"Don't worry, I'll give you the post office's phone number. Call my sister on Thursday."
"Okay, then the principal doesn't need to write a reply. Just tell your sister whether you want it or not, and I'll call her."
"Okay, I'll definitely do it." This is great news. My sister always says this girl has a conscience and is loyal. I'm truly experiencing that now. Someone who thinks about their alma mater and their hometown is definitely someone worth befriending.
In the past, I always gave her face because of my older sister. That girl is also capable, so I had a good impression of her. This time, I experienced it even more clearly.
Zhang Hongmei took the phone number and left. Before she even reached Xinyuan, she saw Zhang Shouyi's car parked outside, and of course, she also saw Zhang Shouyi leaning against the car.
"The busy person finally has time today?"
"Hehe, I've come back to see you."
"real?"
"Of course, when have I ever lied? People who don't trust me deserve a beating."
"Hehe, let's go home. I'm hungry. I didn't eat lunch."
"There won't be a next time. Starting tomorrow, Uncle Li will bring you meals."
"No need, I was just in a hurry to get to the newspaper office today. There won't be a next time, really, I swear."
Zhang Shouyi stared at Zhang Hongmei for a while, then said, "I believe you this time, and I hope you won't break your promise."
"Of course, let's go. I'm hungry. Let's see what Aunt Li is making."
"Zhajiangmian (noodles with soybean paste)".
“Okay, that’s quick. Brother Zhang, I’m going to L City on Saturday morning to work with Shan Mianzhi and Yang Yongxin on the peripheral market.”
"Okay, I'll have Xiao Li take you there on Saturday morning."
"No need, Shan Mianzhi will drive. We can bring plenty of ready-made clothes."
"When will you be back?"
"I'll be back by Sunday at the latest. I'll go to L City first, then T City."
"It's not safe for girls to stay out overnight."
"Don't worry, what could be unsafe? Besides, I have two senior classmates. I'm not as weak as you think."
"Okay. Since you've made up your mind, I'll support you. But you have to go back to the compound on Sunday."
"Going to school on Mondays is too much trouble."
Just then, Xiao Li came over and asked, "Xiao Li, is it troublesome for you to take Hongmei to school in the morning?"
"Won't."
"Listen, those who put in the effort didn't complain about the trouble. What are you afraid of?"
"Okay, I'll go to the compound, but they won't let me in."
"Don't worry. It won't happen. I'll give you the key to the compound in a bit. If I'm late, you won't have to wait for the gate."
Xiao Li quickly interjected, "Secretary, can we cook the noodles now?"
"Go."
Zhang Shouyi pulled Zhang Hongmei to wash her hands, and when they came back, they sat in the dining room waiting.
Aunt Li's noodles with soybean paste were also quite good, and the soybean paste must have been brought by her. It even had a slightly sour taste. The stir-fried meat sauce was especially delicious.
Even though Zhang Hongmei was hungry, she didn't dare to eat much. "Hongmei, many people asked about me while I was wearing this outfit. I told them to go to the building on Saturday and Sunday."
"Really? That's great. Liu Jingze wore the ready-made clothes today, and there were so many people at school watching. I didn't see the scene, but I heard that some girls almost got into a fight over him."
"Is it really necessary? I still think you look handsome. Why don't you come and stroll around our school sometime? I guarantee you'll be more popular than him." Zhang Hongmei said smugly, her arrogant little face making Zhang Shouyi's hands itch.
"Hongmei, I'll take that as a compliment."
"Of course I'm praising you. I have no idea how you maintain and exercise to have such a great figure," Zhang Hongmei said, looking at Zhang Shouyi with a lewd expression.
Zhang Shouyi leaned close to her ear and whispered, "How about I take a look at you in a bit?"
Zhang Hongmei stepped aside, shaking her head and waving her hands, "No need, no need, I'm a girl, I don't need such a strong physique."
Zhang Shouyi stopped teasing her; after all, there were three outsiders present, and it wasn't appropriate to joke around. Such little moments of romance were best kept private between the two of them.
Zhang Shouyi didn't arrange for me to stay at the new compound today. "Hongmei, come back to the main compound with me. I'll watch your things."
"What good stuff?"
"Want to see the photos?" Zhang Shouyi was going all out; as long as he could entice Zhang Hongmei to go back with him, it would be worth it.
What's so interesting about it?
"These are all photos of me when I was a child. Don't you want to see them?" None of these were preserved in my previous life, so the first thing I did after returning to this life was to collect all the meaningful and memorable photos.
"Alright, but we can't be late tomorrow."
Zhang Shouyi laughed, a triumphant laugh.
As the car entered the compound, Xiao Li parked the car at the gate, and the guard immediately jogged over and snapped a crisp military salute.
"Greetings, Commander!"
Zhang Shouyi gestured for Zhang Hongmei to get out of the car, and the two stood together. "From now on, she can freely enter and leave the compound. Please register her."
The squad leader of the guard platoon also ran over, saluted and greeted her, and registered Zhang Hongmei.
After registering Zhang Hongmei's name, address, and school, Zhang Shouyi gestured for her to get in the car.
"Brother Zhang, coming here is too much trouble. I feel tired just looking at it."
"You'll get used to it. Just come more often in the future."
Zhang Hongmei genuinely found it troublesome, and she could understand it. Those living here were likely high-ranking military and government officials, so it was understandable that an ordinary citizen like herself wouldn't be comfortable.
Back home, Xiao Li boiled water and made tea for the two of them.
"Hongmei, would you like to wash up first? We can look at it slowly afterwards."
"Alright."
"Then go to the bathroom upstairs. I'll go prepare your toiletries."
Zhang Hongmei didn't refuse. After all, she would be coming every week from now on. She decided to bring her own toiletries.
Zhang Shouyi also brought Zhang Hongmei some new thermal underwear, all women's style. Zhang Hongmei gave Zhang Shouyi a strange look.
"You're making fun of me again, aren't you? This is for you. What are you thinking?"
"Oh, thank you." Zhang Hongmei, however, was secretly speculating about Zhang Shouyi. She wondered if he either had a cross-dressing fetish or if a girl used to live there? But then she thought the second possibility was unlikely, since not just anyone could live here.
And this isn't a place where you can do whatever you want. If you make a mistake and your opponent finds a weakness, things will get interesting.
After washing up, Zhang Hongmei put on her thermal underwear. She felt pretty good about it.
I just came out of the bathroom. Zhang Shouyi also came upstairs.
"You can stay in this room. I'll have someone clean out a bedroom for you tomorrow. Just make do for today."
In fact, Zhang Shouyi wanted her to stay in his own bedroom, which is why he hadn't asked anyone to tidy it up for so long.
Upon entering Zhang Shouyi's room, Zhang Hongmei immediately noticed three group photos hanging above the bed: one of herself with the father and son, and another of her with them separately.
"Why did you put my photo here?" she thought, thinking that Zhang Xingguo really treated her like a daughter.
Don't you think the three of us are all incredibly photogenic? Good-looking, aren't we?
"It's alright, I think I looked a bit silly with that smile."
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