Chapter 42: Wanting to Know Her Past

Su Mian curled her lips slightly and said, "Everyone says she is a genius, but a genius is bound to have personality flaws. You have no idea how arrogant Jiang Shuwei is. At school, when others asked her for help with problems, she would look down her nose at them."

"Is that so?" He Jingcheng frowned. "Old Luo called her out alone just now. Do you know what they talked about?"

"What else could they talk about? I heard she made Old Luo so angry he ended up in the hospital. Old Luo must be terribly disappointed in her." Su Mian's lips curved into a smug smile.

"How did she upset him?" He Jingcheng asked.

"I'm not entirely clear on the details, only that Old Luo once made it clear publicly that Jiang Shuwei was not allowed to appear before him ever again. Yet today, Senior Yan called her over—Old Luo must still be furious with her." Su Mian shared the gossip she had heard.

He Jingcheng recalled Jiang Shuwei’s red-rimmed eyes from earlier; she must have received a harsh scolding.

Old Luo was notoriously uncompromising and spoke his mind without reservation, meaning his words could be exceptionally biting.

During hot pot earlier, Old Luo hadn't said a single word to Jiang Shuwei, leaving Madam Luo to exchange polite pleasantries.

He Jingcheng rested a finger against his thin lips. For some reason, the sight of Jiang Shuwei quietly and obediently eating her food earlier had made her look like an abandoned puppy—her eyes constantly red, moving with timid caution.

Su Mian’s eyes rolled as she darted a glance at He Jingcheng’s composed expression, feeling a twinge of unease.

"Brother Jingcheng, what are you thinking about?" she asked with gentle concern.

"Nothing," He Jingcheng replied indifferently.

Su Mian’s heart sank. Damn it, He Jingcheng couldn't possibly be feeling sympathy for Jiang Shuwei after she got chewed out by Old Luo, could he?

...

Yan Hong drove Jiang Shuwei to her studio. After parking the car, he suddenly said, "Shuwei, I really didn't expect that you are actually Young Master He's younger sister."

Jiang Shuwei smiled slightly. "I was raised by Madam He; he is my stepbrother."

"I see. You didn't mention a single word of this before," Yan Hong scolded playfully.

Jiang Shuwei crossed her arms over her chest. "Senior Yan didn't mention that you are the eldest young master of the Yan family, either."

Yan Hong was momentarily taken aback, then immediately burst into laughter. "As you know, I've always kept a low profile."

"Since Senior is keeping such a low profile, as your junior, I naturally have to do the same," Jiang Shuwei said playfully.

"I give up on you," Yan Hong said with a helpless sigh. "I'll come by your studio for tea another time. I have a few things to attend to now."

"Alright, goodbye Senior Yan." Jiang Shuwei stepped out of the car and waved at him.

Yan Hong drove away.

It was now nine-thirty in the evening. The clear-glass studio was still brightly lit, and knowing that Zhou Haixin was still working overtime, Jiang Shuwei knew she couldn't afford to slack off either.

She stepped into her office. Suddenly, rain began to fall outside the window, reminding her of something.

She hurriedly looked at the large black umbrella hanging behind the door, and her mind went blank.

Damn it, she had completely forgotten to return that expensive umbrella to Qin Weizhou.

She must have been too busy lately, so caught up in her work that this important matter slipped her mind.

Jiang Shuwei resolved to find an opportunity during the following noon to invite Qin Weizhou to a meal.

For a top-tier scion sitting at the very pinnacle like Qin Weizhou, securing an invitation for a meal was probably as difficult as ascending to the heavens.

Jiang Shuwei furrowed her brows. He had helped her out twice already; if she didn't take some practical action now, she would be completely devoid of manners.

She didn't have Qin Weizhou's contact information, but she could ask Yan Hong for a favor.

Yan Hong was Yan Feiye's cousin; through him, getting the number from Yan Feiye shouldn't be too difficult.

When Yan Hong heard she wanted Qin Weizhou's phone number, he looked slightly surprised, but gave it to her anyway.

Jiang Shuwei expressed her heartfelt gratitude repeatedly. She hadn't expected Senior Yan to have Qin Weizhou's number directly, which made things much easier.

At a little past ten in the morning, Jiang Shuwei dialed Qin Weizhou's cell phone.

"Hello!" A deep male voice answered, carrying its customary coldness.

"Hello, President Qin. I'm Jiang Shuwei. I forgot to return the umbrella you lent me last time. I was wondering if you might be free at noon—I'd like to treat you to a meal to thank you for coming to my rescue on the cruise ship," Jiang Shuwei asked politely and deferentially.

"Not free at noon," Qin Weizhou's magnetic voice came through the receiver.

"Oh, then..."

"Free in the evening," the man drawled leisurely.

"Then I'll see you tonight. I'll make a reservation and send the address to you. Thank you for bestowing me with your presence, President Qin," Jiang Shuwei said politely.

"Hmm." The man uttered only that single syllable before hanging up.

Jiang Shuwei let out a breath of relief; she had managed to secure the appointment after all.

At seven o'clock that evening, Jiang Shuwei arrived at an upscale restaurant, believing that this level of prestige was the only thing matching Qin Weizhou's status.

With average spending exceeding ten thousand per person here, throwing in a bottle of expensive wine could easily push the bill past one hundred thousand.

Jiang Shuwei sat inside the private dining room waiting. Past seven-thirty, Qin Weizhou still had not appeared.

She couldn't help but grow a little anxious—surely he hadn't stood her up?

Fortunately, at fifty past seven, Qin Weizhou finally made his appearance.

However, he hadn't come alone; Yan Feiye and Zhou Zirui arrived right alongside him.

"President Qin, Young Master Yan, Young Master Zhou, hello," Jiang Shuwei stood up, extremely polite.

"Miss Jiang is as courteous and well-mannered as ever," Zhou Zirui said with a beaming smile.

Yan Feiye nodded slightly. "Thank you for the hospitality, Miss Jiang."

With a gentle smile, Jiang Shuwei looked at the three men who had entered. Qin Weizhou was by far the quietest of them all, taking a seat directly without a word.

Jiang Shuwei hastily slid the menu in front of the three of them. "I wasn't sure when you'd arrive and haven't ordered yet. Please, go ahead and choose whatever you like."

"Well then, I won't stand on ceremony," Zhou Zirui said with a smile as he picked up the menu.

A waiter entered, and Zhou Zirui ordered quite a few dishes, alongside a bottle of French red wine.

It wasn't that Jiang Shuwei was stingy, but her current finances were somewhat tight, and this meal would undoubtedly cost upwards of one hundred thousand at the very least.

Qin Weizhou suddenly placed the golden acupuncture manual he had successfully bid for right onto the tabletop. The next second, he looked at Jiang Shuwei and asked, "Can you understand this book?"

Jiang Shuwei's eyes widened slightly in surprise. Her gaze fell upon the book before nodding, "I can understand parts of it."

Frowning slightly, Qin Weizhou pushed the book closer to her. "Take a look at it first. Once you understand it, tell me."

Curious, Jiang Shuwei asked, "Does Young Master Qin want to learn acupuncture?"

Beside him, Zhou Zirui put away his usual carefree demeanor and said seriously, "Qin Weizhou's grandmother has been bedridden for nearly five years. He is anxious to find an expert who can treat her legs."

Jiang Shuwei looked astonished. She hadn't expected the reticent Qin Weizhou to be so filial, scouring every possible avenue to cure his grandmother's legs.

"With the advanced state of modern medical science, is there really no way?" Jiang Shuwei asked out of curiosity.

Yan Feiye shook his head. "They've invited renowned doctors from all over the country and even the entire world, but none of them could cure her. That's why Qin Weizhou is so eager to delve into traditional Chinese medicine and search for a solution from within it."

Jiang Shuwei's lovely eyes turned toward Qin Weizhou.

Qin Weizhou suddenly looked back at her as well. Their gazes intersected in mid-air, creating a heart-fluttering electric current.

Qin Weizhou's narrow, deep eyes resembled an unfathomable deep sea. When he gazed at someone with full concentration, it was enough to make one lose themselves, plunging into a sense of drowning and forgetting how to breathe.

Jiang Shuwei naturally averted her gaze and smiled faintly. "Does Young Master Qin need my help to decipher this book?"

"Can you?" Qin Weizhou asked.