They finally managed to escape from the grain store.

Thanks to Hu Yongcai’s wife’s promotion and Zhou Cheng and Xia Xiaolan’s hand-in-hand appearance at the store, everyone nearby knew that Xia Xiaolan had found a boyfriend – not only handsome but also a young cadre. They weren’t sure of his exact rank, but even as a minor cadre, being so young meant he would surely be promoted in the future.

Free from Fan Zhenchuan’s threats, Liu Fen prepared a proper feast.

In the evening, Li Fengmei brought her son to Grandmother Yu’s house for dinner. Liu Zitao immediately called Zhou Cheng “Brother-in-law” upon seeing him, remembering the bullet shell toy gun Zhou Cheng had given him during New Year’s – something that had given Liu Zitao much face among his peers.

Zhou Cheng could easily win over children. He promised to have Xia Xiaolan bring Taotao to his unit someday to handle real equipment, and Liu Zitao began treating Zhou Cheng like a real brother.

He secretly shared some information with Brother-in-law Zhou:

“Chen Qing from our village also likes Sister Xiaolan. Aunt Chen keeps asking me strange questions and tries to bribe me with candy, but I haven’t told her anything about Sister Xiaolan.”

Zhu Fang, the Yangcheng thug, Fan Zhenchuan from Hedong County – he’d already dealt with three rivals, and now another one appears?

Hearing that Chen Qing was from the same village as Xia Xiaolan’s high school classmate, Zhou Cheng’s internal alarm went off.

Perhaps this one posed the greatest threat.

Living in such proximity, always around Xiaolan… No, wait – Xiaolan spent most of her time studying at home, so they rarely met. Zhou Cheng collected himself and gave Liu Zitao an approving, encouraging look:

“Taotao, you did the right thing. Your brother-in-law’s care for you isn’t wasted. In the future, if anyone else says they like your sister, you must secretly tell your brother-in-law.”

Liu Zitao looked confused, “Brother-in-law, but how can I tell you?”

Zhou Cheng handed him an address, “Write to brother-in-law!”

Xia Xiaolan came out carrying a cup of tea, “What are you two whispering about?”

Liu Zitao stuffed the paper in his pocket, feeling closer to Brother-in-law Zhou now that they shared a secret. He couldn’t betray his brother-in-law.

Zhou Cheng didn’t want to teach children to lie, so he spoke up:

“Nothing much, I was just saying I’d buy Taotao some toys tomorrow.”

Xia Xiaolan paused, “You’re returning to Beijing tomorrow, aren’t you?”

Zhou Cheng didn’t want to leave either. A beauty’s embrace could be a hero’s downfall, and wherever his beloved was, that’s where he wanted to stay.

But he had to go. Unit discipline bound him, and cases like Fan Zhenchuan’s spurred him on. Only by working harder in his career could he better protect Xiaolan in similar situations. Xiaolan was beautiful, which attracted troublesome men. He’d won against Fan Zhenchuan because the man was full of vulnerabilities, but against someone more powerful, Zhou Cheng might not be able to stand firm.

He needed to climb higher to protect the woman he loved.

His struggle at work wasn’t just about serving the country for the ‘greater good,’ but also about securing his ‘small family.’

Zhou Cheng felt the weight on his shoulders, but it was motivation, not a burden.

“Xiaolan, I wish your college entrance exam would come sooner. Even meeting once a month is hard to bear, let alone longer periods.”

It was always difficult for loving couples to separate. Zhou Cheng couldn’t understand how long-distance couples endured it – he certainly couldn’t.

Xia Xiaolan nodded, “Soon enough. The May mock exam is coming up, and the college entrance exam is just two months away.”

Even after the exam, Xia Xiaolan would be busy – building a new house in the countryside, and preparing for the new store partnership with Kang Wei and Bai Zhenzhu in Pengcheng. These two major events would likely occupy her entire summer vacation. Zhou Cheng knew this but held onto hope, and Xia Xiaolan didn’t want to burst his bubble. She still thought the same – Zhou Cheng was barely 21, she was almost 19, and with such long lives ahead, they should each focus on their development.

That evening, Xia Xiaolan walked Zhou Cheng back to his guesthouse. He behaved himself properly. The next morning, instead of going to the Commercial College, she accompanied Zhou Cheng around Shangdu.

Zhou Cheng had a train ticket for 11 AM, and this was Xia Xiaolan’s first time exploring Shangdu’s department store.

Despite Blue Phoenix’s shop being next to the department store, Xia Xiaolan never had time to browse it. Zhou Cheng bought countless items there, treating money like water, until Xia Xiaolan finally convinced him to stop.

Everything was for Xia Xiaolan and her family, including gifts for Liu Yong who wasn’t in Shangdu, and even Grandmother Yu. When Grandmother Yu called Zhou Cheng considerate, she wasn’t wrong.

“I haven’t spent all the money yet. I remember you wanted me to buy a house in Beijing – Kang Wei has looked at many siheyuan courtyards, but they’re all in remote locations.”

Buying a siheyuan wasn’t expensive now – with what Kang Wei spent renovating his house, he could easily afford one.

But it depended on who was buying. For outsiders like Xia Xiaolan with no connections, even after buying a house, the existing residents might refuse to move out, causing endless trouble! So when Zhou Cheng talked about buying a Beijing siheyuan like it was buying cabbage, Xia Xiaolan could only look on enviously.

Zhou Cheng could guess his beloved’s thoughts from her expression. If he offered to give Xiaolan a house, she definitely wouldn’t accept… Zhou Cheng didn’t push it – eventually, everything of his would be managed by his wife anyway, his house, his money, and even himself belonged to Xiaolan!

Seeing Zhou Cheng off at the station was a reluctant farewell.

Zhou Cheng couldn’t bear to leave his beloved, reaching his hand through the window, unwilling to let go of Xiaolan. Naturally, Xia Xiaolan wouldn’t let him return empty-handed – gifts for unit leaders, colleagues, and subordinates filled two snake-skin bags.

“You two, I entrust Xiaolan to your care.”

Zhou Cheng stroked Xia Xiaolan’s cheek, making Li Dongliang and Ge Jian stand at attention.

They still weren’t clear about Zhou Cheng’s background, but anyone who could send people to deal with Ke Yixiong in Yangcheng and handle a local tyrant like Fan Zhenchuan in Yunan Province must have considerable power… Miss Xia was generous, and with the mysterious Zhou Cheng backing her, how could Li Dongliang and Ge Jian not protect her wholeheartedly?

“Mr. Zhou, protecting Miss Xia is our duty.”

Li Dongliang was wary of Zhou Cheng but ultimately answered to Xia Xiaolan’s salary, not Zhou Cheng’s orders.

They were dating, practically a couple, but the bodyguards only recognized their employer. From the start, Xia Xiaolan had hired them – Li and Ge only acknowledged her as their employer. No matter how powerful Zhou Cheng was, he was just the employer’s boyfriend.

Zhou Cheng had no intention of changing this – it was better if they only followed Xia Xiaolan’s orders.

He felt that with Xia Xiaolan’s future travels, she needed long-term bodyguards. Li Dongliang and Ge Jian were good, but sometimes gender made things inconvenient. If only he could find two female bodyguards for Xia Xiaolan – Bai Zhiyong’s sister would have been perfect, and he’d heard Bai Zhenzhu was quite skilled in martial arts too, but his beloved had met Bai Zhenzhu twice and encouraged her to do business in Pengcheng instead.

Unknowingly ruining Zhou Cheng’s plans left him both amused and helpless.

Well, he’d slowly look for suitable candidates later.

“Xiaolan, I’ll wait for you in Beijing.”