Chapter 22

Qi Zhengchen, sitting in the seat behind the front passenger, suddenly remembered something, sat up straight, and patted the shoulder of the person in the front seat.

Xu Zhiyi turned her head, busy drinking the lime and pomelo tea, her eyes asking what was up.

“Where are you staying tonight? I’ve brought all the apartment access cards; if you don’t mind my parents being too enthusiastic, you can stay at my place,” Qi Zhengchen said, flicking her glass with his finger, signaling her to drink more slowly.

After going abroad for school, she had her grandfather turn her room into a tea room. She would invite a few old friends over for tea and chess now and then. There was no need to keep a bedroom that was rarely used just for the few days she came back each year.

Her grandfather had always wanted a tea room but refused to touch her bedroom. After much persuasion, he finally relented. He designed it himself, transforming it into an elegant tea room with a quaint little courtyard, pavilions, flowing water, and a bamboo grove in the corner.

Xu Zhiyi put down the straw from her glass and replied, “I’ll stay at a hotel; it’s closer to my grandparents’ place.”

Qi Zhengchen: “Try staying at a hotel if you dare.”

Xu Zhiyi wasn’t intimidated by the threat: “Be careful, or you might not get the tennis racket.” She put the straw back in her mouth. After Qi Zhengchen’s reminder, she drank more slowly.

Jiang Sixun glanced at the two people who were very close and in perfect harmony, then looked out of the window on his side.

“I almost forgot,” Xu Zhiyi took out her wallet and pulled out the top card. “I have some money now.” She tapped the other two black cards. “My dad gave me some pocket money.”

Qi Zhengchen didn’t take the card and told her to keep it. With her personality, she wouldn’t carelessly use her parents’ money.

“Don’t rush to pay me back; you can return it after you finish your master’s degree and start working,” he said. “There isn’t much money on the card; keep it as a fixed deposit.”

Xu Zhiyi smiled, “I’ll give you ten yuan interest when it matures.” She put the card back into its slot. This card’s significance and value couldn’t be compared to any black card.

The car had entered the city and had just passed a few intersections when the driver, following Qi Zhengchen’s previous instructions, slowly pulled over to the side.

He glanced at the rearview mirror: “Mr. Qi, we’ve arrived.”

The two people in the back seat were chatting when they heard this. They looked at the driver, then at the outside of the car.

Jiang Sixun, unfamiliar with the area, assumed, “Is Xu Zhiyi’s grandparents’ house nearby?”

“Not at all.”

“Not at all,” Qi Zhengchen and Xu Zhiyi answered in unison.

As for why they had stopped here, Xu Zhiyi was puzzled as well.

Qi Zhengchen pulled a set of sports car keys from the back seat armrest and pointed outside Jiang Sixun’s window: “You see that commercial building, Block A,” he said, tossing the car keys to Jiang Sixun. “My car with the license plate 1026 is in the basement. You can drive it for the next few days.”

Jiang Sixun: “…”

So, this was where he was supposed to get out.

Qi Zhengchen also handed him two bottles of water, explaining, “Xu Zhiyi’s grandparents’ house isn’t in the same direction as yours; you’ll need to take a long detour. Hurry back, so Aunt Jiang won’t be waiting.”

Jiang Sixun’s tone was somewhat melancholy: “Thank you.”

Qi Zhengchen, in a particularly good mood today, didn’t notice the hint of sarcasm. He laughed, “Not bad, how come you’re suddenly so polite?”

It used to be almost impossible to hear a “thank you” from him.

Jiang Sixun ignored the question, glanced at the person in the front passenger seat, opened the car door, and stepped out.

The driver had already taken out his two suitcases, seemingly ready to help him deliver them to the basement.

He lifted his chin slightly, “Just leave them there. I’ll handle it myself.”

The driver hesitated, as it was the boss’s order.

Jiang Sixun: “Send Xu Zhiyi back quickly.”

“Okay,” the driver returned to the car.

The front passenger window slowly lowered, and Xu Zhiyi’s usually cold but now particularly bright face appeared. Jiang Sixun took a step forward: “Is there something you want to say?”

Xu Zhiyi waved her hand slightly: “Goodbye, Mr. Jiang.”

Jiang Sixun, amused, replied, “Goodbye.”

A lazy voice from the car window said, “We’ll see each other tomorrow, what’s there to say goodbye for?”

The car started, leaving only two trails of blue exhaust.

Jiang Sixun looked at the car keys in his hand and pushed the two suitcases to the underground parking lot across the street. One suitcase was his personal items, and the other contained gifts for his mother and Qi Zhengchen’s parents.

His accompanying bodyguards and driver had stayed in Shanghai. Qi Zhengchen had insisted the day before that he didn’t need to bring anything, saying he would cover everything. It seemed this was his idea of a five-star, all-inclusive, thoughtful service.

In the basement of Block E, he found the deep blue sports car. The license plate 1026 wasn’t eye-catching among Qi Zhengchen’s many cars, but it was the one Qi Zhengchen drove most often.

Previously Incomprehensible, Now Understood

He had seen Xu Zhiyi’s passport and knew her birthday was October 26.

Jiang Sixun put the suitcase in the trunk and sent a message to Qi Zhengchen: 【The license plate is on Zhiyi’s birthday?】

Qi Zhengchen: 【You’re quite observant. Yes, it’s her birthday. I gave her this gift for her eighteenth birthday, but she wasn’t eligible to buy a car, so it was registered under my name. As long as she’s on break and back in the country, she can drive it. Since she doesn’t need it this time, I’m lending it to you.】

Jiang Sixun tossed his phone on the center console and started the engine to leave.

Back at home, dusk had fallen.

The villa’s courtyard had a dining table set up. His mother was eating alone, her short hair styled neatly, dressed in a moon-white suit. Every time he came back, his mother was almost always dressed like this.

She devoted all her time to work, and even at home, she mostly wore formal attire, ready for any social engagements.

Jiang Yue Ru didn’t know her son had returned today. When the deep blue sports car drove into the courtyard, she thought it was Qi Zhengchen visiting her. She’d heard he came to check on her every ten days or so, especially since she wasn’t in the best health.

She put down her chopsticks, hurriedly wiped her hands with a napkin, and stood up to greet him. But seeing her rebellious son getting out of the car, she immediately sat back down.

“Why are you suddenly back?” she asked, turning to instruct the housekeeper to make two more dishes.

Jiang Sixun replied, “I missed you, so I came back to see you.”

“Just be grateful I’m not mad at you. Thank the heavens,” Jiang Yue Ru said as she took a slice of watermelon from the fruit plate for her son.

In the light, Jiang Sixun noticed a white hair in his mother’s meticulously styled hair. He didn’t take the watermelon but walked over to her to confirm.

“Is there something in my hair?”

“There’s a white hair. I’ll pull it out for you.” He reached out and found there were more than one.

“No need to pull it out. I’m nearly fifty; having white hair is quite normal,” Jiang Yue Ru said, pushing her son gently to have him sit back down.

To Jiang Sixun, it wasn’t just white hair; it was the realization that his mother was indeed aging.

“I won’t make you angry anymore.”

Jiang Yue Ru didn’t hold back: “You’ve said that since you were little. If it’s not a thousand times, it’s at least seven or eight hundred.”

Jiang Sixun didn’t argue and took the slice of watermelon from his mother’s hand.

“How’s Grandpa?”

“He’s okay.”

Jiang Yue Ru nodded. “Make sure to visit him more often.” She didn’t ask any more questions.

She wasn’t interested in the Lu family matters.

No one mentioned Lu Jianbo; his name and presence were unwelcome topics at home. Since her divorce, Jiang Yue Ru had only kept in touch with the elder Mr. Lu and had sent Jiang Sixun to stay with him every summer.

Over the years, she had not met anyone from the Lu family.

“When is Zhiyi coming back to the country?”

“She’s back now; she’s in Beijing.”

Jiang Yue Ru said, “Then ask her when she’s free and bring her to our home for a meal. I heard Zhiyi and Zhengchen played together since they were young. Invite Zhengchen too; it will be more lively with more people.”

Jiang Sixun, slowly eating the watermelon, said, “Aren’t you the one who prefers fewer people and peace?”

“…Are you determined to argue with me? What did you just say? Have you forgotten?”

“I won’t make you angry anymore.”

Jiang Sixun certainly hadn’t forgotten: “I’ll bring Qi Zhengchen here on a sedan with eight bearers for you.”

Jiang Yue Ru: “……”

His ability to infuriate remained unchanged.

It was indeed a wise decision to send the rebellious son back to the Lu family.

Jiang Sixun hadn’t finished his watermelon when a voice call came in on the phone on the table.

Seeing it was Xu Ningwei, he answered on speakerphone.

“Jiang Sixun, are you busy?”

“Not busy. What’s up?”

Xu Ningwei was sitting in a café, holding a cup of iced coffee, hesitating.

“What’s wrong?” Jiang Sixun wiped his hands, turned off the speakerphone, and put the phone to his ear.

After a few seconds of silence, Xu Ningwei explained that she had a falling out with Xie Meihua and mistakenly took the wrong bag when leaving home. All her documents were in the other bag, and she didn’t want to go home tonight. Without her documents, she couldn’t check into a hotel and was now in Beijing with no one to turn to.

“I feel bad about bothering my aunt again,” she said. “Can I stay at your apartment for one night? The one I used to stay in.”

Jiang Sixun asked, “Where are you now?”

Xu Ningwei: “I’m at your apartment.”

“Wait a bit,” he said.

“No rush. I’m having coffee at a nearby café.”

After dining with his mother, Jiang Sixun drove over himself.

The apartment was near the Guomao area, and he rarely stayed there. Xu Heng had brought Ningwei there to play before, and they occasionally stayed there.

He encountered traffic and it took nearly an hour to get there.

Xu Ningwei was already resting in the lobby of the apartment building. She had assumed Jiang Sixun was in New York, so it was a surprise when the housekeeper brought her the access card. She was stunned for a few seconds before reacting.

She had inadvertently heard Shang Tongxu mention that Xu Zhiyi was back in the country, which led to their contact being reconnected. “Jiang Sixun, did you bring Xu Zhiyi back?”

As soon as she asked, she was surprised at herself for asking that.

Jiang Sixun sat on the sofa opposite her. “Yes, Zhiyi came to Beijing with me.”

Now, everyone was revolving around Xu Zhiyi, and Jiang Sixun was no exception.

Xu Ningwei sipped her coffee in silence.

Jiang Sixun looked at her and asked, “What happened to make you fall out with your family?”

Xu Ningwei sneered, “What else? Their precious little daughter was wronged.” Shang Canran often made sarcastic remarks and was always annoying to her. Tonight, she accidentally sat on a dress that Shang Canran had left on the sofa and told her not to leave clothes lying around; they should be put away in her own room.

Shang Canran immediately responded with, “This is my house; I can put things wherever I want. Who are you to tell me otherwise?”

Too lazy to argue, Xu Ningwei simply tossed the dress aside.

This was unacceptable to Shang Canran, who began to lose it.

Hearing the commotion in the living room, Xie Meihua came out from the study to mediate.

Wanting to reprimand her, she found herself unable to do so. Instead, she kicked Shang Canran’s dress onto the floor.

“Xu Ningwei, how old are you!” Xie Meihua actually shouted at her.

“Don’t you know how old you are?” Xu Ningwei retorted.

Thinking she was easy to bully, she went to her room, threw her shoes, books, and rarely worn clothes onto the living room sofa, and accidentally knocked over a pair of newly bought vases by Xie Meihua while doing so.

The vases shattered on the floor.

She didn’t even look at the mess, grabbing her bag and slamming the door behind her, shutting out the angry shouts.

She had considered moving out, but that would make her appear too willful in the eyes of her foster parents. Xu Xiangyi had advised her that, having missed out on twenty years, now that she was studying abroad, she only had holidays to spend with her family. She should make the most of the time with her family while she could, because once she started working and had her own family, finding time to spend with her parents would be difficult.

It was because of her foster parents that she had endured Xie Meihua’s behavior, but tonight she just couldn’t take it anymore.

“I can’t stay in that house for even a day,” she said with reddened eyes. “I miss my mom and dad.”

Jiang Sixun said, “I can’t help with that phone call. You can contact Uncle Xu yourself, or I can help you get in touch with Professor Shang to take you home. If you don’t want to go back just yet, you can stay in the apartment for a night and calm down. Think about what you want to do.”

Xu Ningwei didn’t want to contact Xu Xiangyi, unsure of how to start the conversation.

Earlier, while in London, her foster parents had repeatedly advised her not to throw tantrums with her biological parents and to communicate properly.

She had agreed at the time, but it hadn’t been long before she clashed with Xie Meihua again and left home in a huff.

But she truly missed Xu Xiangyi and He Yian. They had never scolded her, and even when she was willful, they indulged her.

Unlike Xie Meihua, who always preached without understanding.

“Ningwei, control your temper,” Jiang Sixun guided her. “Calm down and interact with Professor Shang. You have research potential; don’t waste your talent.”

Xu Ningwei wiped away her tears with her fingertips, “Do you think I have a talent for research?”

Jiang Sixun said, “Aren’t you clear about what you’re good at? Previously, with too many distractions around you at Uncle Xu’s place, you couldn’t focus. Now you have Professor Shang’s guidance, and you have all the innate conditions. Are you sure you want to waste this opportunity?”

But Xu Ningwei couldn’t take it in. She hadn’t yet come to terms with the huge gap in her life and identity.

After finishing half a cup of iced coffee, she decided to stay in the apartment for the night and go home the next day to pack her things before heading back to school.

She hadn’t bought a plane ticket yet. In her whole life, she had never booked a ticket herself. Most of her travel was on her father’s private jet, and even when she did fly commercially, someone else usually booked her tickets. She would need to figure out how to book a ticket when she got upstairs.

“Brother Sixun, I’m sorry to trouble you, but I’ll stay in the apartment for the night.”

“It’s no trouble at all.”

The apartment was cleaned daily and was ready for immediate occupancy.

Xu Ningwei’s phone rang—it was a call from Shang Tongxu.

She didn’t want to answer it, as she had nothing to say.

She hung up and sent a message: 【Dad, I’m not coming home tonight. I’ll go back once I calm down, don’t worry about me.】

Shang Tongxu: 【Your documents are at home. How can you stay in a hotel? Where are you? I’ll come pick you up. I’ve already talked to Canran. If the vase is broken, we’ll just buy a new one.】

Xu Ningwei: 【I’m staying at Brother Sixun’s apartment. It’s empty and hasn’t been lived in for a while.】

Shang Tongxu: 【Isn’t that just causing trouble for others?】

Xu Ningwei: 【I’ll make sure not to trouble him in the future.】 I just have no other options tonight.

【Then send me your location. I’ll have the housekeeper pack a few things for you and bring them over.】

This month, the house had been anything but peaceful, with constant chaos.

His youngest daughter was crying in her room, sulking and skipping dinner. Xie Meihua hadn’t eaten either, locking herself in the study for the whole night.

No one was making things easy for him.

【By the way, Dad, can you have the housekeeper pack my luggage? I’m going back to school tomorrow.】

Shang Tongxu pinched the bridge of his nose: 【School doesn’t start for another two weeks. Why are you going back so early? The day after tomorrow is your mom’s birthday. Come back after the celebration.】

Xu Ningwei ignored that part and insisted: 【I have things to do at school.】

Shang Tongxu sighed. No one was listening to his advice.

Jiang Sixun handed her the access card. “Rest well, and when you leave tomorrow, just leave the card at the front desk.”

Xu Ningwei walked him to the apartment building’s door. “When I get my scholarship, I’ll treat you to a meal.”

Jiang Sixun replied, “No need for thanks. Go on up.”

He got into the car but didn’t start it right away. Instead, he took out his phone and composed a message.

When the phone buzzed, Xu Zhiyi, who had just finished showering and was drying her hair, saw the message was from her boss and opened it immediately.

【Xu Ningwei had a falling out with her mother and has nowhere to go. I’ve lent her the apartment that I don’t use for one night.】

Xu Zhiyi: “……”

He was her boss, so he didn’t need to report to her.

But then she thought maybe he accidentally sent it to her instead of her dad or brother, so she replied: 【Did you mean to send this to my dad or brother? Did you send it to the wrong person?】

Jiang Sixun: 【I didn’t send it to the wrong person. 】