Chapter 700: The Iron Tree Blossoms

Bo Yanching didn’t bother her, nor did he dare to; he let her be but would ask when she was leaving school so he could time his arrival to pick her up.

Sometimes he took her to a restaurant, and other times they found something to eat in the alley of the food street next to the university.

Nan Jiaojiao was an odd one; from head to toe, she was exquisitely delicate.

Not to mention her face, which exuded an inherent nobility in her bones, yet she preferred to wander in places heavy with the smells and sights of ordinary life.

Even Bo Yanching was drawn in, becoming familiar with several dishes from the food stalls.

It was tough for Han Chuan, who was often tossed an address by Master Bo; he had to humorously find the car, drive it back to Feisheng, then take a taxi himself to leave.

He couldn’t complain; he only muttered to Han Che and Han Mang, those two mischief-makers, in private.

After all, it wasn’t easy for their Master Bo to finally show some interest in romance, and occasionally spending time with his girlfriend for a stroll and chasing a bit of fun was also appropriate.

On the weekend, when Nan Jiaojiao was free, she visited the Bo Residence.

At noon, Bo Yanching came back to have lunch with her and only left after taking her back to the room for a midday rest.

Bo Qingshan was sneaky, timing his approach to knock on her door, but a passing servant told him that Nan Jiaojiao had long since gotten up and was studying in the warm pavilion of the western backyard.

Bo Qingshan thought about sneaking over, but the butler appeared behind him like a ghost, yanking him away by the collar, saying that Old Lady Bo forbade him from getting near Nan Jiaojiao and that if he wanted to play with her, he’d have to wait until she was free.

Nan Jiaojiao enjoyed a quiet afternoon and, towards evening, she sorted out her work and sent it to her professor’s email.

When she returned to the main villa, Old Lady Bo sat on the sofa, wearing a pair of glasses, absorbed in a game of chess against herself.

Bo Qingshan was stuck between the sofa and the coffee table, leaning over to arrange a fruit platter.

Qianqian played on the carpet, with Aunt Chen by her side.

“Grandma,” Nan Jiaojiao called out.

Old Lady Bo looked up, “Finished your work?

Come, come, join me for a couple of games.

We’ll have dinner soon.”

“Okay.”

Nan Jiaojiao agreed, and the living room was warm enough for her to remove her coat and scarf.

When she turned to look for the coat rack, the butler took them from her.

She rolled up her sleeves, sat on the Heizi side of the board, and after a cursory glance at the layout, she sighed silently to herself.

Old Lady Bo had set herself a dead-end.

Almost all the escape routes were blocked.

Nan Jiaojiao twirled a Heizi between her fingers, thinking for a moment, then forcefully carved a path with her move.

Old Lady Bo looked at her with interest, “When I was playing, I imagined my opponent was you.

Indeed, with just one move, you’ve broken through.”

Nan Jiaojiao was too modest to boast, saying “lucky,” and took a sip of the milk tea Auntie Wu passed to her.

The glass was a bit hot, so she placed it on the coffee table.

After making the third move, Bo Yanching called.

Nan Jiaojiao picked up the phone effortlessly.

“Are you still with grandma?”

“Mhmm, playing chess.”

“I’m off work now, coming home early.

What would you like to eat?”

Being at the Bo Residence, Nan Jiaojiao was always considerate, never making demands on Bo Yanching.

Moreover, Old Lady Bo was quite indulgent with her; she would always have a warm milk tea waiting whenever she visited.

She glanced at the fruit platter Bo Qingshan had piled up and said, “Get some strawberries.”

“Alright, getting strawberries.”

The man’s voice, low and chuckling, trickled into her ear.

Nan Jiaojiao suddenly remembered a snowy night when they snuggled on a bench, sharing a skewer of strawberries, sticky with kisses and sweetness on their lips.

Feeling a tickle, she shrank her neck and rubbed against her collar, then said earnestly, “If you pass a cake shop, could you get a few small cakes, please?”