Support

The abrupt sound left Jiang Xiao momentarily stunned for a few seconds. After struggling to control her emotions, she suppressed her voice but hesitated, “Are you suggesting…?”

In fact, she knew exactly what he meant. No matter how much she wanted to evade it, she couldn’t escape the system’s prompts.

Last time, when they just got their marriage certificate, it was only 45%. Now, it has suddenly jumped to 75%. The increase was too significant. If the last increase was due to a change in status, this time she couldn’t help but speculate whether this 30% difference was due to emotional changes.

In the quiet night, two young and passionate hearts were beating fervently. The ambiguous atmosphere quietly spread between them.

During the exchange of gazes, silence spoke louder than words. His eyes carried possessiveness and determination, firmly locking her into his heart, as if telling her that she belonged to him and he wouldn’t let go.

Jiang Xiao’s eyelashes trembled involuntarily. She swallowed nervously, deeply feeling that she had fallen into a trap set who knows when. The person behind the scenes had begun to slowly close in, and once she fell in, she wouldn’t be able to struggle out.

“What I mean is that I’m a decent partner. You can consider spending the rest of your life with me.” Zhou Qishen spoke again casually, breaking the deadlock Jiang Xiao found herself in.

His words amused Jiang Xiao, her red lips curling up with a hint of helplessness. “Who praises themselves like that?”

Moreover, he had just declared he would never divorce. With such a firm tone, where was there any room for her to consider?

Zhou Qishen raised his hand to tidy her scattered hair, hesitated for a moment, then finally lowered his head to lightly kiss her lips. “…I do need you to decide.”

The unexpected kiss left Jiang Xiao stunned. They could hear each other’s breathing, warm breath brushing against their faces. Jiang Xiao’s heartbeat quickened, momentarily forgetting to react, allowing his kiss to gently land on her lips.

It was just a gentle touch of lips, a light mutual caress. Zhou Qishen maintained his restraint, not making any further moves.

After a while, he slowly pulled back, his fingertip brushing across her cheek. “Have a good rest tonight.”

Where his touch lingered, Jiang Xiao couldn’t help but blush. In the end, she managed to nod calmly without much reaction, watching him leave with his suitcase.

*

The next day.

The weather early in the morning wasn’t particularly good. There was no sunlight, but in this summer, it was a rare refreshing comfort. Outside the window, tree leaves spun in the breeze, occasionally fluttering into the windowsill.

Jiang Xiao reached out to pick up a few leaves. Just as she was about to throw them into the trash can, she glanced down through the window and saw several people bustling around the camphor tree downstairs—some holding ladders, others supporting them, and someone directing them.

Seeing this scene, Jiang Xiao immediately thought of what Aunt Huang mentioned yesterday—the installation of the swing.

Whenever there was excitement, Jiang Xiao was bound to join in. She picked up her phone and turned to head downstairs, the white hem of her dress cutting a beautiful arc in the air.

When she arrived downstairs, it was indeed as Jiang Xiao had imagined. Two workers hired by her grandfather were methodically installing the swing, while Zhou Qishen stood by helping to hold the ladder.

“Xiaoxiao, awake?” Aunt Huang was the first to notice Jiang Xiao coming out from the side door. She waved her over, gesturing for her to come closer.

Jiang Xiao greeted her and then turned her gaze back to the workers and the ladder. The height of the camphor tree was comparable to the building itself, and looking up from below, it was indeed somewhat intimidating. Fortunately, the workers were experienced and well-equipped, and with safety measures in place, they quickly completed the installation.

The improved swing, although it looked similar, was more sturdy now, gently swaying in the wind, evoking a hint of childhood memories.

“Do you want to play for a while? I’ll see the workers off,” Aunt Huang smiled, patting Jiang Xiao’s shoulder. With the swing securely installed, she felt a sense of time-traveling back to when Jiang Xiao was still a child.

Despite feeling a bit tempted, Jiang Xiao’s adult sense of embarrassment made her wave her hand, “I’ll pass.”

Seeing this, Aunt Huang didn’t insist and called for the workers to leave after they finished packing.

Zhou Qishen overheard their conversation clearly. After Aunt Huang left, he walked over to Jiang Xiao, raising an eyebrow with a smile, “Really not going to try?”

“I…” Jiang Xiao was about to say something.

Before the last word came out, Zhou Qishen interjected, “Then let me test how sturdy it is.”

Jiang Xiao was taken aback, then realized his intention and was slightly surprised, “You… want to play?”

“Why not?” Zhou Qishen seemed indifferent, grabbing her hand and leading her towards the swing.

Seeing him genuinely prepared to sit on it, Jiang Xiao couldn’t help but smile at the thought of Zhou Qishen, such a “big” person, on the swing. Her smile deepened.

She laughed, “Then I’ll push you.”

However, when they reached the swing, Zhou Qishen suddenly changed his mind. He pressed her shoulder, intending for her to sit down, justifying it grandly, “If I sit down, this swing might break. You should try it.”

Mr. Xu watched the playful banter between the two with a shake of his head and walked back into the house with his hands behind his back.

Hearing Zhou Qishen’s words, Jiang Xiao finally understood his intention. He probably never intended to play on the swing but saw through her insincere refusal. Playing on the swing didn’t fit the demeanor of a mature adult. 

Jiang Xiao felt a trace of unease, but eventually sat down reluctantly on the swing. Once she was settled, the person behind her slowly started pushing her back. Her feet left the ground, a slight sensation of weightlessness accompanying the breeze, both thrilling and comforting.

And because of the hand on her back, Jiang Xiao felt secure. Initially, she relaxed her grip on the ropes a bit, but for safety, she remained vigilant.

Unexpectedly, Zhou Qishen was even more stable than her. The force he used to push her stayed within a safe range, neither too strong nor too weak, never approaching danger.

The atmosphere around them was just right—not awkward, despite the silence.

Watching her skirt flutter and her hair dance, Zhou Qishen suddenly remembered a familiar scene. He smiled faintly and said, “I’ve seen you play on a swing like this before. You were also wearing a white dress.”

“Really?” Jiang Xiao was caught by his words, linking the swing and the white dress, reminding her of a painting she had stumbled upon before. Her thoughts wandered, and she blurted out, “Is the painting in your closet of me?”

Zhou Qishen fell silent for a moment, seemingly surprised that she remembered that painting. “You noticed that painting?”

“When your friend came to pick up the car keys, I saw it.” At that time, she thought the girl in the painting was his crush or someone he admired… never did she imagine it was herself.

“Ah…the time when you told my friend that you were the new housekeeper I hired?” Zhou Qishen suddenly realized, his eyes gleaming with amusement, his tone slightly mocking.

Jiang Xiao sensed the teasing in his tone, feeling a bit embarrassed about bringing up old matters. She huffed, “Well, I couldn’t exactly say I was your wife, could I?”

“I don’t mind,” Zhou Qishen smirked.

Jiang Xiao glanced at him and chuckled softly, “Next time I have the chance to meet them, I’ll introduce myself that way.”

At her words, Zhou Qishen paused, seemingly pondering something. Then he said, “Hmm… You remind me, after this trip back to Beijing, I’ll arrange for you to meet them.”

Jiang Xiao understood his meaning. He wanted to introduce his friends to her. She hesitated for a moment and nodded in agreement, “Sure, I’ll be there.”

Seeing her almost immediate acceptance, Zhou Qishen couldn’t hide his happiness. His eyes lowered slightly, the happiness flickering within unable to be concealed. “Yang Tingxiao is my childhood friend. We’re very close. You’ve met his wife before, at the Western restaurant…”

As he spoke, Zhou Qishen suddenly realized something and stopped himself.

Jiang Xiao, who was listening attentively, immediately sensed something amiss. She looked at him suspiciously, quickly discovering the flaw in his words. She narrowed her eyes, “Didn’t you say she was your blind date?”

Jiang Xiao tapped her foot on the ground, slowing the swing to a stop. Then she lifted her head and stared at Zhou Qishen with a slightly dodgy expression, “May I ask, which good family goes on a blind date with their brother’s wife?”

But then she realized that he hadn’t explicitly said that she was his blind date. Instead, he had only mentioned “family pressure.” Thinking it over, she realized she had misunderstood their relationship.

But his mistake lay in deliberately not explaining clearly, leading her astray with suggestive words, like a fox controlling the direction of things, manipulating people’s hearts.

Realizing this, Jiang Xiao was furious. She jumped off the swing in a huff, “You’re unbelievable!”

“Xiaoxiao, Xiao Zhou, come eat.”

Just as Jiang Xiao was about to interrogate him, Aunt Huang’s voice successfully interrupted her anger.

“Coming.” Jiang Xiao glared at Zhou Qishen angrily, then turned away from him and walked towards Aunt Huang.

Aunt Huang noticed the subtle tension between the two, who had been fine just moments ago. How did things suddenly turn sour?

Jiang Xiao was annoyed with herself for being so easily deceived, and she was also annoyed that Zhou Qishen could manipulate her with just a few words. But no matter how you looked at it, ultimately it was Zhou Qishen’s questionable intentions that were to blame.

Just as Jiang Xiao sat down at the dining table, a familiar figure took the seat next to her. Jiang Xiao glanced at him instinctively, rolled her eyes impatiently, and whispered in a low voice, “Go sit opposite.”

Zhou Qishen leaned slightly towards her, his voice also lowered as he said, “I promise to tell the truth from now on. I won’t deceive you anymore.”

“Hmph.” Jiang Xiao turned her head away deliberately, refusing to look at him. However, inwardly, she felt a slight disturbance. After all, when it came to deception, she had deceived him more often than not.

Actually, the current situation wasn’t a big deal at all. It was just that she was still upset, so she didn’t want to forgive him just because he softened a bit.

Jiang Xiao shifted her chair to the other side of the table, making a deliberate move to distance herself, which caught the attention of the waitress, Aunt Huang, who kept glancing over.

At this moment, Grandpa Xu came down from downstairs and sat in the main seat.

Grandpa Xu understood his granddaughter well. Seeing that she didn’t look too happy, he asked, “What’s wrong? You look unhappy.”

Jiang Xiao replied, “It’s nothing.”

Zhou Qishen added, “It’s because of something with her students.”

Both spoke at the same time.

Grandpa Xu glanced at Jiang Xiao and then at Zhou Qishen. In the end, he decided not to intervene in their affairs as a couple. He picked up his chopsticks and gestured to them, “Let’s eat. Solve whatever issues you have privately. If there’s anything you can’t resolve, then come to Grandpa.”

Although he stood by his granddaughter, his final words were a warning to Zhou Qishen not to do anything bad and also a reminder to Jiang Xiao not to let herself be wronged, knowing that he was there to support her.

With Grandpa’s comforting presence, Jiang Xiao’s mood improved quite a bit, and her tone softened. “It’s really nothing.”

Even if there was something, she wouldn’t let her bad mood affect Grandpa. Moreover, it was also to maintain Zhou Qishen’s image in Grandpa’s mind. She couldn’t let Grandpa have any negative opinions about him.

Thinking of this, Jiang Xiao couldn’t help but turn her head to look at Zhou Qishen. Was this guy naive? Who talks like this in front of their wife’s family? Isn’t he afraid of being scolded or hit?

The rest of the meal was eaten in silence, harmonious and peaceful. Occasionally, Jiang Xiao used her chopsticks to pick food for Grandpa Xu, and Zhou Qishen also used his chopsticks to pick food for her, not forgetting to pick for Grandpa Xu as well.

After dinner, while Zhou Qishen went to the kitchen to help Aunt Huang get some fruit, Jiang Xiao answered a call from Liang Cheng, which was about the shooting of the Omega print advertisement.

The time and location were both in Jing City, and the photography team was one she had worked with before, so there were no complaints. However, as Jiang Xiao listened, she noticed that Liang Cheng was evasive about who the other spokesperson shooting with her was, only confirming that it wasn’t Ji Changzheng.

“It’s not Ji Changzheng?” Jiang Xiao was somewhat surprised.

But then again, Ji Changzheng had long secured the endorsement for Omega, and the advertising campaign was already extensive. The parts that needed to be shot had already been completed. Her upcoming shooting work involved the autumn and winter collection with another spokesperson.

The official announcement hadn’t been made yet, but it was expected that they would want to build up some anticipation first before releasing the campaign. So, apart from the brand, neither side knew who they were collaborating with.

Jiang Xiao and Liang Cheng chatted about some other topics before returning to the main topic in the end. “By the way, who is the other spokesperson?”

On the other end of the phone, Liang Cheng hesitated but had to say, “It’s said to be Zhou Wenting.”

Jiang Xiao blinked, stunned in place.

Silence spread between them over the phone.

“Xiaoxiao.” Liang Cheng couldn’t help but break the silence.

Jiang Xiao snapped out of it. Surprised by the answer yet not entirely unexpected, Zhou Wenting indeed was one of the strongest new male actors, recently winning a Best Actor award and with several unreleased dramas and movies set to be released.

Whether in terms of fans or public favor, he was top-notch. Not to mention the purchasing power of his fans, which was terrifyingly immense.

The brand decides on its spokesperson, and Euqami choosing him as a brand spokesperson didn’t surprise Jiang Xiao at all. It’s just that why did it have to be him shooting with her? Moreover, according to Liang Cheng’s description just now, it involved both solo and duo shoots.

Last time at Zhou’s house, they had parted on bad terms, compounded by their history. Honestly, she really didn’t want to have any connection with him in private. Now, she had managed to avoid that, but in terms of work, they had reestablished contact.

“I see. Public is public, private is private. I’ll try not to have any contact with him as much as possible,” Jiang Xiao took a deep breath, speaking in the calmest tone possible.

She wasn’t someone who couldn’t distinguish between public and private matters. Her personal emotions wouldn’t affect her work. As long as the other party didn’t cause trouble, they would go their separate ways after shooting, which didn’t mean much to her.

“Who are you avoiding?” At this moment, Zhou Qishen’s slightly questioning voice came from behind.

Jiang Xiao was startled, instinctively turned her body to look over. Not far away, Zhou Qishen held a plate of freshly cut seasonal fruits, slowly approaching her. His tall figure was restrained under his trousers, but it didn’t slow down his pace. In no time, he stood in front of her.

“I have something here, I’ll hang up first,” Jiang Xiao pursed her lips and said to Liang Cheng on the phone.

Zhou Qishen looked down at her nervous expression, furrowed his brows slightly without a word, and pushed the fruit towards her. “Freshly cut. Want some?”

“Thank you.” Jiang Xiao took the toothpick and took a bite of the peach slice, but for some reason, she felt a bit guilty and didn’t dare to meet Zhou Qishen’s gaze.

After a while, unable to bear the awkwardness, Jiang Xiao couldn’t help but speak up, “Haha, it’s really delicious.”

Zhou Qishen noticed her reaction keenly, a sharp glint passing through his eyes for a moment before returning to normal. Softening his tone, he asked again, “You still haven’t answered me. Who are you avoiding?”

Jiang Xiao hesitated for a moment, then decided not to hide it and explained everything straightforwardly, “It’s just rumored to be Zhou Wenting, but it’s not confirmed yet…”

In reality, it was almost certain. If not Zhou Wenting, then who else could it be? They were nearing the shooting date, all the advertisements were prepared, and changes were unlikely.

“It’s just work, nothing more,” Zhou Qishen’s voice was cold and solemn, devoid of any emotion, as if he had no additional opinion on the matter, showing great magnanimity and understanding.

However, as he lowered his head, his black hair fell over his eyes, making his expression inscrutable.

Seeing this, Jiang Xiao breathed a sigh of relief. Thankfully, Zhou Qishen was reasonable and wouldn’t blindly suspect or speculate. She added, “Yeah, besides work, there won’t be any other interaction between us.”

At her words, Zhou Qishen paused briefly, surprised by the passing thought that had crossed his mind just now. He had almost impulsively intervened in Jiang Xiao’s work…