Chapter 17: Chapter 16: Zhan Qipei’s Furious Defense of Qiao Jing
Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Hearing Zhan Qipei calling her, Qiao Jing turned back in confusion and spoke lightly, “What’s wrong?”

“You’re not going back?” Zhan Qipei asked, holding back his anger.

“I am spending today with the children, so I will not be going back.” Having said that, Qiao Jing ignored Zhan Qipei and continued to walk into the orphanage, laughing and talking with Xu Moqian and Lin Xiuxiang.

“Sister Jing, I bought some beef, I want to eat the spicy beef you make.”

“Okay, no problem.”

“I also bought some ribs, make some braised pork ribs too.”

“Can do.”

“…”

Zhan Qipei stood outside the door, so angry he could explode.

He yanked open the car door and got in with a dark expression.

A moment later, Zhan Qipei belatedly realized that something was very wrong with himself.

Did Qiao Jing have anything to do with him?

The answer: absolutely nothing.

If that was the case, why was he so angry?

After all, in 93 days, no, make that 93 days, everything would be back to its own course, and whoever she liked to be with was none of his business?

Damn it!

Although he thought this way, he was still infuriated.

93 days!!!

How could she remember so clearly? She remembered even more clearly than he did!

The more Zhan Qipei thought about it, the more stifled he felt, the angrier he became.

At that moment, Chen Zhiyi cautiously approached.

“President Zhan…so, the orphanage really won’t be demolished?”

His project, which he had managed to secure, was ended because of Qiao Jing?

Just as Chen Zhiyi was feeling unwilling to accept this, Zhan Qipei turned his head and looked at him. His gaze was chilling and filled with endless danger, causing Chen Zhiyi to shudder in fright.

“Who hurt her just now?”

Hearing this, Chen Zhiyi’s heart thumped wildly, vaguely understanding something, and quickly turned to his subordinates, “Who hurt her? Come out voluntarily!”

Chen Zhiyi was not bad at reading people’s expressions, and his subordinates were not fools either. They also noticed their boss’s care and importance towards Qiao Jing.

Everyone started shivering involuntarily, looking at each other, and no one dared to come forward.

Zhan Qipei’s eyes narrowed darkly, and he spoke coldly, “Fire them all. And you—”

Zhan Qipei’s gaze shifted to Chen Zhiyi, “You’re quite daring. She is technically my wife by law, and yet you allowed someone to lay hands on her, your year-end bonus is cancelled.”

Hearing this, Chen Zhiyi instantly felt defeated.

It’s over.

That evening.

After Qiao Jing made a big table of dishes, she sent a picture to her circle of friends.

Zhan Qipei had just sat down for dinner when he heard the notification sound from his phone.

He took out his phone and saw that it was Qiao Jing’s post on her circle of friends.

“What does it have to do with me?” Zhan Qipei muttered to himself before setting the phone aside.

Three seconds later, he picked up the phone again.

He opened it to look.

A large table filled with dishes looked even more appetizing than those on his own table.

Did she make all this?

Zhan Qipei stared at the picture of the delicious food and couldn’t help but swallow.

“Brother, time to eat,” Zhan Nanqing passed the chopsticks to Zhan Qipei.

Zhan Qipei put down his phone, picked up a piece of beef and looked at it, recalling what Xu Moqian had said to Qiao Jing earlier.

“Sister Jing, I bought some beef, I want to eat the spicy beef you make.”

Seeing Zhan Qipei staring at the beef without eating, Zhan Nanqing asked in confusion, “Is there something wrong with this beef?”

“Nothing.” Zhan Qipei gathered his thoughts and put the beef into his mouth, wondering as he ate whether the beef made by Qiao Jing was tastier or the beef in his mouth.

Zhan Qipei took out his phone again and opened the post Qiao Jing had sent to her circle of friends earlier.

Two minutes not looking, and already several hundred people had liked Qiao Jing’s post.

She was that popular?

Not just likes, but many people were also commenting.

“Ahhh, I really want to eat Boss’s cooking! Boss’s food is the best I’ve ever had! (crying emoji)”

“Stop, my saliva is already dropping three thousand feet.”

“Send the location, I’m coming right now.” This comment was posted by Zhan Yuanshan.

Zhan Qipei also saw a familiar name, Xu Hongzu.

Grandfather of Xu Moqian.

Xu Hongzu replied to Xu Moqian: “Stinky boy, Xiao Jing is cooking herself, and you didn’t even call me?”

Seeing this, Zhan Qipei was immediately overwhelmed with surprise. Xu Hongzu was an agricultural scientist in their empire, second only to Professor Qiao, and was always busy at the research institute. He had only visited the hospital once, even when his grandfather was sick. Now, he was actually skipping work for a meal cooked by Qiao Jing.

He had previously suspected that there might be an unknown secret between Qiao Jing and Professor Qiao, and now he was even more certain of it. But in this situation, Xu Hongzu was actually putting aside his work to rush for a meal cooked by Qiao Jing. Could it really be just because Qiao Jing’s cooking was delicious?

Zhan Qipei thought it was unlikely. How could such an influential figure be so unambitious?

He knew it!

It must be because of Xu Moqian’s face. Xu Moqian had been approaching Qiao Jing all day, obviously with ulterior motives. Xu Hongzu must value Qiao Jing so much because he wanted Qiao Jing to be his granddaughter-in-law.

This woman really knew how to attract bees and butterflies!

“Brother, have you seen Qiao Jing? Isn’t it strange? It’s so late, usually she would have been back by now,” Zhan Nanqing said while looking towards the door.

“Who cares what she’s doing? It’s good if she doesn’t come back. Better if she never comes back!” Zhan Qipei’s words were fiercely burning with anger.

Hearing what Zhan Qipei said, Zhan Nanqing was thrilled inside and added, “Right! Better she never comes back!”

Zhan Nanqing then shared Zhan Qipei’s exact words with Lou Xinrou.

After hearing them, Lou Xinrou felt secretly delighted; this meant Qiao Jing posed no threat to her.

“Xinrou, you’re going to the research institute tomorrow, aren’t you?” Zhan Nanqing asked.

“Yes, I haven’t seen my second uncle in a long time. I’m planning to prepare some soup and take it to him.”

“I’ll go with you tomorrow. It’s Professor Qiao’s research institute, and maybe with good luck, I’ll encounter her,” Zhan Nanqing said.

“Okay, let’s go together.”

The next day.

Early in the morning.

After coming out of his room, Zhan Qipei’s first action was to look towards Qiao Jing’s room. The door was shut tightly, making it impossible to tell if she had come back.

Zhan Qipei went to the entryway and opened the shoe cabinet; the shoes Qiao Jing wore out yesterday were not there.

She had not come back.

She still hadn’t returned!

Was she wild?

Continuing with the anger from yesterday, Zhan Qipei’s face instantly filled with shadows.

“If you can, then never come back!”

First thing in the morning, Qiao Jing had gone to the research institute.

“Professor Qiao.”

“Hello, Professor Qiao.”

“Professor Qiao, good morning.”

One by one, the talented young people in lab uniforms greeted Qiao Jing.

“Hmm, good morning,” Qiao Jing nodded politely.

When Xu Hongzu heard that Qiao Jing had arrived, he was immediately excited and came out to greet her.

“Xiao Jing, you finally came! The new corn variety you’re researching is about to succeed!”

Hearing this, a rare look of joy appeared on Qiao Jing’s face.

“I had someone bring over the newly harvested corn from Autumn Water Village; come and take a look.”

“Okay.”

Once Qiao Jing dove into her work, she could get completely absorbed, to the extent of forgoing sleep and food.

It wasn’t until four in the afternoon that Qiao Jing finally stepped away from her work state.

“It’s getting late; I’m going back first.”

“I’ll walk you out,” Xu Hongzu said, taking off his gloves.

“No need, you continue your research,” Qiao Jing said, and without waiting for Xu Hongzu, she walked directly out of the lab.

Xu Hongzu knew Qiao Jing’s character well. Despite his significant status, he never acted pretentiously toward others. Thus, more than Qiao Jing’s talent, Xu Hongzu admired this trait.

Talented and young, yet not frivolous. Neither arrogant nor rash, modest and restrained.

“What a good kid!” Xu Hongzu sighed, watching Qiao Jing’s departing figure.

“It’s just too bad this child doesn’t think highly of my grandson, ah— after all, my grandson, impulsive and rash, really doesn’t match up to Xiao Jing.”

“Cough cough!” Xu Moqian cleared his throat, “Grandpa, I’m still here.”

Xu Hongzu rolled his eyes at Xu Moqian, exasperated, “Why are you still here? Truly useless, after so long you still haven’t won her over.”

“That’s not my fault! Sister Jing just doesn’t give me any chances. If she did, of course I’d be willing to marry her.”

“Marry? She’s already Zhan Yuanshan’s granddaughter-in-law!” Just thinking about this made Xu Hongzu’s head ache.

Xu Hongzu and Zhan Yuanshan were childhood friends. Even though they grew up together, they were always competing fiercely.

It was strange to think about it; the two shared many similar interests and loves, even in their youth, they both fell for the same woman at the same time.

Xu Moqian watched Xu Hongzu’s face change faster than flipping a book and smacked his lips secretly.

Having lost to the old master of the Zhan family as a romantic rival in his own youth, now he would let him snatch away.

Qiao Jing was no ordinary woman, and whether it was him or Zhan Qipei, neither of them stood a chance. His instinct told him that she didn’t regard either of them.

The scene shifted.

Just as Qiao Jing had left the research institute, she saw two familiar people getting out of a car.

Zhan Nanqing and Lou Xinrou.

“What are you doing here?” Zhan Nanqing asked in surprise.