Small apartment.
Convenience store.
Hearing these two keywords, Shen Zhili’s mind flashed with fragmented images.
It was a night many years later.
Jiang Xianzhuo was drunk, his entire body sunk into the soft sofa in the living room. His chin rested on her shoulder as he held her tightly, refusing to let go. His scorching breath carried the scent of alcohol, and he rambled incoherently.
He said he used to live in a very small place, so small that if he wasn’t careful, he’d bump into the wall just by turning around.
In winter, there was no heating, and the cold seeped into the gaps between his bones.
In summer, it was stifling like a steamer, every breath feeling hot.
He also said he had to work every night from six to nine.
Moving back and forth between cold shelves, organizing goods that never seemed to be fully stocked, his fingers numb from the chill emanating from the refrigerated drink cabinets.
By then, Shen Zhili’s relationship with him was stable, and he had spoiled her so much she had no sense of reality. She had no idea when exactly those things had happened.
Looking at his handsome face, she only felt heartache.
That night, Shen Zhili wrapped her arms around his neck and cried uncontrollably, her tears and snot smearing all over Jiang Xianzhuo’s expensive handmade shirt.
But now, looking back…
It was now.
The hardships he spoke of were happening right now.
“Lili?”
Qiao Yi, noticing her sudden silence, tentatively asked.
“Why are you suddenly concerned about Jiang Xianzhuo?”
Shen Zhili snapped back to reality and glanced at her. “You’re talking too much, Qiao Yi.”
“Ahhh, sorry, sorry!”
Qiao Yi quickly covered her mouth, looking like a small animal that had done something wrong.
Shen Zhili couldn’t be bothered to look at her any longer.
She directly took out her phone, swiped her finger across the screen, and opened a search app.
Small apartments near the school.
The moment the search results popped up, she was nearly overwhelmed by the dense list… at least twenty or more options.
The corner of her mouth twitched uncontrollably.
Forget it. Leave professional matters to the professionals. Better to leave job opportunities to those who need them.
“Qiao Yi.”
“Yes, yes, yes!”
Qiao Yi immediately perked up her ears like a puppy.
“Go find out something for me,” Shen Zhili turned her head, her tone calm. “Which apartment building Jiang Xianzhuo lives in, which floor, and which room number.”
Qiao Yi’s eyes widened. “Huh?”
“What, can’t you do it?”
Shen Zhili raised an eyebrow.
“No, no, no, I can!”
Qiao Yi quickly shook her head, afraid Shen Zhili might change her mind.
Doing a favor for Miss Shen was an opportunity she’d fight tooth and nail for.
“I’ll go find out right away. I promise to get you the information today!”
With that, she grabbed her bag and scurried off as if on some sacred mission.
Shen Zhili watched her retreating figure, a satisfied smile curling at the corner of her lips.
Why hadn’t she realized before how useful Qiao Yi could be?
When she returned tonight, she should sort out a few bags she didn’t like anymore.
Good things should be given to useful people.
Just then, the class bell rang.
The noisy chatter in the classroom instantly quieted down.
Shen Zhili’s homeroom teacher walked in, holding his teaching materials, a gentle smile on his face.
He was a very refined middle-aged man, exuding a mature charm polished by the years, and was well-liked by the students at Qinzhou Academy.
Especially those female classmates who favored the older type, their eyes seemed glued to him during his classes, never losing focus.
Thus, the classroom quieted down.
Shen Zhili also lowered her head and picked up her phone again.
She opened Green Bubble, found Jiang Xianzhuo’s profile picture, long-pressed it, and set it as a pinned chat.
His name stood alone at the very top of the list.
Her gaze lingered on the note field for a moment, her fingertip hovering over the screen, but in the end, she didn’t change the note back to “husband who always rises to the occasion.”
Forget it.
No rush.
Shen Zhili tapped into the chat with Jiang Xianzhuo, her fingers dancing swiftly across the screen as she typed out two lines and sent them.
[The card password is 737089.]
[Wear it for me tomorrow.]
…
The hallway was empty, and the class bell had long since rung.
Jiang Xianzhuo didn’t return to the classroom. Instead, he turned a corner and entered the men’s restroom.
The faucet was turned on, and cold water rushed over his hands.
Jiang Xianzhuo raised his head and looked at himself in the mirror.
The boy in the reflection was pale, with an unshakable gloom in his eyes.
On the shoulder of his school uniform, dust remained from being shoved earlier.
He looked… pitiful and ridiculous.
Jiang Xianzhuo closed his eyes.
But Shen Zhili’s face uncontrollably surfaced in his mind.
She walked toward him against the light, wearing high heels.
And a particularly beautiful little dress.
Her face showed no expression, her eyes carrying their usual aloofness and arrogance, as if she were looking at something insignificant.
Jiang Xianzhuo’s breath hitched for a moment.
He abruptly opened his eyes, bent over, and splashed his face fiercely with cold water.
Water droplets slid down his sharply defined jawline and dripped into the sink.
The next second, his phone in his pocket suddenly vibrated.
He casually wiped the water from his fingers on his pants, then pulled the phone out of his pocket.