Wen Ying and Xie Qian wandered the streets until evening study ended. Manager Chen was currently in a cold war with Wen Ying, so he didn’t meddle much in her affairs. As long as Wen Ying went to and from school on time, she had quite a bit of freedom.
Perhaps because she’d lived under pressure for so long, this freedom felt somewhat unfamiliar.
Wen Ying thought the matter had nothing to do with her when she got home, but the next morning, she received a message from Zou Weijun, saying she’d secured a publishing contract for Wen Ying and would discuss details after returning from a business trip.
“The department suddenly sent me on a trip; *Hush, Little Secret* is holding an event in the neighbouring province.”
Zou Weijun’s tone was full of cheer, unaffected by any bad news.
Wen Ying thought, *What a coincidence*. With Xie Jinghu and Song Fuxiang’s issue still unresolved, Zou Weijun was suddenly sent on a trip?
Someone was protecting Zou Weijun!
Was it Xie Qian?
Or the Jiang family?
“Aunt Zou, there’s no rush on my end, focus on your work first.”
Ideally, Zou Weijun would be gone for ten days or half a month, so by the time she returned to Rongcheng, the Xie Jinghu and Song Fuxiang matter would be settled, the storm would have passed, and Zou Weijun could continue her peaceful life.
Zou Weijun packed her luggage without even stopping by the office, heading straight to the airport. She sent Wen Ying the message just before leaving, wanting to reassure her, worried Wen Ying might accept *Aige* magazine’s offer first.
With Wen Ying’s agreement, Zou Weijun could travel with peace of mind.
Xie Qian helped Zou Weijun load her suitcase into the car, watching the taxi drive her to the airport before he smiled.
His phone vibrated in his pocket.
It was a message from Wen Ying.
“Was Aunt Zou’s sudden trip your idea?”
It wasn’t, actually.
It was Jiang Xuekun’s idea.
Song Fuxiang was hospitalised, and Zou Weijun was unaware yesterday, but it wouldn’t be easy to hide in the coming days.
Xie Qian had thought about letting things unfold naturally, curious to see how his mother would react if she found out. But when Jiang Xuekun quietly arranged Zou Weijun’s trip, Xie Qian didn’t object.
“Let’s talk at school.”
It was Friday, and as soon as Wen Ying arrived at school, Li Mengjiao grabbed her.
Li Mengjiao was dying to know where Wen Ying had gone instead of attending evening study yesterday but feared being too direct and exposing her friend’s “secret romance.” She beat around the bush, trying to pry, only for Wen Ying to see right through her:
“What are you trying to say?”
“I… I just meant, is Xie Qian playing favourites, giving you extra tutoring?”
Look at how cornered the poor girl was, Li Mengjiao was nearly in tears.
Xie Qian overheard this.
Without a word, he sent Li Mengjiao a weekend homework packet, and her hands trembled as she held the papers.
“I have a promotional event this weekend—”
“Then I need to tutor you even more. You don’t want to fall too far behind Wen Ying in the finals, do you? Though your grades slipping is inevitable, if you squeeze in a few practice papers, the decline might slow a bit.”
As long as Li Mengjiao didn’t drop below the top 600 in her grade, she could apply to any arts university nationwide, pick any major, and meet the cultural score requirements, depending on her professional exam results.
In Xie Qian’s view, 600 was a safe score, allowing room to advance or retreat. If Li Mengjiao failed her professional exam, a rank around 600 would still get her into a university.
Below 600, even if she made the first-tier university cut-off, her options would be too limited, which Xie Qian deemed unworthy of consideration.
Clearly, she was being cared for by a top student, yet Li Mengjiao wanted to cry.
She suspected the phrase “extra tutoring” had offended Xie Qian, but she had no proof.
Fine, fine, from now on, whether Xie Qian and Wen Ying were secretly meeting, she’d play blind and deaf!
Li Mengjiao took two deep breaths, grabbed her “share” of homework, and insisted on picking up Wang Shuang’s too. Xie Qian, knowing he’d be busy over the weekend, was happy to let Li Mengjiao run the errand—her little scheme was written all over her face, and Xie Qian was speechless.
Sure enough, when Li Mengjiao saw Wang Shuang’s homework was more than hers, her dissatisfaction vanished.
Watching her skip off happily with both sets of papers, Xie Qian couldn’t help asking Wen Ying:
“Are you sure you want her to star in your script?”
Wen Ying held back a laugh, “Of course I’m sure, she’s adorably naive. The heroine in my script was created with her as the prototype.”
More importantly, Tianjiao was willing to pay.
Fifty thousand for one script, as long as Tianjiao kept paying, Wen Ying would write a second, a third.
“You said you’d tell me at school, what’s up with your dad? Is Song Fuxiang still refusing to settle?”
Xie Qian nodded, “He’s refusing. Song Fuxiang’s still in the hospital. Uncle Jiang wants to talk to him, but I said, as a son, I should show some filial piety for my dad and asked Uncle Jiang to wait until after school to go to the hospital together. You know, if my dad stubbornly refuses to apologise, I’ll likely have to do it for him.”
Wen Ying stared at Xie Qian, speechless.
Xie Qian, what a dutiful son… Did Xie Jinghu cry from感动 at the police station?
This wasn’t about filial piety for Xie Jinghu; it was about keeping him locked up as long as possible, even half a day more.
“What’s that look?”
Xie Qian asked, and Wen Ying gave a dry laugh, “You’re too good to your dad, I’m moved for him!”
Xie Qian going to the hospital to “apologise” to Song Fuxiang?
Maybe after Xie Qian’s apology, Song Fuxiang would refuse to forgive Xie Jinghu even more, that’d be hilarious.
Wen Ying’s curiosity piqued, “Can I go to the hospital with you?”
There was no evening study on Friday nights.
Wen Ying promised not to slack on her studies, and Xie Qian reluctantly nodded, “Fine, you can come. You know Uncle Jiang too.”
Actually, Xie Qian had planned to bring Wen Ying along, but if he suggested it, she’d get cocky.
By letting her ask, and making her promise to do her homework diligently, with this juicy carrot dangling, Wen Hamster would be extra well-behaved all day!
After school that afternoon, Wen Ying left with Xie Qian again.
Li Mengjiao saw them but pretended not to.
Jiang Xuekun had a car waiting at the school gate for Xie Qian, but he was surprised to see a little tagalong behind him.
This was Xie family business, didn’t Wen Ying need to steer clear?
“Uncle Jiang, it’s fine, Wen Ying already knows about my family’s affairs.”
Xie Qian spoke the truth.
Compared to Xie Jinghu keeping a mistress and illegitimate children, this was nothing, no need to hide it from Wen Ying.
Xie Qian was candid, but Jiang Xuekun couldn’t help glancing at Wen Ying again.
Compared to last summer, Wen Ying had changed quite a bit, though not unrecognisably so.
Wen Ying smiled and called him Uncle Jiang, and he responded, but thought, *These two kids are closer than typical classmates or friends, could it be… So Xie Qian likes this kind of girl?*
It was a bit surprising.
But on second thought, young love didn’t come with so many rules, unlike adult love, tangled with practical conditions!
Jiang Xuekun misunderstood, but unlike his son Jiang Youjia, who loved meddling, at his age and position, “puppy love” didn’t faze him.
Such a small matter, what was there to fuss about?
Jiang Xuekun said nothing, taking Wen Ying and Xie Qian to the hospital.
Song Fuxiang, hospitalised, felt awkward lying in bed groaning with a big boss visiting. Song Chan helped him up, and as he turned, he spotted Xie Qian and Wen Ying.
Why were these two following her dad’s company boss to the hospital?
Wait, Mr. Xie… Xie Qian?!
