Chapter 71: We Don't Want Other People's Roses—Sunflowers Are the Real Deal!

Shen Mushiz glanced at her through the rearview mirror and warned, “From now on, don’t go to any of Li Mingyi’s stores. And don’t get involved in his affairs. Protect yourself.”

Meng Qiaoyuan listened attentively from the passenger seat. “What you said in the office just now—was all of that true?”

Shen Mushiz pressed the accelerator, and the car slowly moved forward. Only after a long pause did he answer, “It’s true. Li Mingyi has a younger brother in college—a half-brother, an illegitimate child. The kid is sharp, and in recent years, he’s started to make a name for himself. The Li family seems to be biding their time, waiting to see who comes out on top.”

Zhou Jiayan caught the scent of gossip. “So Li Mingyi is fighting with his half-brother for power?”

Shen Mushiz nodded. “Yes. A real power struggle. You all know Li Mingyi to some extent—he’s just not cut out for business. If the family business really ended up in his hands, the Li family would be close to bankruptcy.”

Meng Qiaoyuan understood, smiling slightly. “No wonder Li Mingyi is so insistent on pursuing Jiayan. With the Zhou family backing her and all those shares in her hands, who wouldn’t want such a perfect marriage alliance?”

Shen Mushiz smiled as well but offered no reply.

Until today, he hadn’t known about Li Mingyi’s antics on social media, not until Jiang Zao sent him those screenshots.

He’d wanted to blow things up, make them public knowledge, and then come forward openly to quell the rumors—controlling Zhou Jiayan, steering the social media narrative, pulling the rug out from under Li Mingyi.

But when it came to playing such games, no one could outdo Jiang Zao. Even far away in Changzhou, she could deduce Li Mingyi’s intentions from a few screenshots and online chatter. A truly formidable woman.

He’d once thought she was naive and innocent.

Only days had passed since the Zhou Kuan incident, and now Li Mingyi—every move calculated, not a single misstep. How could someone like her possibly be ignorant or simple?

Perhaps the truly naive one was himself.

Jiang Zao and Chuan—now that’s a well-matched pair.

Night had fallen over Jingzhou, yet the streets were still crowded with cars. As they drifted along in the steady traffic, Zhou Jiayan, sitting in the back seat, began to doze off.

It was a long while before the well-maintained Audi finally stopped in front of Meng Qiaoyuan’s building.

Zhou Jiayan roused herself, splashed her face for energy, and cheerfully bid farewell after finding her car in the parking lot.

Only once Zhou Jiayan’s car had disappeared from view did Shen Mushiz dial a number, gesturing for Meng Qiaoyuan to wait as he jogged off toward a nearby food delivery driver.

Two minutes later, Shen Mushiz returned to the car, arms full of sunflowers.

Meng Qiaoyuan looked at the bouquet, feeling an ache in her heart.

Shen Mushiz said sincerely, “This is to make up for the roses earlier. Sunflowers—they’re warm and cheerful, a happier sight at home.”

Meng Qiaoyuan asked, “Were you ordering these just now when you kept fiddling with your phone before we got in the car?”

Shen Mushiz nodded. “Yes. The delivery guy waited a long time. Take them upstairs quickly, it’s cold out here.”

Meng Qiaoyuan accepted the flowers with thanks. “Thank you. How will you get home?”

Shen Mushiz smiled. “I’ll take a cab back to the bar—my car’s parked over there. I’ll pick it up from there.”

Meng Qiaoyuan nodded. “Drive safe.”

He watched her disappear through the building’s entrance before straightening his coat and heading off in the opposite direction, composing a message as he walked.

[Though the apology was a spur-of-the-moment attempt to smooth things over, every word I said was sincere. You were right—I only liked the idea of Jiang Zao, not the person herself. The problem is mine, and you have every right to look down on me. I sincerely apologize again.]

It was a long time after he got into the taxi that a vibration from his phone pulled him from his thoughts.

[You’re a good person. There’s no need to apologize to someone like me. Good night.]

Unsure how to interpret this, Shen Mushiz was left with a headache.

...

In the dead of winter, with the new year approaching and even the birds reluctant to take flight, Jiang Zao bundled herself in thick clothing and made her way to a crowded investment seminar on collectibles.

There wasn’t much to see at the event—she cared little for the expensive items on display. She was here for one reason: to meet someone—Li Mingyi’s half-brother, Li Baixiu.

“White clouds rise over distant peaks. The name suits him.”

Watching the young man following the speaker, Jiang Zao murmured his name.

Li Baixiu wore a clean, simple shirt under a long, gray wool coat, trailing behind a gray-haired professor. His demeanor was gentle and refined, serene as a polished jade.

Looking at the information on her phone, Jiang Zao found it hard to believe that such a mild, unassuming young man could transform in just half a year from an unknown college student to an heir of a powerful family.

From her seat in the audience, Jiang Zao patiently listened through the entire lecture. For most people, investing in collectibles was a distant concept, and she was just as lost as ever after all that time.

She tossed aside the seminar brochure and, moving against the flow of people, approached Li Baixiu.

He turned, noticing her, and asked politely, “Miss, the seminar is over. Do you have any further questions?”

Jiang Zao smiled. “I do—a few questions about the preservation and classification of collectibles. I hoped to consult you privately, Mr. Li.”

Li Baixiu glanced toward the professor not far away. “I’m just an assistant, here to help out. If you have any questions, you can ask my professor—he’ll be happy to explain everything in detail.”

Jiang Zao shook her head. “No. I’m here for you. A friend told me you’re the best investment advisor.”

Li Baixiu laughed softly. “Who might that be?”

“Dr. Shen Mushiz.”

Li Baixiu gave Jiang Zao a once-over. She was plainly dressed in casual, simple clothes, her long hair falling loosely down her back. Her features were fresh and delicate—she looked like a student who had yet to step into society.

He nodded slightly, then walked over to the professor, spoke quietly for a moment, and watched as the professor nodded and left with the rest of the staff.

They found a seat in a nearby café.

Jiang Zao sipped her warm, sweet milk, her cheeks flushed, eyes sparkling with lively light.

Her bright smile caught Li Baixiu off guard, and the young man quickly looked away, flustered.

Jiang Zao began, “Dr. Shen said you should get your injury checked again—have a CT scan to make sure there’s no internal bleeding.”

Li Baixiu took a sip of coffee. “Thank you for your concern, Miss Jiang. If you have something to say, go ahead.”

Jiang Zao smiled. “Zhou Jiayan is my sister. I don’t like Li Mingyi.”

Li Baixiu replied, “What does it matter to me who Li Mingyi pursues?”

Jiang Zao shrugged. “Even though you didn’t grow up in Jingzhou, you must know the Zhou family. You probably know that not long ago, there was a transfer of shares in the Zhou Group.”

“Zhou Jiayan… she’s Zhou Kuan’s daughter? The one who drives a Porsche?”

Jiang Zao was surprised. “You know her?”

Li Baixiu sneered. “Met her once, in Li Mingyi’s shop. There was quite a scene. What, are they not a perfect pair—birds of a feather?”