The Zhou family had just finished dinner and were sitting in the living room chatting.
No, it was Zhao Yunxiang who was talking to Zhou Yuanyuan about company matters, while General Zhou sat nearby, watching with a smile. As for Zhou Xi, he hurried out after receiving a phone call.
General Zhou never interfered or questioned Zhao Yunxiang's business affairs. From the moment Yunyun opened the factory to where it is today, Zhao Yunxiang had worked hard to build it. Of course, Zhou Yuanyuan and Yu Meiru also contributed greatly. Yu Meiru was Zhao Yunxiang's business role model, while Zhou Yuanyuan served as her mentor.
Seeing Zhao Yunxiang's transformation from a timid housewife to her current business prowess, General Zhou felt nothing but pride. Of course, General Zhou's pride wasn't for Zhao Yunxiang, but for his own well-behaved great-granddaughter, Zhou Yuanyuan. To have transformed Zhao Yunxiang, once a doughy woman, into her current self was far more challenging than Zhou Yuanyuan's own struggles.
When Zhu Xiaojuan walked into the Zhou family's house, she saw the happy scene of the Zhou family. Thinking of the chaos in her own family these days, Zhu Xiaojuan felt indescribable envy. Zhu Xiaojuan was so excited that her eyes, which had just been crying, became red again.
"Hello, Grandpa Zhou, hello, Aunt Yunxiang." Although Zhu Xiaojuan was a little embarrassed, she still showed proper courtesy. When she saw General Zhou and Zhao Yunxiang, Zhu Xiaojuan greeted them first before sitting next to Zhou Yuanyuan.
"Sister Xiaojuan, are you crying?" Zhou Yuanyuan was a little surprised when she saw Zhu Xiaojuan's red eyes. Zhu Xiaojuan was not a crybaby. Even if she cried, she would only cry secretly in a place where no one was around.
"No, no, I was blinded by the wind and sand." Zhu Xiaojuan rubbed her eyes, quietly wiped away the tears in her eyes, and said embarrassedly.
Zhu Xiaojuan's grandmother, Wang Wenjun, was a conservative woman who always disliked people crying in front of her, saying that she was old and didn't like people "crying" in front of her. Zhu Xiaojuan had been accustomed to this since she was a child, fearing that her tears would displease General Zhou.
Although Zhou Yuanyuan knew Zhu Xiaojuan was lying, she didn't expose her. After all, it was just a small matter, right?
"Xiaojuan, how's your grandfather?" General Zhou had just wanted to ask about Zhu Xiangyang's condition, and when he saw Zhu Xiaojuan, he couldn't help but ask. General Zhou had received news this morning that Zhu Xiangyang had woken up and was in good health.
General Zhou didn't want to alert the enemy at this juncture, so he resisted the urge to visit the hospital today.
"Thank you, Grandpa Zhou, for your concern. My grandfather has woken up. The doctor said he needs to stay in the hospital for two more days for observation before he can be discharged," Zhu Xiaojuan replied obediently. Zhu Xiaojuan knew that General Zhou and her grandfather had a good relationship. She came to the Zhou family today not only for herself, but also to pass on a message for Zhu Xiangyang.
"That's good, that's good. Xiaojuan~! You and Yuanyuan play! I still have something to do." After General Zhou made sure that Zhu Xiangyang was fine, he could no longer sit still in the living room and walked upstairs.
"Xiaojuan, you haven't eaten yet, right? What do you want to eat? Auntie will make it for you." Zhao Yunxiang knew that Zhu Xiaojuan probably wanted to see Zhou Yuanyuan for something, so she found a reason to avoid her.
"Aunt Yunxiang, no, no, I'm not hungry. I just came back from eating outside." Zhu Xiaojuan shook her head.
Ever since Zhu Xiaojuan's grandmother, Wang Wenjun, was hospitalized, everything in Zhu Xiaojuan's family was in chaos. Zhu Xiaojuan's mother, Chen Xiaoqing, and several of her sisters-in-law had to take turns guarding Wang Wenjun in the hospital, leaving the children to fend for themselves. Otherwise, Zhu Xiaojuan wouldn't have been able to escape Kyoto City so easily after being abducted by Liu Meiling.
"Then... I'll get you a plate of mung bean cake! Aunt Wang just made it this afternoon. It tastes great and is not bad as a dessert after dinner." Zhao Yunxiang hesitated for a moment, but still went to the kitchen to bring over a plate of mung bean cake. She placed it on the small table in front of Zhou Yuanyuan and Zhu Xiaojuan before retreating.
"Yuanyuan, your family... is so nice." Zhu Xiaojuan sighed.
Zhu Xiaojuan really envied Zhou Yuanyuan. Although the Zhou family wasn't large, the relationships between family members were relatively simple. Unlike the Zhu family, where the relationships between cousins were somewhat tense, each one wished the other would embarrass themselves, allowing her to present her best self in front of her grandparents.
Zhou Yuanyuan had no desire to discuss Zhu Xiaojuan's situation with her. Every family has its own troubles. Just now, her great-grandfather lamented that his family was too small to rival Zhu Xiangyang's.
After Zhu Xiaojuan and Zhou Yuanyuan ate a few mung bean cakes and drank two cups of tea, Zhou Yuanyuan remembered that Zhu Xiaojuan had just hailed a taxi and rushed to the hospital. She couldn't help but ask, "Sister Xiaojuan, is Zhu Xiaojun okay?"
"My elder brother has woken up. But he..." Zhu Xiaojuan bit her lips when she said this.
Zhu Xiaojun's situation was a bit special, and Zhu Xiaojuan didn't know what to say.
"Huh? You can't say it? It doesn't matter, if you can't say it, then don't say it." Zhou Yuanyuan saw Zhu Xiaojuan hesitating and felt that she was meddling in other people's business.
To Zhou Yuanyuan, Zhu Xiaojun was simply "Brother Zhu Xiaojuan." If it weren't for Zhu Xiaojuan, Zhou Yuanyuan wouldn't have bothered to care who he was. Zhou Yuanyuan didn't pursue Zhu Xiaojun for revenge, perhaps out of respect for Zhu Xiaojuan. After all, because of Liu Meiling's incident, Zhu Xiaojun had tricked Zhou Yuanyuan into working as a laborer at the Qingxin Bar. Zhou Yuanyuan still held a grudge!
"No, no, Yuanyuan, I think... I need your help again." Zhu Xiaojuan felt her face burning as she said this. Ever since they'd been friends, she'd felt like she was constantly bothering Zhou Yuanyuan. Fortunately, Zhou Yuanyuan had a good temper; otherwise, a troublemaker like her would have been brushed aside long ago.
Zhou Yuanyuan's reputation as aloof in the compound was well-founded. Aside from Zhu Xiaojuan, she had little interaction with the other children of similar age in the compound.
"Sister Xiaojuan, what's the matter? Just tell me! If I can help, I will definitely not refuse." Zhou Yuanyuan sighed in her heart when she saw Zhu Xiaojuan's ashamed look.
Zhu Xiaojuan was too thin-skinned, so Zhou Yuanyuan couldn't bring herself to refuse her.
Zhou Yuanyuan has few friends, but once someone becomes her friend, she brings them into her protective circle. Zhu Xiaojuan is lucky enough to also be included in her "friend circle."
"Yuanyuan, can we find a more private place to talk? I'm not saying your place isn't private enough, I'm just saying..." Zhu Xiaojuan realized she was being unreasonable after making her request. General Zhou and Zhao Yunxiang had already given the living room to her and her sister, Zhou Yuanyuan, and she wasn't satisfied?
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