Zhang Nan really was beautiful.
This beauty went beyond mere appearance.
Among ordinary people, Zhang Nan’s looks were already high-end, with porcelain-white skin and refined features, but Tai Wu had seen girls prettier than her. In the past he would have stolen extra glances. Now, when a beautiful girl passed him, he felt nothing at all.
Tai Wu’s heart was only so large. Once it held one person, there was no space for anyone else.
For the past period, Tai Wu had been running errands and doing odd jobs under Peng Guoqing.
Peng Guoqing naturally made Tai Wu go through all the hardships he himself had endured, otherwise Tai Wu would not receive the proper training. Tai Wu was not sure if Peng Guoqing was deliberately making things hard for him, but every dirty, exhausting task fell to him. Many times Tai Wu wanted to give up, yet thinking of Zhang Nan, even when he was dead tired he dragged himself out of bed and appeared on time in front of Peng Guoqing.
The happiest moment was when Tai Wu collected his wages from Peng Guoqing.
It was not as much as Tai Wu had imagined, but compared to the interns at Jiaxin it was not bad.
Holding that thin wad of money he had earned himself, Tai Wu was filled with all kinds of emotions.
Exams had just finished, so Tai Wu used his wages to choose a gift for Zhang Nan at the mall.
In two days it would be Zhang Nan’s birthday. Tai Wu asked Peng Guoqing for leave and returned to Beijing early to celebrate with her.
Once upon a time, Zhang Nan’s birthdays had been lively affairs. The Zhang family would arrange a venue, elders close to the family would send gifts, and Zhang Nan’s own friends would gather. She had been like a princess surrounded by stars. That kind of liveliness no longer existed.
Ever since Zhang Zhijun had angered his wife Lu Meishu to death and then his own father Old Master Zhang, the Zhang family had become a laughing stock in their circle.
People would not mock Zhang Nan to her face, but Zhang Nan was so proud. Those who did not mock her would inevitably offer sympathy, and being sympathised with was worse than being mocked.
Zhang Nan herself did not want to celebrate her birthday this year, so it was bound to be especially quiet.
Tai Wu had timed his return to celebrate with her. He bought a small cake, added candles, and the birthday atmosphere was there.
Zhang Nan was genuinely pleased with the gift. “You’ve grown up. You really earned this yourself?”
“Of course it’s true. Ask Peng Guoqing if you don’t believe me!”
Tai Wu spoke with full confidence. Zhang Nan turned the gift over and over, admiring it. “No need to ask. I believe you earned it yourself.”
Zhang Nan had long known about Tai Wu working as Peng Guoqing’s assistant.
It was the first time in his life Tai Wu had earned money through his own efforts. Zhang Nan treasured his thoughtfulness and reminded him not to forget his family. No matter whether the gift was expensive or cheap, even if it was just two bags of fruit to take home, bought with his own wages, the Tai family would be delighted.
Tai Wu nodded at everything Zhang Nan said. A birthday with just the two of them was not lively, but it was very warm.
The mood was perfect when Tai Wu suddenly remembered the news he had heard. He hesitated for a long time but told her anyway.
Unexpectedly, Zhang Nan did not care at all.
When you let go, you let go. What was the point of continuing to twist and turn?
Zhang Nan was magnanimous. Tai Wu looked up at her and felt dazzled by her beauty. For a moment he was speechless.
“Why are you staring at me like that? Don’t you believe me?”
“I believe you, of course I believe you!”
Tai Wu jumped to his feet in a rush. “It’s just, just… Zhang Nan, I don’t want to go abroad. I want to stay in the country.”
Zhang Nan was startled.
“If you don’t want to go abroad, then don’t. You’re only getting the qualification anyway. It doesn’t matter where you do it! Wait, why are you telling me? Has your family been told? Tai Wu, you’re trying to be clever with me. You want me to go to your family and take the blame for you?!”
Tai Wu was stunned by her insight. After holding it in for ages, he could only go along with it. “You’re really hard to fool…”
Zhang Nan was extremely pleased with herself. “Good that you know. Next time you need help, just ask directly. With our relationship, of course I’ll help. But if you dare try to trick me again, watch out or I’ll beat you!”
Tai Wu nodded obediently. Zhang Nan’s smile was radiant.
Tai Wu really did look like a fool.
…
A girl who had secretly loved Xie Qian for years had let go just like that.
Yet girls as open-minded as Zhang Nan were rare. Plenty drilled themselves into dead ends. Hearing that Xie Qian was bringing his girlfriend home, they felt terribly blocked up.
Xie Qian, why look so far away when good options were close at hand?
Was that bestselling author surnamed Wen really that wonderful?
Wonderful enough for Xie Qian to be in such a hurry to present her to the elders.
If the Xie family did not like this Wen girl, would Xie Qian insist or would they break up?
“I think they’ll break up.”
One girl analysed seriously. “Everything Xie Qian has today depends on the support of the Xie family head. If it were just his father disapproving, that would be one thing, the two of them have already fallen out, but if the family head disapproves, I don’t believe Xie Qian could stubbornly hold out!”
“How do you know the family head will disapprove?”
“Just a guess, what else?”
The analyst shivered. “No matter the occasion, the Xie family head never smiles. Can you imagine him liking any junior?”
Well, no, they really could not.
Though they moved in the same circles and were all juniors, when they saw Xie Yuping at events, the bold ones would go up to greet him, the timid ones would sneak away.
Xie Yuping looked very hard to please.
Not fierce in appearance, but with that deep, unfathomable aura. Anyone with a little scheming felt as though he could see right through them.
Xie Qian’s girlfriend, standing before Xie Yuping, probably would not last three rounds.
Others thought Xie Qian would not care about his family’s opinions.
“He’s always done exactly what he wants. He never cares what others think. That’s what makes Xie Qian special, very attractive, second only to his looks!”
“I heard he got a lot of shares in Jinhu, plus what his mother received. Family support probably doesn’t matter any more.”
“Who turns down support? Having it is always better than not.”
“You’re talking about ordinary people. Xie Qian isn’t like that.”
What kind of person was Xie Qian?
He seemed to care about nothing. Vulgar thoughts of money and power should never be associated with him.
These people split into two camps. One believed Xie Qian would give up his girlfriend, the other that he would disregard his family’s views.
Neither side considered a third possibility: that the Xie family might actually approve of Wen Ying.
…
“Achoo!”
As soon as they boarded the plane, Wen Ying’s nose itched. She sneezed several times, tears and snot flowing together. She blew her nose until it was red.
Xie Qian worried there might be an allergen on the plane. Wen Ying did not care. “Your constitution is more sensitive than mine. If even you aren’t allergic, how could I be?”
“Hard to say. We might be allergic to different things.”
Xie Qian was always rational. Wen Ying was emotional and muttered, “I just feel like a lot of people are talking about me behind my back.”
She turned to look at Xie Qian and thought silently: all those girls who like Xie Qian must be full of resentment knowing he’s taking his girlfriend home.
Resentment or not, Wen Ying would have to endure it.
She would never hand Xie Qian over because of a tiny bit of resentment.
“It’s Grandma eager to see you.”
Xie Qian’s words made Wen Ying laugh. “I want to see Grandma soon too.”
After disembarking, Wen Ying took out two caps she had prepared, put one on herself, and insisted on putting the other on Xie Qian. Wen Ying did not care about maintaining any single-and-pure image. She simply wanted their relationship revealed later, with less media interference, so she and Xie Qian could be more at ease.
Wen Ying stood on tiptoe to put the cap on Xie Qian when a few people passed by. The one in front stopped.
“Xie Qian?”
Wen Ying and Xie Qian turned together. Zhang Zhijun stood a few metres away, several assistants and Zhang Hua behind him.
