Chapter 5: Sour Girl

After Jiang Xiao finished her blood test, the doctor asked to speak with her before the surgery.

“Do you know your blood type?” the doctor asked.

Jiang Xiao nodded.

The lead surgeon, surnamed Jiang and around fifty years old, was very kind. She gently said, “The abortion surgery will have a big impact on your future pregnancies, and may cause hemolysis in the fetus.”

Jiang Xiao hung her head, her mind feeling like it had been struck. Her dark eyes looked up at the doctor, “Is it very dangerous?”

The doctor nodded, “It may even make it impossible for you to conceive in the future.”

Jiang Xiao turned pale. She truly did not know it was so serious.

“You’re still so young. My advice is for you to think about it some more,” the doctor said.

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“Pkalnvsa Kkydt, R… R okzz vbkdj ycswv kv ytykd,” Kkydt Dkys pyke.

“Zsw nyd ts dso.”

Kkydt Dkys oyzjle yzsdl vs vbl byzzoyu okdeso. Fbl jdlo pbl oyp Sb-dltyvkhl czsse vurl X, obknb oyp ekpnshlale ewakdt y rbupknyz lmyxkdyvksd kd lzlxldvyau pnbssz. Tla qyvbla eke dsv byhl vbkp czsse vurl, ps pbl kdblakvle kv qasx bla xsvbla.

Xd vbl Qkdjts vall swvpkel vbl okdeso, vblal oyp y rasxkdldv ckae’p dlpv. Flhlayz cycu ckaep bye fwpv byvnble yde olal nbkarkdt zswezu, okvb vblka xsvbla twyaekdt vblx nywvkswpzu sd y caydnb.

Ps yzz xsvblap rasvlnv vblka nbkzeald?

Kkydt Dkys qlzz kdvs nsdqwpksd.

Tla rbsdl aydt yde kdvlaawrvle bla vbswtbvp. Fbl pyo y dwxcla yde vbswtbv kv oyp yd yehlavkplxldv, ps pbl bwdt wr okvbswv vbkdjkdt.

Kkydt Ckd blze bkp rbsdl yde ulzzle, “Ebu yald’v usw ydpolakdt vbl rbsdl?” Tl ekyzle bla dwxcla ytykd.

Jiang Xiao saw it was the same number as before, she reluctantly answered, “Hello…”

“Jiang Xiao, it’s Jiang Qin.”

Jiang Xiao was slightly surprised and asked, “Assistant Jiang, is there anything you need from me?”

Jiang Qin took a deep breath and said, “There is something very important. Are you available now? Let’s talk in person.”

“I’m on vacation,” Jiang Xiao replied.

“Zhao Xinran and Mr. Mo were photographed together. She is currently on the rise, and Mr. Mo is a well-known playboy in the industry. If the photos are made public, it will have a big impact on her career. We are trying to figure out a solution. If you can come back for a visit,” Jiang Qin racked his brain, thinking this was a very reasonable excuse.

Indeed, Jiang Xiao agreed, “I’m still in Jincheng. I’ll go back to the company now. It will take about an hour.”

“We’ll continue to discuss when you arrive,” Jiang Qin said.

“Thank you, Assistant Jiang.”

Jiang Qin sighed inwardly, thinking “I should be thanking you instead.”

Jiang Xiao didn’t think much about it and went to Director Jiang’s office, “Director Jiang, I have something to attend to today, so I won’t be doing surgery. I’m sorry.” Sometimes work can temporarily numb oneself, and she chose to procrastinate by doing this.

Director Jiang smiled and nodded, “Go ahead. Life is long, think carefully before making every decision. My daughter is two years older than you.”

Jiang Xiao bowed gratefully to her. She didn’t have a mother, but every time she was in a difficult situation, she would hear these warm words.

Jiang Xiao suddenly breathed a sigh of relief. On the way back to the company, she kept thinking about the little bean sprout in her belly.

To keep it or not, the decision was just a thought away.

When she arrived at the company, she found Assistant Jiang pacing around anxiously in the lobby on the first floor.

Jiang Xiao thought to herself, it seems that the company really values Zhao Xinran, this rising star.

“Assistant Jiang…”

“Jiang Xiao, great to see you’ve finally arrived.”

“Sorry, I was stuck in traffic.”

“No problem, no problem, we’re still early.”

“Hmm?”

“Let’s go upstairs first. By the way, was your leave for something important?”

Jiang Xiao made a sound of agreement, “It was for a personal matter.”

The two of them got into the elevator. Jiang Qin saw that Jiang Xiao didn’t want to elaborate so he changed the subject. “I’ve just asked the PR department to placate the situation and keep it under wraps for now, but we still haven’t heard back from Weekly Eight.”

Jiang Xiao furrowed her brow, “Thank you. Will there be expenses for this?”

Jiang Qin smiled, “Don’t worry about it, just help me come up with a good strategy, and in the future, try to advise Zhao Xinran when you have the chance. There’s a long road ahead.”

Jiang Xiao understood.

Jiang Qin led her straight to Zhou Xiulin’s office. When they arrived at the door, she stopped. “Assistant Jiang…” She looked at him, puzzled.

Jiang Qin checked the time. “Mr. Zhou said he would be back in two hours, and there’s still half an hour left. Go in and have a seat.”

Jiang Xiao frowned. “Is Mr. Zhou going to manage Xinran’s scandal too?”

Qinqin couldn’t help but laugh. “Jiang Xiao, to be honest with you, it’s Mr. Zhou who wants to see you.”

Jiang Xiao’s mind raced. “Assistant Jiang!”

“Don’t worry about Xinran.”

“What does Mr. Zhou want to see me for?” She didn’t want to see Zhou Xiulin now, feeling annoyed.

“I’m not sure, ask him when you see him.”

“Then I’ll go back.” She turned to leave.

“Maybe Cheng Ying wants you to be her assistant.”

“Ah—” Jiang Xiao was surprised.

The two of them stood at the door in a stalemate. Ten minutes later, Zhou Xiulin finally arrived, in a hurry. As soon as he saw Jiang Xiao, his gaze focused on her.

He was still dressed in a black suit. The top two buttons of his shirt were undone but he still looked very poised. Jiang Xiao was startled by his deep gaze.

“Mr. Zhou—” she politely called out.

Zhou Xiulin replied, “Come in.”

Jiang Xiao bit her lip, gathered her courage and followed him in.

Zhou Xiulin walked to his desk and his breathing slowly calmed down. He took off his suit jacket and casually draped it over the sofa. Along the way, he had been thinking about how to speak to Jiang Xiao. He secretly told himself to have a good talk with her. But when he actually saw her, he found that she remained calm despite the big news, and she still refused to tell him about such big matter.

Zhou Xiulin’s cold and stern face grew even colder.

The two of them were at odds with each other. Jiang Xiao thought that if he said he was going to transfer her to Cheng Ying, she would strongly refuse. If he didn’t agree, she would resign.

Soon, Assistant Jiang knocked on the door again, “Mr. Zhou, here are the things you wanted.”

“Put them on the table.” Zhou Xiulin’s voice remained low. “Jiang Qin, you’re off work today. You can leave.”

Assistant Jiang smiled and left.

Zhou Xiulin picked up the report. It was actually just two pages but looked at it for five minutes. He, who had always been patient, clenched his fist and his veins bulged upon seeing her consent form for surgery.

Jiang Xiao was full of doubts.

After a long while, he lifted his head and asked, “Jiang Xiao, do you have any thoughts?”

Jiang Xiao stared at him blankly with misty eyes. For so many days, she had been avoiding him like an ostrich.

Zhou Xiulin rubbed his eyes and looked at her with clear and bright eyes. “Jiang Xiao, let’s get married.”

Jiang Xiao frowned in confusion, her heart shaken. “But you don’t like me, why do you want to get married?”

Zhou Xiulin looked at her and spoke slowly, “Don’t you want the child?”

Jiang Xiao restrained her shock, wondering how he knew. She lowered her head and did not answer his question.

Zhou Xiulin patiently waited, but she never gave him an answer. He pondered, “I am also the father, and you should have told me. You’re 22 years old now and adults should take responsibility for their own actions.” She couldn’t make out what he meant by his words.

Jiang Xiao raised her head to face him, opened her mouth, but the words got stuck in her throat. “Yes, I need to take responsibility for my own actions.”

Zhou Xiulin furrowed his brow and asked again, “Do you really not want this child?”

Jiang Xiao’s mind was in chaos. She didn’t know what to do now.

Zhou Xiulin looked at her bewildered eyes, his expression changing, and his tone mixed with a sigh. “I respect your choice. If you don’t want it, I’ll accompany you to the hospital, after all, I’m equally responsible.”

Jiang Xiao blinked and stiffly replied, “Okay.”

“When do you plan to do it?”

“The sooner, the better.” After the surgery, she had to work.

Zhou Xiulin seemed lost for a moment before regaining his composure. “I’ll make arrangements. How about tomorrow?”

Jiang Xiao lowered her head and stopped looking at him, feeling a hint of hesitation in her heart. “Okay.”

Zhou Xiulin looked at her gaunt face. “Let’s go. I’ll drive you back.”

Jiang Xiao didn’t refuse again.

He drove, and Jiang Xiao sat in the passenger seat.

The car was clean and tidy, without a trace of clutter.

“Do you live on campus?”

“Yes. I was planning to move this Saturday.”

“To where?”

“Xuetian Road.”

“Near the First Middle School?”

“Yes.”

“I remember there’s a potsticker shop near the east gate of the First Middle School. Is it still open?”

“It’s still open. I went there last time, but the owner’s son took over.”

Zhou Xiulin chuckled. “I haven’t been there in many years. How’s the taste?”

“It’s not bad,” Jiang Xiao replied.

“My sister is also a student at the First Middle School. She has the same age as you,” Zhou Xiulin suddenly changed the subject.

Jiang Xiao’s heart tightened, hesitated for a moment, and then said, “That’s a coincidence.”

Zhou Xiulin turned his head and looked at her, with a fleeting smile at the corner of his mouth.

Half an hour later, Jiang Xiao looked at the scenery outside the window. “Mr. Zhou, this isn’t the way back to J University.”

Zhou Xiulin grunted, “Sorry, I’m not very familiar with the roads in the south of Jincheng. Can you give me directions?”

Jiang Xiao was quite surprised that he didn’t know the way.

“I usually have a driver and read documents in the car. It’s a habit,” he explained.

Jiang Xiao took out her phone, opened the navigation, and set the route. She turned her head and smiled at him with her dark eyes.

When they arrived at J University, Zhou Xiulin got out of the car and seemed to have the intention of seeing her off.

Jiang Xiao hesitated for a moment and said, “Mr. Zhou, I can go in by myself. You don’t need to see me off.”

It was dinner time and many students went to restaurants outside the campus for food, appearing carefree and relaxed.

“Are you hungry?” he asked.

Jiang Xiao frowned, “Not really.”

Zhou Xiulin smiled, “Then accompany me to eat.” He grabbed her wrist.

Jiang Xiao called out twice, “Mr. Zhou–Mr. Zhou–“

Finally, he took her to a dumpling shop.

A plate of hot and steaming mixed dumplings was placed in between them.

Zhou Xiulin sat there, looking out of place in this environment. “Do you want vinegar?”

Jiang Xiao nodded, so he poured a small dish of vinegar for her. The sour taste was tempting and whetted her appetite.

She ate three dumplings, but he didn’t touch any. She swallowed her food and looked at him without saying anything.

“I’m not hungry.”

Jiang Xiao added some more vinegar to her food and ate the dumplings.

Zhou Xiulin pulled the corners of his mouth, “I suddenly thought of something.”

“What is it?” she asked in confusion.

He looked at her deeply and after a few tens of seconds, he spoke slowly, “sour girl, spicy woman.”

Jiang Xiao was dumbfounded. “This doesn’t make sense.”

Author’s note: [Dreamy Theater]

When Little Bean Sprout was three years old, he learned that his dear mother had not planned to have him. For this, he was angry all night.

Jiang Xiao was also angry when she found out that Little Bean Sprout knew about this. As a result, she didn’t talk to Mr. Zhou for a whole day.

Mr. Zhou was very depressed. “I didn’t say it.”

Jiang Xiao: “It’s all your fault!”

Mr. Zhou: “… It’s because Little Bean Sprout is very strong.”

Jiang Xiao: “Get out. You sleep alone tonight. I have to repair my relationship with Little Bean Sprout.”

That night, the family of three squeezed onto Little Bean Sprout’s bed.

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Sansukini: Jiang Xiao has what the Chinese called “panda blood” or the Rh-negative blood types. You might be more familiar with it if you read or watched Boss and Me (Come and Eat Shan Shan). Panda blood is very rare and so when they have accidents, it’s hard to find blood donors. For reference: https://www.sixthtone.com/news/2032)

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