Chapter 28
I Really Like Him
“He has work during the day, so he’ll come over at night,” Xu Jiaojiao explained.
Old Madam Xu nodded and asked, “Does he treat you well?”
“He definitely does,” Xu Jiaojiao replied without hesitation. She was not lying because Qi Shenbai treated her really well. When she was injured, he would help her change her wound dressing and arrange a driver for her. He even agreed to join her for the Mid-Autumn Festival.
In the afternoon, Old Madam Xu went to rest after lunch. Mrs. Xu pulled Xu Jiaojiao aside to talk and took out a card. “Jiaojiao, it’s a holiday today, and I don’t know what you like. There’s some money in this card, so you can buy whatever you want.”
Xu Jiaojiao looked at the bank card and shook her head. “Mom, I have enough money. You don’t have to give it to me anymore.” In the past, her parents would give her red packets or transfer money via WeChat during festivals. However, Xu Jiaojiao did not spend much other than buying drawing materials, so she had saved up a lot of money.
Mrs. Xu stuffed the bank card into Xu Jiaojiao’s hand. “My dear daughter, I know you don’t spend money recklessly, but this is a gift from your parents for this special day. Your father’s company has been doing well this year, so you don’t have to help him save money.”
Seeing this, Xu Jiaojiao could not refuse anymore. “Okay. Thank you, Mom.”
“Good girl.” Mrs. Xu touched Xu Jiaojiao’s cheek. “You poor thing, you’ve suffered so much lately.” Even though her parents knew that Xu Jiaojiao and Qi Shenbai were faking their marriage, they had no choice but to let their daughter live with a stranger for Old Madam Xu’s sake.
Xu Jiaojiao shook her head with a smile. “Mom, it’s really not that bad at all. Mr. Qi is Big Brother’s good friend, and he treats me very well. Don’t worry.”
Mrs. Xu nodded, but her eyes were still red. “If only I hadn’t listened to your grandmother back then and arranged for your marriage with the Lin family… If only I hadn’t sent you to the countryside…”
“Mom,” Xu Jiaojiao interrupted her. She did not want her mother to feel sad about the past. “It’s all in the past now. Can’t you see that I’m doing just fine? I’m perfectly healthy and beautiful.”
“Yes, my daughter is the prettiest.” Mrs. Xu was amused by Xu Jiaojiao’s boasting and pinched her cheek. “As long as my daughter is healthy and safe, my heart will be at ease.”
Xu Jiaojiao chatted with her mother for a while longer before helping her up the stairs for her afternoon nap. After that, she returned to her room and placed the gold card in her backpack. When she saw the old diary inside, her eyelashes fluttered. She took out the diary, walked to the desk, and sat down. She opened the diary and the familiar beautiful handwriting came into view.
‘If I hadn’t met him, perhaps I would have died without making a fuss. However, I met him and fell in love with him. I started to feel reluctant to die just like that. I wanted to live. I wanted to stand before him openly and tell him: My name is Xu Jiaojiao. Thank you for the umbrella.
‘I want to live. Only by living will I be able to see him again. Only by living properly and healthily will I have a hope of standing by his side.
‘I really want to live. I want to have a chance to tell him, I survived because of my love for you. Because of you, I have infinite courage to fight against all the unfairness in life.
‘I really like him. I really like him…’
Xu Jiaojiao closed the diary with a bang and let out a long sigh. So what if she liked Lu Zhuo? He never loved her. Just then, she began to take comfort in the fact that she had lost a portion of her memories and forgotten how much she used to like Lu Zhuo. Because of that, she would not be too heartbroken even if he gave up on her.
Xu Jiaojiao took a deep breath and slowly let it out. She placed the diary in the drawer of her desk and locked it.
When she turned around, she saw Xu Zhengyang leaning against the door. She did not know when he had come over, but he must have just woken up. His face was still sleepy, and his hair was in a mess.
However, his eyes were looking at Xu Jiaojiao playfully. “What’s the matter? Do you think you can forget that bastard Lu Zhuo just by locking the diary?”
“I already forgot about him.” Xu Jiaojiao pursed her lips, her answer hinting at something.
Xu Zhengyang seemed to have thought of something, and a subtle glint flashed across his eyes. He pursed his lips and said, “I’m starving. I’m going down to eat something.”
“Mr. Qi will be coming over for dinner tonight. Be careful not to let it slip,” Xu Jiaojiao reminded worriedly.
Xu Zhengyang, who was about to take a step forward, immediately retracted his leg. “What did you say? Qi Shenbai is coming?”
“Yes, it’s only normal for him to come. You don’t have to overreact like that. I’m very grateful that he’s coming.”