Chapter 36: Capitalists are angry at their lack of ambition.
The sky outside the window was darkening, with only a tiny orange-red sun hanging far on the horizon. The twilight pressed down on the evergreen pine tree beside the window.
Old Xia happily served Jiang Zhiyan some food, saying, "Try the shrimp that Uncle stir-fried. Yu Yu loved it when she was little and would pester me to make it for her every day."
Jiang Zhiyan smiled and thanked him, then started chatting with Lao Xia again. In just a few words, Lao Xia was overjoyed and praised Jiang Zhiyan for being so good at dealing with people.
Only Xia Zhiyu noticed that his lips were a little swollen and his complexion wasn't good; she knew that Jiang Zhiyan's stomach was hurting again.
The eight dishes on the table—stir-fried shrimp, celery stir-fried with cured pork, stir-fried chili with pickled bamboo shoots, and stewed green beans and eggplant—were all designed to assault Jiang Zhiyan's fragile stomach.
Xia Zhiyu happily devoured the cured meat, completely oblivious to Jiang Zhiyan's fate.
Jiang Zhiyan's stomach problems are a problem he developed since childhood. As a young master from a wealthy family, he had a refined diet and lifestyle from a young age. However, if the food he was given was not fresh or was too oily or spicy, he would definitely suffer from stomach pain.
It wasn't until he later lived with Xia Zhiyu that things changed. Xia Zhiyu couldn't get used to white food, nor did she like the bland Cantonese dishes; she only loved spicy hot pot with beef tallow. For people from Sichuan, what flows in their veins isn't blood, but rather a numbing, spicy, and cilantro-infused dipping sauce.
Every time Jiang Zhiyan ate with her, he would order a Yangzhou fried rice takeout separately for himself.
At that time, Xia Zhiyu did not know that Jiang Zhiyan's stomach was so fragile. It wasn't until one night when he was hospitalized that Xia Zhiyu realized that Jiang Zhiyan's stomach was no different from that of paper.
Before Jiang Zhiyan fell ill, they had a big fight because of Ren Yu, and the cold war lasted for almost half a month. They even started sleeping in separate rooms, with Xia Zhiyu sleeping in the master bedroom and Jiang Zhiyan sleeping in the study.
At 2 a.m. that night, when Jiang Zhiyan knocked on Xia Zhiyu's door, she already had a fever of 39 degrees Celsius. If she had been taken to the hospital any later, she would have been in serious trouble.
Xia Zhiyu was so frightened that she didn't care about being angry with him anymore. She tried to cool him down while calling 120. When she saw Jiang Zhiyan's forehead covered in cold sweat from the pain in the ambulance, Xia Zhiyu's heart broke.
Fortunately, it was just a stomach ulcer, not yet to the point of perforation.
Jiang Zhiyan lay on the hospital bed receiving an IV drip containing sedative ingredients. Even while asleep, Jiang Zhiyan's brows furrowed in pain.
The medicine dripped into his body like Xia Zhiyu's tears.
The next day, when Jiang Zhiyan woke up, Xia Zhiyu sat on the edge of the bed, her eyes red like a rabbit's. She pitifully told Jiang Zhiyan that they should never quarrel or have a cold war again.
At the time, she liked Jiang Zhiyan, so she couldn't bear to see him sick and haggard.
Fortunately, even though they were still together, Jiang Zhiyan was away on business trips more and more often, so they had less and less time to eat together and spend time together. It was his assistant who took Jiang Zhiyan to the hospital.
All Xia Zhiyu could do was ask Jiang Zhiyan if he was feeling better lately.
Jiang Zhiyan still hasn't replied to her messages.
During her most difficult time, Xia Zhiyu even considered becoming Jiang Zhiyan's assistant, so that she could be with him day and night and see him every day.
She just wanted to spend more time with her boyfriend, but this small wish could never be fulfilled.
But now, just when she no longer wanted to get entangled with Jiang Zhiyan, he took the initiative to come to her house and forcibly intervened in her life.
It turns out that Jiang Zhiyan wasn't unaware of how to get along with others; it's just that in his mind before, Xia Zhiyu's importance was secondary.
Nothing is more important than Xia Zhiyu.
This alone is enough for Xia Zhiyu to feel sorry and sad about her past self.
But Jiang Zhiyan actually took the initiative after the breakup.
How ridiculous.
The chili peppers had been roasted for a while, giving off a slightly burnt and bitter smell. Xia Zhiyu blinked hard to force back the stinging sensation in her eyes.
Jiang Zhiyan suffered from diarrhea at best, and gastroenteritis at worst, after eating at her father's table.
Xia Zhiyu was very confident about this.
Jiang Zhiyan immediately noticed the gloating on Xia Zhiyu's face.
But even gloating is better than her chatting and laughing with Ren Yu.
Just after finishing their meal, Xia Zhiyu's parents went downstairs to throw away the kitchen waste, and also dragged away Ren Yu, who originally wanted to stay at her house. Xia Zhiyu was left alone at home to keep Jiang Zhiyan company while he drank tea.
The two had barely stepped out when Xia Zhiyu's second aunt came over for a visit. Her house was in the building next to Xia Zhiyu's, and she loved to run over to Xia Zhiyu's house whenever she had a spare moment. She didn't have any ulterior motives; she just wanted to annoy others when she was unhappy with her own life.
The thing Xia Zhiyu has been criticized for the most recently is why she went home to rest for almost a month instead of during the New Year and holidays. Between the lines, it is clear that Xia Zhiyu was laid off, and that the young girl is too proud to say it.
That was a lucky guess.
Her second aunt was a gossip. Every day, she would sit on a stool by the community exercise equipment and start spreading rumors. In her words, an eighty-year-old man could commit murder and arson in one fell swoop. Anyone in the community that she knew was bound to have some kind of troublesome love affair.
A big shot in the neighborhood gossip circle.
As soon as my aunt walked in, she blurted out, "Xia, I heard you beat someone up? You're a lawyer, for goodness' sake, can't you even handle something this simple? They've taken it to the police station, what are we going to do?"
The tone sounded worried, but upon closer examination, one could immediately discern a deeper layer of sarcasm.
Second Aunt's gaze was fixed on Xia Zhiyu, her emotions a mixture of restraint and excitement, her nostrils flaring incessantly, and her short, thick eyebrows flying wildly across her face.
"Oh my, this young lady dares to hit someone? That's incredible! All those years of working in the big city haven't been for nothing, she's got a fierce temper."
She even gave two thumbs up as she spoke, but she was also quick-witted; before Xia Zhiyu could say anything, she had already laid the groundwork for her own future.
"But don't be afraid. The supermarket owner you hit is my friend. Auntie will take you to sit with him and treat him to a meal. That will make things go. Otherwise, it would be so embarrassing for a lawyer like us to be accused of assault."
Xia Zhiyu coughed lightly. Jiang Zhiyan was still sitting next to her. It was still a little embarrassing for her own relative to be jumping around like a grasshopper in front of her ex-boyfriend.
"Don't bother Auntie, I have my own way."
As she spoke, Xia Zhiyu's face unconsciously showed some unease and embarrassment, which her second aunt saw as Xia Zhiyu being stubborn.
"What can you do? What can a little girl like you do? My friend has a lot of connections. His brother-in-law is a high-ranking official. If you offend him, you won't be able to get along with us anymore."
After saying that, Auntie Er looked Xia Zhiyu up and down with eyes like searchlights, and clicked her tongue.
"But Xia, don't blame your aunt for scolding you. That boss told me everything. What were you doing, a young girl like you, dressed so provocatively at someone's house late at night? If you need evidence, you can't ask for it the next day. Young girls should be reserved and have self-respect, understand?"
All that buildup was for this one sentence, and as soon as it was uttered, Auntie felt completely at ease.
What is the purpose of spreading rumors? Of course, it's for a sense of self-deception. Who cares if it's true or not? Just throw the blame on someone you hate and feel good about it.
She had disliked Xia Zhiyu's family for a long time.
The reason is simple: her second aunt has always loved to steal Song Yue's thunder since they were little. The two of them have been bickering since childhood. They thought they would live their own lives after getting married, but who knew that they would both marry into the same place, so now they have more to compare.
Houses, cars, husbands, children—everything can be compared.
Later, her second aunt gave birth to two sons, while Song Yue only had one daughter, Xia Zhiyu. She originally thought that this gave her an advantage over Song Yue.
Who knew that having these two sons would be worse than having two pieces of barbecued pork? The combined grades of the two of them couldn't even match those of Xia Zhiyu alone. And since the three of them were all around the same age, every time the final exam results came out, Auntie would have to avoid Song Yue.
After all these years, she finally managed to catch Xia Zhiyu red-handed, so her second aunt must be jumping up and down in a fit of rage.
Auntie's eyes darted around, and she smiled as she concluded, "Girls just don't come along. Look at my two sons. Although they can't study as well as you, they're obedient and sensible, and they've never caused me any trouble. They're so well-behaved."
After years of holding back her anger, Auntie finally let it out, and she was so happy she wanted to dance right there and then.
Jiang Zhiyan suddenly stood up, turned sideways to shield Xia Zhiyu behind him, his eyes cold and sharp.
"Indeed, a good-for-nothing can't even get into trouble if he wants to. If you think that being a coward in your twenties or thirties, cowering behind your mother like a grandson, is being obedient, then I wish your descendants would all be such cowards."
My aunt's two sons are indeed known to be cowards. They are the kind of people who, even if they are slapped in the face, will still smile and offer the other side of the face in response, showing no backbone at all.
With just two simple sentences, she hit the nail on the head about what annoyed her the most. She was always the one who stepped on other people's sore spots, and no one dared to be so arrogant in front of her.
My aunt's lips immediately fell down, her face turning pale and then purple. Upon hearing this, she flew into a rage, "What nonsense are you spouting! And who do you think you are?"
The old house had low ceilings, and Jiang Zhiyan, standing upright, looked like a giant. His tone became increasingly contemptuous, "What role I play is not important. On the contrary, it's you who are so jealous. You must be living a miserable life. People who are doing well don't gossip about other people's little things."
"Whenever something happens to Xia Zhiyu's family, you swarm around like flies, talking as if you witnessed it all yourself. You even spread rumors about your niece, showing no decency whatsoever. No wonder your child can't do well in school or work. With just your mouth, your child will never amount to anything. He'll never be as good as Xia Zhiyu and will be a good-for-nothing for life."
What truly hurts people is often not rumors, but the truth.
My aunt's face turned from blue to purple and then back to red, putting on quite a dramatic face-changing performance.
Just then, Song Yue opened the door and came back. Seeing that his second aunt looked extremely pale, he asked in surprise, "What's wrong, second brother? Why do you look so pale?"
She was carrying the fruit she had just bought downstairs. As she spoke, Jiang Zhiyan tactfully took it and placed it on the dining table.
"Oh dear, I forgot to introduce her in my haste," Song Yue said before his aunt could even speak. "This is Yu Yu's colleague in Beicheng. She's really amazing. She owns a big law firm, and it's number one in Beicheng now."
Old Xia looked at Jiang Zhiyan, who was subtly praising him while criticizing him, and said with a hint of pride in his tone, "I was just telling your aunt on the way here that you shouldn't bring so much stuff next time you come to our house. Why are you being so distant?"
Auntie unconsciously turned her head to look at one corner of the living room. Just like Xia Zhiyu had seen earlier, the first thing she noticed was two bottles of Moutai, and the pile of gold and red gift boxes was almost blinding.
Even the most ignorant person would know that someone who can offer such a gift is probably not someone to be trifled with.
My aunt's chest heaved violently a few times, and she snorted heavily through her nostrils like a donkey. With a gloomy face, she stormed out of the door without a word.
This left Song Yue somewhat bewildered. "What's wrong with her this time?"
“Is it a sour disease?” Xia Zhiyu said seriously.
"You brat, how can you talk about your second aunt like that?" Song Yue said this, but a smile was revealed in his eyes.
This wasn't the first time Auntie Xia had embarrassed Lao Xia and Song Yue. Lao Xia and Song Yue were respectable people, and they couldn't bring themselves to argue with her. This was the first time they had seen Auntie Xia Zhiyu so dejected. Anyone would be unhappy in her situation.
After finishing their tea and chatting for a while, it got late, so Jiang Zhiyan got up to say goodbye. Xia Zhiyu's parents tried to persuade him to stay, but to no avail, so they sent Xia Zhiyu to see Jiang Zhiyan off.
As they stepped out of the house, Jiang Zhiyan suddenly asked, "If I hadn't been here, would you have just let her bully you?"
Xia Zhiyu was taken aback. "I just felt there was no need to argue with her. That's just my aunt's personality. There's no point in arguing with her. Anyway, she'll be done with it after she's finished. Only those who live their lives know how things are. Our family is much better off than theirs. She's just jealous. It's okay for her to say a few sour things."
Jiang Zhiyan was somewhat annoyed by her lack of self-confidence. "How come I never noticed before that you were so magnanimous, letting others trample on you without caring? Was that just sour talk? She's started spreading rumors about you."
"How come so much time has passed and Xia Zhiyu, you still haven't made any progress?"
The evening wind was chilly and the air was damp and cold, like dry cotton stuffing into my lungs, making breathing painful and astringent.
The disappointment in Jiang Zhiyan's voice permeated the cold air.
Jiang Zhiyan's brows and eyes were heavy.
"As for going to the supermarket to find evidence, I don't object to your active investigation, but why didn't you have someone go with you before you went? The police, the prosecutor's office, or at least your parents? Ren Yu? With so many people standing behind you, why did you go alone?"
Xia Zhiyu frowned, her tone naturally carrying a hint of displeasure, "The incident happened suddenly, and besides, you're a lawyer. Don't you know how difficult it is to obtain video evidence? We've all been there before where we missed crucial evidence just because of a twenty-minute delay. I wasn't taking a risk; I was just trying to maximize my client's interests."
"Even if it happened suddenly, even if time was tight, shouldn't you prioritize your own safety? Do you think this is Beicheng? I don't believe you've been back for so long and you're still unaware of the rule of law here. What am I supposed to do if something really happens?"
Thinking about the supermarket owner's criminal record that he had just seen on his phone, his mentally challenged son's attempted rape, and especially their previous experience of harboring women of childbearing age, and the fact that there was even a separate, locked basement under the supermarket, Jiang Zhiyan dared not make any assumptions or connections.
Jiang Zhiyan's breathing became increasingly rapid, his voice tense, and cold sweat from fear and palpitations soaked his clothes, sticking coldly to his back.
If the police station hadn't been right at the village entrance, and if Xia Zhiyu hadn't brought a stun gun, Jiang Zhiyan didn't even want to think about what might have happened. Would Xia Zhiyu have been trapped in a dark, sunless basement? Would she have been abused? Bullied?
A dizzying wave of anxiety washed over him again. Jiang Zhiyan gripped Xia Zhiyu's wrist tightly, his brows furrowed, and he opened his mouth as if to say something.
Xia Zhiyu's smooth hair swung in the cold air, and she turned to look at Jiang Zhiyan with a cold and sharp gaze.
It seemed that no matter how many times she explained, Jiang Zhiyan could never see things from her perspective. He always stood from his own point of view, arrogantly and condescendingly putting forward one unrealistic point of view after another.
In an emergency, who can think of so much? It's already quite good that she remembered to bring a stun gun for self-defense. Besides, there are always unexpected things in life. No one knows whether an accident or the future will come first. Should she give up pursuing the future because of these uncertain accidents?
Jiang Zhiyan himself wouldn't do that, yet he wanted her to. Instead of seeing any of her strengths, Jiang Zhiyan was completely satisfied with her every slight mistake.
No one is perfect, but Jiang Zhiyan could never face her choices squarely. Even when she explained, Jiang Zhiyan could only hear what he wanted to hear.
What's the point of communicating or not communicating? What's the point of explaining to Jiang Zhiyan other than wasting words?
"Jiang Zhiyan, shut up! What right do you have to say that to me? Is asking for help useful? I've asked you for help so many times, what good has it done? You are the least qualified person to say these things. Who has neglected and ignored me the most? It's you, only you."
Her beautiful eyes sparkled with tears, and Xia Zhiyu felt a surge of anger.
Anyone can lecture her like that—her parents can, Ren Yu can, even unfamiliar classmates can, but Jiang Zhiyan is the only one who absolutely cannot.
Xia Zhiyu quickened her pace, as if she could leave Jiang Zhiyan's accusations, tinged with concern, behind her.
The wind whipped up the withered branches and fallen leaves along the streets and alleys, and a bitter look flashed in Jiang Zhiyan's eyes. His heart clenched and throbbed.
"We've been together for so long, and this is all you can remember? Xia Zhiyu, you're willing to risk your own safety just to spite me?"
"I don't believe you didn't realize you were taking a risk at the time."
Xia Zhiyu's voice suddenly softened, becoming calm and indifferent.
"Since that's what you think, what's the point of us communicating? If we can't understand each other, can't we at least distance ourselves from each other?"
"Like this, you came to my house without telling me today. Do you think I'd be happy or excited? No, I just feel embarrassed. Why are you being so attentive to your ex-girlfriend's parents? Jiang Zhiyan, don't you think you're ridiculous?"
"Don't come looking for me, we're not a good match."
Jiang Zhiyan's gaze was fixed on Xia Zhiyu, his eyes deep and unfathomable. He saw the aloofness on her pale face, and every word she uttered felt like a sharp knife slicing into his heart.
He truly couldn't understand how Xia Zhiyu could utter such heartless words from her full, rosy lips.
Is it wrong for him to even care about her?
Does an ex-boyfriend's love not count as love?
Jiang Zhiyan's expression grew increasingly silent, his eyes reflecting a deep twilight that Xia Zhiyu couldn't decipher, like the depths of winter reflected in his eyes. He calmed himself for a while, but his voice remained strained.
“I don’t think I’m ridiculous. I handled things poorly before, and it’s understandable that you’re indifferent to me now. But I want to make it up to you and win you back. No matter how much resentment you have towards me, I’ve never thought about truly letting go of your hand.”
"Fish, you are the meaning of my existence."
His dark, deep eyes seemed to possess some kind of irresistible magic. Xia Zhiyu's heart trembled. Just as she was about to turn her head away from his gaze, Jiang Zhiyan forcefully raised his hand and grabbed the back of her neck, forcing Xia Zhiyu to look up at him directly.
His fingertips were slightly cool, his face was pale, and the warmth in his eyes was not very obvious. He looked like a cold-blooded animal about to hibernate, desperately trying to hold onto its last prey, appearing indifferent and gloomy.
When an unfamiliar expression appears on someone you once knew best, it's hard not to feel a sense of detachment. Xia Zhiyu couldn't help but take a half-step back.
The streetlights on both sides of the street suddenly turned on, casting a warm yellow glow. The overlapping part of the two shadows fell on the roadside. The light gray shadows turned into a deep black, almost the color of Jiang Zhiyan's coat, and quietly curled up at Xia Zhiyu's feet.
Xia Zhiyu's pointed chin was tucked into her wool scarf, and her beautiful pupils trembled slightly with fear as she looked at him.
Like a startled kitten, its round pupils suddenly dilated, and its fish-like eyes, with a warm brown hue, shone with a golden luster under the lamplight.
She was both adorable and pitiful, and her pure eyes were filled with his reflection, as if he were the only person left in her world. This realization made it hard for Jiang Zhiyan not to feel better.
The man's deep voice was almost a sigh as he forcefully pressed Xia Zhiyu into his arms, his palms cupping the back of her head, his warm, firm chest muscles beneath the expensive, soft cashmere fabric.
With each steady heartbeat pounding against her eardrums, Xia Zhiyu could clearly feel the amplitude of Jiang Zhiyan's chest vibrations as he spoke.
“You can be angry with me, you can vent your anger and complain to me, I’ll gladly accept it. But you can’t make me not see you, not try to win you back, that would be too cruel.”
Jiang Zhiyan rarely showed such vulnerability, yet his every move exuded a strong sense of oppression and dominance. The contrast between the two left Xia Zhiyu somewhat confused.
Weren't they just arguing? How did they suddenly start hugging each other?
His cool lips lightly touched her forehead, like a dragonfly skimming the water, one touch after another, and even seemed to be moving further down.
A flush of heat rose to her cheeks, and Xia Zhiyu took a half step back, instinctively slapping Jiang Zhiyan across the face. Her eyes widened, and anger blazed in her beautiful pupils.
"You're insane! Do you even realize that this is sexual harassment?!"
The wrist that was still pressed against Jiang Zhiyan's face was grasped, and the palm was first touched by the soft, warm moisture, and then the soft flesh on the side of the palm was bitten lightly by the tip of the teeth.
Before Xia Zhiyu could even react and give him a symmetrical slap, Jiang Zhiyan readily released her wrist.
"Okay, I was wrong, I apologize. As compensation, could I have the opportunity to have dinner with you tomorrow?"
The words of refusal were already on Xia Zhiyu's tongue, about to slip out in the next second.
Xia Zhiyu heard Jiang Zhiyan slowly finish his next sentence, "Of course I won't let you make a wasted trip. The supermarket owner's surveillance cameras are part of a networked system installed by the whole village. Besides the owner having a copy, the village also has a copy."
"Please don't refuse me, okay? This message will be very useful to you."
Even when she got home and took a shower, Xia Zhiyu was still unable to recover from the absurd conversation she had with Jiang Zhiyan.
Ms. Song was still grumbling about what she was dissatisfied with about Jiang Zhiyan. Such a promising young man had come all the way to her house, yet she still had to put on a long face and look unhappy.
"I'm not happy at all, I'm a hundred times unhappy. Who begged him to come to our house? And he didn't even say hello to me before coming. What an impolite bastard."
Xia Zhiyu poked most of her face out of the bathroom, and after scolding Jiang Zhiyan, she yelled, "Mom, Mom, please get me a bath towel and clean pajamas. I put them on the bed and forgot to take them."
"You can't even remember to take your clothes when you take a shower, you little brat, you'll freeze to death!" Song Yue angrily tapped Xia Zhiyu's forehead and said irritably, "You're not satisfied with someone like Xiao Jiang? I'd like to see what kind of amazing person you're planning to bring back for me."
Xia Zhiyu's voice came through the bathroom door and sounded somewhat muffled, "I'm not getting married. Let whoever wants to get married do it. I want to stay at home and be a lord for the rest of my life."
"Ta-da! I wonder who will take care of you, you big shot, after your dad and I die."
Xia Zhiyu shouted, "Pah, pah, pah! How can you talk like that? It's almost Chinese New Year, be auspicious!"
Song Yuecai wasn't buying it. "If you want me and your dad to have a proper New Year, you'd better bring me a decent son-in-law as soon as possible."
Upon hearing this, Old Xia, who was mopping the floor, weakly added, "If you don't want to get married, then don't. My daughter..."
Before he could finish his sentence, he was drowned in Ms. Song's icy gaze.
What did my dad say?
"Your dad wants you to hurry up with the hair dryer, he's waiting to clean the bathroom."
...
After tidying up and lying in bed, Xia Zhiyu received several resumes related to self-media. Since she wanted to start a studio, she definitely couldn't go it alone, so hiring people was a must.
Moreover, Xia Zhiyu has recently gained a new understanding of self-media work. She feels that if she is a litigation lawyer, it is not impossible to combine with the self-media industry. Now, many online celebrity lawyers are promoting the law while attracting clients for themselves. This track has also given Xia Zhiyu some ideas.
However, she originally created content as a travel blogger, and it's a bit absurd for her to jump from travel blogger to the legal profession. She will inevitably lose a large part of her audience, and Xia Zhiyu hasn't figured out how to solve this problem yet.
"Beicheng Media University..."
Xia Zhiyu didn't want to answer the phone immediately, but one call after another kept coming in, like a death knell. With no other choice, Xia Zhiyu had to answer it.
The person on the other end of the phone wasn't Jiang Zhiyan; it was a familiar male voice with a serious tone.
"Xia, I'm Chen Yue. Jiang Zhiyan took you to dinner with me before, do you remember?"
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Author's Note: Please add my pre-order novel, "The Canary Who Stole My Brother," to your favorites!
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