29. He said he is interested in you.
The sun was blazing, and Jiang Ruyan returned from shopping, dripping with sweat, her pure white dress clinging to her body, outlining her tempting curves.
She was in a bad mood.
It wasn’t just because her makeup was starting to run, but also because Gu Zhi Nian, who had been following her relentlessly.
Jiang Ruyan glanced at the sweat-drenched man and smirked, “I told you I don’t need your help to move things, but you insisted on coming. Are you regretting it now?”
“…”
“Hey, I’m talking to you!”
Gu Zhi Nian snapped out of his daze, blinked awkwardly, and with difficulty moved his gaze away from Jiang Ruyan’s back: “What did you say?”
“I said… forget it.”
Jiang Ruyan lowered her head in frustration; it was too hot, and she didn’t really want to lose her temper: “Let me ask you, President Gu, are you really that free?”
How could the president of Gu Group spend all day running around her?
What did he really want?
“Not really.”
Gu Zhi Nian spoke honestly: “Auntie and Uncle asked me to take care of you. Otherwise, do you think I’d willingly leave millions in business to accompany you?”
Liar.
Jiang Ruyan thought, but changed her tone before it came out, shaking her fist and retorting, “I’m not a kid, hey!”
“Mm, you’re not.”
“Your mom…”
Before the curse could escape, a figure appeared ahead, causing Jiang Ruyan to momentarily freeze, her face showing surprise.
“God of Laughs!”
Jiang Ruyan jogged up to Su Yan, who had just come out of his shop, and smiled, “Are you here for coffee?”
“Mm? Yeah…”
“Was it Xiaozhi who served you? Oh, you don’t have to pay next time; just tell me what you want to drink.”
“Xiaozhi?”
Su Yan seemed to remember something suddenly, squinting his eyes and saying with a meaningful tone, “Your shop assistant… hmm, she’s quite interesting.”
“Eh?” Jiang Ruyan looked confused.
“See you.”
Afraid that the overly enthusiastic shop manager would ask him for a picture, Su Yan circled around Jiang Ruyan and the side-standing Gu Zhi Nian and walked away.
However, in his mind, he had firmly remembered that female shop assistant.
“What does that mean?”
“It seems your Xiaozhi and your idol had something happen.” Gu Zhi Nian analyzed seriously.
Jiang Ruyan rolled her eyes at him: “Duh, do you really think I’m an idiot? No way, I have to hurry back and ask…”
Saying that, she quickened her pace.
Gu Zhi Nian watched her hurried figure and then looked at the two big bags he was carrying, his lips tightening. For a moment, he even felt a sense of being cuckolded.
——
“Xiaozhi?”
“Xiaozhi!”
“Ah!”
With her mind gradually clearing, Jiang Zhi pulled herself out of a whirl of thoughts. She turned her head to see Sister Jiang standing beside her at some point.
“Sister Jiang, you’re back,” she smiled and then noticed Jiang Ruyan’s drenched face: “Let me get you some water.”
Saying that, she picked up a disposable cup from the table.
“No need, compared to this…”
Jiang Ruyan leaned closer to Jiang Zhi’s ear and whispered, “What happened between you and the God of Laughs?”
“What do you mean?”
Jiang Zhi’s expression remained unchanged as she took a few steps back, her grip on the water cup unconsciously tightening: “I just made him coffee, and after that, he left.”
“Nothing else?”
“Nothing.”
“But I ran into the God of Laughs just now,” Jiang Ruyan had a look of disbelief: “Do you know what he said? He said he is interested in you.”
“Clatter!”
The water cup fell to the ground.
“You, you, you… what did you just say?!”
Jiang Zhi instantly looked terrified, covering her reddened cheeks with the back of her hand, her tone panicked: “No way, he, he must be joking!”
How could he possibly like me?
Didn’t he just say he wanted to disgust me?
If he liked me, is he going to pursue me? If he pursues me and I reject him, will he give up? Will he?
Oh no… is this how I’ll be pursued into a relationship? And then… then I’d fall into it! How can I fall into it?
Am I a sand cup?!
Whoa! That kind of thing shouldn’t be said!
Run! I have to run!
The fear of the future self getting married made Jiang Zhi feel frantic and distracted. She even thought about booking a flight to leave Zaoc City with Qian Qian.
Then she heard Jiang Ruyan correct her: “Oh, I misspoke; he actually said you’re quite interesting.”
Jiang Zhi: …
“Eh? Xiaozhi, why is your face so red?”
“Nothing…”
Jiang Zhi coughed to conceal her embarrassment. Her face was still very red, so she shyly waved her hand to fan herself, as if trying to hide something.
“Maybe it’s just hot,” Jiang Zhi added: “So, why did he say that?”
“That’s why I came to ask you.”
Jiang Ruyan was puzzled for a while, suddenly noticing Jiang Zhi’s unusual expression; she raised an eyebrow: “Wait, Xiaozhi, there’s definitely something you’re hiding from me.”
“Really, there’s nothing…”
“Let me guess,” Jiang Ruyan’s eyes darted around: “Did you two have a disagreement? That can’t be, you just met; how could there be a disagreement?”
“Hey, Sister Jiang, don’t guess randomly.”
Jiang Zhi was exasperated by Jiang Ruyan’s intense curiosity. She couldn’t possibly tell the truth; even if she did, Sister Jiang wouldn’t believe it.
Actually, your idol is Qian Qian’s dad!
Who would believe that?!
So Jiang Zhi casually changed the topic. To silence Jiang Ruyan, she took out her phone and showed her the content on the screen.
It was her chat record from this morning with Principal Wang.
“I’ve contacted Principal Wang,” her voice held a hint of excitement: “We’re meeting this Saturday to discuss Qian Qian’s schooling.”
She hadn’t expected him to be so agreeable. After expressing her intention, he proactively suggested a meal to discuss the matter.
As for where to eat, that was naturally all handled by Jiang Zhi; she would also be the one to treat.
Although she was still an inexperienced college student, she understood the rules of asking someone to do something; even if the matter fell through, she still had to show her goodwill.
“Is that so? That’s great.”
Jiang Ruyan indeed temporarily set aside the issue of her and Su Yan: “So do you feel confident?”
“Hum hum~”
Jiang Zhi raised her nose high: “No!”
Afterward, she seemed to wilt like a withered carrot: “But I will try hard.”
For Qian Qian, she would put in all her effort.
However, she also knew that not every effort would bear results.
Mainly, this was a blind spot for her; her plan was just to take it as it came… but she still understood the etiquette of offering drinks and gifts.
Thinking of this, she felt disheartened.
Sometimes she felt she wasn’t worthy of being a mother, unable to give Qian Qian a complete family, not even the ability to help her go to school.
Other children had everything; shouldn’t Qian Qian have them too?
She had said such things, but they were nothing but her own wishes…
Who am I to hope for that?
I’m no one.
Faced with Su Yan’s complicated feelings and the pressure of taking care of Qian Qian, Jiang Zhi suddenly fell into a unique state of internal conflict.
“Since that’s the case, let’s go shopping!”
“Eh?”
“If you’re having a bad day, shopping is the way to go,” Jiang Ruyan said: “It’s settled then; I’ll pick you up at your house tomorrow, and we’ll go shopping together!”
Jiang Zhi parted her lips slightly and after a long while, she said somewhat gloomily: “I’m not in a bad mood.”
“But I’m in a bad mood, what should I do?”
Jiang Ruyan winked at her and stepped forward to link her arm around Jiang Zhi’s, the sweet fragrance of perfume wafting into her nose, making her feel at ease.
“Isn’t it natural for employees to cheer up the boss? Xiaozhi, you really don’t get it at all~”
