Wang Suxin asked Chu Xu many questions about everyday life and trivial household matters, showing none of the airs of a billionaire.
Or perhaps she simply held no airs in front of him, but regardless, today's meeting had gone without a hitch so far. Seeing that it was almost dark and her husband still hadn't returned, Wang Suxin asked a housekeeper to go with her to the artificial lake nearby to fetch him.
Without a doubt, he was off fishing.
After Wang Suxin left, only two people were left in the spacious living room. Now that he knew her true identity, Chu Xu felt rather awkward and suddenly didn't know what to say. This was the first time he had ever found himself in such a situation.
Jiang Mu, however, showed no signs of discomfort and instead teased, "Do you still think my husband is a very lucky man?"
Earlier in the car, Chu Xu had remarked that her husband was truly lucky; now, with the tables turned, that man was about to become *her* husband. She wanted to see what Chu Xu had to say for himself.
"I still think he's extremely fortunate," Chu Xu rubbed the bridge of his nose and continued, "Though Director Jiang, your sense of humor is a bit twisted."
Who in their thirties plays practical jokes like that? Sure, you're undeniably attractive, but you can't just toy with people like this...
"Director Jiang?" Jiang Mu narrowed her eyes.
"Jiang Mu." Chu Xu sighed.
"Hmm?"
Jiang Mu put away her phone, looked at Chu Xu, and asked, "Didn't you just call me older sister?"
Pushing her luck.
He had only called her that earlier because he felt it was disrespectful to address her directly by name, considering Jiang Mu was considerably older than him. But she still wanted him to call her sister in private?
Chu Xu laughed, "You heard wrong, I never said that."
"Is that so?"
"Yes."
Jiang Mu could sense Chu Xu's resistance, but she wasn't in a hurry; she had plenty of time to wear him down.
"Where is the gift you brought me? Why haven't you given it to me yet?" Jiang Mu asked, eyeing the gift box in his hand.
She still wanted the gift?
You made a fool out of me and had your fun, leaving me completely clueless, and in the end, I had to improvise on the spot to face my prospective mother-in-law. There was no such thing in this world as one person getting to take advantage of every single benefit.
Chu Xu refused to back down. He turned the box over in his hands and smiled, "You misunderstood. I bought this just in case of an emergency—in case you had any relatives here, so I'd have something to give them. It has nothing to do with you."
"Are you sure?" Jiang Mu's tone grew colder. She hadn't expected Chu Xu to actually get angry.
"I am entirely sure."
Chu Xu leaned back against the sofa, looking at Jiang Mu fearlessly. Even a clay figurine has a temper, let alone a living person.
"Hah, fine, very well."
Jiang Mu laughed in sheer exasperation. This was the first time anyone had ever sulked in front of her. At her level, even when she severely scolded outsiders, they could only respond with ingratiating smiles; when had anyone ever given her attitude?
Yet this also proved one thing: Chu Xu hadn't chosen to accommodate her just for the sake of money. That could be considered a positive.
The atmosphere dropped to freezing point. Neither of them paid any attention to the other.
*Ding-dong.*
*Ding-dong.*
*Ding-dong.*
Notifications kept chiming on Chu Xu's WeChat, the sound driving Jiang Mu crazy. "So annoying, can you turn the sound off or what?"
Chu Xu glanced at her and silently muted his phone.
Jinchuan was asking him to go on a night hike up Nanshan, and Chu Xu was weighing whether he had the time to go. Since he wasn't currently working a 9-to-5, he had the energy for these things, but as an exhausted wage slave, he honestly didn't want to relive his eighteen-year-old self's antics.
At eighteen, Chu Xu had been full of energy, loving outdoor sports above all else, and photography even more. At twenty-two, Chu Xu was withered and beaten down by life, wanting nothing more than to make more money.
Chu Xu wanted to decline, but Jinchuan flatly told him he would drive over to pick him up tomorrow night, leaving him no room to back out. What could Chu Xu do? He would just deal with tomorrow night when it came...
Not long after, Wang Suxin and Jiang Zhenglan returned.
Chu Xu hurriedly put down his phone and stood up to greet them. Seeing how fast Chu Xu could change his expression, Jiang Mu gritted her teeth in annoyance.
"Uncle, Auntie."
Jiang Zhenglan had a head of white hair and was around sixty years old, but he looked to be in very good spirits. One had to admit that money truly took good care of a person.
"Sit down, Xiao Xu. Your auntie was praising you all the way back, saying you brought gifts for both of us. There really was no need for that—just keep whatever money you have for yourself," Jiang Zhenglan said.
Jiang Father didn't give off an overpowering impression, so Chu Xu didn't feel constrained. He spoke fluently and with ease: "It's just a small token of my appreciation. As long as Uncle and Auntie don't mind it."
Chu Xu kept a smile on his face the entire time he spoke, and the more Wang Suxin looked at him, the more she liked him. She really had picked the right one.
"Xiao Zhao, time to get dinner ready," Jiang Zhenglan said as he went to wash his hands, instructing the housekeeper to serve the dishes along the way.
At the dining table, Wang Suxin and Jiang Zhenglan sat at the head. Chu Xu and Jiang Mu sat on opposite sides.
After an opening remark of "make yourselves at home and eat up," all four of them fell silent. Evidently, they followed the custom of not talking while eating. Chu Xu didn't have this rule in his own family, but that didn't stop him from observing it.
Jiang Mu hadn't taken more than a few bites before she put down her chopsticks and stared at Chu Xu.
My, the more she looked at him, the better he seemed~
Before this, Jiang Mu's mother had also forced her to meet many outstanding men, including plenty of returned PhDs and wealthy scions. But without exception, she had rejected them all. Some she had only met once, and others she hadn't even met in person.
Initially, Jiang Mu had intended to turn this meeting down as well, but the moment she saw Chu Xu, the words simply wouldn't come out. She didn't even know the reason herself—perhaps it was some specific trait that had drawn her in.
As for calling it love, that was still a stretch; it was merely at a stage where continued interaction was acceptable.
Seeing Jiang Zhenglan put down his chopsticks, Chu Xu set his down as well.
Only then did Jiang Zhenglan speak up with a warm smile, "Xiao Xu, how did things go with your chat with Jiang Mu? This child has been independent since she was little and likes to make her own decisions about everything. She might be a bit strong-willed in life, so please bear with her."
"Dad!" Jiang Mu complained discontentedly. Why bring this up now?
Chu Xu wasn't foolish enough to join in and complain about a father's own daughter; that would be pure brainlessness.
"Not at all, Sister Jiang is wonderful, and we had a great conversation."
Jiang Mu gave him a resentful look. He was acting all magnemious and proper now, but he certainly hadn't been like that when he was sulking with her earlier.
Hearing this, Jiang Zhenglan immediately laughed, "Is that so? That's wonderful then. As long as the two of you get along, your aunt and I were just worried you wouldn't hit it off."
Chu Xu smiled, "How could that happen? Sister Jiang is so exceptional, I'll make sure we get along well."
As for whether things would ultimately work out, he would leave that to fate...
Chu Xu genuinely liked Jiang Mu's type, even if she was a little older. But if their personalities didn't mesh, liking someone wasn't enough; they couldn't just be forcefully tied together.
Jiang Zhenglan wasn't as talkative as Wang Suxin. After exchanging a few casual words, he went off to organize his fishing rods.
"Go upstairs, I want to have a word with Xiao Xu."
Wang Suxin dismissed Jiang Mu, who frowned and went upstairs by herself.
After watching Chu Xu for a moment, Wang Suxin said earnestly, "Child, I know you have a lot of questions. Go ahead and ask."
Chu Xu let out a sigh of relief. He could finally find out the reason, and he hurriedly asked, "Auntie, why did you choose me, and how did you find me?"
This was the thing he wanted to know most right now.
Wang Suxin smiled, as if she had anticipated it. "Do you remember the car accident on Haixia Road last year?"
"A car accident?"
Chu Xu thought back, and indeed, he remembered it.
Back in August of last year, as he was walking home from his part-time job past two o'clock in the morning on Haixia Road, he had witnessed with his own eyes a stray piece of iron plate pierce straight through the driver's side of an S680. The vehicle then lost control and slammed into a wall.
Chu Xu had immediately called the traffic police and dialed 110. But seeing the torrential bleeding from the injuries, Chu Xu felt that wasn't enough, so he also contacted 120 and asked them what to do.
Following their instructions, Chu Xu carefully pressed down on the wound to slow the bleeding, staying right there until the ambulance arrived before leaving.
Chu Xu hadn't given the incident much thought afterward. Could it be...
With a serious expression, Chu Xu said, "Auntie..."
Wang Suxin nodded and smiled, "I was the person you saved."
Chu Xu suddenly understood.
He had said that nothing in this world happens without a reason; sure enough, everything had an explanation.