Chapter Eighty-Nine: It Was Said that President Zhou Was Unwell

Jiang Zao praised him. “A teachable mind. You really are quite clever.”

Flattered, Li Baixiu scratched his head, his handsome face turning a faint red. “I’ve only just started learning the ropes at the company. There’s still so much I don’t understand, especially when it comes to people and relationships. The twists and turns there can’t be learned just by getting good grades at school.”

Jiang Zao nodded, then suddenly remembered something. “Do you remember Zhou Jiayan?”

Li Baixiu said, “I do. So you came to me because of her.”

Jiang Zao rested her chin on her hand. “She’s about to graduate, same year as you, and she’s studying international business in Country Y. I remember your family works in foreign trade, right? If you’re looking for someone to help, you could try contacting her. She’ll need project experience after graduation anyway.”

A waiter brought orange juice. Jiang Zao set down the half-finished fruit tea in her hand, took a sip of the sweet orange juice, and looked thoroughly satisfied.

Li Baixiu was a little embarrassed. “I argued with her in front of my father and grandfather. Would she still be willing to help me?”

Jiang Zao looked amused. “The reason she argued with you was because I sent her over to rescue you on purpose. Otherwise the Li family would have surely realized it was you mocking Li Mingyi in secret, which was why he rushed in panic to propose to the Zhou family. Zhou Jiayan argued with you to clear herself of suspicion. What enemies are there in business? You two have shared interests. The Li family would even say you’re broad-minded and well connected.”

Li Mingyi’s eyes suddenly brightened, as though he had found a way forward in the dark.

“Miss Jiang, where do you work? You don’t seem much older than me, yet you have such insight.”

Jiang Zao said, “I’m two years older than you, and currently unemployed. But the baby in my belly belongs to Zhou Lichuan.”

Li Baixiu froze. “You mean the Zhou Lichuan I’m thinking of?”

Jiang Zao laughed. “Who else? How many Zhou Lichuans can there be in the world?”

Li Baixiu said in disbelief, “He’s supposed to be the cold, ascetic sort. Even back in school, I heard stories of how devoted he was to his work and never once strayed. Rumor has it he always kept his distance from women, and even at the star-studded International Film Festival, he wouldn’t spare anyone a glance. And you actually managed to get pregnant with his child?”

Jiang Zao shrugged. “Is that so hard? Zhou Lichuan isn’t terribly bright. Most of the rumors you heard were probably exaggerated.”

At the neighboring table, Sister Hui went, “Pfft—” and spat out her coffee.

She coughed several times, cheeks red, and hurriedly pulled over a napkin to wipe the coffee that had splashed across the table.

Li Baixiu gave her a thumbs-up. “Sis, you’re my sis. Can I call you that?”

Jiang Zao nodded in agreement. “Sure. Although my blood-related younger brother is a bastard, so I hope you don’t mind.”

Li Baixiu shook his head at once. “Not at all, not at all. Sis, if you ever need anything, just say the word. I, your younger brother, will go through fire and water without hesitation.”

Jiang Zao waved a hand and smoothly accepted a new underling.

Li Baixiu returned home and, as expected, launched a thorough investigation into Jiang Zao.

Over the next few days, he kept bringing over various business matters the Li family had given him as practice and asked for Jiang Zao’s opinion.

In truth, Jiang Zao knew very little about foreign trade, so the advice she could offer was limited.

One day, just as Li Baixiu entered the residential complex, he saw a Bentley parked beside Jiang Zao’s parking space. At first glance, the car was understated to the extreme, looking no different from the ordinary models that sometimes passed by on the street. But anyone with even a little knowledge of cars could tell at once, from the details alone, the refinement and luxury it concealed.

Wearing a scarf, Li Baixiu rubbed his nose.

Could it be such a coincidence... Was that Zhou Lichuan’s car...

He was hesitating over whether to ignore it and go upstairs when the Bentley’s window slowly lowered. A deep male voice came from inside.

“You’re Li Changqiu’s illegitimate son? Looking for Jiang Zao?”

Li Baixiu straightened at once. “Yes. Hello, President Zhou. My name is Li Baixiu. Sister Jiang Zao hasn’t felt like going out these past two days, so I went to buy the reference books she needed.”

Zhou Lichuan held out a hand. “Let me see them.”

After a moment’s hesitation, Li Baixiu took two reference books from his backpack and handed them over.

Zhou Lichuan took the books and gestured with his chin. “Get in.”

Li Baixiu glanced up at the floor-to-ceiling window on the third floor. Seeing a figure flash past, he no longer hesitated. He opened the car door and got in.

Zhou Lichuan lounged against the seat, wearing a pair of blue-light-blocking glasses. A laptop and several folders were spread open on his lap; it was obvious he had been in the middle of work just moments before.

He flipped through the books in his hands and, without even raising his head, asked, “How much longer until winter break ends?”

Li Baixiu thought for a moment, counted the days, and said, “Two weeks.”

Zhou Lichuan nodded. “Mm. You’re almost graduating, then. Is your thesis done?”

“It’s already passed the proposal stage, and I’m preparing the first draft. The topic is in an area I’m good at, so it should be fine.”

Zhou Lichuan never took his eyes off the reference books as he continued, “Not ‘should.’ Your position is awkward right now, and a lot of eyes are on you. If your thesis is not handled properly, it will be troublesome.”

Following Zhou Lichuan’s words, Li Baixiu thought it through and instantly broke out in a cold sweat.

“You mean the Li family will...”

Only then did Zhou Lichuan deign to lift his eyes from the page. “Jiang Zao doesn’t want to go out while she’s pregnant. The snow outside has melted, and the weather is gradually warming up. When you come by to play again, take her out for walks more often. I hear your judo is pretty good.”

Li Baixiu immediately took the opening. “It’s all right. The neighbor I had as a kid was a police officer, so I learned a few grappling techniques too.”

Zhou Lichuan nodded. “Take Jiang Zao out for a walk. I’ll take care of your school matters for you.”

Li Baixiu instantly perked up and said hurriedly, “No problem. I have quite a few things to get ready for when school starts, so I can just ask Sister Jiang Zao to go shopping with me. Don’t worry, President Zhou.”

Zhou Lichuan handed the books back. “She’s doing anime work lately? Why is she reading reference books related to animation?”

Li Baixiu said, “Sister Jiang Zao took on some drawing commissions online. She’s illustrating promotional artwork for an event in a game. She said she hasn’t drawn this kind of anime-style character before, so she wanted to look for references.”

Zhou Lichuan’s brow furrowed slightly. He hadn’t known that Jiang Zao had learned digital drawing.

“Which game? Which company?”

Li Baixiu quickly pulled out his phone, found the game, and showed it to Zhou Lichuan.

After a brief look, Zhou Lichuan also took out his phone and downloaded the game on the spot.

“My number’s already entered. Add me on WeChat later. If anything comes up, message me there. All right, you can go up now.”

Li Baixiu took back his phone and got out of the car, respectfully heading upstairs.

Only after he entered the apartment and looked down from the floor-to-ceiling window did he see that the Bentley was still parked steadily in its spot below, with no intention of leaving at all.

Taking the black tea handed to him by Sister Hui, he thanked her, then asked casually, “Sis, why didn’t you let President Zhou come upstairs?”

Jiang Zao was curled up on the sofa, reading reference books. “He’s in poor health. He can’t manage the stairs.”

Li Baixiu’s face went black, and it took him a long while to recover.