Chapter 59: Little Zhou Zhou

Guan Xi hadn’t expected You Hao to come out and speak. She thought of clarifying things on her own Weibo, and with the video from last night with Jiang Suizhou circulating, those inexplicable rumors would naturally dissipate.

You Hao’s direct Weibo post surprised her, and even Wang Qing was taken aback. The next day, when Guan Xi finished the summary meeting at the studio, Wang Qing pulled her aside and asked, “You Hao’s partner is a man? A man???”

Guan Xi replied, “Um… You’ve been with him for so long, and you didn’t know about this?”

Wang Qing said, “He never talks about personal matters, and besides, he’s the boss. How could we inquire about it? Just once, when we talked about relationships, he mentioned having a partner. So, I always thought he had a girlfriend.”

“Ah, I see.”

Wang Qing asked excitedly, “My god, why aren’t you surprised… How did you find out?”

Guan Xi said, “I knew when I first came to your studio. There was a time when I went to his office to discuss funding matters, and he received a video call. As soon as the video opened, the person on the other side called him ‘baby,’ and it was a male voice.”

Wang Qing exclaimed, “Oh my god. Why haven’t you ever told us about this?”

“There’s nothing to talk about… It’s just his sexual orientation, and I didn’t take it seriously.”

Wang Qing sighed, “Well… It’s not really a big deal.”

Guan Xi wasn’t concerned about matters related to “sexual orientation,” but You Hao’s direct response this time did save her a lot of trouble. She was genuinely thankful to him and thought about treating him to a meal next time.

While thinking about this, two people entered the studio. As they walked in, everyone’s eyes turned towards them. It was Zhao Xiaorou and her assistant.

Seeing Guan Xi here, Zhao Xiaorou lowered her head and silently entered the manager’s office.

“How’s the situation with Zhao Xiaorou?” Guan Xi withdrew her gaze and asked.

Talking about Zhao Xiaorou made Wang Qing very angry.

On Jiang Suizhou’s side, with his high efficiency, as soon as he found out who was behind the mischief, he immediately sent a lawyer’s letter to Zhao Xiaorou. Her visit today was for the Studio to discuss the termination of the contract with her.

“What else can she do? If she dares to do such things, she has to bear the consequences,” Wang Qing said. “I guess she thought you were an easy target to mess with behind your back. Who knew she’d kick a stone. Anyway, as long as Jiang Suizhou doesn’t let go, she’ll have to bear legal responsibility.”

Guan Xi replied, “Oh.”

“After this incident, Zhao Xiaorou can forget about working in this industry again,” Wang Qing said. “Oh, by the way, she’ll post an apology announcement on her own Weibo later.”

Guan Xi raised an eyebrow slightly, “Is that so? I’ll be sure to check it out.”

She was reasonably satisfied with the outcome. Zhao Xiaorou tried to undermine her behind her back, thinking she could get away with it, but that was impossible.

Wang Qing said, “This matter can be considered settled now. What about you? When do you plan to leave for the next destination?”

Guan Xi thought for a moment, “I won’t make plans for this month; I have some other things to attend to.”

“Okay, we’ll contact you later. Take a break for now.”

“Yeah.”

Guan Xi claimed she had something to do, but in reality, there were no other work arrangements. Recently, her grandfather’s health wasn’t great, and he frequently called her. So, she thought of going back to stay for a while and accompany the elderly couple.

Coincidentally, Jiang Suizhou also had plans to go out these days. Therefore, she grabbed her laptop and went straight to the Guan family’s old house.

After staying at the old house for two days, her younger sister, Guan Zhiyi, happened to return from the drama set in the capital. When she heard that Guan Xi was staying here, she immediately came over with her luggage.

And of course, Qi Chengyan, who had been waiting at home for Guan Zhiyi’s work to finish for a long time, naturally followed. This led to Guan Xi seeing them being affectionate every day during her stay, making her eyes sore.

“Xi Xi, look how well Zhiyi and Cheng Yan get along after getting married,” Grandma Cui Mingzhu said while sitting in the garden, taking a break. “Are you going to marry Suizhou too?”

Guan Xi sat beside Grandma Cui Mingzhu, leisurely saying, “It seems like it’s about time, but Jiang Suizhou hasn’t proposed to me yet. Grandma, you should urge him, don’t urge me.”

Guan Xi wasn’t very enthusiastic about the matter now. Part of the reason was that they had been living together for a while, and whether they got married or not didn’t make much of a difference. Another reason was that she had been busy lately and didn’t have the time to prepare for a grand wedding.

“Why do you guys have no plans for this? Why do you still need to rush? Grandma is not forcing you to get married,” Grandma Cui Mingzhu asked.

“Yeah, yeah, it’s just that we’ve been busy lately. Look at Jiang Suizhou; he hasn’t been home for several days.” Guan Xi joked, “Why not wait until he comes home next time, and you can personally ask him if he doesn’t plan to marry your granddaughter.”

Grandma Cui Mingzhu chuckled, “You child, talking nonsense.”

…

After staying at the old house for a week, Qicheng Yan’s short vacation ended, and he went back to work. Guan Zhiyi finally managed to stay by Guan Xi’s side.

Guan Xi complained, “If you didn’t insist on coming to accompany me, I really couldn’t tell.”

Guan Zhiyi smiled embarrassedly, “Oh, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen him, so…”

“So, you don’t consider me a person. Alright, alright, you just stick with him, don’t care about whether I live or die, really.”

Guan Zhiyi immediately hugged her, “No, no! I’ll accompany you in the coming days! Let’s go out tomorrow. How about that?”

Guan Xi glanced at her, “Go out? Are you sure?”

“Why not? I often sneak out to eat secretly.”

“Then you better disguise yourself well.”

“No problem.”

After blushing, Guan Zhiyi rarely went out shopping and eating with her. Now that both had some free time to go out together, it was indeed a rare opportunity.

The next day, Guan Xi drove and took Guan Zhiyi out.

For girls, going out was usually about those things. They first went to get their nails done and then visited the shops Guan Xi usually frequented. Originally, after shopping, the plan was to have a delicate afternoon tea. However, on the way there, Guan Xi suddenly received a phone call.

“What did you say? Dead? Zhou Zhou is dead??”

On the side, Guan Zhiyi, who was eating ice cream, froze when she heard the two words uttered by Guan Xi: “Zhou, Zhou Zhou? What happened to … ? Dead?!”

Guan Xi’s face turned pale, and she didn’t respond. She urgently spoke to the person on the other end of the phone, “I understand, I’ll come right away!”

Guan Xi hung up the phone and immediately grabbed Guan Zhiyi’s hand, heading out.

Guan Zhiyi dared not eat her ice cream anymore, “What’s going on? Sister, what happened to Suizhou? You just said he’s dead… how is that possible!”

Guan Xi didn’t look back but anxiously said to the person on the phone, “I know, I’m coming right away!”

Guan Zhiyi was bewildered, “What’s going on, sister? What’s wrong with Suizhou? You just said he’s dead…!”

Guan Xi turned to look at her, a trace of sorrow and loss still lingering in her eyes, “Why are you cursing him? Didn’t I say it?”

Guan Zhiyi asked, “Didn’t you just say Zhou Zhou?”

Guan Xi clarified, “I was talking about my son, my son!”

Guan Zhiyi was confused, “Your son? When did your sister have a son? Zhou Zhou? Which son is this? Why does he have the same name as Jiang Suizhou?”

Guan Zhiyi was completely puzzled until Guan Xi brought her to the Crocodile Center tourist attraction and showed her a dead crocodile.

Oh, this name… something’s not right.

“You said he wasn’t sick anymore, why did he still die?” Guan Xi was genuinely upset. She had raised many strange animals before, and these three crocodiles were the ones she cared about the most and visited frequently.

The staff explained, “Miss Guan, Zhou Zhou had a weak constitution. After falling ill this time, it stopped eating and couldn’t hold on…”

Guan Xi silently looked at the crocodile, “What about Jiang Jiang and Little Sui?”

“They are doing well, always healthy.”

“That’s good.”

The staff member said, “Miss Guan, don’t be too sad. How about I show you the other two?”

Guan Xi sighed and nodded.

Afterward, Guan Xi sat on the steps she used to sit on every time she came there, and Guan Zhiyi stayed beside her, feeling deeply confused.

Guan Xi: “It’s fine. I’ll stay for a while. Just take care of yourself.”

Guan Zhiyi: “Then don’t be too sad…”

“Okay… I’ll go over there and take a look. Let me know when you want to leave.”

“Alright.”

After Guan Zhiyi wandered off, Guan Xi sat there, propping her head and sent a message to Jiang Suizhou.

Guan Xi: 【My son died, one of them.】

Jiang Suizhou: 【Today?】

Guan Xi: 【Yeah, we were playing outside with Zhiyi , and then I got a call… Wuwuwu, it’s so tragic. My little Jiang Jiang and Little Sui lost a brother just like that.】

Jiang Suizhou: 【Are you at the Crocodile Center now?】

Guan Xi: 【Of course. I came to mourn. I’m so angry. I just asked the staff if we could organize a farewell party for him, but he refused, saying it didn’t comply with the rules.】

Jiang Suizhou: 【It’s good that he refused. Guan Xi, calm down and don’t do anything rash.】

Guan Xi: 【Then how can I not be sad?】

Jiang Suizhou: 【I’ll come find you.】

Guan Xi: 【Aren’t you on a business trip?】

Jiang Suizhou: 【Just got back. I’ll be there soon.】

Today’s weather was a bit hot, and the staff considerately brought over a sun umbrella. Guan Xi sat under the umbrella, feeling mournful and waiting for Jiang Suizhou.

“Little Zhiyi? Are you feeling hot? Come over here and sit.” Guan Xi saw Guan Zhiyi running back from the corner and felt a motherly concern, “Do you mind the sun? If you get sunburn, you’ll regret it.”

Guan Zhiyi walked towards Guan Xi, taking a mask out of her pocket, “Sis, someone just recognized me.”

Guan Xi immediately became alert, “What? Where?”

Guan Zhiyi said, “I was standing there watching the crocodiles for a while. A couple nearby recognized me and even called my name.”

Guan Xi stood up instantly, “Let’s go, right away.”

“Sure.”

However, they were a bit late. Today being a weekend, the tourist area was crowded, and the excited voices of the couple caught the attention of some people. When Guan Xi and Guan Zhiyi walked out, a few curious onlookers followed them.

The national popularity of her sister is no joke. Even uncles and aunties are coming up to ask for autographs.

“Zhiyi, my granddaughter really likes you. Could you sign for me?”

“It’s Guan Zhiyi! Really Guan Zhiyi! Take a photo, take a photo!”

“Wow, today must be my lucky day to meet a celebrity here!”

“Can you sign, please?”

At this moment, Guan Xi doesn’t dare to let Guan Zhiyi stay here, as it will only attract more onlookers:

“Sorry, we can’t sign right now.”

“Uncle, yes, you, uncle, please step aside.”

“Everyone, go enjoy yourselves…”

“Let’s go, quickly.” Guan Xi, half dragging and half blocking, experiences being a bodyguard for the first time in her life.

However, her car is parked a bit deeper in the parking lot, and the way there is quite long. Just as Guan Xi is about to call the staff nearby to help maintain order, a familiar car parks nearby.

“Get in.” The window rolls down, and Jiang Suizhou’s face appears behind it.

Guan Xi’s eyes light up, feeling like she’s seeing a savior.

She quickly clears the crowd and opens the car door: “Zhiyi, get in.”

“Okay!”

Once inside, Jiang Suizhou steps on the gas, and the car immediately leaves the crowd behind.

The chaotic noise disappears instantly. Guan Xi presses her temples, “Terrifying, too terrifying. Darling, if you had been even a bit late, Zhiyi and I would have been swallowed by the crowd, and a stampede could have occurred.”

Jiang Suizhou, driving today, glances at her through the rearview mirror, “Why are there no staff around?”

“Things happened suddenly, and we quickly slipped away, but who knew everyone would catch up,” Guan Xi said with lingering fear. “You have no idea how agile those aunties’ legs are. I couldn’t run away at all.”

Guan Zhiyi removed her mask, “Fortunately, nothing happened… I shouldn’t have wandered around in the first place.”

Guan Xi sighed, “I shouldn’t have brought you here.”

“But it’s also because of Zhou…” Guan Zhiyi hesitated, glanced at Jiang Suizhou, and changed her words, “because the little crocodile died.”

At this point, Guan Xi began to feel melancholic again, “Yeah… sob, sob, my little Zhou Zhou is so pitiful.”

Guan Zhiyi comforted, “No, it was lucky for it to meet you. Look how happy it was when it was alive.”

“Really?”

“Yes! Absolutely!”

Jiang Suizhou: “…”

However, when they returned to the old Guan family residence, Guan Xi remained immersed in the gloom of losing her “son.”

After chatting with the elderly in the living room, Jiang Suizhou went upstairs and found Guan Xi lying on the bed, sniffling.

“If you like, you can go and adopt a few more later,” Jiang Suizhou took off his coat and sat by her bedside.

“But it won’t be Zhou Zhou.”

Jiang Suizhou sighed, somewhat forced, “The crocodile can’t come back to life. Grieve for it.”

“…I feel somewhat consoled.”

“Did those people take photos today? Since it’s Zhiyi, it’s bound to make the news.”

“Oh… I don’t care.”

Seeing her indifference, Jiang Suizhou didn’t say much, lifted the blanket, and prepared to lie down for a while.

Guan Xi suddenly stopped him, “What are you doing?”

“What’s wrong?” 

Guan Xi squinted, “You’re not planning to sleep in my room, are you?”

“Otherwise?”

“In other places, it’s fine, but here in my grandparents’ place, you should maintain some dignity. Your room has already been prepared for you, it’s right across.”

Jiang Suizhou, staying at the old Guan family residence for the first time, was momentarily stunned, “I saw Qi Chengyan going to your sister’s room just now.”

“Big brother, she’s married. It’s legal, you know,” Guan Xi pushed him, “You haven’t obtained the permit yet.”

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