Chapter 79: Bonus Chapter with 25,000 Nutrient Solution (Business Trip)

Wu Zhou and Zhan Lintian looked out at the distant river gorge, squatting on the ground and trying to build a small snowman with shovels.

There wasn't much snow on the ground, since the community had already cleared it thoroughly that morning.

Jiangxia could only build a small snowman, about the height of a calf, which was almost big enough to be held in both arms.

He looked at it, then picked up two more twigs and stuck them on the left and right sides of the snowman to make them look like little hands.

Jiang Xia gently shook the snowman's little hand, and the snowman seemed to come to life.

He greeted the new "little friend" in a gentle tone: "Hello."

It was too far away to hear clearly, but Zhan Lintian could sense: "He was very happy."

Wu Zhou hummed in agreement.

Zhan Lintian clasped his hands together: "What about your brother? Do you really want him to come back?"

Wu Zhou snorted coldly, "I sent Xie Xingzhang over."

"Would Miss Xie agree?" Zhan Lintian finally looked at him.

Wu Zhou turned his wrist and looked at his watch. It was getting late. "Xie Xingzhang doesn't care about these things. He's just going abroad for fun. Wu Ming cares about his reputation. She can keep Wu Ming occupied."

At this moment, Jiang Xia got up, propped up with a shovel, and was talking to the old woman. He was going upstairs to sleep, and he wanted to have a few last words with her.

"I haven't built a snowman in many years."

This year, we finally had a heavy snowfall, which was beautiful, covering the whole city in a silvery white, but it made transportation inconvenient.

While Jiang Xia was happy, he was also a little worried. He would need to travel around to do simultaneous interpretation or event translation in a while. If air traffic control was strict and the number of flights was reduced, he would only be able to choose high-speed rail or driving, which would take up a lot of time on the road.

He didn't want to waste time on the road.

Thinking of this, Jiang Xia exhaled a breath of cold air, his brows and eyes filled with worry.

The old woman asked him, "So where do you plan to spend the Lunar New Year this year?"

Jiang Xia shook his head: "It's not certain yet. It depends on the work arrangements. I think traveling to another place for the Spring Festival would be a good idea."

His words were a form of comfort.

The two of them took turns talking.

"Grandma, what about you?"

My son and daughter are coming back to China this year.

Jiang Xia smiled and said, "That will definitely be very lively."

The old lady invited Jiang Xia to celebrate the festival together this year, but Jiang Xia declined, saying, "I'll most likely be away on a business trip and won't be able to make it back."

As he spoke, he squatted down again and continued to tidy up the little snowman. He then took two twigs and placed them in front of the snowman as its legs.

Jiang Xia said gently, "Alright, standing is too tiring, it's better to sit down."

The old woman and the young man chatted for a while. Just as Jiang Xia was about to go upstairs, the old woman suddenly pointed to a distant place where there was no one else.

Jiang Xia was puzzled.

The old woman said, "Your two friends watched you for a long time just now. They were really kind to you."

Jiang Xia stared blankly, then realized who the aunt was talking about...

But Wu Zhou and Zhan Lintian were nowhere to be seen; they must have listened to me and gone home in time.

It's too cold; it's easy to catch a cold and get sick.

As Jiang Xia was about to go upstairs, he saw the lonely snowman and, after thinking for a moment, built another small snowman.

No matter who picks him up for work tomorrow morning, they'll definitely see this snowman. Jiang Xia thought about the scene carefully and suddenly felt ashamed. What if Zhan Lintian didn't admit that the second snowman was him and insisted on giving him an explanation...?

Jiang Xia hurriedly built a third snowman. He looked at the old woman again, and finally the snowman increased from one to four standing in a row.

He stood up, clapped his hands, smiled, and took a picture: "Perfect."

Back home, after washing up, Jiang Xia couldn't resist admiring her four little snowmen, so she posted a picture on her WeChat Moments.

He always felt that even after blocking Wu Ming, he was still being watched, and that Wu Ming's henchmen might be hiding in his friend list. Therefore, Jiang Xia only made sure that his colleagues, superiors, and a few friends could see this post on his WeChat Moments.

The so-called friends... were not many. Apart from Ying Hua, Zhao Hui, and others, there were only Wu Zhou and Zhan Lintian.

He originally wanted to block them, but two of the snowmen in the picture were their alter egos, and he felt it would be unethical to block them.

What if Yinghua saw it and then let it slip...

Jiang Xia narrowed his eyes with a hint of helplessness. Having too high a sense of morality isn't a good thing either.

Look at Wu Ming, he's shameless.

He eventually posted the message on his WeChat Moments. Jiang Xia updates his Moments monthly, and most of it is work-related.

Zhan Lintian immediately saw this post on his WeChat Moments, because he had been struggling with what message to send to Jiang Xia.

Now he's seized the opportunity.

“Wenwen wanted to build a snowman before, but we were worried her hands would get cold, so the aunties disagreed. Aren’t you cold?” Zhan Lintian sent the message first.

Jiang Xia sent a smiling emoji: "Not cold."

Zhan Lintian thought to himself, "As long as it's not cold."

Jiang Xia sent a message: "Good night."

Zhan Lintian replied with a satisfied "Goodnight".

His car and Wu Zhou's car drove away from Jiang Xia's house together. It didn't seem like Wu Zhou would turn around halfway and force his way into Jiang Xia's house, where he had clearly told them to "leave".

"See you tomorrow." Before going to sleep, Zhan Lintian looked at the snowmen again. One, two, three, four, one was Jiang Xia, one was himself, and another was Wu Zhou... The fourth one couldn't possibly be Wu Ming, could it?

Zhan Lintian sat up abruptly. Was Jiang Xia really that soft-hearted?

He wasn't one to keep his thoughts to himself, so he asked directly, "Jiang Xia, who is this fourth snowman referring to?"

Jiang Xia answered truthfully, and General Manager Zhan was finally relieved.

Jiangxia was relieved. Driving at night on icy roads could easily lead to accidents, and he only felt at ease after the other party replied...

Wu Zhou was the only one who didn't reply. Just now, before I sent them away, I specifically said, "If you arrive, you can send a message to let me know you're safe."

Zhan Lintian is already home...

Jiang Xia replied proactively, "Have you arrived home yet?"

"No," Wu Zhou replied instantly.

Jiang Xia asked in confusion: "Traffic jam?"

"There's no traffic jam, I'm looking for a parking space."

Jiang Xia was even more confused, but fortunately Wu Zhou explained the reason in his next sentence: "If you don't want to go home, just find a place near your house and take a nap for the night."

He tried the same trick again, and Jiang Xia suddenly sat up and fell for it.

A dozen minutes later, Wu Zhou stepped back into Jiangxia's home.

Jiang Xia stood at the door looking at him, her brows slightly furrowed, but she still prepared toiletries for him.

Wu Zhou's face remained expressionless as he silently clenched his fists. Jiang Xia had very strict bottom lines when it came to small matters, and he would never back down except under normal circumstances.

However, he will back down when it comes to matters of life safety or physical health.

It's probably related to the car accident that killed Jiang Xia's parents. Wu Zhou gritted his teeth. This is why Wu Ming is so fearless. He knows that no matter how much trouble he causes, if he eventually threatens to jump off a building or commit suicide, Jiang Xia will definitely soften her heart.

It's simply out of a normal person's respect for life.

Wu Zhou didn't take the pajamas from Jiang Xia's hands. Instead, he held her in his arms, sat on the sofa, and whispered, "Jiang Xia, I'm sorry. I deliberately lied to you and said I was going back."

Jiang Xia lowered her eyes: "I don't like it."

Wu Zhou patted him on the shoulder: "It won't happen again next time. By the way, who was the fourth snowman?"

Jiang Xia's lips twitched. Just how much did these two care whether the snowman was Wu Ming?

“It’s an old lady,” Jiang Xia explained.

Wu Zhou's brows relaxed: "That's good, I'll go wash up first."

Just like the previous few days, after Wu Zhou finished washing up, he crawled into bed and hugged Jiang Xia tightly.

The man's tall frame embraced him completely, like a constantly warm hand warmer.

Jiang Xia was tightly entangled and couldn't break free. In his sleep, he dreamed that he had raised a dog that had become a bad dog, which was not obedient at all and insisted on sticking to him.

He woke up with a start in the early hours of the morning, only to find that he was sweating. Jiang Xia suddenly peeked out from Wu Zhou's arms, looked at the ceiling, and thought to himself that the air conditioner was set too high...

Jiang Xia closed his eyes, comforting himself that he would seamlessly transition to a business trip after a while, allowing his mind to calm down.

He made a plan in his mind: finish his work this week, then go on a business trip next week, staying in each place for a few days. If he did that, he might only be able to celebrate his birthday while on a business trip.

Thinking of this, he fell asleep happily again.

The next day, Jiang Xia was in a better mood. Before leaving, Wu Zhou straightened his tie and chuckled.

"What's wrong? Why are you so happy?" Wu Zhou asked in a low voice.

Jiang Xia smiled gently: "It's nothing, I'm going to work. I'll have breakfast at the company."

He sat down at his workstation and found two breakfasts laid out on it.

The colleagues assumed it was prepared by Zhao Hui, the apprentice, or the new junior student, and were not surprised.

Jiang Xia silently finished both breakfasts. He really couldn't eat anymore, but he didn't want to waste food. Luckily, his apprentice Zhao Hui leaned over and asked, "Master, did you buy too much breakfast?"

Jiang Xia sighed, "A friend gave it to me. Have you eaten it? Let's eat together."

Zhao Hui happily ate his breakfast: "This breakfast is so hard to buy. They don't offer delivery, and it's a million miles away from our company. Master, your friend is so thoughtful."

While eating, he glanced at Jiang Xia's work calendar and said with embarrassment, "Master, you're not taking a break at all, and you're still thinking about celebrating your birthday this year."

Jiang Xia smiled and waved his hand: "It's the thought that counts."

Jiang Xia's cheeks ached from eating breakfast, so he rubbed his face and told them to order smaller portions tomorrow.

As soon as he finished his work calendar, he bought all the plane and high-speed rail tickets he could book for next week that morning.

Zhao Hui asked, "Then when you celebrate your birthday, Master, won't you be in Yuncheng?"

Jiang Xia looked around and found that there was a manufacturer in Yuncheng that sold large machinery. They were participating in an international exhibition, and the two sides had been cooperating for a long time. This time, the other party invited him to be the translator for their foreign clients.

The two sides have cooperated for several years, know each other well, and trust each other.

Jiang Xia smiled and said, "The scenery over there is quite nice."

To stop Wu Zhou from waiting downstairs, Jiang Xia sent a message: "I'm going on a business trip next week and won't be home. You can come into my house; you know the password."

Wu Zhou frowned as he read the message.

The secretary knocked on the door: "Boss, do I no longer need to prepare dinner for you?"

Wu Zhou's voice was deep: "My wife will be away on a business trip next week and won't be home."

The secretary smiled and said, "Who asked if your wife is home? We should ask if you want to order food."

A note from the author:

Miss Xie was happy to go to the Fog Kingdom to visit Wu Ming, although Wu Ming wasn't too keen on it.

*

Small theater.

Jiang Xia indeed celebrated her birthday away from home. Even if Wu Ming returned from abroad to celebrate, he wouldn't be able to find her at home.

After a busy day at the factory, he returned to his hotel to rest well the next day.

To say that Wu Zhou and Zhan Lintian suddenly appeared to celebrate his birthday was shocking, but also quite touching.

Especially since Zhan Lintian verbally said that if it puts you in a difficult position, he won't cling to you so indiscriminately anymore.

Wu Zhou echoed this sentiment.

Jiang Xia thought they had figured things out and felt a little better, but at the same time, she felt lost about the future.

He tried to calm himself down, and under his relaxed guard, he was coaxed into drinking the local specialty fruit wine, which he actually did willingly...

*