Chapter 26: The Eldest Miss Arrives—Clear the Way for Her

Meng Qiaoyuan set down the hefty professional tome and rose to her feet, nodding politely. “Miss Zhou, it’s been a long time.”

The eldest Miss Zhou, however, didn’t bother to reply. She simply snorted through her nose, her demeanor brimming with disdain.

Zhou Lichuan, after murmuring a few words into his headset, removed it and looked up at the unexpected visitor. “Zhou Jiayan, what brings you here?”

Zhou Jiayan, swinging her bag, plopped down next to Zhou Lichuan. “I heard you were ill, so I especially came back to see you. And you still ask why I’m here? Have you no heart?”

At that moment, Jiang Zao, having already changed her shoes, entered with Du Bin.

Hearing Jiang Zao’s footsteps, Zhou Lichuan immediately beckoned her over. “Jiang Zao, this is my second uncle’s daughter, Zhou Jiayan. She’s studying abroad, a year younger than you. Zhou Jiayan, call her ‘sister.’”

Zhou Jiayan scrutinized Jiang Zao from head to toe, her tone sour. “Brother, your eyes really are bad, and your heart’s blind as well, if you can fancy just anyone.”

Zhou Lichuan refused to indulge her. “If you can behave yourself for once, stop stirring up trouble. If you can’t control that temper, go back to your school.”

“No way!” Zhou Jiayan leapt up. “Do you know how awful the food is in Country Y? I’m about to turn wild! Every day it’s just leaves, even the raw leaves taste bitter! Brother, please, talk to Dad and stop exiling me so far away!”

She clung to Zhou Lichuan’s arm, shaking it vigorously.

Seeing this, Jiang Zao hurried over to stop her. “Miss Zhou, please don’t shake him! Zhou Lichuan gets dizzy!”

But Zhou Jiayan was too quick. Zhou Lichuan was already dizzy, clutching his head while slumping into the sofa.

Zhou Jiayan let go at once, covering her mouth in apology. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry! Brother, I didn’t mean it… Are you feeling any better?”

It took a while for Zhou Lichuan to regain his composure. Jiang Zao brought over a bottle of cool mineral water, and he took a few sips before finally suppressing the nausea and vertigo that threatened to overwhelm him.

Meng Qiaoyuan also approached, retrieving a stethoscope from her bag to listen briefly to his heartbeat.

“Zao Zao, hand me the blood pressure monitor and keep an eye on it. His blood pressure is a crucial indicator right now; it must be closely monitored. If it’s too high, it’ll affect the surgery schedule.”

Zhou Jiayan apologized meekly by the side. “Sorry, Brother…”

Zhou Lichuan patted Jiang Zao’s sweaty, anxious hand. “I’m fine, don’t worry. Zhou Jiayan, does your father know you suddenly returned?”

It was as if Zhou Jiayan had been stabbed. Her voice rose. “As if he’d care about my comings and goings! Does my existence mean anything to him? I called him several times recently to ask about you, but he just told me to mind my own business and hung up! Infuriating!”

From her tone, Jiang Zao caught hints of deeper family discord.

Zhou Kuan, it seemed, had little concern for his daughter, unlike the almost obsessive care he lavished on his son, even going so far as to seek vengeance for him.

Jiang Zao fetched the blood pressure monitor from the storeroom and handed it to Meng Qiaoyuan.

As they waited for the reading, Zhou Jiayan seemed to suddenly take note of Meng Qiaoyuan’s presence.

“I remember you’re a cardiologist. My brother has a brain tumor, so why are you the family doctor? Where’s Shen Mushi?”

Meng Qiaoyuan glanced at her but said nothing, focusing instead on the blood pressure monitor.

Being deliberately ignored infuriated Zhou Jiayan, who spoke imperiously. “Oh, I see now. You’re after the position of Zhou family’s daughter-in-law, aren’t you? Isn’t there all that gossip online these days about you scheming to marry into the Zhou family? What’s the matter, is the Meng family going bankrupt so you’re rushing to throw yourself at my brother?”

Zhou Lichuan, occupied with the blood pressure monitor, couldn’t speak, so Jiang Zao quickly spoke up in Meng Qiaoyuan’s defense.

“Qiaoyuan was specially invited. She’s here for a reason, Miss Zhou; there’s no need for you to worry about matters that don’t concern you.”

But Zhou Jiayan, now combustible, shot to her feet and spat at Jiang Zao, “You kept woman, do you really see yourself as the Zhou family’s young mistress? Do you even know your place? My brother humors you for a couple of days and you start thinking you can throw your weight around?”

“Zhou Jiayan!” Zhou Lichuan’s voice was sharp. “When are you going to change that temper? Apologize to Jiang Zao!”

“Me, apologize to her? Brother, are you out of your mind? Who am I, to be apologizing to a person like her?”

Sitting there, Zhou Lichuan’s expression was grave. “She’s your future sister-in-law. It’s only right. Apologize!”

Hearing him defend Jiang Zao so staunchly, Zhou Jiayan stood there, her eyes reddening with frustration and humiliation.

Jiang Zao, seeing this, couldn’t help but feel a pang of compassion and was about to smooth things over when Zhou Lichuan stopped her. “Jiang Zao, don’t say a word. If she doesn’t apologize today, she needn’t come through this door again.”

Zhou Jiayan wiped at her eyes with the back of her hand, smudging her delicate makeup. Voice trembling with anger and grievance, she shouted, “Fine! I apologize! Sorry! Is that enough? Hmph!”

With that, she stomped her foot and rushed out, dabbing at her tears.

Meng Qiaoyuan removed the blood pressure monitor. “Your blood pressure’s a bit high. You mustn’t get angry; keeping your emotions stable is most important.”

Zhou Lichuan nodded gratefully. “Thank you. You’ve worked hard.”

Meng Qiaoyuan gave a slight smile and returned to her seat, resuming her reading as though the scene Zhou Jiayan had stirred up had never occurred.

Jiang Zao glanced at the door through which Zhou Jiayan had fled. “Zhou Lichuan, is it safe for her to go out like that? Should we have someone follow her?”

“There’s no need,” Zhou Lichuan replied. “She’s been willful since she was a child. No one can control her, and she’s only grown more unruly with age.”

Jiang Zao squeezed his hand. “Thank you for standing up for me. It makes me very happy.”

Her emotions soothed, Jiang Zao nestled obediently against Zhou Lichuan’s shoulder, while Meng Qiaoyuan and Du Bin, ever vigilant in the corner, each drifted off into their own thoughts.

…

Two days later.

The art exhibition opened smoothly, with a professor from the Academy of Fine Arts personally cutting the ribbon. The hall was abuzz with excitement.

Jiang Zao entered the gallery with the throng of artists, Du Bin—a towering, muscular figure—at her side.

Perhaps it was all the time he’d spent sitting in cars or shadowing Zhou Lichuan, but his impressive physique had never been properly showcased. Now, following behind Jiang Zao, his sun-kissed skin, broad shoulders tapering to a trim waist, and impossibly long legs drew every eye in the hall. The moment they appeared, countless glances were cast their way.

Jiang Zao gazed at her own painting, hung in a corner, and suddenly doubted whether entering this exhibition had been the right decision.

The younger generation brimmed with innovative ideas, interpreting the theme of “First Light” from every conceivable angle. Amidst dazzling displays of inventive technique, her own piece—rooted in traditional academic style—seemed awkwardly out of place, like a schoolchild blundering into a college party, relying solely on feigned innocence to scrape by.

Staring at her painting, Jiang Zao murmured to Du Bin behind her, “It’s shameful to rely on cuteness…”

Du Bin, not quite grasping her meaning, replied based on his own understanding, “But it’s effective.”

Jiang Zao nodded. “Good point.”

“Miss Jiang’s painting is very pure, very moving. It’s a pity I have no money, or else I’d buy it and treasure it myself.”