Chapter 7: Trust and Being Trusted

After returning to the room, Zhou Lichuan pressed Jiang Zao to read to him. As soon as she began, she was met with Young Master Zhou’s disdain.

“What book did you pick?” he asked.

“Anne of Green Gables,” Jiang Zao replied.

Zhou Lichuan’s voice was low. “Do you think that’s appropriate?”

Jiang Zao pouted. She hadn’t paid attention, just grabbed a book at random from the many shelves—who would have thought Zhou Lichuan’s study would house this sort of “girls’ literature.”

Without another word, Zhou Lichuan stood up, seized Jiang Zao by the arm, and marched her toward the bedroom.

“Young Master! What are you doing?” Jiang Zao cried out in alarm.

Zhou Lichuan’s grip was unyielding. “I ask you to serve me, and you’re hopeless. I ask you to read, and you can’t even do that properly. If you’re going to stay by my side, you’d better at least find some way to make me happy. This doesn’t require learning—just lie down.”

“No, please! I’ll read, I promise, I’ll read properly, just let me go, I’m begging you!”

Zhou Lichuan let out a furious, mocking laugh. “Let you go? Hmph. And who’s going to let me go?”

They entered the bedroom, and the door slammed shut with a violent bang.

As soon as the door closed, Jiang Zao wrenched free from Zhou Lichuan’s grasp and rubbed the spot where he’d gripped her.

“You held on too tight. That really hurt.”

The cruel expression faded from Zhou Lichuan’s face, replaced by a gentle smile. “So delicate.”

Jiang Zao ignored him, sitting on the carpet and rubbing her arm. “I’ve always wondered—why did they install listening devices instead of cameras? Wouldn’t seeing everything make them feel more secure?”

Zhou Lichuan felt around for Jiang Zao’s direction and sat down beside her on the carpet, explaining patiently, “There are three servants in the villa, not to mention the driver and the security guards. They wouldn’t dare install cameras openly. Listening devices are less conspicuous—you can stuff them in any corner.”

Jiang Zao nodded thoughtfully. “There aren’t any in the bedroom? Can they hear us talking right now?”

“No, don’t worry,” Zhou Lichuan said. “My bedroom has special equipment to block electronic devices, and it’s soundproofed to a professional standard. Take out your phone and see—there’s no signal, right?”

Jiang Zao pulled her phone from her pocket. Sure enough, there was no signal.

For a moment, she actually felt a pang of sympathy. “Did you… did you suspect things would come to this long ago? Is that why you have these things in your room?”

Zhou Lichuan smiled, the scarf over his face unable to conceal the distant look in his eyes.

“How do you think I became the head of this corporation? Zhou Kuan’s son tried to kill me for the sake of power—lost the gamble, ended up driving off a mountain road and dying in the wreck. If I still didn’t know how to protect myself, I’d probably die without even knowing how it happened.”

Suddenly, Jiang Zao leaned in close, her warm breath brushing against Zhou Lichuan’s face.

He instinctively drew back. “What is it?”

Jiang Zao smiled slyly. “Why do you trust me so much? You’ve been betrayed by those closest to you, plotted against by your own family, yet you choose to trust a complete stranger—me? Even entrust your life and fortune to me?”

“Perhaps it’s because those around me aren’t worth trusting, so I choose an outsider.”

“No, you’re lying.”

Jiang Zao pressed him, step by step, until Zhou Lichuan was backed up against the bed.

He reached out, tracing her shoulder up to her cheek. “You… you must look a lot like your mother.”

Jiang Zao waited, letting him continue.

“Your mother was a kindergarten teacher, wasn’t she?”

Jiang Zao nodded softly.

Zhou Lichuan lowered his hand, his face gentle. “I was her student once. The kindergarten where she worked was funded by my family. My parents’ marriage was falling apart back then, constant fighting, so I was raised in a separate house in the county. I often hid at the kindergarten, refusing to go home. Ms. Wu always stayed with me, fed me, let me rest. I remember she was beautiful, so gentle.”

Jiang Zao sat back, listening as he went on.

“For those years, I felt no affection from my own family. Ms. Wu was like a mother to me—so kind and gentle. The year you were born, I started elementary school. I even visited your home to see Ms. Wu, and I held you—you were tiny, so soft, lying in my arms. I poked your mouth with my finger, woke you up, and you started crying and… wet all over me…”

Jiang Zao hurriedly clapped a hand over his mouth. “Stop! No more!”

How could something from her swaddling days still be brought up after more than twenty years?

Zhou Lichuan laughed, gently removing her hand from his lips, soothing her in a low voice. “Okay, okay, I won’t say any more. So, do you still doubt me?”

Jiang Zao controlled her temper and sat down properly. “I never really doubted you. If you say my mom was your kindergarten teacher, then so be it. I can’t remember anyway, so whatever you say goes.”

“Jiang Zao.”

“Yes?”

“When I asked you to fetch the seal earlier, you hesitated, didn’t you?”

Jiang Zao said nothing—her silence was answer enough.

Zhou Lichuan knew her well. She wasn’t reckless; she always considered things carefully before acting. If she had faltered at the last moment, he wouldn’t have blamed her—after all, it was a matter that would shape the rest of her life. How could a delicate young woman shoulder such a heavy burden?

And yet, she’d done as he asked. That left him with a feeling that was more than just relief. He remembered that ordinary apartment building in the small county town, recalled the sensation of holding that milk-scented, delicate infant in his arms.

Softness, tinged with sweetness.

“Zhou Lichuan… I’m sorry. I almost… betrayed you just now.”

Zhou Lichuan reached out and gently patted her back. “It’s all right. You had your reasons—I understand. Your father’s work at the company, it was Ms. Wu who came to me and asked for my help. She said, as teacher and student, she’d only ever ask me this one thing in her life. So no matter what, I agreed.”

Jiang Zao picked up the thought. “So when my father volunteered that he had a daughter who could replace his son as a servant, you agreed straight away.”

“Yes. I bet you’re just like your mother—kind, gentle, and clever.”

Jiang Zao blushed at the praise, scratching her head in embarrassment.

Suddenly, Zhou Lichuan swiftly unbuttoned his shirt, revealing his firm muscles, and pressed Jiang Zao down onto the carpet.

With a deft movement, his right hand slipped behind her and unfastened her undergarment.

Before Jiang Zao could react, her mouth was covered.

A soft, unfamiliar sensation with the unique pine scent of a man enveloped her.

Her jaw was pried open before she realized, and a slippery tongue invaded her mouth, making escape impossible.

The man’s body was large and heavy; she couldn’t push him off. In her panic, her resistance broke into sobs.

Zhou Lichuan took the opportunity to leave two red marks on her neck.

“Stop—!!”

Even before her cry of refusal was finished, the bedroom door was pushed open from the outside. Lin Rui’s voice rang out at the same time.

“Young Master, I’ve brought—”

“Get out!”

Zhou Lichuan’s furious roar stopped him mid-step. Lin Rui froze, then quickly retreated, closing the door behind him.

Zhou Lichuan, still pressed against Jiang Zao, listened in silence for several minutes before finally sitting up and releasing her.