Chapter 56: Exposed

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Leaving the inpatient department with Shen Mushi, Meng Qiaoyuan almost fled, hurrying ahead as if escaping.

“Meng Qiaoyuan!” Zhou Lichuan called after her. The hospital courtyard was crowded with people, so Meng Qiaoyuan had no choice but to stop and turn around. “What is it?” she asked.

Shen Mushi strode up, hands on his hips. “I went through all that trouble to save you from a kidnapping, and you can’t even thank me. Instead, you’re getting worse—before you just avoided me, now you run away whenever you see me. Am I some kind of virus you’re afraid of catching?”

She met his gaze calmly. “It’s not fear. I just don’t want to talk to you.”

“Then tell me, why don’t you want to talk to me?”

Glancing around to make sure nobody was within earshot, Meng Qiaoyuan finally spoke. “Zhou Lichuan has memory loss—he doesn’t remember Jiang Zao. Are you happy now?”

Shen Mushi was momentarily taken aback. In the chaos of recent days, he’d almost forgotten this detail.

“I’m not that vile. Jiang Zao is clearly in a bad state right now. Zhou Lichuan is her only emotional anchor. How could I wish for something like that at a time like this?”

Meng Qiaoyuan shook her head. “No. Jiang Zao is not who you think she is. You don’t really know her at all.”

Shen Mushi was bewildered. “She’s innocent, lively, pure, delicate—how is she not like I imagined?”

Meng Qiaoyuan felt almost dizzy looking at him. “That’s exactly it. You don’t know Jiang Zao. What you like isn’t her, but the image you’ve built of her in your mind.”

Shen Mushi shrugged. “I’m a science guy. Language was my worst subject in the college entrance exams. I don’t get this kind of reading comprehension.”

Clutching the fruit cup in her hand, Meng Qiaoyuan asked, “Do you think Jiang Zao doesn’t know how you feel? And what about Zhou Lichuan—do you think he doesn’t know either?”

Shen Mushi froze. This was a perspective he had never considered.

Meng Qiaoyuan went on, “Don’t think you’re so clever that you can fool everyone. Your intentions are obvious to all; people just choose not to say anything. Stay away from Jiang Zao. Zhou Lichuan may not remember, but his feelings aren’t gone.”

With that, Meng Qiaoyuan turned and walked away, leaving Shen Mushi no chance to reply. No matter how he shouted after her, she never looked back.

Never before in his life had Shen Mushi felt so helpless and at a loss.

For the first time, someone had laid him bare, exposing all his carefully hidden corners to the harsh light of day, forcing him to confront reality head-on.

Whether it was being called “green tea” or masking his true feelings, he’d always wrapped himself in layers of defense, as if that could grant him a moment’s peace.

But Meng Qiaoyuan’s words had torn away every pretense, stabbing mercilessly at his most vulnerable spot.

This woman must be mad.

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Not adorable at all.

…

The day Zhou Lichuan was discharged was a grand affair. Everyone came to the hospital, and even Gao Chenggong took leave from work to be there.

The news of the boss’s amnesia was no secret in the company. As Zhou Lichuan’s direct subordinate, Gao Chenggong had to show up.

Zhou Lichuan merely nodded slightly when he saw him. His eyesight had recovered quickly—he could clearly see faces at normal social distances.

Receiving his boss’s look, Gao Chenggong lowered his head in silent understanding, as was their habit.

But if he was being kept here, what was there to say?

Outside the hospital, a long line of luxury cars of various styles and models formed a miniature auto show.

Jiang Zao, holding Zhou Lichuan’s medical reports, quietly boarded the last minivan in the row.

Just as the car was about to start, Du Bin got out of Zhou Lichuan’s car and switched places with her driver.

“Hey, you go to the main car. I’ll take your place,” he said.

The driver was puzzled. “I didn’t get any notice. Is this okay?”

It was always fixed who drove which car, so his confusion was understandable.

Du Bin opened the door and urged, “The chairman arranged it. Go on.”

Delighted, the driver got out—he would get to drive the chairman and Mr. Zhou! He couldn’t wait to brag about this later.

Du Bin settled into the driver’s seat and drove smoothly.

Jiang Zao, her nausea easing a little, summoned her strength to ask, “Did the chairman send you?”

Du Bin swallowed and nodded carefully. “Yes. The chairman said you’re not well and told me to drive gently.”

“Thank you,” Jiang Zao replied.

She curled up in her seat, staring blankly out the window. The standard-sized seat made her look especially frail and slender.

Miss Jiang had always been pampered by Mr. Zhou… Now, seeing her this haggard, didn’t Mr. Zhou feel any pain for her?

Unable to bear it, Du Bin fixed his eyes on the road and focused on driving.

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When they returned to the Tingshan Villa, the staff were already lined up in greeting. Zhou Lichuan had only been gone half a month, but the villa felt strangely unfamiliar, as if an era had passed.

Shen Xiaonan and Zhou Huai accompanied Zhou Lichuan inside, followed closely by Zhou Jiayan and Du Bin. A few of Zhou Lichuan’s friends were there as well. Jiang Zao didn’t know any of them. She only noticed a mixed-race man in a gray suit walking beside Zhou Jiayan, the two seeming well acquainted.

Jiang Zao didn’t enter the villa. Instead, she stopped by the fountain in the courtyard, gazing at a leaf frozen beneath the sheet of ice.

Meng Qiaoyuan approached from behind.

She’d driven her own car and chosen the most convenient spot for a quick getaway, but it happened to be the farthest from the villa, so she lagged behind the main group.

“Zaozao? Feeling down?”

Jiang Zao managed a smile, “I’d never seen so many of Zhou Lichuan’s friends before. He never mentioned them to me.”

Meng Qiaoyuan studied her face for a moment. That wasn’t a smile at all—it looked more like she was about to cry. She was only pretending to be strong.

“Zaozao, I have an apartment that’s just been finished, but I haven’t moved in yet. I want to buy some furniture and appliances, but I don’t really know what to pick. If you have time, come with me and help out. You’re an artist; you must have a great eye.”

The distraction worked. “Sure, just tell me when you’re free and I’ll come with you.”

Meng Qiaoyuan took her hand and led her through the villa’s doors, heading straight upstairs.

Passing through the living room, they saw Zhou Lichuan surrounded by a crowd. His face bore a rare smile—something he hadn’t shown since waking up.

Jiang Zao averted her gaze and followed Meng Qiaoyuan upstairs.

On the staircase landing, they overheard voices from downstairs, evidently discussing her.

“Hey, is that the beauty you’ve been hiding away? Aren’t you going to introduce her to us?”

The others, aware of the elders present, all glared at him, hoping he’d take the hint and shut up.

Only then did he realize his mistake. This wasn’t the right time or place for jokes. If she were really the future matriarch of the Zhou family, she would have been introduced properly at the hospital.

A complicated look flashed in Zhou Lichuan’s eyes, but he said nothing.