Chapter 232

Chapter 232: I'm Here to Pick Up My Girlfriend Although discussing work was just Jiang Shixu's excuse to invite Chu Tang to dinner, the other cases entrusted by the Jiang Corporation hadn't gone to court yet, so Chu Tang brought them up again at the dinner table. Jiang Shixu chuckled lightly. "Tangtang, in such a romantic atmosphere, you only want to talk business with me?" Chu Tang lowered her gaze, her expression unchanged. "President Jiang, weren't you the one who said we should discuss the cases?" "Fine." Jiang Shixu raised an eyebrow. "Let's talk then." It was better than having nothing to say. When Chu Tang spoke about work, her gaze was calm and focused. Jiang Shixu quietly gazed at her, tenderness filling his deep eyes. He listened very attentively, as if this dinner really was just for discussing work with her. Chu Tang was somewhat surprised and teased, "I thought President Jiang wouldn't be interested in these things." Although these were Jiang Corporation's cases, litigation disputes and such trivial matters weren't something a big CEO like him would normally handle. Upon hearing this, the man composed his expression and replied seriously, "Because this is your work, your career that you're passionate about. I know you care about it deeply, so I listen very attentively. Tangtang, I respect and support your career." Chu Tang was slightly taken aback. She hadn't expected Jiang Shixu to answer her so seriously. His words were like a small pebble dropped into the lake of her heart, stirring ripples across its surface. Chu Tang's heart was subtly moved. After the meal, Chu Tang still needed to return to the law firm to work, and Jiang Shixu also had to go back to the company to handle some affairs. He dropped Chu Tang off at the law firm and left. ... In early July, Chu Tang went to a courthouse in a small county town in Qingcheng for a hearing. Chu Tang's original plan was to stay in Qingcheng for just one night, then return after the hearing concluded the next afternoon. Although the small county town was remote, the natural scenery nearby was stunning, and the tourism industry was well-developed. There were many hotels and guesthouses in town. Since it was peak tourist season, the hotels had jacked up their prices—rooms that normally cost two to three hundred yuan a night were now over a thousand. Price wasn't the issue; it was that rooms were hard to book during the tourist season. Fortunately, Chu Tang had connections. She called ahead and reserved a twin room at the best hotel in town. The conditions there couldn't compare to five-star hotels, but at least the room was clean, the hygiene was acceptable, and the basic amenities were fairly complete. For this business trip, to be safe, Chu Tang also brought A Wen along. Although the threat from Fu Yuanzhou and Xu Jingxuan had been eliminated, this small county town was remote, and Chu Tang was unfamiliar with the area. It would still be dangerous for a woman to come alone. The hearing was scheduled for three o'clock the next afternoon. The case was somewhat complex, and the trial didn't end until 6:30 PM. Coming out of the courthouse, Chu Tang spotted the man leaning against his car and talking on the phone not far away. Jiang Shixu wore a simple black shirt paired with dark casual pants that accentuated his long legs. At that moment, the setting sun had dyed the sky a gentle orange-red, and the afterglow cast a faint golden sheen over him. The surrounding scenery seemed to become his backdrop—he only needed to stand there to become the most striking focal point in this sunset tableau. The scene was simply too pleasing to the eye. Passersby occasionally stopped to glance his way. As luck would have it, a woman in a strappy dress with a great figure happened to approach him to strike up a conversation. Chu Tang saw it the moment she arrived. She stopped just a few steps away from Jiang Shixu. The man had his back to her and didn't see her coming. The woman had delicate makeup, a tall figure, and was quite pretty. "Handsome, let's be friends." The woman smiled coquettishly, showing her WeChat QR code. "Can I add you?" Jiang Shixu was still on the phone and only waved his hand at the woman. "Don't be so cold." The woman's tone carried a hint of playful pout, her voice rising at the end as if hooking him in. Jiang Shixu took two steps to the side, putting distance between himself and the woman, still holding his phone and continuing his call. The woman pursed her lips and stood there waiting for a while. Jiang Shixu finished his call quickly and turned around to see the woman still hadn't left. The woman smiled boldly. "Handsome, your face is absolutely stunning. I've never seen a man as fine as you in real life. You're not from around here, are you? Here on vacation? I can show you around—free tour guide." Jiang Shixu had his back to Chu Tang, so she couldn't see his expression. But because she was close, she heard Jiang Shixu say very coldly, "No need. I'm here to pick up my girlfriend." The smile on the woman's face vanished, and she said disappointedly, "Taken, huh." Then, the woman's gaze swept past Jiang Shixu and landed on Chu Tang behind him. She tilted her chin toward Jiang Shixu. "Is that your girlfriend?" Hearing this, Jiang Shixu turned around. The moment he saw Chu Tang, the ice in his eyes melted, and his expression softened instantly. "Tangtang." Jiang Shixu walked toward Chu Tang. Chu Tang's face remained calm. "Why are you here?" "I'm not busy lately, so I wanted to come and keep you company." Jiang Shixu spoke to Chu Tang in a gentle tone, a completely different person from the one who had just dealt with the woman trying to flirt with him. "I went to your law firm yesterday afternoon and only then found out you'd come here on a business trip." Jiang Shixu naturally took the stack of case files from Chu Tang's arms. "This is a tourist destination—the scenery in July is absolutely stunning, the perfect time for sightseeing. Since I happened to be free, I thought I'd come and spend a few days here with you." Qingcheng is located in the northwest region and is one of the more popular tourist cities in the country. The small county town they were in now sat at the foot of a snow-capped mountain, and not far away was a famous lake whose beauty spanned all four seasons, drawing crowds of visitors every year. Coincidentally, after finishing this case, she had a few relatively free days ahead, so she did have time to stay and sightsee for a while. But it wasn't part of her original plan. Chu Tang pondered for a moment, then decided to change her flight and stay a few more days. Jiang Shixu had come all this way to be with her; she didn't want to dampen his enthusiasm. Besides, the natural scenery here was truly beautiful and healing. She couldn't bury herself in work all the time—she needed a balance between work and rest. After working so hard for so long, it was time to relax properly. Chu Tang looked up at Jiang Shixu and said softly, "Alright, let's stay a few days before heading back." A smile curved at the corner of Jiang Shixu's lips. "Good. Which hotel are you staying at? I'll walk you back." Chu Tang told him the name of the hotel. Jiang Shixu said, "I'm staying there too. Let's head back together." Chu Tang gave a soft "mm" in response. That hotel was the best one in the county, and Chu Tang had already guessed Jiang Shixu would be staying there as well.