Financial freedom starts from graduation

Chapter 491 Backing off

"It's me who doesn't plan to get married."

There was a moment of confusion and annoyance in Xia Xiwei's eyes, but she soon hid those emotions. She seemed to have figured something out, and her expression became firm again. Facing Yan Baiqiu's incredulous expression, Xia Xiwei took a deep breath and said:

"I believe in love, but I don't trust marriage. As long as two people love each other, what difference does it make whether there is a certificate or not?"

"Xiwei, do you know how ridiculous what you are saying now is?"

Yan Baiqiu's face turned very ugly, and he tried his best to suppress his voice and scolded, "Do you think you are still an 18-year-old girl? How can you say such irresponsible words?"

"Who made me see so many tragedies?"

Xia Xiwei smiled meaningfully, "I don't want to face my partner with a forced smile when our relationship deteriorates one day. I'm already in pain. Without the constraints of marriage, we are still free in essence, aren't we?"

"You...are just fooling around!"

Yan Baiqiu was so angry that she was shaking all over, but this was a public place, and the delicate relationship between her and Xia Xiwei made it difficult for her to lose her temper, so she turned her gaze directly to Zhou Wang, who was a little dazed.

"Xiao Zhou, what about you? What do you think? Don't you want to take responsibility?"

"I……"

Zhou Wang had just opened his mouth when he was interrupted by Xia Xiwei beside him.

"Mother, don't ask him. No matter what he says, it's useless. This is my idea. It won't matter who comes to disagree with me."

"Okay, okay, then go explain it to your dad yourself!"

Yan Baiqiu, who almost lost his composure, got up and left after saying a few words. The originally happy atmosphere at the dinner table eventually turned into a mess.

Zhou Dajun and Zhao Guihua were basically in a state of confusion throughout the whole process. They couldn't get a word in just now and were a little at a loss at this moment. They didn't know what to do for a moment.

"Wangwang, are you...are you and Miss Xia really dating?"

Zhao Guihua finally looked at her son and couldn't help but ask in a low voice: "Then...what should we do with Ranran, and Qingkui..."

"Dad, Mom, I'll explain it to you later."

Zhou Wang, who was also having a headache, could only comfort his parents first, "Dad, take my mom to eat something first. Xiwei and I will talk alone."

Although Zhou Dajun didn't understand the situation, as the saying goes, no one knows a son better than his father. He could tell from Zhou Wang's annoyed expression that there must be some other hidden story, so he nodded in understanding and pulled Zhao Guihua away.

After his parents left, Zhou Wang looked at Xia Xiwei and wanted to say something but found that he didn't know how to start.
To be honest, Zhou Wang was really a little annoyed by Xia Xiwei's direct act of stealing the house.

If his parents really decide on Xia Xiwei as their daughter-in-law, he will have little room for maneuver, and it will be even more difficult for him to deal with the pressure from Xia Xiwei's family.

So at that moment just now, he really wanted to explain it to Yan Baiqiu -

Xia Xiwei and I are innocent. I have never even kissed her hand... uh, even her mouth.

Anyway, he doesn't have too much psychological burden. After all, he and Xia Xiwei are not real boyfriend and girlfriend. Although it is a pity to give up this big sweet girl, Zhou Wang can't just ignore the feelings of other women, right?

...After all, he is a responsible man.

But the look in Xia Xiwei's eyes at that moment before she spoke did make Zhou Wang's heart soften.

Just like a little girl who was afraid of being abandoned and was trying to hold on to something tightly, Zhou Wang could also see her regret.

So after Xia Xiwei expressed her opinion first, Zhou Wang did not say anything else and let Xia Xiwei try to smooth things over on her own.

But he really didn't expect that Xia Xiwei would resort to the "anti-marriage" approach.

At this time, Yan Baiqiu had left, but Yan Siyun had not left yet.

She just looked at Xia Xiwei with surprise, then suddenly stood up and moved closer to Xia Xiwei, and said in a voice that Zhou Wang could just hear:

"Xiwei, I'm only telling you this, you can't tell anyone else... In fact, I, your aunt, am also a non-marriage advocate, so at least I support you."

When Xia Xiwei was a little stunned, Yan Siyun raised her fist to Xia Xiwei and Zhou Wang to show her support, and then quickly caught up with Yan Baiqiu.

At this time, Zhou Wang and Xia Xiwei were the only two people left at the dinner table.

Zhou Wang looked at Xia Xiwei, and Xia Xiwei also looked at Zhou Wang.

Before Zhou Wang finally organized his words and was about to speak, Xia Xiwei suddenly leaned over and gently placed her head on Zhou Wang's shoulder.

"Don't move, let me lean on you for a while, just for a while."

Listening to Xia Xiwei's low and slightly sad tone, Zhou Wang couldn't push her away, so he could only look around. Fortunately, it seemed that not many people were paying attention to this side at this time.

"So, are you satisfied now?"

As expected, Xia Xiwei only leaned on him for a few seconds, then raised her head and chuckled.

"What am I satisfied with?"

Looking at Xia Xiwei's murderous big eyes, Zhou Wang felt inexplicably guilty.

"I gave you a legitimate reason not to be responsible for me. Isn't that enough?"

Xia Xiwei pouted, looking aggrieved.

"Hey, please understand that our relationship is fake. Don't use this disguised moral blackmail on me..."

Zhou Wang was still wary, after all, he was facing a professional actor... although Xia Xiwei's pure and sweet appearance was always very deceptive.

"What if I say it can be true?"

Xia Xiwei said softly.

Zhou Wang was startled, but saw that Xia Xiwei had moved closer at some point, and the distance between them was only about six or seven centimeters.

Her dark eyes were clear and her slightly trembling eyelashes seemed to reveal her inner nervousness. Somehow, Zhou Wang's gaze couldn't help but slide down and fixed on her lips.

The bright cherry red lip gloss sparkled with a little bit of crystal color, and it fell on her thick lips, making Zhou Wang suddenly feel dry in the mouth, and his throat couldn't help but move.

When Zhou Wang was already finding it difficult to control himself, he suddenly heard hurried footsteps beside him.

"Oh, boss, you're here. It's your turn to give a speech soon. Do you want to get ready first?"

The person who came in was Xu Wenxi, who was a little out of breath. Her sudden intrusion broke the originally strange atmosphere here. Xia Xiwei leaned back inconspicuously, and Zhou Wang also came back to his senses.

"Is it time again?"

Zhou Wang smiled apologetically at Xia Xiwei, then stood up and left with Xu Wenxi. Xia Xiwei sat on the chair, staring at Zhou Wang's back with complicated eyes, and after a moment, she lowered her head and murmured:

"Xia Xiwei, Xia Xiwei, how could you do such a stupid thing..."

……

In a temporary lounge next to the banquet hall, Li Xiaoya and Xiang Ming and his wife leaned in a corner, feeling the solemn atmosphere in the lounge, looking somewhat embarrassed.

At this moment, Jiang Jiaxing and Li Xiaolei both looked unhappy, while Jiang Qingkui, who was standing opposite them, had a stubborn look on his face.

"Dad, Mom, I think I've made it clear enough. Zhou Wang and I... have never had the kind of relationship you imagine. I'm his secretary and he's my boss. That's all. There's nothing else."

"But didn't you say before that you had a crush on him?"

Jiang Jiaxing asked angrily.

"I did say that, but I never told him what he thought, right? You can just understand this as a little thought I once had, but it was shattered a long time ago..."

Jiang Qingkui, who didn't know what kind of psychological preparation he had done, responded indifferently.

"fart!"

Jiang Jiaxing seemed furious, and he obviously couldn't accept Jiang Qingkui's understatement. "If you are really innocent, then explain to me what happened to those things Zhou Wang sent to our family, the high-end medical insurance he bought for us, and those luxury goods, holiday greetings..."

"It's just an employee benefit that everyone who works around him has."

Jiang Qingkui answered while biting her lip.

"you……"

When Jiang Jiaxing, who was so angry that he felt dizzy, wanted to question, Li Xiaolei, who had been observing her daughter for a long time, stopped him.

Li Xiaolei suddenly stepped forward and held Jiang Qingkui's hand, "Qingkui, tell mom the truth, you... like Zhou Wang, right?"

"I……"

Jiang Qingkui originally wanted to deny it, but somehow, facing his mother's eyes that seemed to know everything, he couldn't say it out loud.

"Then tell me again, is Zhou Wang really not interested in you at all?"

"..."

Jiang Qingkui still wanted to deny it, but she couldn't say it out loud. After all, she was not the type to lie.

She just suddenly remembered a night in the Spring Eye Apartment. The stars were dim and he was looking at her by the bed. Later, she was looking at him on the bed...

Those moments that were not lingering but were better than lingering had happened before, so how could we say nothing had happened?

On many nights that Zhou Wang didn't know about, Jiang Qingkui, wearing headphones, was always reviewing the only real and passionate experience in her life.

So she couldn't deny it.

She also knew that Zhou Wang had always had a greedy possessiveness towards her. If Jiang Qingkui had not stayed sober most of the time, she would have probably fallen for him long ago.

"Is it because he already has another woman around him?"

Li Xiaolei finally revealed her true colors and asked the most crucial question.

Jiang Qingkui remained silent, but it was also a disguised answer of some kind.

Li Xiaolei took a deep breath, seeming to suppress her anger. She looked at the stunned Jiang Jiaxing and said, "Qingkui, don't worry. Your father and I are here to help you. We will go to find Lao Zhou and his wife and ask them clearly..."

"Mom, forget it."

Jiang Qingkui held Li Xiaolei and shook his head wearily, "There's really nothing between Zhou Wang and I. Maybe there's a little emotional entanglement, but... I've thought it through."

"What do you mean?"

Li Xiaolei frowned.

"Right now I have a few projects on hand that I can't leave. Those are my responsibilities. When these things are finished, I...maybe I'll quit."

Jiang Qingkui took a deep breath and said calmly, "So you don't have to do anything for me. This is a matter between him and me. I can handle it myself."

Seeing Jiang Qingkui's firm tone yet a hint of self-mockery, Jiang Jiaxing and Li Xiaolei felt a little distressed.

My daughter, who has always been so proud of herself, has ever looked so fragile?

When caught in an emotional whirlpool from which she could not advance or retreat, Jiang Qingkui still maintained her proud attitude and would rather withdraw completely than continue to be entangled with Zhou Wang.

However, it was precisely because she chose to retreat that it was enough to prove that she was indeed attracted to Zhou Wang... She was also afraid that even the remaining sanity would be wiped out in the end.

Jiang Jiaxing hesitated to speak for several times, and finally sighed, "It's fine this way... I'm sorry, Qingkui, Dad shouldn't have yelled at you just now. Anyway, no matter what choice you make, Mom and Dad will always support you."

Jiang Qingkui shook his head, indicating that it was okay. At this time, the music outside suddenly became quieter. Jiang Qingkui looked at the time and quickly said:

"It's time for the next speech. Zhou Wang asked me to be present. Dad, Mom, and Aunt, let's go out first."

……

"Good evening everyone, yes, it's me again."

The clock pointed to half past eight. Zhou Wang, who was standing on the stage again, held the microphone and smiled, "I'm sorry to interrupt everyone's eating time again... Speaking of eating, the roasted chestnuts in the snack platter were roasted by my classmate at home. They taste very good. You can try them. If you like them, you are welcome to buy them at the entrance of Tomson Yipin."

He first gave Guo Nansheng a small advertisement, and after everyone's attention was diverted, Zhou Wang continued:

"In fact, people who know me well know that I don't like to talk nonsense, so I am standing on the stage again to announce something of great significance..."

"What, donation?"

Hearing the noise of Zhang Dashao and others, Zhou Wang couldn't help but laugh and said, "Since it's a charity fund, there must be a donation session. But don't worry, there will be a special session for everyone to donate. Of course, in return, I have personally prepared some very interesting little gifts to ensure that you will not return empty-handed. You will know in a moment."

"Now, let's get back to the point. Let me talk about what I am about to announce. It will have a significant impact on me personally, on many people, and even on the future business landscape of Shanghai."

Zhou Wang started the conversation first. Some smart people had already guessed something and showed understanding but interested expressions.

But at this time, Zhou Wang changed the subject and said, "But before the announcement, I want to invite someone to the stage first... someone who is very special to me."

As he spoke, Zhou Wang looked around for a while, then quickly locked onto a certain direction and said with a smile: "Qingkui, what are you waiting for? Come up."

(End of this chapter)