Chapter 71: The Pitiful Female Supporting Character from a Patriarchal Family in the 2000s (18)

Ye Zhou’s so-called ignoring her was that he hadn’t called Xiao Ling to the construction site for three days. He hadn’t taken her out for a fancy meal in three days. The most excessive thing was that he hadn’t waited downstairs for her in three whole days to specifically ask if she wanted to go home together.

He himself had been completely absent-minded for three whole days.

Meanwhile, Ai Xiaoling had received a big project from He Wenlei and was staying up every night drafting. She had no idea at all.

On the morning of the fourth day, she got up late. When she went downstairs, she ran into Ye Zhou and saw the weariness on his face. Only then did she slowly recall that, because she had been so busy lately, coming and going early and late, it seemed like it had indeed been a few days since she had talked much with Ye Zhou, mainly because she had truly been too busy and forgot.

Her future backer—could he be ignoring her now?

“Little Boss?” Ai Xiaoling tried calling out to Ye Zhou.

Ye Zhou had been feeling frustrated. The moment she spoke, he instantly felt overjoyed, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips, completely out of his control.

He even found himself ridiculous. His ears turned red with embarrassment.

He wasn’t angry at her. He was angry at himself.

Seeing Ye Zhou smile, Ai Xiaoling let out a sigh of relief and smiled back at him.

“…Want to grab breakfast together?” Ye Zhou softened his tone and asked gently.

“Sure.”

Ye Zhou’s smile deepened instantly. In the car, he asked her, “What have you been doing these past few days? Is work still manageable?”

Recently, Ai Xiaoling had made some progress and was a bit proud. She turned to him and said, “Helping He Wenlei draft drawings. I’m almost done. When it’s finished, I’ll earn two thousand yuan.”

Making money from drafting was much faster than other work.

“That impressive? You already learned to draw them yourself?” Ye Zhou knew she was good at pushing herself. So he said, “Then in the future, the company’s drawings can be handed over to you.”

“Really?”

Looking at her eyes shining brightly, Ye Zhou smiled and nodded sincerely.

This was exactly what she was aiming for.

And he admired and liked her for it. In his eyes, she was dazzling.

Ai Xiaoling said, “Thank you, Little Boss. You have to keep your word.”

“I always keep my word.”

In just one breakfast, Ye Zhou had already adjusted his mood.

If Ai Xiaoling prioritized work, then he would help her in her work.

Liking someone was wanting them to have a better life, right?

To live happier.

As for everything else, it wasn’t so important.

Within just a few days, Ye Zhou secured many drafting projects. Because Ai Xiaoling’s skills were still not strong, he assigned all of them to the neighboring design institute, specifically naming He Wenlei and Ai Xiaoling to complete them.

He had even found a lot of reference materials from somewhere to give to Ai Xiaoling.

Originally, He Wenlei was somewhat isolated in the company. The drawings that landed in his hands were often difficult, requiring much effort.

But the drawings Ye Zhou brought back were different. He had worked on many projects before and had partners clearing the way.

The drawings were simple, easy to draft, and paid well.

He Wenlei himself was overwhelmed by the unexpected wealth and looked at Ai Xiaoling, saying, “That Mr. Ye likes you, right?”

“Don’t talk nonsense,” Ai Xiaoling immediately refuted.

He Wenlei sighed, “Let me tell you secretly. In the past, when your company gave us drafting jobs, we had to give a portion back as a kickback. This time, Mr. Ye specifically said that we can keep that portion.”

Seeing Ai Xiaoling looking confused, He Wenlei continued, “It’s not a small amount. The two of us can earn an extra five to six thousand yuan.”

Since He Wenlei was earning more and had lighter tasks, he became more patient and had more time to teach Ai Xiaoling.

And what He Wenlei said kept echoing in Ai Xiaoling’s mind.

Ever since Ye Zhou brought her along, he had been paving the way for her, giving her money and resources, treating her differently from everyone else.

A while back, he seemed to have thrown a bit of a tantrum. Now he was hiding his emotions again.

Everything he did was for her benefit.

Every time He Wenlei brought it up, Ai Xiaoling didn’t respond. She kept doing what she planned to do all along.

At the end of this month, she was going to move in with Ai Xiaofen.

Ai Xiaofen had originally rented an old dorm room. The grocery store owner’s family lived on the second floor, but recently they bought a house and moved out. Ai Xiaoling asked her to rent that space instead. It was convenient for commuting and saved the trouble of traveling back and forth.

Compared to the previous apartment, the rent was double. Naturally, Ai Xiaofen was reluctant. So Ai Xiaoling said she wanted to move in. Without a second thought, Ai Xiaofen rented it.

These days, Ai Xiaofen had been cleaning and buying furniture.

At the beginning of the month, they could move in.

Ai Xiaoling told Mother Ye about it in advance. At the time, Ye Zhou was also there.

“You’re moving out. Does that mean we won’t see each other often anymore?” Mother Ye was reluctant, and when she looked at Ye Zhou, her anger flared again.

If Ye Zhou hadn’t poached Ai Xiaoling away, would things have turned out like this?

The new staff were usable but none as likable as Ai Xiaoling.

“I’ll still visit often to see you,” Ai Xiaoling promised many times before. So, Mother Ye was no longer so sad.

After Ai Xiaoling went upstairs, Mother Ye looked at Ye Zhou and grumbled, “Look what you’ve done. I really liked Xiaoling. It’s bad enough she can’t be my daughter-in-law. Now things turned into this.”

“You really are my biological son.”

If not, she would’ve beaten him already.

Ye Zhou ignored her and turned to leave. He was upset too.

Mother Ye cursed a few more times behind him. He pretended not to hear.

Ye Zhou walked all the way upstairs and caught Ai Xiaoling before she entered her room. “When are you moving?”

Ai Xiaoling thought for a moment, “In a few days.”

“I’ll help you move.”

“No need—” Ai Xiaoling had just said the words, but facing Ye Zhou’s intense gaze, she suddenly remembered what He Wenlei had said. Her fingers clenched slightly, and her heart began to race for no reason.

Ye Zhou continued, “How long would it take you to move everything by yourself? Don’t you still need to carry everything upstairs? With another person, it’ll be faster.”

Ai Xiaoling lowered her eyes and gently nodded. She looked up and smiled, “Thank you, little boss.”

Ye Zhou’s lips curled up as he looked at her. His gaze lingered and did not move away.

Ai Xiaoling found an excuse and returned to her room to close the door.

She touched her flushed cheeks: “…”

No, this isn’t right.

She must not fall in love with Ye Zhou.

It would end terribly.

Ai Xiaoling thought to herself and leaned against the door to listen for a while. She did not hear his footsteps leaving, and her heartbeat only grew faster.

Standing outside, Ye Zhou wished he could see through the door and had to restrain himself.

*

On the day of the move.

Ai Xiaofen was originally going to come help, but the supermarket needed to restock inventory, so she couldn’t make it.

Ye Zhou borrowed a small truck. While Ai Xiaoling packed her things, he carried them up and down repeatedly.

It was already autumn, and although the weather wasn’t hot, Ye Zhou’s clothes were quickly soaked in sweat.

Feeling bad, Ai Xiaoling wanted to help.

“You just focus on packing. Let me do it,” Ye Zhou stopped her and continued to move things alone.

Back when they worked in the store, she prepared the goods, and he handled stocking and transporting. The workload wasn’t any less than this. But ever since Ye Zhou started his company, he has rarely done physical labor.

When Ye Zhou went out to discuss business, he would even wear shirts and ties, not looking like someone who did manual labor.

Because of this, seeing him like this made Ai Xiaoling feel even more embarrassed.

Once everything had been moved, Ai Xiaoling cleaned the room. Ye Zhou went upstairs to change clothes and came back down to help her carry out the trash. Then the two got into the truck together.

She glanced over and saw sweat all over Ye Zhou’s forehead. She took out some tissues from her bag and handed them to him.

“Thank you,” Ye Zhou took them and wiped away his sweat.

Ai Xiaoling smiled, “I should be the one thanking you.”

“What’s there to thank me for?” Ye Zhou looked ahead and spoke casually.

Ai Xiaoling opened her mouth, just about to say that it was not just for this incident, when she suddenly saw something unusual at the front of the supermarket. Several people had gathered around. Her heart suddenly clenched.

Ye Zhou also noticed and quickly drove over.

Inside the supermarket, Xu Zhi was dragging Ai Xiaofen by the hair, pulling her out and heading toward the counter.

“Don’t touch the money there!” Ai Xiaofen, somehow summoning her courage, rushed at him again.

“You damn woman!” Xu Zhi slapped her hard. “I’m your man. You dare lie to me? Your money is my money! If you keep making a fuss, I’ll beat you to death!”

After Zhao Hui claimed she was pregnant, Xu Zhi immediately divorced Ai Xiaofen and even wanted to marry Zhao Hui.

Later, when Zhao Hui said she needed some money for a check-up and nutrition, thinking that he wouldn’t need to pay a bride price, Xu Zhi gave her a few hundred yuan. Then she said her family disapproved and wanted an abortion.

She asked him to pay for the abortion.

Xu Zhi refused. Zhao Hui had people beat him up. He had to spend a few thousand yuan to settle the matter, and his old mother even fell ill.

He lost the child, lost his wife, and had no one to do the housework at home. Xu Zhi tried to find another woman, but no one was willing to marry him unless it was for money. So he decided to get Ai Xiaofen back.

After all, Ai Xiaofen was hardworking and obedient. She never hit back or talked back.

Xu Zhi had been looking for a long time and finally heard that Ai Xiaofen was here. He came yesterday and asked her for two hundred yuan. Ai Xiaofen gave it to him, saying she had no money and was just working for someone else.

But today he found out that the supermarket belonged to her.

This woman was so rich and only gave him two hundred? That money was his!

Ai Xiaofen’s mouth was bleeding from the slap, but Xu Zhi didn’t even glance at her. He pulled open the drawer to grab the money.

“That’s not your money!” Ai Xiaofen tried to pull him away.

Seeing her shouting again and noticing people watching, Xu Zhi felt embarrassed. He raised his hand to slap her again.

Ai Xiaoling jumped out of the car and rushed over. Filled with blazing anger, she picked up a stick left from the renovations nearby and swung it hard at Xu Zhi’s body, shouting, “Robbery! Call the police! Someone’s committing a robbery!”

Everyone had originally thought it was a domestic dispute between a married couple, but as soon as she shouted that, the onlookers became stirred up.

Xu Zhi cried out in pain as she hit him and was stunned. “What nonsense are you saying? She’s my wife!”

In the village, it was common for husbands to hit their wives.

That was seen as a sign of a man’s authority!

“Who’s your wife? My sister is single. This is a break-in and robbery!” Ai Xiaoling shouted angrily.

“Try hitting again—” Xu Zhi, having been struck multiple times, grabbed her stick and yanked it from her. Ai Xiaoling’s body was suddenly pulled forward.

“Xiaoling!” Ai Xiaofen finally panicked.

Xu Zhi grabbed Ai Xiaoling. His eyes turned red. He raised his hand and was about to slap her with all his strength.

He had been holding back anger toward this girl for a long time. He was sure Ai Xiaofen divorced him because she was incited by her.

“I’ll beat you to death!” Xu Zhi gritted his teeth and said.

Before the slap could land, someone grabbed his hand. Ye Zhou’s face was dark. He pulled Ai Xiaoling back and kicked Xu Zhi away.

“You bastard!” Xu Zhi picked up the stick and swung it at Ye Zhou.

Ai Xiaoling’s heart jumped with worry.

Ye Zhou dodged it. The two of them got into a fight.

Xu Zhi was a brute and had no brains. He couldn’t beat Ye Zhou. When he saw Ai Xiaoling nearby, his face looked like he wanted to eat her alive. He kicked at the shelf in front of her twice, toppling it toward her.

“Xiaoling—”

Ai Xiaofen quickly got up to crawl over, but Ye Zhou was faster. He used his body to support the falling shelf.

Ai Xiaoling only heard him let out a muffled groan