“I didn’t meet with him. It’s just that I have men watching and protecting Yanxi in the shadows. Hence, I know that he went to Thailand and isn’t in B City.”
Zong Jinghao hid the fact that Jiang Mohan was in C City from her.
“What is he doing in Thailand?” Lin Xinyan sneered. “Is he not afraid of bumping into me?”
“So what if you see him? You stopped me when I wanted to send men to have him beaten.”
Lin Xinyan changed the topic. “Time to wash up and go to bed.”
Although she did hate Jiang Mohan, it was just that beating him up wouldn’t make her feel any better. All she knew was that they had to stay away from him and never ever see him again.
As she wanted to get some water, Zong Jinghao stopped her by holding her by her waist. “Let me do it.”
After giving it some thought, Lin Xinyan commented, “Do you think Yanxi has really gotten over it? After all, she really liked Jiang Mohan. Do you still remember how she argued with us then?”
“She will get over it.” Zong Jinghao reassured her. “Going forward, something like that will never happen again. Don’t worry.”
“Children will always be their parents’ burden. We will always worry for them no matter what. It’s just not possible not to.” Just as she spoke, she seemed to have recalled something. Forgetting to wash up, she lay down on the bed.
Zong Jinghao who was on his way to get some water stopped in his tracks and turned to look at her. Realizing that she had thought of something, he lowered his gaze and didn’t utter a word. He continued to the bathroom to get some water.
Coming out with a basin full of water, he placed it by the bed. “Wash up before you sleep.”
Despite having heard him, Lin Xinyan feigned ignorance and pretended to sleep.
Zong Jinghao pulled the blanket aside and lifted her legs.
Lin Xinyan tucked them in. “Don’t touch me.”
Zong Jinghao leaned closer and lifted her chin so that she could see him. “We’re no longer young. Aren’t you worried about embarrassing ourselves in front of the children?”
“Am I old?” Lin Xinyan stared at him with her eyes widened.
Zong Jinghao smiled, “Not at all. To me, you’re always eighteen.”
Lin Xinyan was both angry and amused as she pushed him away. “Get up and stop deluding yourself.”
“You’re not old so naturally I’m still young.” Zong Jinghao stood up and placed her foot in the basin.
Meanwhile, on the second floor, Shen Xinyao was sitting in front of the computer hugging Dudu. When she saw the dialogue that continuously popped up on the screen, she laughed heartily.
Dudu was her pet kitten. It wasn’t of any particular breed, but a stray which she found and adopted.
When Zhuang Jiawen entered the room, he saw her laughing in front of the computer. Curious, he asked, “What are you watching?”
“I’m watching others chatting.” Shen Xinyao turned around waved at him. “Come over.”
Zhuang Jiawen walked over.
“Look at this dialogue.” Shen Xinyao motioned for him to look at the screen.
Zhuang Jiawen leaned in and skimmed through it quickly. He frowned slightly. “Are you watching others chat?”
Shen Xinyao explained, “Remember the app that our company just launched? It provides single men and women a platform to interact. It’s currently at the beta testing stage. Our boss wants us to monitor the topics that they talk about and write a report on it.”
“Therefore, aren’t you invading the privacy of others?” Zhuang Jiawen highlighted the seriousness of the matter but not in an accusing way. He was well aware that it was part of her work and her company would not reveal the conversations. Nevertheless, the users who had their dialogue recorded were not aware that they were being watched.
“The boss wants us to do it. As employees, we don’t have much of a choice.” She put Dudu on the table and turned to hug him by the waist. She looked up and suggested coquettishly, “If you think my job is bad, how about I quit and you take care of me?”
Zhuang Jiawen lifted her chin with his fingers, “If I take care of you, what will be my reward?”
Shen Xinyao’s shifted her eyes in thought before she replied, “I’ll cover you with a warm duvet in winter and fan you in the summer. In autumn, I’ll provide you with an extra layer of clothes.”
“What about spring?” Zhuang Jiawen leaned closer as their eyes locked.
“Since spring is no longer as cold, I’ll remind you to wear less?”
Zhuang Jiawen was visibly dissatisfied with the answer. “It doesn’t suit the season.”
Shen Xinyao was speechless.
“Why don’t I accompany you on a trip in spring?”
“Heine once said, ‘If seeds are not planted in spring, they will not grow in summer. There will be no harvest in autumn; and nothing to eat in winter.’ So what do you think spring is for?”
“Planting seeds…” Just as she spoke, Shen Xinyao got it. She lowered her chest. “You’re being naughty.”
Zhuang Jiawen laughed. “Is planting seeds considered naughty?”
The more he laughed the more mischievous he got. “Aren’t you having naughty thoughts?”
“Zhuang Jiawen!” Shen Xinyao was both embarrassed and angry. “Leave my room at once. I still have work to do.”
“But why are you blushing?” Zhuang Jiawen caught her hands that were pushing him and rubbed her palms with his fingers. “You weren’t having naughty thoughts. It’s me that’s being naughty, so don’t be angry. You don’t look pretty when you’re angry.”
He leaned forward to kiss her lips.
However, Shen Xinyao turned away. She was no longer angry, but still felt embarrassed.
Zhuang Jiawen hugged her as she sat back in front of the computer where the dialogue continued to populate the screen.
After reading further, he didn’t find it humorous.
“This isn’t even funny at all. So what were you laughing at?”
Shen Xinyao moved her mouse. “You’ll see in a while.”
As Zhuang Jiawen waited, he stabbed his fork on a piece of apple and put it into his mouth. As he chewed, he watched the chat window that she had brought up.
Having heard the crunch of the apple, Shen Xinyao added, “I want some too.”
Her gaze was still fixed on the screen as she used her mouse to adjust the position of the chat windows.
