Zhou Cheng stayed in Pengcheng.

That evening, Liu Fen invited him to stay at their home, but Zhou Cheng, unable to withstand his future father-in-law’s imposing presence, insisted on staying at a guesthouse.

Of course, that’s not how he phrased it: “Aunt Liu, I want to meet some friends tonight and might return quite late. It wouldn’t be convenient to leave the door unlocked. I’ll come first thing tomorrow morning – even if Xiaolan’s in America, she won’t call when it’s night here.”

How could Zhou Cheng not understand his wife-to-be?

Sometimes she appeared fierce, as if warning everyone not to provoke her, but she was actually very considerate of others and wouldn’t disturb Liu Fen’s sleep late at night.

Zhou Cheng believed that the call reporting her safe arrival would come tomorrow.

He wasn’t lying about meeting friends – he needed to see Kang Wei.

Xiaolan must have left some messages for him before going abroad. Since Liu Fen hadn’t mentioned anything, perhaps she had told Kang Wei.

Kang Wei was in Pengcheng overseeing the new “Anjia Building Materials” store. This time, his furniture would be displayed alongside building materials, so he was naturally very invested, coming to Pengcheng right after the New Year, not even waiting for the Lantern Festival.

His grandmother was reluctant to let him go, but his grandfather praised this behavior, saying this was the attitude of a man pursuing his career!

Even Yu the Great passed his home three times without entering while taming the floods – what was Kang Wei’s hardship compared to that?

Seeing Zhou Cheng, Kang Wei lamented:

“Brother, why didn’t you come yesterday!”

While the emperor wasn’t anxious, his close minister Kang Wei was beside himself. He had waited at Luohu Customs until the last moment yesterday but hadn’t seen Zhou Cheng appear. Never mind whether Xia Xiaolan was disappointed – Kang Wei himself was disappointed.

But seeing Zhou Cheng’s battered state, Kang Wei sensed something was wrong:

“Brother Chengzi, what happened to you?”

Zhou Cheng shook his head, “Nothing much, just had an arm-wrestling match with Jiang Wu. Was Xiaolan unhappy when she left yesterday? Didn’t she leave any message for me?”

Kang Wei slapped his forehead: “There’s a letter!”

Zhou Cheng glared – why hadn’t he mentioned this earlier instead of all that useless talk?

Kang Wei handed over the letter, which Zhou Cheng hurriedly opened. To his surprise, instead of sweet words of affection, there was only a bankbook.

“What does your sister-in-law mean by this?”

Zhou Cheng turned the bankbook over repeatedly, examining it from every angle.

Kang Wei leaned in, “Maybe sister-in-law left you living expenses?”

So many zeros – a full 900,000!

But who could spend 900,000 in a year? The living expenses theory didn’t hold water.

“This should be Luna’s dividends for this year. Xiaolan mentioned it before, though it’s more than she estimated.”

She had previously mentioned 800,000, suggesting he use it to pay off the mortgage loan.

Zhou Cheng had always felt money was secondary, and the extra 100,000 didn’t particularly please him. Besides the bankbook, she hadn’t left a single word – how could Zhou Cheng not be anxious!

Kang Wei finally felt some sympathy.

He and Little Dan occasionally had disagreements too – no relationship was purely sweet, unexpected things always happened.

But if he couldn’t resolve things over the phone or by letter, he could immediately buy a plane ticket back to Beijing. Kang Wei wasn’t short of money now; airfare wasn’t a burden for him.

While he was certainly busy, it was all relative.

Compared to Zhou Cheng, Kang Wei had more free time and could control his schedule. Happiness truly emerged from comparison, and Kang Wei felt immense sympathy: “Ah, Brother Chengzi, sister-in-law still cares about you deeply, leaving you so much money before going abroad.”

Zhou Cheng stuffed the bankbook in his pocket, “I think your sister-in-law is angry this time. Can you help me find a skilled watchmaker? Can this watch be saved?”

Zhou Cheng pulled out the Rolex, making Kang Wei’s eyes bulge.

The watch looked like it had been run over by a car – how else could it be so damaged?

“This watch—”

Zhou Cheng’s face was expressionless: “Your sister-in-law’s birthday gift.”

Kang Wei quickly shut his mouth.

It was mid-February, and Pengcheng’s weather was warming up, yet why did he suddenly feel a chill in the air?

Who was in trouble?

Certainly not him.

Kang Wei hesitated to speak.

He remembered something else he hadn’t told Zhou Cheng, but wouldn’t mention it now be like pouring oil on fire?

Zhou Cheng and he had grown up together – Kang Wei couldn’t hide his thoughts.

“You have something else to tell me, don’t you? Just say it all at once. I can handle anything.”

Kang Wei rubbed his head, “Before leaving the country, his sister-in-law seemed to be cooperating with Du Zhaohui. She went to Hong Kong earlier.”

Cooperating with Du Zhaohui?

Zhou Cheng’s first reaction wasn’t to suspect Xia Xiaolan.

He was considering why Xiaolan would cooperate with Du Zhaohui.

He remembered Xiaolan had always disliked Du Zhaohui – what reason could make her suppress that dislike?

Now Zhou Cheng truly had a headache.

Xiaolan might have wanted to communicate with him all along, but since the Jinsha Pool sales, they hadn’t been able to connect. He didn’t know what had happened in Hong Kong, so naturally couldn’t analyze Xiaolan’s motives for cooperating with Du Zhaohui.

Xiaolan must be very disappointed in him.

Whenever she needed him, he always had his matters to attend to.

Zhou Cheng instantly lost interest in the conversation, spent the night at Kang Wei’s place, and rushed to Tang Hongen’s home early the next morning.

Tang Hongen was still having breakfast.

Yesterday was Sunday, so Tang Hongen’s meeting at city hall was overtime work. Today was Monday, and he needed to go to work as usual.

Liu Fen would certainly spend the whole day at home waiting for the phone, afraid to miss Xia Xiaolan’s call reporting her safe arrival. Having Zhou Cheng here was fine – he could keep Fen company. For this reason, Tang Hongen’s expression was slightly better today.

“Stop running around. Injuries to tendons and bones take a hundred days to heal. If you move too much, be careful your ribs might not align properly!”

Zhou Cheng was somewhat surprised by this concern.

Only then did Liu Fen learn about Zhou Cheng’s broken ribs, reproaching Tang Hongen for not mentioning it earlier.

“Aunt Liu, they’re just minor injuries. I’m wearing a brace, but you can’t see it under these thick clothes.”

As they were talking, Tang Hongen’s phone rang.

It was Secretary Cheng calling to say the hospital in Yangcheng had informed him that Jiang Yan was awake.

With Zhou Cheng not at the hospital, Jiang Yan’s parents were anxious. As soon as Jiang Yan woke up, they were demanding Zhou Cheng return immediately.

Tang Hongen looked at Zhou Cheng.

Liu Fen was confused, not knowing the background situation.

But from what she heard, it seemed some woman was injured… If someone was injured, that was one thing, but what did it have to do with Zhou Cheng? Why were even the woman’s parents involved?

Tang Hongen was watching to see how Zhou Cheng would choose!

Zhou Cheng straightened his back: “I’m staying in Pengcheng to wait for Xiaolan’s call.”

Tang Hongen smiled, “Can you not go? She saved your life.”

Zhou Cheng nodded, “Third Brother Pan is still at the hospital watching over her. Nothing will go wrong. Besides, I’m not a doctor – going there won’t help with her treatment!”

Jiang Yan had saved him.

But hadn’t he saved her too?

If he hadn’t called for everyone to jump at the crucial moment, all three would have been killed in the explosion. They’d probably be busy piecing together bodies now – where would Jiang Yan’s parents find the leisure to make such a fuss?

Seeing Zhou Cheng’s firm attitude, Tang Hongen snorted and left for work with his briefcase.

Liu Fen wanted to ask but felt it wasn’t her place, so she didn’t pursue what had happened to Zhou Cheng. She couldn’t ask Zhou Cheng directly, but she could ask Tang Hongen in the evening.

This wait continued until 6:30 PM when Tang Hongen’s phone finally rang—