Chapter 35: The Appraisal Results Are Out~

Meng Qiaoyuan had never been so eagerly anticipated before.

The moment she stepped through the door, all those pairs of eyes fixed intently upon her.

After changing her shoes and entering the room, she didn’t keep anyone in suspense. She took the file folder directly from her bag.

“Rest assured. The forensic report confirms that Jiang Jingyuan is Zaizao’s biological father—there’s absolutely no mistake.”

In an instant, the air that had been frozen all day finally began to move.

Jiang Zaizao grabbed the file and scrutinized it closely. Seeing the result, she lowered her head, tears streaming down her face.

She had never been so afraid as she was today.

Zhou Lichuan meant too much to her, and her current life was simply too perfect. She was terrified—afraid it was all just a fleeting dream, and when she woke, everything would shatter.

Zhou Jiayan, for reasons she couldn’t quite understand, found herself crying alongside Jiang Zaizao, even though she had always disliked tears.

In contrast, Zhou Lichuan remained the calmest person in the room.

Everyone felt a burden lifted from their hearts; Shen Mushi hurried to lighten the mood.

“Now that we know everything’s fine, let’s all relax, catch our breath, have dinner, and then think about what comes next.”

Du Bin laid out the documents Zhou Lichuan had asked him to bring, spreading them on the coffee table before everyone.

Zhou Jiayan glanced at them, stood up, intent on avoiding the discussion.

But Zhou Lichuan suddenly called out, “Yan Yan. You can avoid this, but you need to make a choice. Things have reached this point; your father and I are irreconcilable, and sooner or later we’re going to be at odds. If you really don’t want to choose, I’ll arrange for someone to send you back to school tomorrow.”

Zhou Jiayan’s footsteps halted.

She didn’t want to leave, yet she wasn’t sure if she should stay.

Jiang Zaizao wiped away her tears, giving Zhou Jiayan a way out: “My stomach isn’t feeling well—could you ask Hui-jie for some medicine for me?”

Zhou Jiayan nodded blankly and headed for Hui-jie’s room.

After she left, Jiang Zaizao turned her attention to the documents on the coffee table.

“Zhou Kuan is going to appear on a talk show?”

Du Bin nodded. “The last movie premiere stirred quite a public reaction. Though they didn’t succeed in framing anyone, they certainly learned the value of manipulating public opinion.”

Zhou Lichuan shifted closer to Jiang Zaizao, his cautious demeanor causing the others to wonder if he’d been possessed. Since when had he become so gentle and restrained?

Jiang Zaizao glanced at him. “What are you thinking?”

Zhou Lichuan replied, “He wants to control public opinion, so we’ll ruin his reputation first.”

Shen Mushi cleared his throat. “Lichuan, is there anything I can help with?”

Zhou Lichuan considered, then smiled slightly. “Actually, yes. You’ll need to help Zhou Jiayan move into my place.”

Shen Mushi nodded. “That’s easy. I’ll drive over.”

Jiang Zaizao, whose mind had been stagnant all day, suddenly recalled what happened yesterday when the two first arrived: “Yesterday... did you and Zhou Jiayan have an argument? What was it about?”

Zhou Lichuan gently patted her back in comfort. “It wasn’t much. She’s too willful and wouldn’t listen, so she talked back instead of obeying.”

Meng Qiaoyuan spoke up. “Miss Zhou is indeed lively, but she’s not trouble. As long as nothing major happens, there’s no need to be so strict.”

Shen Mushi looked at her, thinking that the Meng family must have been quite strict with Meng Qiaoyuan for her to say such a thing.

Du Bin explained to everyone, “Yesterday... someone followed Miss Zhou and nearly caused an accident.”

Jiang Zaizao was shocked. “What? Who did it?”

Zhou Lichuan rubbed his forehead. “Who else but Lin Rui? Lin Rui has wanted to control Zhou Jiayan to threaten Zhou Kuan for some time.”

Jiang Zaizao understood. “So your argument yesterday was because of this.”

Zhou Lichuan nodded. “That group has been tailing her for days, and Du Bin always reports to me in detail. Yesterday, they were particularly bold; I was worried something would happen, so I wanted Zhou Jiayan to move in with us. She complained the place was too small, then said she didn’t want to live under the same roof as you, speaking without restraint and acting willfully. She deserved to be scolded.”

Every time Zhou Lichuan reprimanded Zhou Jiayan lately, it had always been to protect Jiang Zaizao.

Everyone present knew this, as did Jiang Zaizao herself.

Though no one understood how Jiang Zaizao had come to mean so much to Zhou Lichuan, seeing the pair so inseparable, everyone was sincerely happy for them.

Except for Zhou Jiayan.

She clung to the storeroom doorframe, eavesdropping for quite some time.

Thinking that Zhou Lichuan had scolded her so many times for Jiang Zaizao’s sake only made her angrier.

Any sympathy she’d felt for Jiang Zaizao yesterday was quickly suppressed.

She didn’t need anyone’s pity; she had her own strong backing!

Hmph! She was fuming.

Du Bin, from a distance across the sofa and coffee table, unconsciously smiled at the sight.

That angry, helpless look was exactly like a newborn kitten.

Seeing that nothing more concerned her, Meng Qiaoyuan stood up and took her leave.

Jiang Zaizao held her arm, escorting her to the elevator.

Leaning against the wall beside the elevator, Jiang Zaizao looked a little drained.

Meng Qiaoyuan took her wrist and quickly checked her pulse. “You’ve been frightened and stressed these past two days. You need to rest for a few days. Don’t ruin your health while you’re still young.”

Jiang Zaizao hugged her arms and shook her head. “Zhou Lichuan is about to do something dangerous—how can I not worry?”

Meng Qiaoyuan replied, “Given how much he values you, he’ll never let anything happen to you. I didn’t know him well before and thought he was just a cold, domineering CEO, but I never expected him to have such a gentle side. I really envy you.”

Jiang Zaizao regained her composure and smiled. “You’ll find someone who cherishes and treasures you as well.”

Meng Qiaoyuan sighed. “Me? I doubt it. At my age, I’ve stopped thinking about romance. If my family needs it, I’ll marry whoever they choose and that’ll be my life. My family isn’t as powerful as the Zhou family, and I don’t have Zhou Lichuan’s courage to go against the world. When marriage, children, and family reputation must all be considered, freedom becomes a luxury.”

Before Jiang Zaizao could respond, the door inside opened and Shen Mushi came out, wearing his coat, ready to leave.

Just then, the elevator chimed as it arrived in front of Jiang Zaizao and Meng Qiaoyuan.

Jiang Zaizao reached out to hold the elevator door, turning to Shen Mushi, “Are you leaving too?”

Shen Mushi glanced at Meng Qiaoyuan already in the elevator and nodded, “Yes. Lichuan just asked me to go back to the old house and get something from uncle.”

Jiang Zaizao gestured for him to join Meng Qiaoyuan in the elevator. “Go down together, otherwise you’ll have to wait for the next one.”

Obediently, Shen Mushi entered the elevator and stood beside Meng Qiaoyuan.

Jiang Zaizao bid farewell to them, watching the elevator’s numbers slowly descend before pulling her jacket tighter and returning to the apartment.

Winter was just around the corner. The weather grew colder by the day, and even the elevator lobby felt chilly.