Chapter 123: Li Baixiu Makes His Move

Meng Qiaoyuan poured out the entire sequence of events in a single breath, without so much as a pause. It took Jiang Zao a long moment to process it all.

"Is the client Li Baixiu?"

Meng Qiaoyuan nodded, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Tan Wenyi wants to take advantage of the design team transition to go abroad and secure her competition eligibility. But if she leaves now, it’s like leaving my brother stranded to shoulder everything alone. Zaozao... please, help my second brother. Li Baixiu always listens to you, and I..."

Jiang Zao understood immediately: Li Baixiu was deliberately targeting Tan Wenyi.

After offering some comfort to Meng Qiaoyuan, she pulled out her phone and called Li Baixiu. As soon as the call connected, Li Baixiu whispered, "Sister, I’m reporting progress to the professor. I’ll call you back later, bye." He hung up before she could respond.

Meng Qiaoyuan, who had yet to fully recover from her recent severe hemorrhage, remained pale. The stress of these complications made her look even more fragile. Jiang Zao looked up at her, the phone still clutched in her hand. Seeing that weakness, the words she had prepared died on her lips. She changed her tone and asked directly, "What is your family’s stance on Tan Wenyi?"

"Huh?" Meng Qiaoyuan looked confused.

Jiang Zao recounted the time Tan Wenyi had spent supervising the work there, then said, "Tan Wenyi has always been a woman with a strong sense of purpose. I told you from the beginning that your brother’s path to love would be rocky. Therefore, in this matter... your family’s attitude is what matters most."

Meng Qiaoyuan lowered her head. "My family... they don't think Tan Wenyi quite fits the image of the next matriarch of the Meng family. But my brother loves her. As long as they are safe, happy, and living a stable life, my parents won't say much. After all, it’s a modern era; they wouldn't force an arranged marriage."

Jiang Zao’s brow furrowed. She understood exactly what Li Baixiu was trying to do. She patted Meng Qiaoyuan’s hand to reassure her, then picked up her phone and called Li Baixiu again. He didn't answer the first time, so she called again.

It wasn't until the third attempt that Li Baixiu finally picked up.

"Don't speak yet," Jiang Zao interrupted before he could offer any excuses. "I know what you're trying to do. Listen to me first, then decide how you want to proceed, okay?"

Li Baixiu knew that Jiang Zao was calling about this issue. After a long silence, a soft "mm" came from the other end—a sound so faint it could have been missed entirely.

"You want to see if, in the heart of someone like Tan Wenyi, her own life’s purpose is more important, or if it's the lover she’s been with for years. Li Baixiu, this is a false premise; the question itself is meaningless from the start. You may not understand that, but you must not interfere with the karma of others."

After Jiang Zao finished, there was another long silence on Li Baixiu’s end.

"I can choose not to interfere with her choices, but she bullied you. Sister, the only people in this life who have truly cared for me are my mother before she got sick and you now. I couldn't let her come into your own courtyard and use those kinds of words to bully you while you’re pregnant. You were angry that day too—why would you stop me?"

A wave of emotion stirred in Jiang Zao’s heart. Even Zhou Lichuan hadn't realized that she had been angry, yet Li Baixiu had perceived her feelings with such keen sensitivity. Such empathy was almost unsettling.

Meng Qiaoyuan stared at Jiang Zao in surprise; she hadn't known that such an incident had even occurred.

Jiang Zao sighed, her voice airy. "Xiaobai, I thank you for standing up for me. I truly appreciate your concern. But I don't want you acting on impulse. You didn't have a hotel project; you had to ask your father for this one, didn't you? To get this hotel, you must have agreed to certain conditions—related to your studies? Or your marriage?"

"..." Li Baixiu remained silent for a long time before finally saying, "Related to marriage. I promised my father I would spend more time with Zhou Jiayan."

Jiang Zao gave a light laugh. "See? Are you venting for me, or are you just creating more trouble? Du Bin is a trusted aide trained by your brother-in-law to take over Zhou Kuan's position. How do you expect us to face people if you act like this?"

"Sister... I didn't think that far ahead. I know Zhou Jiayan couldn't possibly like me, and I don't like her either. At most, we’ll just see each other more often. We have plenty of work to discuss anyway, so there’s no need to avoid each other... I really... I... I'm sorry, Sister." Li Baixiu’s voice was urgent, desperate to defend himself.

"I know," Jiang Zao said softly, with no hint of blame. "I know you didn't mean to cause trouble. So, pull your hand back now. Let the Meng family resolve their own issues, okay?"

"Okay. I understand. Sister, you aren't angry, are you?"

"I'm not angry. Come over for dinner tonight."

"Okay. I want to have braised pork ribs."

After hanging up, Jiang Zao met Meng Qiaoyuan’s gaze. "It’s resolved. As for the rest, go home and discuss it with your family. In your social stratum, marriage is never just a matter between two individuals. As you said, family development and reputation are all burdens. Go back and advise your brother: if you truly cannot hold onto someone, why force it?"

Meng Qiaoyuan hung her head. "I'm sorry, Zaozao. Did Tan Wenyi say something truly terrible?"

Jiang Zao shook her head. "It doesn't matter. You love being a doctor so much—if you were married and forced to give up your career, would you still choose to accept Shen Mushi’s pursuit?"

Meng Qiaoyuan pondered for a long time, but she couldn't give an answer.

Jiang Zao said, "There is no answer to such questions. Li Baixiu is threatening Tan Wenyi with her career, but the threat itself is hollow. Tan Wenyi loves her career so much that, even if her efforts seem worthless in the eyes of capital, they are the most important foundation of her existence. So, if her career is in jeopardy, she will do anything to save it. That has nothing to do with whether or not she loves your brother."

Though Meng Qiaoyuan was much older than Jiang Zao, she felt today that she was far less mature than this young woman.

"But how can you make such decisive choices? To give up painting, to decide to have this child?"

Jiang Zao smiled candidly. "I am different from you. I have never had a choice, because I have no retreat. When things happen, I can only move forward. Choices are for those who have a way out."

A pang of heartache struck Meng Qiaoyuan, and she quickly reached out to embrace Jiang Zao.

"Thank you. No matter what, I want to thank you. I will be your retreat. I will be your family."

Jiang Zao patted her back gently, her eyes reddening. "Alright, I know. You should head home now; there’s a pile of things waiting for you to handle."