Chapter 48: Surprise At Home

Guan Xi didn’t share a room with Wang Qing and the others, so they didn’t know she didn’t come back last night. But in the morning, when Wang Qing knocked on Guan Xi’s door and saw her entering from outside in a bathrobe, they realized something was off.

Wang Qing asked, “Where did you go?”

Guan Xi yawned, “I went to the room upstairs. Are you all awake? I’ll change into proper clothes in a bit.”

Wang Qing asked in confusion, “Do we have someone staying upstairs?”

Guan Xi, yawning, replied, “Jiang Suizhou stays upstairs… Oh, he’s my boyfriend.”

Wang Qing and another colleague exchanged a glance. “Your, your fiancé lives upstairs?”

Guan Xi casually responded with a vague acknowledgment and pushed into her room to change.

“Wang Qing, is Guan Xi’s boyfriend wealthy?”

Wang Qing replied, “How would I know?”

“Our upstairs room is the Presidential Suite! It’s very expensive!”

Wang Qing thought about the various room prices in the hotel… The Presidential Suite, spending that much money was like cutting her flesh!

“Stop gossiping, bring out the equipment, and let’s get to work.”

“Okay…”

The hotel in this city was world-renowned, and even if people didn’t stay there, tourists visiting the country would surely check out the open areas of the hotel. So, for half a day in the afternoon and half a day tomorrow, their team would experience various restaurants and attractions in the hotel, then compile recommendations.

The subsequent itinerary was relatively relaxed, but since it was towards the end of the trip, everyone’s energy and spirits were slightly lower. After finishing the morning itinerary on the second day, Guan Xi, dragging her slightly tired body, went straight to Jiang Suizhou’s room upstairs. After ringing the doorbell, Zhou Hao answered the door.

Guan Xi changed her shoes and walked in. “Has he eaten?”

Zhou Hao replied, “Yes, Miss Guan, how about you?”

“I had a little. Is there any fruit left?”

“Yes, I’ll get it from the kitchen.”

“Great, thank you.” Guan Xi floated into the living room and saw Jiang Suizhou holding a work meeting.

She figured that he was supposed to be in the country at this time, and it was probably because of her that he stayed here for three days. Seeing him busy, Guan Xi didn’t speak to him directly. Instead, she went straight to the sofa next to him, lay down, propped her head on a pillow, and naturally rested her feet on his lap.

Zhou Hao came over with a fruit plate, and seeing the scene, he was used to it. Without glancing, he placed the fruit down and discreetly left.

“Let’s leave Jiang Jiarong aside, no need to bother… Hmm, you list all the upcoming matters, pay attention to every detail in the technology sector, go there yourself… Alright, send over the contract… I will be at the company tomorrow… Next…”

Half an hour later, Jiang Suizhou was still in a meeting. Guan Xi yawned, feeling a bit tired. She extended her foot and lightly kicked him. When he looked over, she asked with her mouth: How much longer?

Jiang Suizhou’s hand rested on her leg, pinching it lightly: “It’s almost done, lie down again.”

He spoke without avoiding others.

Guan Xi responded with an “oh” and continued eating fruit.

After more than ten minutes, Jiang Suizhou closed his laptop and took off his headphones. Guan Xi scrolled through her phone, reading comments on her Weibo. She didn’t realize he had finished. It was only when Jiang Suizhou grabbed her ankle and pulled her over that she shifted her gaze from the phone.

“President Jiang, you’re done.”

Jiang Suizhou pulled her up and onto his lap: “What are you so engrossed in?”

Guan Xi shook her phone screen in front of him: “Fan comments, all praising my beauty.”

Jiang Suizhou looked at the photos on her screen, all in the same color scheme, a set of desert pictures.

“You used to post very few photos on Weibo.”

Guan Xi: “I used to be lazy about managing it. Now I’m a travel blogger. I have to be dedicated. These photos must be posted. And I’m so beautiful, it’s a waste if only you see.”

Reasoning goes a long way.

Jiang Suizhou asked, “Is work over?”

“It’s over. Just waiting for you to bring the card in the afternoon to apologize to me.” Guan Xi said, “When are we leaving? Now? Hmm… Should we call Zhou Hao too? I want to buy a lot of things, and they have everything here.”

Jiang Suizhou hadn’t seen Guan Xi so excited in a long time, and he even felt a bit nostalgic as he looked at her: “We’ll leave in a while; let me change clothes.”

Guan Xi was in a very good mood at the moment, circling his neck affectionately: “I heard you mention Jiang Jiarong just now. What happened to your second brother? Have you been arguing again recently?”

Jiang Suizhou and his two brothers at home were in constant conflict, with a fierce rivalry between them. The situation was intense. Guan Xi had heard some details before; their conflicts involved interests, almost as exaggerated as the struggles for the throne in ancient times. His father was still around, but if he were gone one day, it would truly be a matter of “either you die, or I die.”

Jiang Suizhou: “It’s nothing, just that he’s been making some small moves recently.”

“You guys are so strange in your family; the rivalry between brothers is too intense.”

Jiang Suizhou: “Intense? Well, it’s just being cautious.”

Cautious? In Jiang Er Gou’s life, it’s all about offense. Where does defense come in!

Guan Xi didn’t believe it at all and casually asked, “What if there’s no harm?”

Jiang Suizhou nonchalantly said, “Then there won’t be any money, and I won’t be able to buy things for you.”

Guan Xi was taken aback for a moment, immediately serious: “Offense, definitely offense! President Jiang, go for it, strive hard! Perseverance!”

Jiang Suizhou chuckled, “Noted.”

Jiang Suizhou got up to change clothes, while Guan Xi, holding a box of cherries, ate and followed him, watching him undress.

“How’s your relationship with your family recently?” Jiang Suizhou asked.

“Well, my grandparents are in contact, and my dad…” Guan Xi paused, popped a cherry into her mouth, “just like that.”

Jiang Suizhou: “Is Guan Ying at the Guan family?”

Guan Xi: “Probably not, I’m not very clear… but it doesn’t matter. Whether she’s there or not, I’m not going back to live…”

Jiang Suizhou glanced at her. Guan Xi’s expression when talking about going home wasn’t very natural. Obviously, she couldn’t easily let go of her father.

“After going back, just stay at my place.”

“What about Lan Ningyi—”

“You still plan to stay at her place?” Jiang Suizhou cut in, “Later, move your things from her place to mine.”

Guan Xi shrugged, “When I went there, I didn’t bring anything. I used hers, so there’s nothing to move.”

Jiang Suizhou: “Okay, then just come home with me.”

Guan Xi raised an eyebrow, “Taking me home means taking responsibility. After all, this travel blogger gig hasn’t generated any income yet.”

“Whether there’s income or not, if Lan Ningyi can support you just like that, I surely can afford you.”

Guan Xi: “Tsk, why are you resorting to personal attacks? What’s wrong with my family Ningyi? What do you mean by ‘just like that’?”

“Anyway, you should still come live at home.” Jiang Suizhou buttoned up his shirt, saying slowly, “After all, Lan Ningyi can only keep you from going hungry, while I can make sure you’re well-fed.”

**

After Jiang Suizhou changed clothes, he and Guan Xi went to the mall together. This time, he didn’t sneak away halfway. He accompanied her through round after round of shopping until she was thoroughly satisfied. Only then did they set off for the airport together. At the airport, Guan Xi realized that she was flying first class on her way back. She had initially thought about upgrading her seat, but she got busy and forgot about it.

“What about my colleagues—”

“Upgraded them too.”

Guan Xi happily hugged his arm, “Sec… I mean, President Jiang, you’re really nice~”

However, when she later met with Wang Qing and the others at the airport, Guan Xi heard them joyfully thanking her for treating them to first-class seats.

“Thank me… did you tell them it was my money?” Guan Xi asked when she sat next to Jiang Suizhou.

“You will be working with them for a long time. It’s necessary to build good relationships with colleagues. You have to handle your relationships with them properly in the future,” Jiang Suizhou said, with a hint of education.

Guan Xi: “Are you still concerned about this?”

Taking care of a lazy person like her is indeed a cause for concern. Jiang Suizhou said, “But if there’s really a problem, don’t keep it from me.”

“Can I keep anything from you?” Guan Xi glanced at him sideways, “Who is it, still planting spies around me? Who could it be?”

Jiang Suizhou: “Don’t make noise.”

“I’ll—”

The conversation was cut off.

……

But in the end, Guan Xi didn’t ask who it was. After all, her team consisted of only a few people, and the identity of the person didn’t really matter. Later, after boarding the plane, Guan Xi comfortably fell asleep. She slept for a long time, all the way until the plane landed in her home country.

“I’m going to sleep well these few days, making up for all the sleep I missed these days.” After arriving home, the two of them got out of the car, and Guan Xi leaned against Jiang Suizhou as if she had no bones.

Jiang Suizhou, who had watched her sleep the entire journey, said, “Haven’t you slept enough?”

“You don’t understand; beauty sleep should last forever.” Guan Xi walked around to his back, reached out and rested her hand on his shoulder. “I’m tired, too lazy to walk. Carry me.”

Jiang Suizhou patted her hand from behind, “You’re too lazy to walk this short distance?”

Guan Xi eagerly said, wanting to tease him, “Yes, yes, too lazy to walk. Lower, I’m jumping down.”

Although Jiang Suizhou seemed to disapprove, he still bent down, letting her jump onto his back. “Steady, don’t move around.”

Fulfilling her wish, Guan Xi hooked her arms around his neck and planted a solid kiss on his face. “After reconciling, I suddenly feel that my baby, you’re outstanding.”

Jiang Suizhou was stunned for two seconds by the kiss, then turned to look at her. “What do you mean? Haven’t I carried you before?”

“No, no, what I meant was you’ve become even more outstanding now.”

“Hmm.”

Carrying Guan Xi on his back, Jiang Suizhou took the elevator first. Amidst their playful banter, the elevator arrived.

Guan Xi swung her legs, and not politely, pinched Jiang Suizhou’s face. “Jiang Suizhou, do you do skincare? Where do you usually go for beauty treatments? Recommend one to me—”

Jiang Suizhou didn’t answer and stopped walking.

Guan Xi was puzzled, “What’s wrong?”

Seeing him staring ahead, she followed his gaze and, upon seeing someone standing at the entrance of the house, Guan Xi was momentarily stunned. She patted Jiang Suizhou’s shoulder, jumped down from his back, and, after steadying herself, adjusted her clothes. She politely greeted the person in front of her, “Auntie, long time no see.”

Jiang Suizhou said, “Mom, why are you here?”

Li Yuanying nodded towards Guan Xi and said, “I knew your flight was coming back today, so I came to see you at home.”

Jiang Suizhou said, “Come in.”

“Hmm,” Li Yuanying asked, “Did Xi Xi pick you up from the airport?”

“No, Auntie, I was on the same flight as him,” Guan Xi replied.

Li Yuanying asked, “Did you accompany him on a business trip?”

Guan Xi glanced at Jiang Suizhou. Strictly speaking, he had accompanied her for work for a few days.

“Kind of…” Guan Xi answered.

Guan Xi and Li Yuanying rarely met and were not familiar with each other at all. However, from the few times they had met and the descriptions from Jiang Suizhou or others, Guan Xi perceived Li Yuanying as someone hard to approach, strict, not given to laughter, likely ranking in the top three of the “difficult mother-in-law list.”

Once inside the house, the three sat in the living room, facing each other. Jiang Suizhou knew that Li Yuanying wouldn’t come to the house without a reason, but since Guan Xi was present, she probably wouldn’t discuss company matters at the moment.

“Xi Xi, how are the elders at home?” Li Yuanying asked symbolically.

Guan Xi sat up straight, maintaining a dignified posture, “They are doing well, Auntie.”

“You don’t plan to return to the Guan Corporation recently, right?” Li Yuanying suddenly asked.

Guan Xi smiled slightly, “That’s right, Auntie. I’m not very fond of those matters.”

Li Yuanying took a sip of water, not saying much. She probably understood Guan Xi’s current situation better than Guan Xi herself. With the shares in her possession and the favor of Grandpa Guan, her younger sister, Guan Ying, would not pose any threat to her.

“When are you and Suizhou planning to get married?” Li Yuanying suddenly asked.

Guan Xi’s stoic expression paused, “Marriage?”

Li Yuanying’s expression was even more stoic than hers, “You’ve been together for quite a while. It’s time to plan for marriage.”

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