Chapter 32: Quite a Big Green Hat

Zhou Jian saw Zeng Xiaoyue and greeted her warmly, “Xiaoyue, let me carry your bag for you.”

Zeng Xiaoyue discreetly glanced at Mu Ruo and handed her bag to Zhou Jian.

“Where are we going for dinner?” she asked.

Zhou Jian mentioned a restaurant. When they reached the parking lot, he opened the car door for Zeng Xiaoyue and Mu Ruo, inviting them to sit in the back together.

Zeng Xiaoyue didn’t want to sit with Mu Ruo. “I’ll sit in the front seat.”

Zhou Jian hesitated, worried Mu Ruo would feel awkward alone, and looked at her for confirmation.

Mu Ruo waved it off, indicating it was fine.

Zeng Xiaoyue checked the restaurant Zhou Jian mentioned and saw that the average cost was in the thousands. She closed the webpage and asked, “Is Mu Ruo your biological sister?”

Zhou Jian replied while driving out of the parking lot, “She’s not my real sister, but she’s like one.”

He meant it sincerely. Mu Ruo often ate meals at his house when they were young and helped his mother discipline him with his homework. To Zhou Jian, Mu Ruo was as good as a real sister.

Zeng Xiaoyue glanced back at Mu Ruo, guessing she was one of those girls who ingratiated herself with people to make money.

The couple in front chatted sweetly while Mu Ruo sat awkwardly in the back.

She had no choice but to poke Fu Jianzhi on her phone and message him.

“I’m out tonight. I can buy breakfast for tomorrow. What would you like?”

Since the housekeeper was off, she and Fu Jianzhi took turns cooking.

Fu Jianzhi replied shortly, “Anything.”

Mu Ruo teased, “How about durian with stinky tofu?”

“Sure, if you want your salary docked next month.”

“Qwq, I’m sorry…”

Fu Jianzhi saw Mu Ruo send a crying bunny sticker and couldn’t help but smile.

Realizing he was smiling, he quickly suppressed it and sent her a red packet.

Mu Ruo eagerly opened the red packet.

Damn. 0.01.

She gritted her teeth in frustration and turned off her phone.

Soon, they arrived at the restaurant. Mu Ruo got out of the car, and the three of them went in together.

Seeing Mu Ruo handle herself so effortlessly in this setting and confidently respond to the courteous waitstaff, Zeng Xiaoyue felt uncomfortable.

If she were with Wu Shuoliang, they might never experience such a place even in ten or twenty years.

Poverty brings sorrow to a couple. What good is love without money?

Zhou Jian smiled and said, “Xiaoyue, Sister Ruo Ruo is really nice. If you ever have anything you don’t feel comfortable discussing with me, you can talk to her.”

Zeng Xiaoyue didn’t believe it. She guessed Mu Ruo was one of those manipulative types and sneered inwardly before continuing with Zhou Jian, “My cousin said he doesn’t want to study. His family is struggling, and he wants to earn more money in the next few years to improve their living conditions.”

Zhou Jian hadn’t realized some families had it that hard.

Zeng Xiaoyue was so kind, thinking of her family even though her own life was modest.

Zhou Jian felt a bit guilty, “Then I—”

“I’d like to know, which relative’s son is this cousin of yours?” Mu Ruo interrupted Zhou Jian with a smile. “Miss Zeng, you’re really kind to your cousin.”

Zeng Xiaoyue’s face stiffened. “He’s my biological uncle’s son. We’re very closely related.”

“Oh, if he’s your uncle’s son, he should be your paternal cousin, and you should have the same last name.”

Zeng Xiaoyue didn’t immediately catch the logic, but then she realized. “I meant my maternal uncle’s son,” she quickly corrected. “Where I’m from, we call our maternal uncles ‘uncle’ as well. Small places have different customs than big cities. Sister Ruo Ruo, you don’t look down on me, do you?”

Mu Ruo smiled. “Of course not, customs vary from place to place.”

Zhou Jian, completely smitten, was filled with thoughts of how kind-hearted Xiaoyue was. He didn’t realize how similar he was to Lu Beichen back then.

Mu Ruo asked, “Xiaoyue, have you ever been in a relationship? Are you single now?”

Zeng Xiaoyue’s face turned pale.

The truth was, she had been in a relationship with Wu Shuoliang, and they were living together. When Wu Shuoliang found out Zhou Jian was pursuing her, he was furious. But upon seeing the expensive gifts and red packets from Zhou Jian, Wu Shuoliang reluctantly accepted that they were “broken up” and encouraged Zeng Xiaoyue to hold onto the rich guy.

Even though they weren’t officially a couple anymore, they still lived together and did everything that couples do. Zeng Xiaoyue still liked Wu Shuoliang a lot. Every meeting and conversation with Zhou Jian made her feel disgusted and pained, only alleviated by the gifts.

She lowered her head. “I had an online relationship during school, but we never met. When I found out he had a girlfriend in real life, I broke it off. Since then, I haven’t wanted to date.”

Zhou Jian’s heart ached even more. “Xiaoyue, those guys were just scumbags. You’ll meet someone better. A girl like you deserves to be treated well.”

Zeng Xiaoyue smiled shyly. “My family is very traditional. I just want to find a man I truly love, get married, and be a good wife and mother, taking care of his family and parents.”

Mu Ruo was speechless.

To Zhou Jian, who grew up in an unhappy family, this was a killer move. As expected, he was stunned. After dinner, Zeng Xiaoyue offered to pay the bill. “Zhou Jian, you’ve treated me so many times. I just got paid, let me treat you.”

The meal cost more than Zeng Xiaoyue’s monthly salary. Zhou Jian couldn’t bear to let her pay. Not only did he insist on paying, but he also took her shopping at the IFC Center, telling her to buy whatever she wanted, and he’d pay.

Mu Ruo was dumbfounded by this foolish generosity. “Boss, if I shop on this floor, will you pay for me too?”

“No,” Zhou Jian said, pained by the thought of her high spending. “Sister Ruo Ruo, your husband is a hundred times richer than me. Use your own card.”

When Zeng Xiaoyue heard that Mu Ruo had a wealthy husband, her impression of her improved significantly.

Mu Ruo looked around and didn’t find anything she liked until she saw a deep gray tie. Its simple, elegant design reminded her inexplicably of Fu Jianzhi. She bought it on impulse, considering it a small repayment for the 20 million yuan.

Then she saw a hat.

A very bold design.

A green hat.

Mu Ruo picked up the hat and placed it on Zhou Jian’s head. “Don’t you think this hat suits you perfectly?”