Chapter 30

Chen Mian tried to reason with Zhou Zhixun, promising to return before the end of winter break. She also said that if she didn't return on time, he could punish her as he pleased.

“No, Tiara,” Zhou Zhixun kissed her from the top of her head down to her soft lips, “I’m worried about leaving you there alone for so long.”

Zhou Zhixun's ideas were paramount; once he made a decision, it was like reinforced concrete driven into the ground—unchangeable.

“Alright,” Chen Mian replied with his head down, but in his heart he was thinking that he would wait until his grandfather’s condition stabilized before making any further plans. At worst, he could come back and say a few sweet words to Zhou Zhixun to appease him.

He really enjoyed talking about love and affection.

That day, Chen Mian, with a hint of "pleasing" in her heart, whispered sweet nothings to Zhou Zhixun for a long time until her throat was dry. Reaching for the water glass on the bedside table, Zhou Zhixun propped himself up, took the glass she had been longing for, but didn't give it to her; instead, he tilted his head back and drank it all himself. Then, a torrent of wet kisses swept over Chen Mian.

Chen Mian's mouth was dry, and she would stick out her tongue to lick it whenever it touched a little water. Zhou Zhixun let her lick it, and not only did he let her lick it, he also hoped that she could lick it deeper.

Chen Mian was speechless. She looked away from the other's captivating gaze, and Zhou Zhixun pressed his hand down forcefully from hers. This time, it wasn't sunbathing anymore; a torrential downpour began, pattering against the trembling branches and leaves, creating thin, transparent streaks of rain.

"Did you feel it?" Zhou Zhixun asked again.

"Um."

"What did you feel?"

"you."

Zhou Zhixun was very satisfied with Chen Mian's answer and chuckled, "Then enjoy it."

Chen Mian lay on him, hugging his neck, and drifted off to sleep.

"Babe, are you alright?"

Chen Mian snorted.

Zhou Zhixun put one arm around her head and kissed her repeatedly, praising her without reservation, "So good, baby. How could I have such a good baby?"

"Remember to send me a message when you arrive tomorrow, so I don't worry."

"oh."

What does "'Oh' mean? It means 'I understand'?"

"knew"

-

Zhou Zhixun only gave Chen Mian a week to return to China, so Bella didn't help her prepare much. Zhou Zhixun personally took Chen Mian to the airport and waited until her plane took off before returning home.

Chen Mian landed at noon the next day. As soon as he stepped out of the airport, Zhou Zhixun called right on time.

"elder brother."

Where?

Zhou Zhixun's voice sounded a little hoarse, but if you listened carefully, you could hear the crisp clinking of wine glasses.

"Are you still out drinking?"

It was the early hours of the morning there; normally Chen Mian would be fast asleep in bed by now.

"Yeah, it's almost over. What about you? Have you left the airport yet?"

"Just came out."

"I called a car for you, I'll send you the license plate number," Zhou Zhixun rubbed his temples. It had only been a little over thirty hours since they last met, and he found himself missing Chen Mian terribly, very much. "Can we video chat when you get home?"

“It’s possible, but you should rest,” Chen Mian reminded him. Besides, she had been on the plane for so long and couldn’t get proper rest on the plane. She needed to rest too.

Chen Mian is timid. Every time she flies, she can't help but think about bad things. Moreover, her right ear hurts a lot, and she is even afraid to swallow her saliva.

"Can you leave the video on and put it next to your pillow?"

"good."

"Good boy/girl."

See you later.

After hanging up the phone, Chen Mian got into a black Bentley using the license plate number Zhou Zhixun had sent her.

The driver was a young woman with neat chestnut-brown short hair.

“Ms. Tiara, I will be taking care of your needs for the next week. Here is my contact information. Please contact me if you need anything.”

"Did Eli arrange for you to come?" she asked.

Luna: "Yes, please tell me your address."

Luna not only safely escorted Chen Mian back, but also prepared lunch for her.

Chen Mian was sometimes amazed by Zhou Zhixun's sphere of influence, which allowed him to manage even countries far across the ocean so well.

After lunch, she made a video call.

The call was answered the next second.

Zhou Zhixun had just finished showering and was casually wearing a bathrobe, revealing his muscular physique. His hair was still wet, with water dripping down his face, showing how eager he was to answer the video call.

"Are you ready to sleep?" His voice was low. He always spoke very gently when facing her, like stepping on a blanket while wearing carpet socks.

"Hmm, and you?"

"Me too, I go to sleep right after blow-drying my hair."

“Okay,” Chen Mian was too sleepy. She tossed her phone aside and slowly spoke to Zhou Zhixun, “What’s going on with Luna?”

The hairdryer stopped on the other end. "Would you mind?"

"What do you mind?"

“To control your life like this, Tiara.”

“Yes,” Chen Mian paused, his mind working hard, “but not with you. Anyway, you’re doing this for my own good, not to harm me.”

Zhou Zhixun's lips curled up, and a smile spread across his eyes. "You should rest."

"good evening."

-

Chen Mian did not go home the next day, but went directly to the hospital.

Grandpa had already been moved to a regular ward, but Chen Kang arranged for him to stay in a quiet VIP ward.

The room was spacious and clean, with large windows that let sunlight fall on the glass bed and then be reflected into the room. Outside the window were bare trees, their dark brown branches stretching out haphazardly.

Grandpa was lying in his hospital bed, watching TV.

"Hey, Xiao Mian."

Upon seeing Chen Mian, he hurriedly tried to get up to shake her hand. Chen Mian quickly took a few steps forward and grasped her hand, saying, "Are you alright, Grandpa?"

“He’s doing well,” the grandfather, who was over eighty years old, said with loose skin hanging on his cheekbones and sunken eyes, staring intently at Chen Mian. “He looks thinner.”

"No, I haven't lost weight."

Grandpa is in good spirits; the doctor said he's recovering very well.

Chen Mian felt relieved and chatted with him for a while. Soon after, Chen Kang arrived.

He was accompanied by his stepmother Zeng Bailing and their son Chen Yixian.

Chen Yixian is only a few years older than Chen Mian and is now slowly taking over Chen Kang's small company.

Originally, Chen Mian didn't think Chen Kang's company was small. After all, it was a company that supported a family, with over a hundred people, so it certainly wasn't small. But since meeting Zhou Zhixun, Chen Mian realized that she had gradually lost her concept of money. In Zhou Zhixun's eyes, Chen Kang's company was nothing more than a nicely decorated bathroom?

Zeng Bailing was a very well-mannered stepmother. She never made things difficult for Chen Mian. In fact, after Feng Meixia and Chen Kang separated, she took good care of Chen Mian, even though her attitude was not very warm.

Compared to Feng Meixia, who used Chen Mian as a bargaining chip, Zeng Bailing was really good to her.

"Aunt."

Zeng Bailing nodded and politely greeted him, "If you're back, stay a few more days. It's been over a year since you last came back."

"No, I'm going back to school for my internship next week."

Internship is just an excuse.

Chen Kang: "When will you graduate?"

Chen Mian: "Two more years."

Chen Kang: What do you plan to do after graduation?

Chen Mian: "I don't know yet."

Chen Kang glanced at Chen Mian, who was answering his questions. She had matured a lot and stood tall and graceful like a fresh and vibrant white gardenia.

"There's a party next week. You can leave after you attend the party."

Chen Mian nodded, offering no objection.

Staying a few more days would allow me to spend more time with Grandpa, which is also good. Chen Kang said it wouldn't take up much time.

So Chen Mian moved out of the hotel and into Chen Kang's house.

In her memory, the house was very large, with a fragrant garden. In reality, compared to her memory, the house was not large at all, and the so-called garden could be seen from one end to the other. Moreover, since it was winter, there were only a few lonely plum blossoms left.

Desolate, lonely.

Zeng Bailing led Chen Mian to her bedroom. She rarely came back in the past, and even when she did, she would not stay here. She would stay in a hotel. This time, perhaps to put her grandfather at ease, she made an unprecedented move and stayed in this house.

After she had finished tidying everything up, Zhou Zhixun called her via video.

"Tiara, where are you now?" He looked at the unfamiliar background behind Chen Mian. "Are you home?"

“Yes,” Chen Mian nodded. “Grandpa is sick. He’s worried about me being alone out there, so he asked my father to take care of me.”

“You’ll be back in four days. I’ll pick you up at the airport,” Zhou Zhixun reminded her. “Remember to ask Luna to help you pack your things beforehand.”

"Zhou Zhixun," Chen Mian called him muffledly, his face buried in the pillow.

"Hmm? What's wrong, sweetie?"

"I promised my father today that I would accompany him to a party next week."

"Does that mean you'll be back later?"

"Yes, I'm sorry," Chen Mian apologized for going back on his word.

“If you feel sorry, just go home on time. I won’t blame you,” Zhou Zhixun said, looking at Chen Mian in the camera. Chen Mian’s hair had probably just been washed and was loosely draped over his shoulders, making his cheeks bulge out.

So cute.

I want to kiss you.

“But I’ve already agreed,” Chen Mian said with difficulty, “and it’s only for a few days.”

“So, you still have to agree to what I said first,” Zhou Zhixun said earnestly.

"Zhou Zhixun, you're so annoying," Chen Mian said, unable to persuade him, his temper flared up again, "I'm going to come back later."

“Tiara.”

The next second, Chen Mian hung up the phone.

She turned over, angrily pounding the blanket, making a 'plop plop' sound.

On the other end, Zhou Zhixun stared at the blank screen, tossed his phone onto the sofa, and wearily pinched the bridge of his nose.

Rebellious teenagers are difficult to manage.

Zhou Zhixun is a doting parent, provided the child is by his side. He only sees Chen Mian's occasional rebelliousness as a manifestation of her lively personality, and he even hopes that Chen Mian will retain this personality.

The premise is that the child is with you.