Chapter 269 - 267: Miscellaneous Matters Before the New Year

Chapter 269: Chapter 267: Miscellaneous Matters Before the New Year

Professor Xiao gave a slight nod and didn’t press the subject. There was no point. She simply looked at her thirty-year-old student, who was so thoroughly doted on by Li Jincheng that she acted as carefree and unworldly as a young girl. Unable to resist her curiosity, she asked, "Back then, why didn’t Jin Chen go to college? I heard from Professor Fan that his learning is by no means inferior to yours!"

"Teacher, we had just gotten married back then, and we already had Nuonuo. One of us had to earn money to support the family," Zhou Lian said with a smile, recalling how Li Xiu had become a total chatterbox about this issue back in the day. "I asked him about it, and he said he wasn’t trying to become a government official, so a college diploma didn’t make much difference to him. Besides, a man’s success and capability aren’t defined by a piece of paper. To be honest, even now, I can’t out-argue him!"

After Zhou Lian escorted her back to the room, Professor Xiao walked to the window. She watched Li Xiu standing quietly in the distance. The moment he saw Zhou Lian, his entire presence seemed to soften. His stern features melted into a smile as he stepped forward, took her hand, and led her with light steps through an archway.

"What is it?" asked Professor Fan, looking up from his book. He was sitting on the sofa, wearing his reading glasses, and watched curiously as his wife came in and went straight to the window.

Professor Xiao came over and sat beside him. She gave him a small smile and said, "It’s nothing. I was just thinking... I’ve lived all these years, yet I completely misjudged my own student!"

At this, Professor Fan couldn’t help but burst out laughing. When Zhou Lian first became his wife’s student, he had known from the moment he met the couple that she was not as simple as she appeared. One look at her eyes was enough to know she was a perceptive, spirited girl—one who was worldly-wise but not jaded, with a heart as clear as crystal. It was just that his own wife had insisted on seeing her as a naive, innocent little bunny. For all these years, she just couldn’t see the truth, and he couldn’t be bothered to pick a fight with her over it. He just never thought it would take her this long to finally get it. ’Still...’

"What made you realize?"

"Er, she told me herself!"

With no concern for saving face in front of her husband, Professor Xiao softly recounted her entire conversation with Zhou Lian.

Professor Fan gently patted her leg. "So you’re not worried anymore, are you?" he said softly. "That student of yours... I told you long ago she wasn’t some simple, unworldly girl. She’s a bit spoiled by Jin Chen, yes, but that child has a mind as clear as crystal, a Seven-orifice Exquisite Heart. She’s simply blessed with someone to pamper and adore her, allowing her to cast everything aside and live the life she’s always wanted."

"Let’s not talk about that. We should rest for a bit. I have so much to do this afternoon. That girl’s study is filled with priceless treasures, and she told me that’s only a small portion! Most of it is packed away in crates, waiting for me to study at my own pace!"

Professor Fan watched his wife’s eyes light up at the mention of her beloved research materials and simply nodded in agreement. ’My dear wife is far more naive than her student,’ he thought. ’She’s probably been completely taken in by her star pupil. Oh well, I’ll just have to wait and see.’

"Rest for a while. You still have to accompany Teacher Xiao this afternoon," Li Xiu coaxed gently, helping Zhou Lian lie down on the chaise lounge behind the screen in the study.

Looking up at Li Xiu’s handsome, smiling face, Zhou Lian said with a hint of longing, "Will you stay with me?"

He gave her a gentle kiss and carefully laid down on the chaise lounge, holding her. Such a rare, vulnerable moment from his Bao’er instantly melted Li Xiu’s heart. "Of course," he said, full of affection. "I’ll stay with Bao’er while you rest."

He watched his precious darling sleep, his gaze filled with endless tenderness. ’Just like this,’ he thought. ’Let’s just keep going on like this forever.’ Zhou Lian, having now opened her heart and soul to him, was so beautiful it was breathtaking. She constantly surprised him, revealing new depths to her character, like a book with a captivating cover that became more impossible to put down with every page turned.

The world outside was full of gossip, both good and bad, and Li Xiu was well aware of it. But his heart, having already endured two lifetimes, was as solid as a fortress. He wouldn’t spare a single thought for such idle chatter. The talk of him "fearing his wife like a tiger," being "henpecked," or a case of "a hero’s ambition undone by love"—those were the milder comments. There were far nastier things said, but Li Xiu let it all go in one ear and out the other. As long as he could protect his treasure, what did anyone else matter?

The Lunar New Year was just a few days away, and the period leading up to it was a whirlwind of activity for both Li Xiu and Zhou Lian. Li Xiu was preoccupied with the custom of exchanging gifts. As people sent presents to him, he had to send them in return. Leaving aside everyone else, just figuring out what to give the old gentlemen living in the Imperial Palace was a yearly headache.

Between the company’s year-end reports, performance reviews, and the annual gala, Li Xiu was completely overwhelmed. To make matters worse, Li Bao had gone home early for the holidays, leaving him short-handed. Seeing Li Xiu spinning like a top, Zhou Lian simply rolled up her sleeves and took over the bulk of the company’s affairs. Being naturally brilliant and a quick study, she got the hang of it in no time.

With that, the two children were left entirely in the care of Professor Xiao and Professor Fan. After all, Sister Fang no longer had time to look after them, as Li Xiu had tasked her with preparing all the goods for the New Year celebrations, just as they did every year. Sister Fang had observed how Li Xiu handled the preparations in the past, so both he and Zhou Lian had complete confidence in her.

Meanwhile, Professor Xiao and Professor Fan saw how busy the couple was and quietly took the children out to play in the garden, only bringing them back for meals and bedtime. As a result, the bond between the two professors and the two children grew even stronger.

In private, however, Professor Xiao commented to Professor Fan, "Jin Chen and Zhou Lian are certainly bold. They’re barely home these days and are paying no mind to the children. What on earth could they be so busy with?"

"Oh, you," Professor Fan said, explaining with a helpless sigh. He looked at his wife, the very picture of a scholar who "hears nothing of the world outside, and cares only for the words of sages." "Li Xiu’s company is one of the biggest in the country. How could he not be busy at year-end?"

Professor Xiao stared at him in astonishment. "But he spends all his time revolving around Zhou Lian," she said, incredulous. "I’ve never seen him go to the office. I’ve never seen him look busy at all."

"He delegates most of the company’s authority and is completely hands-off. Why would he be busy? He’s only busy at the end of the year. To put it bluntly, year-end is when he has to go and count how much money he’s made. For a company that big, how could he not be busy now?" Professor Fan was deeply impressed by Li Xiu’s audacity. ’So young, yet not at all greedy for power or attached to it. That’s truly not something an ordinary person can achieve.’

"Then what’s the deal with all the gift exchanges?"

Professor Fan shot his wife another helpless glance. "You’ve heard about Jin Chen’s connections to the Imperial Palace, haven’t you?" he said softly. "As far as I know, he’s on very good terms with most of the bigwigs who live there, and some of those ties run even deeper. As a junior member of their circle, he naturally has to make a gesture of respect around the Lunar New Year. As for all the people sending gifts to him... well, just think about it. A young man like Jin Chen, who has earned the special regard of even Elder Ping—how many people do you think are desperate to get into his good graces?"