Chapter 4 Indulging Your Pampered Nature [Are you home yet?]
Liang Jingzhuo.
Xie Qingci still didn't know what the next two characters were after her surname.
But she still smiled and replied, "Okay."
At this moment, Uncle Zhong walked in from outside, holding Liang Jingzhuo's phone. After handing the constantly vibrating phone to Liang Jingzhuo, he looked at Xie Qingci and asked, "Miss Xie, are you leaving?"
Xie Qingci smiled and replied, "Yes, thank you for your hospitality."
The snacks and tea were clearly prepared with care.
Uncle Zhong laughed and said warmly, "Come visit often when you have time. Jingzhuo has been in Jingzhao recently."
Xie Qingci glanced at Liang Jingzhuo, who had already taken his phone and walked to the window to answer it, and smiled as she replied, "Okay."
Sensing that the negotiation by the door had ended, Liang Jingzhuo turned around, holding his phone, and said, "Uncle Zhong, see him off."
After speaking, his gaze lingered on Xie Qingci's face for a moment before turning back to continue listening to the phone call.
Xie Qingci was about to say no, since she was going to Fangxinzhai on the way anyway, and it would be more convenient for her to walk herself, when Uncle Zhong chuckled and replied, "Okay."
Unable to refuse such kindness, Xie Qingci did not turn down the offer again, saying, "Then I'll trouble you."
Uncle Zhong took a gift box wrapped in gold-embroidered silk from the servant behind him and replied casually, "It's nothing. You'll probably see my old face quite often in the future. I hope you won't find me annoying."
Xie Qingci was stunned for a moment before realizing what she meant, and then smiled slightly.
It's still somewhat unbelievable that in a month, she's going to marry the man she's only met today.
Thinking of this, she glanced at the person not far away again. Dressed in a crisp suit, his figure stood at the boundary between light and shadow, like an unmoving mountain peak, having regained his usual cold indifference.
Really? Is that okay?
-
As they exited the courtyard, Uncle Zhong opened the car door for Xie Qingci, raising his hand to shield the door frame as he smiled and said, "Jingzhuo must be in a meeting, otherwise he would have personally driven you there."
During his trip to Jingzhao, Liang Jingzhuo indeed had to put aside a lot of work, holding several online meetings every day.
He looks relaxed, but he never stops working.
He personally escorted her, recalling the awkward silences that had just broken up.
Actually, there's no need for that.
Xie Qingci didn't say anything, just smiled and bowed as she got into the car.
Seeing that she was seated, Uncle Zhong handed her the gift box. "This is a pastry box from Fangxinzhai today, as well as this year's newly supplied Jin Jun Mei tea. I heard from Madam Zhuang that your elders like it, so Jingzhuo prepared two extra portions."
These two items were indeed Grandma Xie's favorites when she drank tea.
Xie Qingci glanced at the two small stacks of neatly bandaged items.
She recalled that when she saw the snack box in the reception room, she was thinking that these kinds of sweet treats were really not in Liang Jingzhuo's style.
It turns out he didn't eat it himself.
She reached out and took it, saying, "Please thank Mr. Liang for me."
Uncle Zhong laughed upon hearing this and replied, "It's only right."
After speaking, he whispered, "In the capital, the words of Old Madam Zhuang are like imperial edicts. She might be talked about for three days and three nights. He dares not be careless in the slightest."
The old lady's verbal skills are so sharp they could wear out a person's eardrum; her prowess is as strong as ever.
Xie Qingci was successfully amused.
Liang Jingzhuo returned to his study and turned on his computer. The windowpane-like video call interface flickered on the screen. While waiting for the attendees to arrive, he turned to look out the window.
Outside the courtyard, Xie Qingci had already gotten into the car. Uncle Zhong stood by the door and said something to her. She smiled, her smile bright and cheerful.
As if sensing his gaze, she turned her head and looked up at him, then suppressed her smile and nodded slightly.
It was like a polite expression of thanks.
He paused for a second, nodded slightly, and looked away.
-
As the car drove out of Fushun Hutong, it started to rain. The continuous rain washed away the water, causing it to fall like broken pearls.
Summer showers don't last long, and by the time we arrived at the Xie family's old house, the sun had already come out.
Xie Qingci thanked Uncle Zhong and got out of the car.
Xie Mulin and Zhou Mingzhen recently went on a business trip to Macau together. Apart from going to school, Xie Qingci spent most of her time at the old house with Xie's parents.
As I entered the old house's garden, Aunt Lin, the family's housekeeper, came out to greet me with a beaming smile. "Miss Xiao Ci, what brings you back today?"
Xie Qingci has been busy with charity sales and exhibitions lately and hasn't been back to her old house for almost half a month. She originally planned to return next week after the exhibition ends.
She smiled and said, "I just happened to have something to do today, so I came back on the way."
After saying that, he looked up at the main room and asked, "Where are the two elders?"
Normally, he would have come out to greet her with great joy by this time.
Aunt Lin accompanied her into the house, smiling as she said, "We went to a farmhouse in the suburbs for fun."
After saying that, he clapped his hands and hurriedly said, "I'll go call them and tell them you're back!"
As she was about to take out her phone, Xie Qingci stopped her, saying, "No need, I'm not going back to school until tomorrow afternoon, I'll have plenty of time."
The two elders rarely had time to relax, and she didn't want to spoil it.
Aunt Lin thought about it and agreed, putting away her phone and smiling as she replied, "That works too."
Since the two elders were not home, dinner was simple. After eating, Xie Qingci went upstairs to take a shower, and Aunt Lin went to store the snacks she had brought back.
Xie Qingci felt unusually tired even though she hadn't done much today. After taking a shower, she just lay down on the bed and didn't want to move.
The rain had just stopped, the temperature was cool, and a gentle breeze blew in through the open window, carrying the fragrance of jasmine flowers in full bloom in the flowerbed downstairs.
She picked up her phone and sent messages to Ke Meng and Duan Siyu, telling them that she wouldn't be going back to school tonight and would return tomorrow afternoon.
The two quickly replied with "OK".
After reading the message, she put down her phone, and a "meow" came from the floor behind her.
She turned around, glanced at him, and laughed, "Jinzai, why aren't you asleep yet?"
Jinzai is a golden shaded dog raised by Grandma Xie. Its chubby little face and cheeks are perfect. It walks gracefully to the bedside and tilts its head to look at her.
Its big, round eyes blinked, instantly melting Xie Qingci's heart. Xie Qingci got out of bed, scooped it into her arms, and petted it. "Little chubby cat, have you been eating again lately? You're heavier than when I last came back."
The little bundle of flesh in my arms squinted, enjoying the scratching on its head, and purred contentedly.
The phone beside her suddenly vibrated. She glanced at it, pulled Jinzai into her arms, and picked up the phone.
A WeChat friend request message.
Thinking back to the fact that she hadn't added any friends recently, she frowned in confusion and clicked on the verification message.
A contact named "L." has a profile picture of a horse reining in on a snow-capped mountain grassland, with the note below: Liang Jingzhuo.
Xie Qingci paused when her gaze fell on the last three words.
The little golden cub in her arms noticed her unusual behavior, raised its head, and also wanted to get closer to the screen to see what was going on.
She chuckled and patted its little head. "What can you understand, you silly little thing?"
She gently pressed the eager, fluffy head back down, bit her lip lightly, and tapped the verification button with her fingertip.
A moment later, a chat window popped up with a message: "Are you home yet?"
-
Liang Jingzhuo's conference call lasted until late at night. Just as he exited his work schedule, Ms. Zhuang called.
He glanced at the vibrating phone on the table, picked it up, and answered the call.
"Mommy."
"Don't call me Mommy." The words had barely left her lips when Ms. Zhuang's slightly displeased voice came through the receiver, "Tell me first, how did your meeting with the Xie family girl go today?"
Liang Jingzhuo lowered his eyes to look at the meeting minutes, casually turned a page, and said indifferently, "Didn't your trusted informant report the situation to you?"
It refers to Uncle Zhong.
Zhuang Shuying scolded him, "Stop being so glib. I want you to tell me yourself."
Uncle Zhong had already reported it early in the morning. They had met, but he couldn't say for sure what the specifics were. However, when he left, the young master asked him to escort Miss Xie back.
That was all the information Zhuang Shuying knew, but she was still worried and decided to make a phone call to find out for herself.
There was a two-second silence on the phone, followed by a voice saying, "It's alright."
Zhuang Shuying was so angry she almost choked. "You think it's okay? Are you sure you read it carefully?"
Grandma Zhuang had already sent her a picture of Xie's daughter; she was such a beautiful and charming girl!
Is it alright?
Did their eyes grow up in the sky?
Upon hearing this, Liang Jingzhuo paused in his work, his eyes lifting slightly. After a moment, he changed his tune and said, "It's fine."
Zhuang Shuying was satisfied with this answer and immediately continued to probe: "Did you exchange contact information? Did you chat? You're a man, you should be more proactive!"
His attention returned to the document, but before he could even finish reading a single word, he was stumped again by the question. Liang Jingzhuo looked away and replied, "No."
"Didn't you ask her for her contact information?"
"Um."
Zhuang Shuying had finally lost her temper. "Then how do you two contact each other? Liang Jingzhuo! You might as well chop off your hands. You're useless if you can't even talk to your wife!"
I practically fed him a guide on how to win over a wife, but he still doesn't get it.
Zhuang Shuying was so angry that her heart ached.
Indeed, he had forgotten. Xie Qingci was in a hurry to leave at the time, and he hadn't thought of it.
Turning to the last page of the document, Liang Jingzhuo picked up a pen and signed his name at the end. He sat up straight and said very seriously, "Strictly speaking, we are not legally married yet. Your statement is inaccurate."
"..." Zhuang Shuying was speechless with anger on the other end of the phone. "Stop giving me nonsense. You're almost thirty years old and don't even have half a wife. You don't even care about her!"
After finishing his signature and putting down his pen, he continued, "Half a Wife is a horror movie, not the 8 PM romance drama you like to watch."
Zhuang Shuying clenched her fist silently on the other end of the phone, but finally decided to calm herself down. "I'll send you Xiao Ci's phone number. Add her on WeChat. Don't tell me you don't use WeChat. Even if you don't, you have to download it for me!"
Liang Jingzhuo didn't say anything, but WhatsApp had already notified her that Ms. Zhuang had sent a new message.
"Hurry up and add me, I see you've read it."
"..." He paused for a moment, went into his communication settings, turned off the read receipt function, and then replied, "I understand."
Seeing her son so obedient for the first time, Zhuang Shuying felt a little better, and her voice softened a bit, "Xiao Ci is eight years younger than you, you need to be more proactive, don't let her feel neglected, do you hear me?"
He's so old, yet he has no sense of crisis. A twenty-year-old girl is so beautiful and in high demand.
At the age of eight, before meeting her, Liang Jingzhuo thought Ms. Zhuang must be insane.
A girl eight years younger than him, still in school, wants to marry him.
Anyone who hears this would think it's crazy.
After a long afternoon of video conferences, he was feeling a bit tired. He stood up, glanced at the darkening night sky outside the window, and replied, "Understood."
Hearing a satisfactory answer, Zhuang Shuying finally smiled. "Alright, I'm hanging up now. Remember to add me back!"
"Um."
The call was disconnected. Liang Jingzhuo took the phone away from his ear and glanced at the phone number Zhuang Shuying had sent.
After a moment's pause, I swiped out the group of apps I rarely use and found WeChat.
Aside from occasional contact with business partners in mainland China, he rarely uses WeChat and has very few contacts.
On the "Add Friends" screen, enter Xie Qingci's mobile phone number, and the search system will quickly push the correct contact to your screen.
A Winnie the Pooh figure holding a honey pot and waving to a bee flying by is named "Clear".
His gaze lingered on her profile picture for a second, then he typed in his name and clicked "Add Contact".
Surprisingly, the friend request was accepted very quickly.
Looking at the empty chat interface, there was nothing except his greeting to verify his identity.
He thought for a long time and then asked her if she had arrived home yet.
A note from the author:
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