Today's thank-you list! Thank you to all the little darlings who fed us! But! You two who throw 'thunder' every day, please don't! Are you just giving Green River free money?! I appreciate your kindness, thank you so much for your support! And a big kiss to all the darlings who have accompanied us all this way! I'm quite busy this week, so I don't know if I can finish writing an extra chapter. If not, I'll add it next week!
Who was the lucky one who airdropped me 8888 Moonstones?! I just saw it two minutes ago, sob sob sob, thank you so much!
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
Chapter 39
Under Ma Gaozhu's unbearable gaze, Zhang Chaohe fled with Cheng Jixue in a panic. The two of them looked like two drowned geese as they fled the scene in a disheveled state—they could survive, but there was no need for them to.
It's likely that Zhang Chaohe will never set foot in Wantaihui again in his lifetime.
no way!!
However, when the two dogs sneaked into the Volvo and looked at each other, seeing each other's faces wrapped up like mummies, they suddenly burst out laughing!
The two of them laughed like two children who had just pulled off a prank. Zhang Chaohe laughed so hard he pounded the steering wheel: "Hahaha, look at Uncle Ma's expression, hahaha!"
Cheng Jixue even laughed until tears streamed down his face—he never knew he could laugh so hard over something so trivial. He took off his mask and glasses, and because his skin was so fair, two cute little red marks were even left on the bridge of his nose by the glasses holder.
It really looks like the tiny, fluffy spots on a little fox's eyes.
Zhang Chaohe suddenly reached out and pinched it.
Cheng Jixue looked at him in surprise, as if her tears had frozen.
Mr. Zhang leaned over to look in the rearview mirror and exclaimed with delight, "I have one too!"
Cheng Jixue acted swiftly, pinching his little red mark as well: "Then I want to pinch it too!"
Zhang Chaohe gently slapped his hand away: "You can't pinch me, I'll be the only one who'll be embarrassed, Cheng Jixue, you're not being fair!"
Cheng Jixue said confidently, "Anyway, they wouldn't dare say anything!"
Yes, Zhang Chaohe was caught red-handed by his father's trusted lieutenant while having an affair with a male vixen—doesn't Zhang Chaohe have any pride?!
Zhang Chaohe sighed: "I don't care, the 3888 dinner tonight is ruined, you have to compensate me."
Seeing that he looked a little listless, Cheng Jixue rolled her eyes and said, "I do know a private restaurant. Although it doesn't cost 3888, if Mr. Zhang would be so kind as to invite you to dinner, I can reluctantly do you a favor."
Zhang Chaohe sprang to his feet and eagerly started the car; the Volvo immediately roared with hunger.
"Then I'll reluctantly do you the honor." He stepped on the gas, and the Volvo shot out of the underground garage like an arrow!
The driver of the car next to him stuck his head out of the window in disbelief, watching the Volvo speeding away in a cloud of dust, and muttered loudly, "Idiot, do you think you're driving a McLaren?"
⚹
After finishing his mediation work, Ma Gaozhu rushed to the Zhang family's old house. Zhang Fulin warmly invited him to have dinner, but Ma Gaozhu declined several times before sitting down. Ms. Zhao even served him a bowl of soup.
Zhang Fulin sighed, "Sigh, you watched Diandian grow up, and now he's already twenty-four."
“Yes, we all get old!” Ma Gaozhu sighed. “The two young gentlemen are already so grown up. In a few more years, you’ll be able to hold your grandchildren!”
"To be honest, this matter is very worrying for me! My two sons," Zhang Fulin sighed, "the eldest says he's too busy with work to find a partner, and Nanfeng is also very capable and doesn't need to rely on arranged marriages or any of those shady characters to make a living."
“As for Dian Dian, I can’t bear to see him live a miserable life with someone he doesn’t like.” Zhang Fulin’s face was full of worry, vividly illustrating the anxious look of a modern father: “But he’s already twenty-four years old, and he doesn’t even have a single close friend!”
Makoto: ...
He was filled with suspicion and uncertainty. The boy who was with Xiao Zhang today, the two of them were... that and that, so intimate, didn't Chairman Zhang know?
However, Zhang Fulin keenly caught the brief look of surprise on his face! Zhang Fulin's expression changed: "Is there something I don't know?"
Ma Gaozhu was so angry he wanted to slap his thigh—what did he say?
Hello, brother. Your son just went out on an affair with a vixen. The two of them were all lovey-dovey, all sweet and cuddly, while you're left sighing and worrying every day that your son won't be able to find a wife.
Ma Gaozhu's hesitation sent Zhang Fulin's heart sinking. He tried to mend his crumbling defenses: "Does Diandian... have a boyfriend?"
Ma Gaozhu seemed a little flustered: "How do you know it's General Manager Zhang (the junior manager) and not General Manager Zhang (the senior manager)?"
Zhang Fulin coughed so violently that Ms. Zhao was startled and quickly poured him water: "Xiaoshan, do you think you can hide this from the family and let them know?"
Ma Gaozhu: Although it makes a lot of sense, it sounds like you're scolding me?
“Well, today Mr. Zhang…” Assistant Ma carefully chose his words, trying to minimize Mr. Zhang’s hurt feelings: “Actually, he went out to eat with some friends.”
Zhang Fulin and Ms. Zhao's eyes lit up simultaneously: "Boy or girl? What do you think!"
Although the country has only legalized same-sex marriage for a few years, many parents are still resistant to same-sex couples. But ever since Zhang Fulin heard that Li Ye had bold ideas about his daughter, he spent several nights researching relevant information and policies.
Old Zhang Dong successfully brainwashed himself: You can definitely do it, as long as you're a little happy, you can definitely do it!
Ma Gaozhu said with difficulty, "The two of you seem to have a good relationship, but the young man is covering his face, so I can't see clearly."
Zhang Fulin's mind went blank for a moment: "Could it be Li Ye from the Li family?"
His denial of Li Ye was not unfounded—Li Ye's father had a life of debauchery when he was young, so it's hard to say that Li Ye might have followed in his father's footsteps!
“No,” Ma Gaozhu recalled carefully, “He was a bit taller and thinner than Xiao Li, and… he was quite good at acting cute.”
How could he not? The way he kept calling him "husband" made the elderly Ma Gaozhu question his very existence.
"Call Xiao Chen!" Zhang Fulin immediately thought of the spy he had recently planted next to his son: "Let's see who it is!"
Assistant Chen, who was at home petting his cat, said: "Boss Zhang is obsessed with playing games with his cat in the office every day. Where am I supposed to conjure up a daughter-in-law for him?"
⚹
Zhang Chaohe was unaware that his entire family was eagerly speculating about his "friendship issues."
Following Cheng Jixue's directions, he turned left and right, successfully entering an inconspicuous alley in the old town. However, as soon as he turned in, he discovered that the place was a hidden gem, with a row of luxury cars lined up in the open space.
For example... next to his parking space, there was a Rolls-Royce, I don't know what model it was.
Zhang Chaohe glanced down at Assistant Chen's somewhat drab Volvo and hesitantly asked Cheng Jixue, "Should I not be driving this?"
Xiao Zhang has dozens of luxury cars in his garage, but today he drove a Volvo to dinner with his sworn brother who hadn't yet become his sworn brother...
Assistant Chen: Are you going to curse me again?
At the same time, Assistant Chen was driving a McLaren around town on orders to attract public attention.
"It's just a meal." Cheng Jixue got out of the car and opened the door for the dazed Mr. Zhang. "Let's go, aren't you hungry?"
The shop's decor has a vintage feel, with lanterns hanging at the entrance as streetlights. However, once inside, the courtyard sheds its heavy historical atmosphere, and the large, bright floor-to-ceiling windows and dark-toned modern interior design create a unique sense of elegant and leisurely beauty.
"This decoration is quite beautiful," Zhang Chaohe said thoughtfully.
“It was designed by the owner himself,” Cheng Jixue explained. “When I first came here, I also thought the decorating style was very unique.”
A woman in a cheongsam emerged from the courtyard. She stood gracefully in the courtyard, her face bearing the marks of time, yet her figure remained as soft and light as a young girl's. She smiled and said, "Ji...Ji Xue is here?"
She then turned her gaze to Zhang Chaohe, her tone conveying just the right amount of surprise and astonishment: "Isn't this General Manager Zhang?"
"Aunt Zhu." Cheng Jixue nodded and then introduced her to Zhang Chaohe: "This is Aunt Zhu, the owner of Xiangyuan."
"Hello." It seemed that Aunt Zhu and Cheng Jixue had a good personal relationship, so Zhang Chaohe greeted her politely.
This time it was much more reliable, and the meal cost only 1888 instead of 3888, enough for Cheng Jixue to order a whole table of dishes. Zhang Chaohe was very relieved by the arrangement, and he even planned to bring some fresh vegetables home for Caiye later. Cheng Jixue took the opportunity to get up and go to the restroom.
He went to the back, familiar with the place. When Aunt Zhu saw that it was Cheng Jixue, she wiped her hands and patted his arm with concern: "Why have you lost weight again recently? Have you not been eating properly?"
“I’m joining the crew now. The role requires someone to be very thin.” Cheng Jixue’s expression was very calm, a stark contrast to her usual lively and energetic demeanor. “Put less spice in it. He can’t eat it but he’s trying to be tough.”
Aunt Zhu looked outside excitedly: "Duanduan, tell me the truth, do you have a crush on him?"
Cheng Jixue frowned helplessly: "I'm almost twenty-six, why are you still calling me Duanduan?"
"Oh, Ji Tingduan," Aunt Zhu glared at him reproachfully, "Now that you're all grown up and want to get married, you're ashamed? Who said they would take care of Aunt Zhu in her old age? Oh, you're unhappy just because I called you by your nickname?"
"No way," Cheng Jixue chuckled, glancing at the time. "I really have to go back now. I'll come have dinner with you again next time, chili peppers—"
"I know, I'll put in less!" Aunt Zhu teased softly, "I'll make sure your little one eats comfortably!"
As expected, neither CEO Zhang nor Young Master Ji could escape the pressure of their middle-aged and elderly elders to get married. Cheng Jixue had already turned to leave when Aunt Zhu continued her nagging: "Oh dear, how about I think of another way to give you a free meal? It's not right to make money off your own partners, is it?"
Cheng Jixue smiled genuinely, his expression seemingly helpless, but his eyes and brows revealed an undisguised smugness: "It's still far from certain."
"Alright, alright, friend, friend is fine now." Aunt Zhu has seen too many young people say one thing and mean another at her age, but she still said earnestly, "Aunt Zhu still has to advise you, sometimes you should be more honest, otherwise you will cry when people bring up the past."
Cheng Jixue didn't mind: "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."
Moreover, if he were to tell the truth about everything... Zhang Chaohe might take back all of his special privileges.
It's not a possibility, it's inevitable.
Zhang Chaohe is like a young alpha wolf on the grassland who hasn't grown up yet. He harbors a subtle wariness and hostility towards all his kind who are older and stronger than him; but when faced with a group that is clearly in a weaker position, he will subconsciously accommodate, protect, and even take care of them.
A typical heroic personality.
For example, Li Ye, who dresses up in a flamboyant manner every day and uses all sorts of tricks, was almost blacklisted by Boss Zhang.
He scoffed inwardly. Fools only know how to put on a show, while smart people outsmart others!
However, the next second he turned a corner and saw the "idiot" standing not far away, greeting him in a very familiar manner: "Isn't this Mr. Cheng? Is Mr. Zhang here too?"
Li Ye's thinking was simple—this club not only requires reservations a month in advance, but also costs four figures for a single dish. It must be that Boss Zhang brought this nobody here!
Cheng Jixue, whose every thought comes true: What bad luck!
How about we put up a sign that says "Li Ye and dogs not allowed"?
His expression remained unchanged, still displaying the gentle and considerate manner that Li Ye was familiar with: "Mr. Li, what a coincidence."
Li Ye, who had just suddenly spotted Cheng Jixue and was about to seize the opportunity to launch an attack, smiled smugly: "Hard work pays off!"
Cheng Jixue's face was half-hidden in shadow, and although she smiled, her eyes were icy cold: "Yes."
"Take me there, I can talk to your General Manager Zhang about something."
Li Ye didn't pay any attention to his expression. After all, in his mind, Cheng Jixue was just cannon fodder who wasn't even a competitor—she might attract Zhang Chaohe's attention briefly, but she would never amount to anything.
After all, marriage should be between equals and involve the union of two families. Currently, within the circle, Li Ye is Zhang Chaohe's best choice.
Their peaceful time together suddenly turned into a business meeting.
Cheng Jixue gritted her teeth inwardly, "Let's see what other nonsense you have to spout!"
As for Zhang Chaohe, the moment Cheng Jixue led Li Ye back with a restrained expression, he already felt that he wouldn't be able to eat dinner tonight.
The more the other person smiles like a caring older brother, the more resistant he feels. This is probably a strange kind of rebellious psychology.
However, after considering the upcoming collaboration, Mr. Zhang decided to let it go.