News from Taiwan

Chapter 33 Coming to the Door

Thanks to Lin Wan's keen insight, Jiang Guier was spared a dispute, and her attitude was not as tough as it had been at the beginning.

"I'll go see Shen Huaizhou tomorrow and make sure you get your face back."

Lin Wan was so happy that the several thousand yuan worth of takeout she ordered today was well worth it that she didn't notice the hidden meaning in Jiang Guier's words.

"Okay, Guibao, I'm going to get my beauty sleep." She waved to Jiang Guier, rubbed her full stomach, and floated into the bedroom to start washing up.

The next day, Jiang Guier went out without calling Lin Wan.

She spent a long time choosing clothes in the dressing room, her fingertips brushing against a row of neatly pressed suits and skirts. Her gaze finally settled on a misty blue shirt dress deep in the hanger, an old-fashioned piece she had bought a few years ago as part of a trend.

Its most important feature is its understated luxury and lack of logo.

The dress is made of heavy silk blend fabric with excellent drape. Under the overhead light, it shimmers with a delicate, soft glow. The neckline is a perfectly placed small square collar, and the cuffs are neatly gathered.

She picked it up and held it up in front of the mirror. The length was just above her calves, retaining the crisp lines of a shirt while adding a touch of softness to a skirt.

Great, you're the one!

After choosing her clothes, she went to the shoe cabinet to carefully select her shoes.

Ultimately, she chose to pair it with a pair of off-white low-heeled lambskin shoes. The person reflected in the mirror had straight shoulders and a calm demeanor that left no room for doubt.

This is exactly the feeling she wanted—a combination of the poise and decisive presence she had cultivated over many years within the system, which also suited her personality.

If Lin Wan were here, she would definitely point out that this is just cosplaying her aunt's outfit when she was young.

She was carrying her pink LV bag when she suddenly felt the color scheme was odd. She went back to the dressing room and took out several YSL hobo bags. The black leather was luxurious yet understated, and they matched her clothes perfectly.

She took out the envelope that had been there yesterday and put it in another bag.

Before leaving, he glanced at Lin Wan's closed door and a slight smile curved his lips.

The sound of the door closing rang out along with the chiming of the Western clock in the living room.

"Clang...clang...clang...clang...clang...clang...clang..."

Shen Huaizhou's studio is located in a quiet area amidst the hustle and bustle. Jiang Guier had visited several times before, but what she found most unacceptable was the antique-style storefront.

The glass door she had been looking at was tightly locked, and all the lights inside were off, making the room look dusty and frost-covered.

She gently knocked on the glass window and rang the doorbell, but there was no response.

Strange? Is nobody here?
It shouldn’t be!

Doesn't Shen Huaizhou live in his studio?

Jiang Guier was stunned for a moment, and the fire in her heart inexplicably subsided by half.

She took out her phone, scrolled to the number, and hovered her fingertip over the dial button but hadn't pressed it yet.

Suddenly, the screeching sound of an electric scooter braking sharply came from behind, accompanied by a slightly hurried "Excuse me, please make way."

The voice sounded familiar.

She instinctively turned around and saw a figure in a blue delivery uniform jumping off the vehicle. The helmet was pulled low, revealing a taut jawline, and the figure was frantically trying to unlock the insulated box.

"Shen Huaizhou!!" Jiang Guier exclaimed, her voice rising two octaves higher than usual in surprise.

The man paused, slowly raised his head, and his eyes under the helmet met her gaze, showing a hint of surprise followed by a fleeting moment of embarrassment.

His face was covered in dust, and fine beads of sweat trickled down his cheeks and dripped onto his delivery uniform.

He removed his helmet, revealing a cold and stern face, his eyes polite but distant. "Miss Jiang."

"You..." All the words she had thought of on the way here vanished when she saw Shen Huaizhou's handsome face and his delivery uniform.

Shen Huaizhou smiled first, then wiped his face with his hand. "You were looking for me?" "I..." Jiang Guier's throat tightened. Looking at the insulated box on his electric scooter and then at the closed studio door, she suddenly felt that her aggressive demeanor made her look like a clown.

She slowly loosened her grip, tightening her hold on her YSL hobo bag under her armpits. Feeling the thickness of the envelope resting in her hand, her voice softened slightly, "Your studio... is closed?"

"No." Shen Huaizhou said frankly. He walked past Jiang Guier and took out the key from the large outer pocket of his delivery uniform.

A bunch of keys appeared, jingling and clanging.

He inserted the key into the lock and turned it hard, and the door clicked open.

"Want to come in and sit down?" he asked, turning to the side.

Jiang Guier froze for a moment, then said, "Sorry to bother you."

Shen Huaizhou entered the house behind her, closing the door behind him. He took off his deliveryman's jacket, hanging it on the back of a chair, and turned to tinker with it on the tea table.

Jiang Guier watched his movements without saying a word. He took out the utensils, placed the tea, and poured water. With a light twist of his wrist, the tea soup flowed slowly down the arc of the fairness cup in one go, with a kind of composure that came from long practice.

She'll also figure out how to give the money away; the tea is already brewed.

"Taste it?"

Shen Huaizhou pushed a cup of tea in front of her; fine beads of tea clung to the rim of the white porcelain cup, making the aroma of the tea even more delicate. His voice was calm, revealing little emotion.

Jiang Guier reached out and took the cup, her fingertips touching the slightly cool rim. She said softly, "Thank you," her tone carrying a deliberate air of distance. She took a small sip; the tea was bitter with a sweet aftertaste, but she had no interest in savoring it. She felt the scene before her was too disjointed.

"I never expected... you'd be delivering food." She finally blurted it out, unable to hold it in any longer.

Shen Huaizhou sat in the chair opposite him, relaxed and indifferent. "Passing the time." He rubbed his fingers against his teacup. "These days, the easiest part-time jobs are being a Didi driver and delivering food."

"You graduated from Peking University!"

Shen Huaizhou poured her some tea and slowly said, "The studio is just starting out, and operating costs are tight. I'm just subsidizing some expenses." He said this with a very calm expression, without the slightest embarrassment.

Jiang Guier was slightly taken aback; she had been too narrow-minded.

She had always had a strange feeling about Shen Huaizhou. She originally thought that a scholar should be rigid and aloof, and even if he did not regard money as dirt, he would not talk about it so bluntly.

"Your thoughts are somewhat different from mine before."

"Is it good or bad?" Shen Huaizhou's answer was quite unexpected.

"It's not a matter of good or bad, it just overturned my understanding," Jiang Guier smiled. "You're quite capable, so that day..."

"It's also a part-time job."

"Part-time job?" Jiang Guier forced a stiff smile. "The more capable you are, the more work you should do."

"Not really," Shen Huaizhou smiled. "Kong Yiji's long gown is already torn to shreds."

"Pfft!" Jiang Guier couldn't help but laugh out loud, thinking to herself that this person seemed to be much more complicated and... much more real than she had imagined.

She took the envelope out of her bag and placed it on the tea table, her attitude sincere. "I'm sorry, I've been quite busy today and haven't had a chance to do this. Thank you for helping me repair the letter."

Shen Huaizhou's gaze lingered on the envelope for only a second. "How is your great-grandmother? Will this letter be of any help?"

"Sigh... let's not talk about it." Jiang Guier sighed, "The invisibility feature has caused quite a few problems."

"If you need help, just ask," Shen Huaizhou said carefully.

Jiang Guier looked at him, the steam rising from the kettle blurring his face.

He seems a bit enthusiastic?
　Looking forward to your support, please give me some recommendation votes and leave lots of comments!

　　Thank you

　　(End of this chapter)