Chapter 46: Loves Sour Oranges Most

Jiang Zao turned her head and saw Zhou Li Chuan, who had put on his headphones again and was listening to an audiobook. She carefully peeled an orange, slipped a slice into her mouth, and instantly felt her twisted stomach ease with the burst of sweet juice.

Watching Jiang Zao’s cautious movements, Meng Qiao Yuan couldn’t help but feel pity. “You’re struggling so much just to eat a little something. It’s not even serious yet—what will you do when it gets worse?”

Jiang Zao lowered her eyes and smiled gently. “Hehe, it’s alright, I really don’t feel uncomfortable.”

Meng Qiao Yuan sighed and suddenly asked, “What did Shen Mu Shi talk about when he came over?”

Jiang Zao was puzzled. “He didn’t say much, just came to see Zhou Li Chuan.”

Meng Qiao Yuan looked at her and said, “He seems to have a wallet, and said it was a gift from you.”

Jiang Zao didn’t catch the probing note in her tone and continued eating her orange happily. “Yes, last time when I bought a gift for Zhou Li Chuan, he came with me. I couldn’t just buy a gift for Zhou Li Chuan with him standing there watching, so I bought one for him too.”

Meng Qiao Yuan pressed on, “He never used a wallet before, right? The nurses said they’ve never seen him use one, but after you gave it to him, he started.”

Jiang Zao popped the last slice of orange into her mouth and gave Meng Qiao Yuan a thorough look from head to toe.

She was just as before: shirt buttoned to the top, rimless glasses, low ponytail, no makeup.

Nothing seemed to have changed. Yet, a woman’s intuition told Jiang Zao that something must be happening between Shen Mu Shi and Meng Qiao Yuan.

Swallowing the orange, Jiang Zao imitated Zhou Li Chuan’s inscrutable manner. “Hmm... Maybe he’s a caveman, never used a wallet before.”

Meng Qiao Yuan was amused, but didn’t dare show anger, sighing in exasperation at Jiang Zao, who burst out laughing.

Their laughter had barely faded when Zhou Jia Yan and Du Bin pushed open the ward door.

For the past couple of days, Zhou Jia Yan had been absorbed in investigating the backgrounds of the villa staff, discovering that the one in contact with Zhou Kuan was a kitchen worker, specially transferred from the old house by Shen Xiao Nan.

Before coming to the hospital, Jiang Zao had deliberately left an opening at home. Zhou Jia Yan lay in wait for two days and finally caught the culprit in the act.

She flung herself onto the ward sofa and let out a dramatic howl.

“Ah—just to find your spy, I even offended my own dad! Jiang Zao, how will you repay me?”

Zhou Li Chuan heard the commotion and quickly took off his headphones to join the fun.

Jiang Zao glanced at the orange peels she hadn’t yet thrown away and handed them over. “Fresh orange... peels. Take them home, dry them and make aged peel, good for the lungs.”

Zhou Jia Yan snatched the peels and tossed them into the nearest bin. “You have no conscience. Really. No conscience.”

Ignoring Zhou Jia Yan’s reproach, Jiang Zao turned to fiddle with her phone, knowing Zhou Jia Yan had plenty to say. Her temperament wouldn’t let her hold back, and if Jiang Zao spoke first, she’d only be caught out.

Zhou Jia Yan, seeing Jiang Zao playing on her phone, guessed her intention and started playing with hers too—a contest of patience.

Zhou Li Chuan shook his head, staying out of this epic battle between sisters-in-law.

“Du Bin, is everything arranged?”

Du Bin nodded. “All done. We went with a personal studio, not an MCN agency. The blogger has full autonomy—it’s all just money, worst comes to worst, they can switch careers later.”

Zhou Li Chuan rested his chin, thinking about the aftermath. “The video will be released soon enough, Zhou Kuan will be summoned for questioning, and by the time he’s let out, I’ll be nearly recovered.”

Du Bin smiled. “Once you’re well and discharged, everything will be easier.”

Listening to their conversation, Zhou Jia Yan finally couldn’t resist. “Hey, brother. Why aren’t you asking about the staff at home? What are you whispering about over there?”

Zhou Li Chuan suppressed a laugh. “I don’t need to worry about the staff—you guys handle it however you like. Right, Zao Zao?”

Jiang Zao, called upon, put down her phone and looked up. “Exactly! I’m not anxious.”

Zhou Jia Yan looked at the couple, fuming. “Alright, alright! You two always gang up to bully me, the outsider. You’re a couple, you’re always right, whatever!”

Meng Qiao Yuan, amused from the sidelines, chimed in, “Of course, young couples always stand together against the world. You’re just off balance—haven’t found the rhythm.”

Zhou Jia Yan rolled her eyes and moved closer to Meng Qiao Yuan, teasing, “So you’ve found your balance, have you?”

Jiang Zao glanced up and saw Meng Qiao Yuan subtly shift away from Zhou Jia Yan, but her words were uncompromising.

“Yes. But I won’t tell you.”

Zhou Jia Yan’s lips pursed further and further, and Jiang Zao burst out laughing.

“Alright, enough teasing. Let’s talk seriously—what’s the story with the kitchen staff?”

Zhou Jia Yan straightened her clothes and slowly recounted the past few days.

“You said that cook was sent by Aunt, so I should be cautious. I’ve been watching her at home these days, and sure enough, found her sneaking out at night to call my dad. She told him when you and my brother went out together and didn’t come back. Luckily, we’d already taken precautions, so she didn’t know my brother was at the hospital preparing for surgery.”

Zhou Li Chuan sensed something amiss. “And then? Did you talk to your dad?”

Zhou Jia Yan nodded. “Yes, I grabbed the phone and asked him why he was making such a fuss. He told me not to interfere and scolded me, told me to hurry back to school.”

Meng Qiao Yuan listened and said, “Your father has a point. No matter how things develop with the group, you’re still a child of the Zhou family. It’s best to return to school and lay low for now.”

Zhou Jia Yan straightened up. “Precisely because I’m a Zhou, I can’t just turn a blind eye and slip away.”

Jiang Zao had discussed this topic with her, and she’d thought about it deeply. Now, in this storm of troubles, she couldn’t possibly leave her family in this state and just go back to study in peace. She might be headstrong, but she was not heartless.

Jiang Zao asked Zhou Jia Yan, “Did this person often report on the old house to your father before?”

Zhou Jia Yan nodded. “She said she did.”

Jiang Zao nodded silently. “Let her go. We can’t keep someone like that.”

Zhou Jia Yan, sensing the heavy mood, tried to seize the moment. “I investigated this, and I have to fire her too. I worked so hard and got no reward—you guys don’t care about me at all.”

Jiang Zao was speechless... Shen Mu Shi set the standard, and those close to him all followed suit—a truly remarkable founder.

Zhou Li Chuan, indulgent, shook his head. “Take that Maserati from my garage. You’ve wanted it for ages but never dared ask.”

Zhou Jia Yan jumped three feet in delight. “Really! Brother, I love you to bits!”