Chapter 116: Meng Qiaoyuan Discharged from the Hospital

Shen Xiaonan seemed to have been enlightened. "That's right! I almost forgot. With something as major as the baby coming soon, you certainly shouldn't be wronged. Once that house is purchased, put it in Zaozao's name. If Xiaochuan makes you angry in the future, you can just hide in your own house, lock the door, and leave him crying outside."

Jiang Zao was amused. "If I’m truly wronged, I'll just scoop up the baby and hide at the old family estate, leaving him to cool his heels for a few days."

Zhou Lichuan watched Jiang Zao’s smile, seemingly imagining the scene of her pouting and running away from home with their child. He couldn't hold back and let out a laugh. Jiang Zao tossed a piece of chicken from her bowl into his, shot him a glare, and continued eating.

By the time the meal ended, the matter of Jiang Zao’s future residence had been settled. The very next day, Shen Xiaonan sent someone to handle the paperwork, and soon, the deed to the property behind the Tingshan Villa was in Jiang Zao’s hands.

...

On the day Meng Qiaoyuan was discharged from the hospital, she turned down her family’s offer to take her home, choosing instead to return to her own apartment. Jiang Zao and Zhou Jiayan were already waiting there. The group entered the room in high spirits, and Jiang Zao gently helped Meng Qiaoyuan onto the sofa.

"You wouldn't let me visit these past few days, so I had no idea how you were doing. Seeing you safe and sound now, I can finally relax."

Meng Qiaoyuan chuckled. "What do you mean you didn't know? We were on video calls or the phone every single day. There wasn't a moment you were out of the loop. The hospital was too crowded with doctors, nurses, and caregivers; with your condition, it would have been me worrying about you instead."

Jiang Zao understood Meng Qiaoyuan’s kindness. Unable to visit the hospital, her days had been filled with nothing but eating, sleeping, and handling the matter concerning Lin Rui.

Meng Qiaochong and Shen Mushi arrived carrying luggage, bringing all of Meng Qiaoyuan’s belongings. Before they could speak, Meng Qiaochong’s phone rang. Upon answering, the CEO’s face turned awkward. Zhou Jiayan, finding this amusing, quickly shot a curious look, asking what was going on.

Meng Qiaoyuan smirked and raised a finger to her lips, signaling for silence. The room fell quiet, leaving only the sound of Meng Qiaochong’s muffled "uh-huh" and "yes" into the phone.

After hanging up, Meng Qiaochong looked up, embarrassed. "I have some business to attend to. If everything is fine here with Qiaoyuan, I’ll come back later?"

Shen Mushi exchanged a glance with him and nodded slightly, taking on the temporary responsibility of looking after Meng Qiaoyuan. Jiang Zao smiled brightly. "It seems today is Senior Tan’s birthday. Did you prepare a gift, President Meng?"

Meng Qiaochong’s face reddened. He cleared his throat and said, "I did, but it seems she didn't like it."

Jiang Zao snickered and sat back down. Zhou Jiayan’s gossiping instincts kicked in. "Hey, hey, you know the President’s girlfriend? You never told me!"

Jiang Zao mimicked Meng Qiaoyuan, holding a finger to her lips to signal silence.

Shortly after Meng Qiaochong left, Zhou Lichuan and Du Bin, having finished their morning work, knocked on the door. They were accompanied by a delivery courier holding a massive bouquet of flowers. They watched as Shen Mushi took the bouquet with a sincere expression and handed it to Meng Qiaoyuan on the sofa.

The bouquet featured warm tones, with sunflowers and orange roses standing out among the other assorted flowers, all wrapped in oil-painting-style paper that gave off a cozy, radiant vibe.

"Wow, it’s so beautiful!" Zhou Jiayan covered her mouth, looking at Meng Qiaoyuan.

Knowing she was teasing her, Meng Qiaoyuan gave her a light glare before accepting the flowers. "Thank you. I really like them."

Shen Mushi smiled warmly. "No lilies this time. I stuck to the warm tones you like."

Meng Qiaoyuan held the bouquet, lowering her head to breathe in the rich fragrance. Jiang Zao watched silently with a smile. She had heard that Shen Mushi’s confession remained just that—a simple confession—with no real progress in their relationship. Meng Qiaoyuan neither accepted his advances nor rejected his affection. While everyone else was confused, only Jiang Zao understood why.

Meng Qiaoyuan appeared stiff and serious, but deep down, she was a girl who romanticized life and craved ceremony. Shen Mushi was a good man, and he would only continue to grow better on his path to winning her heart. Until things were settled, this kind of courtship was just a little flavor in life. It was harmless—why not enjoy it?

Jiang Zao leaned in to smell the flowers, sincerely wishing for Meng Qiaoyuan to find the life she desired. Shen Mushi set the flowers aside and joined Du Bin in preparing ingredients.

Meng Qiaoyuan had been clamoring for hot pot. Having finally been discharged, her first request was that Jiang Zao let her have one, no matter what. Zhou Lichuan looked at the three women on the sofa, then at the two men busy with the ingredients, and had no choice but to roll up his sleeves and join the kitchen work.

He didn't know how to do anything. Compared to the other two, who were skilled and efficient, he looked less like he was helping and more like he was causing trouble.

"Brother Chuan, maybe you should just stand aside and rest. We can handle it."

Zhou Lichuan was speechless. At home, he was criticized by Jiang Zao; at the office, he was held back by subordinates; and here, he was being looked down upon by Shen Mushi. He felt a sudden sense of despair. He stared at the two men prepping the food with a gloomy look, and suddenly asked, "Do you guys send flowers often?"

Shen Mushi gave him a strange look. "You've never sent flowers? Jiang Zao must have had it rough."

Du Bin delivered the final blow: "Not only has he never sent flowers, he’s never sent anything at all."

Zhou Lichuan felt a sudden pang of guilt. It seemed that was indeed the case. To this day, with their child nearly due, he didn't even know what flowers or gifts his own wife liked. She rarely used the credit cards he gave her, and her largest expense had been a dinner out with Zhou Jiayan and Li Baixiu... Perhaps even her parents gave her more than he did.

Shen Mushi narrowed his eyes, his tone filled with disdain. "Brother, it’s not that I want to lecture you, but you’re lucky you met Jiang Zao. If it were anyone else, they wouldn't be with you."

Knowing he was in the wrong, Zhou Lichuan waved his hands. "Stop, I already feel like disaster is looming."

Du Bin’s instinct to defend his boss kicked in. "Miss Jiang isn't the type to be greedy for gifts, but it is true that you’ve been a bit excessive in not sending anything at all."

Perfect. Logic had triumphed over instinct.

Zhou Lichuan clutched his head. "Stop, stop, I’m buying something right now..."

Shen Mushi and Du Bin exchanged a look but remained silent. They were taking a wait-and-see approach. If Jiang Zao could be swayed by a few gifts, she wouldn't have reached this point to begin with.