Chapter 80 The Code
The secretary smiled.
The boss did the same thing last time; he rushed home to see his wife without explaining himself in just a few words, leaving her without a clear answer.
Understanding what the boss is thinking is an essential skill for her as a subordinate, but some things are better left unsaid by the boss.
Boss, are you going to eat or not? Would you like to get one for your wife too?
The secretary was itching to know who her boss's wife was; she was practically driving him crazy with curiosity about her personal life.
And this guy is probably showing off!
Who doesn't have a partner?
The secretary remained standing and exclaimed, "The boss and his wife have such a wonderful relationship."
Seeing that his secretary was still there, Wu Zhou added, "I will inform you in advance if I have any needs. I will not be in Montreal next week."
"Okay, Mr. Wu." The secretary smiled and left the office.
Wu Zhou is thinking about Jiang Xia's business trip next week...
His departure from Mengcheng also had its advantages; if Wu Ming were to return after going through countless hardships, he would naturally not be able to find Jiangxia.
But there's always a chance of something going wrong.
He called Xie Xingzhang, but Miss Xie answered the phone half asleep.
"Hello? Big brother." She was Wu Ming's fiancée, so calling him "big brother" was perfectly natural for her.
Wu Zhou's voice was deep: "How was the trip to the Fog Kingdom?"
Xie Xingzhang regained some of his composure: "Not bad, thank you, brother."
The older brother got straight to the point: "During this time, let Wu Ming take you out to have fun. As long as you can take him out and keep an eye on him so he doesn't cause any trouble, use his shopping card, and then put it on my tab."
Xie Xingzhang, whose legs were almost worn out from playing all day, was full of energy again, holding his phone: "Thank you, brother! I can play for another ten days!"
Wu Zhou said, "If there's no rush, I'll visit more countries and come back before the Lunar New Year."
“Okay, big brother,” Miss Xie said sweetly.
A wonderful thing has come from heaven.
Come to think of it, if Wu Ming were to cause trouble outside and really get into some problems, it wouldn't be a matter that could be solved with just a few hundred thousand or a few million.
After hanging up the phone, Xie Xingzhang immediately contacted several friends and obtained a travel and shopping recommendation plan for the country and its surrounding countries.
After confirming she had enough to buy for more than ten days, she edited a message and sent it to Wu Ming: "Honey, are you free to come with me tomorrow?"
Xie Xingzhang fell asleep happily, but Wu Ming couldn't sleep after seeing the message.
He did have feelings for Xie Xingzhang, but he had previously mistaken them for romantic love. Now, he realized it was more like the joy of finding a playmate.
If he really had to choose who to spend the rest of his life with, it would only be Jiang Xia.
Wu Ming is now in a rather difficult position.
Xie Xingzhang had been very cooperative with him before, whether it was the engagement or the preparation to break off the engagement, and he had always been very grateful to her.
I heard that she was under pressure from the Xie family and went abroad to hide for more than ten days.
Moreover, in order to make it easier to annul the engagement before the New Year and let fans believe that the two were gradually cooling off, she hasn't posted any vlogs these days, only some pre-recorded videos.
Wu Ming planned to go back to China with her after she had had her fun.
However, Xie Xingzhang had plenty of energy and could play for quite a while longer.
Wu Ming was very upset, but Wu Zhou in China was quite relieved.
He can spend more time on Jiangxia.
*
That day after get off work.
Jiangxia had just arrived home and it was still early, so he washed the rice and started cooking.
He stood in front of the kitchen holding a measuring cup, hesitated for a moment, and finally cooked rice for three people.
It would have been better if they hadn't come...
But if they come, it's impossible for him to eat while the two of them watch. Jiang Xia felt so embarrassed just thinking about that situation that he wanted to scratch his toes.
After rinsing the rice, Jiang Xia cut up a regular sweet potato and placed it on one side.
He likes to eat like this in the dead of winter.
As he tied his apron and washed the vegetables, he thought about what his apprentice Zhao Hui had said.
I've been taking on a lot of work lately, which outsiders might think is because I need money and to adjust my career direction.
But he is not short of money.
In many industries, as long as you reach a middle management position, even if you don't become extremely wealthy, you can still live a comfortable life.
What he needs is to keep himself busy and meet more people in order to reduce the emptiness in his heart.
Whenever I have free time, I start thinking about relationship issues.
Even though I've made the decision, the thought of giving up a partner who's considered a high-quality person by others and living alone for the rest of my life still makes me feel uneasy.
Jiang Xia lowered his gaze.
I can't be as carefree as Wu Ming.
In fact, aside from the so-called good intentions of Wu Zhou or Zhan Lintian, Jiang Xia had a slight concern deep down.
He didn't say it, but it weighed on his mind and made it hard to breathe.
Wu Ming, who had been by his side for over a decade, had changed...
He was even afraid that if he didn't like the other person enough and agreed to be with them simply for the sake of happiness, he might end up like Wu Ming.
As Jiang Xia picked vegetable leaves, Zhao Hui's words seemed to still echo in his ears: "Master, have you ever thought about doing some charity projects?"
Jiang Xia murmured: "A public welfare project."
Zhao Hui said enthusiastically at the time, "Yes, for example, public welfare and helping farmers. When you think about how your abilities can help people in poor areas sell their unsold agricultural products, isn't that a great thing?"
"I remember that guy, wasn't he the one who went to some place to help with translation for farmers? He connected them with the international market. I don't know if he sold any goods, but he certainly made a name for himself. He was even invited to speak at several government meetings."
Zhao Hui was a chatterbox and a straightforward person. Later, in the stairwell, he secretly complained, "But he went there less and less often afterward, while using that title more and more often, just for the sake of a hollow reputation. But then again, a hollow reputation is a hollow reputation, and he really did help people. Since you want to find a higher level of spirituality, Master, why not give it a try!"
In Zhao Hui's mind, Jiang Xia was a senior colleague and a mentor who had guided him into the company. When he first came to intern, he was completely clueless and wrote his words with great care, afraid that they might affect the company's choice of words and phrases.
Every time he had to submit a manuscript, the psychological pressure almost overwhelmed him.
Jiang Xia would read it to him every time before he could get a good night's sleep.
I may not be able to help in other areas, but I can still offer some suggestions.
It would be best if I could help my master.
Jiangxia did indeed have some knowledge about this, and now he suddenly felt that the timing was good.
He put down the dishes and took a moment to use his phone to search for relevant impoverished counties, wondering if they were too far from Mengcheng or Duliang.
Jiang Xia was somewhat uneasy and sighed.
He had traveled to many places on business trips, but those were all arranged by the company, and the handover had already been completed with the clients, so he didn't need to do any extra favors or personal connections.
His only permanent residences are Mengcheng and Duliang.
Jiang Xia squinted, feeling a little uneasy about having to stay in an unfamiliar place for an extended period.
"Impoverished counties and cities..."
Hmm...
When he saw that Duliang and the surrounding cities and counties were all classified as national poverty-stricken counties, he sighed and laughed awkwardly.
I'm overthinking things.
If Wu Ming's biological mother hadn't been from Duliang, why would a wealthy young master from Mengcheng have gone to such an old and dilapidated place as Duliang?
That's a place where you can walk around the entire county in a single day.
As Jiang Xia was lost in thought, the doorbell rang. He wiped his hands clean and went to open the door.
Upon opening the door, I saw that Wu Zhou had returned home.
Wu Zhou took off his coat and placed it on the coat rack by the door. He glanced at the coat rack and shoe cabinet and saw that Zhan Lintian's clothes were not there.
He opened his arms and hugged Jiang Xia tightly around the waist, pulling him close to his chest, burying his head in Jiang Xia's shoulder, and taking deep breaths.
Good evening, are you cooking?
Jiang Xia had to stand on tiptoe to be held in his arms, feeling the warmth emanating from Wu Zhou.
So warm...
But the other person hugged her tighter and tighter, and Jiang Xia replied with difficulty, "Yes, I'm cooking."
Wu Zhou then released his hand.
Seeing that he probably hadn't eaten yet, Jiang Xia politely asked, "What would you like to eat?"
Wu Zhou said, "Anything is fine, I'll do it."
Jiang Xia breathed a sigh of relief; thankfully, he didn't order any more food like Wu Ming did.
I could learn a recipe on the spot, it's not difficult, but there's no food in the fridge, no ingredients...
Jiang Xia said, "I plan to make sweet and sour pork, garlic-flavored Shanghai bok choy, and boiled lean pork with poached eggs."
Wu Zhou heard that these dishes all emphasize the original flavor of the ingredients, without strong seasonings or complicated procedures.
As for sweet and sour pork, although it has a few extra ingredients, the pork tenderloin itself is very tender, and it's coated in starch and fried until crispy... even if it's not crispy, the sweet and sour sauce on the outside is delicious.
This is indeed a "signature dish" that Jiang Xia, who doesn't cook much, could come up with.
Jiang Xia looked at him with bright eyes, waiting for his answer.
Wu Zhou chuckled and suddenly picked him up in his arms.
This guy deliberately didn't hug Jiang Xia under his armpits, but instead supported his waist and back. Jiang Xia's waist and back went weak, and he had to hug his neck with both hands to avoid falling over.
"Wait!" Jiang Xia exclaimed.
Wu Zhou gently bounced him around, and Jiang Xia hugged him even tighter.
He carried the person towards the kitchen, chuckling, "They seem a bit heavy."
Jiang Xia pursed her lips and looked at him.
Wu Zhou said, "It's better to be a little chubby. I was too skinny before, and it was uncomfortable to hold."
Jiang Xia reminded Wu Zhou, complaining softly, "The kitchen is smoky, put me down first, and if you think it's uncomfortable to carry you, you don't have to."
Wu Zhou kissed his cheek and soothed him gently, "Why are you angry? It's not that I think you're fat."
Jiang Xia coughed: "I'm not alive."
Jiang Xia didn't know if this was the norm, but it seemed that when Wu Ming and his group of friends hung out together before, they would always hug and cuddle when they got drunk.
On several occasions when I went to pick up Wu Ming, there was no traffic and the journey took half an hour earlier than expected. Perhaps it was because a group of people were drunk and still having fun. Whenever I walked to the door of the private room and opened it a crack, I would always see a group of people hugging and kissing.
And some people even started touching each other directly.
What kind of behavior is this! Absolutely unbecoming!
Although I've never witnessed Wu Ming doing this, maybe Wu Ming was just lucky, or maybe he just likes to hug people in private.
Now, I've become an indecent person!
Jiang Xia lifted his foot slightly and exerted a little force. Wu Zhou, afraid that he would fall, put him down in the process.
As soon as Jiang Xia stepped outside, Wu Zhou hugged him from behind, rubbing his cheek against his: "Going on a business trip next week?"
Jiang Xia frowned and turned to look at him: "How did you know?"
"Your apprentice Zhao Hui's WeChat Moments are filled with both sadness and inspiration. He says that his master is going on a business trip for a week or two and he has to take charge on his own."
Jiang Xia exclaimed "Hey!" and tried to raise her chin, turning her head to look at the person behind her: "When did you add him?"
"I didn't add him; it was Assistant Xie who added him."
Jiang Xia hadn't seen Assistant Xie for a long time.
Come to think of it, Assistant Xie was a position that Wu Zhou had specifically arranged to catch Wu Ming. Wu Ming was also close to him, so it was normal for him to add a whole bunch of people to the job in order to better complete the work.
Now that Wu Ming has gone abroad, Assistant Xie should be back working for Wu Zhou.
Wu Zhou chuckled and said, "Jiang Xia, do you know why I've been having Assistant Xie monitor Wu Ming's movements every day since he was in college? I won't let Assistant Xie control Wu Ming's actions; he just needs to report to me truthfully."
Jiang Xia asked in confusion, "Why?"
Wu Zhou gently bit Jiang Xia's ear: "I don't care about his scheming ways, I'm just afraid that he'll be unsatisfied and try to seduce you, who's still young..."
Looking back now, Wu Zhou still feels a chill; he should have kept a closer eye on things.
Wu Ming was young and impetuous, and he also had a good impression of Jiangxia.
If he had needs during his university years but couldn't find a girlfriend or playmate to satisfy them, he might very well have deceived Jiang Xia.
Jiang Xia happened to like him very much...
Maybe everything will fall into place naturally.
Fortunately, Jiang Xia has to attend classes during the day and do some tutoring in the evenings, so he goes to bed late.
But Wu Ming, who loves to have fun, couldn't wait that long.
On second thought, Jiang Xia wasn't a person without principles... Now that Jiang Xia is mature and stable, and gradually able to accept intimacy, she still couldn't get his approval. The young Jiang Xia would only be more cautious.
Aside from the first kiss with Jiang Xia, which was unexpected, every time they kissed or became intimate, he would deliberately pause slightly beforehand to give Jiang Xia time to react.
He was always prepared for Jiang Xia to throw a punch at him.
Wu Zhou was happy that he hadn't been hit...
As he spoke, he helped Jiang Xia marinate the sweet and sour pork tenderloin, then pressed Jiang Xia's hands to wash them clean. While washing his hands, Jiang Xia seemed to hear footsteps.
Zhan Lintian suddenly swayed and peeked out from the side, with Wenwen sleeping in his arms.
Zhan Lintian asked, puzzled, "What are you doing here?"
Wu Zhou frowned: "I didn't lock the door?"
Zhan Lintian shook his head, his lips trembling as he said, "It's locked."
Wu Zhou frowned, his face showing confusion.
Zhan Lintian chuckled and looked up with a smug look on his face: "Jiang Xia told me."
Both of their gazes fell on Jiang Xia at the same time.
Jiang Xia silently raised her hand to cover her face, afraid that if she told Wu Zhou, but not Zhan Lintian, she would have to wait until she went on a business trip next week...
Wu Zhou will be upstairs resting with the lights on, while Boss Zhan will be downstairs freezing in the cold wind and will even call to bother him.
A note from the author:
It's okay, they'll come with you on your business trip.
If you're in Montreal, we'll celebrate your birthday there; if you're elsewhere, we'll celebrate your birthday there. [doge emoji]
*
In the short play, Jiang Xia really never cooked for Wu Ming. Most of the time, he would just make some noodles and two eggs.
The main reason is that Wu Ming always likes to order food late at night.
Team Leader Jiang, who had been busy all day, perked up: "Today we're having poached eggs, stir-fried vegetables with meat, and garlic eggplant—all very appetizing."
Wu Ming: "Do you want to eat braised pork ribs and braised prawns? Or I'll just go to the party and eat them."
But when I looked in the refrigerator, there were only two or three wilted green peppers left.
Jiangxia:......
Jiang Xia: [rolls eyes] Go eat at the party!
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