven me?¡± As sweat the size of beans rolled down his face freely, he trembled, ¡°If you don¡¯t forgive me, I¡ªI¡ª¡± The man clenched his teeth, ¡°I will kneel here indefinitely!¡± A grown man kneeling on the street quickly attracted the attention of passers-by. Zhou Qingrang moved his wheelchair to the side of the road, trying not to block the path, and said to the man, ¡°You can get up.¡± He still knelt, ¡°So, you have forgiven me?¡± Zhou Qingrang nodded. The man was profusely grateful, almost bursting into tears, ¡°You are truly a good person.¡± Zhou Qingrang, ¡°¡­¡± a bit amused. Afternoon. Zhou Xufang delivered seven takeaway orders, Jiang Zhi refused to rest and insisted on going along. Riding on the electric scooter in the cold wind, Zhou Xufang stuck eight heating pads on him to prevent him from getting cold. In the evening, Jiang Zhi drove her home. The Maybach stopped outside Yuquan Bay, not entering the community. Zhou Xufang mentioned it was getting cold at night and urged him to quickly go home. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Sometimes when Jiang Zhi was a bit moody, he liked to call her by her full name. Zhou Xufang tilted her head to look at him, ¡°Hmm?¡± Forget it, not going to scold her. He forcefully kissed her cheek, leaving it red before he stopped, ¡°Sleep early. I¡¯ll come over to pick you up at eight tomorrow morning.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± She had just agreed and was about to open the car door when Jiang Zhi caught her hand, his tone unsatisfied and a bit resentful, ¡°Zhou Xufang, you really don¡¯t cling to me enough.¡± Chapter 115 - Chapter 115: 115: Fang Bao: Jiang Zhi, I miss you Chapter 115: 115: Fang Bao: Jiang Zhi, I miss you ¡°Zhou Xufang, you¡¯re not clingy enough with me.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s experience with interpersonal relationships was basically nil. Clingy, that word was a bit beyond her comprehension. Hmm, she didn¡¯t quite understand¡ªshould she stick to Jiang Zhi every single day like those eight warming pads? ¡°I¡¯m going back now, and you don¡¯t seem to care at all.¡± His tone sounded annoyed, but he was full of grievances. He even huffed at her, like a spoiled cat. When you stop pampering it, it can throw quite a tantrum, and it might even pat you with its chubby paws. As expected. He nibbled on her chin again, forcefully. Zhou Xufang calmly wiped off his saliva: ¡°I do care.¡± It¡¯s just that, she said, ¡°but we can see each other tomorrow.¡± She disapproved of his saliva! Jiang Zhi¡¯s slightly mollified mood flared up again: ¡°You don¡¯t even kiss me on your own.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s serious face crumbled into shyness: ¡°There are, there are people.¡± It should be mentioned that when Zhou Xufang watched television, she would look up at the ceiling and take a sip of milk to calm down whenever a kissing scene came on. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï After dating Jiang Zhi, she got slightly better. She dared to watch with squinted eyes. Jiang Zhi was talented in those areas, having directed various kinds of passionate kissing scenes. ¡°Lin Wanwan,¡± Jiang Zhi commanded, ¡°leave.¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­Oh.¡± Such a beast, this employer of hers. Jiang Zhi rolled up the car window and moved his face closer: ¡°Zhou Xufang, there¡¯s no one around now.¡± Zhou Xufang looked around, peeking in every direction. Jiang Zhi watched her panicked look with amusement: ¡°Why do you act like a thief when kissing your boyfriend?¡± Ah Wan crouched down five meters away on the roadside. Zhou Xufang quickly covered his mouth: ¡°Don¡¯t be so loud, if someone discovers us it won¡¯t have a good¡ª¡± Jiang Zhi wasn¡¯t listening anymore, he removed her hand and kissed her chattering mouth. After a while, Jiang Zhi let Zhou Xufang get out of the car, Ah Wan had already given up hope for this morally degenerate world, too lazy to even roll her eyes at the self-satisfied Mr. Jiang. Zhou Xufang sneaked back into the residential area like a thief. The Maybach waited for a quarter of an hour, then started up and drove away. Thirty seconds later, a black Volvo drove out of the neighborhood and followed it. The Volvo was Zhou Xufang¡¯s car, a bit on the pricier side, and Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t know it was hers. She secretly saw Jiang Zhi back to his place, a round trip that took nearly two hours. By the time she returned to the neighborhood, it was already past ten. She parked the car and went to buy two rows of AD calcium milk at the neighborhood convenience store, crouching at one side to drink. Wen Baiyang also crouched down, typed something on his phone, and showed it to Zhou Xufang. ¡°Will you come over to work part-time later?¡± Zhou Xufang said: ¡°I¡¯ll come.¡± Wen Baiyang brought two small stools over, she sat on one and offered the other to Zhou Xufang: ¡°You seem to be in a bad mood.¡± Zhou Xufang shook her head: ¡°I haven¡¯t been sleeping well recently, always having dreams.¡± Always dreaming of that attic in the Luo Family. Wen Baiyang pulled out a very small canvas bag from his jacket pocket. The bag was sealed, and inside was a portable music player, an old model from many years ago. He handed one of the earphones to Zhou Xufang: ¡°I used to have dreams as well, this is from my benefactor, and it¡¯s very effective when I can¡¯t sleep.¡± He added, ¡°Even though I can¡¯t hear it.¡± A gentle piano piece played in her ear, a song Zhou Xufang had never heard before. This old music player had been well-maintained, signifying its original owner was someone very cherished by Wen Baiyang. ¡°A benefactor?¡± ¡°Yes, the one who brought me out of the mountain.¡± He used sign language, stating, ¡°I have two benefactors. They are both very kind people.¡± Zhou Xufang had already learned to understand simple sign language. ¡°You are too,¡± she replied in sign language. ¡°You are also a very kind person.¡± Wen Baiyang smiled, his round eyes shining like the stars in the sky. Zhou Xufang finished drinking her two rows of AD calcium milk while sitting and got up from the stool: ¡°I¡¯m going home now, I¡¯ll come back later.¡± Wen Baiyang nodded. Guided by the streetlights, she stepped on the shadows of the cedar trees scattered on the ground and slowly made her way back to the neighborhood, the shadows on the ground swaying, and her hair tips flickering as well. The night was beautiful. The neighborhood guard, Mr. Fang, had recently brought his dog along¡ª a well-behaved Golden Retriever named Gui Fei. Gui Fei recognized Zhou Xufang from afar and wagged her tail at her. Mr. Fang emerged from the guardroom, his face creased with a smile, ¡°Xu Fang is back.¡± Ah Wan and Mr. Fang were very friendly to Zhou Xufang, so friendly that she almost forgot that it was her red eyes that had terrified the previous guard into fleeing in utter panic. Although Zhou Xufang hardly interacted with others, when others treated her with courtesy, she would try to respond as a normal person would. She approached and greeted, ¡°Good evening, Uncle Fang.¡± Mr. Fang¡¯s eyes filled with even more affection as he looked at her, ¡°Ah, dear, you really are well-behaved.¡± Ah Wan continued wagging its tail. From a distance, under the dim street lights, Wen Baiyang stood in front of the convenience store with a faint smile on his lips: Her benefactor was a very good person. That year, when Wen Baiyang was only fourteen, she lived in a small wooden house on Da Mai Mountain with her grandmother. Then, a fire consumed their modest home, no more than twenty square meters in size. ¡°Bai Yang!¡± ¡°Bai Yang!¡± ¡°My Bai Yang is still inside, quick, put out the fire, put out the fire!¡± The old woman, with her white hair and hunched back, was being pulled along as she loudly called for help, crying that her granddaughter was still inside, begging people to go rescue her. The village chief of Wenjia Village was an eighty-year-old man, the eldest and most influential person in the village. He spoke up. He said, ¡°Add more firewood.¡± It was then that the old woman had a sudden realization, ¡°It was you¡­ you are the ones who set the fire?¡± At that moment, there was a cacophony of voices, some people holding spatulas, some with rolling pins, and others with hoes in their hands. ¡°Aunt Lian, we told you to drive her out of the village long ago, but you wouldn¡¯t.¡± ¡°A disaster born of incest, better off dead.¡± ¡°Her dad¡¯s dead, her mom ran off, only she¡¯s tough enough to survive, bringing death to so many.¡± ¡°How long has it been since Da Mai Mountain got any rain? It¡¯s all because of this disaster.¡± ¡°Hurry, add more firewood, burn her to death!¡± ¡°¡­¡± A living girl, just fourteen years old, merely unable to speak, merely deaf, merely burdened with selfish parents, was deemed unforgivable in this backward village. The old woman cried, the villagers shouted, and the children cheered, saying, ¡°It¡¯s raining, it¡¯s raining, the disaster is going to die¡­¡± That day, the wind was fierce, it had been a long time since Da Mai Mountain had seen rain, and the dry tinder met a raging fire, burning fiercely. Suddenly, someone shouted, ¡°Who went in there?¡± ¡°It looks like the Tieshan Family¡¯s guest.¡± ¡°She¡¯s come out!¡± The sealed door flung wide open, and the girl emerged, holding the girl she had rescued from the fire, her face blackened, unconscious. In the blink of an eye, the girl had moved from the doorway to the front of the villagers. She raised her head, ¡°Why burn her?¡± ¡°A demon, a demon¡­¡± Later on, the village was abuzz with rumors, saying the Tieshan Family¡¯s guest was a demon, with eyes the color of blood, that she floated in the air, that she had no legs, that she devoured children, that she killed people and set fires. No one spoke of how that girl had saved two lives in the Tieshan Family. The girl left. The girl¡¯s tragedy did not end there; just two months later, she was ordered by the village chief to undergo the village¡¯s justice. Wenjia Village was a backward village, isolated from the world for many years, and some of the old ancestral rules were still in use, such as¡ªdrowning those who committed grave errors. It was done with a cage nailed shut with wood, locking the person inside, weighing it down with stones, and then slowly lowering the caged person into the pond. The girl was deaf-mute, unable to cry or call for help, and her grandmother had already fainted from crying, with no one to plead for her. Then, he arrived, emerging from the afterglow of the setting sun. He was a dashing young man. ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± Da Mai Mountain seldom saw outsiders, and the villagers warily watched the stranger who had suddenly appeared, demanding, ¡°Who are you?¡± The man was very young, barely in his early twenties, with a blade of grass in his mouth, wearing combat gear with camouflage on his face, which still didn¡¯t hide his rebelliousness. ¡°First, answer me, are you trying to kill her?¡± The old village chief said sternly, ¡°This is our village¡¯s affair. If you want to leave Da Mai Mountain alive, mind your own business.¡± ¡°A threat, is it?¡± He removed his hat, swept back his hair, and put the hat back on. He smiled, leisurely stating, ¡°Add another crime to your list.¡± One of the bolder villagers had already swung up a hoe, ¡°Just who are you?!¡± He leisurely spat out two words, ¡°Police.¡± Then, he methodically drew his gun, ¡°Now, get those hands up.¡± The ignorant and backward villagers had never seen such a posture, they were all frightened out of their wits, stepping aside to make way for the police to drag the caged girl from the pond, her face covered with a black cloth. When the cloth was yanked off, it turned out to be a little girl. He asked, ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± The girl pointed to her own throat and shook her head. She couldn¡¯t speak. He didn¡¯t ask any further and dialed a number, requesting support, ¡°Captain Cheng, eight hundred meters inside Guankou¡ª¡± A hand reached out from the cage and grabbed his pant leg. ¡°Wen Baiyang.¡± She scribbled her name awkwardly on the ground with her finger. He said, ¡°Nice name,¡± and then continued the call, ¡°Eight hundred meters inside Guankou, Wenjia Village, bring people over right away.¡± Moments later, he hung up the phone, his back to the setting sun as he looked at the girl in the cage and said a name. ¡°Qiao Nanchu.¡± Suddenly, her cell phone in her pocket vibrated, pulling Wen Baiyang out of her memories. Her phone and computer were linked by software; it was Zhou Xufang looking for her. ¡°Shuangjiang.¡± She turned on her computer and sent over a smiley emoji. The computer had special software installed that could convert Zhou Xufang¡¯s voice into text, ¡°Help me look up someone.¡± ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Luo San.¡± Luo San¡­ She had briefly looked up the Luo Family when investigating Luo Qinghe before and had a slight impression of Luo San, ¡°The Luo Family?¡± Zhou Xufang said, ¡°He¡¯s an adopted son of the Luo Family.¡± She remembered, ¡°Didn¡¯t the Luo Family¡¯s adopted son pass away? Why are you looking for him?¡± ¡°He might be someone I know.¡± She sent a question mark. ¡°I have a memory of the Luo Family¡¯s attic,¡± Zhou Xufang was silent for a while, ¡°I¡¯ve dreamt of Luo San. It might not have been a dream, perhaps I witnessed something.¡± In her memory, there was the Luo Family¡¯s attic and Luo San, leaving only two possibilities: she was a participant, or she was a bystander. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll look into it.¡± That night, Zhou Xufang dreamt again, still of the Luo Family¡¯s attic. In the attic was a window, outside of which stood a large camphor tree, voices were calling from outside. ¡°Luo San.¡± ¡°Luo San.¡± They were the voices of young men. Then the little bald boy ran out from the attic, his head freshly shaved, very sleek. The young man was standing with his back to him under the tree, ¡°Come here.¡± The little bald boy ran over, opening his hand to reveal a piece of meat, grinning foolishly. The young man seemed a bit annoyed with him, poking his head, ¡°Did you steal the braised meat again?¡± ¡°You little idiot, who said I like meat?¡± ¡°And what¡¯s with your head? It looks terrible.¡± The little fool still smiled. Suddenly a bolt of lightning struck, and Zhou Xufang opened her eyes, sitting up, calming down for a few minutes before lying down again. She was startled awake from the dream, and once she closed her eyes she couldn¡¯t fall asleep again. She tossed and turned in bed for a long time, still without a hint of sleepiness, so she finally got up, changed her clothes, and went out. It was already two o¡¯clock in the morning. The guard dog at the Jiang Mansion suddenly started barking, ¡°Woof!¡± It was a Tibetan Mastiff, kept for guarding the house. ¡°Woof Woof!¡± ¡°Woof Woof!¡± The butler, Jiang Chuan, who hadn¡¯t gone to bed yet, shouted from the veranda, ¡°Fula.¡± The mastiff was named Fula, a name bestowed by the Old Madam. Fula tilted its head back and continued howling, ¡°Woof woof!¡± ¡°In the middle of the night, what are you barking for?¡± Jiang Chuan walked into the courtyard, scolding the Tibetan Mastiff, ¡°Don¡¯t bark anymore. If you wake up the Old Madam, I¡¯ll stew you!¡± Fula barked once more before returning to its kennel. Boom¡ªa sudden clap of thunder sounded. Jiang Zhi opened his eyes to see a head hanging upside down above the window¡ªa head so dark it was almost indiscernible. It took him a good while before he exhaled a breath, didn¡¯t turn on the light, and illuminated the figure with his phone¡¯s torch, ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± The head tilted slightly. Jiang Zhi threw off the covers and slipped out of bed, shuffling over to the window in the pink rabbit slippers Zhou Xufang had given him, ¡°Are you trying to scare your boyfriend to death?¡± Ah, he recognized her. Such joy. The head wobbled from side to side, quite merrily. The sight was so spooky that Jiang Zhi found it amusing, so he opened the window. The head asked, ¡°Do I look like a female ghost?¡± Jiang Zhi told the truth, ¡°You do.¡± ¡°Then how did you still recognize me?¡± The head hanging upside down twisted back, revealing a pitch-black skull as she explained to Jiang Zhi, ¡°You see, I covered my skull and the back of my head entirely.¡± Now she looked even more like a female ghost. Jiang Zhi shone the flashlight of his phone on her. Indeed, it was tough to spot her face, but with her hanging there, he just knew that this was nobody else¡¯s head but Zhou Xufang¡¯s. No sleight of hand, he just knew. ¡°Even turned to ashes, you¡¯d still be Zhou Xufang.¡± Zhou Xufang, with her foot hooked on the security bars, flipped around, finally revealing her body¡ªnot just a head anymore, but a dark lump, wrapped up from head to toe, with only her eyes showing. She crouched on the security bars, looking at Jiang Zhi and asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid?¡± Jiang Chuan leaned out a bit, approaching the dark lump and teased her, ¡°Zhou ghost girl, will you drain my Yang energy?¡± The ghost girl shook her head. ¡°Then what is there to be afraid of?¡± Seeing her perched on the security bars outside, Jiang Zhi was filled with trepidation, fearing she might fall, ¡°We have security bars here, you can¡¯t come in. I¡¯ll go open the front door¡ªyou first¡ª¡± But she already pried open the security bars with one hand. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Xufang immediately regretted her brashness, feeling she was too forceful, and quickly adopted a gentle tone in the guise of a demure girl, ¡°Did I frighten you?¡± Jiang Zhi shone the light of his phone on her face, staring intently, ¡°Are you really a little ghost girl?¡± She pondered, ¡°I am, yeah.¡± Jiang Zhi laughed and stepped aside, ¡°Come in then, little ghost girl, and have your fill of Yang energy.¡± Zhou¡¤Little Ghost Girl¡¤Xufang slipped right in. Jiang Zhi closed the window, ¡°Why are you not sleeping at this late hour and running to my place¡ª¡± Before he could finish. Zhou Xufang lunged forward, and they both tumbled onto the bed where she clung to him tightly. Jiang Zhi¡¯s senses were jumbled from the fall, his hand reflexively embracing her around the waist. The small girl on top of him wasn¡¯t heavy, and she smelled of milk. He felt the back of her head, still wrapped up tightly, ¡°What¡¯s this about?¡± Zhou Xufang rubbed against him with her equally snugly wrapped skull, her muffled and soft voice carrying affection, ¡°I missed you.¡± This girl was getting the hang of coquettishness. Jiang Zhi helped her sit up, removed her hat, mask, and scarf, then got out of bed to take off her shoes for her, ¡°Then don¡¯t leave. Sleep here with me.¡± Zhou Xufang tilted her head, obedient, ¡°Okay.¡± She was unusually docile. This girl was thin-skinned, like an old cadre; what was with her today, becoming so clingy? Jiang Zhi turned on the bedside lamp, taking a moment to look at her in the light, ¡°Your coat.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± After some rustling, she took off her coat, sweater, and pants, and slipped into the bed wearing just her thermal underwear, the thermal set¡­ well, an elderly style. She rolled to the innermost side of the bed, covered up well, showing just a head, ¡°Jiang Zhi, hurry over. You sleep on the outside.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± His little ghost girl was quite forward tonight. Chapter 116 - Chapter 116: 116: The Night of Pillow Talk for the Textile Couple~ Chapter 116: 116: The Night of Pillow Talk for the Textile Couple~ Jiang Zhi lifted the blanket and lay down without turning off the light, propping her chin in her hand as she lay on her side: ¡°Xu Fang.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°Did something happen?¡± Tonight, she was so well-behaved it hurt one¡¯s heart. She said, ¡°No.¡± Her face was expressionless, neither happy nor angry. She didn¡¯t want to talk about it. Jiang Zhi moved a bit closer, almost touching her: ¡°Tired?¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°Hmm.¡± He moved his face closer, very near to hers, the light above his head casting the shadow of his profile right onto her face. ¡°Zhou Xufang, do you want to sleep holding each other?¡± he said, ¡°I want to hold you.¡± Zhou Xufang wanted that too. So, she immediately rolled into his arms, her hands obediently wrapped around his waist. He kissed her face, patting her back to lull her to sleep. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï After a quiet moment, thinking she had fallen asleep, he was about to turn off the light when she suddenly raised her head: ¡°The birthday on my ID card is fake, I don¡¯t know my real birth date either.¡± She then buried her head in his chest once more. ¡°I must have been abandoned.¡± Jiang Zhi remained silent, listening to her piece together her past, sharing her origins with him for the first time. ¡°They say my chromosomes are different from normal people¡¯s, arranged strangely, and there are many genetic mutation triggers.¡± Who were they? She murmured to herself again, wondering: ¡°I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s because of this that I was abandoned.¡± In other words, her anomaly was due to her chromosomes and genes. This was a completely foreign field to Jiang Zhi, right, the Luo Family¡¯s little fool also had a chromosomal abnormality. She was getting sleepy, her voice growing softer: ¡°Ever since I can remember, I have been alone.¡± Her eyelids fluttered and closed, ¡°I¡¯ve met good people who helped me, and bad people who were scared of me.¡± Jiang Zhi, a conspiracy theorist at heart, believed that only a very small part of the population could be called good people. Of course, most weren¡¯t bad either, it was those who didn¡¯t qualify as good nor bad that were the majority. Often, it was these people, usually kind and friendly, who would become prickly and self-centered once their comfort zone and safety were challenged. That was normal; most people have a strong sense of self-preservation and selfishness, so he could imagine the hardships Zhou Xufang, an extraordinary person, must have endured living and growing up alone. She, ah, was a girl who had grown up without anyone to love her, struggling every step of the way on her own. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± She was drowsy now: ¡°I¡¯m going to sleep.¡± He adjusted their position, holding her: ¡°Sleep then.¡± She mumbled something, and fell asleep. Before long, her breathing steadied, Jiang Zhi turned off the light: ¡°Fang Bao.¡± She didn¡¯t respond, asleep. Jiang Zhi kissed her forehead: ¡°You won¡¯t be alone anymore, you have me now.¡± Outside, the sky was flashing with lightning, yet it refused to rain. The moon and stars all hid behind the clouds, the night air heavy and somber. Downstairs, Fula was barking again. Jiang Chuan, slipping on his clothes, got up and in the dimness saw a figure, dragging a suitcase. It was only when he approached that he recognized who it was. ¡°Fifth Miss.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er turned around. Jiang Chuan advanced: ¡°It¡¯s so late, where are you heading?¡± She had cut her hair, very short, barely reaching her ears. She said, ¡°To the airport.¡± Jiang Chuan, concerned, replied: ¡°I will go wake Old Madam.¡± He had just turned his head when Jiang Wei¡¯er stopped him, her demeanor composed and serene: ¡°Don¡¯t disturb Mother¡¯s sleep, I¡¯m just going out to clear my head, I¡¯ll be back.¡± ¡°Fifth Miss¡ª¡± She waved her hand: ¡°I¡¯m off.¡± ¡°Woof!¡± ¡°Woof woof!¡± Fula called out again, endless and unceasing. Jiang Wei¡¯er left, on the three o¡¯clock flight in the early morning. She didn¡¯t tell anyone, intentionally choosing this time. At this hour, the airport wasn¡¯t crowded. Perhaps due to the deep night, passers-by unconsciously softened their footfalls, creating an air of desolate tranquility. A billboard blocked out the light, leaving a large shadow in which a person stood still for a long, long time. ¡°Brother Xiao,¡± The assistant behind him said, ¡°It¡¯s very late, let¡¯s go back.¡± The figure had not moved; he was looking in the direction of the boarding gates. The plane had long departed, and no one was there anymore. The assistant couldn¡¯t help but mutter, ¡°If you can¡¯t bear to part with her, why didn¡¯t you stop her?¡± He acted as if he hadn¡¯t heard, talking to himself. ¡°Wei¡¯er was wearing black clothes and she had cut her hair short.¡± His voice was so low that the assistant couldn¡¯t hear clearly and moved closer: ¡°What did you say?¡± He said, ¡°She looked very pretty.¡± The remark was disconnected and confusing, so the assistant didn¡¯t understand, ¡°What looked very pretty?¡± Xiao Linsu shook his head and didn¡¯t say anything more. He turned and saw Xue Bingxue standing next to a pillar, not knowing how long he¡¯d been there. Their eyes met, both expressions subdued, both silent. Xiao Linsu walked over. His face was covered with a mask and sunglasses, hiding his expression. He placed the bag he was holding on a bench nearby. The bag was full of medicine. ¡°Her stomach is weak, and she doesn¡¯t eat properly. She always forgets to bring¡ª¡± He stopped mid-sentence. Ridiculous, what was he doing? He picked up the bag again, clutching it tightly in his hand, and turned to leave without a word, his eyes under the sunglasses finally moistening. Before coming to the airport, Xiao Linsu had gone to the police station. The verdict hadn¡¯t yet been delivered. It had taken him some effort to see Lin Shuang, who was calmer than he expected. He was nearly the same, feeling peaceful after the dust had settled. ¡°I¡¯ve talked to the lawyer, and you won¡¯t be sentenced for long,¡± Xiao Linsu started. Lin Shuang looked at him through the glass without making a sound. He spoke alone, his tone like that of dealing with final affairs: ¡°I¡¯ll take care of your parents for you.¡± And he added, ¡°Huayu is now managed by Xue Baoyi, and the new talents you brought will transfer to Baoguang. Xue Baoyi is fair and won¡¯t treat them badly.¡± He spoke slowly, and softly. ¡°Your contract¡ª¡± Lin Shuang cut him off, ¡°Stop talking about me, talk about yourself.¡± Talk about himself? There wasn¡¯t much to say about him. He was silent for a while: ¡°The press conference is tomorrow afternoon.¡± Lin Shuang¡¯s calm eyes rippled: ¡°Do you really have to retire?¡± He nodded: ¡°I can¡¯t let Wei¡¯er hear any news about me.¡± Whenever he mentioned Jiang Wei¡¯er, his gaze gained a slight vibrancy. ¡°What about you?¡± Lin Shuang asked him, her tone accusatory and urgent, ¡°Are you going to give up everything?¡± He didn¡¯t respond directly: ¡°After it ends, I¡¯ll take my sister¡¯s ashes back to Zhang Town.¡± Zhang Town was Xiao Linsu¡¯s hometown. It was a small town with flowers and bridges, mountains and water, where his parents lay buried. Lin Shuang remembered again, the first time she had seen him in Zhang Town. Her eyes, betraying her, reddened: ¡°Will you come back?¡± Xiao Linsu said, ¡°I won¡¯t return.¡± She lowered her head, laughing at herself with self-derision. There was nothing left to say. He sat for a while, then stood up: ¡°Lin Shuang.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± He said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Sorry? It was she who had brought him from Zhang Town to Imperial City. She who had introduced him to Jin Song. She who had used Jiang Wei¡¯er. And she who had crashed into Jiang Zhi. What did he do? He directed and acted in a play where he was the one to get hurt, leaving everyone else overjoyed. ¡°Sorry for what?¡± she choked, laughing and crying like a madwoman, ¡°Xiao Linsu, you haven¡¯t done wrong by anyone, the only person you¡¯ve let down is yourself, even if it¡¯s Jiang Wei¡¯er, you don¡¯t owe her anything.¡± That was all he had, his future, his pride, and the rest of his life¡­ he had already given it all away. What else could he give? It¡¯s unfair of heaven to bury him in the mud, giving him so little, this was all he had¡­ He said thank you again and said, ¡°I¡¯m leaving.¡± And just like that, he left. Lin Shuang called after him, ¡°What are you going to do?¡± He turned back, asking what she meant by what was he going to do. ¡°Without Jiang Wei¡¯er, what will you do?¡± He laughed, laughed in response, ¡°Just let it be.¡± Just like that, his life drifted aimlessly, destined to die alone. That was his life. ¡°Linsu.¡± He stopped but did not turn around. Lin Shuang¡¯s eyes were moist with tears as she looked at his straight, lean back, ¡°I regret helping you to drive her away¡­¡± Thunder rumbled all night, but it didn¡¯t rain. The next day, the sky cleared up, and sunlight streamed through the windows, covering the floor with golden light. Jiang Zhi opened her eyes to see Zhou Xufang¡¯s face right in front of her, sitting against the wall with a mess of hair on her head, still wearing her old-fashioned long johns. Unlike the movies he made, where the male lead wakes up to find the female lead gazing at him tenderly from the ground. Zhou Xufang¡¯s face was expressionless, serious if anything. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± His voice was husky and bubbly from just waking up, lazy. Zhou Xufang replied, ¡°Hmm.¡± Jiang Zhi crawled out of the covers, her hair even messier than Zhou Xufang¡¯s, with cowlicks sticking out unabashedly, and some red mark on her face that looked like it had been pressed by a hand or something. The buttons of her pajamas had come loose, hanging sloppily over her shoulder and exposing her pale and tender collarbone. He grabbed his hair, still groggy, ¡°When did you wake up?¡± Zhou Xufang said, ¡°A little after six.¡± He probably didn¡¯t sleep enough, his peach blossom eyes looking puffy, ¡°Why so early?¡± Zhou Xufang took a glance at his collarbone, just one quick look, then quickly shifted her gaze away. She reached out, carefully pulling up his pajamas, ¡°You kicked me awake.¡± Sleeping Beauty was now fully awake. ¡°Did I kick you?¡± Zhou Xufang nodded, not looking at him, pulling the blanket haphazardly thrown over his legs all the way up, covering everything below the waist, ¡°Yes, you kicked me eleven times last night.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi,¡± after she had covered him up properly did she dare to look at him, ¡°you have bad sleeping habits.¡± It wasn¡¯t a complaint; she was just stating a fact. Kicking blankets and people was not all; he liked to burrow into pillows, burrowing back and forth¡­ Zhou Xufang had to pick up the pillow eight times last night. Later, afraid he would burrow into the pillows again, she held them down, and then he stopped burrowing into the pillows, instead, he burrowed into her¡­ Zhou Xufang¡¯s back was feeling a little sore now. Jiang Zhi had his reasons, proud and assertive, ¡°I¡¯ve never slept with anyone else; I¡¯m just not used to it. I¡¯ll stop kicking once I get used to it.¡± Zhou Xufang was unconvinced. Even if he didn¡¯t kick, he would still burrow into people. She rubbed her back, ¡°I¡¯m not sleeping with you anymore.¡± She spoke without thinking, and Jiang Zhi¡¯s mind began to wander, ¡°So are we going to sleep in separate beds after we get married?¡± ¡°Ah?¡± She hadn¡¯t thought that far ahead. ¡°No way.¡± His pajamas and blanket were black, setting off his fair skin, making him look more like a pampered young master, ¡°You just need to get me to behave, there¡¯s always a way. Separate beds,¡± his hair stood up at one end with a red mark on his face, ¡°don¡¯t even think about it.¡± She hadn¡¯t thought about it at all¡­ ¡°How did we end up talking about what to do after getting married?¡± At this moment, footsteps could be heard outside. Jiang Zhi lowered her voice, ¡°Someone¡¯s coming.¡± Zhou Xufang immediately burrowed into the covers, lying still as if playing dead. A servant knocked on the door a few times, ¡°Young Master, breakfast is ready.¡± There was no response from inside the room. ¡°Are you up?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not up,¡± a languid voice came from inside the room, accompanied by a few coughs, ¡°I want to sleep a bit longer, don¡¯t disturb me.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± The servant then withdrew. Once the footsteps faded, Zhou Xufang emerged from under the covers, ruffled her hair, and pointing at a painting by the bed, she asked Jiang Zhi, ¡°What did you paint?¡± She guessed, since it was hanging by the bed, ¡°Is it a charm against evil spirits?¡± ¡°It¡¯s you,¡± Jiang Zhi replied. Zhou Xufang scratched her head, looked at the painting again with effort, straining her eyes, observing carefully, ¡°If you look closely, it does resemble me.¡± She stared harder, even more intently, scrutinizing it, ¡°You used the colors really well.¡± It was all just a blotch of black. Jiang Zhi no longer wanted to discuss the painting with her. Her feet were still under the covers, and in a fit of pique, she kicked Zhou Xufang¡¯s legs. Ticklish, Zhou Xufang dodged, ¡°I should head home now.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t go back. I¡¯ll take you out in a bit.¡± Zhou Xufang refused, ¡°I need to go home to brush my teeth and change clothes.¡± She clambered over Jiang Zhi¡¯s outstretched legs, careful not to press down on him, her movements reminiscent of a grasshopper missing limbs, her head cocked to one side, watching Jiang Zhi, ¡°I have a meal with your friends today, I want to dress up a bit.¡± Jiang Zhi was charmed by her last statement and reached out to wrap his arm around her waist, lifting her from the bed and placing her down on the floor. Without bothering to put on shoes, he stepped barefoot on the carpet, picking up her clothes one by one and helping her dress. ¡°I¡¯ll pick you up from your place at nine.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Zhou Xufang wrapped a scarf around the back of her head and cranium completely, finishing she walked out the door. Jiang Zhi tugged at her sleeve, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to give me a kiss before you go?¡± With a serious expression, she said, ¡°No kissing, I haven¡¯t brushed my teeth.¡± ¡°¡­¡± He hadn¡¯t landed himself a girlfriend, but rather a chunk of steel. This steel was surprisingly flexible when it came to climbing out the window, easily scaling the anti-theft bars with just a hand, the other waved goodbye to him. Jiang Zhi watched nervously, ¡°Don¡¯t fall, be careful¡ª¡± She leapt onto the roof in a single bound. Jiang Zhi stuck his head out the window, but she was already out of sight. This feeling¡­ How to describe it? It was as if she were a patron of pleasure seeking the company of courtesans and he, the beauty in the red tent, used and then abandoned without even leaving payment. Jiang Zhi ran a hand through his hair, laughing. The servant knocked again, ¡°Young Master, the Old Madam sent me to bring breakfast over. Do you want to eat before you sleep?¡± Jiang Zhi opened the door, ¡°Just leave it.¡± The one carrying the tray in was a young lad named Xiao Tian, a distant relative of Jiang Chuan who hadn¡¯t been working at the Jiang family for long and wasn¡¯t quite familiar with the rules. He was easily startled. ¡°Yikes! What happened to this window? It wasn¡¯t a thief, was it?¡± Good heavens, even the anti-theft bars were twisted! What a diabolical little thief! Jiang Zhi put on a jacket, his beautiful eyes composed, pajama buttons not fully fastened, suggestively indecent, ¡°Which little thief would dare to steal from the Jiang family?¡± He said calmly, ¡°It¡¯s from a lightning strike.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Last night there had been thunder, but¡ª ¡°Does lightning twist anti-theft bars like this?¡± Jiang Zhi blew a stray hair out of his eyes, ¡°Do you want me to go and ask Duke of Thunder?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t disturb the Old Madam, just find someone to fix it as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Chapter 117 - Chapter 117: 117: Taking Fang Bao to Meet the Parents Chapter 117: 117: Taking Fang Bao to Meet the Parents At nine o¡¯clock, Jiang Zhi went to pick up Zhou Xufang. His car stopped outside the residential area, and he waited for her at the stairwell entrance; she said she wanted to dress up nicely, and then¡ª Jiang Zhi was stunned. Zhou Xufang approached him, feeling anxious, ¡°Does it not look good?¡± He first smiled, then knelt down to tie her shoelaces, which she hadn¡¯t managed to fasten tightly, into an ugly knot, and said, ¡°It looks good.¡± Pleased with the compliment, Zhou Xufang happily twirled on the spot, ¡°I also think it looks good.¡± She felt that pink was the best color¡ªunrivaled in beauty! So, she dressed in pink from head to toe, including her hair clips and shoelaces. As a result, when Xue Baoyi saw her in the Fusheng Inn parking lot, he couldn¡¯t help but ask a rather immature question. ¡°Little sister, you,¡± Xue Baoyi wasn¡¯t sure and looked her over from head to toe again, ¡°are you of age?¡± This wave of pink gave off a very young vibe. Zhou Xufang, with a pink hair clip on her head, answered, ¡°I am of age.¡± Xue Baoyi hadn¡¯t noticed before; now, taking a closer look, the girl seemed very young. Xue Baoyi had reason to suspect Jiang Zhi of cradle-snatching. ¡°Xue Baoyi.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?? Jiang Zhi shielded the girlish figure in his arms, not letting her be seen, his gaze filled with a warning. Xue Baoyi flashed a smile like a doting aunt, ¡°I¡¯m just worried you¡¯re seducing an underage girl.¡± Jiang Zhi would never seduce anyone! Zhou Xufang immediately defended him, ¡°I¡¯m twenty-two.¡± Her ID was procured by the ¡®good samaritan¡¯ who saved her; although the month was fabricated, the year was true. Jiang Zhi would never seduce an underage girl! Ah, this protective instinct. Xue Baoyi threw a flirtatious look at Jiang Zhi, ¡°Who would have guessed, you¡¯re eligible to get a marriage license.¡± This wave of crazy implications! Yet Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t understand. She still addressed him formally, ¡°Mr. Xue.¡± Mr. Xue, with eyebrows sharp and eyes bright, looked decent except for a somewhat bandit-like aura, ¡°Don¡¯t be a stranger; just follow Brother Zhi and call me ¡®Brother Bao.''¡± ¡°Oh.¡± After that¡ª Zhou Xufang¡¯s expression was stern and righteous like Xue Baoyi¡¯s grandfather who slicked back his hair and was an academic, ¡°Mr. Xue.¡± She moved a squarely wrapped large box from the trunk, covered in pink wrapping paper with a big butterfly bow on top, though what was inside was not visible; Zhou Xufang sincerely said, ¡°This is for you.¡± Using ¡®you¡¯ formally, she truly brought the manner of meeting the parents. Xue Baoyi was amused, ¡°No need to be so formal, little sister,¡± and reached one hand to receive the ¡®little sister¡¯s¡¯ gift¡ª Damn, it was heavy! He hastily used both hands. After giving the gift, Zhou Xufang offered her sincere wishes, ¡°Wishing you good health.¡± Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± This girl spoke so formally, just like his nearly eighty-year-old grandfather. He pulled Jiang Zhi aside, ¡°Your wife gave me a gift.¡± Jiang Zhi ¡®hmmed,¡¯ proud and pleased, ¡°My girlfriend is sensible; just keep it.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± It was so heavy! Xue Baoyi¡¯s arms bulged with veins as he held it. Jiang Zhi, his eyes filled only with his girlfriend and not even looking at Xue Baoyi, replied, ¡°Chicken eggs.¡± Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± Who gifts that these days? Jiang Zhi: ¡°Eighty-eight of them, symbolizing safety for a lifetime.¡± Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± No wonder his hands were about to break! After some effort, Xue Baoyi managed to move the eggs to the trunk, then he discreetly massaged his reddened wrist before casting an awkward yet polite smile at Zhou Xufang and finally looking at Jiang Zhi, lowering his voice, ¡°Brother Zhi, your wife¡¯s style, so old-school.¡± Jiang Zhi agreed, ¡°Yeah, she won¡¯t even kiss me in public.¡± Zhou Xufang heard everything and thought bitterly: Why must Jiang Zhi spill every bit of information with no sense of shame? She lowered her head, her ears red. Xue Bingxue was the first to arrive and had been waiting in the private room for a while, checking his phone. When he saw others walk in, he put his phone away. He stood up, ¡°Hello.¡± Zhou Xufang straightened her back, ¡°Hello.¡± Xue Baoyi couldn¡¯t stop laughing: Both are such good kids, must have been the most well-behaved children in kindergarten. Today¡¯s dinner was organized by Jiang Zhi, formally introducing his girlfriend. Among them, it was the first time someone seriously brought a girlfriend to ¡®meet the parents.¡¯ The meal had to be eaten, and the meeting gifts had to be presented. Jiang Zhi was not playing around; the others, well¡­ Xue Bingxue was hopelessly devoted to Jiang Wei¡¯er, never having dated anyone. Xue Baoyi would switch girlfriends every so often, but he never brought one to meet the group. Qiao Nanchu didn¡¯t care much for romantic affairs. At that moment, Xue Baoyi received a call on his phone. As soon as he picked up, Zhou Xufang heard a woman¡¯s voice. ¡°Mr.¡± Her voice was coquettish, very alluring. Xue Baoyi lazily grunted in response. The coquettish voice asked him, ¡°Where are you?¡± Xue Baoyi didn¡¯t answer, sitting with crossed legs and smiling, ¡°Do I have to report to you?¡± Second Young Master was usually easy-going, especially good-tempered with women. But he had a rule: be obedient, don¡¯t meddle in things you shouldn¡¯t, don¡¯t ask questions you shouldn¡¯t, and don¡¯t demand what you shouldn¡¯t. After all, he roamed freely without a care. ¡°It¡¯s not like that,¡± the coquettish voice sounded a bit hurt, ¡°you said you would visit the set this weekend.¡± Xue Baoyi flicked his freshly styled heart-shaped bangs, ¡°Did I say that?¡± ¡­ Xue Baoyi was not one to pity or cherish women, he never was: ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll send Xiao Zhuang over, tell him what you want to eat.¡± The coquettish voice struggled to let go, ¡°Then are you free tonight?¡± ¡°Do you want to meet up?¡± Jiang Zhi covered Zhou Xufang¡¯s ears. Useless, she could still hear the coquettish woman flirting, though she didn¡¯t quite understand the conversation. ¡°Are you free or not?¡± ¡°That depends on what you want to meet for.¡± ¡°I booked a spot at Grand Hyatt.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not free.¡± And the call ended there. Xue Baoyi hung up, feeling bored, and snorted arrogantly, ¡°Just met a few times and already clamoring to climb into my bed.¡± Is it that easy to get into his bed! Zhou Xufang understood this statement. Lixiang was right, Mr. Xue was definitely a scumbag. She silently moved Jiang Zhi¡¯s chair closer to her side, distancing herself from Xue Baoyi, as Jiang Zhi smiled and patted her head. The private room had every entertainment facility. Xue Baoyi couldn¡¯t sit still, took off his jacket, and started playing with darts. His aim stunk; he missed every shot. ¡°Why isn¡¯t Nanchu here yet?¡± Xue Bingxue sipped his tea, ¡°On the way, stuck in traffic.¡± Messages were still popping up on Xue Baoyi¡¯s phone; he casually clicked one open. It was another voice message from a woman. However, this time it was not coquettish but rather bold: ¡°Call me ¡®daddy¡¯ three times, and daddy will take you out for chicken tonight.¡± ¡­ The air suddenly went quiet. Zhou Xufang thought the voice sounded a bit like Lixiang, but Lixiang wouldn¡¯t talk like that to a direct superior. This is what Xue Baoyi said, clearing his throat before speaking, ¡°Sent to the wrong person, just spam.¡± Then he put down the darts, picked up his jacket, ¡°I¡¯m stepping out for a smoke.¡± Zhou Xufang found it strange and quietly asked Jiang Zhi, ¡°Who was that?¡± She had recently been reading many novels and dramas sent by Ah Wan, and she felt she had gained some insight, ¡°Is it his girlfriend?¡± Jiang Zhi then told her, ¡°It was his dad.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xue Baoyi went out to text her ¡°dad¡±, choosing a secluded spot. He was fuming with anger, but didn¡¯t use voice messages. Instead, he typed, ¡°Doesn¡¯t the old man have any face left at all!!!!!!¡± With five exclamation marks! Second Young Master Xue had a temper too! The nickname on the WeChat page read ¡°a female hooligan.¡± That female hooligan sent a voice message, in the boldest tone server-wide, ¡°A noob who dies upon landing eight times in a row has no right to talk about having face.¡± Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± A female hooligan: ¡°Don¡¯t even think about me taking you into games in the future~¡± A female hooligan: ¡°Hold your heart and ask yourself, with your crappy skills, can you even last three minutes?¡± He really couldn¡¯t. Honestly, with Xue Baoyi¡¯s skills, even driving could end up killing teammates. No one else wanted to play with him, not even Xue Bingxue, who was very patient but couldn¡¯t stand being blown up by him multiple times. Due to harming teammates, Xue Baoyi had been reported and banned a number of times. However, noobs had their dignity too: ¡°Don¡¯t get cocky. If you won¡¯t play with me, there are plenty of pros who will.¡± A female hooligan: ¡°Blow some grenades ten or eight times and see if any pro will still play with you.¡± A female hooligan: ¡°Also, your ¡®dad¡¯ has played professionally too.¡± She had only played professionally for a week, and this guy bragged about it endlessly. Standing at the border between Mei Garden and Bamboo Garden, Xue Baoyi was near an artificial lotus pond that reflected his face, beaming with joy: ¡°A pro forced to retire because of too much swearing and you still brag about it.¡± A female hooligan: ¡°Oh, you admit it then.¡± ¡°What?¡± A female hooligan: ¡°I am your ¡®dad¡¯~¡± ¡°¡­¡± A female hooligan: ¡°Meet me at midnight in Absolute Survival, I¡¯ll take you flying.¡± They had teamed up for a dozen games and he¡¯d been scolded each time. Would Second Young Master Xue have endured if her skills weren¡¯t good? ¡°Too late. Can¡¯t it be earlier?¡± he succumbed. A female hooligan: ¡°Your ¡®dad¡¯ is swamped with work, yet still finds the time to play games with you. It¡¯s not easy, you know.¡± ¡°¡­¡± She was the most boastful one in the entire server! Xue Baoyi was both annoyed and amused, so he made a call to her. ¡°Hello~¡± It was a sweet and cute voice, then a bit whiny. Such a drama queen! She was the best actress in Baoguang! From blasting the entire universe one second to being all virtuous the next, her seamless transition was award-worthy, a disservice to his meticulous mentorship otherwise. ¡°Fang Lixiang.¡± Fang¡¤Virtuous¡¤Lixiang: ¡°Yes, boss.¡± ¡°Put your manager on the phone.¡± Fang¡¤Virtuous¡¤Lixiang: ¡°Okay, boss.¡± The manager took the call. ¡°President Xue.¡± ¡°Clear Fang Lixiang¡¯s schedule for tonight.¡± The tone was reluctant but unavoidable, like¡­ like a young woman forced into prostitution at a brothel, compelled by fate no matter how unwilling her heart. The manager was confused: ¡°What?¡± Not sure why the big boss was irritated, he simply responded, ¡°Understood?¡± ¡°¡­Understood.¡± ¡°Hand her the phone.¡± The phone switched hands again. Fang Lixiang had a script in hand where she played an unfavored concubine, immersing herself fully in the role, she adopted the demeanor of serving His Majesty, ¡°Boss, please give your orders.¡± This case of split personality! Bao Yi curled her lips into a mischievous smile, ¡°Say something nice for me to hear.¡± Has this guy¡¯s brain been slammed in a door? Okay. Well, you are the golden daddy. After organizing her thoughts, Fang Lixiang recited emotionally, ¡°You are like the spring rain that nourishes all living things; you are like the summer breeze, refreshingly cool; you are like the autumn sunset, infinitely beautiful; you are like the winter¡¯s light snow, pure and flawless.¡± Bao Yi, embodying rain, wind, sun, and snow, was speechless. He immediately hung up the phone. Ding. A message from a hooligan lady came through. ¡°Kiddo, daddy¡¯s not working tonight, I¡¯ll take you to Autistic City at nine¡«¡± ¡°¡­¡± This guy, always managing to blow his mind. And yet, he found playing games with her freaking awesome. Damn, is this self-torture? Bao Yi, fuming, returned to the private room and immediately saw Jiang Zhi peeling broad beans for Zhou Xufang; the pampered young master who usually wouldn¡¯t touch mundane chores was actually peeling beans, and enjoying it too. Fried broad beans, Zhou Xufang¡¯s first time trying them. A large plate of bean shells had been discarded already, and the little plate in front of Zhou Xufang was piled into a small mountain; Jiang Zhi took off her disposable gloves and poured her a cup of clear tea, ¡°Is it tasty?¡± Zhou Xufang, crunching loudly, ¡°Delicious.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll ask the kitchen to make more, you can take some home.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Ah Wan, who ordered two plates of beans and didn¡¯t get to eat any, complained, ¡°They should peel them all before serving, disappointing.¡± Jiang Zhi looked up, ¡°Get out.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± He rolled out. He went to order more beans. After scolding Ah Wan, with a shift in her peach blossom eyes, Jiang Zhi turned back to Zhou Xufang, her eyes brimming with tenderness, ¡°I¡¯ll peel more and bring them over.¡± Just seated Bao Yi, ¡°¡­¡± Unbearable! Was this still the little wolf cub Jiang Zhi? Had Zhou Xufang flattened his claws and pulled his teeth, turning him into a milk cat? Zhou Xufang refused, ¡°I can peel them myself.¡± Fussy, clean freak Jiang Zhi wasn¡¯t bothered by the dirt now, he wiped her mouth with his hand, ¡°You have a boyfriend now, you should use free labor, understand?¡± Zhou Xufang hesitated deeply. She glanced at the pile of bean shells on the table three times. She still felt she should tell the truth, ¡°But I want to suck on the bean shells.¡± She sneakily picked up a shell Jiang Zhi had peeled and discarded, quickly popping it into her mouth and savored it, then revealed a satisfied smile, ¡°There¡¯s a lot of seasoning on the shell, ah, really tasty.¡± Jiang Zhi, ¡°¡­¡± People should not easily mock others, especially best buddies, unless you really can¡¯t resist. Bao Yi burst into loud laughter. Even Xue Bingxue was chuckling quietly. Jiang Zhi shot a look her way, and Xue Bingxue immediately straightened up, ¡°Jiang Zhi, I have something to say to you.¡± Jiang Zhi, looking at Zhou Xufang who revelled in sucking the shells, still put a plate of the discarded shells in front of her, ¡°I¡¯ll step out for a bit, keep eating.¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± She stuffed two shells in her mouth, sucking joyously. Jiang Zhi stood up, kicking Bao Yi¡¯s chair a little, ¡°You keep her entertained for a while.¡± Bao Yi grinned like a thug, ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid I¡¯ll lead her astray?¡± ¡°Just try.¡± Jiang Zhi patted his girl¡¯s head, then went out with Xue Bingxue. Chapter 118 - Chapter 118: 118: Ah Fang, restrain the wife! Chapter 118: 118: Ah Fang, restrain the wife! Jiang Zhi patted his daughter¡¯s head and went out with Xue Bingxue. In the private room, only Xue Baoyi and Zhou Xufang were left. Looking at the delicate little girl, Xue Baoyi felt a surge of paternal affection. Setting aside his usual carefree demeanor, he asked kindly and amiably, ¡°What do you usually do for fun, little sister-in-law?¡± Little Sister-in-law Zhou said, ¡°Watch TV.¡± Watch TV, huh. Xue Baoyi then asked, ¡°Do you watch the shows directed by Jiang Zhi?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve watched all of his shows,¡± Zhou Xufang, always prompt to respond and knowing Jiang Zhi¡¯s good friend was asking, sat up straighter than usual and replied with more sincerity than usual, ¡°Now, I¡¯m watching ¡®President Gu, Your Fragile Wife Ran Away With the Ball¡¯.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xue Baoyi was stunned. Regarding ¡°President Gu, Your Fragile Wife Ran Away With the Ball,¡± Xue Baoyi had no desire whatsoever to learn about it. He sipped his tea and changed the subject, ¡°Brother Zhi mentioned that you¡¯re quite an outstanding extra in crowd scenes.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°Really? He praised me as outstanding?¡± ¡°¡­ Cough cough.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Xue Baoyi choked on his tea. There was nothing he could add to the perfunctory praise he had blurted out, so he switched topics again, ¡°Do you have any plans to pursue acting?¡± ¡°No.¡± Zhou Xufang was still not used to making eye contact, so she looked at a plate of edamame shells in front of her, ¡°I look like a female ghost in every role.¡± Then let¡¯s not go for a debut. Xue Baoyi tried another topic, ¡°Are you still running a stall at Ba Yi Bridge?¡± ¡°Yep.¡± He just mentioned casually, ¡°Your phone screen protectors are of good quality.¡± Zhou Xufang sounded as official as a Taobao customer service, ¡°Thank you for your trust and support.¡± Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± Maybe it¡¯s better not to force small talk. No matter how witty he was, he couldn¡¯t keep up with the steel-strong, quirky thought processes. Xue Baoyi put down his teacup, ¡°How about playing darts?¡± Zhou Xufang wasn¡¯t interested, but since Mr. Xue was a good friend of Jiang Zhi, she pretended to be very interested, ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°Have you played before?¡± ¡°No.¡± At this point, anyone would want to show off a ¡®miraculous skill,¡¯ so Xue Baoyi took a dart, squinted one eye, and aimed, ¡°It¡¯s very simple, just hit that target¡ª¡± Thud. It hit the bullseye. Xue Baoyi, who hadn¡¯t finished aiming yet, ¡°¡­ ¡± He looked at the dart deeply embedded in the bullseye and awkwardly retracted the one in his hand, ¡°First time playing?¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°Yep.¡± First time and she hit the bullseye. Xue Baoyi, out of politeness, said, ¡°Little sister-in-law, you¡¯ve got good skills.¡± Little Sister-in-law Zhou: ¡°You flatter me.¡± ¡°¡­¡± That overwhelmingly old cadre vibe. Looking like she was eighteen, the little girl spoke in a rigid, academic tone, like an old scholar. Xue Baoyi found darts boring, ¡°How about billiards? Ever played?¡± There were plenty of entertainment options in the private room, but most visitors to Fusheng Inn looking for fun were young masters, and there wasn¡¯t much for girls to do. The delicate Zhou Xufang shook her head, saying she¡¯d never played billiards. That damn desire to show off surged again, and Xue Baoyi grabbed a cue stick, prepped it with chalk, and stretched his muscles, ¡°Let me show you how.¡± He hit a flashy but successful shot. After demonstrating, he briefly explained the basic rules and handed the cue stick to Zhou Xufang. Zhou Xufang¡¯s learning ability was extraordinarily strong; she copied everything, used the chalk, flexed her wrists, hit a fancy shot and made it too. Xue Baoyi was stunned once again. ¡°Are you really playing for the first time?¡± The young master didn¡¯t quite believe it. The peachy Zhou Xufang wore an honest expression, ¡°Yep.¡± Where on earth did Jiang Zhi find this top-notch little capable person? Xue Baoyi thought this girl was cut out for big things, ¡°Little sister-in-law, what did you do before you sold screen protectors?¡± Zhou Xufang thought for a moment, oh, he remembered, ¡°I sold kebabs.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xue Baoyi felt as if both his EQ and IQ had been rubbed raw. No, he had been humiliated thoroughly. He decided to play to his strengths and show little sister-in-law just how capable Brother Bao was, ¡°Let¡¯s play cards.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Five minutes later¡­ Xue Baoyi grabbed a handful of his hair, doubting his life, ¡°Little sister-in-law, what did you do before selling kebabs?¡± Zhou Xufang thought for a moment, oh, ¡°I worked on a construction site moving bricks.¡± ¡°¡­¡± After playing three rounds of cards, apart from the first round where he explained the rules, the pretty little sister-in-law had memorized all his cards in the next two rounds. Xue Baoyi felt he was making a fool of himself. ¡°Let¡¯s just eat broad beans.¡± Finally, he could stop pretending to be interested, and Zhou Xufang agreed readily, ¡°Sure!¡± Then, the two of them in the private room ate their own broad beans. Outside the private room. The two leaned against the wall, standing in the corridor, separated by a water-ink mural. Fusheng Inn had an air of pseudo-elegance, and the painting had a certain imposing quality. Xue Bingxue said, ¡°My flight is in the afternoon.¡± Jiang Zhi hummed in acknowledgment. ¡°If I pretended it was a chance encounter, would Wei¡¯er believe it?¡± Xue Bingxue was the worst liar among them. ¡°No,¡± Jiang Zhi said, ¡°she would beat you up.¡± That¡¯s okay. Xue Bingxue smiled, ¡°Let her beat me then.¡± Idiot. Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t be bothered to berate him. ¡°I won¡¯t be here; if you need anything, go to the Chinese medicine clinic and find my teacher.¡± Xue Bingxue pulled out a medicine bottle from his pocket and handed it to Jiang Zhi, instructing him seriously, ¡°This medicine is for emergencies, don¡¯t take it unless absolutely necessary.¡± He took it, ¡°I know, I still want to have children with Zhou Xufang.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xue Bingxue was a bit naive; he was embarrassed just listening and ignored Jiang Zhi. He then asked, ¡°Am I really infertile?¡± A blushing Xue Bingxue, ¡°..currently, yes.¡± Angrily embarrassed, Xue Bingxue said, ¡°You have no shame!¡± Ashamed? Even though Old Sir Xue had taught him all sorts of crafty schemes, and despite being strictly righteous in certain areas to an infuriating extent, Jiang Zhi knew that what was deeply ingrained in Xue Bingxue was no different from any of them; they were of the same kind. ¡°There¡¯s something I can¡¯t figure out.¡± Xue Bingxue asked, ¡°What?¡± Jiang Zhi held the medicine bottle, playing with it by flipping it over, ¡°Why was Xiao Linsu urgently arrested before Lin Shuang turned himself in? At that time, Jin Song¡¯s recording hadn¡¯t reached the Criminal Investigation Team, how did he become a suspect?¡± The timing didn¡¯t match up. Xiao Linsu¡¯s arrest came first, but the evidence from the recording surfaced later. Xue Bingxue was silent for a while, ¡°Someone reported an attempted murder.¡± ¡°Who was the reporter?¡± ¡°His own self.¡± Drip. The medicine bottle fell from Jiang Zhi¡¯s hand. First, acting out a scene by imposing on himself the unforgivable titles of abuser and murderer, then pushing Jiang Wei¡¯er away and sending himself to prison. It was a suicidal plan. Jiang Zhi picked up the medicine from the ground and pocketed it, asking nonchalantly, ¡°Was it the old lady or you?¡± Xiao Linsu¡¯s vulnerability was too apparent¡ªextremely insecure and overly emotional. Those who knew how to play mind games could make him surrender with just the three words ¡®Jiang Wei¡¯er.¡¯ Xue Bingxue looked up, his eyes turbulent as though a stone had been tossed into a clear, tranquil pond, stirring the calm, ¡°It was¡ª¡± Jiang Zhi interrupted him, ¡°Don¡¯t tell anyone, including me.¡± Without waiting for him, Jiang Zhi headed back to the private room in Bamboo Garden first. Xue Baoyi was on a phone call, receiving a call from Qiao Nanchu. ¡°Don¡¯t wait for me.¡± Xue Baoyi threw a broad bean into her mouth, crunching loudly, ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Rear-ended.¡± So unlucky! Just as Xue Baoyi was about to ask further, a woman¡¯s voice came through the phone. ¡°Nanchu.¡± That voice¡­ Xue Baoyi, finding it familiar, asked, ¡°Female driver?¡± Qiao Nanchu, distracted, replied, ¡°Yeah, you know her too.¡± ¡°Who is it?¡± Qiao Nanchu said, ¡°Zhang Zixi.¡± After saying that, he hung up the phone. Damn! Xue Baoyi laughed, ¡°What is even going on?¡± She glanced at Jiang Zhi, ¡°Nanchu got rear-ended, guess who it was?¡± Jiang Zhi was feeding Zhou Xufang and pouring water with little enthusiasm. Xue Bingxue cooperatively asked, ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Zhang Zixi.¡± Xue Bingxue also showed a surprised expression. Jiang Zhi pulled out a wet wipe to clean Zhou Xufang¡¯s hands, asking, ¡°Who is Zhang Zixi?¡± Xue Baoyi was dumbfounded¡­ You¡¯ve met her so many times before and still don¡¯t remember! ¡°Nanchu¡¯s ex-girlfriend.¡± Oh, Jiang Zhi had some impression then. Qiao Nanchu had only dated one girlfriend, five years ago, not long after he had transferred from the police academy. Zhang Zixi was the belle of the police academy, who had pursued him overtly and covertly for a while; Qiao Nanchu was always lukewarm. Then he took a trip to Da Mai Mountain, and when he returned, the two started dating. ¡°Long time no see.¡± The woman stood by the roadside, dressed simply with her hair tied back neatly and generously. She smiled, showing shallow dimples; she was very pretty in a completely non-threatening way. Zhang Zixi. It had been five years. Qiao Nanchu got out of the car, ¡°When did you get back?¡± His tone was as casual as asking ¡®have you eaten,¡¯ utterly placid. ¡°Got back to the country last month.¡± He walked to the rear of the car, squatting to check it without lifting his head, ¡°Still the same number?¡± Zhang Zixi smiled, ¡°Changed it long ago.¡± Her gaze stayed on him, her expression complex, so much to say yet nothing to say. The rear-end was severe. His taillight was smashed. He pulled out his phone and handed it to her, ¡°Enter your number.¡± She hesitated for a moment before taking it, entered her own number, and then handed it back. ¡°The rear-end is entirely your fault,¡± he said, looking down as he saved the number. ¡°Agree?¡± His tone was rather like a traffic police officer. Zhang Zixi smiled faintly, nodding, ¡°Agree.¡± He had darkened a bit from five years ago, less youthful, his gaze wilder, still as cool and elegant but oblivious to charm. ¡°Rushing now, I¡¯ll contact you later.¡± He threw the phone on the passenger seat, closed the car door, and sped off with a press of the accelerator. Zhang Zixi stood there, chuckling. When Qiao Nanchu arrived at Fusheng Inn, it was almost dinner time. Jiang Zhi poured half a cup of milk into a cup, pushed it toward Zhou Xufang, then looked up and exchanged a glance with him, ¡°You¡¯re late.¡± Qiao Nanchu pulled up a chair to sit down, flipping the wineglass right side up, ¡°So, how many drinks for my penalty?¡± ¡°Judge for yourself.¡± Jiang Zhi handed the menu to the waiter, ¡°Is my girlfriend¡¯s soup ready? If it is, bring it over first.¡± He was worried about Zhou Xufang getting hungry. The waiter quickly agreed. Qiao Nanchu poured three glasses of ¡°white,¡± sat down, and leisurely consumed them one by one, his demeanor¡­ Xue Baoyi had always thought he was the most ¡°cultured¡± scoundrel among them. He kicked the scoundrel¡¯s chair, ¡°Speak.¡± After three glasses of white wine, Qiao Nanchu didn¡¯t even blink, ¡°Speak about what?¡± ¡°About your ex-girlfriend.¡± His interest faded, ¡°That was ages ago, there¡¯s nothing to talk about.¡± Listen to that nonchalant tone! ¡°If a woman dared to cheat on me, I¡¯d break her legs, yet you¡¯re so generous, even being chased by her afterwards.¡± As a brother, he was frustrated, ¡°If I were you, I¡¯d wreck her car to bits.¡± Qiao Nanchu dated Zhang Zixi for two months, and they broke up because she was caught cheating. Qiao Nanchu poured a cup of tea, took a sip, ¡°You¡¯re like a three-year-old, talking about wrecking things to bits, seems like you want to end up in jail.¡± That same indifferent attitude! Xue Baoyi couldn¡¯t stand Qiao Nanchu¡¯s attitude, as if the sky could fall and it wouldn¡¯t affect him. Like when Zhang Zixi cheated on him, wouldn¡¯t a normal person¡¯s reaction be to first kill the cheating guy? But not Qiao Nanchu¡ªhe calmly sized up the guy and then made a very objective assessment, ¡°Those abs are pretty ugly.¡± The guy was so embarrassed his face turned green. Xue Baoyi humphed, feeling uncomfortable, and blurted out, ¡°I think you just can¡¯t let go of that trashy girl. Men can hardly forget their first love, like Brother Zhi is still hung up on¡ª¡± Crash! Zhou Xufang¡¯s spoon dropped to the floor. The broad beans Jiang Zhi was peeling also dropped. Xue Baoyi¡¯s right eyelid began to twitch. ¡°Jiang Zhi,¡± Zhou Xufang picked up the spoon, cleaned, and put it away, ¡°I need to go to the restroom.¡± Jiang Zhi stood up, ¡°I¡¯ll take you there.¡± Passing by Xue Baoyi, he left a sentence with a deadly look in his peach blossom eyes that lost its charm, ¡°We¡¯ll settle this later.¡± One after the other, the couple left. Xue Baoyi took a deep breath, resigned, ¡°That look in Brother Zhi¡¯s eyes, like he wants to kill me.¡± Qiao Nanchu spread his hands, lounging back in the chair with a lazy attitude, ¡°Any last words, say them.¡± ¡°Die together like brothers.¡± ¡°Get lost, who¡¯s your brother, I don¡¯t even know you that well.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Outside the private room, Zhou Xufang squatted by the wall, back facing Jiang Zhi, presenting only the back of her head to him. Jiang Zhi squatted opposite her, ¡°Not going to the restroom?¡± She jerked her head away, refusing to look at him, and even pulled on her hoodie¡¯s cap, squatting there like a sulky blob, ¡°Your friend is inside, I came out here to be jealous, it wouldn¡¯t be polite inside.¡± Jiang Zhi was amused by her. She was irritated, ¡°You¡¯re still laughing.¡± ¡°Alright, no more laughing.¡± His mouth stopped laughing, but his eyes still were. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t want to bother with him anymore and shifted away. Jiang Zhi moved closer, bringing his handsome face below her eyes, intentionally tempting her with his coquettish dimples. She moved again. He moved too. Fine, she stopped moving, ¡°I have a question for you, and you can¡¯t lie.¡± Occasionally, passersby came and went. Jiang Zhi pulled out a face mask and put it on her, ¡°What do you want to know?¡± Puffed up like a pufferfish, she fiercely asked Jiang Zhi, ¡°How many girlfriends have you had?¡± Trying to sound fierce, like a little leopard that hasn¡¯t grown its teeth yet. Jiang Zhi looked at her wanting to kiss. He just leaned in, his lips hadn¡¯t touched her forehead yet when she dodged, not letting him kiss. Jiang Zhi chuckled, ¡°Just you.¡± She covered the only part of her head sticking out of the mask, ¡°What about boyfriends?¡± Still not letting him kiss. Jiang Zhi directly pressed his lips against the back of her hand. Chapter 119 - Chapter 119: 119: Jiang Zhi Coaxes Wife, Truth Behind Luo Familys Great Fire Chapter 119: 119: Jiang Zhi Coaxes Wife, Truth Behind Luo Family¡¯s Great Fire Jiang Zhi pressed his lips directly against the back of her hand. This move was very effective, she froze like a block of wood, completely still. Taking advantage of her stillness, Jiang Zhi moved her hand away and kissed her hot forehead, saying, ¡°No.¡± Then he kissed her again, ¡°No boyfriend, no girlfriend, only you.¡± With just those pecks, she became as flustered as if she¡¯d caught fire, her face and ears turning red. She was stunned for a moment, then crouched down and scurried toward a secluded corner of the wall. Turning her head and seeing Jiang Zhi with his chin resting on his hand, still watching her without having moved, she returned and dragged him to the same corner as well. This way, passersby couldn¡¯t see them. She scolded him, calling him shameless! The shameless Jiang Zhi laughed, his canines showing. She wasn¡¯t soothed yet, and still angry, said, ¡°You lied to me, Mr. Xue said you had a first love.¡± This wasn¡¯t something that could be concealed, and Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t intend to hide it. ¡°Consider it a first love.¡± He took Zhou Xufang¡¯s hand into his, held it, and told her, ¡°He was a boy, I was sixteen then, and he was fourteen.¡± He revealed no emotion to her, his tone as ordinary as it could be. The first important point Zhou Xufang picked up on was¡ªJiang Zhi¡¯s first love was a boy, and she was frustrated: ¡°Is it because of him that you came out?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?? Jiang Zhi admitted, ¡°Yes.¡± She was so jealous she could die, ¡°Hmph, so it was him who turned you!¡± ¡°It¡¯s you who¡¯s turned me back, isn¡¯t it?¡± Jiang Zhi chuckled, reaching out to touch her head. She wouldn¡¯t let him, jumping back. She also picked up on the second important point, ¡°You were in young love!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t run.¡± Jiang Zhi pulled her over and held her in his arms, his chin rubbing against the hat on the top of her head, ¡°I didn¡¯t even get the chance to be in a relationship before he was gone.¡± His voice sounded a bit weak. And somewhat suppressed. Zhou Xufang immediately stopped moving, asked tentatively, and with caution, ¡°He¡¯s gone?¡± ¡°Yeah, he burned to death.¡± The matter-of-fact statement erased all the jealousy in Zhou Xufang¡¯s belly and the minor moodiness between her brows. She understood that this boy, must not be brought up; Jiang Zhi would be saddened. ¡°I¡¯m not angry anymore.¡± She looked up at him with her finger gently poking Jiang Zhi¡¯s furrowed brow, ¡°Don¡¯t be upset.¡± He smiled. He liked her too much, far too much. He caught her hand and kissed her fingertips, ¡°So, Fang Bao, you need to stay well and always be with me, understand?¡± She nodded vigorously, her tone very serious, ¡°Jiang Zhi, I will live a long life, and you must too.¡± Jiang Zhi said okay, then caught her and kissed her. She didn¡¯t avoid him anymore, they were intimate for a long time before returning to their private room. Xue Baoyi had sharp eyes, ¡®yo¡¯ she called out, teasingly scolding Jiang Zhi as a little beast, to which Jiang Zhi kicked her and told her to get lost. Zhou Xufang internally retorted to Mr. Xue that Jiang Zhi was not a little beast; he was just a bit bad, a great guy! She felt so much sympathy for Jiang Zhi, so she gave him all the best braised pork to eat. At the end of the meal, Zhou Xufang gave Qiao Nanchu and Xue Bingxue gifts along with her sincerest wishes¡ªfor a long life. She now felt that wishing for a long life was the best blessing. After lunch, they were supposed to go to the entertainment city together, but in the parking lot, Qiao Nanchu received a call. ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°Who is it?¡± Qiao Nanchu didn¡¯t speak again; after listening for a while, he turned to Xue Baoyi and said, ¡°Get me a designated driver.¡± He had drunk and couldn¡¯t drive. Xue Baoyi casually asked, ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°No time to explain.¡± Qiao Nanchu opened the car door and got into the passenger seat. Without delay, Xue Baoyi immediately fetched a manager from the Fusheng Inn. ¡°I have an emergency, gotta go.¡± With that, Qiao Nanchu turned to urge the driver, ¡°Drive faster.¡± The lobby manager, hastily recruited to be the designated driver, stepped on the gas and the car sped away. Xue Baoyi watched the departing taillights and clicked his tongue, ¡°With Nanchu¡¯s demeanor, even if the sky fell, he¡¯d first light a cigarette. I wonder who called him to get such a reaction.¡± Xue Bingxue also felt it was unusual. Qiao Nanchu was truly indifferent, unbendingly so except towards a few old friends; the people and matters that could truly catch his eye were few and far between. Xue Baoyi speculated, ¡°Couldn¡¯t have been his ex-girlfriend, could it?¡± Probably not. On tiptoe, Zhou Xufang whispered into Jiang Zhi¡¯s ear, ¡°The person on the phone, they didn¡¯t say anything.¡± Not speaking¡­ Jiang Zhi knew who it was. The car arrived at Jiajing Garden. Qiao Nanchu got out of the car and ran directly to the third floor without knocking. He stood at the door and sent a text message. ¡°Open the door.¡± It was freezing cold outside, but there was a thin sweat on his forehead. He pursed his lips, feeling the urge to smoke. He waited nearly half a minute before the door opened. As he was about to get a cigarette out of the pack, he put it back in his pocket and looked up. The first thing he saw was the excessively pale neck of the girl, standing leaning on the door, her eyes moist, lips slightly parted. ¡°Brother Chu¡­¡± This was the first sentence of lip-reading Wen Baiyang had learned and the three words she could imitate most accurately. ¡°Do you want to leave Da Mai Mountain?¡± ¡°Call me brother and I¡¯ll take you away.¡± When they first met, the rhododendrons on Da Mai Mountain were in full bloom across the hills, and he insisted she call him brother as he gave her one. But she couldn¡¯t even speak. Still, he brought her from Da Mai Mountain to Imperial City. Qiao Nanchu entered the room: ¡°Where do you feel uncomfortable?¡± Standing barefoot on the carpet, she used sign language to tell him she had severe stomach pain. ¡°Why aren¡¯t your shoes on?¡± After saying ¡®excuse me,¡¯ he bent down and picked her up. She didn¡¯t dare to move in his embrace, her eyes bloodshot, cold sweat dampening her hair, not knowing where to place her hands, she awkwardly clutched at his sleeve. He didn¡¯t bother with slippers but carried her to the sofa, touched her forehead, and it was burning hot: ¡°Where are your clothes?¡± She pointed to the bedroom. Because she got up in a hurry, she was only wearing pajamas and had broken out into a cold sweat, leaving her body ice-cold. Qiao Nanchu went into the room and got a sweater and coat for her. Located at a high altitude, Wen Baiyang¡¯s rosy cheeks from Da Mai Mountain were quite noticeable when she first arrived in Imperial City, but over the years, they had nearly faded away. Now with a fever, her little face had lost all color, looking extremely pale. Her face was round, and her eyes were round too, showing a hint of naivety when she looked at people. But now she was ill, her expression lethargic, her eyes devoid of vitality, as she curled up on the sofa, her consciousness a bit blurred. Qiao Nanchu brushed the sweaty hair off her face: ¡°Can you dress yourself?¡± She tried to raise her hand. But it was limp, lacking any strength, and after several attempts, she couldn¡¯t even get her hand through the sleeve. Qiao Nanchu simply picked her up from the sofa, told her to stay still and not to move, as he began to dress her himself. Having never taken care of anyone before, his movements, though gentle, were still somewhat rough, and it took quite a while to finally get the sweater and coat on her. Picking up the blanket from the sofa, he wrapped it around her head: ¡°To the hospital, huh?¡± Wen Baiyang nodded, her mind foggy. By the end, her consciousness was no longer clear, vaguely seeing him urging the driver, saying, ¡°Drive faster, faster¡­¡± He said, ¡°Hang in there, just hang in there and it¡¯ll be okay¡­¡± It was acute appendicitis, and surgery was needed. Qiao Nanchu signed the consent form for the surgery, acting as the patient¡¯s ¡®brother¡¯, and strictly speaking, he really was her ¡®brother.¡¯ Wen Baiyang¡¯s biological mother, Wen Ya, was a young woman who had come down from Da Mai Mountain, only a little over a decade older than Qiao Nanchu, and had married his father five years ago as a second wife. Before that, Wen Ya had never been married; Wen Baiyang was the result of a premarital pregnancy. Her father was a close relative, which caused Wen Baiyang to be born with a disability and abandoned on Da Mai Mountain, living with her grandmother. Wen Ya was like a parasitic vine, at least on the surface, sometimes crying in nine out of ten sentences. Qiao Nanchu rarely contacted his young stepmother so that when Wen Ya received his call, she was surprised: ¡°Nanchu?¡± Her tone sounded uncertain. ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± His attitude was as cold as ever. At that moment, his father¡¯s voice came from the other end of the phone. ¡°Who is it?¡± Wen Ya replied in a soft, delicate voice: ¡°It¡¯s Nanchu.¡± When she continued on the phone, her tone became even gentler, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Why are you calling at this hour? Have you had lunch?¡± She was offering warmth, almost like a caring mother. Qiao Nanchu couldn¡¯t be bothered with pretense: ¡°Your daughter is sick, in the hospital.¡± She started crying instantly: ¡°Is it serious? Is it dangerous?¡± ¡°Acute appendicitis.¡± Qiao Nanchu looked at the operation room¡¯s door, the light on, his eyes cool as autumn frost, ¡°You were a nurse, so you know how to take care of patients¡ªI don¡¯t need to tell you. Make some soup tomorrow and come to the hospital to take care of her, and if you want to act as a loving mother in front of my father, then at least do a convincing job.¡± Having finished speaking, he hung up the phone. A loving mother? Would a loving mother leave her biological daughter in the mountains, unheard from and uncared for, for over a dozen years? Wen Baiyang didn¡¯t wake up until three p.m., but Qiao Nanchu hadn¡¯t left; he was sitting by the bed. ¡°Brother Chu.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Qiao Nanchu didn¡¯t understand sign language, but he could read those three words. However, in the girl¡¯s second year in Imperial City, he had learned a bit of sign language. Using sign language, Wen Baiyang said, ¡°Sorry for taking up your time.¡± She didn¡¯t have anyone else to contact; when the pain was bad enough to make her roll on the floor, he was the first one she thought of. Qiao Nanchu spoke more slowly than usual, ¡°I¡¯m off today, not busy.¡± She gestured her thanks to him, then stopped bothering him, lying down quietly, watching him. Qiao Nanchu read emails on his phone for a while, then lifted his head; those round eyes were still fixed on him, ¡°Not sleeping?¡± She shook her head, saying the incision was too painful to sleep. He threw his phone on the cabinet next to the hospital bed, freeing his hands; he clumsily stroked her head, patting it twice, ¡°Endure it, it¡¯ll stop hurting if you endure.¡± He really wasn¡¯t good at comforting people. When Wen Baiyang first arrived in Imperial City and didn¡¯t know sign language, he wasn¡¯t a patient man; his writing was fast but messy. ¡°You can stay here for now.¡± He settled her in a big house. He didn¡¯t live there, and before leaving, he gave her many instructions. ¡°The lady who cooks will come during the day.¡± ¡°The school has been contacted, you¡¯ll report in three days.¡± He tore another post-it note, writing a string of numbers for her, ¡°This is my number, call me if you need anything. But I often have training and may not always get the call. If it¡¯s urgent, ask the lady who cooks.¡± His handwriting was flamboyant. She struggled to read it. He must have just graduated from the police academy, still wearing his uniform, explaining everything before he left. It took all her courage to dare to grab the strap of his backpack. He turned around to meet the timid eyes of the little girl; indeed, a little girl¡ªfourteen years old and only as tall as his chest, thin and small. ¡°Scared?¡± Scared. In this strange city, she only knew him. She nodded. He smiled, patting her shoulder, ¡°Endure it, you¡¯ll stop being scared if you endure.¡± He always said that, endure it, and it will get better. There was only one time when he didn¡¯t comfort her that way. That was her first menstrual period, which turned into a complete mess with the bedding and pants all soiled; she was confused and scared, tears streaming down. ¡°What are you crying for?¡± Her shoulders were shaking as she cried, and he took a tissue, roughly wiping away her tears. ¡°It¡¯s not a terminal illness. All girls go through this.¡± Finally, he awkwardly shoved a pack of sanitary pads to her, then slammed the door as he left. In the evening, he returned, threw a book on female biology at her, and again slammed the door as he left. That year, Qiao Nanchu was twenty, Wen Baiyang only fourteen. Qiao Nanchu didn¡¯t leave the hospital until after five. By six o¡¯clock, the Weibo server had crashed. Up-and-coming male celebrity Xiao Linsu announced his withdrawal from public life. At the press conference, his manager was absent, and even the agency had no representative present. Faced with various questions from reporters, Xiao Linsu only explained, ¡°Tired, just want to rest.¡± The news was everywhere; the man in question, however, was no longer to be seen, as if he had evaporated from the world. At quarter past six, Jiang Zhi received a call from Qiao Nanchu. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± As darkness fell and the chill deepened, Jiang Zhi lay on a small daybed, covered by a thin blanket, with medicine that had just been brought in set on the table to cool. ¡°Captain Cheng called,¡± said Qiao Nanchu succinctly, ¡°just as you expected.¡± The men¡¯s watch was a limited edition, traceable to the identity of the purchaser. Among them was Luo Changde. Jiang Zhi rose from his daybed, carrying the medicine over to the window and pouring the dark liquid into the planter. He said, ¡°We can make the arrest now.¡± At six-thirty, the Criminal Investigation Team set out to take someone from the Luo Family. In the Luo family study, Luo Huaiyu smashed a cup of tea and picked up a cane on the desk to strike down on the back of his eldest son. ¡°You worthless thing! How could our Luo family have spawned such a beast!¡± With that cane strike, Luo Changde¡¯s legs buckled, and he knelt on the ground, sweating with pain. Gritting his teeth, he leaned on the desk to stand up. ¡°Like dragon sire dragon, like phoenix sire phoenix, Dad, how do you think I was born?¡± ¡°You¡ª¡± Luo Huaiyu trembled with fury, raising the cane again. ¡°Grandfather.¡± Luo Qinghe stepped forward and caught the cane. ¡°Leave this matter to me.¡± Luo Huaiyu glared venomously at his eldest son before relenting. Leaning on his cane, he left the study, leaving behind a single sentence for his granddaughter. ¡°Remember, our Luo family must not be implicated.¡± Luo Qinghe answered, ¡°I know.¡± Once the old man left the study, she closed the door, and her expression suddenly changed. ¡°I¡¯ve already taken care of that woman for you, why did you feel the need to silence her?¡± Luo Changde moved his back, feeling the painful burn. Bloodshot eyes filled with resentment. ¡°Only dead people can¡¯t talk. Money is only a temporary solution.¡± Luo Qinghe folded her arms. ¡°Well then, you made the mess, you clean it up.¡± Luo Changde sneered. He sat down and poured himself a cup of tea, confident and composed, ¡°I pushed Jiang Zhi into the sea for whom, do you think?¡± He scoffed and took a sip of tea to rinse his mouth. ¡°Do I need to remind you how that fire started eight years ago?¡± Her face changed drastically with those words. Luo Changde tugged at the corner of his mouth, smiling as he looked at the daughter most like him. ¡°Dear daughter, don¡¯t make me wait too long at the police station.¡± Her hands clenched as her eyes gradually darkened. At that moment. A servant at the doorway said, ¡°Miss, the police have come.¡± At eight o¡¯clock, Luo Changde was detained by the police. At half-past eight, Zhou Xufang was still out delivering takeaways. She had to get back by nine to video chat with Jiang Zhi; this was her last order, and the buyer¡¯s address was on Tianjing Road. Previously, she and Jiang Zhi had delivered takeout there once. She knew the route well. The construction site across the street was hustling through the night, and the residential area was relatively quiet. She went to the third floor, knocked on the door, and called out, ¡°306, your takeaway.¡± A man inside replied, ¡°Just a moment.¡± Soon after, someone came to open the door. Zhou Xufang, wearing a mask and a delivery cap, asked, ¡°Mr. Jiang?¡± The man, in his forties, looked her over. He wore a gray cotton jacket on top and only pajama bottoms below, seemingly intrigued by the novelty of a female delivery person, he scrutinized her for a long while before saying, ¡°That¡¯s me.¡± Zhou Xufang handed over the bag. ¡°Your porridge.¡± The man, with a licentious gaze, took it and smiled at her, ¡°Thanks, little sister.¡± Flippant. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t like such people. Not even bothering to ask for a good review, she turned to leave. Just as she reached the stairwell, her steps suddenly halted. What was that smell? She took a sniff and sniffed deeply again. Like the stench of blood¡­ Following the scent, she moved further inside and stopped in front of a door that was left unlocked. Gently pushing it open, she was right at the ventilator, where the strong smell of blood assailed her senses. Her foot had just stepped inside when she saw the blood on the floor and the woman lying in a pool of it. She looked around briefly and, composedly, took out her phone to report to the police: ¡°Hello officer, I¡¯d like to report a crime.¡± At the police station. Due to Luo Changde¡¯s case, the entire Criminal Investigation Team had not clocked out, interrogating through the night. ¡°Has he confessed?¡± Captain Qiao entered from outside, still with a cigarette in his mouth. The guy sure was addicted to smoking. Captain Cheng of the Criminal Investigation Team hadn¡¯t had dinner yet, cramming a piece of bread into his mouth: ¡°We¡¯ve questioned him four times, he hasn¡¯t uttered a word.¡± He cursed with a laugh, ¡°Just now, that beast rolled his eyes back and feigned unconsciousness, we¡¯ve sent him to the infirmary.¡± Captain Qiao extinguished his cigarette and pulled up a chair to sit. ¡°A few kicks will make him behave.¡± This hooligan cop! Captain Cheng took a sip of water and teased him, ¡°Captain Qiao, forcing a confession is illegal.¡± Chapter 120 - Chapter 120: 120: Fang Baos superpower exposed, Luo Sans identity exposed Chapter 120: 120: Fang Bao¡¯s superpower exposed, Luo San¡¯s identity exposed ¡°Captain Qiao, forcing a confession is illegal.¡± ¡°Forcing a confession?¡± He fiddled with a lighter in his hands, smiling coldly. ¡°Who saw? Any evidence?¡± Captain Cheng was speechless. It¡¯s good that this guy hadn¡¯t joined the Criminal Investigation Team considering he disregarded regulations and norms. The Qiao Family was a prestigious family, the late Mrs. Qiao was from a scholarly family, yet it was a wonder how such a non-conformist was raised in their midst. There was something undeniably rogue about him, hard to say whom he took after. ¡°Captain, we¡¯ve received a report.¡± A colleague in the team hung up the phone and said, ¡°Number 38, Tianjing Road, there¡¯s been a murder.¡± Around nine o¡¯clock, Jiang Zhi received a phone call from Nanchu Qiao. He was brief and to the point, saying, ¡°Come to the police station.¡± Jiang Zhi glanced at the time. It was almost nine, and he was supposed to video call Zhou Xufang. He cleared his throat, sounding listless and weak. ¡°I¡¯m frail, not going out.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï How feeble! This guy really thought he was Lin Daiyu, Nanchu Qiao couldn¡¯t stand his nonsense, ¡°Your wife is here, are you coming or not?¡± Hearing this, Jiang Zhi sat up from his daybed, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Gone was his previously sickly demeanor; his tone was urgent. Nanchu Qiao¡¯s interest was piqued, and he continued to ramble with wide eyes, ¡°She¡¯s gotten into trouble.¡± Among them, Jiang Zhi was the most scheming. Now, even this casual joke seemed to have fooled him; his mind must have been blocked by the words ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± He even said, ¡°Tell her not to confess, wait for me to handle it.¡± His tone was serious, certainly not joking. He was probably planning how to ¡®exonerate¡¯ Zhou Xufang in his mind. Nanchu Qiao became curious, ¡°Tell me, how do you plan to handle it? Will you frame someone else or destroy the evidence?¡± In any case, it wouldn¡¯t be anything aboveboard. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t say more, grabbed his car keys, and walked out: ¡°Let Zhou Xufang take the call.¡± Nanchu Qiao cursed him ¡®Scoundrel¡¯ and, holding back a laugh, said, ¡°Without probing a bit, you really think you¡¯re above the law, huh?¡± Scoundrel! Jiang Zhi cursed him back. ¡°Don¡¯t joke about Zhou Xufang; I can¡¯t afford to.¡± Nanchu Qiao realized this guy was under his girlfriend¡¯s thumb. Switching to serious tones, he said, ¡°There¡¯s been a murder at Tianjing Road, and your girlfriend is the one who reported it.¡± Jiang Zhi got into his car and put on his Bluetooth headset, ¡°Hand the phone to Zhou Xufang.¡± Soon after, the joyful voice of a young girl came through on the phone, ¡°Jiang Zhi~¡± Jiang Zhi adjusted the Bluetooth headset¡¯s volume, steering with one hand as he backed the car out, questioning Zhou Xufang, ¡°Have they taken your statement?¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± As the car left the parking spot, Jiang Zhi floored the accelerator, driving fast, and asked again, ¡°Was the person taking your statement harsh? Did they bully you?¡± Listening on speaker was Nanchu Qiao: ¡°¡­¡± This prick, what does he think our police are! Zhou Xufang detailed everything, saying, ¡°No, that guy was very nice, even gave me instant noodles.¡± Hearing this, Jiang Zhi fumed, ¡°They only gave you instant noodles?¡± Zhou Xufang, ¡°No, there were also some ham and duck necks.¡± Nanchu Qiao couldn¡¯t listen anymore, grabbed his cigarettes and lighter, and went out to smoke. Zhou Xufang then turned off the speakerphone, telling Jiang Zhi how tasty the duck necks and ham were. ¡°Once we¡¯re home, I¡¯ll buy you some.¡± Set aside duck necks and ham for a moment, Jiang Zhi asked her, ¡°Did you go to Tianjing Road to deliver food again?¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± In this perilous world, danger lurked everywhere. Yet he couldn¡¯t stop her from working. Jiang Zhi thought for a moment. ¡°Tomorrow come to the set with me; you can be an extra.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be at the police station soon; have Nanchu find you a place to rest until I get there.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± After Zhou Xufang agreed, she inquired, ¡°Are you driving?¡± Jiang Zhi hummed a confirmation, turned the steering wheel sharply, and the car entered the highway. He was driving fast, the wind blowing fiercely through the windows, Zhou Xufang could even hear it. How could he drive so fast! ¡°Drive a bit slower,¡± she immediately recited the traffic slogan, ¡°There are countless roads but safety comes first; driving carelessly brings loved ones to tears.¡± ¡°¡­It¡¯s not that fast.¡± ¡°Stop making calls and concentrate on driving.¡± After that, Zhou Xufang directly hung up the phone. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Forget it, just drive slower. It was already late at night, and no one from the Criminal Investigation Team had left work since they had just returned from the crime scene and were working on the case report. ¡°The victim, Chen Li, was twenty-six years old, female, and worked as a bartender.¡± A few photos from the scene were posted on a mobile whiteboard, along with a few bullet points. Vice Captain Xing marked the key points with a pen and continued, ¡°The autopsy report hasn¡¯t come out yet, but from the scene photos, it appears to be a homicide. There¡¯s no sign of any disturbance inside the house, so we can probably rule out robbery. Moreover, the door lock is intact, and there are no signs of struggle, so it¡¯s very likely that the perpetrator was an acquaintance.¡± ¡°The wound is clean; the murderer is likely male.¡± Captain Cheng asked, ¡°What about the murder weapon?¡± Vice Captain Xing pointed to a photo: ¡°It should be this fruit knife, which has already been sent to the forensic department for analysis.¡± Neither the forensic nor forensic investigations had produced results yet, and there were currently no breakthroughs. Captain Cheng tapped the table thoughtfully and began to assign tasks: ¡°Zhwen, you take a team to visit the apartment complex where the crime occurred, see if there¡¯s been anything unusual lately, or if the victim had any feuds.¡± ¡°Xiao Zhong, you go to the bar where the victim worked.¡± ¡°Gangzi, check the victim¡¯s personal accounts, call records, and social relationships.¡± ¡°Zhang Wen, you continue with Luo Changde¡¯s case.¡± After giving the instructions, Captain Cheng stood up, waved his hand to signal that everyone could leave: ¡°Alright, let¡¯s call it a day.¡± After ensuring everything was arranged, he remembered someone else, ¡°Nanchu, help me take the person who reported the crime back.¡± ¡°No need,¡± Qiao Nanchu tilted his chin towards the door, ¡°The family of the person who reported it has arrived.¡± Zhou Xufang immediately stood up from his chair: ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± He walked quickly, bringing a gust of wind in: ¡°Were you scared?¡± ¡°No.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s delivery helmet was still on the table. Jiang Zhi took the helmet in one hand and held her hand with the other, saying, ¡°I¡¯m taking her away.¡± Captain Cheng agreed. Qiao Nanchu glanced at Jiang Zhi: ¡°I sent my car for repairs, give me a lift.¡± He took out his phone, dialed a number: ¡°Lin Wanwan, come to the police station.¡± After hanging up, he told Qiao Nanchu, ¡°I¡¯ve called a driver for you.¡± Qiao Nanchu: ¡°Get lost.¡± Jiang Zhi walked away holding his girlfriend¡¯s hand. The car was parked quite far away, and they had to walk a bit, Zhou Xufang being led, her mind wandering. It was cold at night, Jiang Zhi put the helmet on her and wrapped his scarf around her neck: ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± ¡°The case.¡± ¡°Let the police worry about the case.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t think so, she was serious, very stern: ¡°Building a harmonious society is everyone¡¯s responsibility.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Ever since she started watching TV dramas, her vocabulary had not only expanded significantly, but it had also opened many new worlds for her. Good, she had become much more outgoing than before, and not as scared of people. Jiang Zhi then asked, ¡°So, what have you figured out?¡± She showed him a secretly snapped photo of the victim on her phone: ¡°Is it her? The customer who flirted with you last time.¡± Jiang Zhi glanced at it and recognized her: ¡°It¡¯s her.¡± ¡°I overheard her talking on the phone, talking about a homicide; this victim said she had disposed of the body and was asking a Mr. Han to pay her.¡± She asked Jiang Zhi, ¡°Could she have been killed by this Mr. Han?¡± Before Jiang Zhi could respond, she began to speculate, her speech speed and tone mimicking that of a detective drama character: ¡°They were plotting something big, and after it was done, Mr. Han, afraid of leaks, murdered the victim to silence her.¡± Jiang Zhi caressed her cheek, praising: ¡°Your analysis makes a lot of sense.¡± Having been complimented, Zhou Xufang was naturally excited: ¡°That¡¯s how they do it in TV dramas.¡± ¡°What you heard, I will pass on to Nanchu, let the police investigate it,¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s hands rested on her yellow helmet, looking into her eyes, ¡°Detective Zhou Xufang, first tell me, how did you overhear the victim¡¯s phone call?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Crap, I¡¯ve said too much. Zhou Xufang was clearly not good at lying, her eyes darting around, and after a long pause, she whispered softly, ¡°I heard it from outside.¡± ¡°You were downstairs at the time.¡± Three floors, does she have super-hearing or what? Zhou Xufang lowered her head, tilting her helmet: ¡°I have good hearing.¡± Jiang Zhi wouldn¡¯t let her dodge, holding her chin and lifting her face: ¡°How good?¡± I can¡¯t make up any more¡­ Zhou Xufang decided to come clean and ask for leniency. How good was her hearing? She needed an example, so she focused intensely, pricking up her ears to listen to the sounds from all directions. Moreover, she mimicked exactly, reciting a small segment verbatim. ¡°What is this?¡± It was a man¡¯s voice, which she imitated quite realistically. ¡°Lipstick, what else could it be?¡± That was a woman¡¯s voice. A conversation between a man and a woman, Zhou Xufang played both roles: for the man, she stood on the left and deepened her voice, for the woman, she stood on the right and pinched her voice to mimic. She imitated the woman: ¡°Whose lipstick is this?¡± Imitated the man: ¡°Isn¡¯t it yours?¡± Imitated the woman: ¡°No, it¡¯s not.¡± Imitated the man: ¡°Then someone must have left it behind by accident,¡± The climax arrived, emotions exploded! ¡°Perhaps someone left it behind on purpose.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°You know what I mean.¡± ¡°My intuition doesn¡¯t tell me anything, Liu Tong, stop making baseless accusations.¡± ¡°Stop the car.¡± ¡°We¡¯re on a major road, that¡¯s enough.¡± ¡°Stop the car!¡± As Zhou Xufang yelled furiously, With a hiss, a car on the road opposite her and Jiang Zhi came to a sudden halt, and a woman in a black down jacket got out from the passenger side. ¡°Wang Zhongliang, you really have no class, daring to let another woman leave lipstick in your car and not having the guts to admit it,¡± the woman said with red eyes, sarcastically berating her boyfriend, ¡°That¡¯s all you¡¯re capable of.¡± Her boyfriend stayed in the car, not getting out, cursing and swearing. ¡°What are you freaking out about, which eye of yours saw me with another woman?¡± ¡°And you want to argue with me about this! Can¡¯t feel comfortable without a quarrel, huh?¡± ¡°Sicko!¡± After cursing, the man drove off, leaving the woman behind. She stood by the roadside for a while, crouched down, and cried. It was the couple arguing, and the dialogue Zhou Xufang had recited was the content of their argument, which lasted at least half a minute. Even if the car was moving slowly, the voice was still hundreds of meters away, at night with the wind and the noise of traffic. ¡°You could hear all that?¡± Jiang Zhi found it unbelievable. Zhou Xufang nodded: ¡°Yeah,¡± she said, ¡°I need to concentrate to hear it.¡± Then, she concentrated again, continued to listen, and kept repeating. ¡°Liu Wenhui, what exactly do you mean, placing the lipstick in my car, did you intentionally want my wife to find it?¡± Zhou Xufang imitated the man¡¯s words seriously and accurately, ¡°Didn¡¯t we agree to just have fun, not to expose anything, are you playing me now?¡± The car had already gone quite far, yet she could still hear. ¡°This is pointless¡ª¡± Jiang Zhi interrupted her: ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± Oh. She stopped and looked at Jiang Zhi. He was also looking at her, his eyes as if studded with sparkling stars, bright and fiery. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Her two hands clenched, nervously fidgeting with her fingers: ¡°Am I like a little monster?¡± Her eyelashes trembled rapidly, showing a mix of fear, nervousness, and dejection. She wore her anxiety and unrest on her face and in her eyes. Jiang Zhi slightly bent down, making his gaze level with hers: ¡°Why a little monster?¡± She said: ¡°I¡¯m different from others.¡± Her voice very low. She was afraid, even felt inferior. Jiang Zhi could tell; she disliked her uncommon self, blamed herself, attributing all the intolerance of others to herself. She described herself as a little monster. Jiang Zhi straightened her askew helmet, exposing her face: ¡°Have you watched any fairy or martial arts TV shows?¡± She nodded, ¡°I¡¯ve seen it.¡± ¡°It might not be a monster,¡± he covered her head with his hand, knocked on her helmet making a clanging sound, and said, ¡°Zhou Xufang, you might be a fairy from the heavens, come down to experience tribulations, and because the seal was broken, you now have boundless mana.¡± He was talking nonsense. Zhou Xufang laughed. ¡°Jiang Zhi, there are no fairies in this world.¡± Although she loved watching TV dramas, she also knew there were many fictional elements in them, and she didn¡¯t believe in fairies. Jiang Zhi poked her face, creating a small dimple on her right cheek, ¡°Then how don¡¯t you understand? There are no monsters in the world, only humans blinded by evil thoughts.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t quite understand. ¡°Even if it¡¯s really a monster,¡± Jiang Zhi smiled, his eyes spilling with soft light, ¡°Lord Black Impermanence, I have a long life ahead, and I will love the little monster for a long time.¡± Lord Black Impermanence did not fully understand his words, but he caught the last sentence, Jiang Zhi said he would love her for a long time. That was enough for her; she wasn¡¯t greedy. Whether or not there were fairies or monsters, or whether people¡¯s eyes were blinded, she didn¡¯t care anymore because Jiang Zhi had her in his eyes. She had never felt so content before, as if she had gained the whole world, obtained all the beautiful stars in the sky. She smiled, her eyes curving, she put on her hoodie and tiptoed to put on Jiang Zhi¡¯s, ¡°The little monster wants to kiss you, lower your head.¡± Jiang Zhi lowered his head. She tiptoed, carefully kissing him. The next day, it rained, and the temperature in Imperial City was too low, turning the raindrops into ice, dripping sounded. At eight in the morning, Tang Xiang drove to the nursing home. The nurse, Xiao Qu, just came out of the ward, saw her, and greeted with a smile, ¡°Miss Tang is here.¡± ¡°How is my mom¡¯s mental state today?¡± ¡°Early in the morning she asked me for paper and pen, saying she wanted to write.¡± After a brief chat, Tang Xiang put her umbrella in the rack and pushed the door into the ward. ¡°Mom.¡± Ms. He was kneeling on a foam mat on the floor, buttocks in the air while writing something, then she looked up and waved at Tang Xiang, ¡°Luo San come quickly, Aunt Xiu is teaching you how to write.¡± She didn¡¯t recognize people again, usually, she talked the most about Luo San. Tang Xiang patiently explained, ¡°It¡¯s me, Mom, I¡¯m Xiangxiang, not Luo San.¡± Ms. He grabbed her hand, pulled her over, and looked around, ¡°Shush, keep your voice down, don¡¯t let them hear you talking.¡± Tang Xiang didn¡¯t have the strength to explain further and let her ramble. Ms. He suddenly jumped up, startled, ¡°Where¡¯s your necklace?¡± ¡°What necklace?¡± Ms. He didn¡¯t specify which necklace, sitting on the foam mat, she shook her head and mumbled to herself. ¡°Where¡¯s the necklace?¡± ¡°That was given by your mom; you can¡¯t lose it.¡± ¡°The necklace has a name.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Her speech was disjointed and Ms. He murmured for a while. It was all gibberish that Tang Xiang didn¡¯t understand. Her eyes caught the notebook on the floor, written neatly, in Ms. He¡¯s handwriting. She filled up a page with just two words: ¡ª Xu Fang. Tang Xiang picked up the notebook, ¡°What is this?¡± Ms. He swayed her head, smiling like a child, ¡°It¡¯s your name.¡± ¡°What¡¯s my name?¡± Ms. He paused, tilting her head watching her for a while, then recognized her, ¡°You¡¯re Xiangxiang.¡± She smiled happily then seemingly dissatisfied, complained, ¡°Why did you come back so late?¡± Tang Xiang opened the notebook, showed her clearly, ¡°Mom, first tell me, whose name is this?¡± Ms. He pushed the notebook away, looked towards the door, ¡°Where¡¯s your dad?¡± ¡°How come he hasn¡¯t come back?¡± ¡°Did the old master send him somewhere on business again?¡± ¡°Make a phone call, ask him to come back.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Ms. He kept muttering, Tang Xiang called her, but she didn¡¯t respond. Xu Fang. Tang Xiang looked at the words on the notebook, lost in thought.