Chapter 90: Please Go Out and Clear Your Head

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If, before this, Li Baixiu’s opinion of Jiang Zao had been no more than that she had softly and deftly conceived Zhou Lichuan’s child, and by virtue of a face capable of stealing souls had won a second glance from him, then whether the Zhou family would acknowledge the baby in her womb was still very much uncertain.

He had always made a point of keeping himself present before Jiang Zao. Aside from the fact that she was carrying Zhou Lichuan’s child, the main reason was that she possessed a breadth of vision and force of character he had not expected. There was no harm in learning from someone like her.

But after those few minutes in Zhou Lichuan’s car today, Li Baixiu’s understanding of Jiang Zao was thoroughly renewed.

How could a man who was willing to set aside so vast a conglomerate and come all the way to Changzhou, only to sit in a car outside an old residential block and keep watch over her, possibly be bound to her by some fleeting affair?

If he had not truly placed her at the very tip of his heart, he would never have volunteered to help Li Baixiu clear his graduation hurdles merely so he could take Jiang Zao out more often during winter break.

A promise made had to be kept. Li Baixiu promptly put on a troubled expression. “Sister, my computer is broken and I urgently need a new one. Once term starts, I still have my thesis to write. Do you have time tomorrow to go out and buy one with me?”

Without even lifting her head, Jiang Zao answered in exactly the same manner as Zhou Lichuan in the car: “Online shopping exists. Order today, it arrives tomorrow. Free delivery to your door. What’s so bad about that?”

Of course Li Baixiu could not shop online, and in truth he did not like it either. “But I want to buy it in an actual store. Mostly I also want to look at the new phones that just came out. You stay at home doing nothing but painting anyway. Going out for a walk and getting some fresh air would do you good.”

Jiang Zao still did not look up. “My situation is special. I’m afraid someone might cause trouble. It isn’t safe for me to go out.”

Li Baixiu quickly said, “Sister, I’m a third-degree judo practitioner. I learned grappling from a neighbor when I was little. Going out with me is the safest thing possible.”

At last Jiang Zao raised her eyes and glanced at him. “When you have time, go find Zhou Jiayan’s boyfriend and test your skills on him. Don’t assume that just because you know a little martial arts you can look down on everyone else. There is always someone stronger. Young people shouldn’t be so rash.”

Ever since Jiang Zao had told him to get in touch with Zhou Jiayan for cooperation, the two of them had spoken more often, so he naturally knew what kind of background Zhou Jiayan’s boyfriend, Du Bin, came from. On reflection, Jiang Zao was right. But he still had to get her out of the house. After all, this was an assignment personally issued by President Zhou.

“I know. But Sister, come with me tomorrow, please. There’s also a new coffee-and-book lounge in the mall. This book was bought there. We can go have a look and see whether there’s anything else we need, and I’ll buy you a few more books too.”

Jiang Zao looked at the eager anticipation all over his face, let out a sigh, rose, returned to her room, rummaged through her bookcase for a delicate box, then came back to the living room and tossed it onto the coffee table.

“I bought you some candy. I never gave it to you before. Eat two and shut your mouth.”

“Then tomorrow...”

“If you stuff your mouth, then we’ll go tomorrow.”

Li Baixiu hurriedly unwrapped a milk candy and popped it into his mouth. Sweetness melted over his tongue and flowed down his throat into every corner of his body. For a moment, he felt as though his whole being had become steeped in the fragrance of milk.

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...

As a temporary bodyguard and shopping companion, Li Baixiu could not be called anything less than exemplary.

For several days in a row, it was either clothes or computers. Fortunately Young Master Li had money; otherwise, he truly could not have sustained such spending.

After days of running about, Jiang Zao finally collapsed onto the sofa. “Little Bai, if you drag me out again, I’ll have Zhou Jiayan go back to school and focus on graduating.”

Li Baixiu paled as though facing a mortal threat. “Sister, please don’t! Zhou Jiayan is my most important helper right now. Spare me.”

Jiang Zao ignored him, picked up the phone, and dialed Zhou Jiayan’s number.

As soon as the call connected, the voice on the other end came, slightly breathless: “Open the door, open the door. My hands are full.”

Jiang Zao tipped her chin at Li Baixiu to indicate he should answer it. Zhou Jiayan was struggling up the stairs with an enormous suitcase.

Li Baixiu immediately hurried down several steps, took the suitcase from her, let her go inside first, and carried it all the way into the living room.

“What on earth is in this thing? It’s so heavy.”

After walking a few steps, Zhou Jiayan collapsed onto the sofa just like Jiang Zao and said, “Knowledge and money.”

Jiang Zao glanced at the massive suitcase. “What books?”

Li Baixiu seemed only just to realize. “Oh. Books are the ladder of human progress. Reading more is good.”

Zhou Jiayan tucked up her legs and said, “I’ve run away from home. Inside are the professional books I need for my thesis, plus my computer and project-related documents.”

Jiang Zao could not help laughing. “Run away from home? What about Du Bin?”

Zhou Jiayan slapped her thigh sharply. “How should I care what happens to him? Does he even still have me in his eyes? Every day, he opens his eyes and works, closes them and sleeps. Do you know how absurd that is? He’s practically living at the company! I could run away from home and he might not even notice.”

Jiang Zao arched a brow, lowered her head to scroll through her phone, then held the screen out in front of the young lady. On it was a message from Du Bin.

Jiayan took her bags and went over to your place. Things are a bit busy these few days. I’ll come pick her up the day after tomorrow, once the meeting is over.

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Zhou Jiayan gave her characteristic pout, rolled her eyes, and sank back into the sofa.

Li Baixiu caught his breath and sat down opposite her, looking at that suitcase full of knowledge as if he wanted to speak and yet hesitated. “Miss Zhou, are the project documents in there related to my project?”

Zhou Jiayan immediately straightened up. “Oh, right. Wait until I catch my breath. There are a few things we need to discuss.”

Jiang Zao’s gaze was likewise drawn to the suitcase. “There isn’t much room here at home. Bring what we need. This afternoon, let’s go to Li Baixiu’s shop and find somewhere more spacious.”

Zhou Jiayan turned to Li Baixiu in surprise. “Wow, you even have a shop!”

Li Baixiu said, “I made some money my freshman year and invested in a storefront. Since it would have sat idle otherwise, I opened this place. Drinks, desserts, leisure and relaxation. It’s next to the exhibition hall, so the location does half the work.”

Jiang Zao said, “If I remember correctly, you’re from Changzhou. The exhibition hall hadn’t even been built when you started university, yet you still had the foresight to buy an inconspicuous storefront at that time. By now the value must have more than doubled.”

Li Baixiu grinned. “It’s not that remarkable. Mainly, I had money to spare back then. If it were now, I’m afraid I wouldn’t dare buy property so rashly.”

Zhou Jiayan let out a sigh. “These days the economy’s sluggish. Buying property isn’t cost-effective.”

At last Jiang Zao rose from the sofa. “Come on, let’s go together.”

The three of them set out in a lively procession and arrived at the shop, where they settled into the corner farthest from the front counter.

Jiang Zao did not know much about foreign trade, so she concentrated on painting while listening to the two of them talk.

Their discussion ranged over all manner of domestic and international clauses and tax laws, intricate in composition and far from something one could master easily.

What should have been a quiet, uneventful afternoon was suddenly broken by the abrupt arrival of an unwelcome guest...