In the evening, Zhou Xiulin attended a banquet event and had quite a bit to drink. It was already midnight when he returned to Jincheng from Lingnan, and Jiang Qin accompanied him home.
Aunt Qiao came out of her room upon hearing the commotion. “You’re back? How much did you drink?”
Jiang Qin glanced inside and estimated that Jiang Xiao was asleep. “He had quite a bit to drink.”
Aunt Qiao quickly went to the kitchen and poured a glass of water.
Zhou Xiulin sat on the couch and drank half a glass of water, feeling slightly more alert. “Jiang Qin, you should go back early. Thank you for your hard work today.”
Jiang Qin replied, “Mr. Zhou, please rest early.”
The house was quiet, with only the sound of the clock ticking.
Zhou Xiulin’s face showed a hint of exhaustion, and he asked, “Did she go out today?”
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Tla xyd!
Jiang Xiao gently touched her belly and muttered, “Little Bean Sprout, you didn’t see anything, right? You can’t learn from your dad!” After speaking, she looked up at him. Her gaze remained fixed on his face. In these past few months, it was the first time she had unabashedly looked at him like this.
His right hand was casually resting on his thigh, while his left hand was placed on the couch. His fingers were long and slender, powerful when gripping a pen. His hand… Jiang Xiao slowly recalled some memories from last night.
Back in their college dormitory during late-night conversations, Li Li had once said, “For conservative women, breaking through physical boundaries can lead to a significant breakthrough in emotions.”
“One time, it’s strange. Twice, it’s familiar.”
After Li Li finished speaking, there was silence in the dormitory. Now, Jiang Xiao felt that she had gained considerable insights.
The master’s words were not empty.
Jiang Xiao had become accustomed to being independent and had never thought that she would rely on someone in the future.
Now she had such a feeling, realizing that relying on someone wasn’t scary at all; it was rather heartwarming.
Jiang Xiao let out a sigh. “Little Bean Sprout, your dad spent 20,000 yuan on a bed for you. It’s not easy to earn money. You should be filial to your dad in the future.”
In fact, Zhou Xiulin had already been awake for a while, and upon hearing her words, he couldn’t help but laugh and cry.
Thinking he was uncomfortable, Jiang Xiao gently supported his body, intending to let him lie down on the couch. “Zhou Xiulin… Zhou Xiulin…”
Zhou Xiulin slowly opened his eyes, his features clear and handsome.
Seeing that he seemed a bit tired, Jiang Xiao asked, “Are you feeling uncomfortable?”
Zhou Xiulin made a sound.
Jiang Xiao’s heart softened, and she reached up to touch his hair. “Be good…”
What had she taken him for?
Jiang Xiao picked up a cup from the coffee table and poured him a glass of warm water. “Drink some water.”
Zhou Xiulin just quietly stared at her without moving.
Thinking that he was drunk, Jiang Xiao held the cup to his lips, her voice gentle and charming. “Drink it slowly!”
Zhou Xiulin finished the glass of water, a hint of satisfaction appearing at the corner of his mouth. He held her hand. “Why did you wake up?”
Feeling the warmth in his palm, Jiang Xiao asked, “I woke up feeling hungry. Are you awake now?”
“I know who you are.”
“When did you come back?”
Zhou Xiulin smirked. “Midnight.”
Jiang Xiao murmured, “That’s so late.”
Zhou Xiulin smiled gently and got up. “Let’s see what’s in the kitchen.”
“Are you… okay?” Jiang Xiao hesitated. Could he recover from being drunk so quickly?
Zhou Xiulin’s smile deepened, and he looked at her with his eyes lowered. “I should be.”
“Were you pretending to be drunk? Why didn’t you speak earlier?”
“I wanted to listen to your voice.”
Zhou Xiulin served her a small bowl of egg noodles, and Jiang Xiao ate it slowly and neatly.
After taking a shower and changing clothes, Zhou Xiulin sat across from her, his gaze fixed on her. “How does it taste?”
“Better than what I make,” she spoke the truth. “Do you cook for yourself when you’re abroad?”
“Yes. When I was studying abroad, I often had to rush assignments and reports, so when I got busy, I cooked for myself. The taste was relatively good, I suppose.”
Jiang Xiao smiled. “That’s because you cook well. When I first started cooking, the taste was terrible. But after making it a few more times, it became somewhat edible. Over time, my cooking skills improved. I think cooking sometimes depends on talent. Lin Wu is really good at cooking, exceptionally delicious.” Her eyes curved with joy.
“You seem to have little contact with Lin Wu.”
“She’s busy with her studies. Medical school is demanding, and she’s also preparing for postgraduate studies.”
“She’s very hardworking.” That was another common trait between Jiang Xiao and Lin Wu.
Jiang Xiao nodded heavily. “In our high school class, she was the most hardworking person. Beautiful, intelligent, kind. All the boys liked her, but it was different with the girls.”
“You really like her.”
“Because we were desk mates, and later, we even lived in the same dormitory for two years.”
No wonder their relationship was so good. Even now, despite not contacting each other often, their feelings remained.
True friendship doesn’t change with time and distance. Sometimes, what changes is only the heart of the person involved.
Zhou Xiulin looked at her. “If there’s a chance, I can invite her to our home.”
Jiang Xiao fell silent.
“What’s wrong?”
Jiang Xiao felt complicated. “I hope in the future, Qin Heng can meet Zhou Yanyan and resolve the knot in her heart.”
Zhou Xiulin walked to her side and held her hand. “It’s getting late. Don’t think about other people’s matters anymore. You should go to sleep.” He would take care of Zhou Yanyan’s matter.
Two days later, Zhou Xiulin received a call from a friend.
“I’ve found out about the arrangement you made.” Liu Xi was an art professional, and his grandfather was a famous old-generation painter in the country. Zhou Xiulin sometimes asked the old man for help in authenticating paintings and calligraphy.
“Mr. Zhou, what are you looking for from Jiang Yi?” Liu Xi asked straightforwardly.
“Is Jiang Yi back in the country?”
“You’re quite well-informed. He returned half a month ago, and I’ve seen him through a senior. What’s going on? Do you want to buy his paintings again?”
Zhou Xiulin replied, “I want to buy, but he won’t sell.”
Liu Xi chuckled. “You’re still thinking about that painting. These years, you’ve been buying Jiang Yi’s paintings. Actually, I can’t quite figure out your intentions either.”
Last year, when Jiang Yi’s painting “Lingnan” was announced by the gallery, he immediately bid 800,000 yuan. As a result, someone else also had their eyes on “Lingnan,” and the two engaged in a bidding war.
In the end, Zhou Xiulin bought “Lingnan” for 1.6 million yuan.
Liu Xi was very curious about the person who also wanted to buy the painting. He searched for a long time but couldn’t find any information about them.
“What is Jiang Yi back for this time?”
“It seems like he’s here to see his daughter.”
“See his daughter?”
“Yes, the little girl in ‘Daybreak.’ I wonder what she looks like now.”
Zhou Xiulin raised an eyebrow. “Did you find out anything else?”
“I’ve told you everything I know.”
Zhou Xiulin pondered for a moment. “Please contact Jiang Yi for me. I want to meet him.”
Liu Xi: “Sure. When are you planning to meet?”
Zhou Xiulin: “As soon as possible.” He wasn’t sure when Jiang Yi would come to see Jiang Xiao, so he needed to meet Jiang Yi beforehand. He didn’t want Little Bean Sprout’s grandfather to be startled when he arrived.
“By the way, I saw an interview about you. Are you getting married? With Cheng Ying?” Liu Xi was too curious. In these years, Zhou Xiulin hadn’t had a woman by his side, and Liu Xi thought he would at least consider marriage when he was in his thirties.
Zhou Xiulin hung up the phone, not wanting to listen to another man’s incessant talk.
On that day, Mother Zhou came to visit Jiang Xiao again. Although their previous relationship wasn’t that close, after all, Little Bean Sprout was Zhou’s grandchild, and Mother Zhou cared for Jiang Xiao as well. She bought many nutritional supplements and skincare products for pregnant women.
“How have you been recently? Are you still experiencing morning sickness?”
“It’s been good. I still feel nauseous in the morning.”
“That’s normal. It’ll get better after a while. If you have time, go out for a walk. It’ll reduce the pain during childbirth.”
Aunt Qiao, who was beside them, said, “We go for a walk every day.”
Mother Zhou nodded. “That’s good. It’ll make giving birth easier.”
Jiang Xiao smiled.
This mother-in-law seemed nice too. She even bought her two sets of maternity clothes that she could wear when the weather got slightly colder.
Mother Zhou held the clothes—a white coat with a soft texture and a nice design.
Suddenly, a sour feeling surged in Jiang Xiao’s heart. Her aunt used to buy her clothes. Later, her aunt’s family immigrated, and she started buying clothes for herself. After marrying Zhou Xiulin, he also bought her a lot of clothes. But it was different.
Mother Zhou smiled and said, “Jiang Xiao, let me see you wearing it.”
“Okay, Mom.” Jiang Xiao swallowed and put on the coat. It fit her perfectly—not too big or too small.
“It looks really nice. White makes you look elegant.” Zhou’s mother smiled, pursing her lips.
“Thank you, Mom.” Jiang Xiao’s expression was sincere and moved.
Mother Zhou felt a little awkward. For her, buying a few pieces of clothing wasn’t a big deal.
She gave some more instructions, and it took more than half an hour before she left.
Jiang Xiao let out a long sigh.
Aunt Zhang chuckled. “Why are you so nervous? It’s not like it’s your first meeting.”
“I don’t know, I just feel nervous.”
Aunt Zhang wanted to say something but swallowed her words. Jiang Xiao had never had a mother since she was young, so her interactions with Mother Zhou were somewhat sensitive.
Aunt Qiao escorted Mother Zhou downstairs.
Mother Zhou asked, “Are you saying they’re not sleeping in separate rooms?”
Aunt Qiao replied, “That’s right. Except for business trips, Mr. Zhou basically comes back home every day.”
Mother Zhou had some slight doubts in her heart. If that’s the case, why did Zhou Xiulin move his things to the guest room? “Do you think their relationship is normal?”
“Mr. Zhou treats Miss Jiang very well. When he went on a business trip to Lingnan, he rushed back in the middle of the night. However, it seems like Miss Jiang doesn’t feel the same way towards Mr. Zhou…” Aunt Qiao didn’t finish her sentence.
“I understand what you mean.” In the end, Zhou Xiulin had put in more effort. Mother Zhou also felt deeply moved. Why did Zhou Xiulin choose Jiang Xiao?
Forget it, let them figure it out.
“Take good care of her, and if there’s anything, contact me.”
“I know, you can rest assured.”
At the end of September, the weather in Jincheng suddenly dropped several degrees, and autumn was approaching.
Jiang Xiao leisurely stayed at home every day, watching her weight and belly gradually increase. She cut off all contact with her friends. However, she constantly kept an eye on the happenings in the entertainment industry.
Cheng Ying had mostly recovered from her injuries and resumed filming. There were many videos on the internet, showcasing the adorable moments between her and Jin Zhongbei, sprinkling dog food for the fans.
During this time, Zhao Xinran participated in a variety show. Her performances in the show were outstanding, and her occasional cute moments won her a lot of fans. It was said that Mo Yiheng publicly expressed his love for her and bought her a diamond necklace.
Zhou Yanyan sang two theme songs for campus dramas, which became popular and boosted her career. At the same time, her manager, Ji Lan, started creating a public image for Zhou Yanyan online, portraying her as a beautiful academic achiever.
Jiang Xiao was shocked. Did studying abroad and returning home make someone a “academic achiever”?
Everyone was working hard for their dreams, but she was resting for the sake of having a baby.
On this day, her aunt contacted her from Canada.
During the video call with her aunt, her aunt bluntly said, “Xiaoxiao, why have you gained so much weight? Your face has become round.”
Jiang Xiao replied, “…Auntie, it’s because of the camera angle. I’m not that fat in person.”
Her aunt chuckled, “You girls don’t like being called fat.” Her cousin, who was beside her, leaned in and said, “Hello, cousin. Don’t listen to my mom. Girls look better when they’re a bit chubby, and they feel nice to touch.”
Jiang Xiao thought to herself, “… It’s different abroad. My cousin’s personality is becoming more… unrestrained.”
Her aunt angrily slapped her cousin, “Hurry up and go to school.”
“Mom, where did your gentleness and elegance go?”
Jiang Xiao giggled, “Auntie, Yuanyuan seems to have grown much taller.”
Her cousin’s face came closer, “Cousin, don’t call me Yuanyuan anymore. My English name is James. Please remember that.”
“I know. Cousin Yuanyuan, hurry up and go to your school.”
Song Yuan, who was about one meter tall, indeed no longer suited the nickname “Yuanyuan.”
Her aunt asked, “Xiaoxiao, has your father contacted you since he returned to China?”
Jiang Xiao was taken aback, “Dad is back? When did he come back?”
Her aunt replied, “It seems he hasn’t contacted you yet. I found out last week too. He had some matters to handle, but I think once he’s done, he’ll reach out to you. Xiaoxiao, your father knows about your job at the film and television company. I’m sorry, I accidentally let it slip.”
Jiang Xiao wasn’t bothered, “It’s okay, Auntie. I’ll explain it to Dad. Auntie… I’m married.”
Her aunt said, “…Xiaoxiao, today is not April Fool’s Day.”
Jiang Xiao grinned at the camera, “Auntie, I haven’t told you all this time, but I was actually a bit worried. Please come back for Christmas this year. I’ll bring him to pick you up.”
Her aunt took a deep breath, “Xiaoxiao, are you really married?”
Jiang Xiao’s voice was crisp, “Yes, Auntie. My husband’s surname is Zhou, Zhou Xiulin. He’s a very handsome and charming man, and I really like him.”
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This girl finally acknowledge it. 🤭🤭🤭🤭
Zhou xiulin is really patient. I like both of them so far and the mom not meddling in their relationship is really good. Let them figure it out. They both are adult.
It’s a mutual love-at-first-sight, just at different circumstance. See when they had the accident, Xiulin knew who she was and is aware of what he was doing. The parents don’t meddle much because he’s the head of the family, and his company is not inherited from the family, but his own.
Translator Nim I did not catch this point ! Thank you so much!? That explained a lot of things.