Chapter 31
Chen Mian has had nothing to do these past few days. Apart from visiting his grandfather in the hospital, he spends most of his time hiding in his room.
She had nothing to talk about with Chen Kang's family, and her friends were all studying in other places. Her only comfort was the television in her room.
It's open from morning till night.
Chen Mian watched all the TV dramas and variety shows he had missed in the past, so his days weren't too boring.
Zhou Zhixun often called her, almost every two hours except when he was sleeping. Chen Mian answered the phone several times in front of Chen Kang and Zeng Bailing.
At first, they didn't pay much attention, but after a while, they started to notice the difference.
"Boyfriend?" Zeng Bailing asked her.
Chen Mian answered honestly, "Yes."
"Chinese?"
"No, I'm a foreigner."
Zeng Bailing and Chen Kang exchanged a glance, hesitating to speak.
"What's wrong?" Chen Mian asked suspiciously, noticing their expressions. "Is something the matter?"
Chen Kang said bluntly, "Cross-border relationships don't last long, so it's better to break up sooner rather than later."
Chen Mian was slightly surprised. Chen Kang had never even inquired about his studies, let alone his love life.
“It’s like this,” Zeng Bailing pressed Chen Kang’s hand and explained, “The family’s financial situation is not as good as before. Your father heard from a friend that the Wang family has a son who is about your age and is not yet married. He was thinking of letting you two meet him.”
"Is it that gathering in a few days?"
Yes, many of your peers participated.
Despite Zeng Bailing's bluntness, Chen Mian didn't feel embarrassed or offended. She calmly replied, "I have a boyfriend, and we have a very good relationship."
“Yes,” Zeng Bailing said, “We didn’t know you had a boyfriend. If we had known earlier, we wouldn’t have accepted. Now that the invitation has been delivered to us, please consider it a favor to us.”
"Okay, sure."
Marriage is the simplest bargaining chip, allowing one to gain more wealth. Chen Kang clearly wanted to use this method to save his precarious company. However, Zeng Bailing also had this reason for marrying Chen Kang in the first place. The two had treated each other with respect for many years, and she obviously had long harbored resentment and regret about it.
As women, Zeng Bailing did not want Chen Mian to follow in her footsteps.
Let's assume Chen Mian doesn't have a boyfriend yet, and it's just a social gathering among young people. But since Chen Mian already has a boyfriend, it wouldn't be appropriate for her to go.
"You can go get something to eat and then come back to rest. It won't take up too much of your time."
Chen Mian nodded.
Her stepmother was like that; she had a very mild temperament. When she learned that Chen Kang had an affair with Feng Meixia, she did not blame or insult Feng Meixia. Chen Mian even heard Zeng Bailing tell Chen Yixian that everyone has their own difficulties and there is no need to be too harsh on others.
Chen Mian did not mention the gathering to Zhou Zhixun.
Zhou Zhixun is not quick-witted; after hearing this, all he could do was tell Chen Mian not to participate. He doesn't understand anything about social etiquette.
That's true. At his level, only others fawn over him; he has no chance to experience these things.
-
Zhou Zhixun has been trying to persuade Chen Mian to go home on time these past few days, saying that he misses her very much.
Chen Mian remained unmoved. That's just how people are. This is the place where she was born and raised. No matter how many unpleasant things happened, returning here gives her a sense of belonging, like the two poles of a magnet attracting each other.
Zhou Zhixun couldn't persuade Chen Mian, so he could only repeatedly tell her to take good care of herself.
"Tiara, do you have a cold?"
"A little," Chen Mian sniffed, feeling like he was exhaling more than inhaling, and his throat felt dry, as if a spoon was constantly scraping his throat, making it both itchy and painful.
Have you seen a doctor?
“No, there’s no need to see a doctor for a cold,” Chen Mian said confidently. “I’ve never seen a doctor when I had a cold before. I just slept it off and it was fine, really.” She emphasized.
“No,” Zhou Zhixun frowned deeply, his knuckles tapping nervously on the table. “Have Luna take you to the hospital.”
"don't want."
"Be good, baby."
“I’ve taken my medicine,” Chen Mian said, taking a small step back. “I feel much better now.”
"Does your head hurt?" Zhou Zhixun inquired carefully about her symptoms. "Besides your sore throat, is there anything else that's bothering you?"
"No."
"I'll ask Luna to bring you some medicine."
"oh."
After hanging up the phone, Zhou Zhixun informed the family doctor about Chen Mian's cold symptoms. The doctor prescribed some easy-to-buy medicine, and Zhou Zhixun sent the prescription to Luna. Luna went to the pharmacy, bought the medicine, and delivered it to Chen Mian's home.
Less than an hour later, Chen Mian took his medicine under Luna's urging.
Chen Mian had previously heard Dylan say that Zhou Zhixun was a heartless person. But in reality, if he cared about something, he would find a way to do it.
-
On the day of the gathering.
This was the first time Chen Mian had accompanied his so-called 'parents' to such a banquet.
It was similar to what she had attended abroad, nothing more than a group of strangers chatting enthusiastically in a magnificent hall.
Moreover, Chen Mian went abroad at a very young age and studied alone, so there wasn't a single familiar face among the hundred or so people present.
Bored, she found an empty seat, thinking about how to quietly slip away.
According to Chen Kang, the host of the banquet was a Chinese man whose ancestors started in the building materials business and are now involved in multiple fields.
This young Chinese man, surnamed Li, is currently unmarried.
Many people came here tonight specifically to see him.
Chen Mian was not interested in this. She did not think anyone's wealth, family background, or appearance could compare to Zhou Zhixun's. If they could not compare to Zhou Zhixun, then what was the point of watching?
Before long, the two heavy doors of the banquet hall were opened again, and gasps of surprise rose from all around.
Chen Mian guessed that it was probably the family of the person surnamed Li who had entered.
She was sitting far away, and even though she was facing the gate, she couldn't see the person's face clearly. Many people had gathered at the entrance, surrounding it completely, and Chen Kang was no exception.
Chen Mian glanced at her phone, seemingly oblivious to what was going on. The screen was on the flight booking page; she was about to buy her return ticket, as she feared she might miss out if she waited any longer.
"Tiara, my little sister."
Chen Mian looked up in surprise; no one in China would deliberately call her by her English name.
It's Dylan.
He leaned against the table, looking at her with a smile in his eyes, "What a coincidence."
"Your surname isn't actually Li, is it?"
“That’s my half-brother. With my looks, do you think I could be mixed race?”
“That’s true,” Chen Mian nodded. Not only did he not look like he was of mixed race, but she had also never heard Zhou Zhixun mention that Dylan was of mixed race.
As he spoke, Dylan hooked a chair with his foot and sat down next to Chen Mian, ordering a drink from the waiter. "You don't know, in the days you were gone, your brother... there's a Chinese saying, 'forgetting to eat and sleep'?"
"Working day and night without rest," Chen Mian corrected him. "Has Zhou Zhixun not taken a break at all?"
“Yes,” Dylan took a sip of his drink and casually mentioned Zhou Zhixun’s daily life over the past few days. “He gets up at four o’clock every day to exercise, starts handling official business at six o’clock, and doesn’t rest until midnight. He eats when he’s hungry, but he doesn’t eat when he’s not hungry.”
"...How do you know all this?" Chen Mian looked at him suspiciously. "You're living at home?"
"No, not at all," Zhou Zhixun said. Given his personality, besides Chen Mian, who else would he allow to stay overnight in his private residence?
"Then how do you know when he gets up and goes to bed, and when he eats?"
“Never mind that,” Dylan chuckled. “I just know that without you, what meaningful thing do you think he can do?”
"Dylan, shut your mouth."
Hearing that familiar tone, Chen Mian turned around abruptly, "Zhou Zhixun!"
"Hmm," Zhou Zhixun stood behind Chen Mian, having been there for an unknown amount of time, "Are you cold?"
Before Chen Mian could answer, he took off his coat and draped it over her shoulder.
What brings you here?
"A certain disobedient kitten never comes home, so I have to go out and look for it."
Chen Mian's face flushed, and she buried her face in his chest, taking a deep sniff. "I missed you so much."
"It's no use saying nice things..." Zhou Zhixun turned his face away. "I miss you too. How about coming to my place tonight?"
"Well, I might need to tell Chen Kang beforehand."
“No need,” Zhou Zhixun said, his gaze shifting to Chen Kang, who was bowing and scraping as he spoke with Dylan’s brother in the distance. Chen Mian followed his gaze and saw his father, whom he had always been afraid of, now bowing and scraping to the young mixed-race man in front of him, a stark contrast to his usual arrogance.
Zhou Zhixun had no good feelings towards Chen Mian's father; in fact, he loathed him.
She resented him for abandoning Chen Mian and causing her so much suffering at a young age.
“Let’s go,” Zhou Zhixun put his arm around Chen Mian’s waist and led her toward the side door. “Have you not been eating properly lately? You don’t look very energetic.”
"No, I don't think so," Chen Mian said guiltily. She had eaten properly, but she stayed up late every night.
Freed from Zhou Zhixun's control, and with her weak self-control, she would often spend four or five hours, or even longer, playing on her phone at night with its faint glow before going to sleep.
"Brother, when did you get back?"
"I spent lunch with Dylan today."
A week in advance, Zhou Zhixun had Luna purchase a black Maybach and a villa in the city.
As soon as he entered, he showered Chen Mian with kisses.
Zhou Zhixun missed her terribly, so much.
He hadn't had a proper rest in the past week, spending almost all his waking hours on official business, just so he could come and take care of Chen Mian in person.
This is, after all, Chen Mian's hometown. It's understandable that she wants to stay longer; he's worried about relying on others for extended care, especially her unreliable 'parents'.
“Zhou Zhixun,” Chen Mian couldn’t resist his passion and pushed him away a little, “we haven’t even washed yet.”
"Together."
bathroom.
Zhou Zhixun leaned against the edge of the bathtub, the hard marble pressing against his shoulder blades. Chen Mian sat in his lap, playing with the water idly, the water just reaching her chest.
"tired?"
He hadn't been able to control his strength, and Chen Mian couldn't withstand it, leaving several long red scratches on his back. His neck, wrists, and shoulders were covered in bite marks from the kitten in front of him.
Needless to say, Chen Mian had red marks left by Zhou Zhixun sucking everywhere.
She nodded, wanting to turn around and face him.
"Hiss—" Zhou Zhixun took a deep breath, put his hand around Chen Mian's waist and coaxed softly, "Baby, relax."
Chen Mian froze. "Can you come out first?"
Zhou Zhixun looked down at her, seeing her on the verge of tears.
"Zhou's teachings".
As he responded, he reached for Chen Mian's lips, biting them as he asked knowingly, "Can't you get over?"
"Um."
"Brother will help you."
After saying that, Zhou Zhixun moved his large hand from his waist down, and before Chen Mian could react, he quickly turned her around and pressed down again.
Perfectly fitted.
Chen Mian trembled violently in his hands a few times, then shakily grabbed Zhou Zhixun's shoulder.
"Alright, alright," Zhou Zhixun said, still holding Chen Mian close. He placed the water glass on the tile and fed Chen Mian a few sips. "It's because your brother missed you so much," he said.
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