Zhuo Weiping looked at Xu Jing.
The Zhuo parents looked at Xu Jing.
Zhuo Na and the onlooking citizens all looked at Xu Jing, even Xiang Li was looking at him.
File a report or not?
Was that even a question?
“Yes, I’ll file a report!” Xu Jing answered without hesitation.
The Zhuo parents mentally nodded. Though Xu Jing was somewhat soft in character, this answer showed decisiveness. If he had remained soft without backbone at this moment, he wouldn’t be suitable for Weiping – they couldn’t have Weiping standing at the front for every issue in the future.
Xu Jing didn’t know he had just passed the Zhuo parents’ first test. Zhuo Weiping’s suggestion had opened a new door for him. Being harassed by Xiang Li had left him with no face anyway, so if he could file a report, why not let the police station handle it?
Past feelings?
Xiang Li had worn those away herself!
Xiang Li was shocked by Xu Jing’s answer. How could he be so heartless towards her?
“What right do you have to file a report? You have no right to take me to the police station. Zhuo, you’re abusing your power to attack a love rival!”
Zhuo Weiping remained completely calm: “Even if I weren’t dating Xu Jing, when an ordinary citizen encounters trouble and seeks police help, I must assist. I, Zhuo Weiping, act with a clear conscience. If you have doubts and want to report me, you can say so at the police station.”
Of course, Xiang Li wouldn’t go to the police station. In Zhuo Weiping’s hands, she would surely suffer.
She turned to run but someone tripped her, causing her to fall.
Zhuo Weiping twisted her arm as Xiang Li cursed. The onlookers all supported Zhuo Weiping:
“Officer Zhuo would never abuse her power.”
“We trust Officer Zhuo!”
“When men harass women it’s hooliganism, it’s the same when women harass men.”
Officer Zhuo’s reputation preceded her. When she said she would take Xiang Li to the police station, surprisingly no one doubted she might abuse her power—
Xu Jing also realized his new girlfriend was more capable than he had imagined!
…
“Then what happened?” Xia Xiaolan listened with interest as Xu Jing recounted that day’s events.
“Then Weiping took Xiang Li to the police station and filed a case. Xiang Li promised at the station she wouldn’t harass me anymore, but Weiping didn’t believe her. She thought it best to have someone watch Xiang Li, so she notified Xiang Li’s family to come to Shangdu and take her away.”
Whether it was his imagination or not, when Xu Jing said this, Xia Xiaolan sensed pride in his voice.
How shameless – a grown man ultimately needing his girlfriend’s “protection.”
But if both parties were willing, Xia Xiaolan couldn’t judge.
Xu Jing was soft-natured, and Zhuo Weiping was tough – their personalities completely complemented each other!
“So you’ve finally gotten rid of that clingy Xiang Li for good?”
Xu Jing nodded, “Xiang Li’s parents came from their hometown. They’re taking her back home to keep her under watch. They’re very embarrassed by what she did… Her father said they won’t let her leave home until she settles down with marriage and children!”
Xiang Li’s parents were honest, simple people, and Xiang Li had always been their pride – raising a daughter who went to university and was selected for overseas study was such an honor.
The Xiang family had hoped Xiang Li would bring glory to their ancestors. When she wanted to stay in America, though they were reluctant, they gritted their teeth and agreed.
Then Xiang Li didn’t stay in America and returned home.
That was fine too – with such high qualifications, finding a good job wouldn’t be difficult.
The Xiang family thought she was working in Pengcheng, not knowing she was now unemployed, much less that she had been stalking Xu Jing. When Xiang Li and Xu Jing broke up, her family didn’t approve, thinking Xu Jing was reliable and good to her.
To pursue her dream life, Xiang Li had cleanly dumped Xu Jing. Her family, unable to intervene from afar, had to accept it.
If they could reconcile that would be best, but Xu Jing had a new girlfriend, yet Xiang Li wouldn’t let go. If she hadn’t pushed Xu Jing to his limit, with his personality he would never have sent her to the police station… Xiang Li’s parents rushed from their hometown, repeatedly apologizing to Xu Jing and Zhuo Weiping, promising to take Xiang Li home and keep her under watch.
Naturally, Xiang Li was unwilling. Her father slapped her several times at the police station, saying he hadn’t raised his daughter well. Disregarding Xiang Li’s wishes, they forcibly took her away from Shangdu.
“Xiang Li thought because I was soft-natured, as long as she didn’t let go, I couldn’t completely shake her off and she would eventually achieve her goal. I was so wrong before – if I hadn’t cared about face earlier, she wouldn’t have clung to me after returning to China!”
Xu Jing was reflecting on himself.
Xia Xiaolan waved her hand, “Enough, save these promises for Sister Zhuo, not me. When are you planning to return to Pengcheng?”
A leopard can’t change its spots – if Xu Jing were so decisive, he wouldn’t be Xu Jing.
After all, since Xia Xiaolan had known him, he had been troubled by a group of tenants… It was pure luck that he and Zhuo Weiping hit it off.
Xu Jing was reluctant to leave Shangdu – anyone who had just started dating would be.
He and Zhuo Weiping were in the phase of getting to know each other, discovering something good about each other every day. Asking him to leave now was difficult.
Though Xia Xiaolan hadn’t urged him, Xu Jing unconsciously felt somewhat afraid.
“I’ll return to Pengcheng tomorrow.”
Xia Xiaolan was very satisfied with this answer and smiled like a capitalist: “You and Sister Zhuo will have to get used to long-distance dating. Your salary will inevitably be contributed to the airline companies!”
Xu Jing dared not say no.
Love was love, work was work – the former shouldn’t become a hindrance to the latter, but rather should be motivation!
Work was fundamental to a person’s livelihood. It wasn’t scary to earn little money, what was scary was losing the ability to make a living through long-term unemployment.
Xu Jing wasn’t particularly unbalanced about it. His earnings from Subor were decent compared to ordinary people, but how did they compare to President Xia’s?
Even after marriage, President Xia still lived apart from her spouse!
Just as Xu Jing was encouraging himself with Xia Xiaolan’s example, he heard her asking Assistant Song to book tickets.
“I’m also going to Qiong Island tomorrow, the earlier the flight the better.”
“…!”
Well, forget what he’d just thought!
Zhou Cheng had used up his entire year’s leave during his marriage leave in January and wouldn’t have annual leave until after the Spring Festival. Before then, Xia Xiaolan wanted to stay in Qiong Island, both to conveniently handle Qihang Real Estate’s affairs and to see Zhou Cheng frequently.
As for Asia Mall, though Xia Xiaolan still held the title of General Manager, she would have to hand over daily operations to someone else.
Xia Xiaolan missed Zhou Cheng terribly. In the blink of an eye, they had been married nearly a year, but before their marriage leave was even over, they started helping Old Tang search for relatives, then went to America, followed by several months of busy work with Asia Mall’s business – she hadn’t had a moment’s rest all year!
She had just sworn in her heart that this time in Qiong Island she wouldn’t manage any work and would spend a month with Zhou Cheng first, when Song Minglan said the Second Madam wanted to see her.
“Then please ask Second Madam to come in.”
The Second Madam entered and said something unexpected to Xia Xiaolan:
“I want to sell 60% of Chaoyang Real Estate’s shares. Are you interested in buying?”
Hmm?
Chaoyang Real Estate’s shares meant indirect shareholding in Asia Mall – was Second Madam selling her Asia Mall shares? Had this wealthy lady taken the wrong medicine? She didn’t sell when Asia Mall hit rock bottom, but now when it was unrivaled in Shangdu…
Wait, this operation seemed familiar – wasn’t this her original plan, to transfer Asia Mall shares at their peak and cash out?