“So, you’re going to meet this stage actress today… mainly to help Zhou Qingying?”
“Yes.”
Jiang Cheng briefly mentioned to her mom that she was going out, and of course, she honestly confessed that Wang Ziyue had arranged it.
“Sigh, you’re going to help a friend, so naturally Mom doesn’t mind. But in the end, this means you owe Wang Ziyue a favor, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Are you going to say she doesn’t care about these things? But Xiaocheng, when debts pile up, interest has to be paid too.”
After mentioning “interest,” Jiang Cheng’s face flushed red.
Jiang Xiaoyue pretended not to notice.
“She won’t be there, right?”
“Mmm, this time it’s her secretary taking me.”
Jiang Cheng answered quickly, trying to earn some impression points for Wang Ziyue, but Jiang Xiaoyue just smiled.
After thinking for a moment, “Like this—Mom has the afternoon off today. I’ll go with you. When the time comes, Mom will just find a seat somewhere and sit. I won’t disturb your conversation.”
Jiang Xiaoyue’s words blocked everything Jiang Cheng wanted to say.
“What? You don’t want Mom to go?”
“Of course I do. Then shall we leave after lunch?”
“Mmm, let’s think about what to eat for lunch.”
Jiang Cheng’s afternoon plans were happily settled just like that.
After returning to her room, she told Wang Ziyue about it.
The other side quickly replied with “Got it.”
Got what?
Jiang Cheng didn’t quite understand.
When the mother and daughter arrived at the main entrance, a woman in a uniform skirt suit walked toward them.
Jiang Xiaoyue recognized her as Secretary Fang.
She hadn’t expected Wang Ziyue to send her directly.
“Secretary Fang.”
“Ms. Jiang, Student Jiang, good afternoon.”
She suppressed the excitement in her heart.
After learning that the boss wanted her to pick up these people, she couldn’t even focus on work.
President Wang had seen through her thoughts and simply told her to go home and drive out an SUV.
Today, Secretary Fang was acting as the driver and felt immense pressure.
Once the excitement faded, only nervousness remained.
Her eyes kept glancing at the rearview mirror.
“Secretary Fang? Secretary Fang?”
Jiang Xiaoyue smiled gently at her, making Secretary Fang feel a wave of warmth.
“Mm, I’ll start driving right away.”
Jiang Xiaoyue nodded kindly, then spoke softly to her daughter.
Ah… so President Wang likes this type? She needed to take notes immediately.
Back then, when she noticed President Wang showing unusual attention to Jiang Xiaoyue, she hadn’t been without suspicions.
But after Jiang Xiaoyue joined the company, President Wang seemed calm instead.
Now it seemed she felt it was already in the bag?
She was also repenting for her past self.
At first, she had actually suspected President Wang was interested in Student Jiang.
Now it was clear—it was obviously a roundabout route.
But she remembered Jiang Xiaoyue had a son? Or was it actually a daughter?
That personnel file had been sent directly to Wang Ziyue by her, and she had only glanced at it briefly.
“The place we’re meeting is a café under President Wang’s name.”
Jiang Xiaoyue’s expression turned ugly for a split second at the thought.
Jiang Cheng thoughtfully glanced at Mom.
“Mom, have you been there?”
“It’s not far from Mom’s company. It’s quite quiet.”
And very private. Jiang Xiaoyue didn’t think Wang Ziyue was planning anything; it was just a bit subtle.
Suppressing the slight discomfort in her heart, Jiang Xiaoyue held Jiang Cheng’s hand and walked into the café.
There was a “Closed for Business” sign at the door, so the place was empty.
Even the usual counter staff weren’t there.
“Ms. Jiang, Student Jiang, this way please.”
Secretary Fang politely smiled at Jiang Xiaoyue, leaving Jiang Xiaoyue a bit puzzled.
She looked at her daughter; Jiang Cheng didn’t seem to notice anything wrong.
Is she already used to this?
Jiang Xiaoyue hadn’t seen much of Secretary Fang’s usual demeanor and couldn’t recall what kind of person she was.
“I’ll just sit outside for a while.”
Jiang Xiaoyue pointed to a corner seat.
Secretary Fang didn’t ask more and gently pushed open the door, making an inviting gesture to Jiang Cheng.
“Ms. Jiang, why not sit here instead?”
The outer circle of the café had floor-to-ceiling glass walls that let in sunlight.
Secretary Fang chose a spot that got sun but wasn’t too bright.
“That’s fine.”
Jiang Xiaoyue could tell Secretary Fang was trying to please her.
So I’m benefiting from my daughter’s light…
The two exchanged a glance and nodded to each other.
“Then I’ll excuse myself for now.”
Secretary Fang timely disappeared, giving Jiang Xiaoyue some space alone.
Soon after, a staff member who appeared out of nowhere brought a cup of coffee and a dessert.
Just enjoy this afternoon tea properly, Jiang Xiaoyue thought.
It had been a long time since she’d been this relaxed.
Inside the private room, the moment Jiang Cheng entered, she saw Ma Lijun seated properly on the sofa chair.
She didn’t photograph well; in person, she looked younger than on TV, with very fair skin.
Jiang Cheng noticed her eyes were peach-blossom shaped like Zhou Qingying’s, but that aura of detachment diluted the charm.
“You’re Jiang Cheng?” Ma Lijun spoke, her tone very flat.
So far, it matched Zhou Qingying’s description: in private, Ma Lijun was an extremely indifferent person.
Jiang Cheng used to think she herself was like that too, but now sitting together with her, she couldn’t help reflecting whether she should be more lively usually.
Both fell silent, as if waiting for the other to speak first.
In the end, Jiang Cheng couldn’t hold back.
“Aunt Ma, the reason I came this time is mainly to talk to you about Zhou Qingying.”
A flicker of surprise passed through Ma Lijun’s eyes, but it was quickly masked by calm again. Shouldn’t a normal person show more concern upon hearing their daughter’s name?
Yet in Ma Lijun’s eyes, Zhou Qingying seemed like just an acquaintance.
Jiang Cheng couldn’t tell if the other was acting with her—after all, Ma Lijun’s acting skills were renowned in the industry.
“I hope you can go see her. Even just talking with her… or having a meal together would be good.”
“Why?”
Jiang Cheng was stunned. She never expected the woman before her to have this attitude.
“Are you friends?”
“Yes, she and I are friends.”
“Even as friends, aren’t you meddling a bit too much?”
Ma Lijun’s expression didn’t change, but her tone was noticeably colder.
Jiang Cheng couldn’t respond and could only stare blankly at her.
That posture of keeping people at a thousand miles wasn’t fake.
Even Wang Ziyue probably hadn’t expected Ma Lijun in private to be this ungracious.
Just when Jiang Cheng thought the conversation had completely collapsed, things took a sudden turn.
“Let’s set a time. I’ll talk with her.”
Her tone sounded like handling official business, but at least she agreed.
If before coming, Jiang Cheng had known the other would agree, she probably would have been happy for Zhou Qingying.
But now…
“I’ll ask Yingying’s thoughts again. Sorry, this time I was indeed presumptuous.”
Surprise flashed in Ma Lijun’s eyes for the second time, but she quickly accepted Jiang Cheng’s words.
She nodded, picked up her bag, and stood.
“If it’s to watch my performance, I very much welcome you all to come.”
Before leaving the room, she turned back and said this to Jiang Cheng.
Though she knew the other wasn’t being sarcastic, it still sounded uncomfortable.
Am I usually like this too?
Jiang Cheng’s self-reflection grew even deeper.