Chapter 68 Today's Goal: Empty the Baby Store!

Zhou Jiayan found her purpose in the maternity store, transforming herself into the envoy of procurement. Everything soft and pink must be chosen and placed in her cart.

Meng Qiaoyuan pushed the shopping trolley behind her, watching Zhou Jiayan's playful antics, and gently asked Jiang Zao, who walked beside her, "Just now, Zhou Jiayan nearly let something slip. Did you catch it?"

Jiang Zao smiled, not quite understanding, "What?"

Meng Qiaoyuan nudged her with her elbow, "Don’t pretend with me; I know you too well. If you were really so decisive, you wouldn’t have waited until you’d helped Zhou Lichuan solve the issue with Zhou Kuan before leaving. I haven’t had the time to sit down and talk with you lately. Let's do it now."

Jiang Zao scratched her head, realizing she couldn’t hide it any longer.

"I talked with Shen Mushi. Zhou Lichuan's memory impairment is temporary—short as a month or two, long as half a year or more, but he will recover. Still, regarding everything that's happened recently, whether he remembers or not in the future, neither he nor I can ever return to how things were in the beginning. He… he’s really heartbreaking."

"And the child?" Meng Qiaoyuan asked.

Jiang Zao gently caressed her slightly rounded belly. "The child, like me, has done nothing wrong. I can't deny its right to come into this world just because Zhou Lichuan is acting inhuman. Actually... I have a little savings. Proceeds from art exhibitions, earnings from selling paintings during university. Over the years, I’ve worked under a pseudonym and am somewhat known in the art circle; people just don’t realize it’s me. So there’s no need to worry about finances. I can afford to raise the child myself."

Meng Qiaoyuan shook her head. "How could the Zhou family ever agree to let their child drift outside?"

Jiang Zao smiled. "Of course they wouldn’t, and I can't fight them. That’s why I had to deal with Zhou Kuan and take on the role of the Zhou family’s weapon. I accept their help and arrangements—I don’t refuse their money or material support."

Meng Qiaoyuan glanced around, then leaned in closer. "I heard… Professor Shen gave you the original Old Madam Zhou’s dowry bracelet. That’s a true treasure, something money can’t buy."

Jiang Zao nodded. "Yes. I didn’t refuse it—I just took it. In truth, everyone knows things between Zhou Lichuan and me won’t end just like that, otherwise you and Zhou Jiayan wouldn’t have come so easily. But before that, I have to protect myself and the child. With that bracelet, I am recognized by the Zhou family; even without a formal status, I am under their protection. For the child, it’s only beneficial. I have no reason not to accept it."

Meng Qiaoyuan tenderly put her arm around Jiang Zao's shoulders. "But what about you?"

There was no visible joy or sorrow on Jiang Zao’s face, yet Meng Qiaoyuan could sense the depth of her grief, verging on despair. "…If I had a choice, I would never want to know Zhou Lichuan. But there is no choice, no retreat, only the path ahead. Let’s not talk about it. For now, I don’t want to think about him anymore."

Meng Qiaoyuan lowered her voice, speaking honestly. "Actually… Zhou Lichuan has reached out to me privately, asking about you. He says some blurry memories keep surfacing in his mind. I know you mind it, so I told him nothing. He seemed to be in a lot of pain."

Jiang Zao nodded. "Mm. Thank you."

Zhou Jiayan came over, carrying two sizes of baby bottles, full of excitement. "Hey, what are you two whispering about? Which of these bottles should I get?"

Jiang Zao pointed to the smaller one. "The small one. I already ordered a large one online. This small one can be used for water."

---

Zhou Jiayan looked at both bottles and put them in the cart. "We’ll take both—alternating between them."

Jiang Zao smiled and shook her head, watching as Zhou Jiayan darted off to pick out baby clothes.

She said to Meng Qiaoyuan, "Keep an eye on Zhou Jiayan. She’s so pure and kind, it’s easy for her to get taken advantage of."

Meng Qiaoyuan smiled helplessly. "With Du Bin as her all-capable boyfriend, she’ll be fine. As for that Li Mingyi who’s pursuing her—I don’t know much about him. If it weren’t for his recent madness on social media, I wouldn’t even remember his existence."

Jiang Zao took out her phone. "Send me screenshots of his posts, and any information about him—forward it to me. It doesn’t sound right."

Meng Qiaoyuan rolled her eyes. "I’m not a secret agent! I’ll send you the screenshots, but for the rest, just do your own digging. Keep an eye on all the platforms and apps. Oh, and don’t forget food delivery reviews—he runs a shop, so he must use them."

Jiang Zao nodded. "Alright, I’ll check it tonight. That’s all I can do now. But if anything needs doing, it’s up to you."

Meng Qiaoyuan laughed. "Of course it’s up to me. You two are still just kids—little adults who haven’t seen enough of life."

Behind her rimless glasses, Meng Qiaoyuan’s eyes were dark and profound, filled with a sense of security.

With good friends, who needs men?

…

The three left the store loaded with bags, buying nearly everything needed for pregnancy and the child’s first six months in one go.

Zhou Jiayan rubbed her sore arms, said goodbye to Jiang Zao, and drove away with Meng Qiaoyuan.

That evening, as she sat on the floor sorting through Zhou Jiayan’s purchases, she scrolled on her new tablet. Hui-jie turned on the TV, sat beside her knitting, and chatted idly with Jiang Zao.

The tranquil, leisurely evening was suddenly interrupted by the shrill ring of a phone.

Jiang Zao glanced at her phone—a number from Jingzhou, no caller ID.

She stared at the number for a long time, not answering, until the call ended automatically.

Hui-jie looked at Jiang Zao, puzzled. "Why didn’t you answer the phone, Miss Jiang?"

---

Jiang Zao put down the phone. "It was an unknown number. I won’t answer."

She went on sorting the baby sleeping bags—Zhou Jiayan had bought one in every color. Five or six were stacked together; her niece might not even have the chance to try them all before heading off to preschool.

Just as she finished folding the sleeping bags, her phone rang again.

It was the same number.

Jiang Zao sighed, still unwilling to answer.

Hui-jie seemed to sense something, and got up. "I’ll soak some beans for tomorrow morning’s soy milk."

Once Hui-jie closed the kitchen door, Jiang Zao pressed the answer button, her face expressionless.

No one spoke on the other end.

Jiang Zao also remained silent.

They listened quietly. Only soft breathing drifted through the quiet living room.

It was unclear how much time passed, enough for the baby toys nearby to reach their timer and start singing cheerful nursery rhymes.

Startled, Jiang Zao scrambled over to switch them off—she must have accidentally triggered them with all the stuff piled up earlier.

When she looked back at her phone, the call had already ended.

She stared at the phone for a long time, then set it aside, not touching it again.

Her new tablet finished installing its apps. She started following online tutorials, learning step by step.

She had never used a tablet for drawing before, and what seemed so simple turned out to be surprisingly complex in practice.