How could there be such a person?

Shouldn’t one be grateful when receiving help from others?

Looking at Zhou Cheng’s serious yet exceptionally handsome face, Song Minglan suddenly had a thought – no wonder he was Xia Xiaolan’s boyfriend, he was just as disagreeable and unlikeable as her!

“Comrade Zhou Cheng, I didn’t mean anything else, I just wanted to help you both…”

Even when faced with someone showing goodwill, regardless of their foolish intentions, Zhou Cheng had to hold back: “I appreciate the sentiment, but I have my ideas and plans. I hope Miss Song can understand.”

He didn’t want to argue further with Song Minglan. His tacit agreement with Captain Fang wasn’t something he could discuss openly. Who knew whether this Song Minglan had good or bad intentions? If he were to bear his heart to her right away, not only might his plans fall through, but he could also implicate Captain Fang.

As Zhou Cheng went to find Song Zhicheng, Song Minglan stood there dumbfounded.

“…What kind of person is this? Such a hothead, how did he even get promoted?”

The key issue was that Xia Xiaolan had leverage over her. She had confidently promised to do Xia Xiaolan a favor to keep her quiet, but Zhou Cheng refused. Now what was she supposed to do about her promises?

Song Minglan felt like stomping her feet in frustration.

It was just her bad luck – she and Xia Xiaolan were simply incompatible. Nothing good ever came from anything involving Xia Xiaolan!

Zhou Cheng was unaware that the Third Miss Song was cursing him in her heart. Song Zhicheng and the other delegation members had just arrived at the hotel, and everyone was exhausted. Before Song Zhicheng could even find time to ask favors from the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation’s team leader, Zhou Cheng barely managed to state his intentions before he could speak up.

Song Zhicheng, being more experienced than Song Minglan, immediately understood that Zhou Cheng had other arrangements, and Minglan’s attempt to help had caused conflict.

Song Zhicheng smiled warmly: “Little Zhou, I understand what you mean. Don’t worry, I’ll explain it clearly to that girl Minglan.”

Indeed, Zhou Cheng had just been promoted to Deputy Squad Leader. Rather than establishing his authority at work, he joined the Ministry’s delegation to America – clearly to visit his girlfriend in America, right?

Everyone had their ways. If Zhou Cheng could get himself included in the delegation member list, he must also have a way to leave the group.

Since Song Zhicheng couldn’t do Zhou Cheng a favor, he wouldn’t pointlessly make an enemy of him either.

This was different from his attitude towards Tang Hongen. Tang Hongen had received Elder Song’s promotion and was considered a “family retainer” of the Song family, but the Zhou family wasn’t.

Zhou Cheng’s grandfather was still alive, and even if he wasn’t as influential as Elder Song, he was still a proper old revolutionary comrade. If Song Zhicheng had any notion of treating Zhou Cheng like a family retainer, he’d be in for a beating.

“Thank you, Mr. Song.”

For Zhou Cheng, this was truly an unexpected problem.

Song Minglan’s presumptuous actions, taken without considering the involved parties’ wishes, had nearly ruined Zhou Cheng’s plans.

After this interruption from Song Minglan, Zhou Cheng couldn’t just drop his luggage at the hotel and head to Ithaca. When he explained the situation to Captain Fang, the captain was particularly unconcerned: “Then just don’t make any moves for now. Let’s see if Director Song keeps his word. We wouldn’t want you to leave and have Director Song report you right after… Haha, I’m just joking, Director Song doesn’t seem like that type of person.”

Captain Fang accidentally spoke his true thoughts and quickly tried to smooth things over.

Zhou Cheng was under Captain Fang’s supervision, and the captain was responsible for his whereabouts.

Ultimately, the security team was assigned to serve the delegation. If the leading cadres inquired, Captain Fang would need to explain.

Though Zhou Cheng was anxious inside, he could only wait to see what Song Zhicheng would do.

What a situation – one party was eager to do a favor without understanding the other’s needs, while the other party didn’t want the favor at all and worried about Song Zhicheng causing trouble. Both sides were made extremely uncomfortable by Song Minglan’s ideas.

Zhou Cheng accompanied the delegation to the trade fair in New York.

One convenient aspect was that he didn’t have major language barriers in America. As for English, he had known some basics before, and during his time at the academy for advanced studies, he had worked hard on improving his English.

This was partly influenced by Xia Xiaolan, but also Zhou Cheng’s judgment.

If English wasn’t important, the country wouldn’t have made it one of the college entrance examination subjects.

It seemed English would only become more important in the future. One had to follow national trends – without improving oneself, one would eventually be eliminated.

Indeed, having more skills wasn’t a burden. Zhou Cheng’s diligent study had now proved useful on this foreign trip.

However, he didn’t show off too much. After testing his level, he remained low-key while following the delegation… There was no benefit in being conspicuous. If he stood out, he’d be spotted and temporarily assigned as a translator – how would he then secretly slip away?

Before he knew it, it was the evening of the 17th in America. Zhou Cheng couldn’t hold back any longer and called Professor Wen’s home.

He and Xiaolan finally had no time difference between them. One in New York, one in Ithaca, separated by just a 5-hour drive!

This was already very close.

When Zhou Cheng called in the evening, it would also be evening when Xia Xiaolan answered – what more could he ask for?

“Hello, is this Zhou Cheng?”

Phones didn’t have caller ID then, and Xia Xiaolan didn’t know Zhou Cheng was calling from New York.

“It’s me.”

“I knew you’d call today. Zhou Cheng, it’s still the 17th here in America, but it should be the morning of the 18th in China. Your birthday… Happy birthday, Zhou Cheng!”

Xia Xiaolan didn’t know where her watch delivery was.

Birthday wishes needed to be said – even separated by thousands of miles, she could at least celebrate Zhou Cheng’s birthday over the phone.

Zhou Cheng smiled on the other end of the line, “I know I should say thank you now, but Xiaolan, isn’t this a bit half-hearted? Just a ‘happy birthday’ to brush me off?”

Xia Xiaolan glared – what more did he want, for her to sing the birthday song?

Was he being deliberately cute? Xia Xiaolan hesitated for a few seconds, and cleared her throat:

“Happy birthday to you~ Happy birthday to you~ Happy birthday to you…”

Zhou Cheng couldn’t help but laugh.

He couldn’t help it – his wife being so serious was too amusing.

He had thought that since he complained about a simple “happy birthday” being too casual, Xiaolan would at least give him a few kisses through the phone with some “mwah mwah mwah,” but unexpectedly, she suddenly started singing the birthday song – her voice was beautiful, anything she sang sounded good if only she could stay on key.

On the other end of the phone, Zhou Cheng couldn’t hold back his laughter, and Xia Xiaolan became angry from embarrassment:

“I’m not singing anymore! Take it or leave it!”

“No, I didn’t say you sang badly, I’m laughing because I’m happy.”

Liar, he was laughing at her being off-key.

Xia Xiaolan felt very embarrassed. No one could be good at everything – she had always sung in her key, and anyone who joined would be pulled off track. That’s why in her previous life as Director Xia, some subordinates thought she was aloof, saying she never bonded with her subordinates.

How could she bond?

In situations like karaoke, once she opened her mouth, all authority would be gone.

“Just keep lying to me, I’m not singing anymore.”

“Alright, alright, the thought counts. But I still haven’t received your birthday gift. You said money in the bank earns interest – since my birthday gift is delayed, shouldn’t I charge you some interest?”

Zhou Cheng’s analogy was perfect, and Xia Xiaolan laughed heartily: “What kind of interest do you want?”

Zhou Cheng wouldn’t specify, “Don’t worry about that, I’ll collect it myself.”