(idiom meaning to love everything associated with the one you love)

“I’m leaving first!”

When Jiang Yan stood up to leave, Zhou Cheng called out to stop her: “Jiang Yan, don’t listen to Jiang Wu’s nonsense. We’re at least friends, and I don’t want you leaving alone impulsively. If anything happens to you, both Third Brother and I would be devastated!”

His relationship with Jiang Yan could never return to its former natural state. Even if they restored their friendship, Zhou Cheng maintained his distance from Jiang Yan.

He was a married man, and knowing Jiang Yan had other feelings, he had to consciously keep his distance.

But this formality didn’t mean he was cruel enough to watch Jiang Yan die.

He still hadn’t figured out what Jiang Wu was plotting, but Zhou Cheng couldn’t stand by and watch Jiang Yan walk into danger. When he stopped Jiang Yan, he hadn’t consulted Xiaolan first, but he trusted she would understand, just as he could support and understand when she wanted to help others financially.

Zhou Cheng had confidence in his wife, and Xia Xiaolan indeed didn’t disappoint him, taking the initiative to speak:

“Jiang Yan, let’s not be so melodramatic. You say you want to steal Zhou Cheng from me, but at least you need to stay alive to do that, right? If you die, Zhou Cheng might shed a few tears for you at most, forget about you after a while, and spend the rest of his life happily with me. How often would he even remember you? Stay alive – you need to be alive to have any chance of stealing him from me!”

Jiang Yan was rendered speechless by Xia Xiaolan.

To mock her at a time like this – Xia Xiaolan was truly formidable.

But Jiang Yan had to admit that Xia Xiaolan’s words hit home.

It wasn’t that Jiang Yan feared death – someone afraid of death wouldn’t volunteer for the front lines! But death was like a lamp being extinguished; no matter how many ideas and ambitions one had, they couldn’t be realized. If she didn’t stay alive, Zhou Cheng would spend his whole life with a woman like Xia Xiaolan… Jiang Yan truly felt Zhou Cheng deserved better.

Zhou Cheng’s survival instinct was also strong.

It was best not to argue with one’s wife, especially at times like this. As long as they could convince Jiang Yan to stay, who cared if the words were pleasant or not?

Should he expect Xiaolan to gently persuade Jiang Yan to stay? Would that still be his wife? More likely she’d been replaced by an impostor!

“You want to go hunting? Well, if you must go-“

Xia Xiaolan shook her head vigorously, “No, no, I’m afraid I’ll become the prey instead. Just when I’m about to reach the peak of my life, I’m not going to bang my head against a rock in a latrine.”

Jiang Wu’s future was ruined, so he had nothing to lose.

Xia Xiaolan’s future was still bright, why should she compete with Jiang Wu?

To be able to admit to being a coward so righteously – Jiang Yan was truly impressed by Xia Xiaolan’s thick skin.

And Zhou Cheng wasn’t angry at all?

When they were at the front lines, Zhou Cheng despised cowardly soldiers the most.

Jiang Yan’s thoughts weren’t clear; she didn’t understand that for a man, soldiers were for training, but a wife was for cherishing. If Zhou Cheng treated his wife the way he treated his soldiers, would he even be in a relationship now?

He’d probably be single by choice…

Stepping out of the private room, Jiang Wu was indeed gone, having driven away.

“That guest left without eating, just a moment ago.”

So what was the point of Jiang Wu’s performance? To insert Jiang Yan as a third wheel between her and Zhou Cheng? Xia Xiaolan realized a sane person couldn’t understand a madman’s logic.

Jiang Wu and Ji Ya – one was a martial madman, and one was a literary madwoman.

Xia Xiaolan wanted to cry for three seconds – truly an unlucky year, why did she keep running into such people?

Zhou Cheng and Jiang Yan thoroughly checked the car, and then the three drove back, dropping Jiang Yan off at the academy. Zhou Cheng decided to take Xia Xiaolan to the train station:

“Leave the car here. I’ll have someone inspect it thoroughly before sending it back to you. I’ll accompany you on the train back to Beijing.”

Xia Xiaolan was surprised, “You can get leave?”

Zhou Cheng stroked her cheek, “What nonsense are you talking about? Your safety is more important than anything. Though this time, I originally wanted to spend a couple of days with you… Xiaolan, being with me, do you not regret it?”

Xia Xiaolan decided to express her feelings through actions.

Men could be insecure too, and at times like this, words were useless. If one kiss wouldn’t solve it, then how about two?

After kissing, Xia Xiaolan suddenly exclaimed, “Oh! Yang Laoda – I almost forgot about her!”

Yang Yonghong had come to Ji Bei Province with Xia Xiaolan and was still waiting for Xia Xiaolan to pick her up. They couldn’t just leave without saying anything.

Zhou Cheng thought for a moment, “That’s fine, I’ll drive you and Yang Yonghong back to Beijing, then drive the car back to Ji Bei.”

They could still talk along the way, just couldn’t be too intimate in front of Yang Yonghong.

Kissing and hugging were things all couples did, and Zhou Cheng welcomed the chance to be close.

With others present, even a loving glance could be intoxicating – it didn’t have to be kisses and hugs.

Xia Xiaolan nodded, “I ate one of Yang’s hens, how should I repay them?”

When Xia Xiaolan spoke of repayment, she meant maintaining social reciprocity, not calculating the value of a chicken. Zhou Cheng wanted to laugh: “Then you can give the Yang family a flock of chickens. I’m not joking – the policies have been open for several years now. Though I’ve never farmed, I know it’s hard to make a living in the countryside just by farming. Why don’t you discuss with Yang Laoda whether her family would be interested in raising poultry? She’s a university graduate herself – couldn’t she apply some scientific methods to poultry farming?”

Xia Xiaolan couldn’t help but look Zhou Cheng up and down:

“Are you my boyfriend? Zhou Cheng, what exactly did you study at the academy?”

Zhou Cheng smiled modestly, “Can’t I read more on my own? Comrade Xia Xiaolan, I must solemnly remind you not to view people with old perspectives. It’s not just you who’s progressing – the people around you are progressing too!”

Xia Xiaolan wanted to kiss Zhou Cheng again but held back since he was driving.

What wealthy young master could compare to her man?

Tang Yuanyue, who had sent her flowers before, would probably be very surprised if he heard Xia Xiaolan’s words.

Help the Yang family?

For a rich person to help a farming family would be easy – just give them some money and the Yang family would be eternally grateful.

Tang Yuanyue probably wouldn’t have considered the concept of the Yang family’s dignity – rich people never considered the dignity of common folk.

Only Zhou Cheng would seriously offer such suggestions.

Zhou Cheng extended his love to all associated with her, and he was very down-to-earth. Though from a good family, the Zhou family’s upbringing was truly excellent!

Xia Xiaolan reciprocated by bringing up Zhou Yi’s matter, briefly explaining how Zhou Yi had tried to “trap” her: “I’m not angry – she doesn’t seem to have ill intentions. She’s your cousin, but how bad must her boyfriend be that she doesn’t dare bring him home?”

While one learns from experience, some experiences are better avoided if possible. Choosing an unreliable man meant suffering both physical and emotional losses. Though Zhou Yi was a few years older than Xia Xiaolan, from how she had helped Tang Lilili come to make trouble before, Xia Xiaolan knew that while Zhou Yi was older than Zhou Cheng, she was quite immature.

She had quite a playful personality – a bit foolish and timid. After being put in her place by Xia Xiaolan several times, she now actively avoided Xia Xiaolan.

Zhou Yi must have been desperate to think of asking Xia Xiaolan to help her.

This again showed Miss Zhou’s naivety – she took it for granted that since their relationship had improved, Xia Xiaolan wouldn’t mind the past, and wasn’t afraid that Xia Xiaolan might agree to help on the surface but secretly plot to lead Zhou Yi astray!