Chapter 75

Chapter 75: Reward (New) That afternoon, Lin Sen moved the CEO's laptop, along with the contracts, reports, proposals, and project documents needed for the coming days, all into Chutang's hospital room. He even set up a desk and chair inside. Although Chutang had hired a caregiver, Jiang Shixu still insisted on personally taking care of her at the hospital. In truth, there wasn't much for Jiang Shixu to do—nurses handled the injections and IVs, the cook prepared the meals, and the caregiver cleaned and attended to daily needs. But even though Jiang Shixu was swamped with work, he always found things to do. Chutang had only casually mentioned that he had made soup for Xu Jingxuan. Even though that soup wasn't actually made by him, Chutang was upset. To cheer her up, Jiang Shixu promised to find time the next morning to go home and make soup for her. When the cook delivered the meal, Jiang Shixu personally opened it, set it on the small tray table, and fed Chutang bite by bite. Chutang smiled helplessly. "I'm not a child anymore. I can eat by myself." "No, you can't. Your hand has the IV needle in it—it's inconvenient." After the meal, when Chutang needed to take her medicine, Jiang Shixu poured her water and watched over her as she took it. Even when Chutang wanted to eat some fruit, Jiang Shixu would personally peel or slice it for her. Chutang laughed softly, glancing at the stack of documents on his desk. "Aren't you very busy?" "No matter how busy I am, I can't neglect my wife." The caregiver auntie nearby wore a knowing smile. "Miss Ruan, your husband really dotes on you." Chutang's cheeks flushed, her ears turning red, but she didn't deny the caregiver's words. After the caregiver left, Jiang Shixu sat behind the desk, looking up at her with a smile in his eyes. "So you admit I'm your husband?" Chutang blinked at him. "Didn't you say it was only a matter of time before I became your wife? I'm not planning to run, and I couldn't even if I wanted to, so I might as well accept it." The man's lips curved upward. "That's more like it." ... Under Jiang Shixu's meticulous care, Chutang recovered quickly and was discharged from the hospital. After Jiang Shixu finished a busy stretch and finally completed a difficult project, he finally had some free time. He planned to take Chutang on a trip to relax and clear their minds. Last time he took Tangtang to see the meteor shower, Xu Jingxuan had ruined the experience, and after they returned, Tangtang was put on the spot by his grandmother at the family banquet. Jiang Shixu felt guilty and wanted to use this trip to strengthen their bond. He asked for Chutang's opinion. Coincidentally, Chutang had a few days off—some of her cases had just received verdicts, others were waiting for trial dates—so she agreed to go on the trip with him. Because Chutang's time was limited, they didn't choose to go abroad. The destination was a well-known scenic spot in China. It was an ancient, quaint town in the northwest, nestled at the foot of a snowy mountain. Chutang had chosen the location. She had wanted to visit this place for the past two years but had always been held back by various commitments. ... Gu Zechuan had just finished a meeting when he received a call from his brother Lin Chenan. "Chenan, what's up?" Gu Zechuan answered the phone as he walked toward his office. Lin Chenan said, "Brother, guess who I just saw?" "Who?" Lin Chenan's tone sounded excited. "Take a guess." Gu Zechuan said impatiently, "I don't want to guess. I'm busy. If there's nothing important, I'm hanging up." In the past, Gu Zechuan and Lin Chenan had been the same type of person—eating, drinking, having fun, idling around, squandering money on their families' wealth. After the Gu Group fell into crisis, Gu Zechuan had restrained himself considerably, starting to take the group's affairs seriously and seeking investments everywhere. After learning of Ruan Chutang's identity as a daughter of a wealthy family, Gu Zechuan regretted his past actions even more. Now he had taken on the appearance of a corporate manager, no longer idling away his days, and his contact with Lin Chenan had grown increasingly sparse. Lin Chenan chuckled. "Hey, you'll never guess—I just saw your ex-girlfriend Ruan Chutang." Gu Zechuan's footsteps halted. He had already reached his office door, but he stopped, making no move to open it. Lin Chenan paused, then continued, "And her boyfriend—that young master of the Jiang family. They seem to be getting along really well, very affectionate. They even hold hands while walking." Gu Zechuan was silent for a moment. His breathing grew heavier, his voice tense and hoarse. "Where?" "In Linyuan Ancient Town, Ancheng, at the foot of West Yue Snow Mountain." ... The accommodation for this trip was booked by Chutang. The ancient town wasn't fully developed yet—it was small, with no star-rated hotels, only guesthouses. The guesthouse Chutang booked had a great location. Opening the window, you could see the snowy mountain directly. It was currently peak tourist season in Linyuan Ancient Town, so the town was crowded and lively. On the first day, exhausted from the journey, Chutang and Jiang Shixu didn't go anywhere. They just stayed in their room watching a movie. Chutang turned on the TV and selected a classic romance film—Atonement, starring James McAvoy and Keira Knightley. The room was warm with ample heating, the lighting dim and amber, the atmosphere intimate. Chutang leaned against Jiang Shixu's shoulder, watching the film intently. Although she already knew it was a tragedy, she couldn't help but shed tears at the ending. The girl's eyes were red-rimmed, her voice choked with sobs. "It's such a pity. Cecilia and Robbie loved each other so much, yet one lie from Briony cost them so many years. In the end, they never even got to see each other again." Chu Tang sighed, indignant. "Ha, atonement? What does Briony have to atone with? Her sins can never be atoned for. The male and female leads are both dead—they can never meet again." Jiang Shixu gently patted Chu Tang's back to comfort her. "They met again in another world." Outside the window, heavy snow began to fall. Linyuan Ancient Town was located far to the north, nestled at the foot of a snowy mountain, so winter arrived earlier there than in Jiangcheng. Snowflakes drifted down in flurries. Jiang Shixu kissed Chu Tang's forehead. "Tangtang, it's snowing." Chu Tang was still immersed in the film, her spirits low. Jiang Shixu held Chu Tang close, his face drawing nearer and nearer until his nose touched hers. In a voice thick with overwhelming tenderness, the man murmured softly, "Tangtang, don't cry anymore. If you keep crying, your eyes will be swollen tomorrow—how will you take good photos then?" Chu Tang sniffled and shot him a slightly amused sidelong glance. Who comforts someone like that? But what he said did make sense—girls love taking pretty photos. Red, swollen eyes would make for bad pictures, and that really wouldn't do. Chu Tang took the words to heart, gradually calming her emotions and holding back her tears. Jiang Shixu's fingertip gently wiped the tears from Chu Tang's face. "Good kids who listen get a reward." With that, he extended his hand, revealing a piece of candy in his palm. Chu Tang's voice was still a bit nasally. "Why are you coaxing me like a child?" Jiang Shixu smiled indulgently. "Because you are a child—my child." Chu Tang picked up the candy from his palm, unwrapped it, and popped it into her mouth. It was her favorite peach flavor. With Jiang Shixu's coaxing, by the time she finished the candy, Chu Tang's mood had improved considerably. "Feeling better?" The man's voice was slightly husky. Chu Tang hummed in acknowledgment. Jiang Shixu leaned in, whispering close to Chu Tang's ear, "Now that I've cheered you up, shouldn't you give me a little reward too?"