“Zhou Cheng, you’re being presumptuous and talking nonsense!”
As Zhou Cheng walked ahead, Jiang Yan’s furious shout came from behind.
It drew the attention of everyone on the sports field.
Was there something between Goddess Jiang Yan and Zhou Cheng?
Both had high profiles at the academy. With more male than female students, the female cadets in Jiang Yan’s batch were all considered precious, and Jiang Yan was particularly eye-catching.
Initially, when Jiang Yan treated all male students equally, nobody said anything.
Lately, though, she kept seeking out Zhou Cheng.
There were many private speculations about what was going on between them.
“Shh, don’t gossip. Zhou Cheng has a girlfriend, and she’s really beautiful.”
Those who had seen Xia Xiaolan would defend her.
But more people hadn’t seen her and were more familiar with Jiang Yan.
Could anyone be more beautiful than Jiang Yan?
Dating isn’t just about looks – Jiang Yan wasn’t just beautiful, she was a female warrior equal to any man, young but already holding rank. If Zhou Cheng hadn’t chosen Jiang Yan, he would have been blind.
It was enviable – Zhou Cheng had never smiled at other female students, but just because he was good-looking and had a girlfriend, he could still catch Goddess Jiang Yan’s eye.
“Do you think Zhou Cheng’s girlfriend knows?”
Knows?
If she knew, there would surely be a huge fight.
But even if they fought, no worry – without the previous girlfriend, there was still Jiang Yan who spent time with him daily!
Who says academy people don’t gossip? Confined to training and classes all day, it was much more dreary than regular university. When they got a chance to come out, talking about academy news was normal. Du Zhaohui’s modified Jeep 212 had tinted windows – unless you looked carefully, it wasn’t easy to tell if anyone was inside.
The two people who came from the academy, using the Jeep for cover, squatted by the car sharing cigarettes, happily discussing academy news.
Listening from inside the car, Kang Wei broke into a cold sweat: You rumor-mongers are going to get Brother Cheng killed!
He secretly glanced at Xia Xiaolan, who gripped the steering wheel expressionlessly – not angry, but not happy either.
Guan Hui’e had scolded her son harshly last night; today this blame couldn’t be allowed to fall on Zhou Cheng.
“Xiaolan, these people don’t understand-“
“Aunt Guan, it’s fine. I trust Zhou Cheng on this.”
Guan Hui’e sighed in relief. Trust was good – otherwise, it would be adding frost to snow for these two children.
Xia Xiaolan had never doubted Zhou Cheng’s loyalty.
The problem between her and Zhou Cheng wasn’t about whether Jiang Yan liked him.
This was about the difference in their thinking, unrelated to outsiders.
Xia Xiaolan started the car: “Aunt Guan, I have some business in Beijing. Since Zhou Cheng couldn’t get leave today, shall we head out now?”
How could Guan Hui’e say no?
Zhou Cheng had always been strong-willed – joining work when he said he would, going to the frontlines without telling family. Guan Hui’e felt he needed someone to keep him in check.
“Let’s go, don’t wait for him. We can talk on the way!”
Talk on the way?
Hopefully not about the Shi family. If Zhou Cheng couldn’t think it through, Xia Xiaolan really wouldn’t interfere anymore.
She was already too busy with her affairs. If she and Zhou Cheng weren’t planning to marry, there was no need to worry about this for him. Xia Xiaolan didn’t want to admit that staying overnight in Shijiazhuang, besides the dangers of night driving, was really about hoping Zhou Cheng would have a different answer in the morning.
Xia Xiaolan stepped on the gas.
She was being too hopeful.
A person’s thought patterns were pretty much set by Zhou Cheng’s age.
Though only 22, Zhou Cheng had achieved some success and came from an excellent family. From their first meeting, Xia Xiaolan knew Zhou Cheng was very confident, and determined to get whatever and whoever he liked.
Xia Xiaolan admired Zhou Cheng’s confidence. When they met, his confident demeanor with a touch of roguishness, combined with his star-worthy face, made it impossible not to like him.
Love floats in the air.
Marriage must be grounded in reality.
Zhou Cheng’s confidence sometimes became arrogant!
Lying sleepless in bed last night, Xia Xiaolan tried to see things from Zhou Cheng’s perspective.
Zhou Cheng thought giving away a house was no big deal, partly from guilt toward the Shi family, but also from his confidence – he could advance through promotions at work. If he did business outside work, he could seize opportunities, like making tens of thousands from cigarette trading in ’84.
Xia Xiaolan had foreknowledge, accumulating life experience before returning to the starter village.
Zhou Cheng was truly clever.
Clever to the point of arrogance, believing he could support the Shi family for life without affecting their married life’s quality?
But what Xia Xiaolan cared about wasn’t just material quality of life!
She hadn’t planned to rely on Zhou Cheng materially, with him focusing on his career while she handled other matters… Xia Xiaolan didn’t feel wronged by this – she had never accepted the model of men working outside while women managed the home. Measuring career success wasn’t just about annual salary; Xia Xiaolan wanted to earn her own money, never planning to let those around her worry about money.
Besides, Zhou Cheng didn’t need to worry about money.
He had decisively bought the courtyard house, waiting for property values to rise – he wouldn’t be poor in the future.
Another reason for Xia Xiaolan’s anger was that she had been the first to tell Zhou Cheng to buy more houses, especially in Beijing, not to worry about having too many. Money in hand would depreciate, investments would appreciate… Zhou Cheng listened, but when she showed him how to protect assets, he didn’t even blink before wanting to transfer a house to Wei Juanhong.
Even giving it to Old Mrs. Shi would be better than Wei Juanhong.
Old Mrs. Shi knew everything but didn’t use it for leverage, pretending not to know.
Enough – if Zhou Cheng wasn’t worried, why should she care?
Xia Xiaolan gripped the steering wheel, quickly driving out of Shijiazhuang.
…
“Jiang Yan, stop pushing my boundaries. If the Jiang family of Jinling could force Third Brother Pan away, go ahead and try to see if the Jiang family can touch me!”
Zhou Cheng had requested to leave early to go out but was stopped by Jiang Yan.
He wanted to strangle her!
“Zhou Cheng, I’ve said before, I want to see Third Brother Pan. If you let me see him, I’ll stop bothering you.”
Jiang Yan spoke earnestly, but Zhou Cheng couldn’t hide his disgust as he walked past her.
Jiang Yan frowned:
“Zhou Cheng, you’ve misunderstood me. I don’t like you… I have a reason for wanting to see Third Brother Pan. I’ve obtained crucial evidence for his case. If we can give it to the authorities, Third Brother Pan can return to his position!”
This time, Zhou Cheng finally stopped for Jiang Yan.
He stared at her for a long while, “Either you’re crazy, or this is another Jiang family trap. Jiang Yan, guess which one I believe.”
Evidence favorable to Third Brother Pan would definitely be harmful to Jiang Wu – was Jiang Yan planning to betray her family?