Chapter 16

On the way back, Jiang Yu felt tired and fell asleep in the car. She slept the whole way, waking up with a sore neck to find they were in the underground parking lot, and Jiang Zhe was hesitating whether to wake her.

Still groggy, Jiang Yu saw Jiang Zhe’s hand reaching out then retracting and asked, confused and louder than usual, “What are you doing?”

Jiang Zhe, feeling a bit guilty though he had done nothing wrong, explained quietly, “We’ve arrived.”

A nearby car honked, and Jiang Yu, realizing they had arrived, unfastened her seatbelt. “Oh, we’re here.”

She then asked Jiang Zhe, “Should I wait in the car or go up with you?”

Jiang Zhe wouldn’t let her stay alone in the parking lot. “Come up with me.”

Being there, Jiang Yu couldn’t help being curious and asked, “Is your position at your company very high? That’s why you don’t need to be there every day?”

From her observations, Jiang Zhe’s position had to be quite high to have such flexibility. This would explain why he had no financial pressure and could afford to splurge without a second thought.

Thinking of this, Jiang Yu decided she must take him shopping one day to show him how to bargain. He was too wasteful. The extra money could be saved in the bank to earn interest.

Jiang Zhe thought she might have guessed something but was surprised she believed he was just a high-ranking employee.

“Well, I’m kind of a senior employee.”

Jiang Yu, curious, asked, “How much do you make monthly? Do you earn over a million a year?”

She thought, given his future role as a big shot, it might not be far off, but considering his youth, his major successes might be in the future.

Jiang Zhe looked at her curious eyes and admitted, “Yes, I do.”

When they reached his office, Jiang Yu understood why Jiang Zhe had looked at her so subtly earlier. His company, co-founded with a partner, was a leading internet company in the city. While Jiang Zhe wasn’t the legal representative, he held an essential position. His partner, Wei Cheng, was on the verge of tears when he saw him.

“Jiang Zhe, you’re finally here. We’ve been waiting for you for so long.”

Wei Cheng was momentarily stunned to see Jiang Yu with Jiang Zhe, showing shock but quickly regaining composure. “Why did you bring your wife?”

Jiang Zhe introduced Wei Cheng to Jiang Yu, “This is Wei Cheng, my senior from university. He invited me to join this venture.”

Then he explained to Wei Cheng, “I was taking her to see the peach blossoms.”

From their brief conversation, Wei Cheng understood Jiang Zhe’s attitude towards Jiang Yu. He recalled rumors about Jiang Zhe’s wife, who supposedly had a crush on his nephew and treated Jiang Zhe terribly after their marriage. Seeing the couple now, though, Jiang Yu seemed gentle and not at all like the aggressive person described.

Wei Cheng wondered if Jiang Yu had come to terms with her situation or if there was another reason for the change.

Wei Cheng said, “I see I’m interrupting your date, but I really need your help. Please check on Mr. Li’s computer quickly, and I’ll make it up to you both with dinner tonight.”

As Wei Cheng was observing Jiang Yu, she was also sizing him up. Given Jiang Zhe’s introverted nature, running a company alone would be challenging. However, partnering with someone as sociable as Wei Cheng was undoubtedly advantageous.

Jiang Yu obediently greeted him, “Hello, Senior.”

Wei Cheng found Jiang Yu quite amusing and said, “It’s been a long time since anyone called me ‘Senior’ after entering the workforce.”

Jiang Zhe felt a bit annoyed because Wei Cheng was notorious for being popular with women. Although his looks weren’t as striking as Jiang Zhe’s, he had a way with words.

Jiang Zhe told Jiang Yu, “Just call him Wei Cheng. You can wait for me in the office, I’ll be quick. I’ll have someone bring you something to eat. Let me know if you want anything specific.”

Then, he pulled Wei Cheng out of the office.

Seeing Jiang Zhe so protective of his wife, Wei Cheng smirked and teased, “You don’t need to be so wary. I’m not stealing your wife. You should be more worried about your nephew.”

To hurry him out, he even tugged at him.

Jiang Zhe, known for his dislike of physical contact, would frown if someone accidentally touched him and would secretly wash his hands afterward. This was the first time Wei Cheng had seen him take the initiative, so he seized the opportunity to tease him.

After closing his office door, Jiang Zhe let go of Wei Cheng, took out a tissue to wipe his hands, and arranged for someone to look after Jiang Yu. Only then did he get back to work.

Wei Cheng and the others were accustomed to his quirks and didn’t mind his cold demeanor, considering it a trait of a genius.

Left alone in the office, Jiang Yu found it large, empty, and a bit cold, reflecting Jiang Zhe’s personality. There was a large floor-to-ceiling window and a big bookshelf, but it looked like no one actually worked there.

Soon, a young woman came in, looking at Jiang Yu while saying, “Mrs. Jiang, Mr. Jiang asked me to see if you need anything.”

Jiang Yu only asked for a bottle of water, which the woman brought along with some of Jiang Yu’s favorite snacks, clearly arranged by Jiang Zhe.

Jiang Zhe returned in less than half an hour, finding Jiang Yu reading a management book. He asked, “Do you like reading this kind of book?”

“Of course not,” said Jiang Yu, munching on chips. “This is the only book in your office that I can understand.”

The books on stocks and computers were beyond her comprehension, and she found nothing else to pass the time.

Jiang Zhe felt a bit embarrassed. “Actually, I don’t understand much about management either.”

Jiang Yu was taken aback but thought his definition of “understanding” must differ from hers. His personality indeed made social interactions a pressure.

Jiang Yu shrugged, “Everyone has their strengths. Yours are in computers and stocks, so it’s normal to be weaker in other areas.”

Noticing many stock-related books on his shelf, she asked curiously, “Do you play the stock market?”

“I dabble a bit,” Jiang Zhe replied.

“Many people lose money in the stock market. I used to play but lost. Did you make or lose money?” Jiang Yu inquired.

“I made a small profit,” Jiang Zhe said.

Jiang Yu, familiar with his understatement, knew that “a small profit” meant he had made a significant amount. She felt a bit envious. “Oh, Jiang Zhe, could you lend me your money-making brain for a while?”

Jiang Zhe responded honestly, “I can’t do that, but you can spend my money.”

Just then, Wei Cheng walked in, hearing their conversation. He lamented dramatically while handing Jiang Zhe some documents, “I can’t believe you’re making me witness this PDA right as I walk in.”

Jiang Zhe coldly replied, “You could cover your ears.”

Wei Cheng was speechless. He shoved the documents towards Jiang Zhe. “Sign these. There’s a pile more waiting for your signature.”

Then he turned to Jiang Yu, “Sister-in-law, please persuade him to come to the office more often. It’s tough managing this company alone.”

During a break in signing, Jiang Zhe glanced up at them.

Jiang Yu sided with Jiang Zhe, “I trust he knows what he’s doing.”

Wei Cheng felt dejected. “Heaven is truly unfair.”

Signing documents while enduring their affection was too much. After Jiang Zhe finished, Wei Cheng invited them to dinner. “Sister-in-law, join us for dinner tonight.”

Jiang Yu, finding his invitation sincere, agreed, “Sure.”

Jiang Zhe initially wanted to refuse but closed his mouth when Jiang Yu accepted.

Seeing this, Wei Cheng laughed and patted Jiang Zhe’s shoulder. “Great, let’s also invite Old Tang and the others.”

Then he left with the documents.

As soon as he left, Jiang Yu realized she might have made a mistake. “Should I not have agreed?”

Jiang Zhe reassured her, “It’s fine. Meeting them is okay.”

Jiang Yu relaxed. “Alright then.”

She checked the time. It was 2 PM. They had eaten on the way, so she asked, “Where are we going now?”

Jiang Zhe didn’t know, but he wasn’t keen on going home just yet. He remembered overhearing a conversation in a nearby office about a newly released movie. “If you’re not too tired, we can go see a movie and then head straight to dinner.”

Jiang Yu, who hadn’t watched a movie in ages due to her busy work schedule and friends being occupied with their own lives, perked up at the suggestion. “Let’s go!”

Jiang Zhe drove them to the nearest cinema. As expected, they bought the usual movie snacks—popcorn and milk tea. However, Jiang Yu, being more conscious of her diet, opted for jujube-flavored milk instead. They entered the theater, Jiang Zhe leading the way with Jiang Yu following closely behind.