Chapter Seventy-Nine: Returning Home

Zhou Yun slammed on the brakes, stopping the car abruptly. She looked at Tang Zhichu in astonishment.

"Pancreatic cancer. Lan took me to the hospital one day, so she knows. These past few days since my father passed, she's helped me a lot."

Zhou Yun turned off the engine, disbelief written all over her face. "Just these past few days?"

"Yes."

Zhou Yun rubbed her face. "I'm sorry."

Tang Zhichu shook her head. "It's fine, it's all in the past. I was mentally prepared for my father's illness long ago."

Telling a friend about her father's death was reasonable, wasn't it? Tang Zhichu muttered inwardly, Old man, I'm honoring you here, so from wherever you are—no, from up there—look out for me!

After a moment of silence, Zhou Yun suddenly cursed, "Chen Siyang really is a jerk."

Tang Zhichu stared, baffled. Why bring up Siyang now?

"It's fine, it's all over," she replied.

Zhou Yun opened her mouth, wanting to ask why she hadn't been told sooner, but the words stuck; after all, she knew now, and this wasn't something you could shout from the rooftops.

Leaning closer, Zhou Yun comforted, "It's alright, really. Your dad would be proud of you. And we really should thank Lan for all she's done. You even had the nerve to borrow her car! Next time, come to me. And when you return the car, you owe Lan a meal."

Tang Zhichu nodded. "I will."

For the rest of the evening, Tang Zhichu met a side of Zhou Yun she seldom saw—exceptionally gentle.

They took a private room at the restaurant. Normally, the staff would grill the meat for them, but Zhou Yun waved them away. She sat beside Tang Zhichu, tongs in one hand and scissors in the other, arranging the sizzling pieces of meat neatly on the grill.

When each piece was ready, she cooled it off with a breath before placing it in Tang Zhichu's bowl.

"Yun," Tang Zhichu called softly.

"Yes?"

"Don't be like this, it's unsettling. I prefer you nagging me to work out."

"Are you mad? As if you aren't going to the gym later anyway."

Tang Zhichu grinned sheepishly and lowered her head to eat.

By the time they left the gym, it was past eight. They'd run and done some light equipment training, but nothing too strenuous, and Tang Zhichu felt alright.

As they parted, Zhou Yun stuffed several boxes into Tang Zhichu’s hands—shrimp, chicken breast, corn, and more.

If you want your body to look better quickly, you can't just train—you need to eat more meals a day as well.

In the car, Tang Zhichu rolled down the window, letting the night air flood in.

She hesitated. She couldn’t just go home, not when she still had Lan’s car. Since she’d borrowed it, it was only fair to pick Lan up after work, right?

At a crossroads, Tang Zhichu pulled over.

“Lan, are you done?” she messaged.

A moment later, Jiang Lan replied.

“Are you finished?”

“I’m good.”

“I’m done too. Why don’t you come pick me up? It seems all the company cars have been taken.”

“Sure.”

Putting away her phone, Tang Zhichu flicked on the left turn signal and headed down the side road.

Jiang Lan’s company was in an industrial park—Tang Zhichu had been there twice and knew the way.

When she arrived, she saw Jiang Lan step out of the building, a professional woman’s bag slung over her arm.

As Jiang Lan got in, Tang Zhichu caught a faint whiff of her perfume.

“Did everything go smoothly?” Jiang Lan asked, fastening her seatbelt.

“It did. I bought Jun’s company and signed Yun as well.”

Jiang Lan nodded approvingly. “Good. Take your time, don’t pressure yourself.”

She didn’t pry further—Jiang Lan never interfered in Tang Zhichu’s business affairs, or even asked about them.

“What’s this?” Jiang Lan noticed a bag in the back seat.

Since the car hadn’t started yet, Tang Zhichu pulled the handbrake, unbuckled her seatbelt, and handed the bag over.

“If you’re hungry, eat something first.”

“Wow, you even brought me food?” Jiang Lan beamed.

Tang Zhichu mustered her courage and nodded. “It’s a fitness meal. I thought you might be hungry, so I brought a bit. See if you like it.”

“I love it!”

Jiang Lan rummaged through the bag, pulling out half an ear of corn, and nibbled at it delicately.

Being with Jiang Lan was always comfortable.

Even during the recent busy days, when Tang Zhichu had little time for her, Jiang Lan always found ways to keep herself occupied and never pried into Tang Zhichu’s private life.

Tang Zhichu thought it was no wonder Jiang Lan’s business thrived—she was truly remarkable.

Maybe that was why, after drinking, she could let go so easily and cry without restraint. Subconsciously, it was her way of releasing pressure.

The two of them, perfectly in sync, drove straight back to Yajiang New Town.

As soon as they entered, they changed their shoes—one heading to the kitchen to wash her hands, the other to the bathroom.

Tang Zhichu wanted to make Jiang Lan something to eat, but Jiang Lan refused—she was already full from the car ride.

Instead, Jiang Lan pulled Tang Zhichu into the living room and had her lie face-down on the sofa.

Jiang Lan pressed gently at Tang Zhichu’s lower back, her cheeks flushing with color.

“Does it still hurt?”

Tang Zhichu buried her face in a small pillow, her voice muffled. “A little.”

“It’s your own fault for overestimating yourself, trying to… trying to lift me up.”

Tang Zhichu fell silent—this was the first time since last night that they’d brought up the subject.

Jiang Lan produced a bottle of medicinal wine and some plasters from somewhere. She poured the wine onto her hands, lifted Tang Zhichu’s shirt, and began massaging her lower back.

Her hands were cool and gentle, just the right pressure to soothe the aching muscles.

Jiang Lan massaged her for at least ten minutes before heading to the bathroom and returning with a hot towel.

She folded the towel and laid it across Tang Zhichu’s waist, then finally applied the plaster.

“You really do need to start working out properly.”

“I’m not fat, am I? Should I lose some weight too?”

Tang Zhichu’s only answer was the sound of her even breathing.

Jiang Lan moved closer, discovering that Tang Zhichu had actually fallen asleep. Smiling, she stood up.

She fetched her headphones, sat on the floor by the sofa where Tang Zhichu slept—just as well, since there was a rug there and it wasn’t cold.

Plugging in her headphones, Jiang Lan unlocked her phone and opened the second episode of the dating show.

It had already been out for three days, and the comments were flooding in.

The panel was the same as before. Last episode, with Tang Zhichu and Chen Siyang choosing each other, fans had already started shipping them.

The episode opened with Chen Siyang pressing her ear to a door, eavesdropping. When Tang Zhichu opened the door, the viewers finally understood: Chen Siyang had been waiting for her, hoping for a chance encounter.

They barely exchanged a greeting, but that was enough to send the panel into a frenzy—so sweet, so bold, the compliments were endless.

Jiang Lan frowned and sped the video up to three times speed.

Sweet? Was it really that exaggerated?

Tianhe Entertainment couldn’t handle it, so they sent their PR team to the panelists? Shameless.

She paused the video and checked the trending searches. Sure enough, “Chen Siyang is so brave” was trending.

Jiang Lan glanced back at Tang Zhichu, a little worried. At this rate, wouldn’t Tianhe push hard to promote Chen Siyang? Wouldn’t that bring trouble for her?