Chapter 243: 243: Jiang Zhi Craves Affection, Sweet Critical Hit (Second Release)
“So I’m not planning on catching up,” she decisively denied, “You’ve got the wrong person.”
That trendy guy: “You are Fang Lixiang.”
Fang Lixiang coldly replied, “I’m not, I’m Fang Lixiang’s cousin.”
The guy laughed, “It’s .”
Fang Lixiang: “?” Who?
“It’s !”
“?” Who are you!
Alright, the guy removed his mask and black-rimd glasses, revealing a handso and delicate face, “We’ve worked together twice, and you still don’t recognize .”
He was a young idol.
Fang Lixiang rembered him, he was a mber of a recently popular boy band; she had been on a variety show with them and had dinner afterwards. She didn’t rember the details, but Fang Lixiang recalled drinking three of the young idols under the table, one of whom was this guy right here.
Fang Lixiang greeted him warmly, “Oh, it’s you, Xiao Zimo.”
“…”
The air froze for a few seconds.
The pretty boy said, “My na is Xia Hansong.”
Fang Lixiang gave an awkward laugh and scratched her head. So embarrassing.
Backstage at the concert.
Yang Xi had finished thanking all the light, stage, and sound engineers and returned to the dressing room, “What just happened?”
Xiao Yusheng had removed his makeup but not changed his clothes and was staring at the door without responding.
Yang Xi grabbed his already thinning hair, “Why didn’t you tell beforehand if you were going to invite her up?”
He was still staring at the door, seemingly not listening.
Yang Xi felt his blood pressure rising, “And why did you hug her?”
A nineteen-year-old artist casually hugging female fans?
Yang Xi recalled his unusual behavior before going on stage and beca more suspicious, “You did it on purpose, didn’t you, because you know her?”
He didn’t respond. His usually gloomy eyes were now brightly vigilant, looking anxious and restless.
Yang Xi had never seen him like this before, “I’m talking to you, did you hear ?”
He suddenly stood up. “You’re here.”
A smile played around his eyes.
Yang Xi was astonished; he had been managing Xiao Yusheng for years and knew just how rarely he smiled or showed any warmth. Despite being only nineteen, he always appeared prematurely solemn and weathered.
Who was it that could lt the ice in his eyes?
Yang Xi looked towards the door and saw a young man and woman. The girl was bundled up too tightly to make out her face, but the features of the person beside her were unmistakable.
Misty blue hair, enticing yet aggressive peach blossom eyes, and an air of nobility and grace that you couldn’t find a second of in the entire Imperial City.
Yang Xi hesitated, “Director Jiang?”
Jiang Zhi nodded and removed his mask.
With skin white as jade and lips red as cherries, his face was as beautiful as a peach blossom and his eyes as captivating as hooks. His charm was not unfounded; truly, he was first among Imperial City’s beauties.
It was Yang Xi’s first ti seeing Jiang Zhi up close, and he was montarily stunned.
Xiao Yusheng was also observing Jiang Zhi.
With a lazy and indolent look in his peach blossom eyes, he said, “Her boyfriend, ca with her.”
A ripple flickered in Xiao Yusheng’s eyes, then cald again. He stepped forward, “Hello, I’m Xiao Yusheng.”
Nineteen, still too young.
He had the appearance of a youth, yet his face bore a wearied look.
Jiang Zhi responded with two words, “Jiang Zhi.”
Xiao Yusheng didn’t continue the conversation, remaining silent and observing the person behind Jiang Zhi.
Yang Xi called out to him, “Yun Sheng.”
His eyes, always void of life, were filled with Zhou Xufang, like a desolate field blooming with colorful flowers.
“Yun Sheng.” Yang Xi coughed, “Cough, Yun Sheng.”
It’s soone else’s girlfriend, why keep staring!
Xiao Yusheng remained silent, still watching, a slight joy in his brows, no longer lifeless.
Jiang Zhi licked her teeth, her eyes brimming with emotion, but she didn’t snap.
It was Zhou Xufang who spoke first, “Do you have sothing to say to ?” as she took off her mask.
Xiao Yusheng nodded, like friends who hadn’t seen each other in a long ti, casually asking, “How have you been all these years?”
“Very well.”
Actually, they didn’t have much to talk about. Back in the lab, they either got blood drawn together, received infusions together, or were electro-shocked together… None of it was a pleasant mory.
“I’ve been well too,” he added quietly, looking at her for a while, “How is your health? Is your body okay?”
“Also good.”
He was like before, not very talkative, appearing obedient.
But Zhou Xufang knew, he was not obedient. Among so many people in the lab, he tried to escape the most and was punished the most. Those doctors in white coats, they didn’t hit or yell, but they had many, many ways to make life unbearable.
The first ti Zhou Xufang t Xiao Yusheng, she was fourteen, he was eleven, she was bald, he was too, her number was 011, his was 017. She was the most well-behaved, he the least, and on their first night in the laboratory, he smashed a window, trying to escape. Zhou Xufang watched from the hospital room window as he climbed over the wall, fell, and couldn’t get up, watched as two tall, strong guards dragged him back to the isolation room.
Maybe those doctors wanted to make an example of him, so they ordered the nurses not to give 017 any food or water.
Number 011, Zhou Xufang, secretly slid a cookie through the gap under the door of the isolation room.
Later when they were grouped together, 017 didn’t talk to anyone but 011, even secretly told 011 that during electric shocks, just pretend it wasn’t painful, and they would stop increasing the voltage.
Nineteen-year-old 017 was much taller than at eleven, “Did those people ever co looking for you again?”
Twenty-two-year-old 011 wasn’t as dark and skinny anymore, she had grown a lot too, “No.”
That’s good.
He didn’t speak further, just kept staring at her.
Yang Xi was really worried sothing might happen, as he was staring at soone else’s girlfriend again, “Yun Sheng, you need to go change clothes, there’s a press appointnt later.”
Jiang Zhi licked her teeth again.
Those who knew him knew that he had a habit of licking his teeth when holding back his temper.
Xiao Yusheng seed not to hear Yang Xi’s words, still watching Zhou Xufang, “I’m very glad you could co to my concert.”
It was evident.
His promotional photos almost never showed him smiling, unlike now, joy reaching his brows.
Zhou Xufang was also very happy, her favorite celebrity was her forr ‘sick buddy,’ though he had changed a lot since then, she still felt a deep familiarity.
“I’m your fan,” Zhou Xufang, a dedicated fan, asked, “Could you give an autograph?”
Xiao Yusheng asked Yang Xi, “Are there any autographed photos left?”
Yang Xi, clueless about their relationship, replied, “Still have two boxes.”
Xiao Yusheng turned to Zhou Xufang, “Is that enough?”
Two boxes.
Zhou Xufang suddenly felt a sense of pride, typical of insiders, “Enough!”
She didn’t take all two boxes, just twenty pictures, ten for her and Fang Lixiang each, the rest she planned to give to her book friends and online friends.
Handing the sign to Jiang Zhi, Zhou Xufang said, “I need to go back.”
Xiao Yusheng imdiately said, “I’ll walk you out.”
Zhou Xufang declined, “There are many fans outside.”
“Just to the door.”
Everyone found it incredible, Xiao Yusheng’s face actually showing a stubborn expression, normally devoid of any emotions.
Xiao Yusheng walked Zhou Xufang to the door, as if he had more to say, hesitated for a long ti, but only managed a farewell, “See you next ti.”
Zhou Xufang agreed, put on her mask, and was led away by Jiang Zhi.
As the figure disappeared into the distance, Xiao Yusheng still stood at the door.
Yang Xi stood by, watching the light in his eyes fade, returning to his usual self, calm and unruffled, a pair of beautiful eyes turned bleak and desolate, like a still, dead sea.
Zhou Xufang left, and his emotions before and after were like heaven and earth.
Yang Xi rembered that such a situation had occurred once before, when Xiao Yusheng had told him that it was a very important person.
That was the first ti Yang Xi had seen a surge of ecstasy in his lifeless eyes. Just now, when Zhou Xufang appeared at the door, that expression had appeared on his face for the second ti.
Yang Xi couldn’t suppress his curiosity, “What’s going on between you and Director Jiang’s girlfriend?”
He replied, “We are old acquaintances.”
“Just old acquaintances?” Yang Xi felt there was more, at least on Xiao Yusheng’s side.
He bowed his head, sitting quietly, his pale side profile enveloped in light, looking sowhat fragile and did not speak, only murmuring softly.
Guessing he wouldn’t get more out of him, Yang Xi didn’t press further, “Why not keep a contact number? Aren’t you old acquaintances?” Or ‘very important’ old acquaintances.
He dropped his eyes, his eyelashes casting a shadow, “No contact.” He spoke as if talking to himself, “It’s better not to contact.”
His mood suddenly fell, and a thick shade covered his brow.
Yang Xi was confused, “I don’t understand?”
Xiao Yusheng didn’t say more, usually uninterested in everything, he asked a very strange question, “What kind of person is Jiang Zhi?”
A beauty.
A beauty that many n and won in Imperial City desire but dare not rashly make a move on.
A beauty whose family background, ans, and sches are unfathomable, yet many n and won still wish to possess.
Yang Xi sumd up precisely, “Soone many people want to provoke, but most people can’t afford to.”
Xiao Yusheng then asked, “What about the extraordinary people?”
Yang Xi was certain, “They can’t afford to either.”
The young master of Jiang Family was definitely not a pushover.
On the way ho, Jiang Zhi was exceptionally silent.
The snow had already stopped, not thick on the ground and nearly lted, leaving only a layer of “frost white.”
Zhou Xufang was led by Jiang Zhi, allowing her not to watch her step. She tilted her head looking at him, “Why aren’t you talking? Are you unhappy? Are you jealous?”
If he was jealous, she could explain that Xiao Yusheng was a fellow patient she was on good terms with. During tis of hardship, one often especially rembers those who offered consolation.
To Xiao Yusheng, she was probably that kind of person.
Jiang Zhi said, “No.” In fact, he was angry and jealous, but more than that, he was worried, “Thinking about things.”
“Thinking about what?”
The car stopped across from the square on the pedestrian street and they still had a bit to walk. Jiang Zhi led her on the inside, “Do you know who Xiao Yusheng’s foster father is?”
Zhou Xufang saw on Xiao Yusheng’s Baidu Encyclopedia, “I only know he’s a doctor.”
“He’s Luo Qinghe’s uncle, Xiao Yi.”
And Xiao Yi specialized in genetic dicine.
“When you were carried out by Fang Dashun, the one who took over was Xiao Yi; if I’m not wrong, he was the one who sent you to the Genetic Laboratory.”
Whether Xiao Yi was on the list of doctors in that laboratory was still unknown.
“Then, his adopting Yun Sheng, is it also with malicious intent?”
“I don’t know yet.” Jiang Zhi sighed, pulling Zhou Xufang into his arms, “I can’t control Xiao Yusheng, I can only look after you.”
He was truly afraid that soone would covet the genes carrying superpowers in his young lady’s body, as greed, capable of devouring one’s humanity, is indeed terrifying.
Zhou Xufang patted his back, telling him not to worry, saying she would be very careful.
“Xu Fang.”
“Hmm?”
Jiang Zhi slowed his pace even further, “Do you like Xiao Yusheng a lot?” Considering they had also suffered together in their youth, although he himself was also her childhood friend, she did not rember things from before, only what happened after the laboratory.
This fact made Jiang Zhi feel sowhat threatened.
Zhou Xufang said honestly, “When we were in the laboratory, we actually t very rarely, even fewer were the tis we could really talk. We were sick friends, I don’t know if we could be considered good friends.” But, Zhou Xufang ntioned, “I like his singing.”
Jiang Zhi added a statent, “I don’t sing well.”
His tone was defeated, “I am off-key.”
In a tone that was unwilling but resigned, he admitted, “I can’t sing.”
He had never been good at arts from a young age, be it singing, painting, or playing musical instrunts; he could even be described as a complete ss.
Zhou Xufang stopped in his tracks, his tone turning serious, “Why would you compare yourself with him? How could it be the sa? You’re my boyfriend, and whether you can sing or not doesn’t matter. My favorite singer, my favorite writer, my favorite artist, all combined, don’t asure up to how much I like you. Moreover, it’s not even the sa.”
They couldn’t be compared at all.
No one could be compared with Jiang Zhi.
Jiang Zhi’s arms were around her waist, standing by the roadside. There were hardly any people on the street at night, and under the streetlight, only their shadows were visible. He followed her gaze and asked her, “How is it different?”
She answered earnestly, “I rely admire them, but you are different.”
Jiang Zhi pressed further, “How am I different?”
Her face grew hot, and burying her head, she avoided his gaze, “Don’t ask when you already know the answer.”
Yet, Jiang Zhi was relentless, cradling her face, “I have to ask.”
Zhou Xufang was too shy to say it out loud.
When she didn’t speak, he asked, “Fang Bao, do you love ?”
Still asking knowingly!
Her ears burning, she didn’t want to talk to him and just kept walking ahead.
Jiang Zhi followed her, grabbed her hand, and wouldn’t let her go, “You’ve never said it before.” He clung to her, pestering her, needing to know, “Do you really love ?”
Zhou Xufang blushed and, looking around to make sure no one else was there, tiptoed up to Jiang Zhi’s ear, confessed her deep love for him, and after speaking, she felt embarrassed and stared at her toes.
“Fang Bao.”
She looked up, her eyes bright, “Hmm?”
“Will you marry in the future?”
Without a second thought, she said, “Yes, I will.”
He cautiously asked again, “Are you sure?”
Without hesitation, she affird, “Sure.”
Jiang Zhi smiled, his eyes bright as stars, seeming utterly content and proud, “Then I won’t hold back anymore.”
Zhou Xufang didn’t understand, “Hold back what?”
He leaned down and whispered sothing to her.
Instantly, her face turned beet red.
“Don’t say that anymore.”
Jiang Zhi kissed her palm, smiling, “Okay, I won’t say it.”
The two of them teased each other all the way; a short distance took them over ten minutes. Once in the car, Zhou Xufang asked, “New Year’s Eve is coming up, are you going back to the Jiang Family?”
The festive atmosphere in the city was lackluster as New Year’s Eve approached.
Jiang Zhi replied, “I have to go there for the New Year’s Eve dinner.”
It was a tradition established by the old lady, not only for holidays but even on the first and fifteenth of each month, everyone must return to the old house.
Zhou Xufang hesitated, then asked Jiang Zhi, “Will you take with you?”
He answered, “No.”
Her head drooped instantly, like a solitary quail.
Jiang Zhi laughed and added the latter half of his statent, “I’ll sneak out to see you.”
The quail found its flock again, bouncing joyously, “Then you’ll have to give a New Year’s gift.”
Jiang Zhi moved closer, “What if I give myself to you?”
She pushed him away, “No, I want money.”
He ruffled her hair, ssing it up, “Okay okay okay, anything for you, my little ancestor.”
The little ancestor humd a song, beaming.
At 11:30 p.m., Qiao Nanchu received a call from Jiang Zhi.
“Still not asleep?” Usually a person who slept around eight or nine, he thought about Jiang Zhi’s health and felt obliged to give so unpleasant advice, “Don’t stay up too late.”
Jiang Zhi: “…”
“What’s all this fuss about, cut the nonsense.” Damn it, he had serious matters to discuss, “I got into a fight tonight. Soone might have recorded it; please handle it for .”
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